Protecting Carmel River Wildlife

California American Water’s strategy for threatened species on the Carmel River is threefold:

1. To protect California Coastal Steelhead Trout, supporting their migration up and down the river by limiting diversions from the upper river and periodically releasing water from our reservoirs. Steelhead migration this year is nearly identical to last year, suggesting that our river management practices have stabilized the opportunity for fish to thrive.

2. To protect California Red Legged Frogs by relocating tadpoles stranded in isolated pools and removing non-native predator species. Recent federal action reaffirmed the Carmel River Watershed as a critical habitat for California Red Legged Frogs.

3. To improve the Carmel River habitat for all species by helping add safe new places for animals to grow and augmenting the flow of water in the river.

Our work on the Carmel River is a successful collaboration with many critical partners. Some of these partners are the dedicated volunteers from the Carmel River Steelhead Association, the Carmel River Watershed Conservancy, California State Parks Department , California Department of Fish and Wildlife, NOAA Fisheries, and MPWMD. Each of our organizations has a different mission, but our collaboration is a case history in successful cooperation among citizens, business, and government working together for the common good.

To learn more, click here to watch California American Water’s five minute video about protecting the Carmel River and the wildlife that depend on it.