The Return of Steelhead Trout to the Santa Margarita River Valley
Historically, Southern Steelhead trout spawned in the Santa Margarita River. During wet years, winter storms caused the river to swell, and steelhead trout would migrate upstream from the Pacific Ocean into the upper reaches of the river to reproduce. In the 1940s adult steelhead trout were recorded as far inland as Temecula. One of The Wildlands Conservancy’s founding commitments to the Santa Margarita River Trail Preserve was to help with the recovery of this iconic fish species.
The Santa Margarita River remains one of the best waterways in Southern California for the recovery of the endangered southern steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss). In fact, recent surveys of the waterways by United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) biologists have uncovered not only evidence of promising habitats for anadromous fish, but also the presence of both rainbow trout and Pacific lamprey.
The Wildlands Conservancy is partnering with California Trout (CalTrout), a nonprofit organization focused on preserving and restoring trout habitat in the state, to remove a troublesome fish passage barrier that currently blocks trout from accessing important spawning habitat in the upper watershed. Over the course of the next three years, the Sandia Creek Drive Bridge Replacement Project will eliminate the last remaining barrier to migrating anadromous fish, restore the natural hydrology of the river, and provide safer vehicle access across the river during large winter storms.
Santa Margarita River Trail Preserve, Valentine’s Day Flood Event, 2019
Construction of the new bridge will not interfere with access to the Preserve. The new bridge will be built before the existing bridge is decommissioned, allowing visitors to the Preserve access to the trailhead as usual. One change that you might notice later this spring is the construction of a new segment of trail near the Sandia Creek Trailhead. This new trail will allow trail users to avoid the bridge construction area while maintaining access to the County of San Diego’s Santa Margarita Preserve.
We are excited to announce the commencement of this important steelhead recovery project and applaud the efforts of our CalTrout partners. More information about the Sandia Creek Bridge Replacement Project can be found on the California Trout website or by speaking with Preserve Staff.