JoJo -
The resident life history of the O. mykiss - the resident rainbow - has not been included in any of the steelhead listings that I'm aware off. When the folks from NOAA fisheries were questioned about that issue at the public meetings the biological staff agreed that the resident life history was potentially an important piece of the species diversity but the adminstrative decision (read political decision made in Washington DC) was not to include them. The argument was that NOAA only had authority over anadromous fish and thus had no authority to include the resident life history.
That of course ignored the fact that the resident and anadromous life history forms of the coastal rainbow complex interact with each other (including spawning together) and that matings of anadromous fish can produce resident fish and matings of resident fish can produce anadromous fish. Further when the USFWS listed Puget Sound bull trout they included all life history forms even though they only had "authority " over non-anadromous fish. In that case the feds went so far that the diversity represented by all the various life history was essnetial to recovery of the ESA listed bull trout.
And yes I agree that the inclusion of the resident rainbow with the steelhead not only makes sense from a species diversity point of view but is likely that life hsitory divesity will be essential to insure the long term survival of the species and any potential recovery.
As alluded to in Double Haul's testimony to the Wildlife commission proper resource management to protect the resident life history will just like what we are seeing with the anadromous form/steelhead changes in the management paradigm. As often is the case such changes are likely to be painful for many anglers and not likely to recieve broad support. As a result the rainbow complex (in all of its life history forms) will continue to be less than what it couold be. And that includes steelhead populations that is so important to many here.
BTW -
If after listing to the link provided by Robbo anyone have questions on rainbow/steelhead interactions or are interested in discussion any of this in more detail I would be more than happy to take my best shot at providing what little I know to the discussions.
Tight lines
Curt