This study examined how a suite of habitat and environmental variables relate to the ability of a stream surveyor to identify (observer efficiency) and distinguish (observer accuracy) steelhead redds from other stream features. Two existing spawning survey protocols that included one or two redd observers were used to develop models to estimate redd observer error. In most cases, steelhead redd abundance using raw redd counts were negatively biased. Mean annual rates of observer efficiency ranged from 0.441 to 0.566 and observer accuracy ranged from 0.674 to 0.827.   Regardless of the observer error model used, adjusted annual redd abundance estimates were generally unbiased (range -1.6 ¿ 0.6 redds). A Gaussian area-under-the-curve methodology that incorporates redd count data and observer error rates was used to generate unbiased estimates of steelhead redd abundance in the Wenatchee (N = 170, CV = 44%) and Methow (N = 106, CV = 41%) rivers. Unbiased estimates of redd abundance will help inform new population viability analyses to better prioritize those populations with the greatest conservation need.