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Steelhead Trout

Steelhead Trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

640x427-steelhead-trout.png

Protected Status

ESA Endangered
Southern California DPS
ESA Threatened
California Central Valley DPS
Central California Coast DPS
Lower Columbia River DPS
Middle Columbia River
Northern California DPS
Puget Sound DPS
Snake River Basin DPS
South-Central California Coast DPS
Upper Columbia River DPS
Upper Willamette River DPS
ESA Experimental Population
Middle Columbia River XN

Quick Facts

Weight
Up to 55 pounds
Length
Up to 45 inches
Lifespan
Up to 11 years
Threats
Climate change, Commercial and recreational fishing, Habitat degradation, Habitat impediments (dams), Habitat loss
Region
Alaska, West Coast
steelhead.jpg Male and female steelhead trout. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

Male and female steelhead trout. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

About the Species

Steelhead trout are a unique species. Individuals develop differently depending on their environment. All wild steelhead trout hatch in gravel-bottomed, fast-flowing, well-oxygenated rivers and streams. Some stay in fresh water all their lives and are called rainbow trout. Steelhead trout that migrate to the ocean typically grow larger than the ones that stay in freshwater. They then return to freshwater to spawn. Steelhead trout are vulnerable to many stressors and threats including blocked access to spawning grounds and habitat degradation caused by dams and culverts.

One distinct population segment is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, and 10 DPS and 1 experimental non-essential population are listed as threatened.

NOAA Fisheries is committed to conserving and protecting steelhead trout. Our scientists and partners use a variety of innovative techniques to study, learn more about, and protect this species. 

Protected Status

ESA Endangered

  • Southern California DPS

ESA Threatened

  • California Central Valley DPS

ESA Threatened

  • Central California Coast DPS

ESA Threatened

  • Lower Columbia River DPS

ESA Threatened

  • Middle Columbia River

ESA Threatened

  • Northern California DPS

ESA Threatened

  • Puget Sound DPS

ESA Threatened

  • Snake River Basin DPS

ESA Threatened

  • South-Central California Coast DPS

ESA Threatened

  • Upper Columbia River DPS

ESA Threatened

  • Upper Willamette River DPS

ESA Experimental Population

  • Middle Columbia River XN

Scientific Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Osteichthyes
Order Salmoniformes
Family Salmonidae
Genus Oncorhynchus
Species Oncorhynchus mykiss

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 01/30/2023

Featured News

Juvenile Chinook salmon
Feature Story

Endangered Salmon Regain Access to Healthy West Coast Habitat through 20 Projects Funded by NOAA Fisheries

West Coast
Aerial view of a large dam and reservoir Iron Gate Dam on the Klamath River is one of several expected to be removed in 2024. Credit: Thomas Dunklin.
Feature Story

As Dam Removals Move Forward, NOAA Explores Next Steps for Habitat Restoration in Klamath Watershed

West Coast
Two people stand on a grassy hill near a river Veteran Damon Jackson (left), a NOAA intern in Portland, Oregon, visits a restoration project on the Willamette River. Credit: NOAA
Feature Story

NOAA Veterans Corps: Progress by the Numbers

West Coast
Coho salmon leaping upstream An Oregon Coast coho salmon leaps up Lake Creek Falls on a tributary of the Siuslaw River. A new 5-year review of Oregon Coast coho finds that recovery for the species is "within reach." Credit: Paul Jeffrey
Feature Story

Endangered Species Act Reviews for Some Northwest Salmon and Steelhead Show Promise for Recovery

West Coast
View More News

Recreational Fishing Regulations

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 01/30/2023

Commercial Fishing Regulations

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 01/30/2023

Subsistence Fishing Regulations

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 01/30/2023

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 01/30/2023

Management Overview

Throughout the West Coast, 11 species of steelhead are protected under the Endangered Species Act. The West Coast Region works with its partners to protect, conserve, and recover steelhead by addressing the threats these animals face and by restoring the habitat on which they depend.

Steelhead Distinct Population Segments

Learn more about the regulatory history of steelhead trout

Key Actions and Documents

Actions & Documents Incidental Take

Dungeness Hatcheries Plans

NOAA Fisheries is making available for public review its Proposed Evaluation and Pending Determination (PEPD) for a Chinook salmon hatchery program operating in the Dungeness River basin (see Resources, below). An ESA Section 4(d) Limit 6…
Notice
,
West Coast
Published

Notice of Issuance: Permit for the Implementation of the Carmel River Steelhead Rescue and Rearing Enhancement Program

Notice is hereby given that NOAA Fisheries has issued one direct take permit (#14741) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended, to the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (District) for the Carmel River Steelhead Rescue…
Notice
,
West Coast
Published

12-Month Finding on a Petition To List Summer-Run Steelhead in Northern California as Endangered Under the Endangered Species Act

We, NOAA Fisheries, announce a 12-month finding on a petition to delineate Northern California (NC) summer-run steelhead as a distinct population segment (DPS) of West Coast steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and to list that DPS as endangered under the…
Notice
,
West Coast
Published

Oregon Resident Trout and Coho Fishery Plan for the Grande Ronde, Imnaha, and Snake Rivers

NOAA Fisheries is providing one Fishery Management and Evaluation Plan (FMEP) for recreational coho salmon and resident trout fisheries in the Snake River Basin for public comment. The FMEP was submitted by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife …
Notice
,
West Coast
Published

Calaveras River Habitat Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment

NOAA Fisheries announces the Final Calaveras River Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and Environmental Assessment (EA) availability and subsequent issuance of the Incidental Take Permit under Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Notice
,
West Coast
Published
09/14/2020

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 01/30/2023

Science Overview

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 01/30/2023

Documents

Document

2022 5-Year Review: Summary & Evaluation of Middle Columbia River Steelhead

Five-year reviews describe whether recovery is on track in the context of the recovery plan,…

West Coast
Document

2022 5-Year Review: Summary & Evaluation of Snake River Basin Steelhead

Many West Coast salmon and steelhead (Oncorhynchus sp.) stocks have declined substantially from…

West Coast
Document

2022 5-Year Review: Summary & Evaluation of Upper Columbia River Spring-run Chinook Salmon and Upper Columbia River Steelhead

Five-year reviews describe whether recovery is on track in the context of the recovery plan,…

West Coast
More Documents

Data & Maps

Data

Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund Database

The Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF) database serves as a project and performance…

Alaska
West Coast
Data

Recovery Action Database

Tracks the implementation of recovery actions from Endangered Species Act (ESA) recovery plans.

National
More Data and Maps

Outreach & Education

Educational Materials

¡Cuento con usted! edición trucha cabeza de acero (en español)

Aprenda qué es lo que la trucha cabeza de acero necesita para vivir y cómo puede hacer la…

West Coast
Educational Materials

I'm Counting on You! Steelhead Brochure

Learn about the threats facing steelhead and what you can do to help.

West Coast
More Outreach and Education Materials

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 01/30/2023