Hi friend,

The Southern California steelhead is teetering on the brink of extinction.

Whereas historically tens of thousands of steelhead swam through Southern California rivers and streams, now it’s rare to see them in double digits. The dwindling numbers stem from habitat loss, fragmentation, and the encroachment of urbanization.

Without further protections, we risk losing this iconic native species forever.

Our friends at conservation nonprofit CalTrout are sending a letter to the Fish and Game Commission urging them to list the Southern California steelhead as an endangered species. Please sign onto the letter to show your support →

Steelhead serve as crucial indicators of watershed health and river ecosystem integrity. These fish play a role within the ecosystem that you, your family, neighbors, and friends are also a part of.

Friend, if one piece of the ecosystem changes or disappears, this ripples throughout the rest of the ecosystem affecting every other species — plant, animal, and human.

Listing these fish as endangered would promote actions to protect them including removing obsolete dams, improving habitat, securing instream flow, and restoring watersheds.

All of these actions would also benefit human communities. For instance, improving aging infrastructure would reduce the risk of flooding and increase public safety, and holistic watershed restoration would enforce and build strong relationships throughout the community.

Expanding San Gabriel Mountains National Monument — which EnviroVoters is currently advocating for — would also protect this iconic species since the expansion would include their habitat.

We need your help, friend. The Fish and Game Commission is holding a meeting to discuss whether the steelhead should be designated as endangered. They need to hear that allowing this species to disappear is not acceptable.

Before April 4, sign our letter to tell the Commission that you fully support listing Southern California steelhead as endangered under California’s Endangered Species Act.

Thanks for taking action.