Adobe Creek and Steelhead Trout

This is Adobe Creek. Had you stood here in 1982 you would have seen a dry stream bed, littered with trash, and denuded of vegetation. Native fish populations including steelhead trout had dwindled. Steelhead have become threatened due to a number of factors such as loss of streamside vegetation, water diversions, obstructions to their migration and siltation of their spawning grounds. In 1984, the United Anglers of Casa Grande High School offically adopted Adobe Creek in an effort to see if they could make a difference in the creek's condition and save the steelhead from extinction. Other agencies joined their efforts and Adobe Creek and its steelhead population are being restored. The creek was cleaned up and trees were planted to create more shade and therefore cooler water temperature, a necessity for many fish populations. Measures to control erosion were implemented, and water diversions were eliminated. Since steelhead migrate to the ocean from the freshwater creek they were born in and then return to that same creek to lay their eggs, a fish ladder was built near Adobe Road to aid fish in traveling upstream. The pool on this side of the rock wall (that crosses the creek) was created as a resting pool for fish to acclimate to the change in salinity when entering or leaving the creek. Station 4 is just on the other side of the bridge.

Tour text from "Self Guided Tour of Shollenberger Park" available on site.