Public Invited to Comment on Petition to List Southern California Steelhead as Endangered

Fri, 15 Jul 2022 12:43:12 GMT

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has initiated a status review for Southern California steelhead and invites data or comments on a petition to list Southern California steelhead as an endangered species under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA).

Southern California steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) are found in streams from the Santa Maria River at the southern county line of San Luis Obispo County down to the U.S.-Mexico border. Southern California steelhead as defined in the CESA petition include both anadromous (ocean-going) and resident (stream-dwelling) forms of the species below complete migration barriers in these streams.

Major threats to Southern California steelhead include destruction, modification and fragmentation of habitat due to anthropogenic water use (i.e., dams or diversions for the purposes of providing water for human use) and climate change impacts like increased stream temperatures and intensified drought conditions. Southern California steelhead represent an important steelhead diversity component in California due to their unique adaptations, life histories and genetics.

On June 14, 2021, California Trout submitted a petition to the California Fish and Game Commission to list Southern California steelhead as an endangered species under CESA. On April 21, 2022, the Commission accepted that petition for consideration. On May 13, 2022, the Commission provided public notice that Southern California steelhead is now a candidate species under CESA and as such, receives the same legal protection afforded to an endangered or threatened species. The listing petition and CDFW’s petition evaluation report are available on the Commission website.

CDFW invites data or comments on the petitioned action, including Southern California steelhead ecology, genetics, life history, distribution, abundance, habitat, the degree and immediacy of threats to its reproduction or survival, the adequacy of existing management or recommendations for management of the species. Data or comments may be submitted via email to SCSH@wildlife.ca.gov. Please include “Southern California Steelhead” in the subject line. Submissions may also be sent to:

CDFW Fisheries Branch
Attn: Southern California Steelhead
P.O. Box 944209
Sacramento, California 94244-2090

Submissions must be received by Sept. 30. CDFW has 12 months to review the petition, evaluate the best available scientific information relating to Southern California steelhead and make a recommendation to the Commission. The Commission will then place receipt of the report on the agenda for the next available Commission meeting. The report will be made available to the public for that meeting, where the Commission will schedule the petition for further consideration.

For more information on the petition, please visit the Commission website.

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Media Contact:
Kirsten Macintyre, CDFW Communications, (916) 804-1714

Photo: Southern California steelhead, CDFW photo by Kyle Evans

California Fish and Game Commission Holds First Hybrid Meeting

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 12:26:25 GMT

At its April meeting the California Fish and Game Commission acted on several issues affecting California’s natural resources. The following are just a few items of interest from this week’s meeting held in Monterey and Trinidad, with an option for the public to join via Zoom.

The Commission adopted a regulation prohibiting the use of hydraulic pumps to take clams, sand crabs and shrimp. This regulation was previously adopted as a temporary, emergency regulation and is now adopted through the standard rulemaking process.

The Commission adopted the Pink (Ocean) Shrimp Fishery Management Plan, consistent with the Marine Life Management Act. The plan’s provisions align California’s pink shrimp management with that of Oregon and Washington, and puts the commercial pink shrimp trawl fishery on the path to be the first state-managed fishery in California with a Marine Stewardship Council sustainability certification.

The Commission determined that listing southern California steelhead as threatened or endangered under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) may be warranted. This action commences a one-year status review to be completed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), during which southern California steelhead is protected as a candidate species. However, the Commission also voted to allow take of southern California steelhead under certain circumstances for projects that serve an immediate need and provide flood protection, public safety (including highways), or water supply or water treatment.

The Commission voted unanimously to deny the petition requesting to ban bear hunting in California until three conditions were met, including conducting an empirical study to determine the state’s black bear population.

This was the first Commission meeting held since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic with options for both in-person and virtual attendance. At the meeting in Monterey, Commission President Samantha Murray, Vice President Erika Zavaleta and Commissioner Eric Sklar were present. Commissioner Jacque Hostler-Carmesin attended from a second public location in Trinidad, Calif. There is one vacant position on the Commission.

The agenda for this meeting along with supporting information is available on the Commission website. An archived audio file will be available in coming days. The next meeting of the full Commission is scheduled for June 15-16, 2022. Please see the Commission website for details.

Media Contact:
Jordan Traverso, CDFW Communications, (916) 212-7352

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The California Fish and Game Commission was one of the first wildlife conservation agencies in the United States, predating even the U.S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries. There is often confusion about the distinction between the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the Commission. In the most basic terms, CDFW implements and enforces the regulations set by the Commission, as well as provides biological data and expertise to inform the Commission’s decision-making process.

CDFW News

Public Invited to Comment on Petition to List Southern California Steelhead as Endangered

California Fish and Game Commission Holds First Hybrid Meeting