Status of Clear Lake Hitch in Lower Blue Lake, Lake County, California, 2024

California Fish and Wildlife Scientific Journal | December 29th, 2025

Clear Lake Hitch (Lavinia exilicauda chi) is a native minnow found primarily in Clear Lake, Lake County, California that is listed as threatened under the California Enda

Clear Lake Hitch (Lavinia exilicauda chi) is a native minnow found primarily in Clear Lake, Lake County, California that is listed as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act and has been petitioned for listing under the United States Endangered Species Act. Management interest in Clear Lake Hitch originates, in part, from historical accounts which indicate it was formerly highly abundant and an important resource for Native American Tribes (Moyle 2002; CDFW 2014). A variety of factors are thought to have contributed to a substantial decline in Clear Lake Hitch abundance. These factors include the loss and degradation of stream habitat used for spawning and rearing caused by changes in land and water use in the watershed, and the loss and degradation of lacustrine habitat caused by shoreline development, reclamation of wetlands, and broad-scale changes to biological and physio-chemical components of Clear Lake (Moyle 2002; CDFW 2014).

Status Review of California coho salmon north of San Francisco

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) | May 9th, 2002

On July 28, 2000, the Fish and Game Commission (Commission) received a petition to list coho salmon north of San Francisco as an endangered species under provisions of th

On July 28, 2000, the Fish and Game Commission (Commission) received a petition to list coho salmon north of San Francisco as an endangered species under provisions of the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). The Commission referred the petition to the Department of Fish and Game (Department) on August 7, 2000, for evaluation. The Department found that the information in the petition was sufficient to indicate the action may be warranted and recommended the Commission accept the petition. The petition was accepted by the Commission on April 5, 2001. On April 27, 2001 the Commission published a Notice of Findings in the California Regulatory Notice Register declaring coho salmon a candidate species, thereby starting the candidacy period. The Department solicited information and undertook a status review of the species using the best scientific information available. This report contains the results of the Department’s status review and recommendations to the Commission. The Department evaluated the status separately for the two coho salmon Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESU) that occur in California: Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast Coho ESU (SONCC Coho ESU - those populations from Punta Gorda north to the Oregon border) and the Central California Coast Coho ESU (CCC Coho ESU - those populations from San Francisco Bay north to Punta Gorda). This approach is consistent with previous listings, the federal approach to species’ evaluation, and the generally accepted biological criterion that a species is “a group of interbreeding organisms that is reproductively isolated from other such groups.”

Steelhead Restoration and Management Plan for California

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) | February 1st, 1996

This document will serve as the blueprint for the Department's efforts to restore this prized, and oftentimes overlooked, resource. Restoration of California's anadrom

This document will serve as the blueprint for the Department's efforts to restore this prized, and oftentimes overlooked, resource. Restoration of California's anadromous fish populations is mandated by The Salmon, Steelhead Trout, and Anadromous Fisheries Program Act of 1988 (SB 2261) which states that it is a policy of the State to significantly increase the natural production of salmon and steelhead by the end of the century. SB 2261 directs the Department to develop a program that strives to double naturally spawning anadromous fish populations by the year 2000. Steelhead management is often included in, and sometimes lost within, management of the more economically important Pacific salmon. Recognizing this, several legislators along with prominent angling organizations urged the Department to incorporate a Statewide Steelhead Restoration Plan into the initial elements of the SB 2261 program. Thus, the development of the Steelhead Restoration and Management Plan for California (Steelhead Plan) has been an important feature of the SB 2261 program since its inception in 1988. Various organizations, principally California Trout, Inc. and Trout Unlimited, remain committed to assisting the Department in its efforts to recover steelhead populations and eagerly await the publication of the Steelhead Plan so that implementation of the identified restoration measures can begin.  Many other angling and conservation organizations are committed to the Steelhead Plan and have corresponded with the Department during its development. Governor Pete Wilson pointed out in his Water Policy Statement of April, 1992, the urgent need for a long-term, comprehensive water policy that includes safe, reliable water supplies for cities and farms and sufficient water to restore fish and wildlife resources. The goals and recommendations set forth in the Steelhead Plan are consistent with this latter aspect of the Governor's Water Policy. Because steelhead are present within the range of all other anadromous salmonid species in California, and because they use a greater portion of a particular river system than do other anadromous fish, restoration of steelhead habitat will have a salutary effect on many other anadromous fish species as well. The Steelhead Plan is one in a series of documents developed by the Department to address the mandated doubling policy stated above. Restoring Central Valley Streams, A Plan for Action was published in 1993 and presents a multi-species approach to restoration of anadromous fish populations in the Central Valley. The Steelhead Plan dovetails with, and is an integral component of, this Action Plan. The Steelhead Plan identifies the life history requirements and needs of an important element of Central Valley anadromous fish ecosystems.

