California Trout

California Trout, commonly known as CalTrout, is a California conservation nonprofit focused on protecting and restoring the state's wild fisheries and the watersheds that support them. The organization works across habitat restoration, fish-passage improvement, watershed and meadow restoration, estuary recovery, native-fish conservation, and public-policy advocacy. Its work concerns native trout, salmon, and steelhead, as well as the broader ecological systems on which those species depend. The organization emerged from the development of modern wild-trout management in California. A significant precursor was the Hat Creek Demonstration Project in 1968, which helped demonstrate that fisheries management could emphasize the protection and recovery of wild trout rather than relying solely on hatchery production. In 1971, angler and conservationist Richard May established California Trout after separating from Trout Unlimited. The new organization was designed as an independent California-focused group with the ability to combine field projects, scientific work, and policy advocacy on behalf of the state's fisheries. CalTrout's activities are organized through regional programs covering the North Coast, Central Valley, Sierra Headwaters, Bay Area, Mount Shasta–Klamath, South Coast, and Mount Lassen. Its statewide work is structured around several broad initiatives, including Protect the Best, Reconnect Habitat, Integrate Fish and Working Lands, Steward Source Water Areas, and Restore Estuaries. Rather than operating as a conventional consumer brand, California Trout functions as an institutional and public-interest brand representing fisheries conservation, ecological restoration, and collaborative water policy. Among its best-known areas of work is fish-passage restoration. On the Klamath River, CalTrout collaborated with tribal nations, public agencies, American Rivers, and other conservation organizations in the multiyear effort to remove four hydroelectric dams. The removals were completed in 2024 and reopened more than 300 miles of habitat for native salmon and steelhead. In the Bay Area, the organization participated in a decades-long effort to restore access along Alameda Creek, historically an important watershed for steelhead and Chinook salmon in the San Francisco Bay region. The final major barrier in that effort was removed in 2025. CalTrout also works on smaller but strategically important projects. In Southern California, it has led the Sandia Creek Drive Bridge Replacement Project on the Santa Margarita River, in partnership with organizations including NOAA Fisheries and San Diego County. The project is intended to remove a long-standing barrier and reopen approximately 12 miles of upstream habitat for endangered southern steelhead. In the Sierra Nevada, the organization has participated in the Sierra Meadows Partnership, which supports meadow restoration and protection because meadows store water, improve watershed function, and provide habitat. In the Eel River estuary, CalTrout is a partner in the Cannibal Island Restoration Project, a large tidal-wetland initiative intended to improve salmon and steelhead habitat while increasing flood resilience. In addition to direct restoration, California Trout has engaged in public-policy debates affecting access to and management of California's water resources. In 2018, it joined Restore Hetch Hetchy in supporting limited public boating access on Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. The proposal was framed around public access and the relationship between San Francisco's water infrastructure and broader public benefits. Overall, CalTrout's positioning combines field conservation, partnership-based infrastructure change, science-informed advocacy, and a long-term emphasis on restoring naturally functioning fisheries rather than treating fish populations as isolated resources.

California Trout was formed in the context of growing interest in wild-fish management and habitat-based conservation in California. Before the organization was established, the Hat Creek Demonstration Project of 1968 helped advance the idea that California trout fisheries could be managed by protecting wild populations and improving habitat. The project became an important reference point for conservation-oriented fisheries management and contributed to the institutional environment in which California Trout developed. In 1971, angler and conservationist Richard May founded California Trout after separating from Trout Unlimited. The new organization pursued an independent California mandate, concentrating on the state's rivers, streams, watersheds, and native fish rather than operating only as a local chapter of a national organization. From its beginning, the group linked advocacy with practical conservation: policy work could influence water and fisheries decisions, while habitat projects could produce measurable improvements in fish access and ecological function. Over time, California Trout developed a statewide conservation model organized around regional programs. Its regions include the North Coast, Central Valley, Sierra Headwaters, Bay Area, Mount Shasta–Klamath, South Coast, and Mount Lassen. The organization has also framed its work through statewide initiatives such as Protect the Best, Reconnect Habitat, Integrate Fish and Working Lands, Steward Source Water Areas, and Restore Estuaries. These initiatives reflect a broad definition of fisheries conservation in which fish recovery depends on connected habitat, functioning watersheds, resilient meadows and estuaries, and water-management decisions that account for ecological needs. A substantial part of the organization's history involves restoring passage through artificial barriers. In the Klamath River basin, California Trout worked with tribal nations, government agencies, American Rivers, and other partners on the removal of four hydroelectric dams. The project was completed in 2024 and reopened more than 300 miles of habitat for native salmon and steelhead. The effort became a prominent example of large-scale river restoration and of the role that nonprofit organizations can play in building coalitions around infrastructure removal and fish recovery. In the Bay Area, California Trout participated in a long-running program to improve fish passage on Alameda Creek. The watershed historically supported significant steelhead and Chinook salmon runs in the San Francisco Bay watershed. In 2025, removal of the final major fish barrier marked a major step toward restoring access to upstream spawning habitat. The organization has also pursued passage restoration in Southern California. Its Sandia Creek Drive Bridge Replacement Project on the Santa Margarita River is intended to eliminate a persistent obstruction and reopen approximately 12 miles of habitat for endangered southern steelhead. The project involves partners including NOAA Fisheries, San Diego County, and The Wildlands Conservancy, which owns and manages the Santa Margarita River Trail Preserve. California Trout's watershed work extends beyond rivers and engineered barriers. Through participation in the Sierra Meadows Partnership, it has supported restoration and protection of Sierra Nevada meadows. These landscapes act as natural water-storage systems, support watershed health, and provide habitat for native ecosystems. In coastal systems, the organization has partnered on the Cannibal Island Restoration Project in the Eel River estuary. The 795-acre initiative is designed to reconnect tidal wetlands, restore habitat for salmon and steelhead, and improve resilience to flooding. Policy advocacy has remained another important part of the organization's identity. In 2018, California Trout joined Restore Hetch Hetchy in proposing limited public boating access on Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. The proposal connected questions of public recreation and access with the history of San Francisco's water infrastructure. Across these efforts, California Trout has maintained a position centered on native fish, ecological restoration, habitat connectivity, and collaborative management. It is an active conservation nonprofit rather than a commercial product company, and its brand is expressed through projects, partnerships, research, and advocacy campaigns.

