November 26, 2024 (San Luis Obispo County, CA) – In a tremendous legal victory for wildlife and conservation, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California has granted a preliminary injunction requiring San Luis Obispo County to alter operations at Lopez Dam to better protect threatened South-Central California Coast Steelhead. This ruling addresses decades of harm caused by mismanagement of water flows critical to the survival of steelhead and other species in Arroyo Grande Creek.
The court’s decision follows a lawsuit filed earlier this year by San Luis Obispo Coastkeeper, Los Padres ForestWatch, California Coastkeeper Alliance, and the Ecological Rights Foundation. The coalition challenged the County’s decades-long failure to provide adequate water flows and fish passage at Lopez Dam violates the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and poses an existential threat to the steelhead population.
“For far too long, County operations at Lopez Dam have jeopardized steelhead and other vital wildlife,” said Benjamin Pitterle, Director of Advocacy for Los Padres ForestWatch. “This decision represents not only a win for this incredible species but also an opportunity for local leaders to ensure a sustainable balance between human and ecological needs.”
In issuing the ruling, the court highlighted the overwhelming evidence that current operations at Lopez Dam significantly degrades critical steelhead habitat by disrupting natural flow patterns and blocking migration routes. Judge Garnett cited the necessity of unimpeded access to upstream spawning areas and emphasized that federal officials have determined that restoring these habitats is vital for the recovery of the steelhead population. The court also acknowledged that immediate intervention is necessary to prevent further irreparable harm to this keystone species.
The ruling requires the County to release sufficient flows from Lopez Dam to support the steelhead’s complex life cycle, particularly during critical migration and spawning periods. Additionally, the County must develop and implement detailed plans to address other environmental impacts, including habitat restoration, fish passage improvements, and adaptive management strategies to ensure long-term ecological benefits. These measures aim to reverse decades of degradation and support the recovery of Arroyo Grande Creek’s ecosystem.
Government agencies have repeatedly warned the County for decades about the need to address the impacts of Lopez Dam operations on steelhead and steelhead habitat in Arroyo Grande Creek. As early as 1994, state and federal agencies raised concerns about the County’s failure to release sufficient flows, yet since that time the County has failed to operate in compliance with environmental laws.
“The court’s ruling underscores the continuing importance of the environmental protections provided by the Endangered Species Act and the vital role of citizen access to the courts in protecting endangered species. Until the coalition brought the matter to court, the needs of steelhead in Arroyo Grande Creek were largely being neglected,” said the coalition’s lead attorney Christopher Sproul.
Steelhead are a keystone species in the region, critical to the ecological health of Arroyo Grande Creek and its watershed. Historically, steelhead thrived in the San Luis Obispo area, with populations exceeding 20,000 adults annually. Today, their numbers have plummeted to fewer than 500, making them a rare sight in the wild.
The National Marine Fisheries Service designated the Arroyo Grande Creek population of steelhead as a “Core 1” population, meaning it is essential for the survival and recovery of the steelhead population as a whole. The court’s ruling recognizes the necessity of restoring flows and habitat connectivity to ensure the species’ long-term survival.
Comments are closed.