Home to the largest inland population of cutthroat trout in the world, Yellowstone Lake is at dire risk of losing a native species that is responsible for sustaining many creatures, from grizzly bears to bald eagles.
"Non-native lake trout, that were introduced to Yellowstone Lake many years earlier have been decimating this unique cutthroat fishery" said Molzahn. "Federal funds for a gill netting program aimed at controlling the lake trout population have been eliminated from the budget. The loss of these funds put the cutthroat trout population in Yellowstone Lake at serious risk of extinction. These funds need to be restored to preserve this unique fishery."
A vast and remarkable fish and wildlife habitat straddling Oregon and California, the Klamath River was once the third most productive salmon river system in the United States. But agricultural runoff, damming, water diversion and logging have reduced the once abundant salmon runs to less than 10% of their historic size. Prized species such as coho salmon are now listed under the Federal Endangered Species Act.
"For the minor economic benefit of sustaining a small and false desert economy, we are hammering a once multi-billion dollar a year fishing industry, threatening all recreational opportunities, and destroying one of nature's most magnificent buffers," said Molzahn.
As one of the world's most important fisheries, the Gulf suffers from over-harvesting, loss of critical habitats and destructive trawling techniques. That damage extends throughout the U.S. Gulf Coast, from Key West, Florida to Brownsville, Texas. It also encompasses all variety of habitats, from sandy beaches to open sea, from coral reef to coastal estuaries.
Pollution from America's heartland is spewing into the Gulf at an appalling rate, creating a "dead" zone that covers thousands of square miles along the Texas-Louisiana coast. The problem is a vast algae bloom fed by excessive nitrogen and other pollutants that enter the Gulf from the Mississippi River. When the algae dies, decomposition depletes the water of oxygen, killing all marine life in the region.
"Tighter control on non-point source pollution caused by runoff released into our watersheds is essential," said Molzahn. "This requires toughening federal clean water standards. But because the source of this problem extends even to the suburban lawn, significant efforts at public education are also needed to explain to each citizen the importance of using even common materials such as fertilizers with care and restraint."
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