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89-561: After an absence of half a century, ocean-run steelhead trout are able to return to Alameda Creek to mingle with remnant rainbow trout populations. Completion of a series of dam removal and fish passage projects, along with improved stream flows for cold-water fish and planned habitat restoration, enable steelhead trout and Chinook salmon to access up to 20 miles (32 km) of spawning and rearing habitat in Alameda Creek and its tributaries. The first juvenile trout migrating downstream from

178-572: A 2016 an action plan implementation progress report stated the population is "maintained" showing no significant upward or downward trend in the yearly number of returning adults in a experimental small tributary to the Deschutes River. However, fish counts at Boneville Dam, on the Columbia River below the Deschutes confluence have shown a 10 year (2013–2022) average of 162,988 returning adults, and

267-621: A 25% increase in salmon and steelhead production was 20%" (NOAA). As it stands, "more than 20% of floodplain and in-channel habitat has been restored due to FRGP" (NOAA). Though these initiatives spell hope for the prospects of Steelhead Trout population rehabilitation, habitat degradation continues to occur at an alarming rate. Within the state of Oregon there are four different distinct steelhead population segments: Lower Columbia River steelhead, Middle Columbia River steelhead, Oregon Coast steelhead, and Upper Willamette River Steelhead (NOAA). Of these four segments, three are listed as threatened under

356-422: A chemical indicator, steelhead "use the position of the sun and magnetic north to navigate towards spawning grounds " after they have fed in the open ocean for 1–4 whole years (Fulton). Even after traveling hundreds of miles, this chemical imprint allows steelhead to identify their precise hatching grounds upon returning to freshwater. According to "A review of the characteristics, habitat requirements, and ecology of

445-2421: A four year (2019–2022) average of 97,352, suggesting a recent decline in rates of returning adults. Aaron Fulton. "A Review of the Characteristics, Habitat Requirements, and Ecology of the Anadromous Steelhead Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss) in the Skeena Basin," June 15, 2004, 16. "Coastal Multispecies Plan Volume III: Northern California Steelhead." NOAA Fisheries, 2016. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/document/final-coastal-multispecies-recovery-plan-california-coastal-chinook-salmon. "Coastal Rainbow Trout/ Steelhead." California Department of Fish and Wildlife, October 29, 2016. https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Fishes/Coastal-Rainbow-Trout-Steelhead. "Fish Hatcheries." In Fishing in Idaho . Idaho Department of Fish and Game, n.d. https://idfg.idaho.gov/visit/hatchery. Peter B. Moyle, Joshua A. Israel, and Sabra E. Purdy. "Salmon, Steelhead, and Trout in California: Status of an Emblematic Fauna." California Trout , 2008, 220. "Rainbow Trout and Steelhead." National Wildlife Federation, n.d. https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Fish/Rainbow-Trout-Steelhead. "Southern Steelhead: A Story of Recovery." California Trout, February 7, 2018. https://caltrout.org/news/southern-steelhead-story-recovery. "Steelhead Trout." Salmon Fishing Now, 2018. https://www.salmonfishingnow.com/steelhead-trout-biology/. "Steelhead Trout." In NOAA Fisheries . NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, n.d. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/steelhead-trout. "Steelhead Trout Identification." King County, November 10, 2016. https://www.kingcounty.gov/services/environment/animals-and-plants/salmon-and-trout/identification/steelhead.aspx. V. Kuhnlein, Harriet, and Murray M. Humphries. "Rainbow Trout (Steelhead Trout)." In Traditional Animal Foods of Indigenous Peoples of Northern North America . Centre for Indigenous Peoples' Nutrition and Environment, n.d. http://traditionalanimalfoods.org/fish/freshwater/page.aspx?id=6151. Alameda County, California Alameda County ( / ˌ æ l ə ˈ m iː d ə / AL -ə- MEE -də )

534-606: A major effort to restore this historically important steelhead stream by removing barriers to migration and improving habitat quality. Since steelhead in the Bay Area and California's Central Coast were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1997, numerous organizations, including the Alameda Creek Alliance , and governmental agencies have cooperated on restoration projects to allow migratory fish from

623-626: A million years ago. As the mountain range was lifted by tectonic forces, the creek kept pace by eroding the canyon, which continues to this day. The large alluvial fan under Fremont , Newark , and Union City which juts into San Francisco Bay is further evidence that this creek has been in place for a very long time. Five Spanish expeditions led by Portolà , Ortega , Fages , Anza and Amador passed over Alameda Creek between 1769 and 1795. El Camino Viejo between Pleasanton and Mission Pass crossed it near Sunol . Mission San José , in Fremont,

