Map Features

Primary tributary (lake entry)
Secondary tributary / upstream
Confluence point

Survey Status

●Adults confirmed (recent)
●None observed / concern

Other

USGS gauge station
Town / community
Isolated water body
Click any creek or lake zone for details. Scroll or pinch to zoom. Drag to pan.
Mt. Konocti Anderson Marsh Blue Lakes Soda Bay Borax L. Thurston L. Upper Arm Main Lake Oaks Arm Lower Arm Rodman Slough Scotts Cr. Lyons Cr. Morrison Cr. Lucerne Cr. Forbes Cr. Manning Cr. Rumsey Slough Adobe Cr. McGaugh Sl. Kelsey Cr. Cole Cr. Thompson Cr. Hill Cr. Highland Cr. Schindler Cr. Burns Valley Cr. Seigler Cyn. Copsey Cr. Cache Cr. → USGS Gauge Nice Lakeport Lucerne Clearlake Oaks Kelseyville Clearlake N S W E CLICK ZONES & CREEKS Primary trib (lake entry) Secondary tributary Confluence point
Survey Data
Zone/Creek
Threats
USGS GILLNET: LAKE ABUNDANCE

Relative Abundance 2017 to 2022

2017
Baseline
2019
~55%
2021
~14%
2022
~4%

⚠ 96% decline 2017 to 2022 · ~100-fold decline overall

CDFW VISUAL SURVEYS (2013 to 2025)

Annual Spawner Totals

2025
1,567
2024
1,042
2023
2,548★
2022
306
2021
120
2020
1,672
2019
612
2018
1,153
2017
517
2016
693
2014
1,119
2013
<500

★ Record. 11-yr avg: 1,032.

LAKE COUNTY WPD + COMMUNITY SCIENCE

WPD 2024: 10 Tributaries

Copsey Cr.Adults Mar to May
Forbes Cr.Adults Apr 18
Hendricks Cr.Adults Apr 2
Burns Valley~4,000 juveniles
Total larvae YOY4,554
Seigler CanyonNone (~2004)

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Spawning Habitat Loss

Critical

Tributaries run dry before juveniles emigrate. 9 documented barriers. Big Valley groundwater pumping under CA State Water Board reporting orders (Jan 2024).

Invasive Species

High

~20 introduced species. Bass and catfish prey on juveniles; carp and goldfish consume hitch eggs.

Climate Change

Critical

Dr. Peter Moyle (UC Davis): hitch is "extremely likely to be driven to extinction by 2100." Three consecutive drought years caused near-complete spawning failure.

Harmful Algal Blooms

High

Severe annual cyanobacterial blooms crash dissolved oxygen and devastate juvenile fish survival.

Legal Timeline

Status
CA Threatened listing2014
Lake Co. emergencyFeb 2023
Federal ESA proposedJan 2025
USGS CAWSC · OFR 2025-1018 · Lake Co. WPD · GeoJSON: Lake Co. GIS