More than 200 endangered steelhead trout that were rescued from a creek polluted by ash and debris from the Palisades fire are thriving in their new digs in Santa Barbara County, state officials reported on Wednesday.
The 271 endangered Southern California steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) scooped out of debris-choked waters of Topanga Creek on Jan. 23 by crews from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife are thriving in Arroyo Hondo Creek, part of a preserve managed by the Santa Barbara County Land Trust.
Earlier this month, biologists noticed that the fish had babies — at least 100 “young of the year,” as CDFW biologists call these baby fish — were first observed swimming in their new home in early April, reported Stephen Gonzalez, spokesperson for the CDFW.
“The 1-inch-long baby trout are a sign the population is healthy and thriving in their new digs just north of Topanga Creek,” wrote Gonzalez in an emailed response on Wednesday, April 23.
The steelhead trout are the last known population of this species in the Santa Monica Mountains.
“Southern California steelhead are critically endangered,” said CDFW environmental program manager Kyle Evans. “Topanga Creek is their only remaining population, when historically trout were found in streams across the Los Angeles area.”
Biologists worried that the 12-inch long adult fish, of which only about 500 remained, would suffocate from burn scar ash flowing into Topanga Creek during the after-fire rainstorms. The rain, mixed with fire debris, threatened the extinction of the species.
These unique trout are incredibly adaptable to drier summers and warmer temperatures, Evans said. They either stay in the creek their whole lives or swim to the ocean and come back, he said.
“They’re a very adaptable, important, iconic species whose success represents a healthy watershed, and healthy watersheds mean better water quality for us all,” added Evans. “Protecting this population and their home habitats isn’t just good for the trout, it benefits the Californians of this community and beyond.”
CDFW is helping wildlife recover alongside the people who survived the devastating Southern California wildfires. The resilience of wildlife, including this amazing fish species, is a sign of healing for the residents of Southern California and especially for those affected by the January fires, Gonzalez added.
“People in California want to live where biodiversity is thriving,” said CDFW Chief Deputy Director Valerie Termini. “It’s important for California, and it’s important for our wildlife.”
Once Topanga Creek has recovered from wildfire impacts, CDFW hopes to return these fish to their original home, CDFW reported.
Through the last few years, saving fish and other wildlife has led to advances in veterinary medicine, CDFW reported. It has collaborated with the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, which used fish skin to treat animal burn victims. This technique now used around the world was first demonstrated in North America on bears and a mountain lion injured in a 2017 wildfire.