712-518: A normal rainbow trout. The longer a steelhead spends in freshwater, the darker their green body colorations and horizontal pink stripe become. When a steelhead exits the river and returns to the ocean again, it regains its silvery appearance while in saltwater. The fish develop a larger and stronger tail relative to a normal rainbow trout to help aid in swimming in ocean currents and swimming up strong river currents. A number of distinct population segments of steelhead are endangered or threatened across

801-581: A recent sighting of the Steelhead Trout has not occurred in years, and biologists fear the worst. In 2002, the endangered species label was extended from the Malibu Creek down to the border of San Diego and Mexico (California Trout). A threatened species since 2000, the Northern California steelhead represents a beacon of hope for continued rehabilitation initiatives and growing population numbers in

890-423: A result of such biologically accurate homing characteristics, the Steelhead Trout is "uniquely adapted to its environment"; fish populations "are reasonably isolated from fish that spawn in different areas," and therefore "sub-populations may differ by the timing of runs, size of fish, and even behavior patterns" (Heath, 2001). This also influences genetic relatedness between Steelhead Trout populations; interestingly,

979-479: A steel beam are attributed as the main defining physical characteristic for which the Steelhead is distinguished and earns its namesake. The Steelhead is an ocean-going predatory fish with a typical lifespan of four to six years. Like the common rainbow trout, Steelhead predominantly feast on zooplankton when they are young and then transition to eating fish, some rodents, mollusks, and crustaceans. When these fish enter

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1068-636: A wider distribution of this species across the Pacific Northwest, including the coastal regions of California. In fact, "coastal rainbow trout is the most widely-distributed native trout form" (CA.gov). Among other necessary biological utilities fulfilled by this species, Steelhead Trout "are also strong indicators of the condition of California's streams; large self-sustaining populations of native salmon and trout are found where streams are in reasonably good condition" (Moyle, Israel, & Purdy, 2008). A chrome underside and olive-grey back reminiscent to that of

1157-674: Is Arroyo Hondo . The watershed includes three man-made reservoirs: Lake Del Valle , San Antonio Reservoir and Calaveras Reservoir . The Alameda Creek Watershed can be divided into six major reaches: A more comprehensive list inclusive of minor as well as major named tributaries includes (from top of mainstem heading downstream) Valpe Creek (right), Bear Gulch (right), Whitlock Creek (right), Calaveras Creek (left), Leyden Creek (left), Indian Joe Creek (right), Welch Creek (right), Haynes Gulch (left), Pirate Creek (left), San Antonio Creek (right), Arroyo de la Laguna (right), Stonybrook Canyon (right) and Dry Creek (right). Alameda Creek now runs through

1246-543: Is a county located in the U.S. state of California . As of the 2020 census , the population was 1,682,353, making it the 7th-most populous county in the state and 21st most populous nationally. The county seat is Oakland . Alameda County is in the San Francisco Bay Area , occupying much of the East Bay region. The Spanish word alameda means either "a grove of poplars...or a tree lined street". The name

1335-569: Is a special district within Alameda County created to distribute water, but it is not operated by Alameda County administrators. It is operated by an elected board of directors. Alameda County Superior Court operates in twelve separate locations throughout the county, with its central René C. Davidson Courthouse located in Oakland near Lake Merritt . Most major criminal trials and complex civil cases are heard at this location or in courtrooms within

1424-536: Is absent for a meeting, the vice president shall be responsible. A Board election occurs every two years for these positions. Supervisor Carson is serving currently as president; Supervisor Miley is vice president. The county's law enforcement is overseen by an elected Sheriff/Coroner and an elected District Attorney. The Sheriff supervises the deputies of the Alameda County Sheriff's Office , whose primary responsibilities include policing unincorporated areas of

1513-627: Is below the national average of 12.8% (including Black Hispanics). The Black population peaked in the 1980 Census at 18.4%. Alameda county has the 2nd highest percentage of Black residents in California after Solano County at 13.4%. If Hispanics are treated as a separate category from race, Alameda County's population was 30.4% White , 30.9% Asian , 22.3% Hispanic-Latino , 10.3% Black or African American , 0.5% Some Other Race, 0.3% Native American and Alaskan Native , 0.8% Pacific Islander and 4.4% from two or more races . Asian Americans are now

1602-539: Is considered a potential ‘anchor watershed’ for steelhead, regionally significant for restoration of the threatened trout to the entire Bay Area, although by the late 1950s the California Department of Fish and Game decided the steelhead run was no longer viable due to numerous man-made barriers to fish runs. By the early 1970s the Army Corps of Engineers channeled and rip-rapped the lower 12 miles (19 km) of

