Court Upholds Protections for Southern California Steelhead, Center for Biological Diversity Reports

Los Angeles County Superior Court Rejects Challenge to Protect Southern California Steelhead

November 5, 2023 – LOS ANGELES— A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has rejected a challenge from a water agency seeking to strip protections from the Southern California steelhead. The ruling adopted last Tuesday allows legal protections for the imperiled fish to continue until the California Fish and Game Commission makes a decision on permanent protections.

Significance of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Goal 14: Life Below Water – The ruling upholds legal protections for the Southern California steelhead, contributing to the conservation of marine life and the achievement of SDG 14.
2. Goal 15: Life on Land – By preserving the habitat of the Southern California steelhead, the ruling supports the conservation of terrestrial ecosystems and contributes to the attainment of SDG 15.

CalTrout Applauds Court Ruling

“We are thrilled to see the court uphold CalTrout’s science-driven petition to list southern steelhead under the California Endangered Species Act,” said Walter “Redgie” Collins, legal and policy director at CalTrout. “Southern steelhead are in dire need of state protections and today the court ruling got us one stop closer to that goal.”

Temporary Protections for Southern California Steelhead

In 2022, the commission voted to grant Southern California steelhead candidate status under the California Endangered Species Act following a petition from CalTrout. The designation offers temporary protections for the fish, including restrictions on development that could harm steelhead.

Court Determines Substantial Evidence for Endangered Species Listing

The United Water Conservation District challenged those protections and sued the commission. Tuesday’s ruling determined that the commission had substantial evidence to designate the Southern California steelhead as a candidate for endangered species listing.

Urgent Need for Immediate Help

“The court has recognized there’s ample evidence showing how badly steelhead are struggling,” said John Buse, senior counsel at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Looking at the very low numbers of recent steelhead runs, it’s clear these fish are teetering on the brink of extinction and need immediate help.”

Support from Environmental Organizations

CalTrout, the Center, the Wishtoyo Chumash Foundation, and Ventura Coastkeeper intervened in the lawsuit to uphold the legal protections afforded under the steelhead’s “candidate” status.

Celebrating Added Protection for Southern Steelhead

“This ruling is a victory for ‘iša kowoč and the watersheds that nourish all our relatives,” said Mati Waiya, executive director of the Wishtoyo Chumash Foundation. “We have fought long and hard to protect these cultural keystone species and celebrate added protection for southern steelhead.”

Challenges Faced by Southern Steelhead Population

The southern steelhead population faces enormous challenges because dams and water diversions have destroyed its habitat. Encroaching development, wildfires, and climate change pose additional threats. Annual steelhead runs once numbered in the tens of thousands, but current runs are only in the single digits. Scientists believe that the southern steelhead is in danger of extinction within the next 25 to 50 years. Southern steelhead are listed as a federal endangered species.

Environmental Groups’ Efforts for Protection

For years, environmental groups have fought to secure protections for these iridescent fish. In 2020, an appeals court upheld a ruling that determined the United Water Conservation District had violated the Endangered Species Act by diverting river flows and providing inadequate fish passage for its dam.

Image

Southern California steelhead. Credit: Alex Vejar/California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

About the Center for Biological Diversity

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.7 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.
Source: Center for Biological Diversity

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 14: Life Below Water – This goal focuses on the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas, and marine resources. The article discusses the protection of the Southern California steelhead, an imperiled fish species.
• SDG 15: Life on Land – This goal aims to protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. The article mentions the challenges faced by the southern steelhead population due to habitat destruction caused by dams, water diversions, encroaching development, wildfires, and climate change.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, particularly from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution – The article highlights the need for legal protections for the Southern California steelhead to prevent harm from development that could negatively impact the fish.
• SDG 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity, and protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species – The article discusses the endangered status of the southern steelhead and the need for immediate help to prevent its extinction.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator: Number of legal protections granted for endangered species – The article mentions that the court upheld CalTrout’s science-driven petition to list the southern steelhead under the California Endangered Species Act, indicating progress towards protecting the species.
• Indicator: Number of steelhead runs – The article states that current steelhead runs are only in the single digits, highlighting the decline in the population and the need for urgent action to prevent extinction.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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