Storing and managing water for the environment is more efficient than mimicking natural flows

Nature Portfolio (Springer Nature) | June 27th, 2024

Storing Water for the Environment: Operating Reservoirs to Improve California’s Freshwater Ecosystems

Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) | August 23rd, 2022

Large reservoirs like those that rim the Central Valley are essential for managing water in California’s highly variable climate. They provide multiple benefits includi

Large reservoirs like those that rim the Central Valley are essential for managing water in California’s highly variable climate. They provide multiple benefits including water supply, hydropower, flood management, and recreation. However, construction and operation of these reservoirs have also imposed significant environmental costs, including native fishes’ loss of access to high-quality habitat above dams and degradation of freshwater ecosystems below them. Moreover, regulatory uncertainty for water users is rising as these ecosystems decline. California needs a new approach for managing environmental water in its large reservoirs, particularly as the climate warms and droughts become more intense.

Summary & Evaluation of Central California Coast Coho Salmon 2016

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) | April 14th, 2016

Many West Coast salmon and steelhead (Oncorhynchus sp.) stocks have declined substantially from their historic numbers and now are at a fraction of their historical abund

Many West Coast salmon and steelhead (Oncorhynchus sp.) stocks have declined substantially from their historic numbers and now are at a fraction of their historical abundance. There are several factors that contribute to these declines, including: overfishing, loss of freshwater and estuarine habitat, hydropower development, poor ocean conditions, and hatchery practices.  These factors collectively led to the National Marine Fisheries Service‘s (NMFS) listing of 28 salmon and steelhead stocks in California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington under the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). The ESA, under section 4(c)(2), directs the Secretary of Commerce to review the listing classification of threatened and endangered species at least once every five years. After completing this review, the Secretary must determine if any species should be: (1) removed from the list; (2) have its status changed from threatened to endangered; or (3) have its status changed from endangered to threatened. The most recent listing determinations for most salmon and steelhead occurred in 2011. NMFS completed a 5-year status review in 2011 and concluded the status for endangered Central California Coast (CCC) coho salmon should remain the same. This document summarizes NMFS’s current 5-year review for the endangered CCC coho salmon.

Summary & Evaluation of Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast Coho Salmon 2016

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) | May 25th, 2016

Many West Coast salmon and steelhead (Oncorhynchus spp.) stocks have declined substantially from their historic numbers and now are at a fraction of their historical abun

Many West Coast salmon and steelhead (Oncorhynchus spp.) stocks have declined substantially from their historic numbers and now are at a fraction of their historical abundance. There are several factors that contribute to these declines, including overfishing, loss of freshwater and estuarine habitat, hydropower development, poor ocean conditions, and hatchery practices. These factors collectively led the National Marine Fisheries Service to list 28 salmon and steelhead stocks in California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington under the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). The ESA, under section 4(c)(2), directs the Secretary of Commerce to review the listing classification of threatened and endangered species at least once every five years. After completing this review, the Secretary must determine if any species should be: (1) removed from the list; (2) have its status changed from threatened to endangered; or (3) have its status changed from endangered to threatened. Such reviews for the Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast (SONCC) coho salmon Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU) occurred in 2005 (Good et al. 2005) and 2011 (NMFS 2011). This document describes the results of the 2015 review of ESA-listed SONCC coho salmon.

Summary and Evaluation of Central Valley Spring-run Chinook Salmon Evolutionarily Significant Unit 2016

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) | April 13th, 2016

The ESA, under Section 4(c)(2), directs the Secretary of Commerce to review the listing classification of threatened and endangered species at least once every five years

The ESA, under Section 4(c)(2), directs the Secretary of Commerce to review the listing classification of threatened and endangered species at least once every five years. After completing this review, the Secretary must determine if any species should be: (1) removed from the list; (2) have its status changed from threatened to endangered; or (3) have its status changed from endangered to threatened. The most recent status reviews for West Coast salmon and steelhead occurred in 2010, and prior to that in 2005 and 2006. This document summarizes NMFS’s 5-year review of the ESA-listed Central Valley (CV) spring-run Chinook salmon Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU).

Summary and Evaluation of Sacramento River Winter-Run Chinook Salmon ESU 2016

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) | December 12th, 2016

Many west coast salmon and steelhead (Oncorhynchus sp.) stocks have declined substantially from their historic numbers and now are at a fraction of their historical abund

Many west coast salmon and steelhead (Oncorhynchus sp.) stocks have declined substantially from their historic numbers and now are at a fraction of their historical abundance. There are several factors that contribute to these declines, including: overfishing, loss of freshwater and estuarine habitat, hydropower development, poor ocean conditions, and hatchery practices.  These factors, among others, led to NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) listing of 28 salmon and steelhead stocks in California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington under the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). The ESA, under Section 4(c)(2), directs the Secretary of Commerce to review the listing classification of threatened and endangered species at least once every five years. After completing this review, the Secretary must determine if any species should be: (1) removed from the list; (2) have its status changed from threatened to endangered; or (3) have its status changed from endangered to threatened. The term “threatened species” is defined under the ESA as any species which is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. An “endangered species” under the ESA is any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. The most recent listing determinations for west coast salmon and steelhead occurred in 2005 and 2006. NMFS previously completed a 5-year status review in 2011 and concluded that the status of the Sacramento River (SR) winter-run Chinook salmon Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU) should remain as endangered. This document summarizes NMFS’s current 5-year review of the ESA-listed SR winter-run Chinook salmon ESU.

Summary Matrix of the NMFS and Service Coordinated Long-term Operation BiOps RPA actions

Delta Stewardship Council (Delta Council) | July 1st, 2019