1691-572: Is considered a threatened species, and according to Mark Capelli of the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Southern California steelhead are the most endangered of them all (California Trout). According to California Trout, Steelhead Trout populations began to decline in the "late-1940s due mainly to man-made landscape modifications" (California Trout). As a result of damming for flood control, steelhead migration routes from

1780-622: Is regarded as prime trout habitat. The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission removed two disused dams in the Niles Canyon reach of Alameda Creek to improve fish passage following assessing impacts in an Environmental Impact Report under CEQA . Downstream of San Francisco's dams, the Alameda Creek Alliance has helped to initiate the removal of 11 barriers to fish passage since 2001. The Alameda Creek Regional Trail runs along Alameda Creek for 12 miles (19 km). The trail starts in

1869-680: Is the largest watershed within the southern San Francisco Bay, draining 700 square miles (1,813 square kilometers), or about 20% of the total drainage area for the South Bay. Two-thirds of the watershed is in Alameda County including the reach through the Sunol Valley , the rest is in Santa Clara County . The tributaries of Alameda creek include Arroyo de la Laguna , Arroyo Valle , San Antonio Creek and Calaveras Creek , whose main tributary

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1958-607: Is the local government for all unincorporated areas, and provides services such as law enforcement to some incorporated cities under a contract arrangement. It is composed of the elected five-member Alameda County Board of Supervisors (BOS) as the county legislature, several other elected offices and officers including the Sheriff , the District Attorney , Assessor , Auditor-Controller/County Clerk/Recorder , Treasurer/Tax Collector , and numerous county departments and entities under

2047-519: The Au Sable River . "Wild" populations of these fish started to become established shortly after their introduction into the lakes. By the late 80s populations could be found in notable rivers like the Muskegon and Pere Marquette . Sometime after their first introduction into Michigan tributaries other states, such as New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, started stocking fish into their own streams. Due to

2136-681: The Bay Area Ridge Trail is planned. Steelhead trout Steelhead , or occasionally steelhead trout , is the anadromous form of the coastal rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss irideus ) or Columbia River redband trout ( O. m. gairdneri , also called redband steelhead ). Steelhead are native to cold-water tributaries of the Pacific basin in Northeast Asia and North America . Like other sea-run (anadromous) trout and salmon , steelhead spawn in freshwater, smolts migrate to

2225-653: The Diablo Range , containing the county's highest peaks, cover the very sparsely populated southeast portion of the county. The Hayward Fault , a major branch of the San Andreas Fault to the west, runs through the most populated parts of Alameda County, while the Calaveras Fault runs through the southeastern part of the county. The areas near the Bay itself have a maritime warm-summer Mediterranean climate , whereas behind

2314-550: The Hayward Fault . The county seat was then re-established in the town of Brooklyn from 1872 to 1875. Brooklyn is now part of Oakland , which has been the county seat since 1873. Much of what is now an intensively urban region was initially developed as a trolley car suburb of San Francisco in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Key System moved commuters to and from the Key System Mole , where ferries bridged

2403-483: The Napa River ) by Livingston Stone in 1874. There is historical evidence of beaver in the Alameda Creek watershed. In 1828 fur trapper Michel La Framboise travelled to "the missions of San José , San Francisco Solano and San Rafael Arcángel . La Framboise stated that "the Bay of San Francisco abounds in beaver", and that he "made his best hunt in the vicinity of the missions". Alexander Roderick McLeod reported on

2492-583: The Niles Cone , the gravel harvesters began to daily pump out enough water to meet the needs of 30,000 people down the creek into San Francisco Bay. After the pumping was declared to be an illegal waste the Alameda County Water District acquired the quarry in 1975. In May 2015, vandals damaged an inflatable dam across the creek in Fremont, releasing 50 million gallons (190 million litres) of drinking water into San Francisco Bay. Alameda Creek

2581-497: The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission won approvals to construct a replacement dam just downstream from the existing earthen Calaveras Dam , which has been maintained at 40% of capacity because of seismic concerns. However, construction of a fish ladder to provide steelhead ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) access to the waters above the dam were deemed not feasible because at 290 feet (88 m), it would be

2670-499: The San Jose–San Francisco–Oakland, CA Combined Statistical Area . The county was formed on March 25, 1853, from a large portion of Contra Costa County and a smaller portion of Santa Clara County . The county seat at the time of the county's formation was located at Alvarado , now part of Union City . In 1856, it was moved to San Leandro , where the county courthouse was destroyed by the devastating 1868 quake on

