When United Water Conservation District hired me in 2007 to compile a history of steelhead trout in Ventura County, I thought it would be a three-month project. Yet, here I am, more than a year later, still finding materials relating to steelhead and other types of trout. I've gathered volumes of information about steelhead trout, and I'm pleased to present to Ventura County residents important information about this endangered species.

I have prepared a report that provides a fascinating look at how people at the turn of the century managed the fish and game resources in Ventura County. My report is posted on United Water's Web site.

One hundred years ago, trout fishing in local streams was considered phenomenal, but there is a part of the story that has not been widely told. Local streams were being systematically stocked because of declining fish populations. The decline can be attributed to overfishing, droughts, water use, forest fires and oil pollution.

Trout fishing was a vital component of recreational life in Ventura County. As noted in the "Nineteenth Biennial Report of the State Board of Fish Commissioners, 1905-1906" about stream stocking, "The citizens realize the importance of having a bountiful supply of fish and game in order to attract the summer tourists, who bring in a considerable amount of money each year, which would not be the case if the fish and game were scarce." What was commonplace in other parts of California became part of the fishing culture of Ventura County: the annual stocking of the streams.

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors in 1890 appointed a fish commissioner to stock local streams. It stocked waterways across the county with a variety of fish, including rainbow trout, steelhead, eastern brook trout, Loch Leven trout and even salmon.

Local citizens and tourists enjoyed fishing, and their experiences were frequently related in the newspapers through stories and photographs. These accounts offer a wealth of knowledge and insight into the reality of the day.

I will present the results of my research at a public meeting hosted by United Water Conservation District on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard.

— Kimberly Bowers of Thousand Oaks is a historian with a degree in history from California State University Channel Islands who works for United Water Conservation District. Her draft report about steelhead trout in Ventura County can be found at http://www.unitedwater.org.