Fish Water People

Latest Episodes:

Restoration Takes Everyone, with Griff Griffith and Chuck Bonham Jul 07, 2025

Show notes

What does a renowned natural and cultural resource interpreter have in common with the Director of California Department of Fish and Wildlife? Dive into the most recent (and final!) episode of season 3 of the Fish Water People podcast to find out!

First, we sit down with Griff Griffith, a natural and cultural resource interpreter, in other words a man who can do it all. He is a content creator for Redwoods Rising, host of the Jumpstart Nature podcast, and much more. He shares his infectious enthusiasm for forest restoration and the emerging "restoration economy" transforming the North Coast. Griff takes us inside the massive Redwoods Rising partnership working to heal previously clear-cut, overplanted forests and create the diverse, resilient ecosystems that once defined the region. His advice for a strong, sustainable America? Fresh water, good soil, clean air, lots of fish, biodiversity, and cool forests.

Next, we are joined by Chuck Bonham, Director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, for a wide-ranging conversation about leading the agency tasked with protecting every living thing in the Golden State. Chuck reflects on 14 years of transformative work - from the historic Klamath dam removal to wolf and beaver reintroduction. We explore balancing conservation with community needs and why both guests believe California can be a model for stewarding natural resources for the next 1,000 years.

Griff and Chuck represent two different pieces of the conservation ecosystem, revealing what's possible when we use human innovation as a force for good – and we each have a part to play. Hear more from these inspirational leaders about the hard work contributing to a sustainable future for all Californians.

Guided by Nature, Governed by Law with Michael Rogner & Karrigan Börk May 29, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Fish Water People Podcast, Michael Rogner, Associate Director of Restoration Science at River Partners, discusses large-scale riparian habitat restoration in California's Central Valley. Rogner explains how his organization transforms former agricultural lands into native habitats, focusing on restoring the Sacramento River's ecosystem. By converting fallow fields into native landscapes, River Partners has restored 20,000 acres, creating multiple benefits including flood control, groundwater recharge, wildlife habitat, and community access to green spaces. He highlights projects like Dos Rios State Park, which demonstrates how ecological restoration can improve public safety, support biodiversity, and provide recreational opportunities.

Karrigan Börk, a UC Davis law professor and director of the UCD Center for Watershed Sciences, also joins the conversation and delves into the complex world of California water law. Bork explains the historical development of water rights, including riparian and appropriative rights, and how the public trust doctrine has evolved to protect ecological interests. He uses examples like the Mono Lake case to illustrate how legal frameworks can drive environmental protection, discussing how state and federal laws like the Clean Water Act and Porter-Cologne Act interact to regulate water use.

Listen to more episodes at caltrout.org/podcast

Connections and Crossings: Wildlife in the Modern World, with Beth Pratt and Ben Goldfarb Jan 28, 2025

Show notes

From P-22 - dubbed the "Brad Pitt of mountain lions" - navigating LA freeways to steelhead battling urban barriers, the latest Fish Water People podcast episode dives into an urgent question: how can we help wildlife move through a world designed primarily with human movement in mind? Join us as we connect with Beth Pratt, wildlife advocate, author, and California Director for the National Wildlife Federation, who reveals why data alone is not enough to motivate environmental action. She discusses how compelling personal stories transformed public perception of urban animals and drove the construction of the world’s largest wildlife crossing, the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing in Los Angeles County.

Ben Goldfarb, journalist, author, and Beaver Believer, also joins the conversation and reveals how innovative crossings - from overpasses to culverts - give animals new paths to survival. Together, these conservation leaders are painting a realistic picture of how cities and wildlife can coexist, one crossing at a time.

This episode was recorded prior to the catastrophic fires in LA. Our hearts are with all those affected, and we are devastated for the communities that have been so quickly and shockingly displaced by these fire events. For those seeking assistance or looking for ways to help, please explore the below resources.
Resources for those affected: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KMk34XY5dsvVJjAoD2mQUVHYU_Ib6COz6jcGH5uJWDY/[…]Ri24fIxe9aMSv-llwdHVOO4AlbYQwX4oAg_aem_C43zmedFY43xZbhHxML6Pw
Ways to help (LA Times): https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-08/how-to-help-victims-of-pacific-p[…]cf18-fcec4d0f13-232602681&mc_cid=fcec4d0f13&mc_eid=9d09952d18
Ways to help (KQED): https://www.kqed.org/news/12021150/where-to-donate-help-los-angeles-wildfire-eaton-fire-palisades-pasadena

The Klamath: Behind the Scenes, with Shane Anderson and Brook Thompson Dec 18, 2024

Show notes

Join us for behind the scenes stories from the Klamath River as we explore the before and after of this historic dam removal project. We chat with Shane Anderson, 2x Emmy award winning documentary filmmaker, and Brook Thompson, Yurok & Karuk Native and Ph.D. Student.
Damon Goodman, CalTrout Regional Director, also joins the conversation to share some exciting updates from CalTrout's monitoring program on the Klamath as we work to uncover and better understand the impacts of dam removal. Learn more about our work here.

