Conservation

Protecting the waters we fish today—and for generations to come.

 

As fly anglers, healthy fisheries and healthy waters are at the heart of everything we do. PCC works to protect and restore the places we fish through hands-on conservation, education, advocacy, monitoring, and partnerships.

We encourage every PCC member to take part. Whether you volunteer at a river cleanup, help monitor water quality, practice responsible fish handling, or speak up for threatened fisheries, every action makes a difference.

 

What We Do

PCC conservation efforts focus on:

• Protecting and restoring fisheries and habitat
• Caring for our local waters, especially the San Gabriel River watershed
• Educating anglers and the community about responsible fishing and conservation practices
• Advocating for threatened fisheries and watersheds
• Working alongside organizations and agencies that share our commitment to healthy waters and wild fish

Get Involved

Conservation is something we can all participate in.

Join PCC members for river cleanups, habitat projects, water-quality monitoring and other volunteer opportunities throughout the year.

Watch our calendar and emails for upcoming conservation events.

Current Conservation News and Priorities

No Hot Creek Mine
Hot Creek is one of the Eastern Sierra’s most treasured trout fisheries and recreational resources. Renewed proposals for exploratory mining near Hot Creek have raised concerns about protecting its unique water system, habitat and fishery.

 

PCC submitted a letter to Inyo National Forest opposing the project and will keep members informed to protect this extraordinary resource. NO HOT CREEK MINE is leading the eastern Sierra grassroots resistance to the proposed exploratory drilling in collaboration with other environmental organzations.

 

 

Southern California Steelhead
Southern steelhead are an iconic native species adapted to the challenges of southern California watersheds —and one of the most endangered fish in our region. PCC supported listing of the fish by the California Fish and Wildlife Commision as endangered, and continues to follow conservation and legal developments affecting their recovery.

Caltrout, Center for Biological Diversity, and Wishtoyo Foundation recently assisted in a lawsuit brought by United Water Conservation District  challenging the California Fish and Wildlife Commission listing of steelhead as endangered. The listing was upheld in the court's decision, extending the protections that the designation provides. 

Protect Bristol Bay 

Bristol Bay supports the largest sockeye salmon run in the world and is one of the world’s great wild salmon fisheries for commercial, recreational, and tribal fishers. The proposed Pebble Mine has been the subject of a decades-long fight to protect the watershed from large-scale mining development. The mining proposal was rejected by EPA and US Army Corps of Engineers actions in 2023, but is back again in a legal challenge by Pebble Mine developers and the State of Alaska. 

PCC Conservation in Action 
West and North Forks San Gabriel River Stream Cleanup

The West Fork of the San Gabriel River has a special place in PCC’s history. Our members continue that legacy through cleanup and stewardship projects that help care for this important local watershed.

PCC and FRVC collaborated on a stream cleanup on the North and West Forks of the San Gabriel River on June 6, 2026. We had 18 participants come out to pick up trash, have lunch, and do some optional fishing after the event. We picked up 607 pounds of trash and had a great time. Look for another cleanup or rock dam removal project on the San Gabriel coming in fall.

 

 

San Gabriel River Water Quality Monitoring 

Healthy trout need clean, cold water. PCC and FRVC members participate in ongoing water-quality monitoring, including sampling the aquatic insects as indicators of water quality, to better understand conditions in the San Gabriel River watershed and help identify changes that may affect aquatic habitat.

 

12th Annual Lower Owens River Cleanup - October 3

The 12th Annual Cleanup is in the books. The event was coordinated by PCC member and guide Chris Leonard and was well attended by several clubs and other organizations. PCC was a sponsor and members pitched in to remove trash from several areas on the Lower Owens. This is a fun event with pastries and coffee in the morning, lunch after the cleanup, and a free raffle with lots of prizes. Also a perfect excuse for some fall fishing in the Eastern Sierra. Plan to attend next year!

 

National Public Lands Day - Rock Dam Removals - San Gabriel River
As part of National Public Lands Day on September 26, PCC assisted Fisheries Resource Volunteer Corps (FRVC) and LA area Conservation Corps to remove unauthorized dams built by forest visitors on the East Fork of the San Gabriel River in the Angeles National Forest. The dams restrict fish migration and interrupt sediment transport, affecting benthic communities and fish habitat. 

Upcoming Conservation Events

Keep an eye out for emails and notices on this Conservation Page for upcoming events. Another stream cleanup/rock dam removal on the San Gabriel River is likely in late October or November.

Conservation Starts with the Angler
Protecting fisheries doesn’t only happen through large conservation projects. It happens every time we go fishing.

 

Handle Fish with Care
Responsible catch-and-release practices can significantly reduce stress on fish.

Keep fish wet whenever possible, minimize handling and air exposure, use wet hands or a rubber net, and release fish as quickly and carefully as possible.

  

Fish in Hot Water 

Warm water holds less oxygen and can put significant stress on trout and other cold-water species, which is especially important for effective catch and release practices. During periods of high water temperatures, consider fishing early, monitoring water conditions, switching to warm water species, or heading for the mountains. CDFW initially developed "Hoot Owl" procedures in response to drought, but they apply any time waters get low and warm. 

Leave no Trace
Good stewardship extends beyond the fish. Pack out what you bring in, dispose of fishing line and waste properly, respect wildlife and habitat, prevent the spread of invasive species, and leave our rivers and public lands better than you found them. If you are interested in refreshing your Leave no Trace practices, sign up for a quick online training.

Our Conservation Mission

 

The Pasadena Casting Club seeks to protect, restore, and preserve the fish and habitats of California important to the sport of fly fishing through conservation activities, including habitat restoration, environmental advocacy and education, and support of conservation organizations.

Just as the fish we seek are the bellwether of clean water and thriving ecosystems, we fly fishers are the sentries for these treasured environments.

Join with us in our conservation and advocacy work to sustain our sport.

 

 

 

A Long History of Conservation

Conservation has been part of PCC since the Club’s founding in 1947. PCC has a particularly important history with the West Fork of the San Gabriel River. Following a devastating silt release from Cogswell Dam in 1981, Club members worked with state and federal agencies on spawning habitat, riparian restoration and the long-term management of the fishery.

That same spirit of stewardship continues today.

Conservation Committee

The Conservation Committee helps identify issues affecting our fisheries, organize projects, educate members and coordinate PCC’s conservation and advocacy efforts.

Interested in helping? We would love to have you involved.

 

Conservation Committee:

 

Ed Wallace - Chair

Scott Boller