2759-468: The United States , mostly caused by the blocking of waterways by the construction of dams . Human interaction has had considerable consequences on reducing the population of steelhead trout. Steelhead currently support or have historically supported fisheries across Northern California, and thus they hold "economic as well as cultural value" (Moyle, Israel, & Purdy, 2008). Contrary to popular belief,

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2848-417: The census of 2000, there were 1,443,741 people, 523,366 households, out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living within them, 47.0% married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size

2937-598: The ACFD over the years. 1993 brought in the Castro Valley and Eden Consolidated FD, and the County Fire Patrol. San Leandro joined in 1995, Dublin in 1997, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in 2002, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in 2007, The Alameda County Regional Emergency Communications Center in 2008, and Newark and Union City in 2010. Emeryville joined the ACFD in 2012. The Alameda County Water District

3026-461: The Anadromous Steelhead Trout" by Fulton, "homing creates genetically different subpopulations that differ by basin, stream, and even location within a stream" (Altukhov 2000). According to a study conducted by Heath & Pollard, "significant genetic variation on the individual, tributary, and watershed level occur between Steelhead Trout populations" as a result of this chemical reliance for breeding practices (Heath, 2001). The author concludes that as

3115-499: The Bay to reach spawning habitat in upper Alameda Creek, beginning in 1999. This coalition of agencies and organizations is called the Alameda Creek Fisheries Restoration Workgroup. In 2009, the Alameda County Water District removed a rubber dam that blocked trout passage in the lower creek, adjacent to Quarry Lakes Regional Park . In June, 2010 environmentalists and water district officials celebrated

3204-540: The California Natural Resources Agency. The goal was that when those projects were completed in 2021, steelhead would be able to migrate upstream to spawning habitats in the Sunol Valley for the first time in a half-century. In April 2023, one juvenile steelhead was found in the creek. The following year, monitoring by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission recorded 50 tagged steelhead making

3293-545: The California Steelhead is a coastal variation of the same species of fish as the Rainbow Trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss ; "rainbow trout are the 'landlocked' version, and remain in freshwater throughout their life" (King County, 2016) . An ocean-going variety, the Steelhead, or Oncorhynchus mykiss irideus has developed unique adaptive characteristics that distinguish this fish from its common counterpart and have allowed

3382-754: The Charter of the County of Alameda. Much of the Government of California is in practice the responsibility of county governments such as the Government of Alameda County, while municipalities such as the City of Oakland and the City of Berkeley provide additional, often non-essential services. The County government provides countywide services such as elections and voter registration, law enforcement, jails, vital records, property records, tax collection, and public health. In addition it

3471-747: The County Administration Building across the street. In the California State Assembly , Alameda County is split between five districts: In the California State Senate , the county is split between three districts: In the United States House of Representatives , the county is split between four districts: Since 1932, Alameda County has been a stronghold of the Democratic Party, with Dwight Eisenhower being

3560-988: The Endangered Species Act. The Middle Columbia River (MCR) segment has remained the focus of recent recovery efforts. The MCR segment covers approximately 3,500 square miles of the Columbia Plateau in eastern Oregon and Washington. Within eastern Oregon, recovery efforts focus on the two main tributaries to the Columbia River: The Deschutes River and the John Day River, although the Umatilla and Walla Walla are also included in recovery plans. Primary threats to MCR steelhead populations include hydrosystem operations, habitat alteration, and effects of stray naturally spawning hatchery fish. MCR steelhead were first listed as threatened on March 25, 1999, following

3649-609: The Mission Boulevard overcrossing in the Niles district of Fremont, allowing passage around a rubber dam. The second ladder, which was planned to start construction in 2019, is about a mile downstream at the concrete structure, called a weir . The two ladders were funded by nearly $ 10 million in grants from several agencies, including $ 5.36 million from the California Wildlife Conservation Board and $ 3 million from

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3738-613: The Niles neighborhood of Fremont and continues westward to the San Francisco Bay through the cities of Union City and Newark . The trail consists of two parallel paths, one on each side of Alameda Creek. The path on the south side of the creek is paved, and can be used by pedestrians and bicyclists . The path on the north side of the creek is unpaved, and can be used by pedestrians, bicyclists, and equestrians . The trail provides direct access to Coyote Hills Regional Park and Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area . A connection to

3827-670: The Upper Deschutes, Crooked, and Metolius rivers, three major tributaries to the Deschutes within the MCR watershed. In addition to Round Butte, several other dams restrict fish from their native spawning grounds within the Deschutes watershed including Pelton Dam, Bowman Dam, and Ochoco Dam. The first MCR Distinct Population Segment ESA Recovery Plan was released on November 30, 1999. Between 2010 and 2016 1,715 different entities have implemented 1,559 tributary restoration projects primarily focused on habitat restoration and fish passage improvement. In

