From jallen at trinitycounty.org Tue Jan 3 09:36:55 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Tue, 3 Jan 2006 09:36:55 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Gov. Declares State Of Emergency In Flood Zone Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE092630172A163@mail2.trinitycounty.org> Gov. Declares State Of Emergency In Flood Zone http://www.nbc11.com/news/5799721/detail.html POSTED: 1:19 pm PST January 2, 2006 Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency in the flood-ravaged Napa, Sonoma, Del Norte, Humboldt, Sacramento, Mendocino and Trinity County areas. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Tue Jan 3 11:06:09 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (tstokely at trinityalps.net) Date: Tue, 3 Jan 2006 14:06:09 -0500 Subject: [env-trinity] Information on Trinity and Lewiston Dam releases Message-ID: <380-22006123196956@M2W048.mail2web.com> Dear Env-Trinity subscribers, I have had some inquiries about dam operations by downriver concerned homeowners and others. Since I don't operate the dams, I thought I would let you know who does and how to contact them for information during the big storms! Lewiston Dam releases are still 1500 cfs. You can get put onto an automatic phone notification list by calling the Bureau of Reclamation at 530-275-1554 and ask to be connected to the operations person who has the automated phone notification list. There is also a recorded message of river releases at 530-246-7594. You can find Trinity Lake storage at the website and enter the station cle (it stands for Clair Engle, the former name of Trinity Lake). The Bureau of Reclamation?s Safety of Dams criteria calls for certain target storage below in Trinity Lake. If storage is above the target, it?s likely they will release extra water to make room for the high inflow from storms. Depending on the snowpack, intensity of storms and expected runoff, they will release the amount of water necessary to keep Trinity Dam from overtopping. The maximum ?controlled release? from Trinity Dam is 13,750 cfs. The maximum ?uncontrolled release? is estimated at 30,000 cfs (Lewiston Dam can also release about 30,000 cfs). The controlled releases are from outlets within Trinity Dam. Uncontrolled releases are when water reaches the ?glory hole? spillway at 2370? elevation and water is released uncontrolled into Lewiston Reservoir. Of course, tributary inflows have a lot to do with how large flows are downstream of Lewiston Dam. About 3,000 cfs can be diverted to the Sacramento River from Trinity Dam through the Clear Creek Tunnel before it gets to Lewiston Dam, but when there are big floods along the Sacramento River, that is not always possible. Nov 1- Dec 31 1,850,000 AF (2331? elevation) Jan 1-Jan 31 1,900,000 AF (2334? elevation) Feb 1-Feb 28,29 2,000,000 AF (2341? elevation) March 1-31 2,100,000 AF (2348? elevation) Happy New Year! Tom Stokely Principal Planner Trinity Co. Planning/Natural Resources PO Box 2819 190 Glen Rd. Weaverville, CA 96093-2819 530-623-1351, ext. 3407 FAX 623-1353 tstokely at trinityalps.net or tstokely at trinitycounty.org -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ . From danielbacher at hotmail.com Tue Jan 3 11:15:55 2006 From: danielbacher at hotmail.com (Daniel Bacher) Date: Tue, 03 Jan 2006 11:15:55 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Congressman George Miller Keynote Speaker At ASA Anglers Caucus Jan. 7! Message-ID: To: Outdoor Press and Fishery Leaders Congressman George Miller will be the keynote speaker at the ASA/Fred Hall Show Anglers Caucus breakfast Saturday January 7th at the Cow Palace. Mr. Miller has led a number of Federal efforts to restore Northern California's fisheries and reserve water for fish needs. In 1992 he sponsored the Central Valley Project Improvement Act which has made huge improvements in the fish runs. His subject at the Caucus will be "The Water Wars, Can The Fish Survive". In addition to George Miller, the event will also feature the incoming President of the Fish and Game Commission Michael Flores, along with the Commission's newly appointed Director, John Carlson (invited). Other speakers at the event include: Ryan Broddrick, Director of the California Department of Fish and Game; Calif. Assemblyman Dave Cogdill; Mike Nussman, President of the American Sportfishing Association; Jim Kellogg, current President of the Calif. Fish and Game Commission; Dave Pfeiffer, Vice President of Shimano Corporation; Phil Isenberg, Chair of the Marine Life Protection Act Panel, and Roger Thomas, a member of the Pacific Fishery Management Council. Darrell Ticehurst, California's recreational representative on the Pacific Fisheries Management Council, along with Coastside Fishing Club president, Chris Hall, will also be on the dais and will give a broad sportfishing perspective on our fisheries, according to Tom Raftican, president of United Anglers of Southern California. The breakfast is open to all those concerned about fish and water policies. It will begin at 8:00 AM in building F in the lower pavilion of the Cow Palace. Participants should enter the gate in the parking lot just south of the main Cow Palace entrance. The gate will open at 7:30 AM. ?Cost of the event is $30 which includes the breakfast and entrance to the Fred Hall Fishing Tackle and Boat show which opens at 10:00 AM. Participants can register and pay in advance on the Coastside Fishing Club website (www.coastsidefishingclub.com ). You can also register and then pay at the door by sending an email with your name and contact info to Mike Lum at MLum at fredhall.com Let me know if you have questions. Dick Pool, For the ASA (925) 825-8560 rpool at protroll.com From tstokely at trinityalps.net Fri Jan 6 10:13:49 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (tstokely at trinityalps.net) Date: Fri, 6 Jan 2006 13:13:49 -0500 Subject: [env-trinity] Hearing Dates Rescheduled on SDIP Message-ID: <380-2200615618134974@M2W060.mail2web.com> Mid Pacific Region Sacramento, Calif. Media Contact:Jeffrey S. McCracken 916-978-5100 Released On: January 05, 2006 Hearing Dates Rescheduled on South Delta Improvements Program Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Report The Bureau of Reclamation has changed the public hearings schedule for the South Delta Improvements Program Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Report. The schedule for the public hearings that appeared in the Federal Register on November 10, 2005, has changed to the following new dates, times, and locations: Sacramento ? Tuesday, January 24, 2006, 9 a.m. to Noon, California Bay-Delta Authority, 650 Capitol Mall, 5th Floor, Bay-Delta Room. (Proper identification is required to enter, and camera phones are not allowed in the Federal building). Los Angeles ? Wednesday, January 25, 2006, 10 a.m. to Noon, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, One Gateway Plaza, 3rd Floor, Gateway Conference Room (on the corner of Caesar Chavez and Vignes). Stockton ? Thursday, January 26, 2006, 7 to 9 p.m., Department of General Services Auditorium, 31 East Channel Street. For additional information, please contact Ms. Sammie Cervantes at 916-978-5189 or e-mail scervantes at mp.usbr.gov. # # # Reclamation is the largest wholesale water supplier and the second largest producer of hydroelectric power in the United States, with operations and facilities in the 17 Western States. Its facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation, and fish and wildlife benefits. -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ . From danielbacher at hotmail.com Fri Jan 6 11:09:56 2006 From: danielbacher at hotmail.com (Daniel Bacher) Date: Fri, 06 Jan 2006 11:09:56 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Rep. George Miller to Speak on "The Water Wars, Can The Fish Survive" January 7! In-Reply-To: Message-ID: To: Outdoor Press and Fishery Leaders Congressman George Miller will be the keynote speaker at the ASA/Fred Hall Show Anglers Caucus breakfast Saturday January 7th at the Cow Palace. Mr. Miller has led a number of Federal efforts to restore Northern California's fisheries and reserve water for fish needs. In 1992 he sponsored the Central Valley Project Improvement Act which has made huge improvements in the fish runs. His subject at the Caucus will be "The Water Wars, Can The Fish Survive". In addition to George Miller, the event will also feature? the incoming President of the Fish and Game Commission Michael Flores, along with the Commission's newly appointed Director, John Carlson (invited). Other speakers at the event include: Ryan Broddrick, Director of the California Department of Fish and Game; Calif. Assemblyman Dave Cogdill; Mike Nussman, President of the American Sportfishing Association; Jim Kellogg, current President of the Calif. Fish and Game Commission; Dave Pfeiffer, Vice President of Shimano Corporation; Phil Isenberg, Chair of the Marine Life Protection Act Panel, and Roger Thomas, a member of the Pacific Fishery Management Council. Darrell Ticehurst, California's recreational representative on the Pacific Fisheries Management Council, along with Coastside Fishing Club president, Chris Hall, will also be on the dais and will give a broad sportfishing perspective on our fisheries, according to Tom Raftican, president of United Anglers of Southern California. The breakfast is open to all those concerned about fish and water policies. It will begin at 8:00 AM in building F in the lower pavilion of the Cow Palace. Participants should enter the gate in the parking lot just south of the main Cow Palace entrance. The gate will open at 7:30 AM. ?Cost of the event is $30 which includes the breakfast and entrance to the Fred Hall Fishing Tackle and Boat show which opens at 10:00 AM. Participants can register and pay in advance on the Coastside Fishing Club website (www.coastsidefishingclub.com ). You can also register and then pay at the door by sending an email with your name and contact info to Mike Lum at MLum at fredhall.com Let me know if you have questions. Dick Pool, For the ASA (925) 825-8560 rpool at protroll.com From AKRAUSE at mp.usbr.gov Fri Jan 6 13:53:04 2006 From: AKRAUSE at mp.usbr.gov (Andreas Krause) Date: Fri, 06 Jan 2006 13:53:04 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Fwd: Trinity River Release Change Message-ID: Project: Lewiston Dam - Trinity River Release Date Time From To 1/7/05 0800 1500 cfs 1750 cfs 1/7/05 1000 1750 cfs 2000 cfs 1/7/05 1200 2000 cfs 2500 cfs Issued By: Central Valley Operations __________________________________ Andreas Krause, P.E. Physical Scientist Trinity River Restoration Program P.O. Box 1300 (mailing address) 1313 South Main St. (physical address) Weaverville, CA 96093 Phone: 530-623-1807; Fax: 530-623-5944 __________________________________ From bwl3 at comcast.net Sun Jan 8 15:50:06 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Sun, 8 Jan 2006 15:50:06 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Devastating Science Review of OCAP Biological Opinion Message-ID: <004401c614ae$4c646230$1f9eb545@p4> The attached Scientific Review released late Friday of the Biological Opinion of the Long Term Central Valley Project and State Water Project Operations Criteria and Plan (OCAP) is a devastating indictment of the inadequacy of that Opinion. Since environmental documents for renewal of many long-term water delivery service contracts, as well as the so-called South Delta Improvement Project (vastly increase pumping of water from the San Francisco Bay Delta to the south), are tiered off of the OCAP Biological Opinion, it would seem that all three of these proposals face some very serious problems, expressing it modestly. The law simply has been breached in the preparation of these documents. Also attached is an article from the Contra Costs Times regarding this report. Scientific Report: http://science.calwater.ca.gov/pdf/workshops/OCAP_review_final_010606_v2.pdf Contra Costa Times: http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/email/news/13572405.htm Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Mon Jan 9 10:49:23 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Mon, 9 Jan 2006 10:49:23 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Executive Summary of Independent Review of CVP/SWP OCAP BO Message-ID: <00a501c6154f$2e550000$2f28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> Review of the Biological Opinion of the Long-Term Central Valley Project and State Water Project Operations Criteria and Plan For Johnnie Moore Lead Scientist California Bay-Delta Authority December 2005 Executive Summary Background and Charge Over the last 150 years, the Sacramento River has been engineered into a massive water delivery system, which includes various dams that have blocked access to much of the historical habitat of anadromous salmonids. Development of the basin's water resources has, in effect, unintentionally initiated a large-scale ecological experiment. The experiment examines whether the historical habitat templates, and their associated salmon and steelhead production systems, can be relocated below the migration barriers. This undertaking has, so far, put at risk of extinction three of the basin's four evolutionary significant units (ESUs): winter-run and spring-run Chinook salmon and steelhead in the Sacramento River are listed as endangered or threatened under the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). This is the report of the Technical Review Panel (Panel) convened by the CALFED Bay-Delta Program to review the Biological Opinion (BO) on the Long-Term Central Valley Project (CVP) and State Water Project (SWP) Operations Criteria and Plan (OCAP). The OCAP BO was issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Southwest Region. The BO assesses the effects of the continued operations of the CVP and SWP on listed Chinook salmon and steelhead in the Sacramento River, and on coho salmon in the Trinity River. This review was initiated at the request of the National Marine Fisheries Service's Sacramento Office. The Panel's basic charge is to determine whether NMFS used the best available scientific and commercial information in developing the BO. According to our charge: "The Technical Review Panel's Charge is to evaluate and comment on the technical information, models, analyses, results and assumptions that formed the basis for the assessment of the proposed long-term water operations of the projects described. . For example, the panelists should review how NMFS assessed the individual responses of fish to certain effects (i.e., flows, water temperatures, diversions, etc.) and whether NMFS missed best available information on how fish are likely to respond to those impacts." Accordingly, the Panel considered whether the best available scientific information (including models and analyses) was discussed or cited in the BO, and how NMFS took this information into account in reaching its decisions. The charge to the Panel included two important restrictions on the content of the review. First, we were not asked whether NMFS made the proper determination regarding jeopardy. Therefore, we do not address that question in this report. Second, we were also not asked whether NMFS properly considered the effects of baseline conditions in assessing jeopardy. All analyses in the BO were based upon the incremental impacts due to the proposed operations of the projects, rather than the impacts of baseline plus project operations. The Panel understands that there was a rationale for this approach (i.e., baseline does not cause jeopardy; hence the incremental effects are evaluated by themselves). Technical Review Panel Document -12/30/2005 1 But the Panel would feel remiss without at least mentioning that this is a critical assumption and that from a purely scientific view, populations may not respond linearly to progressively increasing losses of individuals. Findings The Panel is unanimous in its finding that the scientific information used in the BO is not the best available. As salient examples, NMFS ignored the potential effects of climate change in their analyses in the BO, and NMFS used a temperature-mortality model (LSalmon-2) that does not produce credible estimates of temperature-induced mortality. Other important factors, such as variable ocean conditions or the risks associated with hatchery-released fish, are described in parts of the BO, but how these factors were related to the conclusions regarding jeopardy were unclear to the Panel. The Panel identified three overarching issues, which if addressed, would improve the presentation of the analyses in the BO. Specifically, the BO would have benefited: 1.. 1) from a clearly articulated conceptual model 2.. 2) from an analytical framework (based on the conceptual model) for the various data analyses, statistical models, and analytical tools that were used 3.. 3) by placing its analyses in the context of an explicitly defined life cycle approach. In addition, the Panel identified 15 specific technical issues in the BO. These technical issues are described in detail in the body of this report; we highlight the major issues below. a.. 1) Global climate change was not considered. The BO assumes that the climate and hydrologic regime during the last century will persist into the future. The Panel does not believe that global climate change (e.g., temperature warming), and the consequent temperature and hydrological changes, received adequate treatment in the BO. This deficiency resulted in an important uncertainty being ignored that could affect the characterization of the risk to the ESUs. 2) Variability in ocean productivity, and its affect on fish production, was not incorporated into the analyses. The current status of the listed populations is, in part, an outcome of recent favorable ocean conditions. What will the status of listed populations be under less favorable conditions that may occur in the near future? By not including variability of ocean conditions in its analysis, the BO does not adequately address whether or not the listed populations are sufficiently large to survive a period of poor ocean conditions. 3) Unknowns or uncertainty were either not adequately incorporated into the analyses, or their incorporation was not clearly explained. In some cases, uncertainties were simply ignored or their consideration was deferred to other future analyses or other in-progress biological opinions. For example, Table 9 Technical Review Panel Document -12/30/2005 2 1.. in the BO (page 193) summarizes the effects of the proposed project on the listed ESUs, but Table 9 fails to list eleven additional effects mentioned in the text of the BO. Ignoring or deferring the consideration of these effects in analyses does not give the listed species the required benefit of the doubt. 4) Some models and analyses appeared to be flawed. The application of monthly temperature models to anadromous fish studies is a point of concern. Of particular concern is the adoption, with little discussion, by NMFS of these monthly results both for assessing potential impacts and for setting thermal criteria. In addition, the data used to develop relationships between water temperature and salmon gamete, egg, and alevin mortality was not the best available. 5) Greater consideration should be given to genetic and spatial diversity in the ESUs. Too little consideration was given to the genetic and spatial diversity aspects of the ESUs. The Central Valley Technical Recovery Team (CVTRT) noted that the "dependent" populations of spring Chinook and steelhead occupy marginally suitable habitats that either depend on migrants from the nearby streams or operate as a metapopulation in which each stream is not individually viable, but the group persists. These dependent populations are a valuable resource because they exist in marginal environments, may contain valuable genetic attributes (e.g., higher temperature tolerance), and may serve as links with other populations in ways that increase the viability and resiliency of the ESUs over long time scales. The BO did not adequately treat the genetic and spatial diversity aspects in their analysis. To guide us in our evaluation, NMFS posed seven questions for the review that addressed issues they felt were important. We were advised that we could reformulate these questions. We decided that the salient issues covered by the original seven questions could be covered with four questions. The four questions overlap somewhat among themselves in their coverage of the important issues. The reformulated four questions, and a summary of our responses to them, are listed below: a.. 1) Are the technical data, tools, and analyses used in the BO (e.g., modeling, calculations, qualitative assessments) able to determine impacts to individuals and to populations of listed ESUs? NMFS' dependence on using existing off-the-shelf models, especially for quantitative analyses, resulted in less quantitative results and more qualitative-based assessments than is desirable. The Panel appreciates the constant tension between the desire to use a systematic approach versus the uneven availability of information among species and among river systems. However, we are of the opinion that, even with the time constraints and desire to be systematic, there are several areas where the data and analyses used by NMFS could have been improved. Technical Review Panel Document -12/30/2005 3 a.. 2) Were risks and uncertainties adequately considered and treated in the BO? What risks, uncertainties, and limitations were not addressed? Characterizing uncertainty is an important step in assessing risk, and ultimately in understanding the strengths and weaknesses of regulatory and management decisions. Uncertainty can take a number of forms (Francis and Shotton 1997). Uncertainty arises from natural variability; missing, inaccurate, or imprecise data; necessity for simplifying assumptions for analyses and models; and how agencies communicate and interact. Regardless of the form, characterizing uncertainty is an important step in assessing risk, and ultimately in properly understanding the basis of regulatory and management decisions. The Panel determined that more explicit treatment of uncertainty would greatly improve the scientific underpinnings of the BO. Some of the uncertainties of concern to the Panel were addressed more fully at the October 12-13, 2005 workshop at the University of California at Davis than in the BO, which suggests that uncertainties may have been considered but not documented in the BO. The Panel concluded that the BO would benefit from better documentation of key uncertainties and a clear description of how they were incorporated into the final decision analysis. Furthermore, we suggest that, when possible, the BO should treat the major uncertainties in a more quantitative manner. 1.. 3) In the absence of available information to establish probable responses to impacts (e.g., steelhead losses at the CWP and SVP pumps, spring-run Chinook salmon survival and reproduction above Red Bluff Diversion Dam), were reasonable scenarios developed to identify the likely effects of the proposed projects on the fish species of interest? Were comparisons made to other species with similar impacts? At the October 12-13, 2005 workshop, the Panel was given a handout1 that highlighted some of the guidelines used in preparing biological opinions. A key point appeared on page 10 of the handout, under the section heading entitled "Providing the Benefit of the Doubt to Listed Populations." The text stated that the Services should conduct their analyses to avoid making a Type II error (i.e., avoid making the mistake of concluding that there was no effect on listed species or their habitat when in fact there was an effect). In other words, the BO should give the listed species the benefit of the doubt. This guideline of giving the species the benefit of the doubt was used as a criterion when we evaluated the BO, especially when we addressed question (3). The BO ignored or understated several factors that are expected to have measurable effects on the listed salmon and steelhead populations. Where there was insufficient information to develop a quantitative estimate of an effect, the BO frequently appeared to ignore the unquantified effect, or to not clearly explain how the unquantified effects were incorporated into the overall integration and synthesis. Potentially important effects were apparently not included in the 1A package containing pages 8-10 of material copied from another source was given to the Panel by Penny Ruvelas of NOAA Fisheries at the October 12-13 Workshop. The header on the handout was entitled "Background paper on assessment framework for jeopardy analysis." Technical Review Panel Document -12/30/2005 4 synthesis, or there was no explicit explanation as to how they were included in the final analysis. For example, it was unclear to the Panel exactly how the following issues were incorporated in the analyses or final synthesis: the effect of hatcheries, mortality of subyearling Chinook on route to and within the Delta, the effects of global climate change, and the effects of Red Bluff Diversion Dam on adult and juvenile passage. The failure to explicitly explain how known or anticipated effects were incorporated into the synthesis of effects is inconsistent with the guideline to provide "the benefit of the doubt to the listed species." a.. 4) Where information was limiting or unavailable (e.g., the abundance of steelhead), did the BO provide evidence or make reasonable assumptions regarding the probable responses of listed ESUs to proposed project operations? Of particular concern are the potential effects besides direct mortality (e.g., changes in fecundity and growth rates of individuals, genetic diversity, access to specific spawning and rearing areas)? The effect of the proposed projects focused on population abundance (numbers of individuals), and effects on life history traits and population structure were essentially ignored or simply noted in the BO. Several potential pathways for the proposed project to affect life history and population structure, which may affect the determination of jeopardy, were noted by the Panel. These pathways include: changes in temperature and water routing affecting juvenile fish growth and survival in the floodplains and the Delta; disproportionate harvest of older age classes affecting population age-structure and total egg production; supplementation of wild stocks with hatchery stocks reducing genetic fitness; and operations of diversion dams affecting the movements of fish into marginal, but evolutionary significant, habitats. Additional quantitative or qualitative analysis of proposed project effects on life history traits and population structure would strengthen the science underlying the BO. Technical Review Panel Document -12/30/2005 5 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Tue Jan 10 09:40:39 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2006 09:40:39 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Watershed Planning Handbook is Published and Available Message-ID: <000c01c6160c$f941de60$1f9eb545@p4> -----Original Message----- From: JANET BLAKE [mailto:JBlake at waterboards.ca.gov] Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2006 9:03 AM Subject: Fwd: Watershed Planning Handbook is Published and Available FYI EPA's Office of Water has published a guide to watershed management to help various organizations develop and implement watershed plans. The Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters is aimed toward communities, watershed groups, and local, state, tribal, and federal environmental agencies. The 414 page handbook is designed to take the user through each step of the watershed planning process: watershed monitoring and assessment community outreach selection and application of available models best management practices effectiveness data bases implementation feedback plan adjustment The handbook is intended to supplement existing watershed planning guides that have been developed by agencies, universities, and other nonprofit organizations. This handbook is more specific than other guides about quantifying existing pollutant loads, developing estimates of the load reductions required to meet water-quality standards, developing effective management measures, and tracking progress once the plan is implemented. The handbook is available online at http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/watershed_handbook You can order a free copy from the National Service Center for Environmental Publications by calling 800-490-9198 or e-mail ncepimal at one.net. When ordering, please refer to EPA document number: EPA 841-B-05-005. Please note as well that we have published several other major technical documents for the control of NPS pollution on our web site during the past 6 months, including 3 separate Management Measures Handbooks: Urban Area, Forestry, and Wetlands and Riparian Areas. These are located at http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/categories.html. We also have a new Section 319 Success Stories section on our web site, at http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/Success319/ MAILING ADDRESS: Chief, Nonpoint Source Control Branch Mail Code 4503T 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, D.C. 20460 OFFICE LOCATION: Room 7333A, EPA West Building 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20004 202-566-1207 FAX: 566-1332 email: weitman.dov at epa.gov Web site: www.epa.gov/owow/nps From bwl3 at comcast.net Tue Jan 10 10:56:31 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2006 10:56:31 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Eureka Times Standard January 10 2006 Message-ID: <002701c61617$93692c00$1f9eb545@p4> SALMON RUNS: Sen. Chesbro introduces measure to permanently fund salmon restoration Eureka Times-Standard - 1/10/06 SACRAMENTO -- Sen. Wesley Chesbro, D-Arcata, Monday introduced SB 1125, which would permanently protect state funding for environmental programs including salmon habitat restoration on the North Coast. "California's natural resources infrastructure must be a high priority throughout the state," said Chesbro in a press release. "On the North Coast the restoration of historic salmon and steelhead runs are critical for both our economic and environmental well being. SB 1125 will lead the state to a sustainable use of the revenue from leasing state resource leases in a way that protects our marine and coastal environment." The measure would permanently establish the Resources Trust Fund (RTF), which authorizes specified amounts of revenue generated by oil and gas leases for environmental programs. These funds are received and deposited in the state treasury by the State Lands Commission. Resources Trust Fund would be allocated among the Salmon and Steelhead Trout Restoration Account, the Marine Life and Marine Reserve Management Account, Fish and Game Fund, the State Parks System Deferred Maintenance Account, and the Natural Resources Infrastructure Fund. It would annually allocate $12 million for the Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Program. Joining Chesbro in introducing SB 1125 was a statewide conservation group, CalTrout. "SB 1125 needs to become law because of the economic and intrinsic value of California's remaining native runs of wild salmon and steelhead trout, many of which are listed as either 'threatened' or 'endangered' under the state and federal endangered species acts," said Brian Stranko of CalTrout. "Salmon and steelhead trout support recreational and commercial fisheries that provide thousands of jobs and are important to regional economies in California." Stranko added, "CalTrout believes that the continuing escalation of world oil prices is likely to continue and means that California is receiving record amounts of revenue from its oil leases administered by the State Lands Commission. We believe that California should continue to invest some of this windfall in programs and projects benefiting the natural resources and environment of the state. SB 1125 makes this possible." The legislation needs to be in print for 30 days and then will be assigned to a policy committee for its first hearing in March. