NOAA proposes removing 9 miles of Southern California steelhead critical habitat
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
This proposed rule would remove about 9 miles of stream in the Santa Clara River system from the federally designated critical habitat for Southern California steelhead. The affected reach runs from the Hopper Creek and Santa Clara River confluence to Santa Felicia Dam. The change matters for water districts, landowners, infrastructure operators, developers, and conservation groups working in or near that reach. If finalized, federal reviews tied to critical habitat protections would no longer apply to that specific segment, though other Endangered Species Act protections for the species may still matter. Public comments are due by August 28, 2026.
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Key Changes
- Proposes removing about 9 miles of stream from the Southern California steelhead critical habitat designation
- Covers the reach from the Hopper Creek and Santa Clara River confluence to Santa Felicia Dam
- Opens a public comment period ending August 28, 2026