Trout conservation 101~ Courtesy Cal Trout
Trout is the common name given to a number of freshwater fish species belonging to the salmon family. Trout have no spines on the fins, and all of them have a small adipose fin along the back, near the tail.
Trout are generally found in cool, clear streams and lakes, and are native throughout North America, Asia and Europe. In California, steelhead trout are found in coastal watersheds, many native species ply the high mountain creeks of the Sierras and rainbows and browns can be found throughout the state
Trout are an “indicator species:” when trout disappear from a lake or river, that watershed is in trouble. When our streams and rivers slow down, dry out or heat up, trout are the first to feel it. When trout they die off in an area, they leave critical gaps in the ecosystem that cannot be filled by other species.
California Trout works primarily to protect wild trout and the habitat that support them.
Wild trout like the brown and some rainbow trout species that were introduced into California’s lakes and rivers many years ago are protected under the state Wild Trout Program. California is also home to several species of heritage trout, which were here long before our state was called California. So, while all heritage trout are wild trout, not all wild trout are heritage trout.
California is home to ten species of native trout, far more than any other state. Its 60 major watersheds include over 20,000 miles of rivers and streams. Our state leads the nation in extinct or imperiled aquatic species. The challenges facing native trout are particularly acute in the Sierra Nevada, where river systems are the most altered and habitats impaired by logging, mining and grazing. Read more…
