Department of Water Resources
California Water News
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
August 6, 2009
3. Watersheds –
State commission approves sweeping restrictions on coastal fishing
Contra Costa Times
Yellowfin tuna, dorado beginning to appear in Southland waters
L.A. Times
Fishermen cast some hope for a 2010 salmon season
Mercury News
Containment expected Saturday for Burney-area blazes
Redding Record Searchlight
Robert E. Lee giant sequoia labeled as hazard
Fresno Bee
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State commission approves sweeping restrictions on coastal fishing
Contra Costa Times-8/5/09
By Mike Taugher
State regulators sharply restricted fishing off more than 20 percent of the coast from the San Francisco Peninsula to Mendocino County, turning back pleas to allow more abalone diving and delay the new measures due to budgetary concerns.
In a 3-2 vote, the state Fish and Game Commission on Wednesday moved forward with a historic ocean protection plan by putting into place the second of five planned complexes of reserves and conservation areas.
The protected areas are intended to form a network along the state's 1,100-mile coast to allow dwindling stocks — including rockfish, abalone and Dungeness crab — to rebound.
"I am committed to returning California to the sustainable abundance it once enjoyed," commissioner Richard Rogers said in announcing his intention to vote for the plan.
With that vote, which followed nearly six hours of occasionally heated testimony, the commission rejected pleas from fishermen to adopt a slightly less restrictive alternative, saying the final design already was the result of extensive negotiations and accommodations.
The alternative favored by fishermen still would have affected 18 percent of the water from the Bay Area to Mendocino, but it would have left more access for abalone divers.
"All of the proposals are going to hurt and all of them achieve all of the conservation goals," said Dan Wolford, of Los Gatos, the science director for the Coastside Fishing
Club and vice chairman of the federal panel that regulates fishing off the West Coast.
But environmentalists supported the plan, saying it was essential to maintaining and restoring marine life off the coast.
"We created national parks decades ago. It is certainly time to protect the Yosemites of the sea," said Karen Garrison, an oceans policy advocate for the Natural Resources Defense Council.
The new rules ban fishing in newly created marine reserves, including state water around the Farallon Islands, and areas near Point Reyes National Seashore, portions of Sonoma County, and parts of Bodega Head.
Marine conservation areas, which make up about half of the water in the plan, were created with exceptions to allow for limited recreational fishing.
Like underwater parks, the idea is to put certain underwater rock formations, kelp beds and other areas off limits to fishing to allow those ecosystems to rebound and thrive.
A representative of the state's game wardens urged the board to delay action on the plan because California already has fewer game wardens per capita than any other state, and because state employee furloughs are making the situation worse.
"The current (marine life protected areas) are not afforded adequate protection. How can we possibly consider more?" asked Todd Tognazzini, president of the California Fish and Game Wardens Association.
"The game wardens are the ones trying to keep people out of those areas. We're pretty upset by what's going on," Tognazzini said.
Lawmakers directed the commission in 1999 to organize marine protection zones into a network that stretches throughout state waters, which extend three miles off the entire 1,100-mile coast.
The Central Coast plan, which was adopted in 2007, covers waters from Point Conception in Santa Barbara County to Pigeon Point in San Mateo County. The regulations adopted Wednesday extend that network north to Mendocino County.
The commission is still expected to pass new rules for the South Coast, from Point Conception to the Mexico border, and the North Coast, from Point Arena in Mendocino County to the Oregon border. The final zone to be considered is expected to be the Bay, which is expected to be completed in 2011.#
Yellowfin tuna, dorado beginning to appear in Southland waters
L.A. Times-8/3/09
By Pete Thomas
The appearance of yellowfin tuna and dorado at some of the outer banks beyond Southern California -- and many more of these fish not far south of the U.S.-Mexico border -- bodes well for an exotic and memorable August for saltwater anglers.
Only scattered catches have been made in Southland waters, and most have been by private boaters at places such as the 181 and 182 banks, reports Philip Friedman of 976-TUNA. But with water temperatures in the low- to mid-70s in some areas, fishermen can expect more of these sub-tropical species to arrive over the coming weeks.
Additionally, there remain large bands of cooler water that are holding bluefin tuna and albacore, extending far down the Baja California peninsula, so these fish will remain in the mix as well.
Capt. Tim Ekstrom of the Royal Star reports encounters with bluefin from 30-80 pounds and albacore weighing 20-40 pounds in Mexican waters -- about 180 miles south of Point Loma, in 69-degree water -- and predicts a showing soon west of San Diego.
They'd sure be welcome, a solid albacore season within range of the one-day boats has yet to materialize this season.#
Fishermen cast some hope for a 2010 salmon season
Mercury News-8/5/09
By Cathy Kelly
Salmon fishing may just materialize here next year, regulators say, for recreational fishermen anyway.
The state Department of Fish and Game recently posted an April 3, 2010 opening date for recreational salmon fishing south of Humboldt County's Horse Mountain, which would allow Monterey Bay anglers to catch two fish per day of any salmon species other than coho.
The statement comes with a definite caveat, however, which is that a final decision will not be made until March, once the final fish counts roll in.
