NOAA's Fisheries Service is fishing the public's input on a draft recovery plan aimed to restore and stabilize steelhead trout numbers in coastal streams south of the Santa Maria River to the Mexican border.
The area contains a distinct population of steelhead that became listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1997.
The development of a recovery plan is an important first step for rebuilding an endangered species., NOAA officials said, adding that local input on the unique needs of these fish is extremely valuable to ensure the plan is comprehensive .
The California Department of Fish and Game is a primary partner with NOAA in the development of the plan.
Workshops scheduled in Carlsbad and Santa Barbara will provide NOAA fishery biologists who will explain what steps they see as necessary to recover steelhead populations.
The workshops will be held at the time and locations listed below:
Carlsbad: Aug. 25, 3 -5 p.m. at the Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife office, 6010 Hidden Valley road.
Santa Barbara: Sept.1, 5-7 p.m. at the Fess Parker's Double Tree Resort, 633 East Cabrillo Blvd.
Public comment and information must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Sept. 21. Comments may be submitted by email at SteelheadPlan.swr@noaa.gov, (Include the subject line of the email the following: "Comments on Southern California Steelhead Plan); or by mail, by submitting written comments to Penny Ruvelas, National Marine Fisheries Service, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA, 90802-4213;
Copies of this plan will be provided on a compact disc upon request. Contact Kimberly Speech at 562-980-4006 or email Kimberly.speech@noaa.gov with "CD-ROM request for Southern California Steelhead recovery plan" in the subject line. Electronic copies of this plan are also available on-line at http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/recovery/So_Cal.htm.
Information on recovery plans for species listed under the ESA may be found at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/recovery. Recovery plans for federally listed salmonids throughout California and Southern Oregon may be found at http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/recovery/index.htm,
On the web: Southern California Steelhead Recovery Plan: http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/recovery/So_Cal/Southern_California_Steelhead_Public_Draft_Recovery_Plan.pdf
NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov
Federal Register Announcement: http://frwebgate5.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/PDFgate.cgi?WAISdocID=36023381321+4+2+0&WAISaction=retrieve
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