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From AKRAUSE at mp.usbr.gov Wed Jan 11 10:21:29 2006 From: AKRAUSE at mp.usbr.gov (Andreas Krause) Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2006 10:21:29 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Fwd: Trinity River Release Change Message-ID: FYI Project: Lewiston Dam - Trinity River Release Date Time From To 1/12/05 0600 2500 cfs 3000 cfs 1/12/05 0800 3000 cfs 3500 cfs 1/12/05 1000 3500 cfs 4000 cfs 1/12/05 1200 4000 cfs 5000 cfs 1/12/05 1400 5000 cfs 6000 cfs Issued By: Central Valley Operations Comment: Manage storage to Safety of Dams seasonal targets. __________________________________ Andreas Krause, P.E. Physical Scientist Trinity River Restoration Program P.O. Box 1300 (mailing address) 1313 South Main St. (physical address) Weaverville, CA 96093 Phone: 530-623-1807; Fax: 530-623-5944 __________________________________ From bwl3 at comcast.net Wed Jan 11 11:24:57 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2006 11:24:57 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Water Service Contract Negotiations Reopened Message-ID: <001801c616e4$b8ec8260$1f9eb545@p4> Reclamation Mid-Pacific Region Sacramento, CA MP-06-006 Media Contact: Jeffrey McCracken 916-978-5100 jmccracken at mp.usbr.gov For Release On: January 11, 2006 Negotiations Re-Opened for Several Central Valley Project San Luis Unit Long-Term Water Service Contracts The Bureau of Reclamation announces the re-opening of negotiations with several Central Valley Project (CVP) San Luis Unit Contractors to renew agriculture and municipal and industrial water service contracts for a period of 25 years. Reclamation is re-opening the contract negotiations to address public comments received during the 60-day public comment period for San Luis Division long-term water service contracts. Contractors include the Pacheco, Panoche, San Luis, and Westlands Water Districts, and Westlands Water District Distribution District No. 2. The proposed long-term water service contracts are for the delivery of up to 1,383,358 acre-feet of CVP water per year via the San Luis Reservoir. The negotiation session will be held on Tuesday, January 17, 2006, from 1:30- 4:30 p.m. at the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority Board Room, 842 Sixth Street, Los Banos, California. The draft contracts may be viewed online at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/cvpia/3404c/lt_contracts/2004-05_foc/index.html. The public is welcome to observe the negotiations. For additional information, please contact Ms. Sheryl Carter at 559-487-5299, TDD 559-487-5933, or by e-mail at scarter at mp.usbr.gov, or Mr. Richard Stevenson at 916-978-5250, TDD 916-978-5608, or email at rstevenson at mp.usbr.gov. If you encounter problems accessing documents online, please contact Ms. Lynnette Wirth at 916-978-5102 or e-mail lwirth at mp.usbr.gov. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Wed Jan 11 11:27:20 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2006 11:27:20 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Trinity/Lewiston Dam Releases to Increase Message-ID: <001d01c616e5$0b2b3260$1f9eb545@p4> Project: Lewiston Dam - Trinity River Release Date Time From To 1/12/05 0600 2500 cfs 3000 cfs 1/12/05 0800 3000 cfs 3500 cfs 1/12/05 1000 3500 cfs 4000 cfs 1/12/05 1200 4000 cfs 5000 cfs 1/12/05 1400 5000 cfs 6000 cfs Issued By: Central Valley Operations Comment: Manage storage to Safety of Dams seasonal targets. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From danielbacher at fishsniffer.com Thu Jan 12 21:58:44 2006 From: danielbacher at fishsniffer.com (Dan Bacher) Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2006 21:58:44 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Karuk Tribe Press Release Message-ID: <19E98B0A-9E5D-4C5C-9C19-7FBDC24FAB89@fishsniffer.com> > K a r u k T r i b e o f C a l i f o r n i a > > P R E S S R E L E A S E > > For Immediate Release: January 5, 2006 > > For more information: > Craig Tucker, Klamath Campaign Coordinator 530-627-3446 x 3027 > ctucker at karuk.us > > Minor Restrictions on Suction Dredge Mining Could be a Major Boost > for Salmon Recovery Efforts > > Happy Camp, CA ? An agreement between the Karuk Tribe and > California Fish and Game proposes minor restrictions on > recreational suction dredge mining that will pay big dividends for > salmon recovery efforts. By selectively protecting the best > remaining cold water sources used by young salmon at certain times > of year, the agreement will aid salmon recovery efforts while still > allowing for recreational suction dredge mining. Panning for gold > will not be affected by the agreement. > > ?This should not be interpreted as Indian versus miner issue. This > is a win-win for the entire river community since we all depend on > a healthy fishery. Miners still have over 255 of miles of river > open to them yet the most critical cold water habitats will be > protected,? according to Sandi Tripp, Natural Resources Director > for the Karuk Tribe. > > The agreement stems from a complaint filed by the Karuk Tribe > earlier this year charging that California Fish and Game was > failing to adequately protect fish from the negative impacts of > suction dredge mining. In 1994, the agency?s own Biological Opinion > pertaining to suction dredge mining stated that the practice could > jeopardize the continued existence of any threatened or endangered > species or ?species of special concern.? A year after the > Biological Opinion was adopted the State of California recognized > Coho salmon, Pink salmon, Chum salmon, Green sturgeon, and Klamath > River lamprey as ?species of special concern.? In March of 2005, > the state listed Coho as a Threatened Species under the California > Endangered Species Act. > > According to Mrs. Tripp, ?despite the clear recognition that salmon > and other fish species are in trouble, Fish and Game continued to > allow suction dredging during spawning and migration. This > agreement redresses the issue.? > > Suction dredge mining is done recreationally throughout the Klamath > Basin. The practice involves what is essentially a gas powered > vacuum cleaner mounted on pontoons anchored in the river. The miner > then swims along the bottom of the river vacuuming up river > sediment which is run through a sluice box. Any gold would fall > into the sluice box trap and the rest of the sediment is simply > dumped back into the river. Depending on location, dredge size and > density large areas of the stream bottom can be negatively impacted > by this recreational activity. The practice harms fish by > suctioning up and killing salmon eggs and frye, modifying the > streambed, and degrading water quality. > > ?The overall impacts to miners will be minimal, but the benefit to > the fishery and the local economies that depend on the fishery will > be huge,? according to Tripp. > > Efforts to protect Klamath salmon have intensified since the fish > kill of 2002 where over 68,000 adult salmon died before spawning. > Agencies cited low flows and warm water temperatures as the cause > of the kill. ?We are focused on identifying and protecting the most > important cold water areas and the change in mining rules would be > step in that direction,? according to Tripp. > > The Karuk Tribe hopes that by taking measures to protect critical > fish habitat that there will not be any future ESA listings of fish > and that species such as Coho can one day be de-listed. According > to Karuk Vice-Chairman Leaf Hillman, ?Indians don?t want fish on > the Endangered Species List, we want them in our smoke houses.? > > > # # # > > For recent press releases and addition information regarding the > Karuk Tribe visit www.Karuk.us > > From tstokely at trinityalps.net Tue Jan 17 11:09:12 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2006 11:09:12 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Report Cites Weaknesses in Coded Wire Tag Program Message-ID: <00a801c61b9e$b7a3b5e0$2f28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> Many thanks to Sari Sommarstrom for forwarding this message. This appears to apply to Klamath-Trinity fisheries. TS THE COLUMBIA BASIN BULLETIN: Weekly Fish and Wildlife News http://www.cbbulletin.com January 13, 2006 REPORT CITES WEAKNESSES IN CODED WIRE TAG PROGRAM A U.S./Canada scientific panel says there is no ready, or inexpensive, cure for problems that have beset the north Pacific's coded-wire tag program for monitoring ocean fishing's impacts on individual stocks of fish. That program's integrity needs to be restored until a better system is found to support fishery management decisions, according to the panel's recent report. Panelist David Hankin previewed the report Tuesday afternoon for members of the Pacific Salmon Commission at a meeting in Portland. Hankins is chairman of the Department of Fisheries Biology at Humboldt State University in California. "These threats are not new," Hankin said. The report, "Report of the Expert Panel on the Future of the Coded Wire Tag Recovery Program for Pacific Salmon" can be found at http://psc.org/info_codedwiretagreview_finalreportintro.htm "Mass marking and mark-selective fisheries together pose serious threats to the integrity of the CWT system," according to the reports' list of major findings. An adipose fin clip had been chosen in the 1970s by the PSC to serve as a sign that a fish had been implanted with a CWT. Each piece of wire contains a code that uniquely identifies an individual group of fish -- their place of origin whether it be wild or hatchery raised, its brood, etc. The tag information generally informed experiments. The various fishery management agencies at that time agreed to share data, and coordinate the effort to recover tags from fish that were harvested. The Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission remains the repository for that data. The information also allowed fishery managers to adjust harvests as need be to control impacts on salmon stocks, particularly those with conservation concerns. In most cases tagged hatchery surrogates have been used to estimate the toll of ocean commercial and recreation harvest upon naturally produced fish. Studies have shows that some 54 state, federal, tribal, and private entities conduct CWT experiments involving some 1,200 new codes annually. More than 50 million juvenile salmon and steelhead are now tagged annually at a total cost more than $7.5 million annually, according to the report. Approximately 275,000 CWTs are recovered each year in commercial and recreational fisheries and in spawning escapements, at an additional annual cost of $12 million to $13 million. The uncertainty of the data being collected has grown since the early 1990s for a variety of reasons. Columbia basin wild stock numbers plummeted, thus forcing a reduction in fisheries. That resulted in lower numbers of CWT recoveries and lesser statistical validity. Likewise the more common catch-and-release of unmarked stocks leaves mortality for those fish incalculable. "Because marked hatchery fish and unmarked natural fish are no longer subject to the same patterns of exploitation under MSFs, CWTs on hatchery indicator stocks can no longer serve as surrogates to evaluate and monitor presumed fishery impacts on natural stocks," the report says. "Thus, although MM and MSFs had promise for increasing harvests of hatchery fish while keeping fishing impacts on natural populations within desired constraints, these same programs threatened to jeopardize the commitment made by the United States and Canada to maintain a viable CWT program," the panel said. The mass marking also confounded the recovery of CWT tags, since the tagged and untagged hatchery fish are marked with the same ad-clip. The use of electronic "wands" to detect CWTs were encouraged. But their use is not universal, another factor that biases research results because study fish might be detected in one fishery but not others. "An additional and serious consequence of MM and MSF has been a gradual loss of the kind of cooperation, coordination and consistency of programs that characterized the first two decades of the CWT tag recovery program. &, ETD (electronic tag detection) remains inconsistently applied, and, in some jurisdictions, marine recreation sport fisheries are not sampled by trained fishery technicians, but estimated recoveries are instead based on voluntary returns by recreational fishermen," the report says. The number of tags, and attendant costs, may have to be increased to restore the reliability of the information the system produces, according to Hankin. PSC chairman Larry Rutter said during Tuesday meeting that the next step for the PSC and fish management entities would be to discuss implementation of the report's recommendations, including the development of a design for its coordinated "grand experiment." The panel envisions research beginning later this year to " provide current and high quality information for the continued evolution of management models and assessments." A part of assessment of the report and its potential implementation would be the development of cost estimates for both a reinvigoration of the CWT system and potential alternatives. At the meeting, Rutter noted that mass marking is a long-simmering political issue. Lower Columbia treaty tribes have long been opposed to the mass marking of fish. "I want to emphasize that the tribes have long used selective fisheries, such as time and area restrictions, gear restrictions, and voluntary fishery closures as conservation measures to protect weak stocks and we will continue to use such effective tools," Olney Patt, Jr., Jr., executive director of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission and an alternate on the PSC, said in Jan. 9 comments on the report. "In contrast, we view mark-selective fisheries simply as a tool to target hatchery produced fish, and therefore support status quo hatchery production practices, not conservation." "It is also obvious that the unilateral implementation of mass marking and mark selective fishing programs undermines the continued viability of this management tool," Patt said of the CWT program. Washington Fish and Wildlife Department Director Jeff Koenings disagrees with Patt and the report's finding that mass marking and selective fisheries "pose a serious threat to the integrity of the CWT system&." "This finding is inconsistent with the fact that mass marking and selective fisheries have been implemented in a responsible manner for more than 10 years," Koenings wrote in a cover letter accompanying generally favorable WDFW comments on the report. "We can only conclude that the Panel believes that mass marking and selective fishing can exist without serious threat to the integrity of the CWT system, depending on the intensity of the MM and MSF and if reasonable actions are take to insure that basic data are collected," according to the WDFW comments. "As one of the agencies responsible for tagging, marking and recovery programs, WDFW has made substantial investments to the CWT system and has acted to insure the quality and reliability of collected data&." The report lists steps for implementation of its recommendations: 1. Correct current deficiencies in CWT system; 2. Respond to Mass-marking and Mark-selective fisheries; 3. Develop a coordinated research and implementation plan; 4. Consider new management paradigms. "The challenge here is not to be black and white," said PSC member Larry Cassidy, who also represents his governor on the Northwest Power and Conservation Council and Washington's Salmon Recovery Board. "The challenge here is to make them work together," Cassidy said of the CWT program's mission and many fishery managers' goal of maximizing the harvest of hatchery fish through the marking of fish and selective fisheries. Hundreds of millions are spent annually for hatchery construction, operations and maintenance and monitoring by states, federal agencies and tribes. He said the panel's recommendations are the best course -- to improve the CWT system even while research is conducted to identify alternatives. The goals remain the same -- to improve escapement of wild fish while allowing fishers to harvest hatchery fish grown for that purpose. Cassidy said taxpayers and Bonneville Power Administration ratepayers want to reap the benefits from those hatcheries. Many of the region's hatcheries are funded through the NPCC's fish and wildlife program by the BPA. The Pacific Salmon Commission is a 16-person body with four commissioners and four alternates each from the United States and Canada, representing the interests of commercial and recreational fisheries as well as federal, state and tribal governments. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Wed Jan 18 09:15:28 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2006 09:15:28 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] New Players Emerge in Western Water War Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE092630172A5AF@mail2.trinitycounty.org> New Players Emerge in Western Water War http://www.agweekly.com/articles/2006/01/16/news/updates/update01.txt By Juliet Eilperin, The Washington Post Monday, January 16, 2006 6:21 PM CST BIG SKY, Mont. -- A hundred years after the city of Los Angeles and San Fernando Valley farmers battled neighboring Owens Valley for control over water from the Owens River, there's a new kind of water war in the West. >From Montana to Arizona to California and beyond, alliances of environmentalists, fishermen and city dwellers are challenging the West's traditional water barons -- farmers and ranchers -- who have long controlled the increasingly scarce resource. The West largely depends on its rivers and snowmelt for its water supply, and a combination of recent urban growth and prolonged drought has resulted in demand greatly outstripping supply. Under longstanding federal and state policies reinforced by farmers' historic political clout, agriculture has laid claim to about 80 percent of those scant resources -- at rock-bottom prices -- on the grounds that water is critical to the survival of crops and livestock. Now, however, other users are arguing that this system is unfair, uneconomical and a threat to many delicate ecosystems, and not only in the West. Farmers typically pay less for their water than nearby cities: In California's Central Valley, they get their water from the federal government at below-market prices, a subsidy that amounts to $416 million a year, according to the Environmental Working Group, an advocacy organization. And unlike cities getting the same water, farmers are paying back the cost of the region's giant irrigation system without interest. In areas such as the Pacific Northwest's Klamath River Basin, commercial fishermen and Indian tribes say agriculture is depriving them of the water they need to maintain the local salmon fishery and a way of life. Near Yuma, Ariz., alfalfa and cotton farmers in the Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District are concerned that the rapid growth of Phoenix will threaten their water rights. "There's fear," said Robert Glennon, a University of Arizona professor of law and public policy. Steve Owens of the state's Department of Environmental Quality sees water conservation as "probably the number-one environmental issue" facing the state. Such battles have spread nationwide as groups from Florida to Nebraska squabble over farmers' voracious water use, but nowhere are the stakes higher than in the fast-growing West. Rivers and streams there occupy just 5 percent of the land but sustain nearly half of the fish and wildlife species. In the past, when the competition for water was less intense, Western cities often cut deals with agricultural interests to build massive projects to supply both. But rapidly growing municipal needs -- the West is now home to nine of the 10 fastest-growing metropolitan areas -- mean urban areas now are in direct competition with ranchers and farmers. "To me, this is deja vu all over again," said John Vincent, a commissioner in Montana's Gallatin County who served for 16 years in the state legislature and two years as Bozeman's mayor. "It's a new phase of the water wars. The players have changed." In some cases, such as Big Sky's Poorman Creek, compromise turned out to be easy. Montana rancher Eddie Grantier, who raises 100 head of cattle on the ranch his parents founded, conceded that the ranch had wasted water for years, ultimately drying up a tributary of the Blackfoot River used by vulnerable bull and cutthroat trout swimming upstream to spawn. After officials from the advocacy group Trout Unlimited raised $110,000 to install a sprinkler irrigation system, pump and pipeline, and a screen to keep fish from getting trapped in the intake pipes, Grantier threw in $20,000 worth of his own work to conserve water. Since the project was completed last year, the creek has been carrying nearly 7,000 gallons more per minute, a flow equivalent to Washington's Rock Creek. Grantier, whose ranch lies just west of the Continental Divide, said the new irrigation system allows him to grow twice as much hay and has not interfered with cattle raising. "It didn't make a problem for me," he said. Laura Ziemer, who directs Trout Unlimited's Montana Water Project, said this success shows that even modest changes in water use can make a major difference for wildlife. "Every river has been drained within an inch of its life," said Ziemer, adding that every native trout species in the West is either on the federal endangered species list or being considered for it. "We're going to make a small difference in key pieces of stream. ... We had to, in essence, create a water right for fish." But for every feel-good story such as Poorman Creek, there's at least one Klamath Basin. The 250-mile-long Klamath River flows from Oregon's Upper Klamath Lake to the Pacific on the northern California coast. The federal Bureau of Reclamation, which has the job of allocating Klamath water among competing interests, has been at the center of a seesaw battle over the irrigation needs of agriculture and the preservation of fish species prized by sportsmen and local tribes. When the government deprived Klamath farmers of about three-fourths of their regular water allotment in 2001 to help sustain two species of endangered sucker fish -- lake-dwellers that migrate upstream in the Klamath -- farmers howled. The next year, the government allocated more water for farmers, and tens of thousands of salmon and steelhead trout died from disease and heat strain. Agriculture has long been a potent political force in local, state and federal politics, both because farmers remain an American icon and because they are well organized and have close contacts with lawmakers. Not surprisingly, Congress and the executive branch have historically sided with farmers. States usually doled out water rights, and the federal government funded massive engineering projects to make irrigation affordable. Jeff McCracken, spokesman for the Bureau of Reclamation's Mid-Pacific bureau, said his agency has no choice but to give farmers in California's Central Valley a better deal on water than their urban neighbors. "The law does not allow us to charge interest" to farmers, he said. Like Congress, the Bush administration has championed agriculture's water claims. "The administration is not paying attention to the laws of biodiversity," said Glen Spain, the Northwest regional director for the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations. "It's paying far more attention to the laws of political expediency." But Rep. Wally Herger, R-Calif., a third-generation farmer with a farm 35 miles north of Sacramento, said farmers already have made concessions. "These farmers here have just about compromised to death up in the Klamath Basin," Herger said, noting farmers have put in screens to protect migrating fish and approved the removal of Chiloquin Dam to increase water flow. "One thing you find out in a hurry is that environmentalists do not compromise." Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., who represents fishermen and Indian tribes in the northern part of the state, has been pushing unsuccessfully to provide $200 million over the next 12 years for conservation projects, including lining and piping irrigation ditches to reduce water loss and recycling irrigation water. "I'm not saying you've got to stop farming and let the water go wherever it wants to go." But, said Thompson, "you don't want to kill off all the wildlife to promote farming." Federal authorities have poured tens of millions into the region for habitat conservation, but in October the San Francisco-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit rejected the government's new 10-year regional water plan as environmentally inadequate. Farming's water demands are becoming more contentious in the Southeast and the Great Plains, as well. While the number of irrigated acres has recently dipped nationwide, according to Agriculture Department statistics, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska and the Corn Belt have all increased irrigation since 1982. Some environmentalists are concerned that even where water is relatively plentiful, as in the Southeast, irrigation projects can harm valuable habitat. Two advocacy groups are fighting proposed U.S. Army Corps of Engineers irrigation projects along Arkansas's White River, arguing that they are economically unjustified and could drain swamps that could be sheltering the rare ivory-billed woodpecker. In Tampa, the group Earthjustice is trying to block tomato farmers from using so much ground water, citing evidence that salt water is intruding inland at a rate of five inches a day. In Nebraska, federal and state authorities are struggling to balance corn and soybean growers' use of water from the Platte River against the needs of about 220 endangered wild whooping cranes, who depend on the river on their twice-yearly migrations. But farmers and ranchers say critics fail to appreciate how they help society. Jim Beecher in California's Central Valley, who receives subsidized water to irrigate his 8,500 acres of cotton, lettuce, tomatoes and vineyards, said cheap water helps protect the country's economic security. "Ultimately, Americans need to ask themselves if they want to be dependent on feeding themselves, or be dependent on the importation of food the way we're dependent on the importation of fuel," Beecher said. Researcher Don Pohlman contributed to this report. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Tue Jan 17 17:28:15 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2006 17:28:15 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Frequently Asked Questions Winter Storms 2006 Message-ID: <000701c61c58$154f82f0$2f28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> The following was recently sent out by the Trinity River Restoration Program. They can be reached at 530-623-1800. Frequently Asked Questions Winter Storms 2006 Q: How big is this storm going to be? A: The National Weather Service provides rainfall and river flow storm predictions for the Trinity River at Burnt Ranch and the Trinity River at Hoopa. The predictions are updated twice daily. Trinity River at Burnt Ranch: http://www.cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=BURC1 Trinity River at Hoopa http://www.cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=HOOC1 Q: What is the current streamflow? A: Real-time stream flow information for all rivers in California (including the Trinity River) can be obtained from one of the following two websites: California Data Exchange Center (CDEC): http://cdec.water.ca.gov/river/rivcond.html U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ca/nwis/rt Q: What are the current conditions (inflow, outflow, AND STORAGE) at Trinity Lake? A: This information can be obtained from the CDEC website at: http://cdec.water.ca.gov/river/res_CLE.html Q: What is the current and scheduled flow releases from Lewiston Dam into the Trinity River? A: Real-time flow releases are measured by the U.S. Geological Survey and reported at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ca/nwis/uv?site_no=11525500. The annual release schedule developed by the Trinity River Restoration Program to benefit Salmonid recovery is posted at: http://www.usbr.gov/mp/cvo/vungvari/trinsch.pdf. Other scheduled releases, such as for Safety of Dams, are posted at: http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/queryRES?lew - then click on the "Get last month of data" button. Please note that Safety of Dams releases are scheduled in response to storm events and typically have no more advance warning than several days. Scheduled release changes at Lewiston for the Trinity River can also be obtained from calling the "River Release Recording" phone number. The phone message is updated daily, but only with the current release, and any "scheduled" changes. "Scheduled" changes are those officially transmitted by CVO, and therefore are usually only a couple of days to several hours before changes are made depending on the circumstances. The recording lists the Keswick release for the Sacramento River first, so those interested in Trinity River releases need to wait for the Trinity portion of the recording. The phone number is 530-246-7594. Q: The flooding caused trees and other woody debris to fall into the river near my house. does the Trinity River Restoration Program plan to remove the debris from the river? A: The Trinity River Restoration Program is not responsible for removing woody debris from the river. Private landowners and public land management agencies make their own decisions about removing debris that might impair public safety, threatens integrity of bridges or other structures, or increase the likelihood of local flooding. Fallen trees and bushes play an important role in the juvenile life stages of fish in the river. This large woody debris (LWD) provides cover, shade, and structure for fish. It also causes local scour that refreshes gravel, and increases the number and size of pools or holes for fish to utilize during low flow periods. LWD contributes to the geomorphic processes that drive an alluvial river, sometime causing the river to change course, resulting in the creation and maintenance of the complex river habitats required by Chinook and Coho salmon and steelhead. