Image of painting by Thomas Hill, courtesy Yosemite Museum

WHEN RIVERS REMEMBER: Could salmon and steelhead return to Yosemite?

This talk explores the ecological history of fish in Yosemite National Park—from pre‑contact Indigenous stewardship to the era of widespread fish stocking, and the modern shift toward native species conservation. It also examines the emerging science and feasibility of restoring salmon and steelhead to their historical watersheds, including the cultural, ecological, and logistical considerations that shape this conversation today.

By looking backward and forward, we can better understand what it would mean to reconnect Yosemite’s rivers to the sea and revive one of the Sierra Nevada’s lost migrations.

Join National Park Service aquatic ecologist Rob Grasso as he shares the what could be the beginning of an exciting reintroduction program within Yosemite National Park.