Steelhead Trout Found in Pond at MV Golf Course

Early September 2024 Molly Bain and son netted a beautiful steelhead trout. They said they saw several of them.

Here's what Eric Ettlinger, Aquatic Ecologist, said about this find:

Thanks for advocating for the fish! I’m not familiar with the section of stream that runs through the golf course but I have a few thoughts on those fish’s survival chances. The fact that they seem to be 6” long means that they’re at least a year old and have already survived one dry season. They may have survived in that very pool. Second, the pool is probably getting inputs of groundwater from the irrigated golf course, which may prevent drying until the rains arrive. Third, steelhead are SUPER resilient and have evolved to survive droughts in this area. Lastly, there’s not much we can do to help fish survive a drying stream other than to catch and relocate them. Unless people are responsible for pumping the creek dry, I prefer to let nature take its course. The fish that survive this year will produce offspring that have the best drought-survival traits. I’ve copied Sarah Phillips, who is Marin County’s Urban Streams Program Coordinator. She knows better than anyone how to improve Marin’s urban streams for native fish. Thanks again,Eric