South-Central California Coast Steelhead
The South-Central California Coast steelhead is a threatened species. NOAA Fisheries’ West Coast Region, along with the Science Centers, work to protect and conserve this species under the Endangered Species Act.
Species Status
ESA Listing Status: Threatened on August 18, 1997 (62 FR 43937) and January 5, 2006 (71 FR 833); updated April 14, 2014 (79 FR 20802)
DPS Description: This distinct population segment, or DPS, includes naturally spawned anadromous steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) originating below natural and manmade impassable barriers from the Pajaro River to (but not including) the Santa Maria River.
Current Population Trends: South-Central California Coast Steelhead Status Reviews and Five-Year Updates
Critical Habitat: Designated September 2, 2005
Protective Regulations: Issued June 28, 2005 (70 FR 37159)
Recovery Plan: South-Central California Coast Steelhead Recovery Plan (2013)
Species Recovery
NOAA Fisheries delineated eight recovery domains, or geographic recovery planning areas, for the ESA-listed salmon and steelhead populations on the West Coast. The South-Central/Southern California Coast Domain extends from the Pajaro River to the Tijuana River at the U.S.-Mexican border (see map of recovery domains). This sub-domain is home to two ESA-listed steelhead species:
- South-Central California Coast steelhead
- Southern California Coast steelhead
NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region manages recovery planning and implementation for this domain through its California Coastal Area Office.
Recovery Plan
Working with its partners, NOAA Fisheries adopted a Recovery Plan for South-Central California Coast Steelhead in 2013. The plan is based on the biological needs of the fish and provides the foundation for restoring populations to healthy levels.
Partnerships for Recovery
Partners A - C
- AmeriCorps Environmental Stewards
- Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments
- Audubon California
- Army Corps of Engineers
- Association of California Water Agencies
- Anadromous Fish Restoration Program
- Arroyo Seco River Alliance
- Big Creek Lumber Company
- Big Sur Land Trust
- Bureau of Indian Affairs (United States)
- Bureau of Land Management (United States)
- Bureau of Reclamation (United States)
- California‐American Water Company
- California Coastal Commission
- California Coastal Conservancy
- California Conservation Corps
- California Division Safety of Dams
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife
- California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
- California Department of Transportation
- California Department of Parks and Recreation
- California Division of Mines and Geology
- California Native Plant Society
- California River Parkway Program
- California Sport Fishing Protective Association
- California State University, Monterey Bay
- California State Water Resources Control Board
- California Trout
- Cambria Community Service District
- Carmel Area Wastewater District
- Carmel River Association
- Carmel River Lagoon Coalition
- Carmel River Steelhead Association
- Carmel River Watershed Conservancy
- Carmel River Watershed Council
- Carmel Valley Property Owners Association
- Central Coast Resource Conservation and Development Council
- Central Coast Salmon Enhancement, Inc.
- Coastal Habitat, Education, and Environmental Restoration
- Coastal San Luis Resource Conservation District
- Comprehensive Monitoring Assessment and Research Program
- City of Atascadero
- City of Carmel
- City of Monterey
- City of Morro Bay
- City of Gilroy
- City of Paso Robles
- City of Pismo Beach
- City of Salinas
- City of San Luis Obispo
- City of San Miguel
- City of Watsonville
Partners D - R
- Department of Transportation (United States)
- Department of Water Resources (State of California)
- Environmental Protection Agency (United States)
- Earth Island Institute
- Elkhorn Slough Foundation
- Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
- Friends of the River
- Fisheries Restoration Grant Program
- Garrapata Creek Watershed Council
- Los Padres Forest Watch
- The Nature Conservancy
- Monterey County
- Marina Coast Water District
- Morro Bay National Estuary Program
- Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
- Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project
- Monterey County Public Works Department
- Monterey County Service Area 50
- Monterey County Water Resources Agency
- Monterey Peninsula Water Management District
- Monterey Regional Park District
- Monterey County Unified Sportsmen Association
- National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
- National Park Service, Pacific Western Regional Office
- National Resources Conservation Service
- Pebble Beach Community Services District
- Planning and Conservation League Foundation
- Regional Water Quality Control Board
- Resource Conservation District of Monterey County
- Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County
Partners S - Z
- San Benito County
- San Benito County Water District
- San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau
- Santa Clara County
- Santa Cruz County Resource Conservation District
- Santa Cruz County
- Santa Clara Valley Water District
- Santa Lucia Preserve
- Santa Luis Obispo County
- Salinas Valley Fly Fishers Club
- The Big Sur Land Trust
- The Cambria Land Trust
- The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County
- Tri‐County Fish Team
- Trout Unlimited
- The Wildlands Conservancy
- The Watershed Institute (California State University, Monterey Bay)
- Upper Salinas‐Las Tablas Resources Conservation District
- Upper Salinas Watershed Coalition
- United States Forest Service
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service
- United States Geological Survey
- Ventana Wilderness Alliance
- United States Army (Fort Hunter Liggett)
- Wildlife Conservation Board (State of California)
More Information
- Steelhead Status Reviews and Five-Year Updates
- Steelhead Federal Register Notices
- Salmon and Steelhead Federal Register Rules and Notices prior to August 2019
- Steelhead Maps & GIS Data
- Salmon Publications
- Steelhead Publications
- Salmon and Steelhead Hatcheries on the West Coast
- Learn about what you can do to help endangered and threatened salmon and steelhead recover
- Recent Stories
Contact
If you have questions, would like to learn more about recovery efforts in your watershed, or would like to get involved directly, please contact:
West Coast Region - California Coastal Area Office
Mark Capelli
Email: Mark.Capelli@noaa.gov
Phone: 805.963.6478 ext. 14