Reel Talk: Angling Perspectives Across California, with Kesley Gallagher, John Fochetti, and Michael Wier Aug 02, 2024

Show notes

Join us for a fishy episode of the Fish Water People podcast as we explore the diverse angling opportunities across California! We chat with Kesley Gallagher, CalTrout board member and life-long angler, John Fochetti, fishing guide in Northern California, and Michael Wier, CalTrout videographer, field reporter, and big fish aficionado.

Our guests take us on a journey through California's remarkable fisheries, starting with the challenging corbina hunts on SoCal beaches. From these adventures, we venture to the majestic waters of the North Coast, uncovering world-class trout fishing hotspots around Redding. We also explore the exhilarating experience of CalTrout’s Five Rivers Challenge, where anglers fish five rivers in just three days. Throughout the episode, our guests share their unique experiences, valuable insights, and deep love for California's waters. Whether you're an avid angler or simply appreciate the Golden State's aquatic wonders, this episode is sure to reel you in!

Guest biographies:

John Fochetti: John Fochetti Fly Fishing has been operating in Northern California for over 16 years, and throughout that time he has gained intimate knowledge of the many waters of Northern California. In addition, the countless hours have honed his skills as a teacher, welcoming novice and advanced anglers alike. He guides the Klamath, Trinity, Pit, Hat, Mccloud, Upper Sacramento, Lower Sacramento, Fall River, and Shasta Lake for trout steelhead and bass.

Kesley Gallagher: She has 24 International Game Fish Association (IGFA) records and she is an IGFA Representative for California. She is an Elite Sage Pro, and has been fly-fishing since 10 years old. The largest fish she has landed on fly is a striped marlin at 135# in Magdelena Bay and the largest trout she has landed was 21.5# from Pyramid Lake in Nevada.

Michael Wier: He is a long time California fly fisher and has spent most of his life exploring and fishing California's waters. Early in his career in the fishing industry he spent over a decade and a half fishing the Tahoe area and guiding for the Tahoe Fly-Fishing outfitters. In 2000 Michael started BURL Productions and started making adventure fly fishing and documentary content. Those video pursuits and the quest for the ultimate fish have taken him all around the world. For the past 12 plus years Michael has been working with California Trout in a number of different capacities to further our mission to ensure resilient wild fish thriving in healthy waters for a better California.

A Historic Win for Southern Steelhead: Understanding the Endangered Listing, with Dr. Sandra Jacobson and Redgie Collins Jun 17, 2024

Show notes

Step into the spotlight with Southern steelhead! These iconic fish are making headlines from Politico to the LA Times, but what’s behind the buzz? Dive into the latest episode of the Fish Water People podcast, where Dr. Sandra Jacobson, CalTrout’s South Coast and Sierra Headwaters Regional Director, and Redgie Collins, CalTrout’s Legal and Policy Director, explore the landmark decision to list Southern steelhead as endangered under California’s Endangered Species Act.

Journey from CalTrout’s role in spearheading the petition to the unanimous Fish and Game Commission vote, unraveling the critical role of science, policy, and community support in securing protections for these iconic fish. Together, we’ll uncover the decision’s significance, its impact on California’s waterways, and the challenges posed by fish passage barriers. Our collective efforts in habitat restoration, dam removal, and legislative action culminated in this groundbreaking milestone. Join us in celebrating this triumph and charting the path forward for conservation efforts, while uncovering fun Southern steelhead facts along the way! Hint: steelhead are one of the only living organisms to change their gene expression to tolerate both salt water and freshwater environments!

