On January 7, 2025, two wildfires of massive proportions— the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire—broke out in Los Angeles County. Just weeks earlier, in December, the Franklin Fire tore through Malibu. These fires burned not only wildlands but also an unprecedented number of residential and urban areas.
I was starting my day in Santa Monica when I saw a thin wisp of smoke outside my window. Within minutes, it grew into a dark cloud that dominated the sky. The winds were fierce, and local news warned LA of the high fire risk just the day before.
The Santa Monica Mountains and the San Gabriel Mountains suffered from these fires. Both ranges hold populations of trout with native southern coastal rainbow trout genetics. In the Santa Monica Mountains, these fish are not entirely landlocked by dams and still have access to the ocean. Therefore, they can be considered steelhead, or the “S” word, as I like to say. While the Santa Monica Mountain’s population persists, their numbers are low, fluctuating from year to year. What’s a low number? Some stream surveys will turn up zero fish. Yeah, that low. At other times, more are found, but mostly juveniles—rarely large adults.
Southern steelhead are built to survive. They can return from the sea to spawn multiple times, sometimes in different years or different streams. They tolerate warmer water better than their northern relatives, and they have a history of “suddenly” reappearing in coastal streams that seemed empty for seasons. But despite these traits and their ability to survive calamities, their drastically reduced numbers put them at great risk. Coastal streams in Southern California are not large systems, are not numerous, and have few tributaries. Malibu Creek, for example, is blocked by the derelict Rindge Dam just a few miles inland, cutting off access to a substantial amount of upstream habitat where waters are cooler and cleaner. Even with fishing prohibited, these ocean-going trout in Southern California face an uphill battle.
Emergency Fish Rescues
Two fish rescues were launched in early 2025 in the Santa Monica Mountains ahead of the first winter storms. The first involved the tiny Northern Tidewater Goby, an endangered species residing in the Topanga Creek lagoon. This small lagoon held the southernmost known population of the species. In January, gobies were collected and relocated to special tanks at Heal the Bay’s Aquarium in Santa Monica and the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach.
A few days later, trout were rescued further upstream and relocated to a hatchery facility to hold them until conditions improve or a better home for them is found. These were not large adults but smaller fish. The rescue effort brought together an impressive assembly of teams from the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains (RCDSMM), the Department of Fish and Wildlife, USGS, State Parks, Cal State Channel Islands, the California Conservation Corps, the Watershed Stewards Program, and the Cachuma Operation and Maintenance Board.
The Future of Southern Steelhead
Malibu Creek’s Rindge Dam is set for removal by 2035, which could open up significant habitat for steelhead. Just north of Malibu, efforts to remove the Matilija Dam on the Ventura River are also underway. Matilija, like Rindge, is derelict, silted in and obsolete. It will take time, but Topanga Creek and these fisheries will hopefully recover.
The impact of climate change, especially for a cold-water species in its southern range, cannot be ignored in any discussion about habitat restoration. These latest tragedies are just another reminder.
Aftermath of the Fires
As of this writing, the storms that followed the fires brought mudslides, debris flows, and ash down, clogging streams and polluting beaches and coastal waters. Roads have been closed, and a health advisory is in place for waters off northern Santa Monica Bay due to contamination. The Palisades Fire alone destroyed 6,835 structures and claimed 12 lives, according to CalFire. Toxic debris from burned buildings and vehicles is now being processed, often in coastal areas like beach parking lots. Organizations such as Heal the Bay and the Surfrider Foundation are critically monitoring cleanup activities.
Final Thoughts
These fish have survived catastrophic events before, but their future depends on habitat restoration and conservation efforts. Expanding access to quality habitat gives them a better chance. With dam removals on the horizon and ongoing restoration work, there is still reason to hope.
Good article, thank you.