Conservation

Steelhead a Threatened Species

Source: National Marine Fisheries Service

On February 16, 1994, the Secretary of Commerce received a petition from the Oregon Natural Resources Council and fifteen co-petitioners to list steelhead populations in California, Oregon, Idaho, and Washington as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). On May 20, 1994, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) started an unprecedented review of scientific information to determine whether west coast steelhead populations (California, Oregon, Idaho, and Washington) were threatened or endangered.Scientific Findings: Based on its scientific findings (Busby et al. 1995), NMFS is proposing to list ten distinct populations of steelhead in California, Oregon, Idaho, and Washington as threatened or endangered species.

Steelhead Life History

Source: National Marine Fisheries Service

Historically, steelhead have been differentiated from other species of Pacific salmon; such as distinction is commonly made even today. When they were first described, all native species of North American trout (including steelhead) were placed in the genus Salmo. However, biologists have recently concluded that steelhead have a greater affinity with Pacific salmon (genus Oncorhynchus) than with trout. Therefore, the term “Pacific salmon” includes the steelhead species.

South-Central California Steelhead Recovery Plan