Every spring, Cory Hamilton and his team save steelhead trout from the drying Carmel River. Over 500,000 fish have been rescued due to overpumping for potable water. While the overpumping has ceased, the river still faces drying concerns each summer. The Steelhead Rescue and Rearing Program, part of the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, relies on a dedicated team to capture and rehabilitate these fish, emphasizing the ongoing need for conservation efforts in light of environmental challenges and new administrative policies.
"It feels good... to help save something," says Hamilton, who has been rescuing steelhead in the Carmel River for 22 years.
The rescue team, usually made up of five people, catches any steelhead they find, releasing them in wet sections of the river.
The Steelhead Rescue and Rearing Program expects to reach nearly half a million fish saved, highlighting the significance of conservation efforts.
There will likely be a need to rescue fish as long as the river dries up and people utilize it for water production.
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