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Wed Jan 18 15:14:49 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2006 15:14:49 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Revised FAQ on Winter Storms Message-ID: <00a901c61c8b$47715780$2f28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> This is a revised version of the document that I recently posted on the env-trinity list server. TS P.O. Box 1300, 1313 South Main Street, Weaverville, California 96093 Telephone: 530-623-1800, Fax: 530-623-5944 Trinity River Restoration Program Frequently Asked Questions: Winter Storms 2006 Q: How big is this next storm going to be? A: The National Weather Service provides rainfall and river flow storm predictions for the Trinity River at Burnt Ranch and the Trinity River at Hoopa. The predictions are updated twice daily. Trinity River at Burnt Ranch: http://www.cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=BURC1 Trinity River at Hoopa http://www.cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=HOOC1 Q: What is the current streamflow? A: Real-time streamflow information for all rivers in California (including the Trinity River) can be obtained from one of the following two websites: California Data Exchange Center (CDEC): http://cdec.water.ca.gov/river/rivcond.html U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ca/nwis/rt Q: What are the current conditions (inflow, outflow, storage) at Trinity Lake? A: This information can be obtained from the CDEC website at: http://cdec.water.ca.gov/river/res_CLE.html Q: What are the current and scheduled flow releases from Lewiston Dam into the Trinity River? A: Real-time flow releases are measured by the U.S. Geological Survey and reported at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ca/nwis/uv?site_no=11525500. The annual release schedule developed by the Trinity River Restoration Program to benefit Salmonid recovery is posted at: http://www.usbr.gov/mp/cvo/vungvari/trinsch.pdf. Other scheduled releases, such as for Safety of Dams, are posted at: http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/queryRES?lew - then click on the "Get last month of data" button. Please note that Safety of Dams releases are scheduled in response to storm events and typically have no more advance warning than several days. Scheduled release changes at Lewiston for the Trinity River can also be obtained by calling the "River Release Recording" phone number. The phone message is updated daily, but only with the current release and any "scheduled" changes. "Scheduled" changes are those officially transmitted by Central Valley Operations, and therefore, occur usually only a couple of days to several hours before changes are made, depending on the circumstances. The recording lists the Keswick release for the Sacramento River first, so those interested in Trinity River releases need to wait for the Trinity portion of the recording. The phone number is 530-246-7594. Q: How does the Bureau of Reclamation decide to make higher flow releases to the Trinity River during the winter? A: During the winter, the Bureau of Reclamation maintains lower levels in Trinity Reservoir to provide a buffer in the event of an extremely large winter storm. The quantity of that buffer is based on several factors, and primarily references many years of hydrologic record for the basin. Maintaining storage space is a very important aspect of flood control operations, and is fundamental in protecting areas downstream of Trinity Dam, as well as the dam itself. As winter storms fill Trinity Reservoir, the Bureau of Reclamation may need to increase releases to the Trinity River to maintain the lower lake levels. Because these elevated winter releases help protect the dam, they are commonly called "Safety of Dams releases" and may or may not occur in conjunction with actual winter storms. Safety of Dams releases are typically no greater than 6,000 cfs, but may go higher if conditions warrant. Q: WINTER STORMS caused trees and other woody debris to fall into the river near my house. does the Trinity River Restoration Program plan to remove the debris from the river? A: The Trinity River Restoration Program has no authority, and is not responsible, for removing woody debris from the river. Private landowners and public land management agencies make decisions about removing debris that might impair public safety, threaten the integrity of bridges or other structures, or increase the likelihood of local flooding. If landowners elect to remove debris, we urge that landowners are cautious and follow safe work practices. If left within the watercourse, fallen trees and bushes do play an important role in the juvenile life stages of fish in the river. Large woody debris provides cover, shade, and structure for fish. It also causes local scour that refreshes gravel, and increases the number and size of pools or holes for fish to utilize during low flow periods. Large woody debris contributes to the geomorphic processes, resulting in the creation and maintenance of the complex river habitats required by Chinook and Coho salmon and steelhead. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: clip_image002.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 2547 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: clip_image004.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 4877 bytes Desc: not available URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Fri Jan 20 11:56:33 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2006 11:56:33 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Indian Creek Rehabilitation Project CEQA Notice of Preparation for an Environmental Impact Report Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE092630172A6AA@mail2.trinitycounty.org> Attached for your review is a copy of the Indian Creek Rehabilitation Project CEQA Notice of Preparation (NOP) for an Environmental Impact Report, Project Maps, and a Comment Form. The NOP is available for review and comment for period of thirty (30) days from January 20 to February 21, 2006. The Project description is as follows: "The Trinity River ROD channel rehabilitation component focuses attention on the need to physically manipulate the bank and floodplain features of the Trinity River between River Mile 112.0 (Lewiston Dam) and River Mile 72.4 (North Fork Trinity River). The channel reconstruction is intended to restore the Trinity River's historic alternate point bar morphology and habitat complexity to improve fishery resources. The Indian Creek Rehabilitation Project: Trinity River Mile 93.7 to 96.5 (Project) is the third channel rehabilitation project already built or in the planning stages that will work together to enhance river processes and to increase fisheries habitat downstream of Lewiston Dam. This project has no specific flood control objectives. The project purpose and need is to provide increased juvenile salmonid rearing habitat on the mainstem Trinity River, and to reduce flow impacts to homes and other human improvements located adjacent to the Trinity River, from implementation of ROD flows." If you have an interest in this project and would like to comment on the NOP, please use the Comment Form provide as an attachment entitled "Misc_NOP-IC-RFC.pdf" which is an Acrobat Form that can be fill out electronically, printed, and signed. Then send in your comment form to the address provided below. If you are a Responsible & Trustee Agency or a Stakeholder, you have already been sent an official copy for your review and comment, and it will arrive in the mail shortly. Thank you for your consideration in this matter. Joshua Allen Assistant Planner Trinity County Planning Department Natural Resources Division PO Box 2819 Weaverville, CA 96093 (530)623-1351 ext. 3411 (530)623-1358 fax jallen at trinitycounty.org jwa7 at humboldt.edu (secondary) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Indian Creek NOP_final draft.pdf Type: application/octet-stream Size: 74347 bytes Desc: Indian Creek NOP_final draft.pdf URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Indian Creek NOP_Figure_1_Vicinity.pdf Type: application/octet-stream Size: 174414 bytes Desc: Indian Creek NOP_Figure_1_Vicinity.pdf URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Indian Creek NOP_Figure_2_Location.pdf Type: application/octet-stream Size: 235839 bytes Desc: Indian Creek NOP_Figure_2_Location.pdf URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Misc NOP_ IC_ RFC.pdf Type: application/octet-stream Size: 1141012 bytes Desc: Misc NOP_ IC_ RFC.pdf URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Mon Jan 23 09:54:44 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 09:54:44 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Trinity County wades back into water fight Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE092630172A6D2@mail2.trinitycounty.org> Trinity County wades back into water fight http://www.times-standard.com/local/ci_3424722 John Driscoll Trinity County supervisors on Wednesday weighed in on the state and federal government's proposal to pump more water from the Sacramento River Delta, a plan, they wrote, that could hurt fish in the Trinity and Klamath rivers. The comments on the South Delta Improvements Program register complaints that CalFed -- the state and federal plan to restore the delta and boost water supplies -- ignores Northern California's salmon plight. Billions of gallons of Trinity River water are sent to the Sacramento River each year, and pumps in the delta send water on to farms and cities. The program would draw down Trinity Lake too far in dry years, the letter reads, reducing the amount of cold water available for salmon in the Trinity and Klamath rivers. "In particular, the analysis of impacts to Trinity Lake, Trinity River fisheries and Trinity County recreation are not only inadequate, but grossly misleading," the board of supervisors wrote. The environmental document for the program does not consider reducing exports from the delta, the letter reads. That could be done by retiring land in the San Joaquin Valley, the board wrote, saving water to increase storage in Trinity Lake to use for the Trinity River's restoration. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has also in recent years used Trinity River water to cool and raise the lower Klamath River. That's where up to 68,000 chinook salmon died in 2002, the result of low flows, high water temperatures and stress-related diseases. Trinity County planner Tom Stokely said with both the delta's fish in trouble and the Klamath and Trinity woes, it's irresponsible not to consider reducing demand on the delta pumps. "This is a plan to basically drain Northern California of its water based on the false assumption that there's extra water up north," Stokely said. "This is the beginning of the north-south water wars again." Kathy Kelly, chief of the state Department of Water Resources Bay-Delta Office, said computer simulations show there would be no big affect to Trinity Lake. They also show that water temperature increases won't harm coho salmon or steelhead, she said. But Trinity River chinook salmon -- the main commercial and recreational species -- weren't specifically considered. Those salmon migrate into the river in the early fall when water temperatures are highest, like when the 2002 fish kill occurred. "From what I can see we don't have the chinook on the Trinity evaluated here," Kelly said. Kelly also said that the program initially looked at reducing exports from the delta, but "it was screened out" before the environmental analysis got underway. "The South Delta Improvements Program is not going to solve all the issues we have out there," Kelly said. Humboldt County supervisors are considering drafting a similar letter to the state and federal governments. John Driscoll covers natural resources/industry. He can be reached at 441-0504 or jdriscoll at times-standard.com. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Mon Jan 23 13:07:36 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 13:07:36 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Klamath River Task Force Meeting Feb 8-9, Brookings, OR Message-ID: <00d001c62061$0a5b4cf0$2f28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> NEWS RELEASE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE - REGION 1 Yreka Fish and Wildlife Office 1829 South Oregon Street, Yreka, CA 96097 IDAHO - NEVADA - CALIFORNIA - WASHINGTON - OREGON - HAWAII AND THE PACIFIC ISLANDS For Immediate Release Contact: January 18, 2006 Gary Curtis- Ecosystem Restoration Team Leader Phil Detrich- Field Supervisor (530) 842-5763 Klamath River Basin Fisheries Task Force to Meet at the Best Western Beachfront Inn in Brookings, Oregon The Klamath River Basin Fisheries Task Force (Task Force) will meet at the Best Western Beachfront Inn, Brookings, Oregon, to discuss issues related to the restoration of salmon and steelhead fisheries in the Klamath River. The meeting will take place on February 8, 2006, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm; and February 9, 2006, from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm. The Task Force is a Federal advisory committee that assists the Secretary of Interior in the formulation, coordination, and implementation of a 20-year program to restore the anadromous fisheries of the Klamath River Basin Conservation Area. The Task Force membership includes representatives of the commercial salmon fishing industry; the in-river sport fishing community; the Yurok, Karuk, Hoopa Valley, and Klamath Tribes; Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity, Siskiyou, and Klamath Counties; the California Department of Fish and Game; Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife; U.S. Departments of the Interior and Agriculture; and the National Marine Fisheries Service. Topics to be discussed at this meeting will include information on the 2005 Klamath River anadromous fisheries, updates on the status of fish health and ongoing fish disease research on the Klamath River, and other information related to the restoration of Klamath River salmon populations Members of the public are encouraged to attend this meeting and offer comments and recommendations to the Task Force. For additional information, please contact Gary Curtis, at (530) 842-5763. X X X DRAFT AGENDA KLAMATH RIVER BASIN FISHERIES TASK FORCE MEETING February 8-9, 2006 Best Western Beachfront Inn Brookings, Oregon February 8, 2005 9:00 am 1. Convene and opening remarks. John Engbring, Chair. Vice Chair is Keith Wilkinson 9:15 2. Business a. Approval of minutes b. Adoption of agenda 9:30 3. Introductions of Congressional staff in attendance 9:45 4. Brief review of last meeting actions/general correspondence/program update (Staff) 10:00 5. Brief Updates and Announcements a. Update on NOAA Biological Opinion for coho (Irma Lagomarsino) b. Update on NOAA recovery planning (Irma Lagomarsino) c. Update on Klamath Fishery Management Council (Phil Detrich) d. Update on Klamath Hydroelectric Project relicensing (Phil Detrich) 10:30 6. Report on the status of Klamath River anadromous fisheries (Neil Manji) 11:00 Break 11:15 7. Report from Klamath Watershed Coordination Group Klamath Basin Compact Commission (Alice Kilham) Upper Klamath Basin Working Group (Jim Carpenter) Trinity Management Council (Mike Orcutt) 11:45 8. Public Comment 12:00 pm Lunch 1:30 9. Planning for 2006 Klamath Project operations and the Conservation Implementation Program (Dave Sabo, Bureau of Reclamation) 2:00 10. Report from Technical Work Group (Peter Brucker) 2:45 11. Status of fish health on the Klamath River (CA-Nevada Fish Health Center) 3:15 Break 3:30 12. Overview of ongoing fish disease studies in the Klamath River (Nick Hetrick) 4:00 13. Upper Klamath Basin fish die-off response plan (Rich Piaskowski) 4:30 14. Update on Microcystis in the mainstem Klamath River 5:00 15. Public Comment 5:15 Recess 5:30-7:30 pm Social Hour - Join us at Smugglers Cove, just across the street. February 9, 2006 8:30 am 16. Klamath River and Shasta River TMDL update (David Leland) 9:00 17. Review of draft Accomplishments Report 10:00 Break 10:15 18 (continued) Review of draft Accomplishments Report 11:30 19. Discussion of fishery data collection supported by Klamath Act funding and potential data gaps in the future. 12:15 pm 20. Public Comment 12:30 21. Recap. Review assignments and motions. Identify agenda items to include in the next meeting. (John Engbring) 12:40 22. Schedule Time and Place for next meeting Adjourn -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Mon Jan 23 17:02:57 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 17:02:57 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Grant Announcements Message-ID: <005c01c62081$eac4e4c0$1f9eb545@p4> FYI >>> 1/11/06 9:26 PM >>> The following grant opportunity postings were made on the Grants.gov Find Opportunities service: USDA United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Innovation Grants Grant http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW &oppId=7581 USDA United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative Grant http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW &oppId=7582 USDA United States Department of Agriculture Hawaii State Office State of Hawaii Agricultural Development Program Grant Agreement Grant http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW &oppId=7585 Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Tue Jan 24 11:09:06 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2006 11:09:06 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] EPA Grants Message-ID: <002501c62119$a6ab48e0$1f9eb545@p4> FYI >>> 1/23/06 9:27 PM >>> The following grant opportunity postings were made on the Grants.gov Find Opportunities service: EPA Environmental Protection Agency Cooperative Agreement for: The Tribal Water Program Council Grant http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW &oppId=7706 Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From AKRAUSE at mp.usbr.gov Mon Jan 23 16:55:10 2006 From: AKRAUSE at mp.usbr.gov (Andreas Krause) Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 16:55:10 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Fwd: Trinity River Release Change Message-ID: FYI Project: Lewiston Dam - Trinity River Release Date Time From To 1/23/06 1900 6000 cfs 5600 cfs 1/23/06 2300 5600 cfs 5200 cfs 1/24/06 0300 5200 cfs 4800 cfs 1/24/06 0700 4800 cfs 4400 cfs 1/24/06 1900 4400 cfs 4000 cfs 1/24/06 2300 4000 cfs 3800 cfs 1/25/06 0300 3800 cfs 3600 cfs 1/25/06 0700 3600 cfs 3400 cfs 1/25/06 1900 3400 cfs 3200 cfs 1/25/06 2300 3200 cfs 3000 cfs 1/26/06 0300 3000 cfs 2800 cfs 1/26/06 0700 2800 cfs 2600 cfs Issued By: Central Valley Operations Comment: Initial rampdown to lower Safety of Dams releases. __________________________________ Andreas Krause, P.E. Physical Scientist Trinity River Restoration Program P.O. Box 1300 (mailing address) 1313 South Main St. (physical address) Weaverville, CA 96093 Phone: 530-623-1807; Fax: 530-623-5944 __________________________________ From tstokely at trinityalps.net Thu Jan 26 16:09:38 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2006 16:09:38 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Salmon count down; Low tally reels in the attention of scientists Message-ID: <001201c6236e$819024c0$2f28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> Salmon count down; Low tally reels in the attention of scientists Redding Record-Searchlight - 1/26/06 By Dylan Darling, staff writer Fall salmon spawning numbers on the Salmon River, about three hours northwest of Redding, could set a new low for the second consecutive year, according to calculations by the California Department of Fish and Game. The numbers won't be final until March, but early estimates are that only 320 fall-run chinook made it to the spawning beds of the Salmon, a tributary of the Klamath River, last fall. In comparison, 6,000 salmon returned to the Salmon River in 1997 - the highest number recorded since 1978, the first year records were kept. The fall 2004 run on the tributary, which originates in the Trinity Alps and empties into the Klamath north of Orleans in Humboldt County, saw only 333 salmon. What's causing the low numbers? "We're not exactly sure," said Sara Borok, a fisheries biologist with Fish and Game who heads up the Salmon River count. Possibilities include adult and juvenile fish kills in recent years, warm river water and poor ocean conditions. In addition, inclement weather that rained out some salmon surveys could have contributed to the low tally. Although fall 2005 numbers for waterways that feed the Klamath other than the Salmon were higher than they were in 2004, they look to be low enough that there will be a limited sport and commercial harvest in the Klamath watershed this year, Borok said. The Klamath River has averaged 107,000 fall-run chinook in the more than 20 years records have been kept. The numbers are higher in the upper Sacramento River basin. According to Doug Killam, a fisheries biologist in Red Bluff, about 272,000 chinook came back to spawn in the fall, about 100,000 more than the average from 1996 and 2004. Twice weekly, from October into December, scientists from Fish and Game, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and members of tribes living in the vicinity wade through the chilly waters of the Salmon River looking for salmon carcasses. Last fall, about 20 volunteers joined them, including students from Yreka, Mount Shasta and Forks of Salmon schools. "It's rather labor intensive," Borok said. To get the estimates, scientists and volunteers mark carcasses of spawned out salmon found along the river during each sweep. A combination of those numbers and counts of salmon egg beds goes into the formula that leads to the run estimate. The diminished run numbers on the Salmon came as a disappointment to Nat Pennington, fisheries program coordinator for the Salmon River Restoration Council, a nonprofit group that has been working to improve the river for salmon since 1992. "We can fix our river all we want, but if they don't do something about the Klamath," then the numbers will continue to drop, he said. Federal and state officials have been in talks with stakeholders for years trying to find ways to make the Klamath River more hospitable to salmon. Talk of salmon on the Klamath River inevitably brings up images of September 2002's fish kill, when an estimated 33,000 adult salmon went belly up on the lower portion of the river after freshwater pathogens bred in warm, crowded waters. Of late, scientists have been focusing on a different culprit, Ceratomyxa shasta, or C shasta, a parasite that causes infections in salmons' intestines. It has been killing young salmon headed through the Klamath River system and out to sea the past several years. Millions of small salmon make the swim and mortality estimates have been in the hundred of thousands, but it is hard to be exact. "There is no good way to get a handle on them because they are so small," Borok said. The C shasta parasite spends part of its life cycle in tiny worms that nestle in algae and sand along the river. With the wet winter so far, the same high water that vexed surveyors on the Salmon River could help flush the parasite out of the system and lead to a boost in salmon numbers in coming years. If the weather turns dry, C shasta could be as thick as it has been over the past several years. "We don't know the effects of the water conditions until later this year when the fish start migrating out," said Jerri Bartholomew, an assistant professor at Oregon State University's Center for Fish Disease Research. "A lot depends on what we have from now until then." # http://www.redding.com/redd/nw_local/article/0,2232,REDD_17533_4417054,00.html -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Thu Jan 26 16:11:38 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2006 16:11:38 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] High court takes up big delta water case Message-ID: <001301c6236e$885c8fa0$2f28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> High court takes up big delta water case San Francisco Chronicle - 1/26/06 By Bob Egelko, staff writer The state Supreme Court took up one of its biggest water cases in years Wednesday, agreeing to decide whether a state-federal water agency considered effects on water supplies and the environment in its planned shipments from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to Southern California. The justices granted a hearing to the state on behalf of the state-federal agency known as CalFed, which has the task of protecting water quality in the delta and San Francisco Bay while overseeing increased exports of water to cities and farms in southern California. A state appeals court ruled in October that CalFed's environmental study of its plan, conducted in 2000, failed to consider the option of reduced water pumping to protect the delta, and also failed to show that enough water was available to meet the project's needs. That ruling, a victory for an unusual alliance of Central Valley farm groups and environmentalists, would require CalFed to conduct a new environmental study. But the ruling was nullified, at least for now, by the state Supreme Court's decision to accept the case. The Los Angeles Metropolitan Water District and other Southern California water users joined the state in seeking Supreme Court review. # http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/01/26/BABADIGEST2.DTL&hw=water&sn=004&sc=1000 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Fri Jan 27 13:21:41 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 13:21:41 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] new Yurok Tribe Environmental Program web address Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE092630172A7F0@mail2.trinitycounty.org> From: Kevin McKernan [mailto:kevin at yuroktribe.nsn.us] Sent: Friday, January 27, 2006 12:23 PM To: 'Kevin McKernan' Subject: new Yurok Tribe Environmental Program web address For any of you who may have had our website bookmarked, it has changed slightly to: http://www.yuroktribe.org/departments/ytep/ytep.htm You may still navigate there from the Tribe's main website as well: http://www.yuroktribe.org Kevin McKernan Director, Yurok Tribe Environmental Program P.O. Box 1027 Klamath, CA 95548 (707) 482-1350 xt. 355 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Fri Jan 27 13:38:37 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 13:38:37 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Meeting of potential interest: SRF Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE092630172A7F3@mail2.trinitycounty.org> 24th Annual Salmonid Restoration Conference Rediscovering Urban Creeks and Creating Healthy Watersheds Workshops and Field Tours February 22, 2006 Workshops and Field Tours Water Conservation Workshop will discuss how to make existing water conservation efforts more effective and what models we can create for the future. This workshop features leaders in the water conservation field including Mary Ann Dickinson from the California Urban Water Conservation Council, Martha Davis from Inland Empire Utility Agency, Ade Adjani who will discuss the role of community-based organizations in returning water to Mono Lake, BongHwan Kim with the Environmental Justice Coalition for Water, Eric Wesselman from the Tuoloumne River Preservation Trust, Bob Wilkinson from UC Santa Barbara, and Brock Dolman from the Water Institute. Fish and Wildlife Friendly Agriculture: A Workshop in Sustainability This morning workshop will cover using planned grazing in the management of native grasslands and the implementation of sustainable winegrape growing in California. The afternoon field trip will visit El Chorro Ranch to see restoration work that has been done on El Jaro Creek for the endangered steelhead. This project addresses severe streambank erosion and sedimentation in a creek that provides prime spawning and rearing habitat for steelhead on a working cattle ranch. This is one of several pilot projects on private property that provide feasible solutions to erosion and sedimentation issues. Workshop participants will view 3 projects including; a culvert replacement, side draw erosion treatment, and streambank stabilization to reduce erosion and sedimentation. How sustainable grazing practices for fisheries and wildlife are incorporated into restoration projects will also be discussed and viewed during the tour. This tour will also visit a local vineyard where restoration work has occurred. Nicholas Canyon: Chumash Demonstration Village Mati Waiya, Executive Director of Wishtoyo Foundation and Ventura Coastkeeper, will lead a tour of Chumash restoration sites in Nicholas Canyon in Malibu Creek. This tour will also visit restoration projects on Carpinteria Creek. Fish Passage and Restoration Tour on the Santa Clara River This tour will visit fish passage facilities that are used by endangered southern steelhead and Pacific lamprey. The Nature Conservancy will also lead a tour of the Santa Clara estuary and TNC properties on the river to discuss conservation work on the Santa Clara river as it relates to steelhead. Thursday, February 23, 2006 Removing Coastal California's Fish Passage Barriers: from Prioritization to Implementation This workshop will present fish passage case examples of inventory and assessments, regional planning efforts to prioritize barrier treatements, and design and construction. Reestablishing Salmonids in Cities: The Next Generation of Urban Stream Restoration will be chaired by founder of Urban Creeks Council Ann Riley. This workshop will highlight design and construction of habitat, dam removal, soil bioengineering and restoring ditches to functioning ecological systems. The tour will focus on finding solutions for urban flood damage reduction and fish habitat protection and migration, and fish passage barrier removal on Mission Creek. Field Tour of the Ventura River and Matilija Dam This tour will begin at the estuary and river mouth where we will observe beach erosion and fisheries issues. Working our way upstream we will see points of water diversion, bridges, and levees that will require modification with the removal of Matilija Dam. Finally we will visit the dam itself and see the extent of sedimentation that has occurred since its construction. Dana Stolzman Salmonid Restoration Federation Executive Director (707) 923-7501 (707) 923-3135 fax www.calsalmon.org srf at calsalmon.