Positive 12-Month Finding on a Petition To Revise Designated Critical Habitat for the Southern California Steelhead Distinct Population Segment

NOAA Fisheries is announcing a positive 12-month finding on a petition to revise designated critical habitat for the Southern California Steelhead Distinct Population Segment. This announcement includes a proposed rule to remove a 9-mile stream segment below Santa Felicia Dam from designated critical habitat.

The best available science indicates that steelhead (anadromous Oncorhynchus mykiss) are not present in the subject reach, nor does the reach currently contain habitat features essential for the species’ conservation as the Endangered Species Act requires. Its potential function depends entirely on future, large-scale actions to provide passage at Santa Felicia Dam and modify water management operations. Despite a requirement dating back to 2008 to address dam impacts, these actions have not been implemented.

We remain committed to the species’ recovery plan, including providing fish passage above Santa Felicia Dam and Pyramid Dam and modifying water management operations that currently jeopardize Southern California steelhead.

We anticipate publishing a final decision regarding the proposed rule in the Federal Register within 12 months. To ensure our decision uses the best available science, we are once again soliciting new information regarding steelhead presence and habitat conditions within this 9-mile stream segment. The segment runs from the confluence of the Santa Clara River and Hopper Creek upstream to the face of Santa Felicia Dam on Piru Creek.