A trout by any other name… Steelhead 101 A trout by any other name… Donald Ratcliff U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service donald_ratcliff@fws.gov

Steelhead Characteristics Steelhead are: A member of the Pacific salmon and trout family The same species as ‘rainbow trout’ Widespread in distribution, but limited in population size in many areas Anadromous

What Is Anadromy? Anadromous (adj) – Fish that migrate into freshwater environments from the sea to spawn (i.e. sea-, or ocean-run fish)

Challenges to Anadromous Fishes in the Central Valley Migration – Adults may have trouble returning to the system and juveniles may not be able to get out Habitat – Alterations have changed traditional spawning and rearing habitats Decades of stocking ‘rainbow trout’ in native steelhead waters

Challenges to Anadromous Fishes in the Central Valley Non-native predators, competitors, species that change habitat, species that change food-webs and productivity Multiple other conditions in the Valley and beyond