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 2006 Conference calendar PSA.doc Type: application/msword Size: 30720 bytes Desc: 2006 Conference calendar PSA.doc URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 2006final conf PR.doc Type: application/msword Size: 30208 bytes Desc: 2006final conf PR.doc URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Fri Jan 27 14:19:54 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 14:19:54 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Klamath power ruling thumps irrigators Message-ID: <00f501c6238f$cd5ff030$2f28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> KLAMATH ISSUES: Klamath power ruling thumps irrigators Eureka Times-Standard - 1/27/06 BY John Driscoll, staff writer Federal energy regulators on Thursday decided that irrigators that use Klamath River water on the central California-Oregon border should not be insulated from anticipated electricity spikes, which could multiply farmers' pumping costs 10 to 20 times. Dam owner PacifiCorp since 1956 has provided power to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Klamath Project for a fraction of what most irrigators pay. The contract is up in April, and that frees PacifiCorp from any obligation to keep providing cheap electricity, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission decided. Irrigators have claimed that the federal Klamath River Compact demands that Klamath River water provides the lowest possible rates for irrigators. Tribes have argued that prolonging the cheap power terms would violate the government's trust responsibility by keeping up overuse of water, threatening Klamath River salmon. Environmental groups also pushed the commission to allow higher rates. PacifiCorp operates six hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River, and is asking FERC for a new 50-year license. It also operates Link River Dam, which dams Upper Klamath Lake and regulates the amount of water sent downstream for power generation. Bureau of Reclamation pumps move water around its 200,000-acre project, and pumps at various districts send it on to canals and other infrastructure from which farmers pump water onto hay, potato and grain fields. That tiered process compounds costs. Greg Addington, executive director of the Klamath Water Users Association, said he's not aware of any other project with similar power needs, and believes PacifiCorp would not have agreed to the previous 1956 contract if the utility didn't make money. Klamath Irrigation Project customers will be charged the same tariff as any other irrigator, more than 10 times what they are currently charged. An Oregon bill passed last year allows for the increases over seven years. "Why would they ever have come up with this deal if there wasn't some benefit to them?" Addington said. The U.S. Department of the Interior -- under which falls the Bureau of Reclamation -- has requested a rehearing from the commission, and will file its arguments within 30 days. Reclamation spokesman Jeff McCracken said that if the FERC decision stands, it would mean a big financial hit to irrigators. "We have water issues and now we're having dollar issues with electricity," McCracken said. The FERC ruling also seems to reflect the increased stress on the Klamath's resources. The original 1917 contract signed by the California Oregon Power Co. agreed to keep Upper Klamath Lake at a certain level for irrigation, provide water for irrigation and provide power for pumping, it reads. Water leftover was sent downstream to generate power for other customers. "There has been a lot that's happened over this period of time," said PacifiCorp representative Dave Kvamme. "We think that the ruling verifies our view of the facts." Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service demand that Upper Klamath Lake be kept full enough to protect endangered sucker fish, and that flows sent to the lower river are adequate for threatened coho salmon. In recent years, the government has paid farmers millions to stop irrigating or switch to using groundwater to free up extra water for salmon. Water quality, fish diseases and the cut of historic spawning grounds by Klamath dams are all being weighed in the larger hydroelectric licensing procedure or by fisheries agencies. PacifiCorp, several American Indian tribes, environmental groups, irrigators and governments are also involved in parallel settlement talks. Federal fisheries officials have indicated that they will demand fish passage past the dams, which could cost more than $100 million. The exact recommendations are expected some time in February. # http://times-standard.com/fastsearchresults/ci_3443782 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Mon Jan 30 11:49:25 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2006 11:49:25 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Administration pitches new salmon policy Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE092630172A84C@mail2.trinitycounty.org> 1/26/06 - Yesterday at the Salmon 2100 Conference in Portland, Oregon James Connaughton, chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality announced the Bush administrations new Salmon Policy. Saying it makes little sense to eat imperiled salmon, the Bush administration revealed plans to cut back the catch of wild Northwest salmon and shut down hatcheries that churn out competing but inferior fish. Connaughton stated, "Our goal is to minimize and, where possible, eliminate harvests of naturally spawning fish, which provide the foundation for salmon recovery. It's the right thing to do." Administration pitches new salmon policy http://www.klamathbucketbrigade.org/ By JEFF BARNARD ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER Wednesday, January 25, 2006 PORTLAND , Ore. -- Conceding that using hatcheries to supplement dwindling salmon populations is harming wild salmon species in some cases, the Bush administration plans to move away from the practice in favor of a more direct solution: Catch fewer fish. James Connaughton, chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, announced the new policy Wednesday at a meeting of salmon scientists, many of whom have concluded that wild Pacific salmon will become extinct this century without big changes in how the harvest is managed. "Our goal is to minimize and, where possible, eliminate the harvest of naturally spawning fish that provide the foundation for recovery," Connaughton said in an interview with The Associated Press before his speech. Scientists have long criticized hatcheries as producers of salmon that dilute the gene pool, spread disease and compete with wild fish for food and habitat, while being less able to survive in the wild. Connaughton did not say how much the administration wants to reduce the wild salmon harvest or how many of the 180 federal, state, tribal and private salmon hatcheries in the Columbia Basin it wants closed. He said change will require the collaboration of regional federal regulators, Canada , Oregon , Washington and Indian tribes. "We cannot improperly hatch and we cannot carelessly catch the wild salmon back to recovery," Connaughton said. Salmon, an enormous part of the Pacific Northwest 's economy and culture before and after European settlement, have been severely reduced by a combination of human factors, from overfishing and development to hydroelectric power dams. Since 1991, 26 populations of salmon have been listed as threatened or endangered. None has been judged healthy enough to be delisted. Restoration efforts and technological fixes to dams have run up a bill of $6 billion over the past 10 years. Connaughton, President Bush's top environmental adviser, outlined the new policy at the Salmon 2100 Conference, where scientists gathered to consider new ways to prevent the extinction of wild salmon. --- On the Net: Salmon 2100: http://www.epa.gov/wed/pages/projects/salmon2100.htm -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Wed Feb 1 14:43:00 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2006 14:43:00 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] SDIP Action Alert Message-ID: <001a01c62780$db8cc210$1f9eb545@p4> ACTION ALERT It would be extremely helpful if you could send this letter to Mr. Paul Marshall before February 7, deadline for comments on the so-called South Delta Improvement Program. Implementation of this project to increase vastly the pumping of water south out of the San Francisco Bay Delta could have significant adverse implications for Trinity River restoration. This is an extremely important issue for our collapsing Delta, for all Northern California rivers and for the Trinity River in particular. You can cut and paste this letter, date it, add your name and address and mail, email or fax it to Mr. Marshall. I'd very much appreciate receiving blind copies of your letters. Many thanks for your help. Byron Leydecker Mr. Paul A. Marshall California Department of Water Resources 1416 9th Street - 2nd Floor Sacramento, CA 95814 Email: marshall at water.ca.gov Fax: 916 653 6077 Dear Mr. Marshall: I am writing to urge you to drop plans for additional pumping from the California Bay-Delta as currently proposed in the South Delta "Improvements" Program (SDIP), especially while the Delta is experiencing an historic ecosystem collapse. Most urgently, I request that you withdraw the highly flawed Draft Environmental Impact Report/Statement for SDIP. If the project claims to improve water quality and fish survival you must examine an alternative to the project that accomplishes these goals by significantly reducing Delta pumping from current levels. We have more reliable, more cost-effective and more environmentally friendly ways to provide abundant water for California's future. These options include water use efficiency and water recycling and are outlined in the Department of Water Resources' draft "California Water Plan Update" and Water for California's "Investment Strategy for California Water" (prepared by the Planning and Conservation League). Together we must make sensible and sustainable water policy decisions that conserve the Delta and our rivers, to keep our state beautiful, vibrant and strong. The survival of the Delta depends upon your agency's actions. Please support the recovery of the Delta and say NO to increased pumping. Also, please include me on your mailing list to be notified of any decisions or activities concerning this project. Yours very truly, Your Name Your Address Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Thu Feb 2 16:56:16 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2006 16:56:16 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Stockton Record February 2 Message-ID: <003201c6285c$ae6402d0$1f9eb545@p4> Officials leaning on water agencies; Deadline looms on Delta salt rules Stockton Record - 2/2/06 By Warren Lutz, staff writer STOCKTON - The governor's office is pressuring state water officials to resolve a dispute with water exporters over high salt levels in the Delta. New salt standards were to have gone into effect April 1, 2005, but the two agencies responsible for exporting Delta water to Southern California customers say they can't meet those standards without help. With threats of legal action being tossed about, Dan Skopec, deputy Cabinet secretary in the Schwarzenegger administration, called Tam Doduc, chairwoman of the State Water Resources Control Board, and suggested last month that the board settle the matter, Doduc said. But the board did not act Wednesday when it met with officials from the Department of Water Resources and the Bureau of Reclamation, which operate large water pumps near Tracy. The water exporters have been negotiating with the state water control board for more time to meet the new standard. The board was expected to crack down on the two agencies for not doing enough to solve the salt problem. Both deliver Delta water to two-thirds of California's population for drinking or irrigating crops. Doduc, who said Wednesday that she was required by law to disclose Skopec's call, said she would decide the matter "based on the evidence" alone. Skopec could not be reached for comment. Dams on San Joaquin River tributaries create high salt levels by preventing fresh water from diluting the Delta. State water projects that send Delta water south make the problem worse. Delta farmers argue salty water costs them millions of dollars in lower crop yields every year. They want state officials to impose sanctions on the two agencies and warn they may sue if they don't. Steve Verigin, an official with the Department of Water Resources, hinted his agency is pondering court action, too. "We're continuing to work collaboratively with (water board) staff ... to avoid a litigious approach to trying to solve this problem," Verigin said. Salt levels have not yet exceeded the state's new standards. The issue is that the water exporters failed to take measures to prevent violating the standards in the future. Both agencies told state water officials they are waiting for a new Delta water project to help. The project will use high-tech dams that can be raised or lowered on Delta waterways, allowing exporters to keep enough water in the Delta at all times to dilute salt. But it won't be ready until at least 2009. But state water board members doubt the project will be done by then. Member Jerry Secundy said the board already has bent over backward to give the two agencies enough time to settle. "I'd like to still be alive by the time the barriers are put in place," he said.# Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Fri Feb 3 10:49:13 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2006 10:49:13 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Negotiations Continue for Westlands Water District Long-Term Water Service Contract Message-ID: <002701c628f2$86d74790$1f9eb545@p4> Reclamation Mid-Pacific Region Sacramento, CA MP-06-018 Media Contact: Jeffrey McCracken 916-978-5100 jmccracken at mp.usbr.gov For Release On: February 3, 2006 Negotiations Continue for Westlands Water District Long-Term Water Service Contract The Bureau of Reclamation will hold a negotiation session with the Westlands Water District to continue discussions on its long-term water service contract for the delivery of up to 1,150,000 acre-feet of Central Valley Project water. The term of the contract will be 25 years. This session is a continuation of negotiations held on January 17, 2006, in Los Banos. The negotiation session will be held: In Sacramento Thursday, February 9, 2006 3:30 p.m. Reclamation's Regional Office 2800 Cottage Way Regional Director's Conference Room, E-1602 The public is welcome to observe the negotiations. For more information, please contact Mr. Richard Stevenson at 916-978-5250, TDD 916-978-5608, or e-mail rstevenson at mp.usbr.gov. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Fri Feb 3 11:57:41 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2006 11:57:41 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Delta Smelt KGO7 Message-ID: <004601c628fc$1d064e60$1f9eb545@p4> DELTA SMELT: Smelt In Danger Of Extinction KGO - TV Channel 7, Bay Area - 2/3/06 Written and produced by Ken Miguel Feb. 2 - KGO - Scientists in the Sacramento Delta are saying that a species of fish is coming dangerously close to extinction. If it disappears, it may be a sign of a greater ecologic catastrophe -- and it all rests on the back of a little fish. The Delta smelt may look like any small fish you'd find in the Sacramento Delta. But it is listed as a threatened species, one that scientists have watched closely for nearly 50 years. Dr. Tina Swanson, senior scientist, Bay Institute: "They are considered to be one of the best overall indicators of the ecological health of the estuary." Dr. Tina Swanson is with the Bay Institute, a non-profit research, education, and advocacy organization. She is among a growing number of scientists who are alarmed by a State Fish and Game study released in October that showed the delta smelt population has fallen to an all-time low. Dr. Swanson: "They were at such low number that many scientists consider this species to be at great risk for extinction in the next few years." There may be a variety of causes for the dramatic drop. Invasive species like the Asian clam may be eating their food, toxic pesticides may be flowing into the estuary and the man-made levees that divert miles of water may be making the water too fast for them to lay eggs. But some scientists blame the massive pumps that feed the California aqueduct. This is where water from the delta is pumped south to supply millions of Californians with water. State water officials say the system is fish-friendly and say there may be a number of reasons for the decline. Doug Thompson, Department of Water Resources: "It could be just a trend that they are going through now. Numbers fluctuate from year to year depending on the water year, how much runoff we get, temperature, predatory fish -- it could be a lot of different things that are all involved in it." Jim Odom, Skinner Fish Facility: "This year we've actually only seen -- actually physically seen two delta smelt." Jim Odom is in charge of the Skinner Fish Facility -- a screening complex upstream from the pumping station designed to keep fish from being captured and sent down the aqueduct. The fish that squeeze past one screen are corralled by a second set of screens where they are piped into holding tanks. Those tanks are strained for fish which are then released back into the delta. Jim Odom: "The water that actually passed threw here is actually fish free. There are some small fish that get through." Dr. Joan Lindberg is worried that those small fish may include the offspring of the delta smelt. Lindberg runs the Delta Smelt Aquaculture Program in Byron. Joan Lindberg, Delta Smelt Aquaculture Program: "The fish are small and they pass right through the screen and there's no really effort to screen those smaller fish out so larvae would pass right through there and they would have no estimate of how many." The Aquaculture Program is studying, among other things, the screening process and the effect it may be having on the fish. Scientists say now is the time to act, before it's too late for the delta smelt. "We have the possibility of making good progress to approve the overall ecosystem which would be good not only for delta smelt, but for all the other animals that live in the delta as well." http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=assignment_7 &id=3870722 Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Fri Feb 3 13:53:42 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2006 13:53:42 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Grants Message-ID: <007701c6290c$4ca7f5a0$1f9eb545@p4> EPA Environmental Protection Agency ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM Modification1 http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW &oppId=7862 EPA Environmental Protection Agency ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT PROGRAM Modification1 http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW &oppId=7864 Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Mon Feb 6 09:50:47 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2006 09:50:47 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Sac Bee February 4 Message-ID: <001201c62b45$dcc89af0$1f9eb545@p4> Westlands Water District, principal Trinity water recipient, affected. Project to link canals halted; The temporary restraining order cites risk to Delta Sacramento Bee - 2/4/06 By Matt Weiser, staff writer A federal judge in Alameda ordered federal officials Friday to delay construction of a link between two major canals that export water from the California Delta where several fish species are already in danger of extinction. U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken ruled Friday that "serious harm" could occur if construction is allowed to begin Monday as planned by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The bureau owns one of the two canals that export water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to Southern California. The California Department of Water Resources operates the other. The so-called "intertie" project proposes to connect the two canals with an underground pipeline where they pass within 500 feet of each other south of Tracy. The $23 million project aimed to improve operational flexibility of the two systems and increase pumping capacity within existing legal limits. The nonprofit Planning and Conservation League sued the bureau, the lead agency on the project, alleging the intertie could allow an additional 34,000 acre-feet of water to be exported from the Delta and that this could harm water quality and wildlife. The nonprofit organization, based in Sacramento, argued that the bureau violated state and federal law in failing to conduct a full study of the project's environmental consequences. The judge ruled that conclusion was likely and issued a temporary restraining order to prevent construction of the project at least until a court hearing on the league's request for a preliminary injunction, scheduled for Feb. 14 in the same court. In December, scientists identified water exports as one likely culprit in record-setting population declines among several Delta fish species, including striped bass and the threatened Delta smelt. "It's a pretty big deal because I believe it's the first time the bureau or any water agency has been told to stop in their plan to increase diversions from the Bay-Delta estuary," said Mindy McIntyre, water program manager for the Planning and Conservation League. "We are positive the court will find in our favor when they analyze all the merits of the case." In court, the Bureau of Reclamation argued it was right to conduct a more cursory environmental review, in part because many of the potential environmental impacts are not "reasonably foreseeable." The judge said that term may have been used too loosely and found grounds for a more thorough environmental study. She also dismissed the bureau's claim that halting construction would impose burdensome costs on taxpayers. "Environmental injury ... generally cannot be adequately remedied by money damages, and it is often permanent," Wilken ruled. Jeff McCracken, a spokesman for the Bureau of Reclamation, declined to comment on the specifics of the court ruling. "Until we get a copy of the judge's order, there's not much we can say," he said. Westlands Water District and Delta-Mendota Water Authority, two of the largest water-export customers, filed briefs in support of the Bureau of Reclamation. Delta-Mendota is expected to operate the new intertie on behalf of the bureau if it is built. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.gif Type: image/gif Size: 43 bytes Desc: not available URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Mon Feb 6 11:39:10 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (tstokely at trinityalps.net) Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2006 14:39:10 -0500 Subject: [env-trinity] Phones are down at Trinity Co. Planning/Building/Env Health and Airports Message-ID: <380-22006216193910953@M2W126.mail2web.com> Folks, Just so you know, the phones at the Planning, Building, Environmental Health and Airports went down last week when the power briefly went out in Weaverville. It also fried a part in our automated phone system. We hope to have it repaired shortly. If you wish to contact anybody, it's best to send an e-mail with your return phone number. We can call out, but calling in is problematic, at best. E-mail works, though. The e-mail address for Trinity Co. employees are firstinitiallastname at trinitycounty.org. Sincerely, Tom Stokely Principal Planner Trinity Co. Planning/Natural Resources PO Box 2819 190 Glen Rd. Weaverville, CA 96093-2819 530-623-1351, ext. 3407 FAX 623-1353 tstokely at trinityalps.net or tstokely at trinitycounty.org -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ . From AKRAUSE at mp.usbr.gov Mon Feb 6 10:53:27 2006 From: AKRAUSE at mp.usbr.gov (Andreas Krause) Date: Mon, 06 Feb 2006 10:53:27 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Fwd: Trinity River Release Change Message-ID: FYI Project: Lewiston Dam - Trinity River Release Date Time From To 2/8/06 1900 1900 1800 2/8/06 2300 1800 1700 2/9/06 0300 1700 1600 2/9/06 0700 1600 1500 2/9/06 1900 1500 1400 2/9/06 2300 1400 1300 2/10/06 0300 1300 1200 2/10/06 0700 1200 1100 Issued By: Central Valley Operations Comment: Rampdown to lower Safety of Dams releases. __________________________________ Andreas Krause, P.E. Physical Scientist Trinity River Restoration Program P.O. Box 1300 (mailing address) 1313 South Main St. (physical address) Weaverville, CA 96093 Phone: 530-623-1807; Fax: 530-623-5944 __________________________________ From tstokely at trinityalps.net Tue Feb 7 11:18:32 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2006 11:18:32 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] KLAMATH RIVER SALMON HEALTH ISSUES: Message-ID: <006c01c62c22$193baf90$2f28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> KLAMATH RIVER SALMON HEALTH ISSUES: Meeting pares down a parasite plague Eureka Times-Standard - 2/3/06 By John Driscoll, staff writer ARCATA -- Fish health experts convened Thursday to sort out what's known -- and what isn't known -- about two parasites plaguing salmon on the lower Klamath River. The unusual parasites can be found in the majority of young chinook salmon in the lower river, and can cause fatal diseases that have claimed tens of thousand of fish in recent years. But the parasites' complicated life history and effects, as well as water quality problems and ocean conditions, make deciphering their role in struggling salmon runs tricky. "These fish have evolved with this parasite," said Scott Foott with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife California-Nevada Fish Health Center, "it's just a question of how much of it is out there." The group met at Humboldt State University for the second year to share research and pave the way for future studies and coordination between agencies, tribes and scientists. The parasites Ceratomyxa shasta and Parvicapsula minibicornis can damage the intestines and kidneys of young chinook migrating out of the river. But while they have been killing little fish for years, outbreak go almost unnoticed, unlike the obvious and widely covered demise of up to 68,000 adult fish in the fall of 2002. C. shasta and P. minibicornis can be found in many of the major river systems in the West. They appear to have become significantly more abundant in the Klamath in the last decade, Foott said, but they are not being found in the river's tributaries. Both parasites have an alternate host in a 2- to 3-millimeter-long polychaete worm, which could offer a clue on how to manage the diseases they cause, said Jerri Bartholomew, a researcher with Oregon State University. The worms are especially abundant in certain parts of the river. But what matters more is how many of the worms in a specific spot are infected with the parasites, Bartholomew said. For example, near Keno Dam, the worms are prolific, but uninfected, and so are most of the fish in those areas. But in the lower river, the worms are fewer but more infected. So are nearly all the fish there, many of which then die. "There's something very different going on in the lower river from the upper river," Bartholomew said. Two things appear clear. One, the longer fish are exposed to water with parasite spores, the less resistance they have to them. Two, the higher the water temperature, the more abundant the parasites. Bartholomew said the effects of flow -- low flows were a key factor in the 2002 fish kill -- are difficult to separate from the effects of temperature. However, lower flows during fish migration may increase exposure, concentrate infection into certain areas and increase the worm host's distribution and abundance, she said. In 2004 and 2005, Ken Nichols and others with Fish and Wildlife examined different reaches on the river. In 2005, nearly 90 percent of the fish sampled were infected with one of the parasites -- 65 percent of them severely. Most often, they were also infested with the other parasite. "The combination of two parasites is not helping," Nichols said. Key to understanding the relationships between salmon, the parasites and the polychaete worm is being able to detect its presence quickly. A new method created by Bartholomew and co-worker Sasha Hallett can detect even the smallest fraction of a parasite spore in a water sample, according to a summary provided at the workshop. # http://www.times-standard.com/fastsearchresults/ci_3472246 Tom Stokely Principal Planner Trinity Co. Planning/Natural Resources PO Box 2819 190 Glen Rd. Weaverville, CA 96093-2819 530-623-1351, ext. 3407 FAX 623-1353 tstokely at trinityalps.net or tstokely at trinitycounty.