Thursday July 11, 2024
NOAA Fisheries —
Northern California steelhead require continued protection as a threatened species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, according to a recent 5-year review by NOAA Fisheries. State and federal agencies, tribes, and private landowners have completed numerous habitat restoration projects since the last review in 2016. However, the population faces continued threats from drought, high water temperatures, and water use, all exacerbated by the changing climate. The 5-year review also found that water conservation should be integrated into habitat restoration projects to achieve maximum benefits.
“Because climate change is one of the most significant threats to Northern California steelhead, protective efforts in the future should focus on projects that aim to conserve water during the summer and fall low flow periods,” said Seth Naman, a fish biologist with NOAA Fisheries and the lead author of the 2024 5-Year Review: Summary & Evaluation of Northern California Steelhead.
The range of the Northern California steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) extends from Redwood Creek in Humboldt County south to the Gualala River in Sonoma County. They were first listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 2000. For rivers and streams with enough data to analyze trends over time, populations have either no trend or slightly decreased numbers of returning adults since the last 5-year review. Several streams did not have enough information available to analyze population trends over time, which remains a concern.