But Dana Michaels, a spokeswoman for the Department of Fish and Game, said there is cause for some optimism, calling the announcement of the planned season "an educated guess."
"It is based on several indicators, including reports from commercial and recreational anglers and others who spend a lot of time on the ocean," Michaels said. "Apparently, they say they've seen more salmon this year than last."
Michael Mohr of the National Marine Fisheries Service, who heads the agency's Santa Cruz-based Salmon Assessment Team, agreed, while cautioning it's too early to tell for sure.
"There are some encouraging signs, but it really depends on the number of fish returning to rivers in September," Mohr said.
Sacramento River salmon are the ones local fisherman pray for most fervently, and that population largely failed last year. The poor showing resulted in the largest fishery closure on record.
This year,
California salmon fishing was banned commercially and largely banned for sports fishing too, except for a 10-day opening later this month in the Crescent City area.
But hope persists.
Mike Baxter, a longtime Santa Cruz fisherman and sometimes charter captain of the Velocity, said most people he speaks to are thinking there will be some limited recreational fishing of salmon next year.
"It's kind of good news," Baxter said. "It's not all gloom and doom."
In May, regulators opened recreational salmon fishing from Humbug Mountain in Oregon to Horse Mountain in Humboldt County, from Aug. 29 to Sept. 7.
Some area fishermen are heading up north for that, Baxter said.
At the Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor Wednesday, the current targets were cod, halibut or albacore.
Longtime fisherman Bill Schuette was buying bait at Bayside Marine in a plan to hook some halibut.
"I think they're optimistic for some salmon next year," he said. "We're hopeful. But they shouldn't open it unless it's the right thing for the resource."
Tom Faulk of the Paloma, a commercial salmon boat, said the lack of salmon has taken a big chunk out of his wallet.
"But we might have a season too next year," he said. "We usually don't hear until late fall. It's just another uncertainty."
Commercial Fisherman Greg Ambiel said he was heading to Oregon to catch albacore and that sports fisherman seem to be "luckier" than their commercial brethren as far as getting a green light on salmon fishing.
Ambiel said some good years should be coming, as a lot of salmon were planted last year.
And ocean conditions are "incredible" for salmon this year, he added, it's the water use in the Central Valley that is killing them. A large system to keep the salmon out of deadly San Joaquin River pumps was recently installed, though, he said.
The Central Valley problem was echoed in May by the Santa Cruz-based director of the Fisheries Ecology Division of the National Marine Fisheries Service, Churchill Grimes. According to the agency's Web site, Grimes gave a presentation stating that the poor showing of Sacramento River fall Chinook fishery last year was due to poor ocean conditions in the 2004 and 2005 brood years, but that the big problem is found onshore.
"Ultimate blame was attributed to longstanding and ongoing degradation of freshwater and estuarine habitats and the subsequent heavy reliance on hatchery production," Grimes stated.
"Degradation and simplification of freshwater and estuary habitats over a century and a half of development have changed the Central Valley Chinook salmon complex from a highly diverse collection of numerous wild populations to one dominated by fall Chinook salmon from four large hatcheries."
The state Department of Fish and Game gives recommendations on salmon season, but the final determination is made by vote of the 14-member Pacific Fisheries Management Council.#
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_12999687?nclick_check=1
Containment expected Saturday for Burney-area blazes
Redding Record Searchlight-8/6/09
By David Benda
A series of fires burning in eastern Shasta County around Burney and Cassel is expected to be contained by Saturday, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Wednesday.
Dubbed the SHU (Shasta-Trinity Unit) Lightning Complex, the 40 fires burned 9,904 acres from Sunday through Wednesday evening. The SHU complex was 15 percent contained Wednesday evening.
Containment means there's a line around the fire to the point that it's not expected to grow any larger.
"It's basically safe. It won't cause a problem," Cal Fire spokesman Mike Witesman said of containment. "We still have people on the fire, cooling it down and putting out the hot spots."
Firefighters are working in extremely steep terrain where there's limited access and long travel times to get to the flames.
The three largest fires in the complex are the Cassel (3,100 acres, 5 percent contained), Goose (3,200 acres, 10 percent contained), and Chalk (2,700 acres, 30 percent contained), Cal Fire spokeswoman Mary Goings said. There were no evacuations in effect Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Hat Creek Complex of fires nearly doubled in size Wednesday, fanning to 8,558 acres. The lightning-sparked fires are burning in the Hat Creek and Old Station areas in eastern Shasta County and Lassen County.
The largest of the series of fires is the Sugarloaf near Old Station, which grew from 2,678 acres to more than 6,600 acres and was 20 percent contained Wednesday. About 300 residents near the Sugarloaf Fire were without power Wednesday.
The Brown Fire was at 1,893 acres and 80 percent contained Wednesday evening. The 48-acre Butte Fire was fully contained.
Winds that picked up Wednesday afternoon and blew embers into the air caused another shutdown of Highway 44 five miles west of Highway 89 to Highway 36 in Lassen County. The road had reopened earlier in the day.
