CNDDB News Blog

Longfin smelt photograph by Bill Stagnaro(opens in new tab) (CC BY-SA 3.0(opens in new tab)) from Mare Island, Solano County, California

Longfin smelt (Spirinchus thaleichthys) are relatively small (10-20 cm) anadromous fish with characteristically long pectoral fins that can be found in middle or deeper parts of the water column of estuaries and bays from California to Alaska. Longfin smelt were listed throughout their range in California as Threatened under the California Endangered Species Act in 2009. Recently, due to ongoing threats from altered hydrology, nonnative species, and effects of climate change, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) ruled that the San Francisco Bay-Delta distinct population segment (DPS) of the longfin smelt is Federally Endangered (effective 29 August 2024).

Because different populations in California now have different legal status, CNDDB has added a new species record for the Bay-Delta DPS and split our Element Occurrence records based on these populations. The following are our two species records representing this taxon along with their general distribution based on the USFWS’s recent descriptions and map figures:

• Longfin smelt (Spirinchus thaleichthys)
  • State Threatened
  • Coastal estuaries north of the Russian River (primarily Humboldt Bay) and south of Pillar Point, Half Moon Bay.
• Longfin smelt - San Francisco Bay-Delta DPS (Spirinchus thaleichthys pop. 2)
  • State Threatened
  • Federally Endangered
  • Gulf of the Farallones from Russian River to Pillar Point, Half Moon Bay, and salt and freshwater habitats upstream of the Golden Gate including the San Francisco Bay, Sacramento - San Joaquin River Delta, and their tributaries where found.

References

• California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB). July 2024. State and Federally Listed Endangered and Threatened Animals of California(opens in new tab). California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Sacramento, CA.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2024a. Endangered Species Status for the San Francisco Bay-Delta Distinct Population Segment of the Longfin Smelt, Final Rule(opens in new tab). Federal Register 89(146):61029-61049.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2024b. Species Status Assessment for the San Francisco Bay-Delta Distinct Population Segment of the Longfin Smelt(opens in new tab). Version 2.0. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. San Francisco Bay-Delta Fish and Wildlife Office, Sacramento, California. 105 pp. + Appendices A–E.

The following CNDDB documents have been updated:

• Special Vascular Plants, Bryophytes, and Lichens List (PDF)
• Endangered, Threatened, and Rare Plants List (PDF)
• Changes to the CNDDB Special Vascular Plants, Bryophytes, and Lichens List (PDF)
• Special Animals List (PDF)
• Endangered and Threatened Animals List (PDF)

Links to the T&E and Special Plants/Animals lists can be found on the CNDDB Plants and Animals web page. More information about state listing can be found on the California Fish and Game Commission CESA page and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife CESA page. If you have any questions about these lists, please email us at CNDDB@wildlife.ca.gov.

Indian Knob mountainbalm (Eriodictyon altissimum)
CDFW photo by Kristi Lazar

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has initiated a five-year species review (Species Review) for the state endangered Indian Knob mountainbalm (Eriodictyon altissimum) to inform the California Fish and Game Commission's decision on whether to retain or change the status of the species under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). As part of this process, the CNDDB would like to encourage anyone who has observed Indian Knob mountainbalm to submit their findings to us. People who have questions or comments about the review process should email the Native Plant Program at NativePlants@wildlife.ca.gov. The deadline to submit data and comments is September 9, 2024, to allow us sufficient time for evaluation.

Indian Knob mountainbalm is a shrub known from only six populations in San Luis Obispo County, California. Four of those populations are located in the Los Osos area of San Luis Obispo County and two populations are located just south of the City of San Luis Obispo in San Luis Obispo County. This species was originally listed as endangered in 1979 under the Native Plant Protection Act and then afforded protection under CESA in 1984 when endangered plants became a part of CESA (Fish & G. Code, §§ 1900 et seq., 2050 et seq.).

The purpose of a Species Review is to use the best scientific information available to determine if the conditions that led to the original species listing are still present or have changed since listing, and to recommend retaining or changing the status of the species (Fish & G. Code, §§ 2072.3 & 2077). Process information, along with recently completed reviews, are available on our web page for Five-Year Reviews of Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species. Take of this species is prohibited without an appropriate permit for scientific, educational or management purposes. For more information on permitting, visit our CESA permits web page.

We need your help in better understanding the endangered status of Indian Knob mountainbalm. If you have ever found the species in the wild, submit your findings to us through our Online Field Survey Form.