3916-927: The area. As of 2016, 48,892 Steelhead Trout were reportedly caught (NOAA). Such a population count suggests that this fascinating fish species continue to persevere in Northern California waters. However, to ensure the continued rehabilitation of steelhead populations in Northern California, a positive, directive plan of action for steelhead conservation must occur. According to NOAA, The State of California Fisheries Restoration Grant Program (FRGP) "invested over 250 million dollars and supported approximately 3,500 salmonid restoration projects" (NOAA). Investments in projects improving "fish passage, water quality, instream habitat restoration, watershed monitoring, and education and organizational support" all occupy conservation efforts to improve Northern California steelhead populations (NOAA). According to NOAA, "the percentage of floodplain and in-channel habitat that would need to be restored to detect

4005-431: The author found that the genetic similarity of regional Steelhead trout populations "is correlated with distance" (Heath, 2001). During spawning , the fish will lay their eggs on gravel bottoms of freshwater tributaries. The female digs out a hole called a redd. The preferred depth for steelhead spawning is 6 to 14 inches (150 to 360 mm). She then lays the eggs, and a male fertilizes them. The females will then cover

4094-467: The boundary between Contra Costa and Santa Clara counties between 1850, when Contra Costa and Santa Clara counties were formed, to 1853, when Alameda County was carved from the two counties. The portion of Alameda County south of Alameda Creek is the only part of Alameda County that is not derived from Contra Costa County. Completion of the Central Pacific Railroad through Niles Canyon in 1869

4183-531: The coast to upstream spawning grounds were increasingly blocked over time (California Trout). Furthermore, largely a result of continued urbanization and to satisfy the needs of human populations in the area, river flows became modified for recreational purposes and a substantial diversion of water occurred over time (California Trout). As a result of widespread habitat loss and fragmentation, Southern California Steelhead populations were officially labeled as an endangered species in 1997 (California Trout). In some areas,

4272-457: The construction of Round Butte Dam at the confluence of the Deschutes and Metolius rivers. The construction of the dam created reverse currents (currents flowing upstream) in the Metolius Arm of Lake Billy Chinook (a reservoir created by the formation of the dam) confusing anadromous smolts and preventing them from navigating seaward. The construction of Round Butte Dam impeded steelhead access to

4361-459: The county and cities within the county which contract with the Sheriff's Office for police services; providing security and law enforcement for county buildings including courthouses, the county jail and other county properties; providing support resources, such as a forensics laboratory and search and rescue capabilities, to other law enforcement agencies throughout the county; and serving the process of

4450-622: The county on the north. Stanislaus County borders the county on the easternmost end of its southern boundary for 250 feet (76 m). A 2014 analysis by The Atlantic found Alameda County to be the fourth most racially diverse county in the United States, in terms of closest to equal representation of each racial and ethnic group,—behind Aleutians West Census Area and Aleutians East Borough in Alaska, and Queens County in New York—as well as

4539-438: The county was $ 55,946, and the median income for a family was $ 65,857 (these figures had risen to $ 66,430 and $ 81,341 respectively as of a 2007 estimate ). Males had a median income of $ 47,425 versus $ 36,921 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 26,680. About 7.7% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line , including 13.5% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over. In 2000,

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4628-663: The county's Superior Court system. The District Attorney's office is responsible for prosecuting all criminal violations of the laws of the state of California, the county, or its constituent municipalities, in the Alameda County Superior Court. The current Sheriff is Yesenia Sanchez , who was elected in 2022, succeeding Greg Ahern , who had served in the post for 16 years. The Sheriff's Office operates two jails: Santa Rita Jail in Dublin , and Glenn E. Dyer Detention Facility in downtown Oakland . In 2009, Nancy E. O'Malley

4717-491: The creek. The last steelhead and coho salmon runs in the 20th century were seen in the lower creek in 1964, the latter confirmed by photographic records. Confirmation that adult steelhead captured attempting to migrate into the Alameda Creek watershed, and the rainbow trout sampled in the upper watershed (trapped above complete migration barriers), were native fish associated with the federally threatened steelhead Central California Coast Evolutionarily Significant Unit spurred

4806-526: The eggs with the gravel. Depending on the size of the female she may lay up to 9,000 eggs. The female then buries the eggs in a foot of gravel. The eggs remain in the gravel until they hatch. Unlike salmon (which can spawn only once) steelhead may return to the ocean, and come back upstream several times for spawning season. Steelhead found in the Great Lakes are the freshwater variation of steelhead found in saltwater. Similar to native populations of steelhead on

