Steelhead are unique salmonids that have the potential to spawn and return to the ocean, at which point they are referred to as “kelts.”  They can spawn and return to the ocean up to 5 times in their life, which makes the potential spawning output for each individual steelhead more prolific than that of other salmon species, which spawn only one time before dying. The freshwater life history of steelhead has been studied extensively, however the saltwater portion of their life history is under-studied, and may be different across regions (e,g, Alaska vs. Oregon populations).

Steelhead (Oncorynchus mykiss) are an extremely important species economically and ecologically. Thousands of anglers from around the world, and from local communities, visit the Pacific Northwest region annually to fish for steelhead. In Oregon, hundreds of fishing guides earn a living by taking clients out to realize their dream of catching one of these fish.  This translates to significant tourism dollars coming into the state.  Historically, steelhead were also important subsistence food and a cultural pillar for Native Oregonian tribes. Unfortunately, a sharp decline in steelhead numbers in Oregon has been observed over the past 50 years.  Despite the decline, much of steelhead life history, and the factors that contribute to lower abundances, remain a mystery.