Southern Steelhead - California Trout

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PHOTO CONTEST Announcing the winnersof the 2017 CalTroutPhoto Contest

Fall 2017

abundant wild fish healthy waters better California . .

Southern SteelheadSouthern Steelhead

Surviving AgainstSurviving AgainstAll OddsAll Odds

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FEATURE4 COVER STORYAdaptable, persistent,resilient – SouthernCalifornia steelhead.CalTrout is working to helpthis endangered salmonidpersist despite the myriadof threats they face.

SCIENCE16 INSTREAM FLOWSDr. Rob Lusardi exploreshow a regional approachidentifies key features thatenhance biodiversitybelow dams.

EVENTS22 FIVE RIVERSCHALLENGESix teams, three days, andover 3,000 inches of wildtrout caught.

28 A CAPITOL DAYThe signing of a landmarkcollaboration and 7thAnnual Casting Call madefor a big day.

PROJECTS32 LEGISLATIVEUPDATEA preview of the issues CalTrout is engaged induring this busy legislativesession in Sacramento.

38 PARTNER PROFILELearn about our legislationand advocacy partners EEC

REGULARS42 SPOT CHECKMikey Wier reports on theTruckee River. It's back! 48 CRAIG'S CORNERNEW ADDITIONCraig reflects on lastseason's floods and theireffect on native salmonids.

REFLECTIONS50 READERS' PHOTOSCheck out the winners ofour 2017 Photo Contest.

56 TAIL OUT VIDEOSPicks from CalTrout's video vault and other finds fromaround the web.

A message to youA message to youOur goal with each issue of Our goal with each issue of The CurrentThe Current is is to bring our storiesto bring our storiesand projects to life, with more images, videos and links... offeringand projects to life, with more images, videos and links... offeringyou a rich perspective on the work you a rich perspective on the work your support makes possibleyour support makes possible..We are thankful to you, our donors, who help us ensure thatWe are thankful to you, our donors, who help us ensure thatthere will always be abundant populations of wild fish thrivingthere will always be abundant populations of wild fish thrivingin healthy waters for a better California.in healthy waters for a better California.

Cover photo: Will Boucher

FEATURE4 COVER STORYAdaptable, persistent,resilient – SouthernCalifornia steelhead.CalTrout is working to helpthis endangered salmonidpersist despite the myriadof threats they face.

SCIENCE16 INSTREAM FLOWSDr. Rob Lusardi exploreshow a regional approachidentifies key features thatenhance biodiversitybelow dams.

EVENTS22 FIVE RIVERSCHALLENGESix teams, three days, andover 3,000 inches of wildtrout caught.

28 A CAPITOL DAYThe signing of a landmarkcollaboration and 7thAnnual Casting Call madefor a big day.

PROJECTS32 LEGISLATIVEUPDATEA preview of the issues CalTrout is engaged induring this busy legislativesession in Sacramento.

38 PARTNER PROFILELearn about our legislationand advocacy partners EEC

REGULARS42 SPOT CHECKMikey Wier reports on theTruckee River. It's back! 48 CRAIG'S CORNERNEW ADDITIONCraig reflects on lastseason's floods and theireffect on native salmonids.

REFLECTIONS50 READERS' PHOTOSCheck out the winners ofour 2017 Photo Contest.

56 TAIL OUT VIDEOSPicks from CalTrout's video vault and other finds fromaround the web.

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T H E C U R R E N T - F A L L 2 0 1 7

Can steelhead and humans not only live,but thrive together? Southern California is home to 22 million people and an amazing Mediterranean-type climate. As more people have moved into coastal areas to take advantageof the great weather and activities, land use has changed, habitat has beenfragmented, and the Southern California steelhead has been excluded fromits historic range. At one time, this area supported miles of river that areessentially aquatic corridors for steelhead to migrate between spawning sitesin the headwaters and the ocean. Due to a variety of threats, Southern Californiasteelhead (Southern steelhead) between the Santa Maria River in the northand the Tijuana River near the border with Mexico were listed as endangeredin 1997 by the National Marine Fisheries Service. This region includes CalTroutfocal steelhead recovery rivers in Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles

Counties (Santa Ynez River, Santa Clara River, Ventura River, Malibu Creek, andSan Gabriel River) and San Diego and Orange Counties (San Juan Creek, SanMateo Creek, Santa Margarita River, and San Luis Rey River). Can steelhead and humans not only live, but thrive together? The good newsis that Southern steelhead are survivors. They have adapted to seasonally drystreams in the semi-arid climate at the extreme southern end of their range.Their amazing resiliency is a major reason why we need to protect this species.They may offer clues that could help other fish populations weather hotterwater and a warming climate. Our resident rainbow trout offer ultimate hopefor recovery. Wild Southern steelhead genetics have persisted in our landlockedresident rainbow trout, behind dams, roads, and diversions. Reconnectingisolated populations and allowing access to diverse habitat will be instrumentalin building abundance and resilience.

NATIVE SPECIES

On the BrinkRainbows of Hope for a Steelhead Tomorrow

Can steelhead and humans not only live,but thrive together? Southern California is home to 22 million people and an amazing Mediterranean-type climate. As more people have moved into coastal areas to take advantageof the great weather and activities, land use has changed, habitat has beenfragmented, and the Southern California steelhead has been excluded fromits historic range. At one time, this area supported miles of river that areessentially aquatic corridors for steelhead to migrate between spawning sitesin the headwaters and the ocean. Due to a variety of threats, Southern Californiasteelhead (Southern steelhead) between the Santa Maria River in the northand the Tijuana River near the border with Mexico were listed as endangeredin 1997 by the National Marine Fisheries Service. This region includes CalTroutfocal steelhead recovery rivers in Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles

Counties (Santa Ynez River, Santa Clara River, Ventura River, Malibu Creek, andSan Gabriel River) and San Diego and Orange Counties (San Juan Creek, SanMateo Creek, Santa Margarita River, and San Luis Rey River). Can steelhead and humans not only live, but thrive together? The good newsis that Southern steelhead are survivors. They have adapted to seasonally drystreams in the semi-arid climate at the extreme southern end of their range.Their amazing resiliency is a major reason why we need to protect this species.They may offer clues that could help other fish populations weather hotterwater and a warming climate. Our resident rainbow trout offer ultimate hopefor recovery. Wild Southern steelhead genetics have persisted in our landlockedresident rainbow trout, behind dams, roads, and diversions. Reconnectingisolated populations and allowing access to diverse habitat will be instrumentalin building abundance and resilience.

Alisan AmrheinCalTrout Communications Associate

Alisan has a masters in Environmental Science and Management from theBren School, UCSB and has been aninvaluable member of the team sinceshe joined CalTrout in 2016 .

Photo by Mark Capelli, NOAA

On the BrinkRainbows of Hope for a Steelhead Tomorrow

Steelhead are the anadromous, or ocean-going, formof rainbow trout. Like salmon, steelhead make theround trip between fresh water and the ocean butunlike salmon they can repeat this cycle severaltimes. They are born in freshwater, and within twelvemonths or so some of them experience aphysiological transformation known assmoltification. Smolts are destined to migrate to theocean, and they undergo changes in their physicalappearance and their physiology that allows themto survive in the ocean's different salinity. Propellingtheir migration toward saltwater are the same winter

floods that later will guide them back to their high-country spawning grounds upstream. Southernsteelhead developed longer, more streamlinedbodies than other coastal steelhead in California,capable of passage through Southern California’scharacteristic low flow streams.Historically, tens of thousands of adult steelheadwould return to Southern California streams. Today,only a few hundred make the pilgrimage; theirnumbers have declined so significantly that it is nowrare to see them in the wild. They are the unicorn ofCalifornia’s native fish.

Southern SteelheadOncorhynchus mykiss irideus

NATIVE SPECIES

Photo by Barbara Wampole

Steelhead are the anadromous, or ocean-going, formof rainbow trout. Like salmon, steelhead make theround trip between fresh water and the ocean butunlike salmon they can repeat this cycle severaltimes. They are born in freshwater, and within twelvemonths or so some of them experience aphysiological transformation known assmoltification. Smolts are destined to migrate to theocean, and they undergo changes in their physicalappearance and their physiology that allows themto survive in the ocean's different salinity. Propellingtheir migration toward saltwater are the same winter

floods that later will guide them back to their high-country spawning grounds upstream. Southernsteelhead developed longer, more streamlinedbodies than other coastal steelhead in California,capable of passage through Southern California’scharacteristic low flow streams.Historically, tens of thousands of adult steelheadwould return to Southern California streams. Today,only a few hundred make the pilgrimage; theirnumbers have declined so significantly that it is nowrare to see them in the wild. They are the unicorn ofCalifornia’s native fish.

What's the difference betweensteelhead and rainbow trout? Rainbow trout have two basic life histories withdifferent names: steelhead (anadromous) and rainbowtrout (resident). The relationship between steelheadand rainbows is beautifully flexible and complex,making the species one of most successful salmonidsin the world, but creating headaches for managers.

