CDFW Invites Public to Review Petition to List Southern California Steelhead as Endangered

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has instituted a status review for the Southern California steelhead and requests data or comments on a petition to list the fish as an endangered species under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). Southern California steelheads 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. As defined in the CESA petition, Southern California steelhead includes anadromous (ocean-going) and resident (stream-dwelling) steelhead species with poor completion rates of migration in these streams. Significant threats to Southern California steelhead include destruction, modification, and habitat fragmentation due to anthropogenic water use (dams or diversions to provide water for human use) and climate change impacts like increased stream temperatures and heightened drought conditions. Protecting the fish is important as the Southern California steelhead represents an important diversity component in California because of their unique adaptations, life histories, and genetics. The Commission accepted the petition for consideration on April 21, 2021. On June 14, 2021, California Trout petitioned the California Fish and Game Commission to list Southern California steelhead as an endangered species under CESA. On May 13 of this year, the Commission provided public...