The Southern California steelhead trout is a fish that has been on the endangered species list since 1997, and habitat loss has played a key role in their population decline. But recently, a local nonprofit, the U.S. Forest Service and other partners completed a roughly $6 million project in the Los Padres National Forest Service in Ventura County to improve their habitat. At Wheeler Gorge Campground in the Los Padres National Forest, a gentle water now feely rushes through Bear Creek. The creek, along with the North Fork Matilija Creek at Wheeler Gorge are part of the Ventura River Watershed and are habitats for the federally endangered steelhead trout. 

Other habitat restoration news:

• Red Bluffs Daily News (Calif.): Grant awarded for Tehama salmon habitat restoration
• Sebastopol Times (Calif.): Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation wins million-dollar grant to kick off 175-acre wetlands restoration
• KSBW (Salinas, Calif.): $4.88M grant to build trails, visitor amenities at Watsonville Slough Farm approved
• The Revelator: Restoration update: In the wake of Klamath Dam removal