April 6, 2005

Hon. Sheila Kuehl, Chair
Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee
State Capitol, Room 407
Sacramento, CA 95814

Subject: Support for SB 857 (Kuehl)

Dear Senator Kuehl:

California Trout (CalTrout) is writing to express its support for SB 857. The bill requires the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans), prior to commencing construction design for a state transportation project, to assess whether it would affect a stream crossing on a waterway where anadromous fish (salmon and steelhead trout) are present or historically existed. The purpose of this assessment is to determine whether there are potential barriers to fish passage. In such situations, SB 857 requires CalTrans to include remediation of the problem as part of the design of the transportation project.

The bill also directs CalTrans to complete surveys of existing state highways that cross coastal streams where salmon or steelhead are currently present or historically existed, to determine whether the road crossings are currently blocking or impeding fish passage. SB 857 requires CalTrans and the Department of Fish and Game to jointly submit to the Legislature by December 31, 2009, a list of priority sites for remediating coastal streams where fish passage barriers exist.

SB 857 responds to a comprehensive inventory and study of fish passage barriers on coastal streams that impede access to freshwater spawning habitats for anadromous fish species. The study was completed by the Coastal Conservancy in 2003 and financed from a $750,000 appropriation contained in the 2001 Budget Act, with funds originally provided by Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 2. The purpose of the inventory was to identify barriers, such as dams, water diversions and road culverts, suitable for decommissioning, demolition, removal or modification, in order to restore access to spawning and riparian habitat for salmon and steelhead. Thousands of potential barriers have been identified. Standardized protocols for assessing and prioritizing fish passage barriers have been developed and approved by state and federal agencies as well as design standards for remediation. It is imperative that these protocols be implemented in anadromous fishery streams where populations are limited by fish passage barriers.

Hon. Sheila Kuehl

April 6, 2005

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SB 857 is needed because of the economic and intrinsic value of California’s remaining native runs of wild salmon and steelhead, which support important commercial, recreational and tribal fisheries. The state has already invested over $200 million in the last five years for capital improvements to restore and improve freshwater habitat for these fisheries, in addition to regulation and enforcement of land use activities. The limiting factor for anadromous fisheries is often fish passage barriers including state highway culverts needing repair or replacement. Additionally, most anadromous species are listed under state and federal Endangered Species Acts which require remediation of fish passage barriers. It is important that CalTrans do its part to ensure that fish passage problems caused by state highway projects are properly identified, assessed and remediated as part of the project design.

We urge you and the other members of the committee support SB 857.

Sincerely,

THOMAS J. WESELOH North Coast Manager

JIM EDMONDSON South Coast Manager