Species Status:

The steelhead population within the South-Central California Steelhead Distinct Population Segment (DPS) has declined dramatically from estimated annual runs totaling 25,000 adults to less than 500 returning adult fish.  Of the 36 watersheds historically supporting steelhead runs approximately 90% continue to support runs, though run sizes have been sharply reduced in most watersheds.  All of the four largest watersheds (Pajaro, Salinas, Nacimiento/

Arroyo Seco and Carmel Rivers) have experienced declines in run sizes of 90% or more. Only a few populations along the Big Sur Coast have retained near historic numbers.  Present population trends within individual watersheds continuing to support runs is generally unknown, but may vary widely between watersheds

Recovery Plan Status:

A draft Recovery Plan has been completed for the South-Central California Steelhead (DPS) and will be undergoing internal and external review.   A Technical Recovery Team (TRT) is nearing completion of the Phase I recovery planning process. The TRT has published several Technical Memoranda on historic populations, over-summering habitat, and viability criteria for recovery, and is preparing a report on research monitoring needs for the South-Central/Southern California Steelhead Recovery Planning Domain. In addition, the NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center has prepared reports on the current population structure and ancestry of steelhead, based on a genetics analysis, for the South-Central/Southern California Steelhead Recovery Planning Domain.  It is anticipated that Phase I planning will be completed by the winter of 2009.

Phase II of the recovery planning process was initiated in 2006. As a preliminary step in the development of Recovery Plans, NMFS staff produced a Recovery Outline based upon the Technical Recovery Team products that identifies the basic strategy for recovering the listed steelhead populations in the South-Central California Steelhead Recovery Planning Domain. 

Development of the Recovery Plans is the responsibility of NMFS staff, under the direction of the Recovery Coordinator for the South-Central/Southern California Steelhead Recovery Domain.  General development of Recovery Plans is guided by NMFS most recent Endangered and Threatened Species Recovery Planning Guidance (October 2006).   Preparation of the Recovery Plans is supported by a Recovery Team consisting of NMFS staff from the Long Beach and Santa Rosa field offices, and NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center laboratory in Santa Cruz.  Additionally, the effort has been supported by biological consultants and a technical editor.  This team is responsible for developing key components of the Recovery Plan, including: an assessment of threats, recovery goals/delisting criteria, recovery actions, and research and monitoring necessary to address outstanding issues and track the species’ response to recovery actions.  

NMFS held a series of workshops throughout the Recovery Planning Domain on the threats and potential recovery actions to gain stakeholder input on some of the key features of the Recovery Plan.  Learn more about public workshops and review public contributions.

Once the draft Recovery Plans is completed, it will be made available through formal Federal Register Notices and on a NMFS Recovery Planning website, with an opportunity for the public submit written comments. Additionally, once the Recovery Plan is completed (targeted for fall 2009), NMFS will hold a series of public hearings in the Carmel and San Luis Obispo areas to present the major elements of the draft Recovery Plan and to gain feedback from interested stakeholders. 

The targeted date for publishing the final Recovery Plan is fall 2009.

Threats and Impacts:

·     The South-Central California Steelhead DPS is near the southern limit of the steelhead’s range.  There has been extensive loss of populations in most of the major watersheds, due to agricultural development, urbanization, dewatering and modification of rivers and creeks.  A significant portion of the spawning and rearing habitat has been rendered inaccessible as a result of dams, and other instream structures which block or impede migration.

The principal threats to the viability of the South-Central California Steelhead DPS are associated with the four major river systems, the Pajaro, Salinas, Nacimiento/Arroyo Seco, and the Carmel Rivers.  Each of these watersheds is heavily impacted by water facilities (both surface and subsurface) and development of the floodplain and associated riparian corridor (for agricultural, residential, and industrial uses including sand and gravel extraction).  Additionally, threats to several of the major watersheds (Santa Rosa, San Simeon, San Luis Obispo, and Arroyo Grande Creek) in the southern portion of the DPS impact the viability of this DPS.

In many of the watersheds water developments have physically blocked access, or impeded migration of adult steelhead to the principle spawning and rearing habitats in headwater tributaries, as well as restricted the emigration of juveniles to the ocean.  Development of the floodplains have altered the natural fluvial processes which facilitate migration and in some cases sustain over-summering habitat for juvenile steelhead; associated flood control structures and activities have further disrupted the natural fluvial processes necessary to maintain these habitats.  Limited harvesting of timber and increased development of residential structures (and associated roads) on steep sided erosive slopes has resulted in accelerated erosion and sedimentation of river and stream channels.  The continued spread and propagation of invasive plants and aquatic species also has further degraded habitats for steelhead, particularly rearing juveniles.  The loss and degradation of remaining estuarine habitat as a result of both point and non-point sources of pollution and artificial breaching of sand-bars has reduced the suitability of these habitats for rearing, and acclimation.  Finally, the introduction of exotic fish, and the stocking of non-native steelhead stocks to support recreational fishing has occurred in many coastal rivers and streams and also contributed to the decline of native steelhead and related resident trout populations, though this later practice has declined since the listing of the species.

