Being Part of the Solution

It is both fortunate and unfortunate that we as members of the fly fishing community are, or should be, vitally interested in conservation. Specifically, we are concerned with water conservation. I don't mean not letting your sprinklers bath the sidewalk and gutters for hours on end. (I can assure you that concrete does not grow with additional watering.) I mean the maintenance and improvement of the water quality that keeps our beloved trout alive and thriving. It is clear that development, population growth, timber cutting, cattle grazing, and a host of other factors, both evil and inadvertent, threaten stream and lake quality especially in California. Do I have the answer? Absolutely not! But I do take an interest in conservation efforts and join whenever I can. To that end, we have this month's speaker, Tony VanHouten.

Tony VanHouten is director of the Marketing and Membership departments with Caltrout. He is specifically knowledgeable about the Hat Creek Restoration project. In fact, that is the topic for this month's program. We will find out some of the details about the project; its successes and its problems. This is one of the premier trout habitats in our neck of the woods. Keeping it healthy and productive for our enjoyment and that of our children and grandchildren is, I believe, a necessary and important part of the Peninsula Fly Fishers organization. But, speakers are not our only way to learn about conservation. Rodney has an excellent conservation section on the website.

For a great report on the Golden trout project see Rodney Chun's report on the June website (browse into the Conservation section). He details the upcoming work on the Monache Wildlife area project. That project is a multiyear effort to stop the interbreeding of the golden trout with the rainbow trout by restoring habitat and putting up barriers to outside fish. Rodney and crew will assist Caltrout, Trout Unlimited, Federation of Fly Fishers, and the California Department of Fish and Game in taking down the summer fence that protects the area from grazing cattle. That will be on Oct 1 & 2. I have been told that it isn't just moving fences. I have also heard that you get to help conduct an electroshock survey of the stream to see just what is in there. That may be fun for the shockers but it probably isn't fun for the shockee. There will also be ample time to have a pot luck supper that Saturday and, of course, fish Sunday.

Get involved with projects like this that directly benefit you.

Also on the website are links to other trout related activities from Caltrout, TU and FFF and Calif. dept of fish and game. These may suit your fancy better. Just get out and do it!

Also you might be interested in Rodney's report on the Trinity River water on the May edition of the Conservation section. This is great news. The river will only improve with these steps to clean out the riverbed and provide the important water for a healthy fish population. The July Trinity fishout has come and gone -- see Rocky's report this month -- but we all should plan on going on the November steelhead trip. Mike Pinelli would enjoy a full fishout this year.

Speaking of Rodney, he has done an excellent job as conservation chairperson. He has been interested, enthusiastic, and very knowledgeable, but he needs help. Volunteer! With Rodney scheduled to be president next year, he will need a conservation chairperson. This is your chance to learn from a master and be ready and able to assume the duties next year. So, even if you know little about the conservation community, here is your chance to make a difference.

We have all received the e-mail disaster notifications about this stream or that stream. We all have to sort out what matters to us. The Alameda Creek restoration group is having a tough time doing the things it wants to do. But, if the steelhead do return to Alameda Creek, will we get to fish for them? These are issues that are yet to be understood. Conservation is a complicated concept. For each river there are a host of interested parties all with different views and agendas. Sorting out the important points is a full time job. I will be relying on the trout based organizations to guide me, Caltrout, TU, and FFF. I believe that these organizations have my best interests as a fly fisher at heart.

Conservation is not just listening to a chairperson's report along during one of the monthly meetings while we are talking to our friends sitting next to us. Conservation is an integral part of making this planet a better place to live. Is global warming happening? I happen to believe that this is true. Remember, I did go to college during the 60's and tend to side with anti-establishment views. Be that as it may, with oil topping $60 a barrel and no end in sight, with populations growing around the world at an ever increasing rate, conservation is everyone's responsibility.

But enough with the doom and gloom, come to this month's meeting and hear first hand how one small project is helping us catch more and better fish.

See you there!
George Conway