Pleurocladia lacustris A. Braun is a freshwater member of the Phaeophyceae, a class of algae that occurs almost entirely in marine waters. It has previously been reported from only about 13 freshwater locations worldwide, just 2 of which are in North America. Outside of North America, P. lacustris has been listed as a threatened species on several European red lists. In this paper, we report the discovery of P. lacustris in 3 calcareous streams draining the Santa Lucia Mountains in coastal California, sites that are more than 1200 km from the nearest known population. Pleurocladia lacustris is a filamentous, benthic species that forms distinctive hemispherical colonies. It co-occurs with the green alga Cladophora glomerata and species of cyanobacteria (Rivularia, Nostoc, Schizothrix spp.). Detailed color illustrations of the diagnostic macroscopic and microscopic features are provided and appear identical to those features of European populations. In the California streams, P. lacustris and other associated algae co-precipitate CaCO₃ to form carbonate crusts on rocks. Preliminary ecological data are consistent with other streams and lakes in Europe where P. lacustris has also been reported (_pH > 8.0, calcareous substrata, travertine). The global distribution of this presumed rare alga is also described and examined with respect to a specialized ecological niche.