Tuesday - March 10, 2026
5:30-6:45pm: Pre-meeting mini-class
7:00pm: Meeting & Speaker
Ken Johnson
CDFW Heritage Trout Challenge
& volunteer opportunities
PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION
Southern Sierra Highlights presented by CDFW Field Biologist Ken Johnson
Learn about Golden trout, where to catch your Volcano Creek Golden trout for the CDFW Heritage Trout Challenge, and volunteer opportunities to assist CDFW with all things fish.
Ken Johnson, CDFW Environmental Scientist, will be speaking to multiple fly fishing clubs, many of which have provided volunteers for the Monache Meadows population surveys of 2024-2025. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Ken over the last 3 years as I discover more and more about one of the many spectacular areas of the Southern Sierra – the Kern Plateau.
The plateau is home to the Golden Trout Wilderness, Inyo National Forest (GTW). The wilderness designation, established with the Wilderness Act of 1964, is the highest level of protection and is managed by a consortium of federal and state natural resource agencies. The goal is to keep the land’s primeval character and influence. As the name implies, the GTW is the native home of Golden trout (Oncorhynchus aguabonita), considered one of the most beautiful trout in the world.
Ken will also be reviewing volunteer opportunities for the 2026 season. Debbie Sharpton, SWCFFI Conservation Outings, will be handling the coordination with CDFW. Contact conservation@swcffi.org or call 805-338-8278. Let her know you are interested in being on the info distribution list.
The Heritage Trout Challenge (https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland/HTC) takes anglers of all types to some of the most beautiful places in California. An excerpt from the CDFW website
(https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland/HTC#historic-drainages), “By catching six different forms of California native trout from their historic drainages, and photographing these fish you can receive a colorful, personalized certificate featuring the art of renowned fish illustrator Joseph Tomelleri. Your certificate will show six full-color images representing the trout you caught, along with the dates and locations. It is sized to fit in a standard 16" x 20" matted frame.”
Ken’s bio:
2005 – Present: CDFW - Heritage and Wild Trout Program (HWTP - Central Region) – Responsible for Central Region’s diverse wild and native trout resources. Monitor designated Heritage and Wild Trout waters, assess waters for potential adoption into HWTP and develop and/or update fisheries management plans for new and existing heritage and wild trout waters. Responsible for monitoring the Volcanic Creek golden trout population through the recent drought and post drought recovery. Central Region’s lead for the 2016 rescue and the 2017 return of golden trout from Volcanic Creek. Monitor South Fork Kern River CA golden trout populations and barriers to fish passage. Participated in the Silver King treatment for restoration of Paiute cutthroat trout and Lake Davis treatment to eradicate Northern Pike.
2001-2005: CDFW - Salmon Program (Central Region) – Conducted Adult escapement surveys on the Merced River to estimate the Chinook salmon population returning to spawn. Performed Kodiak trawl surveys on the San Joaquin River to estimate salmon smolt production for the entire San Joaquin basin.
1991-2001: USFS – Spotted owl demography study on Sierra National Forest and Sequoia NP. Determined nesting success, captured and banded all spotted owls, drew blood from juveniles to determine sex and used radio telemetry to track juvenile dispersal.
1990– CSU, Fresno BA Environmental Biology