Anadromous steelhead regularly produce to residenttrout offspring. Resident trout populations regularlyproduce anadromous smolts. In populations whereboth forms occur, they regularly interbreed. This variedlife history has a strong adaptive genetic basis.This diversity of life histories appears to be particularlyimportant in California, where both fresh water andocean environments can undergo dramatic multi-yearfluctuations in habitat quality. For example, if survivalis low during down-stream migration or in the oceanfor an extended period, then resident trout will havean adaptive advantage. If ocean conditions are goodand promote high survival and growth, then offspringof migratory steelhead females will predominate infresh water. Resident trout also thrive above naturalbarriers to anadromy (e.g., waterfalls) while steelheadcan re-colonize streams where resident fish have beeneliminated by natural causes (e.g. volcanic eruptions,catastrophic wildfire). In watersheds with bothsteelhead and wild resident Rainbow trout, the fishare part of a single, complex gene pool, which allowsthem to adapt to river systems that are highly variable. Recognizing their diverse domestic and wild origins,the ‘Coastal Rainbow trout’ is not really a discretegenetic entity. Coastal Rainbow trout are residentRainbows that mostly inhabit watersheds upstream ofnatural and man-made barriers without access tothe ocean, although robust populations of residenttrout are now found in tailwater habitats below damsthroughout the state.

Southern SteelheadOncorhynchus mykiss irideus

Photo by Barbara Wampole

NATIVE SPECIES

Threats at every curve The Southern California environment has been engineered to serve humanneeds – reliable water supplies and flood control. The hard-scape impacts ofpavement, bridges, dams, and other in-stream structures block and hindersteelhead access to headwater spawning and rearing tributaries and also restrictthe emigration of juveniles to the ocean. Estuaries and lagoons, which arecritical nursery habitats for juvenile steelhead and important transition zones,have been significantly reduced in size and function in Southern California dueto human activities. What little is left of steelhead habitat has been urbanizedand degraded through develoment and land use practices that did not takeinto account the need for steelhead passage and headwaters residence. Theseimpacts coupled with climate change, competition from exotic species, andsevere wildfires have pushed Southern steelhead to the brink of extinction. These threats are identified in the National Marine Fisheries Service 2012Southern Steelhead Recovery Plan. Led by CalTrout in partnership with over50 organizations and agencies, coalitions are now in place to implement thefederal recovery plan and set a viable path forward for de-listing the species.

Bringing them back from the brink California Trout is working with Coalition partners to recover the Southernsteelhead species by restoring estuaries and riverine habitat, and removingbarriers along the entire stretch from headwaters to the ocean. We operatethrough Coalition Strategic Plans that help prioritize projects in a watershed-level approach; and match project leads with funding sources for efficientimplementation. Here is a snapshot of some of our projects that show how weare helping pave the way for the rebound of this important species.

Threats at every curve The Southern California environment has been engineered to serve humanneeds – reliable water supplies and flood control. The hard-scape impacts ofpavement, bridges, dams, and other in-stream structures block and hindersteelhead access to headwater spawning and rearing tributaries and also restrictthe emigration of juveniles to the ocean. Estuaries and lagoons, which arecritical nursery habitats for juvenile steelhead and important transition zones,have been significantly reduced in size and function in Southern California dueto human activities. What little is left of steelhead habitat has been urbanizedand degraded through develoment and land use practices that did not takeinto account the need for steelhead passage and headwaters residence. Theseimpacts coupled with climate change, competition from exotic species, andsevere wildfires have pushed Southern steelhead to the brink of extinction. These threats are identified in the National Marine Fisheries Service 2012Southern Steelhead Recovery Plan. Led by CalTrout in partnership with over50 organizations and agencies, coalitions are now in place to implement thefederal recovery plan and set a viable path forward for de-listing the species.

Bringing them back from the brink California Trout is working with Coalition partners to recover the Southernsteelhead species by restoring estuaries and riverine habitat, and removingbarriers along the entire stretch from headwaters to the ocean. We operatethrough Coalition Strategic Plans that help prioritize projects in a watershed-level approach; and match project leads with funding sources for efficientimplementation. Here is a snapshot of some of our projects that show how weare helping pave the way for the rebound of this important species.

Photo by Mike Wier

Photo courtesy Department of Fish and Wildlife

HEADWATERS

Restoring Estuaries Estuary restoration is key to allow foradequate rearing environment and easierseasonal passage. According to the NationalMarine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the SantaClara River estuary is a high priority site forrecovery actions to save the endangeredspecies. Unlike most other basins inSouthern California, the Santa Clara Rivercontinues to produce steelhead smolts.Unfortunately, the estuary has beendramatically reduced in size (15% of itshistorical extent) and quality due to landdevelopment and hydrologic modificationswithin the watershed since the 1850’s.Through the Santa Clara River SteelheadCoalition (SCRSC), the Santa Clara Riverestuary is the focus of a restoration projectled by the Wishtoyo Foundation (a Coalitionmember). In 2015 Wishtoyo completed afeasibility study to expand and enhanceestuarine habitat and restore 30 acres. Weparticipated in design workshops to providematerial feedback and review during thestudy. This project fulfills an immediatesteelhead recovery need, while through theSCRSC, CalTrout is collectively assessinglong-term and large-scale estuaryrestoration objectives in light of sea levelrise and climate change, along with ourpartners– the California CoastalConservancy, the Nature Conservancy, andthe National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration Restoration Center.

Restoring Riverine Habitat Sespe Creek/Rose Valley Lakes In Ventura County, CalTrout is focused on the upper Sespe Creek and its tributaries. Historically, the Sespe wasone of the most popular rivers for fishing and boasted a healthy resident population of steelhead as well asmigratory adults. Sespe Creek hosts the most diverse steelhead habitat in all of the Santa Clara River watershed.This diversity and availability of high value habitats led to the designation of the Santa Clara River watershedas a stronghold under the North American Salmon Stronghold Partnership. A grant from the National Fish andWildlife Foundation has set us up to complete a feasibility study, the objective of which is to prevent furtherplanting of aquatic invasive species and eliminate warm water habitat in Rose Valley Lakes, a prime spring-fedtributary to the Sespe, and also address four fish passage barriers. This project supports steelhead populationrecovery in the watershed and increases native species resiliency to future disturbances, such as drought and fire.

Photo courtesy Stillwater Sciencesn

Southern steelhead need cool,clear, well-oxygenated water

with sufficient food for propersurvival. Poor and degraded

habitat conditions are commonin Southern California.

Restoring Riverine Habitat Sespe Creek/Rose Valley Lakes In Ventura County, CalTrout is focused on the upper Sespe Creek and its tributaries. Historically, the Sespe wasone of the most popular rivers for fishing and boasted a healthy resident population of steelhead as well asmigratory adults. Sespe Creek hosts the most diverse steelhead habitat in all of the Santa Clara River watershed.This diversity and availability of high value habitats led to the designation of the Santa Clara River watershedas a stronghold under the North American Salmon Stronghold Partnership. A grant from the National Fish andWildlife Foundation has set us up to complete a feasibility study, the objective of which is to prevent furtherplanting of aquatic invasive species and eliminate warm water habitat in Rose Valley Lakes, a prime spring-fedtributary to the Sespe, and also address four fish passage barriers. This project supports steelhead populationrecovery in the watershed and increases native species resiliency to future disturbances, such as drought and fire.

Learn more aboutSouthern steelheadand their recovery

from scientists, agencyofficials, and resourcemanagers through our

Water Talks videos.

HEADWATERS

Restoring Riverine Habitat (cont.)

Santa Margarita River Non-Native RemovalFurther south in coastal San Diego, Orange, and Riverside Counties, CalTrout is leading steelhead habitat enhancement efforts in the headwaters of theSanta Margarita River. The Santa Margarita River offers one of the bestopportunities for steelhead recovery in Southern California and is a NMFS-designated high priority recovery watershed. This river has year-round flowand pristine headwaters in an undeveloped state. However, it is over-runwith non-native aquatic species such as large-mouth bass, bluegill, andcrayfish, which are a major threat to steelhead because they out-competenative species for food and prey on their eggs and juveniles. With supportfrom the Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project, Earth IslandInstitute, and US Fish & Wildlife Service, CalTrout is working with CaliforniaDepartment of Fish and Wildlife and the California Conservation Corps toremove non-native species and also reduce sediment in the Santa MargaritaRiver to improve spawning gravels and rearing areas for steelhead.

San Luis Rey River Water ConservationCalTrout is also providing a platform to empower Coalition partners to improve watershed health consistent with steelhead recovery. The San LuisRey Watershed Council is lead on a water conservation and trout habitatimprovement project in the San Luis Rey River. This river has specialsignificance for steelhead recovery in Southern California. The West ForkSan Luis Rey River has the most southern native rainbow trout populationof steelhead lineage in the United States. The nearby tributary Pauma Creekhosts the largest wild rainbow trout population in the region. The waterconservation project at the base of Pauma Creek is an innovative pilotproject to install a weather station and soil moisture sensors to improveagricultural irrigation efficiency, and do residential grey-water installationsthroughout the community. The goal of the project is to sustainably managewater availability to residents and businesses while providing habitatprotection for the resilient trout and steelhead populations.

