Ponds & Problems

Mission RCD has been working with Trout Unlimited, the California Coastal Conservancy, and the California Department of Fish and Game to try and educate the general public about the impacts of non-native animals on southern California's native animal species.

INVASIVE AQUATIC ANIMALS:

Trout Unlimited is currently working on San Mateo Creek, which flows from the southwestern portion of Riverside County, through San Diego County and out into the Pacific Ocean in Orange County, to reintroduce the southern steelhead trout, Onchorhynchus mykiss iridis and the partially armored threespine stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus microcephalus.

In addition to removing non-natives fish and other aquatic animal species from the San Mateo Creek, TU is working with Mission RCD to help homeowners understand that if they stock private ponds with non-native animal species and the animals are washed out the ponds during rain events, those non-native animals can have disastrous consequences for the native wildlife.

On behalf of Trout Unlimited, Mission RCD conducted two workshops in 2006 to help stakeholders in San Mateo Creek understand how native wildlife can be negatively impacted by non-native aquatic species.  The workshops also presented solutions to the problem, including properly engineering and structuring private ponds so that non-native aquatic animals (including fish, bullfrogs, and crayfish) are not washed out of the ponds during heavy rain events.

Also on behalf of Trout Unlimited, Mission RCD developed a brochure "Don't Stock a Pest," to help landowners easily identify problem aquatic animals and the local native aquatic animals in San Mateo Creek.  Please contact Mission RCD for your free copy or click on the brochure to the right to view the electronic form (6 Mb).

Visit Trout Unlimited's website by clicking on their logo below  to learn about their efforts to save the steelhead trout!

                                                Last Updated: June 10, 2008