Highway 89 from highways 44 to 299 remained closed Wednesday because of the fire danger.
At least one outbuilding has been destroyed by the Hat Creek Complex of fires and one firefighter has suffered a minor injury, Cal Fire reported Wednesday.
Evacuation advisories remained in effect Wednesday for Old Station and the Rancheria RV Park in Hat Creek on Black Angus Lane, said public information officer Richard Hadley of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. About 130 residences are threatened.
It's been a frustrating few days for Redding resident Ron Smith, whose fifth-wheel trailer remained parked in the Rancheria trailer park. Smith's 30-foot fifth-wheel reportedly is the only trailer that wasn't towed out before the park closed because of the fires.
"I've been trying to find out how to get my trailer out," the 71-year-old Smith said.
Smith and his wife rented space in the park for 30 days on July 13. They'd been going to Hat Creek every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and returning to Redding.
The Smiths had been commuting back and forth in their car. Had they known the fires' severity, the Smiths would have driven their pickup when they returned Monday. Instead, they drove back to Redding in their car without the trailer.
"I'm trying to find out if they would consider me a resident and allow me to come in and tow the trailer," Smith said.
Containment of the Hat Creek Complex was expected by Monday, said Jeff Fontana, spokesman for the Susanville Interagency Fire Center.
Fire officials, meanwhile, were staying alert Wednesday afternoon as more than 200 lightning strikes were recorded in the Coast Range from the Yolla Bolly Wilderness to the Oregon border.
Just before 6 p.m. Wednesday, the National Weather Service issued a severe weather warning for Trinity County, advising residents to stay away from their windows as hail pelted the area.
Lightning strikes were reported across the northwest side of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in the Trinity River Management Unit, north of Highway 299 and west of Interstate 5, spokeswoman Rita Vollmer said.
One confirmed lightning-caused fire was reported a mile northeast of Denny. The Forest Service sent a helicopter and 10 smoke jumpers to the fire, estimated at less than a half-acre.
The thunderstorm threat was expected to shift east into eastern Shasta, Siskiyou, Modoc and Lassen counties.#
http://www.redding.com/news/2009/aug/06/containment-expected-saturday-for-burney-area/
Robert E. Lee giant sequoia labeled as hazard
Fresno Bee-8/5/09
By Mark Grossi
Look but don’t linger at the Robert E. Lee giant sequoia, one of the largest trees on the planet. This 2,500-year-old giant in Kings Canyon National Park might suddenly drop a massive limb.
The tree has been inspected and labeled a hazard, but visitors may not know it. As safety measures, officials have removed the Lee tree sign, a viewing area, a bench and a trash can, hoping people won’t pause at the tree. But no warning sign has been posted.
A forestry expert thinks park officials should tell people the tree is damaged and possibly dangerous.
“I think they’re obligated to say something specific about that tree and let people make their own choices about walking by it,” said Thomas Bonnicksen, a forestry professor emeritus and researcher from Texas A&M University.
A rotting, 67-foot section of the sequoia was assessed as a hazard in 2007 after a huge piece of bark nearly hit visitors the year before.
Officials say they carefully weighed the options, including cutting out the section near the top of the 254.7-foot sequoia — a tree that is more than twice the height of the Old Fresno Water Tower. The Lee tree is near another popular attraction called Fallen Monarch, a downed sequoia.
Falling trees and limbs are always a danger in a natural setting, which park officials tell visitors in signs, posted bulletins and in the park newspaper, said spokeswoman Deb Schweizer. The last time a falling limb killed someone in the park was 1969.
Officials did not want to put up a warning sign for a single tree, she said, when many others could pose a similar danger. She said it would be impossible to assess all the large trees around Kings Canyon trails, which would include such large species as the sugar pine and the red fir.
She said officials also debated but ruled out removing the tree or closing a section of the popular Grant Grove trail. They decided on the more subtle approach with the Lee tree.
“It’s an iconic tree,” Schweizer said. “It’s why people come to the parks. We warn people about dangers — the river, the road, cliffs, lightning, rattlesnakes, ticks, poison oak, falling limbs. If we eliminated every danger, nobody would get to see anything in the national park.”
The Lee tree, named in 1875 for the Confederate general, is among 40 named giant sequoias in Grant Grove. The most well-known is the “nation’s Christmas tree” — the General Grant tree, the second-largest in the world.
Most of the natural sequoia groves on Earth are in Kings Canyon, Sequoia National Park and the Giant Sequoia National Monument.
Limbs on giant sequoias often are larger in diameter than mature pine trees. As the sequoias age, they fall and create a swath of damage in nature. But they also provide food and shelter for insects and small animals for many years.
Bonnicksen, who was a Kings Canyon ranger decades ago and is known for forestry research, said the Park Service did the right thing in assessing the damage. And he agrees no one can predict when a tree or a limb will fall.
But he disagrees with the Park Service’s handling of the public. He said it looks as though officials are trying to hide it.
“It’s a little bit insulting to the visitors,” he said. “Tell them what’s going on.”#
http://www.fresnobee.com/832/story/1580470.html
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