Photos by Mike WierTo read more about CalTrout's projects to restore Southern steelhead habitat, check out theSpring 2016 issue of the Current.

Photo by Sandra Jacobson

HEADWATERS

Removing Barriers Fish passage among the complex array of concrete infrastructure that coversSouthern California is a major concern for steelhead recovery. Dams are one of the largest and more cumbersome barriers, since their removaltakes a significant amount of funding and planning. The Matilija Dam blockingthe Ventura River is one we’ve had our eyes on for decades. Originallyconstructed to store water for agriculture, the dam was condemned in 1965,less than 20 years after its construction due to it being structurally unsound.The obsolete dam remains there today, blocking steelhead access to primeupstream spawning and rearing habitat. CalTrout is a long-standing memberof the Matilija Coalition, along with Patagonia and the Ventura chapter ofSurfrider Foundation. As a member of the Matilija Dam Funding Committee,and with funding from Patagonia, CalTrout helped develop the Matilija DamRemoval 65% Design and Permitting Project that was funded by CaliforniaDepartment of Fish and Wildlife Prop 1 Watershed Restoration Grant Program.In April 2017, with support from the Resources Legacy Fund and their OpenRivers Fund, CalTrout developed a Matilija Dam Removal Ecosystem RestorationProject Funding Plan that outlines a funding strategy for the $118 millionprogram. Another significant fish passage blockage in Southern California is the Interstate

5 (I-5) bridge array at Trabuco Creek, a major tributary to San Juan Creek inOrange County. The stream channel runs below an array of five bridges and ispresent as a concrete flood control channel spanning a quarter of a mile. CalTroutis leading the Phase I engineering design in partnership with Trout Unlimited.The project entails technical studies and engineering design to reconnectfragmented habitats which will enable passage of juvenile and adult steelheadand access to 15 miles of upstream high quality habitat. This project charts apath to integrate natural processes into managed landscapes– creating watermanagement solutions that support wildlife, enhance flood protection, andsecure water resources. This approach demonstrates that endangered speciesare not an inevitable consequence of development, but that ecology and urbaninfrastructure can co-exist. The Future of Southern Steelhead These are just some of the projects CalTrout and our partners are engaged into bring back this magnificent fish from the brink. Our headwater-to-oceanrecovery approach will ensure the long-term persistence of self-sustaining wildpopulations of steelhead, ultimately resulting in the removal of Southernsteelhead from the federal list of endangered species. The aptitude of thisnative fish to persevere despite human impacts and climate change threatsgives us great hope. Recent restoration interventions have shown success withadult steelhead returning to their natal waters. These incidences of effective

I-5 Trabuco barrier in San Juan Capistrano, photo courtesy of Baker, CalTrans

Removing Barriers Fish passage among the complex array of concrete infrastructure that coversSouthern California is a major concern for steelhead recovery. Dams are one of the largest and more cumbersome barriers, since their removaltakes a significant amount of funding and planning. The Matilija Dam blockingthe Ventura River is one we’ve had our eyes on for decades. Originallyconstructed to store water for agriculture, the dam was condemned in 1965,less than 20 years after its construction due to it being structurally unsound.The obsolete dam remains there today, blocking steelhead access to primeupstream spawning and rearing habitat. CalTrout is a long-standing memberof the Matilija Coalition, along with Patagonia and the Ventura chapter ofSurfrider Foundation. As a member of the Matilija Dam Funding Committee,and with funding from Patagonia, CalTrout helped develop the Matilija DamRemoval 65% Design and Permitting Project that was funded by CaliforniaDepartment of Fish and Wildlife Prop 1 Watershed Restoration Grant Program.In April 2017, with support from the Resources Legacy Fund and their OpenRivers Fund, CalTrout developed a Matilija Dam Removal Ecosystem RestorationProject Funding Plan that outlines a funding strategy for the $118 millionprogram. Another significant fish passage blockage in Southern California is the Interstate

5 (I-5) bridge array at Trabuco Creek, a major tributary to San Juan Creek inOrange County. The stream channel runs below an array of five bridges and ispresent as a concrete flood control channel spanning a quarter of a mile. CalTroutis leading the Phase I engineering design in partnership with Trout Unlimited.The project entails technical studies and engineering design to reconnectfragmented habitats which will enable passage of juvenile and adult steelheadand access to 15 miles of upstream high quality habitat. This project charts apath to integrate natural processes into managed landscapes– creating watermanagement solutions that support wildlife, enhance flood protection, andsecure water resources. This approach demonstrates that endangered speciesare not an inevitable consequence of development, but that ecology and urbaninfrastructure can co-exist. The Future of Southern Steelhead These are just some of the projects CalTrout and our partners are engaged into bring back this magnificent fish from the brink. Our headwater-to-oceanrecovery approach will ensure the long-term persistence of self-sustaining wildpopulations of steelhead, ultimately resulting in the removal of Southernsteelhead from the federal list of endangered species. The aptitude of thisnative fish to persevere despite human impacts and climate change threatsgives us great hope. Recent restoration interventions have shown success withadult steelhead returning to their natal waters. These incidences of effective

Photos by Mike Wier

Photo by Mike Wier

By DR. ROB LUSARDI CalTrout/UC Davis Wild &Coldwater Fish Research Lead

WHAT THE SCIENCE SAYS

Defining protective stream flow requirements (environmental flows) for nativetrout and salmon is often a source of contention in California. This is particularlyamplified in agricultural landscapes where the demand for water is increasingand precipitation patterns are changing. To complicate matters, California’sMediterranean climate is highly variable, providing the vast majority of waterduring winter with little precipitation during the summer growing season. Thissupply-demand mismatch means that water for fish and agriculture is often ata premium during California’s long, dry summers. Quantifying environmental flows for salmon and trout in California hastraditionally focused on regulated rivers where hydropower and water storagedams require flow release prescriptions, but is complicated in unregulatedwatersheds where water availability and streamflow requirements vary by

region, watershed, and species. Additionally, there are numerous “competing”methods to quantify ecologically protective streamflows. One thing mostbiologists agree on is that environmental flows should reflect the naturalvariability of a river’s hydrograph (e.g., the size and frequency of a flow event,the timing and duration of those events, and the rate of change of those events).Less clear, however, is 1) exactly how much water can be diverted withoutnegatively affecting stream ecology and 2) which attributes of a river’shydrograph are necessary to capture when designing environmental flows forregulated rivers. Two recent published papers in the latest edition of Freshwater Biology addressthese questions and others.

In this column we highlightimportant scientific publications,by CalTrout staff and others, thatexpand upon our understandingof the management or scienceregarding trout, steelhead andsalmon in California.

Instream Flows A new regional approach and key features that enhance stream biodiversity below dams

and DARREN MIERAU CalTrout North Coast Director

Photo by Mike Wier, South Fork Eel

Defining protective stream flow requirements (environmental flows) for nativetrout and salmon is often a source of contention in California. This is particularlyamplified in agricultural landscapes where the demand for water is increasingand precipitation patterns are changing. To complicate matters, California’sMediterranean climate is highly variable, providing the vast majority of waterduring winter with little precipitation during the summer growing season. Thissupply-demand mismatch means that water for fish and agriculture is often ata premium during California’s long, dry summers. Quantifying environmental flows for salmon and trout in California hastraditionally focused on regulated rivers where hydropower and water storagedams require flow release prescriptions, but is complicated in unregulatedwatersheds where water availability and streamflow requirements vary by

region, watershed, and species. Additionally, there are numerous “competing”methods to quantify ecologically protective streamflows. One thing mostbiologists agree on is that environmental flows should reflect the naturalvariability of a river’s hydrograph (e.g., the size and frequency of a flow event,the timing and duration of those events, and the rate of change of those events).Less clear, however, is 1) exactly how much water can be diverted withoutnegatively affecting stream ecology and 2) which attributes of a river’shydrograph are necessary to capture when designing environmental flows forregulated rivers. Two recent published papers in the latest edition of Freshwater Biology addressthese questions and others.