Priority Recovery Actions Needed:

Recovery planning will require further investigation of life-history of the species, including utilization of estuarine habitat, juvenile growth and smolting patterns, distribution of residualized populations above artificial impassable barriers, exchange of anadromous populations between watersheds, and the relationship between resident and migratory forms of steelhead to refine population and DPS viability and delisting criteria for this species.

Re-establishing access to upper watersheds in both small coastal streams and several of the larger river systems within the biogeographic region identified by the TRT is one of the highest priorities in the South-Central California Steelhead DPS.  Major remaining recovery actions, include completion of the planning for the disposition of San Clemente Dam on the Carmel River, and providing effective fish passage around currently impassible anthropogenic barriers in the Pajaro, Salinas River systems.  The re-establishment of adequate flow regimes for the Salinas and Nacimiento Rivers are also high priorities.  Further investigation of potential recovery actions south of San Simeon, are necessary to recover the threatened steelhead of South-Central California.

 Establishing a robust monitoring system for this DPS is essential for tracking population trends, the efficacy of recovery actions, and the attainment of viability and delisting criteria.

Recovery Priority Number:         3

Ranking for the South-Central California Steelhead DPS was determined in accordance with the Recovery Priority Guidelines (55 FR 24296) and was based on a high magnitude of threat, a moderate potential for recovery, and anticipated conflict with current and future development/disturbance within the range of the DPS.  The Biological Review Team (BRT) that was formed to do an updated status review in 2005 reiterated the same conclusions reached from the previous status review that the South-Central California Steelhead DPS was “currently not endangered but5 likely o become so in the foreseeable future. . .”.  This determination was based in part on the extirpation of populations through much of their historical range, and the blockage and degradation of freshwater habitats.  It is believed that there is a moderate magnitude of threat in smaller watersheds, but a higher risk in the major watersheds, with a high potential of recovery and continued conflict with land disturbance and water associated impacts.

References

55 FR 24296. 1990. Endangered and threatened species; listing and recovery priority guidelines. Federal Register, 55: 24296-24298.

62 FR 43937. 1997. Endangered and threatened species: listing of several evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) of west coast steelhead. Federal Register, 62: 43937-43954.

71 FR 834. 2006. Endangered and threatened species: final listing determinations for 10 distinct population segments of West coast steelhead. Federal Register, 71: 834-862.

Busby, P. J., T. C. Wainwright & G. J. Bryant. 1996. Status Review of West Coast Steelhead from Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and California. U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandum, NMFS-NWFSC-27. 261 pp.

Good, T. P., R. S. Waples & P. B. Adams. 2005. Updated status of federally listed ESUs of West Coast salmon and steelhead. U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandum, NMFS-NWFSC-66. 598 pp.

Becker, G. S.  I. J. Reining. 2008. Steelhead/Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Resources South of the Golden Gate, California. Center for Ecosystem Management and Restoration, Oakland, CA, Oakland, CA. 425 pp.

Conservation Actions:

Fish passage facilities have been constructed on the Carmel River at the Los Padres Dam with funding from the Carmel River Steelheaders and the CalAm Water Agency.  Funding for these projects was provided by the Carmel River Steelheaders, and the CalAm Water Company.  A number of impediments to fish passage caused by road crossings and other instream structures and have been eliminated or substantially improved as a result of retro-fitting (or in some cases eliminated) such structures.  Funding for these projects was provided through Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund.  Planning for the potential removal of San Clemente Dam in the Carmel River is nearly complete.  Funding for this project has been provided by the CalAm Water Agency, the California Coastal Conservancy, and the California Department of Water Resources. 

Angling regulations for sport fishing for native steelhead have been changed to regulate recreational angling in virtually all coastal rivers and streams in the South-Central California Steelhead DPS which are accessible to adult steelhead migrating up from the ocean. The recreational fishery is limited to several days a week during the migratory season and is limited to catch-and-release (though no Fishery Management and Enhancement Plan has been adopted for this DPS).  Additionally, the California Department of Fish and Game has curtailed its stocking of hatchery reared trout, limiting stockings to reservoirs, or stream reaches above impassible barriers.

Finally, NMFS has conducted both formal and informal Section 7 Consultations with federal agencies throughout the South-Central California Steelhead DPS that fund, carry-out, or regulate projects such as flood protection, road construction, water diversion, and gravel mining.

10/08/09