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Wed Feb 8 10:00:53 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2006 10:00:53 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] CC Times Feb 8 NRDC, et al v. U.S., et al Message-ID: <002001c62cd9$9f0024f0$1f9eb545@p4> Decision imminent on Delta water case Contra Costa Times - 2/8/06 By Juliana Barbassa, Associated Press SACRAMENTO - An 18-year-old court battle over how much San Joaquin River water should flow from a dam to bring back the salmon that once lived there could be nearing an end as environmental activists, farm representatives and federal water officials close in on an agreement. A hearing on the case was postponed Tuesday for 30 days after the parties filed a document telling Sacramento U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton they hoped to settle within the next month. "The goal is to be expeditious and try to wrap it up as quick as we can," said Cole Upton, chairman of Friant Water Users Authority, which delivers river water to about 15,000 farmers and is one of the defendants. "The judge is pretty adamant he wants to get things moving on this." Last week, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger increased the pressure on the Department of the Interior to join the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Friant Water Users Authority in a three-part settlement by becoming the first governor to weigh in on the dispute. The governor's letter to Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton expressed his "strong support for this potential settlement to restore the San Joaquin River in a reasonable and practical manner." But reaching a compromise is difficult because there are so many interests at stake, from fish to farmers and the approximately 20 million Californians who get their drinking water from the San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta. Since the 1940s, when Friant Dam started holding back about 90 percent of the river's flow, the water has been used to irrigate more than a million acres in the San Joaquin Valley. The diversion also dried large portions of the river below the dam, killing off the salmon which had relied on the river to spawn, and decreasing water levels in the San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta, which hurt local species and forced farmers in the area to rely on increasingly salty water. Environmental groups sued the federal government in 1988. The judge ruled in November 2004 that the federal Bureau of Reclamation, which operates the dam, had broken state law by not leaving enough water on the river to sustain the historic salmon population. What's in dispute now is how much water is needed to bring the fish back. Trial was scheduled for Feb. 14; but intervention from Rep. George Radanovich, R-Mariposa, and Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein brought the parties back to the table. Since then, progress has been steady -- to the benefit of all involved, the governor said in his letter. "Restoring the San Joaquin ... will provide broad benefits to the environment, to the federal, state and local governments, and to millions of Californians," the governor said. The parties involved in the suit are now reaching out to water users in the valley as well as to state and federal agencies like the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to hear their perspective. The goal is to reach an agreement before the next court date, they said. "There's real hope that we'll have a conceptual agreement within a month," said Barry Nelson, senior policy analyst with NRDC. "There's no guarantee, but it's a realistic hope." Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Wed Feb 8 10:23:39 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2006 10:23:39 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Fw: Trinity February Preliminary Water Forecast Message-ID: <009501c62cdc$c94a39f0$2f28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Andreas Krause" To: Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2006 8:39 AM Subject: Trinity February Preliminary Water Forecast > Dear Colleagues, > > The Department of Water Resources has just released the preliminary 50% > exceedence water forecast for February. The forecast estimates the total > inflow to Trinity Reservoir for water year 2006 to be 1,776,000 > acre-feet. This estimate indicates that there is a high likelihood that > we are headed for a wet water year designation for the Trinity River > (defined as total annual inflow to Trinity Reservoir between 1,350,000 > and 2,000,000 acre-feet, based on the April forecast). Keep in mind that > water forecasts can change between February and April. > > Regards, > Andreas > > __________________________________ > Andreas Krause, P.E. > Physical Scientist > Trinity River Restoration Program > P.O. Box 1300 (mailing address) > 1313 South Main St. (physical address) > Weaverville, CA 96093 > Phone: 530-623-1807; Fax: 530-623-5944 > __________________________________ > From Vina_Frye at fws.gov Thu Feb 9 11:12:40 2006 From: Vina_Frye at fws.gov (Vina_Frye at fws.gov) Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2006 11:12:40 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] TAMWG meeting Message-ID: Please post meeting announcement. Thank you. (See attached file: Meeting Announcement March 2006.doc) Vina Frye U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Arcata FWO 1655 Heindon Road Arcata, CA 95521 Telephone: (707) 822-7201 Fax: (707) 822-8411 vina_frye at fws.gov -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Meeting Announcement March 2006.doc Type: application/msword Size: 25600 bytes Desc: not available URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Thu Feb 9 12:36:39 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2006 12:36:39 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Public Notice: Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group (TAMWG) Meeting, March 22-23, 2006 Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE092630172AB51@mail2.trinitycounty.org> Meeting Announcement Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group March 22-23, 2006 Weaverville, CA The Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group (TAMWG) will meet Wednesday, March 22, from 1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. and Thursday from 8:30 A.M. to 5: 00 P.M. at the Veteran's Memorial Hall, 101 Memorial Lane, Weaverville, CA 96093. The primary objectives of this meeting will include: * 2006 flow schedule; Trinity River Restoration Program science framework * Trinity River Restoration Program strategic plan * Federal tribal trust responsibilities * Exceedence criteria for water-year-type forecasting * Trinity River fishing regulations * Request for special appropriation to complete floodplain preparations * Reports from work groups * Executive director's report * Education outreach * Travel expense reimbursement * Election of TAMWG officers. The agenda items are approximate and are dependent on the amount of time each item takes. The meeting could end early if the agenda has been completed. The meeting is open to the public. A draft agenda for the meeting will be available in the near future for download from the Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office website at www.fws.gov/cno/arcata -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Thu Feb 9 14:47:24 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2006 14:47:24 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Register for Watershed Academy Webcast on"Plan2Fund: A Tool to Organize Your Wat Message-ID: <005401c62dca$d4207b20$1f9eb545@p4> -----Original Message----- From: JANET BLAKE [mailto:JBlake at waterboards.ca.gov] Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2006 2:30 PM Subject: Re: Fwd: [npsinfo] Register for Watershed Academy Webcast on"Plan2Fund: A Tool to Organize Your Watershed Here is some information on the next USEPA watershed webcast related to Watershed Funding. It seems like somethiing that may be applicable to the sustainability of local watershed groups. I thought I would pass this info along in case you or any of the groups you work with may be interested. Thanks. Kari Kari Schumaker Environmental Scientist Division of Financial Assistance State Water Resources Control Board (916) 341-7388 Weinberg.Anne at epamail.epa.gov> 2/9/2006 12:56 PM EPA's Watershed Academy is pleased to sponsor its 8th free Webcast Plan2Fund: A Tool to Organize Your Watershed Funding" by Bill Jarocki and Amy Williams, Environmental Finance Center, Boise State University and Lee Napier, Deputy Director of Community Development--Grays Harbor County (WA) Department of Public Services. Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2006 Two-hour audio Web broadcast Eastern: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Central: 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm Mountain: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm Pacific: 10:00 a.m- 12:00 pm This Webcast will help you get on the right fundraising track. Presenters will highlight several tools developed by the Environmental Finance Center to support watershed organizations in their long-term fundraising efforts. In addition, a real world example from the Pacific Northwest will show how the tools have been applied. To register, please visit http://www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts . Please keep in mind that space is limited. We also encourage people to host the Wecbast in a conference room and invite others to participate. Anne Weinberg U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Communications Coordinator Assessment and Watershed Protection Division ____________________________________________________ Mailing Address: Off. Location & Fed Ex Address Mail Code 4503T 1301 Constitution Ave. NW 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Room 7330H Washington, DC 20460 Washington, DC 20004 Phone: 202-566-1217 Fax: 202-566-1333 Email: weinberg.anne at epa.gov ---------------------------------------------- Individuals are responsible for managing their own subscriptions and for the contents of their own posts to NPSINFO. See the NPSINFO Resource Center online at epa.gov/nps/npsinfo for more information. For problems with this list, contact npsinfo-owner at lists.epa.gov ------------------------------------------ From BGUTERMUTH at mp.usbr.gov Thu Feb 9 16:03:46 2006 From: BGUTERMUTH at mp.usbr.gov (Brandt Gutermuth) Date: Thu, 09 Feb 2006 16:03:46 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Canyon Creek Suite of Rehabilitation Sites: Trinity River Mile 73 to 78 EA/Draft EIR available Message-ID: Trinity River enthusiasts - The Canyon Creek Suite of Rehabilitation Sites: Trinity River Mile 73 to 78 EA/Draft EIR is available on the internet for review and comment at: http://trrp.net/RestorationProgram/canyoncreek_ea_eir.htm or http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=1854 This will be the second Mechanical Channel Rehabilitation Project that the Trinity River Restoration Program will undertake. Construction is planned for August - Dec. 2006. The 45 day comment period on the EA/EIR ends on March 27, 2006. Please call or email with questions. Brandt DETAILS BELOW: The Bureau of Reclamation, the Federal lead agency, and the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, the State lead agency, announce the availability of an Environmental Assessment/Draft Environmental Impact Report (EA/DEIR) for the Canyon Creek Suite of Sites: Trinity River Mile 73-78 (Project). The joint document is being prepared under guidance of the Trinity River Restoration Program and meets California Environmental Quality Act and National Environmental Policy Act requirements. The proposed Project would conduct river rehabilitation activities at four locations downstream of the recently constructed Hocker Flat channel rehabilitation project at Junction City, California. Project implementation will promote the alluvial processes necessary for restoration and maintenance of salmonid habitat in the Trinity River, which will be accomplished by re-contouring the bank and floodplain features. The Project is a necessary step towards restoration of the Trinity Rivers anadromous fishery as identified in the Interior Secretary's December 19, 2000, Record of Decision for the Trinity River Mainstem Fishery Restoration Environmental Impact Statement. The EA/DEIR is available for a 45-day public review and comment period. It is online at: http://www.trrp.net/ - select Canyon Creek Complex. The document is available for review at the Trinity River Restoration Program Office, 1313 South Main Street, Weaverville, and the Trinity County Library, 211 North Main Street, Weaverville. Comments must be received by close of business on March 27, 2006, and should be sent to: Mr. Brandt Gutermuth, Trinity River Restoration Program, P.O. Box 1300, Weaverville, CA 96093, or e-mailed to bgutermuth at mp.usbr.gov . For further information or to request a copy of the EA/DEIR, please contact Mr. Gutermuth at 530-623-1806. ___________________________________ Brandt Gutermuth, Environmental Specialist Trinity River Restoration Program PO Box 1300 (mailing) 1313 Main Street (physical address) Weaverville, CA 96093 (530) 623-1806 voice; (530) 623-5944 fax Bgutermuth at mp.usbr.gov ___________________________________ From BGUTERMUTH at mp.usbr.gov Thu Feb 9 16:11:13 2006 From: BGUTERMUTH at mp.usbr.gov (Brandt Gutermuth) Date: Thu, 09 Feb 2006 16:11:13 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Canyon Creek Suite of Rehabilitation Sites: Trinity River Mile 73 to 78 EA/Draft EIR available Message-ID: Trinity River enthusiasts - The Canyon Creek Suite of Rehabilitation Sites: Trinity River Mile 73 to 78 EA/Draft EIR is available on the internet for review and comment at: http://trrp.net/RestorationProgram/canyoncreek_ea_eir.htm or http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=1854 This will be the second Mechanical Channel Rehabilitation Project that the Trinity River Restoration Program will undertake. Construction is planned for August - Dec. 2006. The 45 day comment period on the EA/EIR ends on March 27, 2006. Please call or email with questions. Brandt DETAILS BELOW: The Bureau of Reclamation, the Federal lead agency, and the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, the State lead agency, announce the availability of an Environmental Assessment/Draft Environmental Impact Report (EA/DEIR) for the Canyon Creek Suite of Sites: Trinity River Mile 73-78 (Project). The joint document is being prepared under guidance of the Trinity River Restoration Program and meets California Environmental Quality Act and National Environmental Policy Act requirements. The proposed Project would conduct river rehabilitation activities at four locations downstream of the recently constructed Hocker Flat channel rehabilitation project at Junction City, California. Project implementation will promote the alluvial processes necessary for restoration and maintenance of salmonid habitat in the Trinity River, which will be accomplished by re-contouring the bank and floodplain features. The Project is a necessary step towards restoration of the Trinity Rivers anadromous fishery as identified in the Interior Secretary's December 19, 2000, Record of Decision for the Trinity River Mainstem Fishery Restoration Environmental Impact Statement. The EA/DEIR is available for a 45-day public review and comment period. It is online at: http://www.trrp.net/ - select Canyon Creek Complex. The document is available for review at the Trinity River Restoration Program Office, 1313 South Main Street, Weaverville, and the Trinity County Library, 211 North Main Street, Weaverville. Comments must be received by close of business on March 27, 2006, and should be sent to: Mr. Brandt Gutermuth, Trinity River Restoration Program, P.O. Box 1300, Weaverville, CA 96093, or e-mailed to bgutermuth at mp.usbr.gov . For further information or to request a copy of the EA/DEIR, please contact Mr. Gutermuth at 530-623-1806. ___________________________________ Brandt Gutermuth, Environmental Specialist Trinity River Restoration Program PO Box 1300 (mailing) 1313 Main Street (physical address) Weaverville, CA 96093 (530) 623-1806 voice; (530) 623-5944 fax Bgutermuth at mp.usbr.gov From AKRAUSE at mp.usbr.gov Fri Feb 10 17:01:47 2006 From: AKRAUSE at mp.usbr.gov (Andreas Krause) Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2006 17:01:47 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Fwd: Trinity River Release Change Message-ID: >>> Andreas Krause 2/10/2006 5:00:21 PM >>> FYI Project: Lewiston Dam - Trinity River Release Date Time From To 2/15/06 1900 1100 1000 2/15/06 2300 1000 900 2/16/06 0300 900 800 2/16/06 0700 800 700 2/16/06 1900 700 600 2/16/06 2300 600 500 2/17/06 0300 500 450 2/17/06 0700 450 400 2/17/06 1900 400 350 2/17/06 2300 350 300 Issued By: Central Valley Operations Comment: Rampdown to lower Safety of Dams releases. __________________________________ Andreas Krause, P.E. Physical Scientist Trinity River Restoration Program P.O. Box 1300 (mailing address) 1313 South Main St. (physical address) Weaverville, CA 96093 Phone: 530-623-1807; Fax: 530-623-5944 __________________________________ __________________________________ Andreas Krause, P.E. Physical Scientist Trinity River Restoration Program P.O. Box 1300 (mailing address) 1313 South Main St. (physical address) Weaverville, CA 96093 Phone: 530-623-1807; Fax: 530-623-5944 __________________________________ From tstokely at trinityalps.net Wed Feb 15 16:37:30 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2006 16:37:30 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Fw: 2005/06 Approved Fisheries Restoration Grants on DFG Web Message-ID: <008001c63291$2bc49cb0$2f28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe Carboni" To: Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2006 3:37 PM Subject: 2005/06 Approved Fisheries Restoration Grants on DFG Web > Dear Peer Review Committee Members & Alternates and Citizens Advisory Committee Members, > The Fisheries Restoration Grant Program has published its lists of funded, contingency and not-funded projects resulting from the 2005 project solicitation notice (PSN). > The lists can be accessed via the DFG web site address below: > http://www.dfg.ca.gov/nafwb/index.html > > Regards > > > ========================================================= > Joe Carboni - Native Anadromous Fish and Watershed Branch > Fisheries Restoration Grant Program > Calif. Department of Fish & Game - Habitat Conservation Division > 830 S Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 > Phone: 916.327.8842 > Fax: 916.327.8854 > e-mail: jcarboni at dfg.ca.gov > Please visit our web site at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/nafwb/fishgrant.html > ========================================================= > > From bwl3 at comcast.net Fri Feb 17 17:15:48 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2006 17:15:48 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] [npsinfo] Strategies for Implementation Using Integrated Watershed Planning Message-ID: <002101c63428$da310660$1f9eb545@p4> Strategies for Implementation Using Integrated Watershed Planning May 22, 2006 Westin Convention Center Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania The Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have cooperated on the development of a technical training program for those involved in the design, review, and implementation of watershed-based plans in support of activities funded under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act. As part of this effort, WEF's Watershed Training Task Force has developed a workshop entitled "Strategies for Implementation Using Integrated Watershed Planning." The workshop addresses integrated watershed management basics, preparation of watershed protection and restoration plans, goal setting and measuring success, and low-impact development. Detailed integrated watershed management case studies from North Carolina, Philadelphia, and Maryland will be presented. The audience includes State and Tribal officials involved in the management of Section 319 funds (i.e., grantors), the recipients of these funds (i.e., grantees), and grantee contractors. The goal of this program is to maximize the effectiveness of watershed-based plans by helping grantees develop and implement projects that have quantifiable and measurable objectives. The workshop is being offered at no cost and attendance will be limited to 40 participants. To register and for hotel information, please visit: http://www.wef.org/strategies The workshop will be conducted the day before EPA/USDA's "2nd National Water Quality Trading Conference." Although the workshop is not part of the conference, workshop attendees are encouraged to consider attending both events as a way to leverage their travel/training funds. For more information on the trading conference, please visit: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/courseinfo.cfm?program_id=0&outreach_id=267&s chedule_id=851 From bwl3 at comcast.net Fri Feb 17 17:23:07 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2006 17:23:07 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] FW: Draft Supplemental Information Available to the Draft EIS for Renewal of San Luis Unit CVP Long-Term Message-ID: <002d01c63429$df4e6c40$1f9eb545@p4> -----Original Message----- From: Phyllis Williams [mailto:pwilliams at mp.usbr.gov] Sent: Friday, February 17, 2006 11:22 AM To: bwl3 at comcast.net Subject: Draft Supplemental Information Available to the Draft EIS for Renewal of San Luis Unit CVP Long-Term Reclamation Mid-Pacific Region Sacramento, CA MP-06-027 Media Contact: Jeffrey McCracken 916-978-5100 jmccracken at mp.usbr.gov For Release On: February 17, 2006 Draft Supplemental Information Available to the Draft EIS for Renewal of San Luis Unit CVP Long-Term Water Service Contracts The Bureau of Reclamation announces the availability of the Draft Supplemental Information to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Central Valley Project (CVP), West San Joaquin Division, San Luis Unit Long-Term Water Service Contract Renewal. The public review and comment period for the Draft Supplemental Information ends Monday, April 10, 2006. The comment period for the Draft EIS for the proposed long-term CVP water service contracts has been extended until April 10, 2006. Reclamation has prepared the Draft Supplemental Information to address issues and concerns that were identified following the preparation of the Draft EIS. The Draft Supplemental Information is available for a 45-day public review and comment period. This information may be reviewed concurrently with the Draft EIS released October 7, 2005. Comments on the Draft EIS and the Draft Supplemental Information may be provided in a single response. The Final EIS will consider and contain responses to all substantive comments received on the Draft EIS and Draft Supplemental Information. Written comments on both the Draft EIS and the Draft Supplemental Information are due by close of business Monday, April 10, 2006, and should be sent to Mr. Shane Hunt, Bureau of Reclamation, South-Central California Area Office, 1243 N Street, Fresno, CA 93721 or e-mailed to shunt at mp.usbr.gov. The Draft Supplemental Information and Draft EIS are available online at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=63. For additional information or to request a copy of the documents, please contact Mr. Hunt at 559-487-5138, TDD 559-487-5933. If you encounter problems accessing documents online, please contact Ms. Lynnette Wirth at 916-978-5102 or e-mail lwirth at mp.usbr.gov. # # # Reclamation is the largest wholesale water supplier and the second largest producer of hydroelectric power in the United States, with operations and facilities in the 17 Western States. Its facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation, and fish and wildlife benefits. Visit our website at http://www.usbr.gov. From bwl3 at comcast.net Fri Feb 17 20:25:11 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2006 20:25:11 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Supplemental DEIS San Luis Contracts Message-ID: <003901c63443$4f303390$1f9eb545@p4> The Westlands contract includes an increase in water deliveries to it from 1.15 million acre feet to 1,188,490. This despite the fact that Westlands itself wants to retire a third of its land - 200 thousand acres. Additionally, several studies/reports over the years have concluded that land retirement of varying amounts of acreage is required to reduce pollution to San Joaquin River and San Francisco and its Delta and to remove from production land that no longer is suitable for agricultural use because it's water logged. California's Constitution and Water Code prohibit "wasteful and unreasonable" use of water. Byron Reclamation Mid-Pacific Region Sacramento, CA MP-06-027 Media Contact: Jeffrey McCracken 916-978-5100 jmccracken at mp.usbr.gov For Release On: February 17, 2006 Draft Supplemental Information Available to the Draft EIS for Renewal of San Luis Unit CVP Long-Term Water Service Contracts The Bureau of Reclamation announces the availability of the Draft Supplemental Information to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Central Valley Project (CVP), West San Joaquin Division, San Luis Unit Long-Term Water Service Contract Renewal. The public review and comment period for the Draft Supplemental Information ends Monday, April 10, 2006. The comment period for the Draft EIS for the proposed long-term CVP water service contracts has been extended until April 10, 2006. Reclamation has prepared the Draft Supplemental Information to address issues and concerns that were identified following the preparation of the Draft EIS. The Draft Supplemental Information is available for a 45-day public review and comment period. This information may be reviewed concurrently with the Draft EIS released October 7, 2005. Comments on the Draft EIS and the Draft Supplemental Information may be provided in a single response. The Final EIS will consider and contain responses to all substantive comments received on the Draft EIS and Draft Supplemental Information. Written comments on both the Draft EIS and the Draft Supplemental Information are due by close of business Monday, April 10, 2006, and should be sent to Mr. Shane Hunt, Bureau of Reclamation, South-Central California Area Office, 1243 N Street, Fresno, CA 93721 or e-mailed to shunt at mp.usbr.gov. The Draft Supplemental Information and Draft EIS are available online at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=63. For additional information or to request a copy of the documents, please contact Mr. Hunt at 559-487-5138, TDD 559-487-5933. If you encounter problems accessing documents online, please contact Ms. Lynnette Wirth at 916-978-5102 or e-mail lwirth at mp.usbr.gov Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From truman at jeffnet.org Mon Feb 20 15:48:59 2006 From: truman at jeffnet.org (Patrick Truman) Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2006 15:48:59 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Water Wars Await Alito Message-ID: <000901c63678$41551bf0$6f48f842@HAL> http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/02/20/MNGV3HBONN1.DTL -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Water wars await Alito in debut on high court Future of nation's rivers, wetlands hinges on 2 key cases Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff Writer Monday, February 20, 2006 a.. Printable Version b.. Email This Article Samuel Alito will make his Supreme Court debut with a splash this week when the justices hear two cases that could determine the future of the Clean Water Act. The cases, both from Michigan and scheduled for hearing on Tuesday, could have an enormous impact. For property-rights advocates, an unfavorable ruling could spread the shadow of federal regulation over every tiny stream and rivulet in America, stifling development. Federal authority would extend to "virtually every body of water in the nation -- every brook and pond, every dry wash -- that has any connection with navigable waters, no matter how remote," warned a coalition of water suppliers, farmers and the states of Alaska and Utah in one of more than 50 briefs filed with the court. For environmentalists, a loss would strike at the heart of the nation's water resources. Federal agencies would be powerless to prevent "the discharge of sewage, toxic pollutants and fill into ... the large majority of our nation's rivers, streams and other waters," said clean-water agencies from two-thirds of the states, including California. The two lawsuits challenge the federal government's power to prevent landowners from filling and developing wetlands -- marshes, ponds, drainage ditches or small streams -- that have some connection with a distant river or lake. Lower courts ruled in both cases that the Clean Water Act of 1972, which allows federal agencies to prevent pollution of navigable waters, regulates the filling of small wetlands that impact larger waterways, even those many miles away. Property-rights groups argue that "navigable waters" must be interpreted to mean only rivers, streams and lakes that can be navigated by boat, or adjacent wetlands that significantly affect navigation or commerce on the larger waterways. The cases return the court to an issue it left unanswered in 2001, when it ruled 5-4 that the Clean Water Act did not give the government authority over wetlands that were used by migratory birds but were isolated from navigable rivers and lakes. The wetlands in the Michigan cases belong to a larger category of waters that are "hydrologically" connected to navigable waterways -- that is, they are part of the same water system. The two cases, which will be heard together, are the first on the Supreme Court calendar for Alito, a veteran federal appeals court judge who won Senate confirmation last month to succeed the retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. They will also be the first environmental cases for Chief Justice John Roberts, President Bush's other appointee, who was seated in October. Conservation groups opposed both nominations, largely because of past rulings by Alito and Roberts that appeared to take a narrow view of Congress' power to regulate interstate commerce, the constitutional underpinning of federal environmental laws. Alito also took part in appeals court rulings that rejected a federal agency's water cleanup plan and limited private citizens' ability to challenge water pollution under the Clean Water Act. The Bush administration, which proposed limiting federal authority over wetlands in 2003 but backed off in the face of state opposition, is supporting the government's regulatory power before the court. A ruling is due by the end of June. Like many Supreme Court cases, these are small-scale disputes with big implications. One landowner, John Rapanos of Midland, Mich., filled 50 acres of wetlands with sand in the 1980s so he could offer the property for sale to a shopping mall developer. The land is 20 miles from Saginaw Bay but is linked to it by ditches and streams. Rapanos was convicted in 1995 of a criminal violation of the Clean Water Act and could face a prison sentence if the Supreme Court rules against him. Developers June and Keith Carabell were stopped by federal regulators from building a condominium complex on land near Mount Clemens, Mich., that includes 16 acres of wetlands. A berm, or earthen mound that impedes water flow, separates the swampy acreage from a drainage ditch that leads to a creek and a lake about a mile away. What happens in their cases could affect much of the 100 million acres of wetlands in the United States. Ecologically, wetlands serve multiple functions: They filter pollutants from storm runoffs, limit flooding by absorbing water from heavy rains, and provide habitat for fish and wildlife. If the Clean Water Act, which protects navigable waters, is interpreted to allow widespread degradation of wetlands, "it would be like saying you cannot cut down a tree, but are free to poison its roots," said attorney James Murphy of the National Wildlife Federation, one of numerous conservation groups taking part in the case. But property-rights groups say the issue is not whether sensitive waters should be protected but who -- the federal government or the states -- should do the protecting. "This case is about the federal government overstepping its authority, not about whether our water will be clean," said Rapanos' lawyer, Reed Hopper of the Pacific Legal Foundation in Sacramento. If federal authority was limited, he said, wetlands would still be "subject to vigorous protections imposed by states." Most state governments disagree. Only one-third of the states, including California, have their own full-scale wetlands protection programs, and few states are likely to step in if federal regulation is withdrawn, state clean-water agencies said in court papers. They said the reasons are both financial and political -- protecting resources can be expensive, and often yields to "the inevitable competition for jobs and economic growth." When the court barred federal regulation of isolated wetlands in 2001, states that tried to fill the gap found that developers' bulldozers moved more quickly than regulators, the state agencies said. But that wasn't true in California, which expanded its wetlands program after the 2001 ruling, said Walnut Creek attorney Roderick Walston, a former state lawyer who now represents the water-supply agencies and two states seeking to narrow federal regulation. "States are perfectly capable of doing the job once the Supreme Court establishes the exact dividing point between federal and state regulation," he said. