Male and female steelhead trout. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
About the SpeciesSteelhead trout are a unique species. Individuals develop differently depending on their environment. All wild steelhead trout hatch in gravel-bottomed, fast-flowing, well-oxygenated rivers and streams. Some stay in fresh water all their lives and are called rainbow trout. Steelhead trout that migrate to the ocean typically grow larger than the ones that stay in freshwater. They then return to freshwater to spawn. Steelhead trout are vulnerable to many stressors and threats including blocked access to spawning grounds and habitat degradation caused by dams and culverts.
One distinct population segment is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, and 10 DPS and 1 experimental non-essential population are listed as threatened.
NOAA Fisheries is committed to conserving and protecting steelhead trout. Our scientists and partners use a variety of innovative techniques to study, learn more about, and protect this species.
Scientific Classification Animalia Chordata Osteichthyes Salmoniformes Salmonidae Oncorhynchus Oncorhynchus mykissLast updated by NOAA Fisheries on 06/23/2025
Management Overview Recovery Planning and Implementation Species Recovery ContactsCentral California Coast Steelhead DPS
Central Valley Steelhead DPS
Northern California Coast Steelhead DPS
Published
February 10, 2023
Published
February 14, 2020
Published
February 5, 2020
Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 06/23/2025
Research California SalmonscapeFrom the Sierra Nevada to the Golden Gate, California is a salmon state. Discover the species, habitats, and human connections through art.
Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 06/23/2025
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