It’s an odd, disturbing feeling – watching populations of native fish species collapse and then disappear. Sometimes it happens quickly, other times it’s a series of slowstep change events. The end result is the same though – smaller populations, extinctions, less biodiversity. We put up a little fight, and occasionally have moderate success. But by and large, the overall trend is down, the pace of change quickening, and it is relentless. We’ve watched it over our careers, and maybe some of you have too. Either as biologists or water professionals, or perhaps as long-time readers of this blog. This summer has been no different. It has been an avalanche of stories, all with variations on this theme.

Related articles:

• San Luis Obispo Tribune: Does Lopez Dam harm steelhead trout? Activists sue SLO County to protect endangered fish
• NPR: Too hot for trout: Why some anglers are rethinking their approach to fly fishing
• The Cool Down: Officials discover ‘one of the rarest fish in America’ thriving in secret creek for first time in a decade: ‘It has the will to survive’