By KAREN VELIE Four environmental groups filed a lawsuit on Aug. 13 over alleged violations of the Endangered Species Act in federal district court to
Four environmental groups filed a lawsuit on Aug. 13 over alleged violations of the Endangered Species Act in federal district court to stop San Luis Obispo County from operating Lopez Dam in a manner that drives threatened species such as the steelhead trout to extinction.
To remedy the thirty years of ongoing violations, the plaintiffs in this case — San Luis Obispo Coastkeeper, Los Padres ForestWatch, California Coastkeeper Alliance and Ecological Rights Foundation — ask the court to ensure the county releases sufficient water from Lopez Dam at specific times of the year to support wildlife.
“Steelhead have thrived in Arroyo Grande Creek and throughout San Luis Obispo County since time immemorial, but now they are faced with extinction,” said Benjamin Pitterle, Director of Advocacy for Los Padres ForestWatch. “This is now a unique opportunity for local leaders to commit to sensible measures that balance the needs of people with the needs of wildlife.”
Steelhead trout are also an important cultural resource. For thousands of years the Chumash and Salinan people coexisted with steelhead and honored the fish which they fondly called “Isha’kowoch.” Mexican and Spanish immigrants spread word of steelhead during the California goldrush. And by the early 1900s steelhead had become a popular game fish, and fisherman would flock from all over during the winter months to capture giant steelhead.
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