Instream Flows A new regional approach and key features that enhance stream biodiversity below dams

WHAT THE SCIENCE SAYS

How much is enough? Mierau et al. (2017) present a regional water allocation method calledModified Percent of Flow (MPOF). The method is particularly applicable tothe North Coast of California, a region that has experienced immense growthin agriculture (orchards, vineyards, and cannabis) and increasing demandfor irrigation. The region also supports three federally listed species:steelhead, Coho and Chinook salmon. Increasing flow diversions havecompromised aquatic habitat for these species, particularly during thesummer and early fall low-flow seasons. MPOF differs from other instreamflow methods in a couple ways. First, most percent of flow methodsrecommend a fixed percentage of flow for diversion. Yet, these fixedpercentages are not readily defensible and, in some cases, may be arbitrary.Second, and related, POF methods generally do not link fixed diversionpercentages back to meaningful ecological criteria. The MPOF methodpresented in Mierau et al. (2017) improves on earlier methods by definingthe total amount of water available for diversion in a watershed as apercentage of a streamflow baseline and, importantly, links thosecumulative diversions to aquatic habitat for fish. Specifically, the methoddirectly links cumulative diversions to effects on stream depth referencedto the riffle crest, an important hydraulic feature for salmonids. Becausethe method uses daily flow data to construct a streamflow baseline, themethod is also well suited for the variable hydrology that characterizesNorth Coast watersheds. Although developed specifically for North Coastwatersheds, MPOF may also be calibrated for use in central and south coastwatersheds and perhaps elsewhere. In a second paper that was published in the same issue of Freshwater Biology, Steel et al. (2017) studied the effects of different flow regimes on streamfood webs in the Central Valley’s American and Yuba River watersheds. Theauthors examined the effects of regulated (dammed) and unregulated(undammed) flows on downstream food webs over three years during thesummer low flow period. Specifically, Steel et al. (2017) sought tounderstand whether the flow regimes of regulated and unregulated riverspromoted differences in biodiversity and, if so, could those differences be attributed to specific components of the flow regime?

Photos by Bob Hickox

Science informing policy The authors found pronounced differences in the food webs of regulatedand unregulated rivers, with unregulated rivers generally supporting higherrates of biodiversity. When they looked closer at the flow regimes of eachriver, they found that the spring snowmelt recession (the period of snowmeltduring spring) was most strongly correlated with ecosystem biodiversity.The findings are important because they suggest that the spring snowmeltrecession, despite receiving little attention in environmental flowmanagement, is critical to promoting healthy and robust river ecosystems.The results also suggest that the spring snowmelt recession should beincorporated into environmental flow targets in order to enhance aquaticbiodiversity, particularly in large regulated snowmelt-dominated rivers. Instream flow science has developed over the last several decades.Importantly, today’s methods are beginning to link environmental flows toecological indicators and biological response. The papers presented hereare important because they are either regionally specific and can beincorporated quickly into environmental flow planning or shed new lighton how flow regimes affect biodiversity in California rivers. To that end,these publications are informing instream flow policy throughout the stateand empowering regulators to set ecologically protective flows that arescientifically defensible to protect salmon and trout, particularly duringperiods of resource conflict. Dr. Robert Lusardi is the California Trout-UC Davis Wild and Coldwater Fish Scientist andDarren Mierau is California Trout’s North Coast Director. The original articles are currently available as early online view in Freshwater Biology: Mierau DW, WJ Trush, GJ Rossi, JK Carah, MO Clifford, and JK Howard. 2017. Managingdiversions in unregulated streams using a modified percent-of-flow approach. FreshwaterBiology 2017; 1-17. Steel, AE, RA Peek, RA Lusardi, and SM Yarnell. 2017. Associating metrics of hydrologicvariability with benthic macroinvertebrate communities in regulated and unregulatedsnowmelt-dominated rivers. Freshwater Biology 2017; 1-15.

WHAT THE SCIENCE SAYS

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That’s a wrap on the 2017 Five Rivers Challenge! Six teams, three days, fiveof the best blue ribbon trout waters in the country and nearly 3,500 inchesof wild trout caught. This is the second year of the event’s resurrection whichoriginated back in 1998 by CalTrout board member Dick Galland. Owner ofClearwater House at the time, he created the event to call attention to thegreat wild trout waters in the Burney area of Northern California, betweenMt. Lassen and Mt. Shasta. As teams headed out for the third and final day of fishing, they all felt theyhad a shot to bring home the prize, and indeed they did. While the teamthat held first place for the first two days, Frank Eldredge and Bill Zuraleff(both members of San Jose Flycasters club) guided by Dave Neal, had caught421 fish inches, the second place team of Les Hand and George Revel guidedby Brooks Provence were only 38 inches behind and still had the productiveMcCloud and Upper Sacramento rivers to fish. As well, the third throughfifth place teams were separated by only 22 fish inches going into the finalday. It was a tight race. The leaders had their free water in the morning, choosing to fish the Pit, andFall River in the afternoon slot. Neither were that good to them. Georgeand Les on the other hand, well, let’s just say they slayed it on the UpperSac, catching 222 fish inches there alone. They topped that off with another162 on the McCloud. Meanwhile, the sleeper team of Richard West and DanMcMillan guided by Jason Cockrum, who were in fifth place after two days,crushed it on the Fall River reeling in 240 inches for the final day andlaunched them into second place.

EVENT

2017 Five RiversChallenge ends ina tight race

Photo by Val Atkinson

EVENT

You’d be hard pressed to find a more perfect spot for anevent like the Five Rivers Challenge than the ClearwaterLodge and surrounding waters. Beyond its impeccable hostMichelle Titus and delicious food prepared by Nicole, thelodge is centrally located to some of the most beautifuland diverse wild trout waters in the country. Where elsecan you be tottering through baby head boulders on thePit one day, casting into emerald green pools of theMcCloud the next, and feeding line for the perfect driftfrom a boat on the Fall with Mount Shasta in perfect viewthe following? Thank you to the participants for supporting CalTrout andtaking an interest in our work; to the event sponsorsPatagonia, Sage, Redington, and Rio for donating prizes;and to Michelle Titus at Clearwater Lodge for hergraciousness and hospitality.After all was said and done, the winners of the 2017

Five Rivers Challenge were: 1st PlaceLes Hand and George Revel with Clearwater GuideBrooks Provence with 788" of fish caught. 2nd PlaceRich West and Dan McMillan with Clearwater GuideJason Cockrum with 555" of fish caught. 3rd PlaceGeof and Laura Wyatt with Clearwater GuideMike Peters with 548" of fish caught.

Register now for next year's event >

You’d be hard pressed to find a more perfect spot for anevent like the Five Rivers Challenge than the ClearwaterLodge and surrounding waters. Beyond its impeccable hostMichelle Titus and delicious food prepared by Nicole, thelodge is centrally located to some of the most beautifuland diverse wild trout waters in the country. Where elsecan you be tottering through baby head boulders on thePit one day, casting into emerald green pools of theMcCloud the next, and feeding line for the perfect driftfrom a boat on the Fall with Mount Shasta in perfect viewthe following? Thank you to the participants for supporting CalTrout andtaking an interest in our work; to the event sponsorsPatagonia, Sage, Redington, and Rio for donating prizes;and to Michelle Titus at Clearwater Lodge for hergraciousness and hospitality.After all was said and done, the winners of the 2017

Five Rivers Challenge were: 1st PlaceLes Hand and George Revel with Clearwater GuideBrooks Provence with 788" of fish caught. 2nd PlaceRich West and Dan McMillan with Clearwater GuideJason Cockrum with 555" of fish caught. 3rd PlaceGeof and Laura Wyatt with Clearwater GuideMike Peters with 548" of fish caught.

Register now for next year's event >

JUNE19-232018

Each of us has one, and whatever yours is, I’m hoping you will join me in considering making your ownlegacy gift to CalTrout. Typically that would bethrough a Will or Trust, like I am doing, but it couldbe anytime with good advance Estate Planning. I’m a local guy, born in Berkeley, raised in Oakland,high school in Lafayette, earned a business degreeat Cal Berkeley in 1957, followed by two yearsmilitary service as was customary in that decade. I can’t say exactly what brought me to a love of troutand fly fishing for them. I caught my first one at ageten but it wasn’t until I was out of the Navy and hadbegun a San Francisco business career that mypassion and concern for trout and the naturalsystems that support them was truly sparked.Noontime meetings with fellow anglers at adowntown fly shop, where we swapped fishing

glories (yes, some were lies), soon evolved todiscussions about the mounting threats to oursport: water development; deforestation;pollution; excessive bag limits; and other humanactivities were quickly diminishing the ability ofCalifornia to sustain quality fishing for wild trout.To us, loading up hatchery trucks with inferiorinbred rainbow trout was not the answer. Soon, a few of us coined the concept of “NaturalTrout Management,” formed California Trout, Inc.and went to work to forcefully change the futurewe feared. What followed over the next twenty years wasgame changing: the precedent setting Hat CreekWild Trout Project; The Wild Trout Program; dozensof premium waters given special management; TheCalifornia Wild and Scenic Rivers System (including

federal status); successful promotion of catch-and-release as the modern angling ethic; The Smith RiverNational Recreation Area; and much more. I made big changes in my life to make good thingshappen for wild trout against a tide of threats tothose remarkable critters. Sold my insurancebusiness, led CalTrout first as a volunteer, then firstemployee, because in our sport “It’s About The Fish”and we need to sustain and maintain them throughthe ages. That is why I have arranged a legacy gift to CalTrout.It’s like paying off an IOU for all the pleasure thosefish have given me and those with whom I sharedthe joy. Consider making your own legacy gift. Joinme in The Circle. Contact Julie Seelen for more info: [email protected],415-392-8887 xt102.

Legacy Giving by Richard May

Dear fellow CalTrout supporters, this is my story...