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What it's about At stake: The power of the federal government to regulate wetlands, streams and canals that are connected to navigable waters, even wetlands that may be located miles from the waterways. The status: Oral arguments are scheduled for Tuesday at the U.S. Supreme Court. The cases are Rapanos vs. U.S., 04-1034, and Carabell vs. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 04-1384. E-mail Bob Egelko at begelko at sfchronicle.com. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: chronicle_logo.gif Type: image/gif Size: 1013 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: mn_was94_court_alito_t.gif Type: image/gif Size: 2240 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: mn_scotus_wetlands_mico101_t.gif Type: image/gif Size: 2391 bytes Desc: not available URL: From emelia at trailofwater.com Tue Feb 21 08:21:01 2006 From: emelia at trailofwater.com (Emelia Berol) Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2006 08:21:01 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Water Wars Await Alito In-Reply-To: <000901c63678$41551bf0$6f48f842@HAL> References: <000901c63678$41551bf0$6f48f842@HAL> Message-ID: <49CB4EB9-5C03-4223-8E37-839C94FE75A7@trailofwater.com> One hopes the Judges have read the Mono Lake case .... On Feb 20, 2006, at 3:48 PM, Patrick Truman wrote: > http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/02/20/ > MNGV3HBONN1.DTL > > > Water wars await Alito in debut on high court > Future of nation's rivers, wetlands hinges on 2 key cases > > > Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff Writer > > Monday, February 20, 2006 > > > Printable Version > Email This Article > > > Samuel Alito will make his Supreme Court debut with a splash this > week when the justices hear two cases that could determine the > future of the Clean Water Act. > > The cases, both from Michigan and scheduled for hearing on Tuesday, > could have an enormous impact. For property-rights advocates, an > unfavorable ruling could spread the shadow of federal regulation > over every tiny stream and rivulet in America, stifling development. > > Federal authority would extend to "virtually every body of water in > the nation -- every brook and pond, every dry wash -- that has any > connection with navigable waters, no matter how remote," warned a > coalition of water suppliers, farmers and the states of Alaska and > Utah in one of more than 50 briefs filed with the court. > > For environmentalists, a loss would strike at the heart of the > nation's water resources. > > Federal agencies would be powerless to prevent "the discharge of > sewage, toxic pollutants and fill into ... the large majority of > our nation's rivers, streams and other waters," said clean-water > agencies from two-thirds of the states, including California. > > The two lawsuits challenge the federal government's power to > prevent landowners from filling and developing wetlands -- marshes, > ponds, drainage ditches or small streams -- that have some > connection with a distant river or lake. > > Lower courts ruled in both cases that the Clean Water Act of 1972, > which allows federal agencies to prevent pollution of navigable > waters, regulates the filling of small wetlands that impact larger > waterways, even those many miles away. > > Property-rights groups argue that "navigable waters" must be > interpreted to mean only rivers, streams and lakes that can be > navigated by boat, or adjacent wetlands that significantly affect > navigation or commerce on the larger waterways. > > The cases return the court to an issue it left unanswered in 2001, > when it ruled 5-4 that the Clean Water Act did not give the > government authority over wetlands that were used by migratory > birds but were isolated from navigable rivers and lakes. > > The wetlands in the Michigan cases belong to a larger category of > waters that are "hydrologically" connected to navigable waterways > -- that is, they are part of the same water system. > > The two cases, which will be heard together, are the first on the > Supreme Court calendar for Alito, a veteran federal appeals court > judge who won Senate confirmation last month to succeed the > retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. They will also be the first > environmental cases for Chief Justice John Roberts, President > Bush's other appointee, who was seated in October. > > Conservation groups opposed both nominations, largely because of > past rulings by Alito and Roberts that appeared to take a narrow > view of Congress' power to regulate interstate commerce, the > constitutional underpinning of federal environmental laws. Alito > also took part in appeals court rulings that rejected a federal > agency's water cleanup plan and limited private citizens' ability > to challenge water pollution under the Clean Water Act. > > The Bush administration, which proposed limiting federal authority > over wetlands in 2003 but backed off in the face of state > opposition, is supporting the government's regulatory power before > the court. A ruling is due by the end of June. > > Like many Supreme Court cases, these are small-scale disputes with > big implications. > > One landowner, John Rapanos of Midland, Mich., filled 50 acres of > wetlands with sand in the 1980s so he could offer the property for > sale to a shopping mall developer. The land is 20 miles from > Saginaw Bay but is linked to it by ditches and streams. Rapanos was > convicted in 1995 of a criminal violation of the Clean Water Act > and could face a prison sentence if the Supreme Court rules against > him. > > Developers June and Keith Carabell were stopped by federal > regulators from building a condominium complex on land near Mount > Clemens, Mich., that includes 16 acres of wetlands. A berm, or > earthen mound that impedes water flow, separates the swampy acreage > from a drainage ditch that leads to a creek and a lake about a mile > away. > > What happens in their cases could affect much of the 100 million > acres of wetlands in the United States. > > Ecologically, wetlands serve multiple functions: They filter > pollutants from storm runoffs, limit flooding by absorbing water > from heavy rains, and provide habitat for fish and wildlife. > > If the Clean Water Act, which protects navigable waters, is > interpreted to allow widespread degradation of wetlands, "it would > be like saying you cannot cut down a tree, but are free to poison > its roots," said attorney James Murphy of the National Wildlife > Federation, one of numerous conservation groups taking part in the > case. > > But property-rights groups say the issue is not whether sensitive > waters should be protected but who -- the federal government or the > states -- should do the protecting. > > "This case is about the federal government overstepping its > authority, not about whether our water will be clean," said > Rapanos' lawyer, Reed Hopper of the Pacific Legal Foundation in > Sacramento. If federal authority was limited, he said, wetlands > would still be "subject to vigorous protections imposed by states." > > Most state governments disagree. Only one-third of the states, > including California, have their own full-scale wetlands protection > programs, and few states are likely to step in if federal > regulation is withdrawn, state clean-water agencies said in court > papers. > > They said the reasons are both financial and political -- > protecting resources can be expensive, and often yields to "the > inevitable competition for jobs and economic growth." > > When the court barred federal regulation of isolated wetlands in > 2001, states that tried to fill the gap found that developers' > bulldozers moved more quickly than regulators, the state agencies > said. > > But that wasn't true in California, which expanded its wetlands > program after the 2001 ruling, said Walnut Creek attorney Roderick > Walston, a former state lawyer who now represents the water-supply > agencies and two states seeking to narrow federal regulation. > > "States are perfectly capable of doing the job once the Supreme > Court establishes the exact dividing point between federal and > state regulation," he said. > > What it's about > At stake: The power of the federal government to regulate wetlands, > streams and canals that are connected to navigable waters, even > wetlands that may be located miles from the waterways. > > The status: Oral arguments are scheduled for Tuesday at the U.S. > Supreme Court. > > The cases are Rapanos vs. U.S., 04-1034, and Carabell vs. U.S. Army > Corps of Engineers, 04-1384. E-mail Bob Egelko at > begelko at sfchronicle.com. > > > > > _______________________________________________ > env-trinity mailing list > env-trinity at mailman.dcn.org > http://www2.dcn.org/mailman/listinfo/env-trinity > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Tue Feb 21 16:23:01 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2006 16:23:01 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] State Water Board Ruling - Modesto Bee Message-ID: <005101c63746$27f23160$1f9eb545@p4> Board orders enforcement of delta salt limits; Agencies told to meet rules or face fines and shutdown of pumps Modesto Bee - 2/20/06 By Juliana Barbassa, staff writer SAN FRANCISCO - Regulations on salt levels in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta must be enforced, even if it means cutting back on water pumped to Southern California and to Central Valley farm fields, water regulators said. Wednesday's order marked the first time the California Water Resources Board has taken a firm stand enforcing salt levels in the delta, which first were discussed almost 25 years ago. The agency ordered federal and state agencies drawing water from the environmentally troubled region to meet water quality requirements or face fines and a possible shutdown of their pumps. The state and federal water projects contribute to the degradation of the delta's water by sucking out water, decreasing circulation and hurting fish populations, as well as farmers in the region, said activists who applauded the move. Stopping pumps to LA? "It's a historic decision," said Bill Jennings, a water-quality advocate who heads the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance. "The state board, having been reasonable for 25 years, in exasperation decided to finally enforce the law." The decision requires the agencies operating the pumps to tell the board when they expect delta water to exceed the salt standard and to draw up a plan to resolve the problem, which could include letting more water out of reservoirs and into the delta, or stopping the pumps that deliver water as far south as Los Angeles. Representatives of the federal Bureau of Reclamation and the state's Department of Water Resources, the two agencies told to comply with the salinity standards, said the order was not fair. "They're putting the burden of maintaining water quality on the southeastern corner of the delta on our shoulders, when much of the degradation is beyond our control," said Bureau of Reclamation spokesman Jeff McCracken. Cities such as Tracy and Manteca release waste water into the delta, contributing to pollution and salt concentration, he said. State and federal pumps help keep the water fresh by keeping the water moving and fighting stagnation that contributes to salinity in some areas, McCracken said. "We're really disappointed with this decision," said Jerry Johns, deputy director of the state's Department of Water Resources. "We don't affect water quality much with our export pumps, but they're saying that it's totally the responsibility of these two projects." Delta farmers applaud move This decision comes one week after a state appellate court issued a complex ruling ordering the water board to uphold water-quality standards in the San Joaquin River, one of the waterways leading to the delta, so conditions would be more appropriate for salmon. Farmers further south in the Central Valley might see access to water curtailed in very dry years because of this action, but farmers toiling on the delta's peat soil said it was about time the state board stepped in to protect their water. Delta farmers who irrigate asparagus, corn and other crops with water from nearby channels have suffered during dry years, when little freshwater flushes out the maze of channels and the salt content increases. "The water we get now is nowhere near what we got before these projects messed everything up," said John Herrick, attorney for the South Delta Water Agency, which includes 150,000 acres of mostly agricultural land. "In times of drought, it becomes a serious problem, and you can see areas where crops are damaged or destroyed because salinity levels are so high." The board's decision can be appealed within 30 days. The agencies operating the pumps are considering their options and might appeal. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Tue Feb 21 16:27:26 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2006 16:27:26 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Clean Water Act - LA Times Message-ID: <005b01c63746$c2f6f240$1f9eb545@p4> SUPREME COURT CASES: Justices to Study Scope of '72 Clean Water Act Los Angeles Times - 2/21/06 By David G. Savage, staff writer WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court will take up a property rights case today that could greatly curtail the federal law credited with cleaning up the nation's rivers, lakes and bays after decades of industrial pollution. The Clean Water Act of 1972 made it illegal to discharge pollutants without a permit into the "navigable waters of the United States." Federal regulators read this measure as protecting tens of thousands of small streams and hundreds of millions of acres of wetlands that flow toward larger waterways, even if they are far from the nearest river or bay. But to the surprise of environmentalists, the high court agreed to hear a direct attack on that broad view of the law. Farmers and developers say it is far-fetched to describe low-lying farm fields, or even dry creek beds in the West, as part of the nation's navigable waterways. Today, the high court will hear the case of John Rapanos, a Michigan developer who was fined $13 million in a long-running legal battle that began when he defied federal agents by filling in 22 acres of a wet field he owned about 20 miles from Lake Huron. Water from the field can flow into a drainage ditch, which in turn flows into a stream and a river that leads to the lake. This "hydrological connection" gives federal regulators authority over the field, government officials say. The Pacific Legal Foundation, a property rights group based in Sacramento, is defending Rapanos and urging the court to limit the reach of the federal law. It is a "total fiction" to say the Clean Water Act extends much beyond rivers and bays "where you can actually float a boat," said M. Reed Hopper, principal attorney for the foundation. "Hopefully, the court is taking up this case to end this abuse of federal power." Environmentalists fear that a win for Rapanos could dramatically cut back one of the nation's most effective anti-pollution laws. Congress passed the law after a decade in which polluted rivers caught fire and fish in the Great Lakes were dying out. Lawmakers said the nation needed a comprehensive anti-pollution effort to restore waterways to health. Today, according to a Sierra Club report, 60% of the nation's rivers and bays are safe for swimming and fishing, up from 36% in 1970. It credited the Clean Water Act. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers enforce the law by trying to prevent pollution from getting into the waterways in the first place. To refocus the law only on navigable waterways "would cut the heart out of the Clean Water Act and take us back to the 19th century," said Howard Fox, a lawyer for Earthjustice in Washington. "If the court were to adopt the most narrow reading of the law, it would mean more than 90% of the waters now covered will be deprived of federal protection." To add to the interest, the Rapanos case will be the first to be heard by Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. It will also be the first environmental case to come before Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. Both of President Bush's appointees are veterans of the Reagan administration, which sought to limit the reach of federal environmental laws. As lower court judges, Roberts and Alito hinted that they favored limits on federal authority. However, in the cases to be heard this week, the Bush administration has allied itself with the environmental movement. U.S. Solicitor General Paul D. Clement urged the justices to preserve the broad reach of the Clean Water Act. Congress has the power to keep the nation's "navigable waters free of pollution," he said in his brief to the court, and that goal can be achieved only if regulators can prevent "upstream pollution discharges" into streams and wetlands. About 100 million acres of wetlands in the lower 48 states could be affected by the outcome. About 75% of the acres are on private land. Besides Alaska, the states with the largest areas of wetlands are Florida, Louisiana, Minnesota and Texas. In California, the court's ruling will determine whether federal regulation extends to the thousands of miles of canals, ditches and streambeds, many of which are dry for most of the year. In all, 34 states, including California, urged the court to maintain broad federal regulation over streams and wetlands. But not all state and local officials are in agreement. Lawyers for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California say that obtaining a federal permit can be a costly nuisance. The district operates aqueducts that bring water to Los Angeles. "It seems a tad ridiculous that we have to get a 'wetlands' permit when we are working in the desert," said Jeffrey Kightlinger, general counsel for the water district, which supplies drinking water to 18 million people in Southern California. It joined with seven other water districts in the West in arguing that the federal law should cover only actual pollution flowing into the waterways. Environmentalists were taken aback in October when the Supreme Court agreed on a single day to hear three major challenges to the Clean Water Act - all of which were brought by developers and industry officials. But it comes as no surprise that the high court's conservatives seek to limit the reach of the law. Five years ago, they joined together to rule that isolated ponds and wetlands that did not flow into a stream were beyond the reach of federal regulators. Speaking for the 5-4 majority, then-Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist said the Clean Water Act should be read in line with the federal government's "traditional jurisdiction over waters that were or had been navigable in fact." That ruling answered one question and raised another: What about the tens of thousands of tiny streams and inland wetlands that send water flowing toward the sea? Are they are covered by the Clean Water Act? The Rapanos case, to be heard first today, poses that question directly. Next, the justices will hear the appeal of June Carabell, a Michigan developer who was blocked from building condominiums on a parcel of low-lying land north of Detroit. Her lawyers note that the parcel is surrounded by a man-made berm that blocks the flow of water. "We can't pollute navigable waters because we are not connected to them. It's a physical impossibility," said Timothy Stoepker, a lawyer for Carabell. Nonetheless, federal regulators refused to grant a permit to fill the wetland areas. Lower courts upheld the government decision because the property was near Lake St. Clair, a navigable waterway. After the two wetlands cases, the high court will hear a Maine case that represents a clash between energy and the environment. At issue is whether the states can regulate the river flows passing through about 1,500 power dams, including scores in Northern California. The Federal Power Act gave federal energy regulators sole authority over the dams that generate electric power. However, the Clean Water Act gave states a role in preserving the water quality in their rivers. State permits were required before anyone could add or discharge anything into the river. And state officials use this permitting power to force dam operators to maintain enough water flow to satisfy both fish and kayakers. But the high court agreed to hear a challenge to this authority brought by the S.D. Warren Co., which operates five power dams in Maine. Its lawyers argue that water flowing through a dam is not a discharge, and therefore the states have no right to require a permit from them. The court's ruling on this legal question could have a crucial effect on America's rivers, said Patrick Parenteau, an environmental law expert at the Vermont Law School. "Without this permitting authority, the states are powerless to restore and improve the habitat for fisheries," Parenteau said. "With it, they have a powerful lever." Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Wed Feb 22 10:41:23 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Wed, 22 Feb 2006 10:41:23 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] No Salmon Fishing? By: Dan Bacher of the Fish Sniffer Message-ID: <001101c637df$95bd6590$1f9eb545@p4> This is to alert everybody that there may be no salmon season this year on the coast from Cape Falcon, Oregon to the Mexican border, according to the latest data from DFG in the Salmon Informational meeting that I went to in Santa Rosa. Even if all commercial, tribal and recreational seasons are closed, the spawning escapement goal of 35,000 natural spawners on the Klamath River will probably not be met. If all fishing in the ocean and Klamath River is closed, only 29,200 natural fish are expected to spawn in the river. If the 2005 regulations are kept in place, only 18,700 fish - just a little over half of the minimum escapement goal, are expected in the river. For anybody to fish after May 1, the Pacific Fishery Management Council would be required to get an emergency fishing rule from NOAA Fisheries. To protect the Klamath stocks, the ocean anglers will be completely prohibited or, in the best case scenario, allowed severely limited seasons along the coast. Two hours of the meeting were spent getting options from the recreational and commercial anglers, such as creating limited salmon fisheries in certain areas at certain times to avoid catching Klamath stock when fishermen are targeting the relatively robust Sacramento stock. However, one angry commercial fisherman from Fort Bragg, Bill Forkner, got up and summed up the feelings of most of the meeting participants when he said, "This is all B.S.! You guys (state and federal governments) aren't addressing the problems of the Klamath River." Roger Thomas of the GGFA urged people to go to the Pombo Hearing in Stockton to make their feelings about state and federal "management" of fisheries heard. I spoke up to give people the details of the hearing on the Delta - and everybody was outraged that public wouldn't be allowed to testify! I also pointed out how the reason fishermen are being kicked off the water this season is because of the Klamath Fish kills of 2002. The fish going up the river this fall are the progeny of the Spring 2002 Juvenile Kill and the September 2002 Adult Salmon Kill. This was a disaster that was directly engineered in Washington by Karl Rove and the Bush administration. Rove pressured Gale Norton to give the Klamath water to agribusiness at the expense of fish, tribes, recreational anglers and commercial fishermen to curry favor with local farmers so an Oregon Republican Senator would be reelected. Now recreational anglers, the Klamath Basin Tribes, commercial fishermen and the entire economy of northern California will suffer because of the greed of a few. When we combine the Delta crash, the Klamath salmon nightmare and the precipitous decline of white sturgeon in the Bay-Delta estuary, it couldn't be much worse for anybody who cares about fish and the environment of California. These disasters make it urgent that we expose their creators - the federal government and state governments and Richard Pombo in particular - for what they have done to our fisheries. They must all be held accountable for the big money and corruption that created the current nightmare scenario. Dan Bacher Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Wed Feb 22 13:15:24 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Wed, 22 Feb 2006 13:15:24 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] 'The fish aren't there' Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE0926301961D2A@mail2.trinitycounty.org> 'The fish aren't there' http://www.times-standard.com/local/ci_3534818 John Driscoll The Times-Standard EUREKA -- A group that advises federal fisheries managers has put off what will likely be a painful recommendation to severely limit or altogether restrict Klamath River and North Coast fishing. The Klamath Fisheries Management Council decided on Tuesday to make a recommendation instead in March, just prior to the Pacific Fisheries Management Council. It is faced with the fact that there are not enough Klamath River salmon swimming in the ocean to meet the minimum needed for spawning the next generation. The Pacific council will draw up regulations for this coming year for sport and commercial fisheries in the ocean. The California Fish and Game Commission will draft rules for fishing in the Klamath later. "They're just waiting to see how big that pie will be," said California Department of Fish and Game Klamath council representative Neil Manji. "If there's any pie at all." Some members of the council and the public said they still want the council to explore what a reduced fishery would look like. Eureka commercial fishing representative Dave Bitts said his goal is to figure out how to have some kind of commercial salmon season. But Yurok Tribe biologist Dave Hillemeier said the tribe isn't ready to make any recommendation on fishing before this year's "alarming" projections are considered by the tribal government. Some 35,000 wild chinook must be allowed to get up the Klamath to spawn. This year, there are only about 29,000. If fishing regulations like last year's were used, only 18,700 would make it up the river to spawn. That follows two years in which too few wild fish made it up the river, which will trigger an overfishing review by the Pacific council. But some, like fisher Marge Salo, said water quality, poor flows and diseases in the river are the heart of the problem. "The fish aren't there to catch to begin with," she said. Others point to the 2002 fish kill, which wiped out a large portion of the Klamath run, and whose offspring are returning. Ocean conditions were also extremely poor, with no upwelling occurring -- upwelling drives the ocean food chain -- until mid-summer. Still others believe there is a predatory element. Eureka fisherman Glen Councilman outside the meeting showed off photos of giant masses of sea lions at the mouth of the Klamath. "I'm not saying it's the only problem," he said. "But it's a problem and nobody wants to talk about it." One of the key elements in the 2006 predictions is the small number of 2-year-old fish that came up the river in 2005. Only 2,300 of 65,579 chinook were jacks -- the second lowest since 1978, said Fish and Game biologist Sarah Borok. That small percentage also applied to the Klamath's important tributaries, the Trinity, Salmon and Scott rivers. Trinity River fishing guide E.B. Duggan asked the council to recommend a restricted season similar to last year's, because a closure would hurt tourist businesses that have had a hard time recently. But he agreed that it is a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don't scenario. Klamath council Chairman Curt Melcher said any recommendation must also consider tribal trust responsibilities, market availability of salmon, endangered species and other factors. Melcher said that no fishing would likely be presented as the worst-case option in a range of options when the issue is raised again in March. The Klamath council meeting continues today at 8:30 a.m. at the Red Lion Inn. