June 3, 2004

1) Increased federal protection proposed for Alameda Creek steelhead trout

A major conservation victory for Alameda Creek fish restoration efforts!

Last week, the federal agency NOAA Fisheries released a status review of 26 salmon and steelhead species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), including Central California Coast (CCC) steelhead trout. NOAA proposed including resident rainbow trout in Alameda Creek in the threatened CCC steelhead population. This means that resident and juvenile trout in Alameda Creek, as well as ocean-run steelhead, would get ESA protection. It is unclear from the proposal, but apparently landlocked steelhead trout above Calaveras and San Antonio Dams would also be included in the listed population. For for more information about the NOAA proposal see http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/AlseaResponse/20040528/index.html. "Proposed ESU Listing Determinations Federal Register Notice Language" has the full text of the proposed rule. See pages 59 and 278 for the Alameda Creek reference in the proposed rule.

Alameda Creek fish are the only population of resident rainbow trout proposed for ESA listing in California. This is partly due to the fact that there are published genetic studies showing that native Alameda Creek rainbow trout should be considered part of the CCC steelhead population (with data from fin clips collected by ACA volunteers). The fish genetics report can be viewed at http://www.alamedacreek.org/Reports_Data/ACgenetics.pdf. The ACA also submitted extensive comments to NOAA on their status review of CCC steelhead - the comments can be found at http://www.alamedacreek.org/Reports_Data/NMFS%20-%201-13-03.pdf

The NOAA status review upheld ESA protections for 25 of the 26 stocks of endangered salmon in California, Oregon, and Washington. The Bush administration also decided to grant ESA protection to some but not all hatchery-raised salmon.

NOAA fisheries will hold a public comment period on the proposed listings as well as public hearings. It is important that you write a letter supporting Endangered Species Act protection for native trout in Alameda Creek or attend the nearest hearing to speak. I will send out information on the comment period and hearings when it is available.

2) Sinbad Creek preliminary steelhead habitat assessment

A U. C. Berkeley hydrology class has prepared a preliminary assessment of potential steelhead habitat in Sinbad Creek through Sunol. The report can be viewed at http://www.alamedacreek.org/Fish_Passage/Sunol%20Valley/Sinbad%20Creek%20Assessment.pdf