A significant portion of Steel’s technical work focuses on the environmental factors affecting fish populations, particularly in the Pacific Northwest.

: She advocates for teaching students how a single analysis fits into a larger "knowledge supply chain".

: Her research has utilized mathematical and statistical models to track juvenile Chinook salmon, finding that water flow, temperature, and clarity are critical regulators of migration speed.

: Recent work investigates how river temperatures respond to air temperature and landscape factors, helping managers target restoration activities based on local watershed conditions. 3. Practical Guidance for Science Management