Monterey Bay Salmon & Trout Project

By Hugh Miller

People up and down our coast are seeing a large return of native steelhead. As to what's going on, we're not sure. It could be due to a change of ocean temperatures with an increase in ocean feeding available. This news is particularly heartening to members of the MBS&TP, which is located in Davenport, California. The project members have been working hard each year, in concert with CDFG, on restoration projects of native steelhead and coho salmon. The charter of the project is "restoration", which means helping restore populations of these important native fish. The project rears native fish each year, under CDFG permits, and releases them in local streams. It's the project's way of helping to counter the erosion of fish populations due to the impact of habitat destruction, water loss, and sea lion/harbor seal predation. Does it work? The project was encouraged, in seeing that 55% of the returning fish passing through the Felton Diversion Dam were identified as MBS&TP reared fish.

This news is particularly gratifying to our area Salmon and Trout Education Program (STEP) students and teachers. STEP is a thematic educational program, wherein area students gain a hands-on education about our important native anadromous fish. At present, the project supports 150 classes in 75 local schools. Now that STEP students are back in school, teachers will integrate STEP resource material with other cirriculum. The highlight of the STEP training occurs during the month of May. At that time, certified STEP teachers will be issued eyed steelhead eggs, so that students can hatch the eggs in their classroom chillers and aquariums. Later, the students will conduct field trips and release the fry in area coastal streams.

If you require information regarding our activities, please contact Hugh Miller, Project Board Member at (408) 268-3945 or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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