• 2025

  Alameda Creek fish-passage milestone

  [1]California Trouten.wikipedia.org

  The final major fish barrier in a decades-long Alameda Creek restoration effort was removed, reopening upstream spawning habitat.

• 2025

  Cannibal Island project approved

  [1]California Trouten.wikipedia.org

  A 795-acre Eel River estuary restoration project involving California Trout was approved to reconnect tidal wetlands and improve habitat and flood resilience.

• 2024

  Klamath River dam removals completed

  [1]California Trouten.wikipedia.org

  Four hydroelectric dams were removed from the Klamath River, reopening more than 300 miles of habitat for native salmon and steelhead.

• 2018

  Hetch Hetchy public-access advocacy

  [1]California Trouten.wikipedia.org

  California Trout joined Restore Hetch Hetchy in proposing limited public boating access on Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.

• 1971

  California Trout is established

  [1]California Trouten.wikipedia.org

  Richard May founded California Trout after separating from Trout Unlimited, creating an independent organization focused on California fisheries.

• 1968

  Hat Creek Demonstration Project advances wild-trout management

  [1]California Trouten.wikipedia.org

  The Hat Creek Demonstration Project helped establish habitat- and wild-population-oriented fisheries management in California and contributed to the later formation of California Trout.

An independent California fisheries-conservation organization combining on-the-ground habitat restoration with science-informed advocacy and cross-sector partnerships.

• 2025Alameda Creek fish-passage restoration

  United States · California

  California Trout participated in a decades-long effort to remove barriers and restore fish passage in Alameda Creek, a historically important watershed for steelhead and Chinook salmon.

  Outcome. Removal of the final major barrier reopened access to upstream spawning habitat.

  Source
• 2025Cannibal Island Restoration Project

  United States · California

  California Trout partnered on a large Eel River estuary project to reconnect tidal wetlands and improve habitat for salmon, steelhead, and other native species.

  Outcome. The project was approved in 2025 and is intended to improve both ecological habitat and flood resilience.

  Source
• 2024Klamath River dam-removal collaboration

  United States · California

  California Trout collaborated with tribal nations, public agencies, American Rivers, and other conservation groups to remove four hydroelectric dams and restore river connectivity.

  Outcome. The removals were completed in 2024 and reopened more than 300 miles of habitat for native salmon and steelhead.

  Source
• 2018Restore Hetch Hetchy public boating access proposal

  United States · California

  California Trout joined Restore Hetch Hetchy in advocating limited public boating access on Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. The campaign linked recreational access with the public value of San Francisco's water infrastructure.

  Source
• Sandia Creek Drive Bridge Replacement Project

  United States · California

  California Trout has led a project on the Santa Margarita River intended to remove a long-standing barrier to fish movement and improve access to habitat for endangered southern steelhead.

  Source
• Sierra Meadows Partnership

  United States · California

  California Trout has participated in a collaborative strategy supporting the restoration and protection of Sierra Nevada meadows, which store water, improve watershed function, and support native ecosystems.

  Source

• 2024

  Completion of Klamath River dam removalsOther

  Background

  Four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River had limited access to upstream habitat for native salmon and steelhead.

  Action taken

  California Trout collaborated with tribal, governmental, and conservation partners in the multiyear dam-removal effort.

  Aftermath

  More than 300 miles of habitat were reopened for native salmon and steelhead.

  Source

• 2018

  Support for limited Hetch Hetchy Reservoir boating accessStrategy

  Background

  California Trout joined Restore Hetch Hetchy in a debate over whether limited public boating should be allowed on Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.

  Action taken

  The organization publicly supported a proposal for limited boating access, emphasizing public recreational benefits alongside the reservoir's water-supply function.

  Source

1. 1California Trouten.wikipedia.org
2. 2California Trout official websitecaltrout.org