Each of us has one, and whatever yours is, I’m hoping you will join me in considering making your ownlegacy gift to CalTrout. Typically that would bethrough a Will or Trust, like I am doing, but it couldbe anytime with good advance Estate Planning. I’m a local guy, born in Berkeley, raised in Oakland,high school in Lafayette, earned a business degreeat Cal Berkeley in 1957, followed by two yearsmilitary service as was customary in that decade. I can’t say exactly what brought me to a love of troutand fly fishing for them. I caught my first one at ageten but it wasn’t until I was out of the Navy and hadbegun a San Francisco business career that mypassion and concern for trout and the naturalsystems that support them was truly sparked.Noontime meetings with fellow anglers at adowntown fly shop, where we swapped fishing

glories (yes, some were lies), soon evolved todiscussions about the mounting threats to oursport: water development; deforestation;pollution; excessive bag limits; and other humanactivities were quickly diminishing the ability ofCalifornia to sustain quality fishing for wild trout.To us, loading up hatchery trucks with inferiorinbred rainbow trout was not the answer. Soon, a few of us coined the concept of “NaturalTrout Management,” formed California Trout, Inc.and went to work to forcefully change the futurewe feared. What followed over the next twenty years wasgame changing: the precedent setting Hat CreekWild Trout Project; The Wild Trout Program; dozensof premium waters given special management; TheCalifornia Wild and Scenic Rivers System (including

federal status); successful promotion of catch-and-release as the modern angling ethic; The Smith RiverNational Recreation Area; and much more. I made big changes in my life to make good thingshappen for wild trout against a tide of threats tothose remarkable critters. Sold my insurancebusiness, led CalTrout first as a volunteer, then firstemployee, because in our sport “It’s About The Fish”and we need to sustain and maintain them throughthe ages. That is why I have arranged a legacy gift to CalTrout.It’s like paying off an IOU for all the pleasure thosefish have given me and those with whom I sharedthe joy. Consider making your own legacy gift. Joinme in The Circle. Contact Julie Seelen for more info: [email protected],415-392-8887 xt102.

Left: CalTrout's founder with abeautiful fish in undisclosed location(he will never tell exactly where). Far left: The young Richard Maysurviving his first catch. The fish,unfortunately, did not!

Legacy Giving by Richard May

Dear fellow CalTrout supporters, this is my story...

The Richa rd MayLegacy Ci r c l e

EVENT

Busy Day in the CapitolIt was expected to be a sweltering day on the State's Capitol, not unusual forlate August. But today, Tuesday, August 29, things were already heating up onthe Capitol Lawn before 9 am. It was a big day for CalTrout, kicking off withthe signing of the Central Valley Salmon Habitat Partnership (CVSHP) charter.California Secretary for Natural Resources John Laird along with a broad groupof stakeholders gathered to officially launch the Partnership. The CVSHPincludes state and federal water and wildlife agencies, farmers and watersuppliers, fishermen, and conservationists working together to restore andprotect vital salmon habitats. Central Valley rivers and their tributaries have been, historically, the third-mostproductive region for salmon on the West Coast. However, native salmon runsand steelhead populations have declined drastically here. Today, two of thefour distinct runs of Central Valley Chinook salmon, as well as steelhead, arelisted as threatened or endangered.

These fish migrate between inland rivers and streams and the ocean for differentparts of their lives. In the process, they face many challenges including blockedaccess to spawning grounds; a lack of cold water at critical times of year; anda dramatic reduction in habitat . Quality habitat is vital for providing food andshelter for young salmon to grow and for adult salmon to spawn. The Partnershipwill use its combined expertise to improve salmon habitat and supportwidespread recovery of Central Valley salmon and steelhead. The Partnership’s first order of business will be to identify, find funding for, andexecute the best opportunities to improve salmon habitat. The group is modeledafter the highly successful Central Valley Joint Venture through which a similargroup of stakeholders has been working for decades to recover native andmigratory bird populations. Partnership members provide expertise on a broadrange of issues, from scientific study to securing permits for habitat restoration.

“The successful recovery of any threatenedspecies requires cooperation from many parties.I’m confident that the remarkable range ofstakeholders working together in thisPartnership bodes well for the future of salmonand steelhead in the Central Valley.”- Secretary of Natural Resources John Laird

Busy Day in the CapitolIt was expected to be a sweltering day on the State's Capitol, not unusual forlate August. But today, Tuesday, August 29, things were already heating up onthe Capitol Lawn before 9 am. It was a big day for CalTrout, kicking off withthe signing of the Central Valley Salmon Habitat Partnership (CVSHP) charter.California Secretary for Natural Resources John Laird along with a broad groupof stakeholders gathered to officially launch the Partnership. The CVSHPincludes state and federal water and wildlife agencies, farmers and watersuppliers, fishermen, and conservationists working together to restore andprotect vital salmon habitats. Central Valley rivers and their tributaries have been, historically, the third-mostproductive region for salmon on the West Coast. However, native salmon runsand steelhead populations have declined drastically here. Today, two of thefour distinct runs of Central Valley Chinook salmon, as well as steelhead, arelisted as threatened or endangered.

These fish migrate between inland rivers and streams and the ocean for differentparts of their lives. In the process, they face many challenges including blockedaccess to spawning grounds; a lack of cold water at critical times of year; anda dramatic reduction in habitat . Quality habitat is vital for providing food andshelter for young salmon to grow and for adult salmon to spawn. The Partnershipwill use its combined expertise to improve salmon habitat and supportwidespread recovery of Central Valley salmon and steelhead. The Partnership’s first order of business will be to identify, find funding for, andexecute the best opportunities to improve salmon habitat. The group is modeledafter the highly successful Central Valley Joint Venture through which a similargroup of stakeholders has been working for decades to recover native andmigratory bird populations. Partnership members provide expertise on a broadrange of issues, from scientific study to securing permits for habitat restoration.

Photo: FLICKR Eugene_o

Science-based, collaborative approach “This group will take meaningful, decisive action to restore the types of habitat –in the right places – that these fish need to survive and even thrive,” said CurtisKnight, Executive Director of California Trout. By approaching habitat restoration in a collaborative, outcomes-basedmanner, the CVSHP hopes to see meaningful improvement in habitatconditions relatively quickly. An implementation plan will highlightmeasurable, geographically-specific goals within a set time frame toimprove the prospects of these fish. Because both public agencies andprivate organizations are currently involved in habitat restoration, thisunified approach ensures that the most important projects will beimplemented first, maximizing opportunities for native fish to recover.

EVENT

Photos by Mike Wier

7th Annual Casting Call on the Capitol Lawn CalTrout and Trout Unlimted's Casting Callis a great way for legislators to meet withour organization and members of thepublic, raising awareness for, andcelebrating, California’s native cold-waterfish populations. Through our work, andby developing positive relationships inSacramento, CalTrout has become the go-to organization for legislators forguidance on issues pertaining to fish,water, and people. The highlight of Casting Call is the castingcompetition. Out on the Capitol lawn,Assemblymembers, Senators, and naturalresource agency members braved theSacramento heat and joined us for castinglessons and a friendly competition. Thewinner of this year’s casting competitionwas the Department of Fish and Wildlife

squad with an assist from Senator Dodd(photo at left). CalTrout Executive Director Curtis Knightand Trout Unlimited's Brian Johnson alsomet with legislators throughout the day todiscuss issues our organizations supportsuch as: securing funds for Central Valleymulti-benefit projects in Senate Bill 5 (inwhich CalTrout was wildly successful!);securing funding for wetland andmountain meadows in the GreenhouseGas Reduction Fund budget process;Senator Mike McGuire’s Senate JointResolution 7 which supports California’scommitment to establish salmon andsteelhead support from the federalgovernment; as well as many other waterconservation initiatives.

SACRAMENTO UPDATE

CalTrout has a strong history of advocacy. From spearheading the“committee of two-million” to pass the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in 1971to having a strong voice in the successful push for a portion of the taxrevenue from marijuana sales under Prop 64 to go to conservation efforts.This has been a particularly exciting year in the California legislature. Therehas been a whirlwind of activity in the environmental sector includingsupport for a bill aiming for a complete overhaul of the CaliforniaEnvironmental Protection Act to reflect the potential gutting of the federalstandard, and more niche efforts to revamp the salmon and steelhead reportcards. While this is exciting, it makes for a crowded field where it is difficultto predict what will pass. That being said, CalTrout has been successful in its advocacy this legislativecycle. We’ve influenced active legislation, participated in key stakeholdermeetings on issues ranging from marijuana flow policy to greenhouse gaslegislation, and worked to create and foster relationships with legislators.Here is a peek into some legislation that has been passed into law, awaitsthe signature of the Governor, or is headed for the ballot in June of 2018:

B U D G E T A R Y P R I O R I T I E S

SB 144 (McGuire and Wood): Salmon and Steelhead Report

CardCalTrout has worked with California Department of Fish and Wildlife and supportsMcGuire and Wood’s SB 144, which was signed by the Governor in Septemberand extends the steelhead report-restoration card system until 2022. Theprogram charges anglers $5 annually, tracks angling trends, and creates fundsto be used for restoration work throughout California. The expenditure of thefunds must be used for projects that benefit both steelhead populations andthe angling community. CalTrout is committed to making sure this fundingmechanism remains a valuable tool to support our work throughout the state.

