Coho Salmon & Steelhead Trout

Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and steelhead trout (O. mykiss) use several of the coastal streams within the Golden Gate National Recreational Area and Point Reyes National Seashore throughout their lifecycle, including Olema, Redwood, and Pine Gulch Creeks. Because coho are an endangered species and steelhead are threatened, the National Park Service is responsible for monitoring and protecting these populations. They have undertaken a huge effort to learn more about the size, distribution, and behavior of these populations, understand their habitat requirements, and engage federal, state, and local stakeholders in their protection.

Long-term Monitoring

The San Francisco Bay Area Network Inventory and Monitoring Program and its partners began monitoring coho and steelhead in Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Point Reyes National Seashore in 1998. The data collected by the Inventory and Monitoring Program is used to identify population trends and establish recovery goals, identify impaired park habitats, guide stream restoration and protection efforts, and prepare for the effects of climate change.

If coho salmon are endangered, why do I see them in the grocery store?

Coho in the grocery store are probably from Alaska or the Pacific Northwest. Salmon are very geographically loyal, returning as adults to the same stream they were born. So coho caught farther north are not from the same population of fish that live in our Bay Area parks. Visit the coho salmon FAQ to learn more.