1979

Rich Hughett, one of the founding members of the Carmel River Steelhead Association, meets with then 5th District Supervisor Sam Farr and a representative of Assemblyman Henry Mello’s office to discuss the declining population of steelhead in the Carmel River.

From that meeting, a non-profit coalition of groups that came to be known as the Carmel River Watch (CREW) was formed. Members included representatives of the California Department of Fish and Game, Carmel Valley Property Owners Association, Sierra Club, Monterey Bay Trout and Salmon Project, Monterey County Fish and Game Commission, and the Monterey Peninsula Regional Parks District. CREW worked for the restoration and conservation of the Carmel River and its environment.