A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
August 19, 2008
3. Watersheds –
Restoring
Register Pajaronia- 8/19/08
Protecting fishing resources on the West Coast
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Restoring
Register Pajaronia- 8/19/08
A group of workers, picks and shovels in hand, was busy Monday in the wetlands of
The enemies — stands of hearty, invasive weeds — provided little fight. A little digging and pulling typically freed their roots from the ground.
The true battle came in the sheer numbers of the invader plants pampas grass, fennel and about two dozen others have firmly established themselves in many areas of the wetlands. In this, the California Conservation Corps workers had their hands full.
“It’s a huge undertaking, but we’re trying to get the wetlands to go back to their native state,” said Michelle Templeton, wetlands program coordinator for the City of
Replacing the native plants serves several purposes, Templeton said. It offers food and shelter for the hundreds of species of birds and other animals that call the sloughs home.
Additionally, the willow, coyote brush and other native plants provide greater water filtration and retention than the invasive species.
Even after the invasive weeds have been removed and the native plants have been established, the work cannot stop — the weeds will quickly reestablish themselves if not monitored.
To help with these efforts,
It’s not the only volunteer opportunity for those who wish to help with wetlands restoration — Watsonville Wetlands Watch holds a volunteer day on the fourth Saturday of every month.
“One of the best reasons for folks to come out and spend their time volunteering is that it is such a great opportunity to get to know the local wetlands,” said Jonathan Pilch, restoration specialist with Watsonville Wetlands Watch. “Volunteers get a chance to see some of the most beautiful natural places around
In addition to plant removal, work crews have spent the past four years clearing invasive plants and creating a fire safety zone along along the six-mile system of trails that winds its way through the wetlands — a parkland of glimmering waterways and wooded areas that provide a serene respite from the city that lies just a few hundred feet away.
The
The project is funded by a series of grants, and also by a requirement that any development project adjacent to the slough add to the existing trail system, Templeton said.
“We wanted to make sure the community is aware of the treasure that’s available to them here,” she said.
The trail project was inspired when organizers noticed nearby residents making their own trails over the fragile wetland areas. Fearing the increased traffic would damage the sloughs, the organizers decided to use the existing pathways and make a few of their own to form a series of trails.
“We were providing something for the community to be proud of and enjoy,” Templeton said.
The Monterey Bay Birding Festival, which will be held on Sept. 26, 27 and 28, draws visitors from around the world to the
“We’re on the radar on an international level,” Templeton said.
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For information on the Watsonville Wetlands Program, call 768-1622.
For information on volunteering with Watsonville Wetlands Watch restoration projects, call 728-4106, or visit www.watsonvillewetlands
watch.org.#
http://www.register-pajaronian.com/V2_news_articles.php?heading=0&story_id=5368&page=72
Protecting fishing resources on the West Coast
By Vern Goehring
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recently joined the governors of
Among other things, the plan calls for cleaning up coastal waters, restoring fisheries, combating climate change, reducing the impacts of offshore development and fostering economic development in coastal communities.
These are all laudable ambitions that, if done correctly, can make a real difference to protect the
But protecting these important resources will take more than an announcement from three governors. We’ve heard these bold statements and goals before, but the follow-through has always fallen short. Rather than looking at the full range of impacts on the ocean, officials have singled out one thing or another in adopting new, narrow regulations. Usually it’s the thing of least benefit and least resistance.
These piecemeal approaches certainly give the appearance of progress but don’t do the real work of identifying and equitably addressing the problems facing the Pacific.
Coastal development and the many other things that deliver pollution to our ocean from land have been largely ignored; for example,
Sometimes this is done as a needless precaution, many times, however, it is done as a last-ditch effort to cover up a failure to address the real problems; remember the extreme closures of Klamath River and
Ironically, fishing already is one of the most highly regulated activities involving the ocean. New regulations imposed recently add one thing — redundancy — but bring little environmental benefit. People who spend every day on the ocean waters and who study and know our oceans find their input rejected out of hand by decision-makers with little real world experience.
What’s more, communities that depend on fishing and tourism suffer under unbalanced regulations. Since the enactment of ocean closures along the central coast of
Local families who fish for themselves or provide fresh seafood to
Recent polls show that most people strongly agree.
A 2007 poll for the Alliance of Communities for Sustainable Fisheries shows that two-thirds of Californians support small, independent fishermen and recreational fishing activities. Californians don’t think fishing is the primary threat to our oceans. Instead, they support allowing fishing throughout the State, backed up with science-based limits to ensure sustainable harvest.
Californians want smart management of marine ecosystems and fish resources, not total ocean closures that simply hurt local economies without delivering real environmental benefits.
The three governors’ ocean announcement can be a new beginning for our ocean waters and the communities that depend on clean oceans and clean beaches.
We’ve been given a chance to make history rather than repeat failed attempts to equitably look at the real problems facing our ocean.
If we fail again, we may forever harm our ocean and everyone that depends on clean ocean waters and abundant marine resources. If we succeed, we will deliver a cleaner ocean for future generations and thriving ocean communities as well.#
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