Wild steelhead trout are splashing their way back up the Russian River to Lake Sonoma where the end to a long migration will again be celebrated by the Lake Sonoma Steelhead Festival.
In Sonoma County, February is Wild Steelhead Month, and the festival works to bring awareness to the importance of the endangered species.
The festival promises fun for all ages, Saturday, Feb. 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Milt Brandt Visitors Center at Lake Sonoma.
The free event will host food trucks, local beer and wine vendors and live music. For the kids, there will be arts and crafts, archery and educational tours of the fish hatchery. Children between 5 to 15 years of age can fish for 2-year old steelhead.
A silent auction will be held to benefit the Friends of Lake Sonoma and their work. The Friends of Lake Sonoma support the interpretive and educational programs at Lake Sonoma and help to maintain the park, including the Milt Brandt Visitor Center at Lake Sonoma.
A statement from the Friends of Lake Sonoma reads: “This event allows us to provide educational elements critical to increasing understanding of threatened and endangered species of not only the Steelhead, but also the Coho Salmon, and to increase awareness of water conservation and our watershed.”
The festival is hosted by the Friends of Lake Sonoma, the Army Corps of Engineers, Sonoma County Water Agency and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Cloverdale resident Linda Clapp, a retired U.S. Army Corps of Engineers park ranger, is the current chair of the Friends of Lake Sonoma. She says she loves the excitement of the children catching fish during the festival. She also described Sonoma County Bird Rescue’s birds of prey exhibit and how fascinated the children are being up close to falcons and other birds of prey.
“So many people who believe in the life of the Russian River come out and share their information,” said Clapp. “We will have at least 40 information tables out here, including NOAA and the Russian Riverkeeper. Sonoma County Water Agency and Fish and Wildlife will have several displays.”
“It’s rain or shine, so bring your raincoat or poncho and plan to stay for hours and have a lot of fun,” said Clapp.
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, in March of 2017, awarded the Lake Sonoma Steelhead Festival with a Concurrent Gold Resolution.
For more information about the event and overflow parking, call the Milt Brandt Visitor Center at Lake Sonoma 431-4533.