4895-455: The fish spend more time in the tributaries they darken in coloration while developing a bright red stripe down their midline. While in the lakes they feed on alewives , smelt , and lake herring amongst other things. The first introduction of steelhead into the Great Lakes dates back to 1876 where smolts were taken from wild populations from the McCloud River in California and placed into

4984-474: The gap across San Francisco Bay . The historical progression from Native American tribal lands to Spanish then Mexican ranches, then to farms, ranches, and orchards, then to multiple city centers and suburbs, is shared with the adjacent and closely associated Contra Costa County . The Government of Alameda County is defined and authorized under the California Constitution , California law , and

5073-402: The hills led to growth of Niles (which in 1956 became part of Fremont, California) in the 1850s. A favorable climate, excellent soils, and a fast-growing population helped agriculture to boom. Early roads led to landings where small ships would load grain and other foodstuffs for transport to market. Alameda Creek is the most important stream in Alameda County , which was named after it. It was

5162-588: The largest denominational group was the Catholics (with 306,437 adherents). The largest religious bodies were the Catholic Church (with 306,437 members) and Judaism (with 32,500 members). Racial Makeup of Alameda County (2019) Racial Makeup of Alameda County excluding Hispanics from racial categories (2019) NH=Non-Hispanic Racial Makeup of Hispanics in Alameda County (2019) According to 2019 US Census Bureau estimates, Alameda County's population

5251-866: The largest racial/ethnic group at 30.9% (excluding Asian Hispanics). White Non-Hispanic Americans are the largest minority group at 30.4% of the population. By ethnicity, 22.3% of the total population is Hispanic-Latino (of any race) and 77.7% is Non-Hispanic (of any race). If treated as a category separate from race, Hispanics are the third largest minority group in Alameda County. The largest ancestry group of Hispanics in Alameda County (2018) are of Mexican descent (72.9% of Hispanics) followed by Salvadoran descent (5.5% of Hispanics), Guatemalan descent (3.9%), Puerto Rican descent (3.4%), Spaniard descent (2.0%), Nicaraguan descent (1.7%), Peruvian descent (1.4%), Cuban descent (1.2%), Colombian descent (1.1%), and those of other Hispanic ethnicity or of mixed Hispanic ethnicity (6.9%). The following table includes

5340-464: The man-made Alameda Creek flood channel near the Bay, the latter is parallel to and south of the old Alameda Creek channel. Ward Creek is a tributary to old Alameda Creek. Alameda Creek historically supported spawning runs of at least three salmonid species: steelhead (the anadromous form of the coastal rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss irideus ), coho salmon ( Oncorhynchus kisutch ) and chinook salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ). Alameda Creek

5429-559: The migration up Alameda Creek to the San Francisco Bay. California's archaeological record has contributed to knowledge of the prehistoric distribution of fishes in Alameda Creek and its tributaries including Sacramento perch ( Archoplites interruptus ), Sacramento suckers ( Catostomus occidentalis occidentalis ), Tule perch ( Hysterocarpus traskii ), Hitches ( Lavinia exilicauda ), Hardheads ( Mylopharodon conocephalus ), Sacramento blackfish , and Sacramento pikeminnow ( Ptychocheilus grandis ). Recent physical evidence has proved that

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5518-430: The most diverse county in California. The 2020 census shows Alameda as having one of the highest Asian percentages and being the only county in the continental US, along with neighboring Santa Clara County, California , to have an Asian plurality - consisting largely of Chinese, Indian and Filipino ancestry. The 2010 United States Census reported that Alameda County had a population of 1,510,271. The population density

5607-426: The most interesting and perplexing characteristic of the Steelhead Trout is its homing behavior and the capacity of this species to accurately detect its primary spawning grounds despite venturing to the open ocean and returning to the same freshwater source on numerous occasions throughout their lives. By recording the concentrations of solutes and the chemical profile of a stream through the biological characteristic of

5696-433: The mountains, summers are significantly warmer. The climate charts below are for Oakland and inland Livermore . The City and County of San Francisco, California , borders the county on the west, and has a small land border with the city of Alameda, California due to land filling. Santa Clara County borders the county on the south. San Joaquin County borders the county on the east. Contra Costa County borders

5785-561: The mouth of its canyon to the broad delta on the bay". Physical evidence of beaver include faunal remains in the Arroyo de la Laguna tributary recovered in an archaeological site west of Interstate 680 . Beaver may be beneficial to efforts to restore salmonids in Alameda Creek as beaver ponds benefit oversummering salmonid smolts by raising the water table which then recharges streams in the dry summer season and also by providing perennial deep pools when streams are only seasonal. In January, 2011,

