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DFF's Focus on Conservation
with Ron Forbes

A year's worth of excellent and revealing monthly editorials by Ron Forbes, Delta Fly Fishers Conservation Chair. The title of the article and a portion of the lead in paragraph have been copied to this page. The entire monthly article can be found by clicking on (continued) at the end of the lead in. Earlier monthly articles may be found in the club's monthly newsletter.

If you're a Facebook member, you can now comment on Ron's editorials, starting with the January 2012 article.

February 2012 - Big Drought Down Under. Is California Next?
In last month's issue of Scientific American, I came across a short, one-page article that is ominous. It is titled, "The Coming Mega Drought." The authors are the president of the Pacific Institute and a research associate. The article draws a strong parallel between Australia... (Continued)

January 2012 - A plea to help preserve the striper fishery, huge gains for Mokelumne salmon, the invasive weed spongeplant and Diane Feinstein's sweet deal.
December's Newsletter Conservation page discussed the outcome of the lawsuit between the Coaliton for a Sustainable Delta and the Departmento of Fish and Game. DFG decided not to...(Continued)

December 22, 2011 - A copy of the DFF letter regarding changes in the striped bass fishery sent to the F&G Commission
The letter requests the Commission to reject the DFG proposed changes to striped bass regulations

December 2011 - DFG, Science or Political Expediency?
Over the last several years, I have attended meetings of the legislature’s Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee chaired by Jared Huffman of the 6th District. Mr. Huffman is a strong supporter of conservation issues. He has received many awards and recognition for his work... (Continued)

November 2011 - Felix Smith, a Lifetime of Achievement
The Northern California Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers (NCCFFF) hosted this year’s Festival of Fly Fishing at John Asquaga’s Nugget in Sparks Nevada early last October. The event was a success and Delta Fly Fishers were well represented in the seminars. Steve Cooper, Jerry... (continued)

October 2011 - The Delta Fish Grinders
In early September, Dan Bacher published an article stating that approximately 11 million fish have been killed at both the state and federal pumping stations since the first of the year. These fish comprise 46 species, with the biggest loss of almost 9 million Sacramento Splittail. Also among the... (Continued)

September 2011 - "Where is the Delta, I didn't even know it would fit in a pipe"
Since I have been writing the conservation section of our newsletter, people have asked me how I find enough material to write about. That isn’t a problem. Actually the converse is the issue. At this point in our history there’re more environmental, conservation and fisheries issues than... (Continued)

 July 2011 - Politics and water don't mix
In early June, the Sacramento Bee wrote an editorial about comments made by former Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt. Babbitt served in the Clinton Administration for eight years and had a strong voice in protecting the environment. Recently, he has leveled strong, well deserved... (Continued)

May 2011 - We won a big one for the Mokelumne River!
Two years ago, East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) released the district’s 2040 water plans and planned three public input meetings to discuss their options. The plans included the raising the height of Pardee Dam, a water conservation option and a desalinization option. Steve... (Continued)

April 2011 - Poisoned food for profit
Delta Fly Fishers have a long history in the maintenance, protection, and restoration of our fisheries. For the last several years, the Conservation Report has included articles regarding our loss of Delta waters to the south San Joaquin Valley’s agribusiness interest and to the urban... (Continued)

March 2011 - The Coalition for a Sustainable Delta Vs. DFG, a roll-over settlement
There’s been a settlement reached in the lawsuit between Fish & Game (DFG) and the Coalition for a Sustainable Delta (CSD). This started in 2008 but the final results are still pending. The current settlement hasn’t gone in our favor. It requires DFG to lower the size and increase the bag limits... (Continued)

 

Archives

February 2011 - Ammonia, Sacramento's Costly Dilemma

January 2011 - Battle Creek

 

Our Fisheries in the News this week

February 3rd

Two Coastal Areas Selected for Habitat Restoration Grants
The Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) awarded $280,000 in grants for environmental enhancement projects.

Fish and Game Commission Moves to Protect Mountain Yellow-Legged Frogs
The Fish and Game Commission has voted unanimously to protect two species of native frogs under the California Endangered Species Act.

 DFG to Plant Fish in Lake Mendocino for the First Time
The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) will begin planting rainbow trout (triploids) in Lake Mendocino for the first time this February.  Approximately 15,000 pounds of trout will be put into the lake throughout the winter and early spring, giving anglers an opportunity to enjoy one of the state’s most popular activities.  “There are very [...]

Celebrated Marin County salmon make their return
Peter Fimrite, San Francisco
The storied silver salmon of West Marin - long considered a bellwether of salmon health in California - are laying eggs and carrying on in Lagunitas Creek this week almost as if they weren't teetering on the edge of doom.

Restore the Delta: Playing Fast and Loose With the Truth
By: Jane Wagner-Tyack
The Delta Risk Management Strategy (DRMS) is a study done by the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and a team of consultants in response to AB 1200 (legislation authored by John Laird, now...

SYRCL: Save Our Yuba State Parks
I want to invite you to join our Yuba Express caravan to the State Capitol in Sacramento to hand-deliver our Save Our Yuba State Parks petitions. These petitions will be given directly to Governor Brown, Resource Secretary...

