What: On July 11, 2025, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) requested comments on a revision to the critical habitat for the Southern California steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss).
Why: In 2005, a total of 708 stream miles (1,139 kilometers) of critical habitat were designated for Southern California steelhead. NOAA is seeking comments on a petition to revise the designated critical habitat to remove a 9-mile (15-kilometer) stream reach from the confluence of the Santa Clara River and Hopper Creek upstream to the face of Santa Felicia Dam on Piru Creek.
Specifically, NOAA is looking for the following information on the area proposed for removal from critical habitat:
- Steelhead presence (or absence), both historically and from the time of listing in 1997 to the present.
- The existing physical and biological features present (or absent) are essential to the conservation of Southern California steelhead.
- Information regarding potential benefits or impacts associated with the petitioned revision to the current critical habitat designation, including information on the types of Federal actions that may affect the area’s physical and biological features
- Current or planned activities and costs of potential modifications of those activities due to the existing critical habitat designation.
NOAA requests that all data and information be accompanied by supporting documentation such as maps, bibliographic references, or reprints of pertinent publications.
Action: Comments on the petition are due September 9, 2025.
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