A couple months ago, I was forwarded an interesting article from Dougald Scott—one the members of our SCFF conservation committee. What makes it so interesting to me is it includes conservation, history, a California native fish and one of the legendary rivers in our state—The McCloud River. And it was written by Dr. Peter B Moyle, Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology and associate director of the Center for Watershed Sciences at the University of California, Davis. In my limited perusing of matters relating to fish science in California, Dr. Boyle’s work has frequently appeared and he is well respected in his field. Here are several points I learned that I hope you will find interesting in this article titled Bull Trout and Other Endemic Fishes: McCloud River, found in California WaterBlog. I encourage you to read it for much more insight. Many thanks to Dougald Scott for sharing the article.
Bull Trout were native to the McCloud River, primarily in the headwaters and noted for a “very handsome and beautiful fish”. In the 1800s it was targeted by wealthy anglers and the indigenous McCloud Winnemem Wintu.
Bull trout are actually type of char and were called Dolly Varden when they were found in the McCloud, as they called are in Alaska (and perhaps other areas). As you may know, Brook Trout are also char that thrive in colder water.
Several factors were probably to have caused the extirpation of the Bull Trout from the McCloud river:
- Shasta Dam, built in 1945 and McCloud Dam built in 1965 blocked migration of salmon and steelhead and reduced of size of the river by about 80% by diverting it to the Pit River for hydropower.
- Juvenile Salmon—which are no longer present in the McCloud*—were a declining source of food for Bull Trout.
- Brown trout were introduced into the watershed, which were likely to have competed for habitat and food.
- Logging in the watershed.
The last documented encounter with a Bull Trout in the McCloud occurred in 1975.
The story of the McCloud River’s place in trout history hopefully will teach us some lessons on how to do a better job of prioritizing our native fish for the benefit of all us and for future generations.
Another interesting bit of history:
The first fish hatchery on the West Coast was built in 1872 on the McCloud, producing Chinook salmon and steelhead for the McCloud (and other locations domestically and internationally). The hatchery shut down in 1937 as it was to be submerged by the impending Shasta Reservoir. Another hatchery, Livingston Stone National Fish Hatchery, was subsequently built below Shasta Dam.
*The first adult Chinook salmon in over 100 years have been spotted in the McCloud River.
Posted on August 21st, 2025