Sandhill cranes bring their trumpet and dance to the Delta each winter
Denis Cuff, Contra Costa Times
Jesse Roseman, a nature preserve manager, stalks along a pond in search of a very big and rare bird that evolved wading in the primordial ooze that once covered much of the Central Valley.

Westlands Water District suing feds for $1b
Suit alleges Interior Department failed to clean up salty water poisoning west Valley farmland.
Mark Grossi - The Fresno Bee
Westlands Water District is suing the federal government for $1 billion, claiming the Interior Department failed to deliver a court-ordered cleanup of salty irrigation drainage. About a dozen years after an appellate court upheld the cleanup order, bad water trapped below the ground surface still slowly poisons west Valley farmland. The swath of compromised land is two-thirds the size of Los Angeles.

February 2nd

Commission votes against pursuing striped bass eradication proposal
by Dan Bacher
In a move celebrated by anglers and conservationists, the California Fish and Game Commission in Sacramento on Thursday, February 2 took final action to reject the Department of Fish and Game’s controversial proposed changes to striped bass regulations.

DFG News: Fish and Game Commission Votes Against Pursuing Striped Bass Proposal
The California Fish and Game Commission today took final action to reject proposed changes to striped bass regulations.

Restoration of salmon to San Joaquin River means an end to trout fishing
River plans mean less fishing, more poaching.
Marek Warszawski,The Fresno Bee
Few people, if any, know the San Joaquin River as well as Louis Moosios. The 36-year-old fishing guide, whose family owns 400 acres on the Madera County side, has been fishing, boating and swimming in the river since he was a boy.

California's best-kept secret?
Statewide survey finds 78 percent clueless about Delta
Alex Breitler, Stockton Record
Nearly four out of five Californians do not know what the Delta is, despite the fact that the estuary of 1,000 square miles provides drinking water for cities from San Jose to San Diego.

February 1st

Delta Stewardship Council: The new Sherman’s March
Dennis Wyatt, Manteca Bulletin
The natives, as they say, are getting restless. And it is all due to a growing uneasiness about a mutant super-strain of government that the California Legislature created because they lack the ability, desire, and temperament to address issues of how 70 percent of the state’s water supply passes through the Delta and where it will end up.

January 31st

Coastside's letter to the California Fish and Game Commission regarding the proposed striped bass regulation changes

DFG Wardens Seeking Tips in Shasta County Deer Poaching Investigation
Posted: 31 Jan 2012 04:36 PM PST
The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is seeking assistance from the public regarding recent deer poaching in the Cassel area in Shasta County.   On Dec. 10, the remains of a buck were discovered by wardens in the Cassel area. On Jan. 20, a second illegally killed buck was discovered in the...

Fisheries Restoration Grant Application Period Opening Soon
Posted: 31 Jan 2012 04:32 PM PST
The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) will release the 2012 Proposal Solicitation Notice (PSN) for the Fisheries Restoration Grant Program on Feb. 15, 2012. Applications will be accepted beginning at 8 a.m. Feb. 15, 2012 through 3 p.m. March 30, 2012.

Foothill Conservancy News Notes

Klamath River dam removals should go forth
San Francisco Chronicle Editorial
After an all-sides agreement and lengthy scientific study, the country's biggest dam removal project should be on track to restore the Klamath River. But the momentum behind this promising project could stall if Washington lets political gridlock sour the deal.

January 30th

DFG Releases Adult Coho Salmon into Sonoma County Creek
The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) recently released adult coho salmon in Salmon Creek, Sonoma County to reestablish a coho salmon population. This is the fourth consecutive year adult salmon were released.

REGION: Final plan emerges for steelhead's return
Dave Downey, North County Times
A federal agency is trying to bring back an oceangoing fish that has all but disappeared from Southern California.

No need to fast-track latest attempt at canal
San Francisco Chronicle
While most of the political chatter following Gov. Jerry Brown's State of the State address last week focused on high-speed rail and his proposed tax initiative, the big issue quietly lapping the Capitol halls is water.
 
Viewpoints: Proposals to drain Hetch Hetchy won't work
Sacramento Bee
The Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite National Park has been a vital source of clean water for San Francisco Bay communities for almost 100 years.
 
Peripheral canal proposal, loss of home rule prompts SSJID to join battle
Jason Campbell, Manteca Bulletin 
A coalition of cities, counties and other organizations worried about the perceived far-reaching political power of the Delta Stewardship Council are banding together to fight for preservation of home rule.

Martin Slough enhancement project moves forward; salmon on Eureka golf course spur restoration work
Donna Tam, EurekaTimes-Standard
After more than a decade of work, the Martin Slough enhancement project -- which aims to reduce flooding and improve salmon habitat near the Eureka Municipal Golf Course -- will acquire the funding needed to complete its design.
 
How would a new approach to managing endangered salmon affect Idaho?
Rocky Barker, Idaho Statesman.com
Moving NOAA to Interior is an idea Idaho Congresswoman Helen Chenoweth supported two decades ago. Today, it divides environmentalists.

Senator Lois Wolk continues to fight for Delta rights
River News-Herald
Up for reelection in 2012, State Senator Lois Wolk continues to fight for Delta representation and equality within the legislature. The senator has a busy 2012 ahead, with several main goals and focuses to improve the fifth district she calls home.

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