Steelhead Trout

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

Quick Facts

Weight

Up to 55 pounds

Lifespan

Up to 11 years

Length

Up to 45 inches

Threats

Habitat impediments (dams), Habitat degradation, Habitat loss, Commercial and recreational fishing, Climate change

Region

Alaska, West Coast

See Regulatory Actions

About The Species

Steelhead trout are a unique species. Individuals develop differently depending on their environment. All 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

1 distinct population segment

Southern California DPS

ESA Threatened

1 distinct population segment

California Central Valley DPS

ESA Threatened

1 distinct population segment

Central California coast DPS

ESA Threatened

1 distinct population segment

Lower Columbia River DPS

ESA Threatened

1 distinct population segment

Middle Columbia River

ESA Threatened

1 distinct population segment

Northern California DPS

ESA Threatened

1 distinct population segment

Puget Sound DPS

ESA Threatened

1 distinct population segment

Snake River Basin DPS

ESA Threatened

1 distinct population segment

South-Central California coast DPS

ESA Threatened

1 distinct population segment

Upper Columbia River DPS

ESA Threatened

1 distinct population segment

Upper Willamette River DPS

1 distinct population segment

ESA Experimental Population

1 distinct population segment

Middle Columbia River XN

Scientific Classification

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

What We Do

In the Spotlight

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.

Learn more about steelhead trout

Learn more about the regulatory history of steelhead trout

Key Actions and Documents

Actions & Documents Incidental Take

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…