5874-682: The ocean to forage for several years and adults return to their natal streams to spawn. Steelhead are iteroparous , although survival is only approximately 10–20%. The freshwater form of the steelhead is the rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ). The difference between these forms of the species is that steelhead migrate to the ocean and return to freshwater tributaries to spawn, whereas non-anadromous rainbow trout do not leave freshwater. Steelhead are also larger and less colorful than rainbow trout. Steelhead can weigh up to 55 lb (25 kg) and reach 45 in (110 cm) in length. They can live up to 11 years and spawn multiple times. The body of

5963-485: The only Republican presidential nominee to have carried the county since. Prior to 1932, the county had been a Republican stronghold. Piedmont resident William F. Knowland was the Republican U.S. Senate Leader from 1953 to 1959. Even when Ronald Reagan won the national popular vote by an 18.3% margin in 1984 , Walter Mondale won Alameda County by a larger margin. In 2004 it voted for John Kerry , who won over 75% of

6052-447: The open ocean, however, their diet typically consists of squid, crustaceans, and small fish including anchovies, herring, and sardines, though the capacity at which this dietary intake occurs is highly contingent upon the geographical region where Steelhead choose to migrate (Salmon Fishing Now). "Rainbow trout and steelhead represent two divergent ecotypes that are genetically identical but separated by life history strategies" (Heath 2001);

6141-572: The progress of the first Hudson's Bay Company fur brigade sent to California in 1829, "Beaver is become an article of traffic on the Coast as at the Mission of St. Joseph alone upwards of Fifteen hundred Beaver Skins were collected from the natives at a trifling value and sold to Ships at 3 Dollars". In the 1840s Kit Carson was granted rights to trap beaver on Alameda Creek in the East Bay where they "abounded...from

6230-437: The removal of a dam on Alameda Creek in Fremont, and the planned installation of fish ladders to allow salmonids to bypass two other dams on the lower creek. At the same time, PG&E worked to modify a cement barrier farther upstream in Sunol to help steelhead swim farther into the watershed, water officials said. Ground was broken on the first ladder the Alameda County Water District was building in April 2018, just west of

6319-425: The river landscape for recreation and access to water. It is estimated that only 500 steelhead trout return to the Southern California watersheds. However, in other areas of the United States, steelhead can be seen as pests because they are an invasive species to the environment. While numbers are improving in areas of the Pacific Northwest where Steelhead Trout have typically thrived, the California Steelhead Trout

6408-407: The sixth highest "no" vote, by percentage, of all California counties, and was the second largest county, by total voter turnout, to vote against it. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 821 square miles (2,130 km ), of which 739 square miles (1,910 km ) is land and 82 square miles (210 km ) (10%) is water. The San Francisco Bay borders the county on

6497-401: The southern limit of coastal Chinook salmon included the southernmost tributaries of South San Francisco Bay. Many of these fishes still occupy the creek, although the number of introduced exotic fishes continues to increase. Exotic fish species such as the largemouth and Smallmouth basses ( Micropterus salmoides and Micropterus dolomieui ) respectively, were introduced to Alameda Creek (and

6586-419: The steelhead trout is silvery and streamlined with a rounder head. This silver color and round head is what gives the steelhead its name. There are black dots that are more concentrated on the back of the fish and become sparser closer to the lateral line of the fish. Steelhead also develop a pink horizontal stripe. When steelhead return to freshwater to spawn, their color begins to more closely resemble that of

6675-402: The steelhead's large size and powerful demeanor, they've become very attractive amongst the angler community in the Great Lakes area. There have been several conservation programs created since the near extinction of the steelhead in the 1940s. The reduction in population is mainly due to manmade obstructions within river systems. This is usually caused by dams blocking access, or humans changing

6764-592: The supervision of the County Administrator. In addition, several entities of the government of California have jurisdiction conterminous with Alameda County, such as the Alameda County Superior Court . The current supervisors are: The Board elects a president who presides at all meetings of the Board and appoints committees to handle work involving the major programs of the county. If the president

6853-448: The tallest fish ladder in the country, and would cost $ 40 million. Steelhead have not had access to spawning streams above Calaveras Dam since it was built in 1925. However, environmentalists won concessions from the SFPUC to assure adequate water releases from the new dam to improve summer flows as well as a smaller fish ladder around a diversion dam blocking access to upper Alameda Creek, which

6942-450: The unique biological diversity of the Steelhead Trout from that of the Rainbow Trout is determined through a capacity to migrate to the open ocean. Homing behavior is a unique adaptation of Steelhead Trout that allows the fish to migrate to and from freshwater and saltwater bodies on multiple occasions. Through the process of imprinting, Steelhead Trout deposit a chemical indicator "that is specific to their natal stream" (NRC 1996). Perhaps

