#DISCOVERCARMELRIVER - SLEEPY HOLLOW REARING FACILITY

The Sleepy Hollow Steelhead Rearing Facility, operated by the Monterey Peninsula Water Management, plays a crucial role in conserving our steelhead population. During the summer dry months, juvenile steelhead are rescued from the lower Carmel River and brought to the facility. Here, water is pumped from the river, cleaned, cooled, and circulated to keep the fish healthy until their re-release. Fish are typically held from early summer to late fall, depending on river flow and weather conditions.

Once river flow returns, the fish are recaptured, counted, and released back into the river. To date, nearly 100,000 healthy steelhead have been successfully reared and released from the facility. Despite these efforts, annual steelhead counts show that the population remains threatened. Together, we continue to work towards improving habitat conditions and bringing this keystone species back.