A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
July 17, 2007
3. Watersheds
QUAGGA MUSSELS:
California lacks law to prevent mussel spread - Tahoe Daily Tribune
RESTORATION WORK REWARDED:
River Partners receives award for restoration work - Chico Enterprise Record
QUAGGA MUSSELS:
Tahoe Daily Tribune – 7/17/07
By Adam Jensen, staff writer
With boaters regularly coming to Lake Tahoe from waterways infested with invasive species, a key piece of
Eight percent of boaters have been to a lake, reservoir or river infested with zebra or quagga mussels -- such as Lake Mohave or Lake Havasu -- within one year of their visit to Lake Tahoe, according to a two-week boater survey completed by the Tahoe-Baikal Institute on July 6.
The surveys have been part of public and private efforts to educate boaters in the basin since the discovery of quagga mussels in
"There's a concern only because the auxiliary is not a law enforcement agency," said Ray Ellen Wise, a division staff officer for vessel examination for the Coast Guard auxiliary based in
While enforcement on the
A
The law would also allow fish and game officials to conduct inspections, and order a boat to be decontaminated or impounded, provisions already present in
"Quagga mussels are prohibited just like any other illegal game animal," said Ed Lyngar, boating education coordinator at the Nevada Division of Wildlife.
"We do have the ability to stop boats and seize them if necessary."
Game wardens maintain a presence at
The Tahoe Resource Conservation District is working on an aquatic invasive species plan with the Army Corps of Engineers, where a coordinated response to an infested boat at
This plan will not see implementation until next year, according to Jenny Francis, Backyard Conservation Resource Planner with the conservation district. #
http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/article/20070717/NEWS/107170042
RESTORATION WORK REWARDED:
River Partners receives award for restoration work
By Heather Hacking, staff writer
River Partners, a Chico-based nonprofit that works in habitat restoration, was given a James Irvine Leadership award Monday.
River Partners president John Carlon and senior restoration ecologist Tom Griggs were selected based on the foundation's values of conserving wildlife and enhancing flood control along major rivers in
The group began in 1998, at first focusing on restoration along the Sacramento River, and later expanding to the
Carlon, who accepted the award in
By 2007, 800,000 acres of that has disappeared, with most of the flood plains paved over or cleared.
Since creation, River Partners has planted approximately 750,000 trees, shrubs and plants, Carlon said.
The founders of the group were farmers, and brought that background to the restoration work. It's not enough just to plant habitat; care needs to be made to ensure the plantings have a long life and continue to serve the purpose for which they were placed in the ground, according to a background given on the group's Web site.
The Irvine Foundation set up the acknowledgment, which includes a $125,000 award, to help publicize groups that are working on "key state concerns using practical solutions." The hope is that other private and nonprofit groups will see the accomplishments of the groups honored, and learn from them, a spokesperson said.
Six awards were given throughout the state, including honors to groups that work with education, theater and sustainable dairy production.
Carlon and Griggs were the only recipients from the
During a brief address during the presentation, Carlon said the goal is to balance the needs of wildlife with safety and economic needs in the state.
River Partners board member Irv Schiffman said the award is an honor, and will also help to spread the word about the good work the nonprofit does.
"The work we do is so scientifically organized," Schiffman said. "We're not just throwing rocks in the river." He explained that River Partners does pre-project modeling work, analyzes agricultural land near restoration projects and ensures plantings will attract wildlife and help clean up rivers.
"We would like more organizations to know about us so when it comes to flood protection and when it comes to a different way to design flood projects, they will think of our scientific approach," Schiffman said. The work of the group is in high demand already, and Schiffman said the board and staff are intent on keeping the high quality of restoration as the top priority.
Julie Pokrandt, director of development for River Partners, explained that the $125,000 will be used to help the group do the background work and assessments for future projects.
About 20 percent of the money will be used for staff development, which is the wish of the Irvine Foundation.
After the morning award ceremony, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger met with the recipients to personally congratulate them. #
http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_6393202
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