PSA - Dams on the Creek, King Tides

Northern California Steelhead are a majestic and Threatened (ESA) species that amazingly, are able to find suitable habitat in our suburban San Pedro Creek.

https://www.pedrocreek.org/the-fish

Their presence is precarious for a number of reasons so they need every break we can give them. During the winter, adult Steelhead return from their life in the ocean to their natal stream to spawn (reproduce) and only have a handful of chances to make the jaunt across the beach into the creek. Any kind of barrier can prevent this successful crossing or injure the fish during their attempts. There is signage on the beach politely asking that people not dam the creek, but most miss it. If we can all remember this request and help clear the creek during the winter spawn, we would help our aquatic friends out a lot. For them it’s a chance at a successful spawn, for us its just wet socks!

Observing the King Tides this month (1/12/20), I only saw a few waves that would have allowed the fish to make it into the estuary and did not observe any fish. Rain hasn’t been great so far this year to rise the level of the creek nor clear the mouth for easy passage. I cleared some of the dams the night before – lets hope some fish made it in.  

Poor guys never saw it coming!