Steelhead Listed

by Michelle Stewart

In a long-anticipated move, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has listed as threatened or endangered five runs of steelhead in Southern California, Central Washington and Idaho under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The August 11 announcement by NMFS, however, delayed the listing of runs in Oregon, northern California and California's central coast for six-months, citing inconclusive scientific information. NMFS also stated that the delay would allow officials in these areas to implement regional recovery plans and possibly avert federal oversight.

Steelhead, noted and named for their steel- blue coloring, are a complicated species, requiring biologists to reassess descriptions and data constantly. Current knowledge places steelhead in the "Pacific Salmon" family, even though they're categorically a trout. Steelhead are essentially anadromous rainbow trout, meaning they are birthed in rivers, live in the ocean and return to rivers to spawn). California has the only coastal and Idaho has the only inland runs. Steelhead typically spend upwards of two years in fresh water and then migrate to the ocean, returning in one to three years to spawn. However, unlike salmon, steelhead are able to spawn more than once (but typically they do not).

Although regarded as a tough and rugged gamefish, the steelhead population has plunged to only ten percent of its historic stock. 23 runs of steelhead have gone extinct; another 43 are in danger of the same fate. Until recently, wildlife agencies would not recognize the adverse (and lethal) effects that logging, urban development, agriculture, hatcheries and mining have on wild runs of steelhead.

The announcement by NMFS that the Oregon and California runs were not as yet to receive protection under the ESA was received with dismay by those working on conservation efforts for them. The delay in listing for these runs is following the same trajectory as coho salmon in Oregon and Northern California, as coho also saw a delay in listing in order to implement regional conservation plans. It appears that this regional approach is intentionally cautious so as to avoid conflict with private land owners while the ESA faces reauthorization. The Clinton administration also wants to avoid conflict with Oregon's popular Democratic governor, John Kitzhaber.

The non-listing in California and Oregon assumes that state and local agencies will formulate and implement recovery plans; however, the board of forestry in both states is not likely to change policy substantially, and further habitat destruction is ultimately guaranteed. The Oregon Board of Forestry is already providing evidence of this as it is currently attempting to establish timber extraction as the primary purpose of the state's forests. To ensure that the last of the wild steelhead are not lost, we must pressure governments at all levels to move strongly on protection efforts, and rein in the timber industry, including private land owners.

The Breakdown

Upper Columbia ESU*- Endangered

Snake River Basin- Threatened

Lower Columbia River ESU- DELAY

Oregon Coast ESU- DELAY

Klamath Mountains Province ESU- DELAY

Northern CA Coast ESU- DELAY

Central CA Coastal ESU- Threatened

Central Valley ESU- DELAY

South-Central CA Coast ESU- Threatened

Southern CA ESU- Endangered

*ESU=Evolutionarily Significant Unit