STATUS: Signed by Governor in September 2017.

Legislation and AdvocacyShaping policy to protect fish and their waters

Photos by Mike Wier

The Woodman Creek fish passage project is the type of salmon andsteelhead restoration work that could be funded with the continuation ofthe Salmon and Steelhead Report Card Program.

SACRAMENTO UPDATE

L E G I S L A T I V E P R I O R I T I E S

SB 5 (De Leon): Park Bonds

One of the largest environmental efforts this legislative cycle was the collision course of two large park bonds in the senate and the house. Onthe senate side DeLeon introduced SB 5: California Drought, Water, Parks,Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access For All Act of 2018; andon the house side Assemblyman Garcia introduced AB 18: California CleanWater, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access For All Act of 2018. Luckily for the legislature and environmentalists alike, Assemblyman Garciaagreed to fold his measure into SB 5 and it just inched over the finish linethanks to support of environmental groups and the leadership inSacramento. The bill was passed well after midnight on the final day of thesession after a hectic week of negotiations and compromises. This is far from the end, however, as this bill heads for the polls in June of2018 and still needs the anticipated, but not executed, signature fromGovernor Brown. A committee has been formed to support the ballot passingin June 2018, and CalTrout remains an active supporter as it heads towardsthe vote next summer.STATUS: Bill passed. On ballot in June 2018. SB 667 (Atkins): Department of Water Resources: Riverine andRiparian Stewardship ImprovementsSenator Atkins of San Diego has been an avid supporter of fisheries restoration and CalTrout has worked with Atkins to make sure SB 667 willhave a positive impact on promoting restoration throughout California. SB667 will allow closer coordination with agencies on restoration and fishpassage projects and should facilitate technical and financial assistance toentities like CalTrout who implement watershed-based riverine and riparianstewardship projects.STATUS: Passed the legislature. Signed by the Governor in October 2017.

$30 million is slated for the removal of Matilija dam in SB 5, theparks bond. Vote YES on SB 5 this June.

Fisheries restoration and fish passage projects will be funded withthe signing of SB 667.

Photos by Mike Wier

SACRAMENTO UPDATE

SB 49 (DeLeon and Stern): California Environmental, PublicHealth, and Workers Defense Act of 2017

Without diving too deep into the impetus for this bill, the government of California dove in head first to preserve the federal protections that mightbe on the chopping block in Washington D.C. SB 49 makes existing federallaws like the Clean Air and Water Acts, enforceable under California law.CalTrout, along with many conservation groups, was tasked with analyzingwhich federal standards are essential to preserving California’s freshwaterecosystems. Although there are concerns which we hoped SB 49 will address,CalTrout is pleased to write that California already has a healthy host ofenvironmental protections encoded into law. SB 49 was ultimately rejectedby the legislature, partly due to the success of the passage of the Park Bondand the packed schedule. California is still susceptible to major blows tofederal environmental protections, and this bill should resurface is we loseany ground in D.C.STATUS: On hold. Senate Joint Resolution 7 (McGuire)Passed by the legislature and signed into action by the Governor, this measure urges state and federal departments and agencies responsible forthe stewardship of public resources, as specified, to make collaborative,statewide salmon fishery restoration an urgent and high priority. Themeasure also urges the federal government to undertake all appropriatemeasures to provide necessary disaster relief for California salmon fisheriesfor 2017.STATUS: Passed legislature. Signed by the Governor. AB 109: Greenhouse Gas Reduction FundCalTrout supported amendments in AB 109 to make sure that the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund bill approves various investments to fightclimate change. Besides the potential funding pot, the recognition ofmountain meadow restoration as an important step towards combatingclimate change supports and verifies our Sierra Office’s greenhouse gas work.STATUS: Passed legislature. Awaits Governor's signature.

Salmon fisheries benefit from Senate Joint Resolution 7

Mountain meadow restoration, proven to combat climate change bysequestering greenhouse gases, could get funding through AB 109.

Photo by Mike Wier

Photo by Glenn Kubacki

PARTNER PROFILE

Reed AddisPrincipal, EEC

California Environmental and Energy Consulting (“EEC”) works with non-profit organizations and other natural resource groups to support theirpolicy and advocacy agendas in California and Washington D.C. We havepartnered with CalTrout since our formation and have enjoyed a greatworking relationship. Working with CalTrout offers a unique opportunity to engage with waterconservation, fisheries, and agency folks in addition to fosteringrelationships with members of the legislature. Our work with theorganization includes making connections with legislators in all of CalTrout’sregions, influencing legislation and budget plays that affect CalTrout’smission, and generally working with CalTrout to ensure that theorganizations legislative priorities are being addressed each year. As we look back at a packed legislative cycle in 2017, you can be sure ofone thing about the policy and political landscape; it certainly hasn’t beenboring! January saw the inauguration of a new President, and with him,new appointments and policy and budget proposals. There have been aseries of high level appointees in the natural resources and water agencies,such as the lifelong hunter/fisherman Secretary Ryan Zinke. However, asof October 1st, 10 of the 17 highest level appointments at the InteriorDepartment still need to be filled, including the US Fish and Wildlife ServiceDirector. The President’s proposed budgets would significantly impactnatural resources priority investments. And certain policy proposals relatedto the Endangered Species Act and Waters of the United States couldundermine progress we’ve made in past years.

Photo by Mike Wier

If you ask me why I have long supported CalTrout, I only need to reviewthe waters I have been regularly fishing since the 1980’s to be reminded.The Owens River, Hot Creek, the Kern and Kings rivers, the creeks of theGolden Trout Wilderness, and in my own backyard here in southernCalifornia, the West Fork of the San Gabriel River. Each of these hasbeen the beneficiary of CalTrout’s commitment to “protect and restore”trout, especially native trout, and their habitat. From riparian fencing onthe Owens and Kern rivers, to restoring alpine habitat for Golden trout, toreturning water to Mono Lake (and thereby establishing an importantlegal precedent for stream flows) and to the Owens gorge, CalTrout hasbeen a major force. As the Conservation Chair for my local fishing club,the Pasadena Casting Club, I am especially grateful for CalTrout’s long-standing commitment (almost 30 years now) to the West Fork Long-termManagement plan, to which they are a signatory. And just to round offthe list, here are two more reasons, items which younger or more recentfly fishers might take for granted: California’s Wild Trout and HeritageWild Trout programs, and the development of the Catch and Releaseethic in fishing.

Thank you, CalTrout!

John TobinPasadena, CACalTrout Member since 2005

Click to JOIN John

in supportingCalTrout

DONOR PROFILE

If you are 70 1/2 or older, you can makea tax-free distribution from your IRA.If you are 70½ or older, you can make a tax-freedistribution from your traditional or Roth IRA toCalTrout. You can donate without incurring incometax on your withdrawal – it's an efficient way tosupport the causes that matter to you most.

EEC Partner Profile (continued) At the State level, we worked hard on CalTrout’s behalf to capitalize onthe California Legislature’s appetite for environmental protections frompotential federal rollbacks. Governor Brown and legislative leaders didnot disappoint. We supported the passage of a Senate Joint Resolution7 which reaffirmed California’s commitment to salmon and steelheadrehabilitation, inserted language into a greenhouse gas restoration fundthat will protect mountain meadows now and into the future, extendedthe steelhead report card fund until 2022, and influenced countlessother pieces of legislation on behalf of CalTrout. Additionally, aresolution was reached on a $4.1B water and parks bond, which provideshundreds of millions for multi-benefit flood control projects, wateracquisition, fisheries enhancements, funding to support CalTrout’sCentral Valley Salmon Habitat Partnership, and many other naturalresource priorities. This measure will be placed before the voters in June2018, and we encourage Californians to vote YES! 2018 will provide both opportunities and challenges. Here at home wewill be instrumentally involved in the bond campaign through June. Atthe same time, the Legislature will reconvene to discuss thousands ofbills, many related to water operations and natural resourcesmanagement. At the federal level, the midterm elections may alter thecalculations and agendas on Capitol Hill. Meanwhile, the President’sagenda should hit its stride at the agency level as appointments getfilled in and policy implementation continues. EEC is proud to work with the staff and volunteers at CalTrout, protectingour natural resources, clean water, meadows, and wetlands, andsupporting innovative working partnerships that combine the benefits ofagriculture, flood control, and fisheries.

Request moreinformation today, emailor call Julie Seelen at415.392.8887 xt 102 [email protected]

Spot CheckBy MIKEY WIER

Legends of the Fall Did you know the Fall River is the largest spring-fed river in the western UnitedStates? Several icy aquifers coming from the snow and glaciers of Mount Shastasustain the Fall River’s flows. As such, it also holds one of the largest populationsof wild trout! In fact, it is designated a Wild Trout and Heritage Trout fishery bythe Department of Fish and Wildlife and is world famous for its large hard-pulling Rainbow trout. The Fall River winds 21 miles through a lush valley near the city of Fall RiverMills in the northeast corner of Shasta County. The Fall is the largest tributaryto the Pit River and was originally named by explorer John C. Fremont for thecascades where it abruptly "falls" from the low gradient valley plateau anddrops into the Pit River canyon.

