May 3, 2002
Contact: Tanya Gulesserian, Environmental Defense Center, 805 963-1622

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA STEELHEAD TROUT INCLUDED IN PROTECTION EFFORTS

CALIFORNIA - Efforts to protect Southern Steelhead Trout from extinction were bolstered on Wednesday when the federal agency charged with their protection, the National Marine Fisheries Service, expanded the Southern California range to be included in protection efforts. In 2000, the Environmental Defense Center (EDC), along with six other conservation and fishing organizations, filed a lawsuit against NMFS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over the agencies' failure to fully protect imperiled steelhead trout in southern California. In a Rule published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, NMFS expanded the range of the species to include all of Southern California's coastal streams.

"We are pleased that Steelhead living in all of Southern California's coastal streams will now be included in protection efforts," said Tanya Gulesserian, Staff Attorney for the Environmental Defense Center. "If we are to succeed in bringing Steelhead back from the brink of extinction, we need to protect the species in these important habitat areas."

When Steelhead Trout were listed as endangered in 1997, NMFS excluded Steelhead located upstream of dams and south of Malibu Creek in Los Angeles County from having protected status. This incomplete protection prompted a lawsuit in 2000 by EDC, California Trout, Inc., the Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Santa Clara River, Heal the Bay, Institute for Fisheries Resources and the Pacific Coast Federation of Fisherman's Associations. Scientific studies conducted by NMFS and others describe the importance of steelhead spawning habitat upstream of several southern California dams and note that the species inhabits streams as far south as northern Baja California. Nevertheless, the agencies excluded formal Endangered Species Act protections for these areas.

After finding Steelhead Trout in San Mateo Creek in North San Diego County in 1999, NMFS decided to extend the area included in Steelhead protection efforts south to the Mexican border. Unfortunately, the action taken by NMFS did not include critical habitat designation for Steelhead, which would have required public agencies and landowners to consult with NMFS on activities that could affect Steelhead.

"EDC will continue to seek protection of critical habitat for all Southern California steelhead, including vital spawning habitat upstream of several southern California dams," said Tanya Gulesserian. "As evidenced by the agency's decision this week, NMFS must abide by the best available science which shows that habitat areas upstream of dams and south of Malibu Creek are essential for steelhead recovery."

Southern California Steelhead is a distinct population of a species that occurs from Alaska to northern Baja California. Steelhead spend most of their adult life in the ocean, returning to rivers to spawn. Headwater streams in southern California mountains and foothills provide spawning habitat and shelter juvenile fish. Estuaries provide a zone where young steelhead adapt to saltier water before migrating into the ocean. Coastal rivers and streams serve as migration corridors between the headwaters and ocean. Tens of thousands of the prized sport fish once returned from the Pacific Ocean every year to spawn in southern California streams and rivers. Dams and urban development have since decimated steelhead runs and today only a few hundred fish remain.

The Environmental Defense Center is a non-profit, public interest environmental law firm serving California's Central Coast. Since 1977, EDC has provided public education, organizing, advocacy, and legal services to community groups dedicated to environmental quality and health. For more information, please contact Tanya Gulesserian at (805) 963-1622 or visit our website at http://www.edcnet.org.