October 2004 Conservation Notes
by
Trout Colony Found in Berkeley
Workmen starting a restoration project on the Codornices Creek – one of the largest urban creeks in the East Bay – discovered a school of thriving rainbow trout in a concrete channel. Biologist removed over 100 trout, some up to 12 inches long. They speculated that they might be steelhead. Details of the project, including a detailed map, are available in this SF Chronicle article on September 9.
Water Plan Would Increase Delta Pumping by 27%
The Sacramento Bee is reporting that state and federal water officials are planning major changes in the export of water from northern to southern parts of the state. Under the proposed changes, pumping would increase by 27% sending more water to Southern California, leaving less water would be allowed to flow to the sea through San Francisco Bay. It appears that this agreement between big water users and water officials was quietly negotiated last August without the input of Cal-Fed, the state-federal water management office that normally regulates Delta flow issues. In addition, the operating document written by the water officials proposes to end protections for winter-run salmon in the upper Sacramento River. Currently, the proposed plan is waiting for review by NOAA Fisheries and Gov. Schwarzenegger.
Locals protest Lake Almanor Cold Water Plan
Solutions to environmental problems are never easy nor without consequence. Because PG&E is under pressure to solve warm-water conditions on the lower Feather River, it is proposing the construction of a large system of "thermal curtains" in Lake Almanor and Butt Lake. These devices would allow colder water from the bottom of these lakes to be discharged down the Feather River to lower average water temperatures and help the cold-water fisheries downstream. Of course, the abnormally high temperatures are created by the operation of the Rock Creek and Cresta Dams, whose licenses are about to expire in October. The community at Lake Almanor, is clearly opposed to this plan since it would negatively impact the fisheries there. You can read the details in this Sacramento Bee article on September 1.
Evidence that Restrictions on Outboard Motors Reduce Pollution
Since the ban on two-stroke, carbureted engines on Lake Tahoe in 1999, there has been an 80 to 90 percent decrease in gas by-products in the lake water. A carbureted two-stroke dumps about 30 percent of its fuel into the water. Four-stroke and fuel-injected two strokes, release between 1 and 2 percent. Water quality officials say the data provides conclusive evidence that the ban is having beneficial environmental effects. The full story is available in this September 14 Sacramento Bee article.
Clean Water!
– Rodney