Another Blow for Another Steelhead Fishery

Reading the Los Angeles Times this morning, I wasn't very surprised when I read a story noting that hundreds of millions of dollars worth of voter-approved projects have been halted because of the state's (California's) financial problems."

What I was surprised by were the projects that were being affected, including plans to tear down the Matilija Dam and restore the sediment-filled Matilija reservoir.

It has also impeded efforts to boost the populations of salmon and steelhead trout off the coast. And we all know those two species could use all the help they can get, especially the steelhead in the Golden State.

That's a lose-lose for the Matilija, which is a historic steelhead passageway. I'll be writing an article on the Matilija later this week. So look out for that. I'll post it in the "Where to Fish" section and link to it from this blog.

In the meantime, do your best to help conserve your favorite fisheries by not wading through known steelhead spawning grounds, debarbing your hooks, practicing catch and release, picking up your trash and other people's garbage in the outdoors, and by supporting local conservation groups.