A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
February 29, 2008
3. Watersheds
SALMON RUNS:
Chinook salmon hit record low in
Total fishing ban on salmon weighed - Sacramento Bee
Meeting in Santa Rosa will discuss future of 2008 salmon season - Chico Enterprise Record
MILL CREEK PROJECT:
Mill Creek Project final EIR, Alternative A get county's OK - Ukiah Daily Journal
SALMON RUNS:
Chinook salmon hit record low in
San Francisco Chronicle – 2/29/08
The fall run of chinook salmon returning to the Sacramento River to spawn was at an all-time low in 2007, according to an official study released Thursday that confirms findings reported last month.
Spawning fish dropped to 88,000 adult fish in the fall, down from peaks of 800,000. The spawning goal is 122,000 to 180,000.
Low numbers are expected to raise prices, hurt the livelihood of fishermen and damage the future health of the state's favorite fish.
"The word 'disaster' comes immediately to mind," said Don Hansen, chairman of the Pacific Fishery Management Council, a governmental body that places restrictions on commercial and sport fishing.
The situation was "much worse than the Klamath fishery disaster of 2006," he said, when low returns in the Klamath River due to a lack of freshwater supplies resulted in strict fishing reductions along the
Representatives from the Pacific Fishery Management Council, National Marine Fisheries Service and the state Department of Fish and Game are scheduled to hold the first of several public meetings Wednesday from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Sonoma County Water Agency,
The final restrictions on commercial and sport fishing will be released in April.
The 2007 Ocean Salmon Fisheries review can be found at links.sfgate.com/ZCPA. #
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/29/BA7CVB93S.DTL&hw=water&sn=010&sc=174
Total fishing ban on salmon weighed
By Matt Weiser, staff writer
In a preseason report, the Pacific Fishery Management Council offered data showing the 2007
But various officials went further, warning that all salmon fishing may have to be closed in 2008 to protect the
"This is very bad news for West Coast salmon fisheries," council Chairman Don Hansen said in a statement. "The world 'disaster' comes immediately to mind."
The cause of the run's decline is not known, but probably is related to both ocean and in-stream problems. The council has developed a list of 46 possible causes.
A full closure of salmon fishing is one option the council will consider when it meets March 8-14 in
http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/749444.html
Meeting in
By Steve Carson, staff writer
Numerous local anglers were left scratching their heads after last year's dismal salmon fishing results in the
The California Department of Fish and Game will hold its annual public meeting on the status of
Agenda items include:
Presenters and panel members will represent the DFG, California Salmon Council, Pacific Fisheries Management Council, National Marine Fisheries Service, Salmon Advisory Subpanel and Salmon Technical Team.
Salmon fishing seasons are developed through a collaborative regulatory process involving the DFG, PFMC, NMFS, and the Department of Commerce. Information gathered at this meeting will help
The public meeting marks the beginning of the two-month process to establish salmon seasons. Representatives will be available to hear from commercial, ocean recreational and river recreational interest groups and constituents. A list of additional meetings for the season-setting process will also be available.
The Department of Water Resources is completing its annual fish habitat enhancement work, according to DWR biologist Eric See. In conjunction with the California Conservation Corps, the group will use approximately 1,200 Christmas trees to construct 40 fish habitat structures in a cove near the Spillway boat ramp. The DWR will also use 300 trees to construct 10 fish habitat structures near the Vinton Gulch launch ramp.
The structures will measure approximately 15 feet by 30 feet. These trees were collected by the Chico Boy Scouts Troop 2, Oroville Boy Scouts Troop 29, NorCal Waste Systems of Chico and Oroville, and Northern Recycling of Paradise.
Additionally, the group will have planted approximately 3,500 willows in the lake bed, including 1,390 1-year-old rooted trees. These projects provide habitat for juvenile and adult game fish such as largemouth bass, spotted bass and channel catfish. #
http://www.chicoer.com/sports/ci_8403247
MILL CREEK PROJECT:
Mill Creek Project final EIR, Alternative A get county's OK
Ukiah Daily Journal – 2/29/08
By Rob Burgess, staff writer
Usable water stores within the county came one step closer to being heightened Tuesday when the Mill Creek Project final environmental impact report along with the choice of Alternative A to mitigate sediment release were both unanimously approved by the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors.
Roland Sanford, Mendocino County Water Agency general manager, said the affirmation of the EIR was just another step in a process that has so far taken several years.
"This project began under tense conditions," he said. "California Fish and Game were not particularly happy with the county's performance. In 2006, CFG reorganized and the county was reassigned to a different region. I would like to point out that the Region 2 Fish and Game folks have been very cooperative. The EIR provides a to-do list for the county in reference to sediment release and the maintenance of the dams."
Besides establishing Talmage water resources as a permanent supply for
"In December 2004, the Upper Dam base gate valve stuck open, and water drained from the reservoir and released a substantial amount of sediment into Mill Creek between the Upper Dam and the Middle Dam," stated the EIR.
The EIR laid out five options for action: no project, all dam structures in place and restored reservoirs (Alternative A), all dams except the Lower Dam in place and restored reservoirs (Alternative B), only the Upper Dam and Reservoir retained (Alternative C) and all dams and reservoirs removed (Alternative D).
"When you look at Alternative A, the county would be required to open up additional acre feet of fish passage," he said. "That is the only difference between A and B."
Chairman and 2nd District Supervisor Jim Wattenburger said that for him, the distinctions between the various paths the board was presented with were much more dramatic.
"I've stated before, if we go with Alternative D, you're going to see me chained to those dams," he said. "This is a resource we cannot lose. I think this is a good thing for the public and it needs to continue."
The board concluded the item by unanimously approving both the EIR and Alternative A for the mitigation of sediment release.
Both the draft and the full EIRs on the project can be viewed at the water agency's Web site at www.mendocountywa.com by clicking on the "Downloads" link. #
http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/local/ci_8407088
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