As a kid I heard legends of the Fall River spoken in fly fishing lore. I heard about the prolific hatches and consistent dry fly fishing; the crystal clear, coldmeandering waters; the epic hex hatch in the early summer; and the massiveRainbows and occasional browns. These stories were mostly told by wealthyanglers who flew into private airstrips and only fished with guides from privateestates along the river. As a young angler and guide I didn't have those kindsof resources. My impression of the Fall River was that is was basically a privateplayground for rich fly fishers. Now that I’ve had the chance to spend more timeup there, some of my early perceptions remain, but some have changed. Whilethe river is mainly surrounded by private property, there is also public accessand fishing opportunities for the DIY angler as well.

Photo: Mike Wier

Legends of the Fall Did you know the Fall River is the largest spring-fed river in the western UnitedStates? Several icy aquifers coming from the snow and glaciers of Mount Shastasustain the Fall River’s flows. As such, it also holds one of the largest populationsof wild trout! In fact, it is designated a Wild Trout and Heritage Trout fishery bythe Department of Fish and Wildlife and is world famous for its large hard-pulling Rainbow trout. The Fall River winds 21 miles through a lush valley near the city of Fall RiverMills in the northeast corner of Shasta County. The Fall is the largest tributaryto the Pit River and was originally named by explorer John C. Fremont for thecascades where it abruptly "falls" from the low gradient valley plateau anddrops into the Pit River canyon.

As a kid I heard legends of the Fall River spoken in fly fishing lore. I heard about the prolific hatches and consistent dry fly fishing; the crystal clear, coldmeandering waters; the epic hex hatch in the early summer; and the massiveRainbows and occasional browns. These stories were mostly told by wealthyanglers who flew into private airstrips and only fished with guides from privateestates along the river. As a young angler and guide I didn't have those kindsof resources. My impression of the Fall River was that is was basically a privateplayground for rich fly fishers. Now that I’ve had the chance to spend more timeup there, some of my early perceptions remain, but some have changed. Whilethe river is mainly surrounded by private property, there is also public accessand fishing opportunities for the DIY angler as well.

Spring Source Waters As a devout California fly fisher it's almost embarrassing to admit the first timeI visited Fall River was only 5 years ago when I started working with CalTrout.While on a tour of CalTrout projects in Northern California, I was invited to atalk by our Mt. Shasta Regional Director Andrew Braugh and Carson Jeffresfrom UC Davis Center for Watershed Science. It was eye-opening to hear allabout the volcanic aquifers that feed thousands of gallons of cold spring waterinto the Fall River and how some of the water is sent to the valley for agriculture.The rest then goes on to generate power through several stations along thePit River, eventually making its way into Shasta Reservoir. From there, it movesdown the Lower Sacramento River and into the State Water Project, the nation’slargest state-built water conveyance system that fuels urban hubs, even allthe way down to Los Angeles! That's when I began to view the river as morethen just a fun place to fish. Turns out that the Fall River is one of California'smost valuable spring source water resources and, as such, deserves specialmanagement and protection. California Trout has been an instrumental forcein protecting the wild trout and cold water resources for over 40 years.

Fall's World Class Fishery As far as the fishing goes, it's world class! The cold spring waters support ahuge biomass of aquatic insects. There are hatches every month of the yearthat provide anglers with opportunities for dry fly fishing in the morning,evening, and sometimes all day long! If the fish aren't rising you can alwaysentice a bite with well-presented nymphs or slowly swung and strippedstreamers. Dead drifting nymphs under an indicator with a downstream bumpmend feeding line is the most effective technique. A variety of bugs will producefish, but your most consistent eats will usually be small mayfly patterns andbeatis imitations. As you slowly motor, row, or drift along through the crystal clear waters youcan see dozens of trout hovering around and moving above the weed bedsand muddy shoals. You'll soon realize that if you’re not getting bites, it's notbecause a lack of fish. You just need to refine your technique or wait for ahungry one to see your bugs.

Spring Source Waters As a devout California fly fisher it's almost embarrassing to admit the first timeI visited Fall River was only 5 years ago when I started working with CalTrout.While on a tour of CalTrout projects in Northern California, I was invited to atalk by our Mt. Shasta Regional Director Andrew Braugh and Carson Jeffresfrom UC Davis Center for Watershed Science. It was eye-opening to hear allabout the volcanic aquifers that feed thousands of gallons of cold spring waterinto the Fall River and how some of the water is sent to the valley for agriculture.The rest then goes on to generate power through several stations along thePit River, eventually making its way into Shasta Reservoir. From there, it movesdown the Lower Sacramento River and into the State Water Project, the nation’slargest state-built water conveyance system that fuels urban hubs, even allthe way down to Los Angeles! That's when I began to view the river as morethen just a fun place to fish. Turns out that the Fall River is one of California'smost valuable spring source water resources and, as such, deserves specialmanagement and protection. California Trout has been an instrumental forcein protecting the wild trout and cold water resources for over 40 years.

Fall's World Class Fishery As far as the fishing goes, it's world class! The cold spring waters support ahuge biomass of aquatic insects. There are hatches every month of the yearthat provide anglers with opportunities for dry fly fishing in the morning,evening, and sometimes all day long! If the fish aren't rising you can alwaysentice a bite with well-presented nymphs or slowly swung and strippedstreamers. Dead drifting nymphs under an indicator with a downstream bumpmend feeding line is the most effective technique. A variety of bugs will producefish, but your most consistent eats will usually be small mayfly patterns andbeatis imitations. As you slowly motor, row, or drift along through the crystal clear waters youcan see dozens of trout hovering around and moving above the weed bedsand muddy shoals. You'll soon realize that if you’re not getting bites, it's notbecause a lack of fish. You just need to refine your technique or wait for ahungry one to see your bugs. Photos in Spot Check by Mike Wier

Accessing the RiverThe best way to access the river is by boat. The majority of anglers either fish with local guides, own property there, or know someone withproperty that has river access. But if you’re a DIY guy, you are in luck! Asfar as I know, CalTrout owns the only public access and boat launch onthe Fall River proper. And it's free! Several years ago CalTrout bought asmall piece of land and maintain it as a launch point that is open to thepublic. The only hitch is you cannot launch motorized boats. Only humanor electric-powered craft can launch from the CalTrout property. Luckilythere is great fishing within close proximity in both directions. If you’re new to Fall River and have the means, I'd recommend going outwith a guide. There's no shortage of great guides in the area. They willhave a boat already parked somewhere on the river with private access.The last few times I fished Fall River was with the guides from ClearwaterLodge. They are all awesome and have been great sharing knowledgeand expertise of the fishery. I'd also recommend staying a night or two ifyou can. Michelle, owner of Clearwater, runs a great operation. The Lodgeis a beautiful historic building right on the Pit River and just ten minutesfrom Fall River. The entire property is more like a park, plus the cuisinethey serve is the talk of the town. That’s almost worth the price of a stayright there! There's also a small restaurant in Fall River Mills calledCrumbs that's worth a stop.

The Hex HatchIf you're looking for a truly unique experience, come during the hottestparts of summer for the hex hatch. Hexagenia limbata is the largestspecies of mayfly found in North America. They hatch typically in lateJuly and through August. The lodge offers special two hour hex trips afterdinner. Typically, you will leave around 7:30 to reach the water for thelast hour of light. As the afternoon winds calm down and the setting sunpaints the clouds, you will buzz out across the still waters and find a niceplace for the fireworks. As darkness starts to set in you will hear giantgulps. If you didn't know better you might think the sounds are frombeavers slapping their tail. But in fact it's actually giant rainbowsabsolutely crushing two inch long bright yellow mayflies. (continued onpage 58)

Forces of nature When you hear boulders boom as they slowly tumble beneath thepressure of water during a mountain river flood, it sinks in why riverrocks are smooth and round. The forces of water and erosion areastonishing. Geologic events are right before your eyes and in yourears. Jeffery Mount of the Public Policy Institute of California calls this State"North America's most variable climate." Drought, flood and fire cometo mind, with earthquakes and volcanic eruptions tossed in as well. Flood in particular, raise questions about the survival of trout,steelhead and salmon during such events. The Pacific Rim in generalbeg the question of how such species exist instead of ending up as

an evolutionary dead end eons ago. Any creature surviving beneaththe water at such times seems dubious. Each time, as an angler, you touch even a small wild trout, a windowinto the life of an extraordinary creature is before you. Few have theopportunity of close contact with such an iconic creature. We'refortunate that landing a wild trout is not as unlikely as finding a walletin a mall.