Breaking Barriers: Inside the Klamath Dam Removal Project, with Mark Bransom Apr 16, 2024

Show notes

Ever wondered what it takes to orchestrate a river’s rebirth? Join Fish Water People podcast host and CalTrout Executive Director, Curtis Knight, as he dives into the latest updates on the monumental Klamath River dam removal and restoration project. In this special short-tape episode, Curtis welcomes Mark Bransom, CEO of the Klamath River Renewal Corporation, back to the show to discuss recent developments in the removal of dams along the Klamath River. From breaching dams to managing sediment flow, Mark provides an insider’s perspective on the challenges and triumphs of this once-in-a-lifetime restoration endeavor. Don’t miss out on this riveting journey of resilience and renewal of one of California’s most iconic rivers!

If you share our vision of a better California and resilient wild fish and you want to be a part of it, now is the best time of the year to do it. Join us at our annual Trout Camp Gala in San Francisco on May 3. Learn more and buy a ticket here: https://caltrout.org/trout-camp-gala

Win-Wins for Rivers and Ranches, with Mike Belchik and Gareth Plank Mar 15, 2024

Show notes

How can conservation groups, Tribes, and ranchers come together to create healthier watersheds? Hear from CalTrout Mt. Shasta/Klamath Regional Director Damon Goodman, Yurok Tribe Senior Fisheries Biologist Mike Belchik, and Farmers Ditch Company member Gareth Plank on how the three groups work together to realize a better future for the Scott River Valley.

The Scott River, one of the largest Klamath River tributaries, is a crucial source of water for farms and ranches. The river also provides unique and highly productive habitat for fish including Chinook salmon, federally threatened coho salmon, steelhead, and Pacific lamprey, all of which the Yurok Tribe depends on for sustenance and ceremony. In recent years, fish numbers have declined on the Scott, due in large part to the extended drought, legacy environmental damage from the gold mining era, and disease outbreaks in the main-stem Klamath.

In 2023, CalTrout, the Yurok Tribe, and Farmers Ditch Company signed a Memorandum of Understanding for collaborative work that envisions a future where salmon populations and family farms both flourish. The primary objectives of the partnership are to restore salmon habitat and improve on-farm water use efficiency on the main-stem Scott River.

Learn more about the partnership and the exciting projects it has spawned in the latest episode of Fish Water People!

Water touches all of us in both practical and magical ways. What's your relationship with water? What makes California’s rivers and waterways special to you? Let us know!

To have your voice featured on an upcoming episode of the show, record a voice memo and email it to ⁠⁠podcast@caltrout.org⁠⁠.

Science's Role in the Story of Recovery, with Stephanie Carlson & Gabe Rossi Feb 05, 2024

Show notes

Life history diversity in salmon and trout populations is crucial to building resilience - especially in a rapidly changing environment. But what is life history diversity all about? And how can scientific research leave the lab and inform actual on-the-ground recovery actions? We talk with UC Berkeley and CalTrout collaborators Stephanie Carlson, Ph.D., and Gabe Rossi about science's role in the story of recovery and restoration as an action to unlock life history diversities for fish. You can think of salmon life history diversity like a financial portfolio: a diverse portfolio will be much more resilient to the changes happening around it than one with all the same assets. We zoom in to the Eel River where salmon have faced incredible adversity and yet are still showing up, and we explore applied science, CalTrout and UC Berkeley's collaboration in the watershed, and optimism for a return to abundance. Darren Mierau, CalTrout's North Coast Regional Director, also joins the conversation to discuss his team's work in the Eel River watershed with Cal Poly Humboldt to understand non-native pikeminnow as a threat to salmonids and the team's efforts to suppress this non-native predator population. When the academic world joins forces with entities like CalTrout that are enacting restoration projects, we can have a real chance for recovery of these fish species hovering on the brink.

Water touches all of us in both practical and magical ways. What's your relationship with water? What makes California’s rivers and waterways special to you? Let us know!

To have your voice featured on an upcoming episode of the show, record a voice memo and email it to ⁠podcast@caltrout.org⁠.

Stories of Abundance, with Obi Kaufmann Jan 05, 2024

Show notes

What does art have to do with salmon? And how can we use art as a tool and practice to improve and better understand the natural world around us? We talk with prolific illustrator, author, and naturalist Obi Kaufmann about how art as a form of storytelling can hold the key to a better future for all of us. We explore stories of abundance, myths, science, and history in our quest to unravel California's complex relationship with and reliance upon fresh water.

Water touches all of us in both practical and magical ways. What's your relationship with water? What makes California’s rivers and waterways special to you? Let us know!

To have your voice featured on an upcoming episode of the show, record a voice memo and email it to podcast@caltrout.org.

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