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Thu Feb 23 12:16:46 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Thu, 23 Feb 2006 12:16:46 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Clean Water Act Message-ID: <003601c638b6$14f9b3f0$1f9eb545@p4> Editorial: Challenge to Clean Water Act endangers nation's streams; S. SUPREME COURT FACES TEST OF ITS WILL TO ABIDE BY LAWMAKERS' INTENT San Jose Mercury News - 2/23/06 Consider what would happen if two legal challenges to the Clean Water Act, which the U.S. Supreme Court heard Tuesday, were to succeed. Polluters are currently not allowed to dump toxic substances into a major river -- and that wouldn't change. So far, so good. But it would become perfectly legal to dump the same poisons into a stream that flows into that same river. Or as Justice David Souter aptly said: ``All you've got to do is dump the pollutant far enough up the water system to get away scot free.'' To think that's what Congress intended is absurd. Under that topsy-turvy interpretation of the landmark 1972 law, more than half of all streams in the United States, as well as one-fifth of all wetlands, would no longer be protected, according to the federal Environmental Protection Agency. And waterways that provide drinking water for more than one in three Americans would be at risk. Nearly 150,000 miles of protected streams in California could be threatened. It's no wonder that four former EPA administrators who served under administrations of both parties, attorneys general from 33 states -- and of both parties -- and several members of Congress who helped write the water-protection law joined scores of environmental, outdoor recreation and public-health organizations in asking the court to uphold the full protections of the act. And even the Bush administration, not known for environmental alarmism, has warned that narrowing the scope of the act would significantly reduce its ability to protect the nation's waters. The Clean Water Act specifically bars the dumping of pollutants into ``navigable waters.'' The Supreme Court has already said wetlands adjacent to navigable waters are protected too: They can't be polluted -- or filled with sand without proper permits. The cases before the court include a wetland adjacent to a tributary to a navigable river and one that is separated from similar tributaries by a small artificial earthen dam. In both cases, developers claim their properties are far removed from navigable waterways and should not be covered by the law. The court's two newest justices, Samuel Alito and John Roberts, have promised they will show due respect for the will of Congress. It is perfectly clear that Congress intended the Clean Water Act to have a broad sweep and protect the nation's interconnected system of rivers, streams and wetlands. This will be a key test of whether Alito and Roberts plan to live up to their promise. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Thu Feb 23 12:19:17 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Thu, 23 Feb 2006 12:19:17 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Endangered Species Act Message-ID: <003b01c638b6$724fe600$1f9eb545@p4> ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT: Report a boost for Pombo's ESA goals Stockton Record - 2/23/06 By Hank Shaw, Capitol Bureau Chief SACRAMENTO - Two critical concepts in Tracy Rep. Richard Pombo's proposed overhaul of the federal Endangered Species Act should guide the U.S. Senate's attempts to reform the 23-year-old law, according to the initial findings of a group senators commissioned to help them prepare their legislation. But the group failed to find a path through the debate's thorniest thicket: How to reform the ESA's "critical habitat" provision, an often unwieldy tool intended to give threatened critters a place to live and multiply. Overhauling the ESA is no small matter for San Joaquin County, the Delta and the Mother Lode, where about a dozen endangered plants and animals live, including the San Joaquin kit fox, the Delta smelt, the red-legged frog and the riparian brush rabbit. Congress is closer to wholesale reform of the Endangered Species Act than it has been in years, and Pombo has been the driving force from the House of Representatives. He wrestled a bill through the House last year with the help of Rep. Dennis Cardoza, a Merced County Democrat whose district includes Stockton. The legislation now awaits action in the Senate. Debate stalled, however, because many senators wanted to hear what an eclectic group of environmentalists, industry officials, legal experts and scholars called the Keystone Group had to say about reform. Late last week the group sent a letter to six key senators endorsing Pombo's emphasis on providing incentives for the owners of private land - where 80 percent of endangered species live - to stop shooting, spraying, shoveling over and shutting up about the critters on their property. Among its recommendations, the Keystone Group favors an increase in programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program, which is widely used in other Western states to expand habitat for game animals such as sharptail grouse and mule deer. Other possible incentives could come as tax breaks for landowners who actively improve their land to support endangered plants or animals. Sens. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., already have sponsored such legislation. The group did not discuss Pombo's proposal, which would reimburse landowners for the lost value of property tied up through Endangered Species Act provisions. Critics such as the Defenders of Wildlife say doing this would spark a taxpayer-funded giveaway. Pombo counters with a Congressional Budget Office estimate that the incentive will cost taxpayers only about $10 million a year. "It cuts both ways, to be honest with you," Pombo said of the report. "I'd half-hoped they'd come out with specific language (for legislation), but I think they found out what I did over 13 years: This isn't easy." The Keystone Group letter also backed Pombo's desire to switch "critical habitat," which can be haphazardly drawn by overworked federal agents, to a more thoughtful "recovery plan" designed to do what it takes to lift a species from the brink of extinction. But how to do that - environmentalists and property-rights advocates are deeply divided - could scotch the whole reform effort in an election year. Additionally, Eastern politicians tend to be hesitant about tinkering with the ESA, which is sacrosanct among even many Republicans there. Among them is Rhode Island Sen. Lincoln Chafee, chairman of the Environment and Public Works Fisheries, Wildlife and Water Subcommittee and the senator who commissioned the Keystone Group. Chafee faces a tough election road ahead. Chafee has been hoping to craft what he sees as a more moderate bill than Pombo's, which Chafee says does not adequately designate recovery habitat and lacks provisions to ensure compliance. Pombo says he wants moderates such as Chafee and California Sen. Dianne Feinstein on board with whatever emerges from the Senate. "She has to be part of it," he said. "Now I'm sure she'll have different ideas - I'm not saying my bill is perfect. If they find a better way to do this, put it in the legislation." Pombo's bottom line is in line with the Keystone findings: Refocus the ESA to recovery of a species, increase its funding to do that and give them an incentive to help save threatened plants and animals. But he'll need a filibuster-proof 60 senators with him. Pombo fully expects someone to block any reform effort unless it has such broad support. And he says he's willing to compromise to get there. "It's not going to be everything I want. I know that," Pombo said. "What we have to do is put together the coalition that gets us to 60." The Senate is expected to begin debate on the legislation next month. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From emelia at trailofwater.com Thu Feb 23 14:14:48 2006 From: emelia at trailofwater.com (Emelia Berol) Date: Thu, 23 Feb 2006 14:14:48 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Endangered Species Act In-Reply-To: <003b01c638b6$724fe600$1f9eb545@p4> References: <003b01c638b6$724fe600$1f9eb545@p4> Message-ID: I hope everyone will send Di Fei a message letting her know how they will feel about her if she supports Pombo's bill ... On Feb 23, 2006, at 12:19 PM, Byron wrote: > ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT: > > Report a boost for Pombo's ESA goals > > Stockton Record ? 2/23/06 > > By Hank Shaw, Capitol Bureau Chief > > > > SACRAMENTO - Two critical concepts in Tracy Rep. Richard Pombo's > proposed overhaul of the federal Endangered Species Act should > guide the U.S. Senate's attempts to reform the 23-year-old law, > according to the initial findings of a group senators commissioned > to help them prepare their legislation. > > > > > But the group failed to find a path through the debate's thorniest > thicket: How to reform the ESA's "critical habitat" provision, an > often unwieldy tool intended to give threatened critters a place to > live and multiply. > > Overhauling the ESA is no small matter for San Joaquin County, the > Delta and the Mother Lode, where about a dozen endangered plants > and animals live, including the San Joaquin kit fox, the Delta > smelt, the red-legged frog and the riparian brush rabbit. > > Congress is closer to wholesale reform of the Endangered Species > Act than it has been in years, and Pombo has been the driving force > from the House of Representatives. > > He wrestled a bill through the House last year with the help of > Rep. Dennis Cardoza, a Merced County Democrat whose district > includes Stockton. The legislation now awaits action in the Senate. > > Debate stalled, however, because many senators wanted to hear what > an eclectic group of environmentalists, industry officials, legal > experts and scholars called the Keystone Group had to say about > reform. > > Late last week the group sent a letter to six key senators > endorsing Pombo's emphasis on providing incentives for the owners > of private land - where 80 percent of endangered species live - to > stop shooting, spraying, shoveling over and shutting up about the > critters on their property. > > Among its recommendations, the Keystone Group favors an increase in > programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program, which is widely > used in other Western states to expand habitat for game animals > such as sharptail grouse and mule deer. > > Other possible incentives could come as tax breaks for landowners > who actively improve their land to support endangered plants or > animals. Sens. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., > already have sponsored such legislation. > > The group did not discuss Pombo's proposal, which would reimburse > landowners for the lost value of property tied up through > Endangered Species Act provisions. > > Critics such as the Defenders of Wildlife say doing this would > spark a taxpayer-funded giveaway. Pombo counters with a > Congressional Budget Office estimate that the incentive will cost > taxpayers only about $10 million a year. > > "It cuts both ways, to be honest with you," Pombo said of the > report. "I'd half-hoped they'd come out with specific language (for > legislation), but I think they found out what I did over 13 years: > This isn't easy." > > The Keystone Group letter also backed Pombo's desire to switch > "critical habitat," which can be haphazardly drawn by overworked > federal agents, to a more thoughtful "recovery plan" designed to do > what it takes to lift a species from the brink of extinction. > > But how to do that - environmentalists and property-rights > advocates are deeply divided - could scotch the whole reform effort > in an election year. > > Additionally, Eastern politicians tend to be hesitant about > tinkering with the ESA, which is sacrosanct among even many > Republicans there. > > Among them is Rhode Island Sen. Lincoln Chafee, chairman of the > Environment and Public Works Fisheries, Wildlife and Water > Subcommittee and the senator who commissioned the Keystone Group. > Chafee faces a tough election road ahead. > > Chafee has been hoping to craft what he sees as a more moderate > bill than Pombo's, which Chafee says does not adequately designate > recovery habitat and lacks provisions to ensure compliance. > > Pombo says he wants moderates such as Chafee and California Sen. > Dianne Feinstein on board with whatever emerges from the Senate. > > "She has to be part of it," he said. "Now I'm sure she'll have > different ideas - I'm not saying my bill is perfect. If they find a > better way to do this, put it in the legislation." > > Pombo's bottom line is in line with the Keystone findings: Refocus > the ESA to recovery of a species, increase its funding to do that > and give them an incentive to help save threatened plants and animals. > > > > But he'll need a filibuster-proof 60 senators with him. Pombo fully > expects someone to block any reform effort unless it has such broad > support. And he says he's willing to compromise to get there. > > "It's not going to be everything I want. I know that," Pombo said. > "What we have to do is put together the coalition that gets us to 60." > > The Senate is expected to begin debate on the legislation next month. > > > > > > Byron Leydecker > > Chair, Friends of Trinity River > > Advisor, California Trout, Inc > > PO Box 2327 > > Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 > > 415 383 4810 ph > > 415 383 9562 fx > > bwl3 at comcast.net > > bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org > > http://www.fotr.org > > http:www.caltrout.org > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > env-trinity mailing list > env-trinity at mailman.dcn.org > http://www2.dcn.org/mailman/listinfo/env-trinity > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mjatty at sbcglobal.net Thu Feb 23 20:33:22 2006 From: mjatty at sbcglobal.net (Michael & Ruth Jackson) Date: Thu, 23 Feb 2006 20:33:22 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Endangered Species Act References: <003b01c638b6$724fe600$1f9eb545@p4> Message-ID: <003a01c638fb$72b88580$89e87943@home> Emelia, Senator Feinstein is not amenable to political threats. She is good at listening to factual arguments and can be convinced by them. I have agreed with her and disagreed with her, and I have watched people threaten her with political retribution. I have never heard of it working and it risks losing a very powerful ally on most environmental issues. Senator Feinstein is impressed with true grass roots lobbying from home. She wants to help people if she can. I know you can frame issues and tell penetrating stories. Senator Feinstein needs to hear your message on the importance of the Endangered Species Act for America's future. Thanks for your great work. Mike Jackson ----- Original Message ----- From: "Emelia Berol" To: "Byron " Cc: "Trinity List Server" ; "FOTR List" Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2006 2:14 PM Subject: Re: [env-trinity] Endangered Species Act I hope everyone will send Di Fei a message letting her know how they will feel about her if she supports Pombo's bill ... On Feb 23, 2006, at 12:19 PM, Byron wrote: > ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT: > > Report a boost for Pombo's ESA goals > > Stockton Record ? 2/23/06 > > By Hank Shaw, Capitol Bureau Chief > > > > SACRAMENTO - Two critical concepts in Tracy Rep. Richard Pombo's > proposed overhaul of the federal Endangered Species Act should > guide the U.S. Senate's attempts to reform the 23-year-old law, > according to the initial findings of a group senators commissioned > to help them prepare their legislation. > > > > > But the group failed to find a path through the debate's thorniest > thicket: How to reform the ESA's "critical habitat" provision, an > often unwieldy tool intended to give threatened critters a place to > live and multiply. > > Overhauling the ESA is no small matter for San Joaquin County, the > Delta and the Mother Lode, where about a dozen endangered plants > and animals live, including the San Joaquin kit fox, the Delta > smelt, the red-legged frog and the riparian brush rabbit. > > Congress is closer to wholesale reform of the Endangered Species > Act than it has been in years, and Pombo has been the driving force > from the House of Representatives. > > He wrestled a bill through the House last year with the help of > Rep. Dennis Cardoza, a Merced County Democrat whose district > includes Stockton. The legislation now awaits action in the Senate. > > Debate stalled, however, because many senators wanted to hear what > an eclectic group of environmentalists, industry officials, legal > experts and scholars called the Keystone Group had to say about > reform. > > Late last week the group sent a letter to six key senators > endorsing Pombo's emphasis on providing incentives for the owners > of private land - where 80 percent of endangered species live - to > stop shooting, spraying, shoveling over and shutting up about the > critters on their property. > > Among its recommendations, the Keystone Group favors an increase in > programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program, which is widely > used in other Western states to expand habitat for game animals > such as sharptail grouse and mule deer. > > Other possible incentives could come as tax breaks for landowners > who actively improve their land to support endangered plants or > animals. Sens. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., > already have sponsored such legislation. > > The group did not discuss Pombo's proposal, which would reimburse > landowners for the lost value of property tied up through > Endangered Species Act provisions. > > Critics such as the Defenders of Wildlife say doing this would > spark a taxpayer-funded giveaway. Pombo counters with a > Congressional Budget Office estimate that the incentive will cost > taxpayers only about $10 million a year. > > "It cuts both ways, to be honest with you," Pombo said of the > report. "I'd half-hoped they'd come out with specific language (for > legislation), but I think they found out what I did over 13 years: > This isn't easy." > > The Keystone Group letter also backed Pombo's desire to switch > "critical habitat," which can be haphazardly drawn by overworked > federal agents, to a more thoughtful "recovery plan" designed to do > what it takes to lift a species from the brink of extinction. > > But how to do that - environmentalists and property-rights > advocates are deeply divided - could scotch the whole reform effort > in an election year. > > Additionally, Eastern politicians tend to be hesitant about > tinkering with the ESA, which is sacrosanct among even many > Republicans there. > > Among them is Rhode Island Sen. Lincoln Chafee, chairman of the > Environment and Public Works Fisheries, Wildlife and Water > Subcommittee and the senator who commissioned the Keystone Group. > Chafee faces a tough election road ahead. > > Chafee has been hoping to craft what he sees as a more moderate > bill than Pombo's, which Chafee says does not adequately designate > recovery habitat and lacks provisions to ensure compliance. > > Pombo says he wants moderates such as Chafee and California Sen. > Dianne Feinstein on board with whatever emerges from the Senate. > > "She has to be part of it," he said. "Now I'm sure she'll have > different ideas - I'm not saying my bill is perfect. If they find a > better way to do this, put it in the legislation." > > Pombo's bottom line is in line with the Keystone findings: Refocus > the ESA to recovery of a species, increase its funding to do that > and give them an incentive to help save threatened plants and animals. > > > > But he'll need a filibuster-proof 60 senators with him. Pombo fully > expects someone to block any reform effort unless it has such broad > support. And he says he's willing to compromise to get there. > > "It's not going to be everything I want. I know that," Pombo said. > "What we have to do is put together the coalition that gets us to 60." > > The Senate is expected to begin debate on the legislation next month. > > > > > > Byron Leydecker > > Chair, Friends of Trinity River > > Advisor, California Trout, Inc > > PO Box 2327 > > Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 > > 415 383 4810 ph > > 415 383 9562 fx > > bwl3 at comcast.net > > bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org > > http://www.fotr.org > > http:www.caltrout.org > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > env-trinity mailing list > env-trinity at mailman.dcn.org > http://www2.dcn.org/mailman/listinfo/env-trinity > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > _______________________________________________ > env-trinity mailing list > env-trinity at mailman.dcn.org > http://www2.dcn.org/mailman/listinfo/env-trinity > From bwl3 at comcast.net Fri Feb 24 11:26:40 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2006 11:26:40 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Congressional Hearing Monday in Stockton Message-ID: <002a01c63978$3d2d3730$1f9eb545@p4> Congressional panel sets hearing on Delta Sacramento Bee - 2/24/06 By Matt Weiser, staff writer SACRAMENTO - A congressional committee will hold a field hearing Monday to discuss problems in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region. The House Resources Committee, chaired by Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, will begin the 8 a.m. hearing at the Port of Stockton, 315 Fyffe Ave. For more than a year, a team of state and federal scientists has struggled to understand dramatic declines in several Delta fish species, including the striped bass, an important game fish, and the threatened Delta smelt. Their $2 million research effort last year stopped short of assigning blame. But it found that water exports and hostile conditions in Suisun Bay, an important fish-rearing area, may be key contributing factors. More research is being conducted in hopes of pinpointing a specific cause. The Delta also suffers from a host of other problems, including poor water quality and invasive species. Next month, the state Fish and Game Commission is likely to adopt new Delta fishing limits for sturgeon, which have been targeted by caviar poachers. Monday's hearing will include testimony by seven biologists and water quality experts from state and federal agencies. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.gif Type: image/gif Size: 43 bytes Desc: not available URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Fri Feb 24 11:30:04 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2006 11:30:04 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Salmon Season Message-ID: <003001c63978$bc4fc140$1f9eb545@p4> Feds may drastically cut salmon season; Experts say low numbers of chinook in Klamath, Trinity rivers could even spur cancellation of commercial, sport fishing Santa Rosa Press Democrat - 2/24/06 By Katy Hillenmeyer, staff writer Regulators may severely curtail commercial and sport salmon fishing off California this year, and could even cancel the season. The number of mature chinook salmon leaving the ocean to spawn in the Klamath and Trinity rivers has fallen short of a goal of 35,000 two years running, biologists said. And the forecast for wild salmon returning to the Klamath this year is lower than it's been since 1992, which industry experts say could trigger a shortened fishing season from northern Oregon to Monterey. "The way that the stars are aligned, it would be the most restrictive year since 1992," said Rod McInnis, southwest regional administrator for the National Marine Fisheries Service. Even with commercial and recreational fishing prohibited through August between Oregon's Cape Falcon and California's Point Sur - and with tribal and sport fishing banned on the Klamath - the wild salmon would barely top 29,000, biologists predict. Bodega Bay's salmon fishing season typically ends Sept. 30. After 1992's dismal spawning forecast, "it's the second lowest .. . on record," said Chuck Tracy of the Pacific Fishery Management Council, which advises U.S. regulators about offshore fishing limits in California, Oregon and Washington. The March 15 opening of salmon fishing off Fort Bragg is likely to be postponed, he said, and Bodega Bay fishermen may again see their traditional May-1 opening pushed into mid-summer. "The whole fishery could be delayed or not happen," Tracy said Thursday. "I doubt there will be anything like last year's seasons. I think that would be pretty optimistic." Tens of thousands of salmon died in 2002 when water diversions for agriculture in Oregon left the Klamath River too low and too warm, an episode that has had lasting effects on ocean fishermen's freedom to harvest fall chinook. Conservation-driven limits delayed the commercial season off Bodega Bay last summer until July 4, cutting nine weeks out of a five-month season. Thanks to higher prices, California's salmon fishermen still grossed $12.8 million in 2004, industry records indicate, a year after reaping $18.4 million. The Portland, Ore.-based fishery management council will not finalize the last of its 2006 chinook recommendations to federal regulators until April. But fishermen, including many coming off a delayed crab season, are prepared for another short summer. "The worst scenario is there would be no fishing whatsoever for salmon; the best would be typical of last year's season," said Chuck Wise, a Bodega Bay fisherman who earns half of his income off salmon. "There will be full fishing below Point Sur, but there are not many salmon close to the coast of Mexico." Wise, who presides over the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, said it wouldn't be worth the cost of fuel to fish south of Monterey. Fishermen will lobby for an emergency exception to allow fishing in spite of conservation shortfalls, he said. Under a federal law to sustain fisheries, if salmon spawning targets are missed three years in a row, "that triggers an overfishing review," said Allen Glover, a senior biologist in Santa Rosa with the state Department of Fish and Game. So "without an emergency rule to go fishing, legally we can't go fishing under federal law," he said. "We're all waiting for the National Marine Fisheries Service to tell us whether we can go fishing." Salmon from the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers are plentiful again this year. "But it's the water situation on the Klamath that's created all this problem," Wise said. "As long as they keep pumping all the water out of the Klamath, this is never going to change." Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From look_mtr at montereybay.com Fri Feb 24 15:23:38 2006 From: look_mtr at montereybay.com (William B. Look, Jr. Attorney) Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2006 15:23:38 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Re: Endangered Species Act References: <003b01c638b6$724fe600$1f9eb545@p4> Message-ID: <001e01c63999$57bf1d40$6401a8c0@look04a1257c32> OK boys, here's your homework. Billy Van Loek PS My $0.02 worth: Give EPA a 'right of first refusal' to buy habitat easements, seasonal, temporary (term of years) or permanent and finesse the private property problem. ----- Original Message ----- From: Byron To: FOTR List ; Trinity List Server Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2006 12:19 PM Subject: Endangered Species Act -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: keystoneletter.