June 2004 Conservation Notes
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I had a first-hand opportunity to see conservation efforts at work. At the end of May, I fished the Situk River which is probably the most famous steelhead river in Alaska. Why are the counts of returning steelhead in the Situk measured in thousands while other rivers only get hundreds? It's partly due to the fantastic spawning habitat that the river provides. On the other hand, at one time the counts of fish returning to the Situk dipped as low as 2,500 per year. But since the imposition of conservative regulations in the early 1990’s, the returning fish populations have rebounded to numbers above 10,000. Conservation activities can and do improve fisheries, and more often than not, they benefit the surrounding environment.
Whiskey is For Drinking
And water is for fighting over. This adage attributed (but unconfirmed) to Mark Twain succinctly sums up the history of water in the West. A recent New York Times article revisits the current water situation, noting that it is likely that the entire allocation of water in the West "may have been based on a colossal miscalculation." This because states' quotas for Colorado River water were set during an unprecedented wet period. At the current draw-down rate, Lake Powell will stop generating electricity as early as 2007.
Pollution Containment Near Redding
You may be surprised to learn that the single worst river-polluting mine is located just upstream of Redding. Fortunately, due to a 20 year cleanup and containment project managed by the EPA, the Iron Mountain mine's toxic discharge into the Lower Sacramento River will be substantially reduced. Details can be found in the Sacramento News Bee article that includes a fascinating diagram of how "Iron Mountain weeps the most acidic water ever recorded on Earth."
Federal Courts Maintain Protections for CA Steelhead
In a victory for conservation groups seeking to preserve wild steelhead runs, a Federal District Court judge ruled against Central Valley irrigators in their efforts to remove protected-status from steelhead spawning in Central Valley rivers. The steelhead will remain federally protected during the on-going review process by the National Marine Fisheries Service. The irrigation district lawsuit argued that steelhead born and raised in hatcheries must be included with wild steelhead when considering endangered species status.
More details can be found in the joint press release issued by Earthjustice, NCCFFF, and Trout Unlimited.
A Look at the Conservation Groups
It took me a lot of reading to really learn about the similarities and differences among the various conservation groups actively representing the interests of anglers in California. This web article at the Fly Fish Northern California site does a great job of summarizing the goals and missions of CalTrout, Trout Unlimited, and the NCCFFF. It is well worth a read, particularly if you are interested in supporting them with a donation or by volunteering.
Tight Lines!
Rodney