Steelhead Relisting
Threatened To Endangered
The following alert has aroused concern among flyfishers. Some have questioned the likelyhood of a full closure. For some historical perspective, sceptical opinion, and a response to these by Steve Walser, the author of the provacative alert, go to Dan Blanton's Bulletin Board. The discussion thread is titled "The Possible Closing of all rivers in The San Joaquin/Sacramento Basin.... This Is For Real!". It was posted on 2/26/04. This link should take you to the original alert: http://www.danblanton.com/Messages/6602.html. At the bottom of the page are links to other postings in this thread.
The following alert has aroused concern among flyfishers. Some have questioned the likelyhood of a full closure. For some historical perspective, sceptical opinion, and a response to these by Steve Walser, the author of the provacative alert, go to Dan Blanton's Bulletin Board. The discussion thread is titled "The Possible Closing of all rivers in The San Joaquin/Sacramento Basin.... This Is For Real!". It was posted on 2/26/04. This link should take you to the original alert: http://www.danblanton.com/Messages/6602.html. At the bottom of the page are links to other postings in this thread.
forwarded by
Rivers May Be Closed To Fishing
Friends,
The California Rivers Restoration Fund (CRRF) has just received confirmation from NOAA Fisheries (the short version for the National Marine Fisheries Service), of their intentions to propose changing the listing of Central Valley Steelhead (CVS) under the Endangered Species Act from Threatened to Endangered. They also intend to list the critical habitat for steelhead.
From what we have been told, this proposal will be released to the public for a 30-day public review period in early April. This is something that we have heard rumors about for some time now and it appears NOAA is serious and that this proposal will be released. After the review period, the rule could become final and the effects would take place in about 18 months.
If this proposed rule becomes law, it will have serious repercussions for the sport fishing community, local businesses, farmers, irrigation districts, California DFG, and other stakeholders. First, all river habitat that is accessible from the ocean will probably be closed to fishing indefinitely. These waters will include, but are not limited to the lower Sacramento, American, Feather, Yuba, Battle Creek, Putah Creek, Calaveras, Mokelumne, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, and Merced rivers and any of their tributaries from the dams, to the Delta. This will effect every sport fisherman currently who fish these waters for not only steelhead, but native trout, salmon, stripers, bass, catfish, and shad. Basically all angling would on these rivers would become illegal.
The other concern is that an Endangered species listing would greatly hamper scientific studies and restoration projects needed to enhance and protect salmon and steelhead and their habitats. The permits for scientific studies can take years to obtain if they are granted at all, and restoration projects would undergo a much greater level of scrutiny which increases their costs. CRRF has been working to start steelhead studies and restoration projects in the San Joaquin basin and an Endangered species listing could halt many of our efforts.
We were surprised by this proposed action, because no studies have been conducted to determine whether the steelhead populations in the Central Valley are in jeopardy. In fact, NOAA Fisheries is having a tough time defending the current listing as Threatened, because of the lack of evidence. We do know that the number of adult steelhead returning to spawn has greatly increased throughout the Central Valley in response to the wet climate during the last 9 years. So they don't seem to be on the verge of extinction. In fact, the opposite is true.
CRRF is setting up a legal defense fund on behalf of our members and the sport anglers of California, that will go directly to fighting the battle necessary to defeat this proposal. This is a real threat to our way of life and for many of us, our livelihood. This will effect guides, flyshops, tackle stores, restaurants, lodges, and many other business, all over the state as well as all anglers that fish these waters. It is a real problem and if we don't unite together to fight this now, our beloved Central Valley rivers will be closed to us for a very long time. The economic impact alone could also seriously add to the huge problems our state is facing. We feel confident that with the right legal pressure applied, this proposal will be defeated.
For more information on joining our fight, or to find out more about this proposed action, contact CRRF at (209) 532-7146. You can also e-mail us at steve@mlode.com or by mail at P.O. Box 236 Soulsbyville Ca. 95372. If you have any statements, questions, comments or e-mails you would like to have entered into the official record once the proposal is issued, feel free to send them to CRRF and we will make sure they are included with ours. Please make sure that you act before mid April 2004, when comments will be due.
You may also direct any questions you may have for NOAA Fisheries to Madelyn Martinez (The San Joaquin Basin Biologist) at (916) 930-3605 or by e-mail at madelyn.martinez@noaa.gov.
There are many battles to fight, but this one is worthy of all of our support.
Steve B. Walser (Executive Director)
California Rivers Restoration Fund
P.O. Box 236 Soulsbyville Ca. 95372
(209) 532-7146 - Office
www.calriversfund.org
