Biodiversity and Protected Species

The Santa Clara River watershed is home to

>60

protected species

The Santa Clara River watershed is home to over 60 species that have federal or state protected status, including approximately 20 Threatened and Endangered plant and animal species under the Endangered Species Act and over 45 other species with state protection.

In addition, native and protected riparian vegetation is highly diverse in portions of the watershed due to high microhabitat heterogeneity, including extensive flowing or ponded surface waters.

A few of the protected species dependent on the Santa Clara River floodplain include:

Arroyo Toad (Anaxyrus californicus), credit: Paul Maier
Least Bell’s Vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus), credit: US Fish and Wildlife Service
Pacific Lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus), credit: Abel Brumo
Southern California Steelhead Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss irideus), credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus), credit: US Fish and Wildlife Service
Slender-horned Spineflower (Dodecahema leptoceras), credit: Calflora