7031-505: The upper watershed through lower Alameda Creek toward San Francisco Bay was detected and documented in April 2023. Whereas other Bay Area streams flow down from, or around, mountain ranges, Alameda Creek is unique in that it cuts across the Diablo Range at Niles Canyon . To geologists this is evidence that it is an antecedent stream that existed prior to the rise of the East Bay hills about

7120-408: The vote. Every city and town voted Democratic. George H.W. Bush in 1988 was the last Republican to break 30% of the county's vote and Ronald Reagan in 1984 was the last to break 40% of the vote (carrying 40.01%). On November 4, 2008, Alameda County voted 61.92% against Proposition 8 , which won statewide, and which amended the California Constitution to ban same-sex marriage . The county garnered

7209-595: The west coast, Great Lakes steelhead start in tributaries to larger bodies of water, in this case the Great Lakes, where they travel to, to grow to large proportions and reach sexual maturity before returning to the tributaries they started in. Great Lakes steelhead grow to as large as 20 pounds and 36–40 inches but normally average 4–10 pounds and between 20–30 inches. They share very similar characteristics to an ocean-run steelhead as far as their long, slender build and silvery coloration with spots running along their back that very rarely progress beyond their lateral line . As

7298-516: The west. The crest of the Berkeley Hills forms part of the northeastern boundary and reaches into the center of the county. A coastal plain several miles wide lines the bay; and is Oakland's most populous region. Livermore Valley lies in the eastern part of the county. Amador Valley abuts the western edge of Livermore Valley and continues west to the Pleasanton Ridge. The ridges and valleys of

7387-570: Was 2,047.6 inhabitants per square mile (790.6/km ). The racial makeup of Alameda County was 649,122 (43.0%) White , 190,451 (12.6%) African American , 9,799 (0.6%) Native American , 394,560 (26.1%) Asian (9.7% Chinese, 5.5% Filipino, 4.8% Indian, 2.0% Vietnamese, 1.2% Korean, 0.8% Japanese, 2.2% Other Asian), 12,802 (0.8%) Pacific Islander , 162,540 (10.8%) from other races , and 90,997 (6.0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 339,889 persons (22.5%): 16.4% Mexican, 0.8% Puerto Rican, 0.2% Cuban, 5.1% Other Hispanic. As of

7476-410: Was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.31. In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.6% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 33.9% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 96.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.00 males. The median income for a household in

7565-689: Was 38.8% White (30.4% Non-Hispanic White and 8.4% Hispanic White ), 10.7% Black or African American , 31.1% Asian , 11.5% Some Other Race, 0.8% Native American and Alaskan Native , 0.8% Pacific Islander and 6.4% from two or more races . The White population continues to remain the largest racial category in Alameda County and includes the 37.7% of Hispanics who self-identify as White. The remainder of Hispanics self-identify as Other Race (49.2%), Multiracial (8.7%), American Indian and Alaskan Native (1.9%), Black (1.5%), Asian (0.9%), and Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (0.2%). The Black population continues to decline and at 10.7% (including Black Hispanics )

7654-416: Was appointed Alameda County district attorney after Tom Orloff retired. She served two terms and did not run for reelection in 2022. Pamela Price was elected as district attorney in 2022. The Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD) was formed on July 1, 1993, as a dependent district, with the Board of Supervisors as its governing body. Municipal and specialized fire departments have been consolidated into

7743-460: Was dedicated in 1797. The Mission thrived for 49 years until the Mexican government's Secularization Order liquidated mission lands in 1834. Alameda Creek was the boundary of the mission lands and the 17,000-acre (69 km) Rancho Arroyo de la Alameda granted to Jose de Jesus Vallejo, who built a flour mill near the mouth of Niles Canyon. The mill and the importance of the canyon as a passage through

7832-428: Was essential to completion of First transcontinental railroad that terminated at Alameda Terminal and Oakland Long Wharf that same year. The Western Pacific was also routed through Niles Canyon, connecting Sacramento, California and San Jose, California in 1906. The creek bed had once been used as a gravel quarry . When the gravel pits were flooded by water purchased by the public for groundwater recharge of

7921-580: Was originally used to describe the Arroyo de la Alameda; the willow and sycamore trees along the banks of the river reminded the early Spanish explorers of a road lined with trees. Although a strict translation to English might be "Poplar Grove Creek", the name of the principal stream that flows through the county is now simply " Alameda Creek ". Alameda County is part of the San Francisco–Oakland–Berkeley, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area , and

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