Craig's Cornerby Craig Ballenger, CalTrout Ambassador

Forces of nature When you hear boulders boom as they slowly tumble beneath thepressure of water during a mountain river flood, it sinks in why riverrocks are smooth and round. The forces of water and erosion areastonishing. Geologic events are right before your eyes and in yourears. Jeffery Mount of the Public Policy Institute of California calls this State"North America's most variable climate." Drought, flood and fire cometo mind, with earthquakes and volcanic eruptions tossed in as well. Flood in particular, raise questions about the survival of trout,steelhead and salmon during such events. The Pacific Rim in generalbeg the question of how such species exist instead of ending up as

an evolutionary dead end eons ago. Any creature surviving beneaththe water at such times seems dubious. Each time, as an angler, you touch even a small wild trout, a windowinto the life of an extraordinary creature is before you. Few have theopportunity of close contact with such an iconic creature. We'refortunate that landing a wild trout is not as unlikely as finding a walletin a mall.

REFLECTIONS Winners of the 2017 CalTrout Photo Contest

GRAND PRIZE WINNER: WILL BOUCHER, "Steelhead Sizing Each Other Up"REFLEC

TION

S

Winners of the 2017 CalTrout Photo Contest

GRAND PRIZE WINNER: WILL BOUCHER, "Steelhead Sizing Each Other Up"

REFLECTIONS Winners of the 2017 CalTrout Photo Contest

PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD: PHIL REEDY, End of a Perfect Day

Winners of the 2017 CalTrout Photo Contest

PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD: PHIL REEDY, End of a Perfect Day

REFLECTIONS Winners of the 2017 CalTrout Photo Contest

BEST PICTURE WINNERS

Winners of the 2017 CalTrout Photo Contest

BEST PICTURE WINNERS

SOUTHERN STEELHEAD - AGAINST ALL ODDSCalTrout produced ocumentary about one of California's most magnificent and endangerednative fish species.

TAIL OUT Interesting and entertaining internet finds

EPIC PROMISE DAYSThis year CalTrout partnered with Kirkwood Mountain for their Epic Promise Day on September16th. We helped lead a team of 112 volunteers to do some restoration activities in the KirkwoodMeadow.steelhead on the Eel. With appearances by Yvon Chouinard of Patagonia and Shane

CALTROUT VIDEO VAULT

SURFING THE WEB

Interesting and entertaining internet finds

A RIVER'S LAST CHANCEBy Shane Anderson North Fork Studios - A film about salmon, timber, weed, and wine alongNorthern California's Eel River.

STEELHEAD LIFE HISTORYBy Santa Clara River Steelhead Recovery Coalition - The first of 5 Water Talks in 2017 featuringpresentations from the experts on fish and water-related issues in Southern California. eelhead on

Central Office Staff Executive DirectorCurtis Knight, [email protected] & Administration DirectorAlan Roesberry, [email protected] DirectorJulie Seelen, CFRE, [email protected] Giving DirectorGaby Roff, [email protected] & Communications DirectorTracey Diaz, [email protected] AssociateMelissa Racklyeft, [email protected] Area Program ManagerPatrick Samuel, [email protected] ManagerEvan Reeves, [email protected] Attorney

Walter Redgie Collins, J.D.,[email protected]

Finance & Compliance ManagerNathan Lubarov, [email protected]

Communications AssociateAlisan Amrhein, [email protected]

Donor Database AssociateCasey O'Sullivan, [email protected]

Development AssociateJoceln Winkler, [email protected]

In the Field Fly Fishing AmbassadorCraig Ballenger [email protected]

Fly Fishing & Community OutreachMike [email protected]

Friends & Partners GovernorsAndrew Bassak, ChairStephen Rogers, Vice ChairRichard West, TreasurerRick Kaufman, SecretaryLinda Rosenberg AchGary ArabianTony BrookfieldGeorge ChoeEd De La RosaAndy EckertBill EpsteinDick GallandAmelie KappesLoretta KellerTom LarsenCharles LinkerLaureston McLellanBob PayneBob Rosenberg

Scott TuckerPaul VaisJeff Williams Academic/Science Partners UC Davis, Center forWatershed SciencesDr. Peter MoyleDr. Jeff MountDr. Jay LundCarson JeffresDr. Rob Lusardi, Leader, CalTrout/UC Davis Wild Fish Partnership Humbolt StateDr. Walt DuffyDr. Bill Trush UC MercedDr. Steve Hart University Nevada-Reno

Dr. Sudeep Chandra UC Santa BarbaraDr. Tom Dudley Sacramento Advocacy ConsultantsEnvironmental and Energy ConsultingConservation and Natural Resources Group (CNRG) Strategic/Legal AdvisorsEnvironmental Defense CenterManatt, Phelps & PhillipsShute, Mihaly & WeinbergJeff Thompson, Business Strategy AdvisorWater Power & Law Group, Richard Roos Collins

Contact us

360 Pine St., 4th FloorSan Francisco, CA 94104(415) [email protected] us on the web:caltrout.org

Who We Are

A WORD ABOUT US

I N T H E S P O T L I G H T

PATRICK SAMUEL Bay Area Program Manager

Patrick Samuel has been with CalTrout since 2015 andPatrick Samuel has been with CalTrout since 2015 and

recently took on the role of Bay Area Programrecently took on the role of Bay Area Program

Manager. Patrick was a key contributor to the Manager. Patrick was a key contributor to the State ofState of

the Salmonids II the Salmonids II report published in partnership withreport published in partnership with

UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences. Patrick andUC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences. Patrick and

his wife Lauren have a 1 1/2 year old son, Leo, andhis wife Lauren have a 1 1/2 year old son, Leo, and

live in the Redwood City. In his free time, he loves tolive in the Redwood City. In his free time, he loves to

fly fish, of course!fly fish, of course!

Photos: Mike Wier

Central Office Staff Executive DirectorCurtis Knight, [email protected] & Administration DirectorAlan Roesberry, [email protected] DirectorJulie Seelen, CFRE, [email protected] Giving DirectorGaby Roff, [email protected] & Communications DirectorTracey Diaz, [email protected] AssociateMelissa Racklyeft, [email protected] Area Program ManagerPatrick Samuel, [email protected] ManagerEvan Reeves, [email protected] Attorney

Walter Redgie Collins, J.D.,[email protected]

Finance & Compliance ManagerNathan Lubarov, [email protected]

Communications AssociateAlisan Amrhein, [email protected]

Donor Database AssociateCasey O'Sullivan, [email protected]

Development AssociateJoceln Winkler, [email protected]

In the Field Fly Fishing AmbassadorCraig Ballenger [email protected]

Fly Fishing & Community OutreachMike [email protected]

Friends & Partners GovernorsAndrew Bassak, ChairStephen Rogers, Vice ChairRichard West, TreasurerRick Kaufman, SecretaryLinda Rosenberg AchGary ArabianTony BrookfieldGeorge ChoeEd De La RosaAndy EckertBill EpsteinDick GallandAmelie KappesLoretta KellerTom LarsenCharles LinkerLaureston McLellanBob PayneBob Rosenberg

Scott TuckerPaul VaisJeff Williams Academic/Science Partners UC Davis, Center forWatershed SciencesDr. Peter MoyleDr. Jeff MountDr. Jay LundCarson JeffresDr. Rob Lusardi, Leader, CalTrout/UC Davis Wild Fish Partnership Humbolt StateDr. Walt DuffyDr. Bill Trush UC MercedDr. Steve Hart University Nevada-Reno

Dr. Sudeep Chandra UC Santa BarbaraDr. Tom Dudley Sacramento Advocacy ConsultantsEnvironmental and Energy ConsultingConservation and Natural Resources Group (CNRG) Strategic/Legal AdvisorsEnvironmental Defense CenterManatt, Phelps & PhillipsShute, Mihaly & WeinbergJeff Thompson, Business Strategy AdvisorWater Power & Law Group, Richard Roos Collins

Contact us

360 Pine St., 4th FloorSan Francisco, CA 94104(415) [email protected] us on the web:caltrout.org

PATRICK SAMUEL Bay Area Program Manager

Conservation Staff Mt. Shasta/KlamathDrew [email protected] Tuli [email protected] North CoastDarren [email protected] Mary [email protected] Marissa [email protected] Sierra HeadwatersMark Drew, [email protected] Levi [email protected] Janet [email protected] Central CaliforniaJacob Katz, [email protected] Southern California Sandra Jacobson, [email protected] Candice [email protected]

Spot Check continued from page 47

At first you will start to see rings here and there. Then you'll notice somebugs in the air and the gulping will get more intense. By dark the entireriver will be covered in bugs and spent shucks and you won't be able todistinguish your fly from the naturals. There's typically a sweet spot windowthat lasts anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour when the fish are mostactive and you can see your fly easily. By the end of the night there willsometimes be so many flies on the water you can try just throwing yoursout, lift when you hear a gulp and hope for the best. Eventually the fishgorge on so many flies they get full and stop eating. If you get a couplefish, it's a good session, but I assure you the size and quality of the fish willblow your mind. Fishing the Hex hatch is unreal! It's an experience all flyfishers should experience at some point.

Thanks for spending time with

The CurrentPlease send us your emails, photos

and comments to [email protected] We want to hear from you!