July 2004 Conservation Notes
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I took this picture last month at the Ah Di Nah campground. At first it might appear like a generic bulletin board in a generic California campground. However, if you look closer, you can see evidence of a PFF conservation project. The warning about New Zealand Mud Snails hanging on the left side of the board was partially funded through our club's contributions! These signs were designed through a collaboration among the CA DFG, Trout Unlimited, the NCCFFF, and CalTrout. Due to budget problems, CA DFG could not fund the production and distribution of these plastic-laminated warnings, so they turned to fishing and conservation groups to provide the resources and labor to post them in as many popular fishing venues as possible.
The pattern of infection strongly suggests that the primary way that the snails spread is by hitching rides on anglers' equipment. Because everyone is undoubtedly getting out to fish, we thought it important to remind you about the precautions necessary to prevent the spread of these alien pests throughout California.
About the NZ Mud Snail
One of the most active individuals in publicizing the dangers of the mud snails has been Ralph Cutter, who wrote an extensive article about this subject in the February 2004 issue of California Fly Fisher. Since then he has modified some of the statements he made in the article regarding gear decontamination, which continues to be a vexing problem for anglers who are fishing infected waters and who do not wish to spread the snails to other waterways. You can read Mr. Cutter's online article for the most up-to-date information.
At the time of this writing, it appears that freezing or dessication are the only sure-fire ways to kill the snails. Alternative decontamination techniques such as soaking waders and boots in bleach, grapefruit seed extract, hot water, among others, are still being tested by the California Department of Fish and Game and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Conclusive results will not be available until the end of the summer. Another guaranteed method to prevent spreading the snails is to have two sets of gear – one for fishing contaminated CA waters (currently Putah Creek, Mokelumne, Calaveras, Owens, and Hot Creek), and one for fishing non-contaminated waters. Until we have better information, please be careful when fishing infested rivers. Check and decontaminate all gear before you move to a different river!
Additional reliable information regarding the Western mud snail invasion is available from the Montana State Dept. of Ecology site for Western US mud-snail status and research. In addition, our own PFF website reported on the snail in a 2002 article from the FFF, published when the mud snails were initially discovered in the Snake River.
Game Warden Numbers Expected to Dwindle
Statements made by the Director of the CA DFG, Ryan Broddrick, indicate that by January, only 200 game wardens will be in the field to protect fish, wildlife, endangered species and habitat in a state with 36.5 million people. This alarming fact was revealed in a recent San Francisco Chronicle article reporting the impact of hiring freezes and early retirement in the Department of Fish and Game. This adds new meaning to Gary Larson's famous cartoon where two guys are sitting in a boat with nuclear mushroom clouds in the distance, and one turns to the other and says, "I'll tell you what this means, Norm. No size restrictions and screw the limit."
Klamath River Parasites Threaten Salmon
Populations of salmon-killing parasites on the Klamath River appear to be growing in recent years, and scientists are trying to get a grip on why the problem is becoming so severe. A recent article in the Times-Standard provides an extensive report of recent efforts by biologists trying to prevent a repetition of Klamath river fish kills in 2000 and 2002.
Tight Lines! And Norm, please catch and release.
Rodney