EPA's Vessel General Permit and Small Vessel General

Creek, Waddell Creek, Gazos Creek, and Redwood Creek in Marin County (see Good et al.
2005). All populations exhibited downward trends in abundance. Accordingly, provided the
juvenile data is representative of the true trend, this data suggests that there is an overall
downward trend in abundance in the DPS.
In the most recent review of the status of this DPS, most members of the biological review team
(69 %) considered this DPS “likely to become endangered” thus supporting the renewal of the
threatened status for central California coast steelhead. Notably, 25 % of the team voted that the
DPS be upgraded to endangered status (see Good et al. 2005). Abundance and productivity were
of relatively high concern (as a contributing factor to risk of extinction), and spatial structure was
also of concern.
Since the original status review, fishing regulations have changed in a way that probably reduces
extinction risk for Central California Coast steelhead. Ocean sport harvest is prohibited, and
ocean harvest is considered rare. Although freshwater streams are closed to fishing year round,
CDFG has identified certain streams as exceptions where they allow catch-and-release angling or
summer trout fishing. In catch-and-release streams, all wild steelhead must be released
unharmed.
Critical Habitat
Critical habitat was designated for the Central California Coast steelhead DPS on September 2,
2005 (70 FR 52488), and includes areas within the following hydrologic units: Russian River,
Bodega, Marin Coastal, San Mateo, Bay Bridge, Santa Clara, San Pablo, and Big Basin. These
areas are important for the species’ overall conservation by protecting quality growth,
reproduction, and feeding. The critical habitat designation for this ESU identifies primary
constituent elements that include sites necessary to support one or more steelhead life stages.
Specific sites include freshwater spawning sites, freshwater rearing sites, freshwater migration
corridors, nearshore marine habitat and estuarine areas. The physical or biological features that
characterize these sites include water quality and quantity, natural cover, forage, adequate
passage conditions, and floodplain connectivity. The critical habitat designation (70 FR 52488)
contains additional details on the sub-areas that are included as part of this designation, and the
areas that were excluded from designation.
In total, Central California Coast steelhead occupy 46 watersheds (fresh water and estuarine).
The total area of habitat designated as critical includes about 1,500 miles of stream habitat and
about 400 square miles of estuarine habitat (principally Humboldt Bay). This designation
includes the stream channels within the designated stream reaches, and includes a lateral extent
as defined by the ordinary high water line. In areas where the ordinary high-water line is not
defined the lateral extent is defined as the bankfull elevation. In estuarine areas the lateral extent
is defined by the extreme high water because extreme high tide areas encompass those areas
typically inundated by water and regularly occupied by juvenile salmon during the spring and
summer, when they are migrating in the nearshore zone and relying on cover and refuge qualities
provided by these habitats, and while they are foraging. Of the 46 occupied watersheds reviewed
in NMFS' assessment of critical habitat for Central California Coast steelhead, 14 watersheds
received a low rating of conservation value, 13 received a medium rating, and 19 received a high
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