The Malibu Lagoon has seen three endangered species within the first year after restoration was completed, and the steelhead trout is the third and most recent. An adult steelhead trout, approximately 20 inches in length, was seen on May 15 during post-construction fish monitoring by the Resource Conservation District- Santa Monica Mountains, California State Parks and The Bay Foundation.Â
In order to live, the trout needs clean, cool, well-oxygenated water, all of which were goals of the Malibu Lagoon Restoration project. The two other endangered species that have been spotted at the lagoon within the past year are the California tern and tidewater gobies.Â