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 243596 bytes Desc: not available URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Tue Feb 28 10:56:32 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Tue, 28 Feb 2006 10:56:32 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Three News Articles - Congressional Hearing on Delta Collapse Message-ID: <001401c63c98$ba67faf0$1f9eb545@p4> No simple answer seen for drastic decline of delta fish; Federal hearing explores ways to address the problem San Francisco Chronicle - 2/28/06 By Gen Martin, staff writer Stockton -- The sudden collapse of several fish species in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is likely a result of factors including water exports, pesticides, non-native species and even poisonous algae, government scientists testified Monday at a hearing of the House of Representatives Resources Committee. The hearing, held at the Rough and Ready Naval Reservation in Stockton, follows last year's revelations that many of the delta's most important fish species, including the delta smelt, have all but disappeared. Debate over how to address the problem has pitted environmentalists and academic scientists against agribusiness and public water agencies. A group of commercial and recreational fishing advocates picketed Monday's meeting, holding signs calling for reduced water exports from the delta to cities and farms in the southern half of the state. "It's an economic as well as an environmental catastrophe," said Gary Adams, the state president of the California Striped Bass Association. "Since 1995, businesses related to delta fishing have lost $4 billion -- boat dealers, marinas, restaurants, tackle shops -- everybody." Some congressional members who attended the hearing favored further study of the problem, while others urged shelving pending plans to increase water exports to the South State. "I understand it's a complex issue, but we can't just say it's complex and then keep demanding more studies while we continue to pump more and more water," said Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez. Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, who chairs the committee and ran Monday's hearing, acknowledged that some delta fish species "are at an all-time low, but no one can responsibly say why. The easy way out is to finger-point to some policy or infrastructure hated by some groups. Throwing money at the cause of the month will not get us anywhere, either." Pombo said he was concerned that 15 years of effort, which involved changing pumping schedules and spending millions of dollars on fish screens and other measures, had resulted in no net gain for the fish. "None of it has worked, and we need to know why," Pombo said. "Whatever we decide to do will have a big impact on the delta, but it will also have a big economic impact on California." Water from the delta irrigates hundreds of thousands of acres of San Joaquin Valley farmland and slakes the thirst of more than 20 million Californians. But environmentalists and many academic scientists maintain that the population crash of four key delta fish during the past few years -- delta smelt, longfin smelt, threadfin shad and striped bass -- is demonstrably linked to reduced freshwater flows through the delta and San Francisco Bay. The four species suffer, water export policy critics say, because restricted flows diminish the delta's biological productivity and because the giant pumps near Tracy, which move the water south, grind up many fish. But agency scientists said the issue is more complicated than that. "This is a tough problem, and there is no simple answer or smoking gun," said Chuck Armor, the California Department of Fish and Game's Central Valley bay-delta branch operations manager. "More likely, there are multiple causes, and they may vary from species to species." Miller took to task David Harlow, the assistant field supervisor for the Sacramento office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, for not directly addressing the impacts of water exports on the threatened fish. Referring to a plan to conjoin the operation of the state and federal pumps at Tracy to send more water south, Miller asked Harlow why Fish and Wildlife didn't oppose the measure. "You describe this as a very complex problem, but you wouldn't introduce more Asian clams, would you?" Miller asked. "You wouldn't introduce more herbicides, would you? But apparently, there is a move on the part of some agencies to increase water exports from the delta." Harlow said he had been advised by his agency's legal counsel to avoid discussing the matter because the water export plan is under litigation. Policy threatens to eclipse science on Delta, Miller says Contra Costa Times - 2/28/06 By Mike Taugher, staff writer STOCKTON - During the first congressional hearing into what might be causing the ecosystem crisis in the Delta, Rep. George Miller said Monday that water agency officials are committed to sending water to San Joaquin Valley and Southern California even it comes at the expense of the Delta's health. Miller, D-Martinez, said he doubts whether advice coming from scientists will be heeded if they conclude that pumping water out of the Delta is the main cause of the declining ecosystem. Water pumping is considered one of the three leading suspects causing the Delta's problems, along with invasive species, especially an Asian clam that grows thick in Suisun Bay, and toxic substances like pesticides. Cutting back on water deliveries could be the logical recommendation if the Delta's woes are directly tied to the levels of pumping. "You wouldn't introduce more clams at this point, would you? You wouldn't add more pesticides, would you?" Miller asked a panel of state and federal scientists. That question underscored the most highly charged potential fallout of the Delta's problems -- that water deliveries to users in other parts of the state might be part of the reason for the ecological crisis. Reversing the problem could affect irrigation water for 7 million acres of farmland and drinking water for more than 22 million people. Miller, said that although Monday's hearing was focused on the science underlying the problems, policy decisions should also be examined. "We can keep talking about the best available science, but when you have the best available science ... it's not being followed," Miller said. He cited two examples last year when scientists recommended temporary curtailments of water deliveries to protect Delta smelt. In both instances, which the Contra Costa Times disclosed in July, water agency managers overrode the scientists' advice and maintained higher-than-recommended pumping levels, even though at the time they knew that populations of Delta smelt and other fish were plummeting to alarming depths. "The battle cry here is sound science. You get sound science, and then you have policy people making decisions to overrule it," Miller said. The field hearing of the House Resources Committee was convened by committee chairman Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, nine months after it became public that several Delta fish species were at least three years into a steep and inexplicable decline. That decline, which appears to be indicative of deepening ecological problems in the Delta, continued to worsen last year. Even though two of the four fish species' populations rebounded, those improvements were not as big as expected given good snow and rainfall conditions last year, scientists said. Meanwhile, Delta smelt, the most imperiled Delta fish species, went from a record low population to a much lower figure last fall. "The one thing we learned in 2005 is there is no simple answer or smoking gun for this. This is a tough problem," said Chuck Armor of the California Department of Fish and Game. Pombo said Monday's hearing was the first in what will be several on the Delta's troubles. The next hearing will probably focus on its fragile levees, he said. Pombo said he wanted to avoid politics during Monday's hearing and delay discussion about what needs to be done so that the focus could be on what scientists know about the problem. The panel included seven state and federal scientists who reviewed the scope and possible causes of the crisis: Last year, scientists realized that several of the Delta's open-water fish species, including Delta smelt, young striped bass, threadfin shad and longfin smelt, began a sudden and sharp decline in about 2002. The sweeping nature of the decline within the open-water ecosystem and the fact that it could not be explained by weather patterns or any other identifiable cause alarmed scientists. They quickly identified pumps, toxics and invasive species as possible culprits, and after a $1.7 million research effort last year came up with two more detailed theories that might explain at least some of the problem. The first theory involves invasive clams in Suisun Bay that are eating plankton that would otherwise be food for small fish. The second theory asserts that higher pumping rates during the winter, which were instituted to make up for slowdowns meant to protect fish in the spring, appear to be killing more fish than expected. But scientists said they do not know when the cause will be identified. "Unfortunately, they are not as far along on the science as I had hoped in terms of conclusions and policy recommendations," Pombo said. "To make any kind of major policy change would be premature." Five members of Congress, including Pombo and Miller, attended the hearing. Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Atwater, Rep. Grace Napolitano, D-Norwalk, and Rep. George Radanovich, R-Mariposa, asked scientists to consider other possible explanations besides pumping rates, which they suggested could include global climate change. Napolitano asked if fertilizers could be causing the problem and Cardoza wondered. Go fish; Hearing uncovers few answers to declining Delta populations Stockton Record - 2/28/06 By Warren Lutz, staff writer STOCKTON - A team of state and federal scientists struggled Monday to explain to federal lawmakers why several fish species are dying in the Delta. "We still have a lot of questions we need to answer over the next couple of years," Department of Water Resources scientist Ted Sommer told five House Resources Committee members who met at the Port of Stockton. Some lawmakers - and some attendees - had their own suspicions. Species of threadfin chad, striped bass, longfin smelt and Delta smelt are at or near historic lows in the 1,000-mile estuary, prompting scientists earlier this year to study possible causes. Their research so far has yielded three primary reasons or a combination of them: exports of Delta water to Southern California, pollution and invasive species that gobble native fish's food supply. They just don't know which problem is the biggest culprit. With nearly $2million spent on their quest last year, some lawmakers voiced frustration at not having solid answers. "After all this time being under the microscope, you'd think we'd know more than we do," said Rep. Grace Napolitano, D-Norwalk. About 23 million Californians drink Delta water, sent south from large pumps near Tracy to communities and farms. Napolitano's district lies in Los Angeles County, which she said gets one-third of the Delta's water. "We benefit from everything you do up here," she said. Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, hammered the scientists with questions over those same exports. Miller wanted to know why state and federal officials are planning to send even more water south as fish populations continue to crash. "We can keep talking (about) sound science, ... but it's not followed," said Miller, a vocal environmentalist in Congress who last summer persuaded Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, to hold the fish-crash hearings. Pombo chairs the Resources Committee and also represents part of the Delta region. He said in September that he planned to hold the hearings in California instead of a typical Washington hearing. The Resources Committee oversees much of the nation's environmental policy, including various wildlife agencies. The scientists who testified Monday - representing the state Department of Water Resources, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and state and federal wildlife agencies - reminded the legislators that they do research, not policy-making. When important findings emerge, California Fish and Game Bay-Delta manager Chuck Armor said, "it will be made available as soon as it can make it up to our directors and out. ... They make the call on what to do with it." Pombo advised committee members to stick to the issues. "I did not want this hearing to become another round of finger-pointing," he said. Some at Monday's event pointed fingers anyway. A dozen anglers stood outside the hearing, protesting water exports. Some were members of groups that sued the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Bureau of Reclamation last year, claiming state and federal water operations were killing fish. Mike McKenzie, vice chairman of the Bay-Delta chapter of the Federation of Fly Fishers, noted the scientists who testified worked for the same agencies that manage the water-export pumps. "What we saw," McKenzie said, "was a bunch of government biologists constrained by the real-life politics of the issue." Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Tue Feb 28 11:05:01 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Tue, 28 Feb 2006 11:05:01 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] More Print Media Coverage on Delta Collapse Hearing Message-ID: <001a01c63c99$eb4665c0$1f9eb545@p4> Critics say money spent on California delta has produced little North County Times - 2/27/06 By Don Thompson, Associated Press STOCKTON -- Frustrated members of Congress vented their anger at efforts to save California's most crucial water source on Monday, saying millions of dollars have been spent to study problems in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta with little to show for it. Water managers have spent 15 years "spending literally hundreds of millions of dollars, and billions of dollars in lost economic activity, and none of that has worked," U.S. Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, said during a field hearing focused on the delta's problems. Pombo, chairman of the House Resources Committee and a critic of the federal Endangered Species Act, called the hearing to focus attention on the decline of four key delta fish species. The plight of the fish has raised concerns that the overall health of the vast estuary is being jeopardized by pesticides, agricultural pumping, invasive species and other problems. The delta is the linchpin of California's water supply, draining 42 percent of the state's land mass and providing drinking water to two-thirds of the state. It also is the key water source for one of the nation's most fertile farming regions. Scientific studies cost $2 million last year and are projected to cost $3.7 million this year in an attempt to find a cause for the historic drop in the number of delta smelt, striped bass, longfin smelt and threadfin shad. Implementing steps to save those species could cost millions more, according to state water officials, and could disrupt plans to divert more of the delta's water for Central Valley agriculture and Southern California water agencies. Criticism of the attempts to solve the delta's many problems -- and reconcile the needs of the farmers, fishermen and municipalities that depend on it -- was bipartisan during Monday's hearing. "After all the time being under the microscope, you'd think we'd know more than we do," said U.S. Rep. Grace Napolitano, D-Norwalk. She said answers are needed "not two years from now but hopefully this year." U.S. Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Atwater, said blame has centered variously on the pumps that divert water to farmers and cities, on power plants, on invasive species, on a decline in the food chain and on toxic contamination. He said the lack of answers has been disappointing. "Instead of seeing improvements, the problem seems to be getting worse," Cardoza said. "Shutting down the pumps has wasted money and water and time." Fishermen, environmentalists and political opponents of Pombo also attended the hearing in this port city south of Sacramento and said water diversions are primarily to blame for the delta's environmental decline. U.S. Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, criticized state and federal water managers for proposing an increase in pumping without first studying whether it will further damage the delta. Biologists' previous recommendations to reduce pumping in an effort to save fish species have sometimes been ignored or delayed, said Miller, a former chairman of the committee. "We really don't know yet" the effect of the pumping on fish, said Mike Chotkowski, a fisheries biologist with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the agency that runs the federal pumps. "We're working on it." The delta is a complex ecosystem with many annual variables in water flow, temperature, pumping and other factors, Ted Sommer, chief of the California Department of Water Resources' aquatic ecology section, said in response to the criticism leveled Monday. "We still have a lot of questions that we need to answer over the next couple of years," he said. Cure sought for ailing Delta; Invasive species, pesticides, exportation of water hurting system, scientists tell Congress Oakland Tribune - 2/28/06 By Douglas Fischer, staff writer STOCKTON - The House Resources Committee hauled seven government scientists to the table Monday to offer their best assessment on the collapse of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta's ecosystem. Their answer was as murky as the waters running through the sloughs and channels near here: "There is no end date where we can confidently predict we'll have an answer," offered Mike Chotkowski, a fisheries biologist for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, in response to one congresswoman's question. It could have stood for many others. The Delta's health has alarmed and puzzled scientists and government water managers recently. Fish stocks have dropped to historic lows despite millions of dollars spent on restoration efforts and consecutive years of relatively abundant rainfall. At Monday's field hearing, scientists described the daunting task of trying to assess the health of one of the West Coast's largest river systems - the water source of two-thirds of California's 35 million people and much of the state's $32 billion agriculture industry. "The current decline ... is a very complex problem," said David Harlow, assistant field supervisor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "It is unlikely there will be a simple solution." But the threat to the Delta's health likely comes from three main culprits, scientists told lawmakers: invasive species that out-compete native fish for food, pesticides and other contaminants that sully water quality, and water exports that lately have diverted record amounts of water to Southern California and the Central Valley. "The complexity of the problem almost defies putting your thumb on any particular solution," said Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez. And while conservationists have called loudly for those water exports to decrease, scientists on Monday steadfastly skirted any recommendation for that political hot potato - despite some lawmakers' best efforts. One exchange between Miller, the congressman, and Harlow, the field supervisor: Miller: "How can you have an increase in exports at a time when you don't know the interaction of exports among the impacts? You wouldn't introduce more (invasive) clams at this point, would you?" Harlow: "Right." "You wouldn't increase more herbicides at this point, would you?" "Right." "Yet at this point various agencies have put in motion ... a course of action that will lead to more exports." "I've been advised by legal counsel not to speculate." Still, scientists repeatedly said Monday water exports, the vast amount of which go to agriculture, are just one piece of the puzzle. The Suisun Bay, once an important nursery for many Delta species, is now virtually carpeted with a tiny invasive clam that essentially vacuums up the bottom of the food web, leaving little food for small fish. "We call it the 'bad Suisun Bay hypothesis,'" said Matt Nobriga, an environmental scientist for the California Department of Water Resources. The introduction of a new class of short-lived pesticides meant to replace longer-living ones may have backfired, added Rich Breuer, program manager for the Department of Water Resources' water quality and estuarine studies. Studies of fish livers show considerably more lesions when compared with archived samples, Breuer added, though no one can say whether such damage comes from pesticides or starvation. Meanwhile populations of Delta smelt have plummeted. Last year, the state sent a record 6.4 million acre-feet of water south - 2 trillion gallons, or enough to cover San Francisco to the base of Coit Tower. Plans are in the works to increase that amount. Thus, in a meeting ostensibly devoted to science of an ecosystem, the focus kept returning to the politics of water. "I look at this and I'm somewhat concerned," said Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo, R-Tracy. "In the last 15 years we've spent hundreds of millions (of dollars) on restoration efforts and billions in lost economic activity (due to restrictions on water exports) and it doesn't seem that any of that has worked." There's plenty of pressure to increase exports no matter what the science says, particularly with the Colorado River increasingly off-limits to California - which had Miller objecting to this notion of "sound science." "If you rig the game at the outset then it's very hard to come up with a valid response," Miller said after the hearing. "There's a lot of politics being dumped on top of the attempts to improve the Delta system." "You can wake up one day and find the Delta (has) completely collapsed." The House Resources Committee will accept written testimony on the Delta's health through March 10. More information can be found on the Web at http://www.resourcescommittee.house.gov. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Wed Mar 1 13:41:06 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2006 13:41:06 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Salmon may be off limits Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE0926301961EC3@mail2.trinitycounty.org> Salmon may be off limits http://www.modbee.com/sports/v-rssxml/story/11877601p-12649039c.html THE MODESTO BEE By GEORGE SNYDER BEE STAFF WRITER Last Updated: March 1, 2006, 05:00:14 AM PST If you have vivid memories of summertime treks to the coast to fish for big, ocean chinook salmon - hang on to them. The memories I mean. They may be hard to replenish this year. Depending upon what happens next week when the Pacific Fisheries Management Council meets in Seattle, you may not be able to catch salmon out of the ocean at all in 2006, either commercially or for sport. That's because of low numbers of chinook salmon returning to the Klamath River to spawn for the past two years. To make matters worse, this year's run, expected to reach 29,000 adults, falls way short of the Council's mandatory 35,000 spawners they figure are needed to sustain the Klamath fishery. "And that's if there is a total recreational and commercial fishing ban from now through August," said California Department of Fish and Game Associate Marine Biologist Melodie Palmer-Zwahlen, a member of the department's Ocean Salmon Project. "There will be restrictions on California and Oregon salmon fisheries this season," she said. "We just won't know how extensive they will be." Palmer-Zwahlen said that when the Klamath's basic spawning levels aren't met for three years in a row - which seems likely this fall - federal law designed to sustain the fishery kicks in, potentially requiring even further scrutiny and anti-overfishing regulations by the National Marine Fisheries Service. Meanwhile, commercial ocean salmon fishing is currently closed off California pending a final decision on this year's season to be made in April by the PFMC. Recreational salmon fishing along the Central Coast is scheduled to open on April 1 - before the final PFMC meet - from Point Arena in Mendocino County and points south. How long this year's recreational season lasts, however, depends once again on the PFMC and remains anybody's guess. "We just don't know what we are going to have," said Bob Strickland, the San Jose-based president of United Anglers of California, and one of three California members on the PFMC Advisory Panel, one each representing commercial interests, and north and south state coastal recreational anglers. "We will know a lot more at the end of next week," said Stickland, who plans to attend the Seattle conference. Pretty much everyone agrees that at the heart of the matter lies the Klamath-Trinity river system, which once regularly produced tens of thousands of chinook salmon. Like most other major salmon-producing rivers on the Pacific Coast, however, dams, logging and agriculture have led to greatly diminished spawning habitat. In recent years, Klamath fish have suffered even heavier blows, like in September of 2002 when more than 33,000 salmon died before they could spawn after upstream waters were diverted by federal officials for agricultural purposes. Those chickens are now coming home to roost, or rather, not enough Klamath salmon are coming back to spawn. Unfortunately for Central Coast ocean fishermen, Klamath salmon travel south in the salt water, mixing with other fish, in particular the much more plentiful chinooks coming out of the Sacramento River drainage. Those fish, whose numbers reached near record highs last year, continue to be plentiful. But the fish cops don't want Klamath River fish to be caught in the midst of the Sacramento fishery, hence the threat of shortened or even non-seasons off our coast to protect them. There could be, however, a silver lining for local salmon anglers planning to fish the Sacramento River this fall, one almost as bright as the great fish they seek. Klamath salmon should be heading north when the fall spawning runs commence, leaving the Sacramento, which is not expected to be closed, to its own fish and fishermen. "I'm not sure what the final numbers might be," said Palmer-Zwalenn, "but if they close the season on ocean fishing, that's going to make fishing in the Sacramento that much better since there are going to be a lot more fish that never got caught out in the ocean." -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Thu Mar 2 09:50:35 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2006 09:50:35 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Klamath Water Quality Message-ID: <005101c63e21$d078d320$1f9eb545@p4> WATER QUALITY ON THE KLAMATH: Klamath water quality focus getting sharper Eureka Times-Standard - 3/2/06 BY John Driscoll, staff writer Water quality agencies are mid-stream in developing plans to help clean up the Klamath River's water, considered imperative to boosting salmon and other fish populations. The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, the Oregon Department of Water Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are analyzing information about the river, beginning at Link River at the outlet of Upper Klamath Lake to the ocean. Currently, they are looking at nutrients, dissolved oxygen and temperature -- listed as out of whack by the agencies. By October, the North Coast water board hopes to have a draft document that identifies limits on these three factors -- called a TMDL, or total maximum daily load. The TMDL development team leader, David Leland, said that the plan could go to the board for approval by January. After that, farmers, timber operators, gravel extractors or any operation that may add nutrients, raise temperatures or deplete oxygen in the river would either need a special permit, or a waiver from the regulations. But Leland said it's too early to say what the limits might look like. "I'm reluctant to prejudge what the action plan would be before we do the analysis," Leland said. The water board's role is to set goals for improving water quality, he said, and can lend support to projects that aim to achieve those goals. A similar plan developed for the Shasta River -- a Klamath River tributary -- directs irrigators to improve the quality of water that is returned to the watershed, encourages ranchers to control erosion and polluted runoff, and directs cities to change wastewater operations to improve water quality. State Water Resources Control Board experts are also working to put the Klamath River below the confluence of the Trinity River on a list of rivers affected by sediment runoff. Water quality assessment unit chief Craig Wilson said he hopes the recommendation, which will come with many others of its kind, will be considered by the board this summer. That will then go to the EPA for its approval. A TMDL plan will eventually be drafted to deal with the sediment issue. How soon is a matter of where on the priority list the Klamath lands, Wilson said. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Thu Mar 2 09:54:04 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2006 09:54:04 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] San Joaquin River Deal? Message-ID: <005601c63e22$51c939b0$1f9eb545@p4> SAN JOAQUIN RIVER: Funds sought for San Joaquin River water deal Fresno Bee - 3/2/06 By Michael Doyle, staff writer WASHINGTON - The Bush administration's top water official said Wednesday he was "cautiously optimistic" about a potential deal to resolve the future of the San Joaquin River. With any deal certain to be expensive, lawmakers are now advising the Interior Department to cast about for potential funding sources. One possibility being floated could be a multimillion-dollar Central Valley environmental fund established in 1992. The federal funds would join with a sizable state contribution to pay for stream channel improvements and a host of other projects needed to restore the San Joaquin River below Friant Dam. First, though, long-warring parties and anxious kibitzers must get on the same page. "It's a delicate negotiation right now in terms of finding common ground," Assistant Interior Secretary Mark Limbaugh said. "I would say progress is being made; any time you get both parties to the table, that's progress." Many more than two parties, though, are trying to squeeze in at this table. That complicates things immensely. Water users from the Modesto Irrigation District to the Stockton East Water District and beyond, while not part of the original San Joaquin River dispute, are picking away at a potential solution. Limbaugh oversees the federal Bureau of Reclamation. That puts him in the middle of efforts to end an 18-year-old lawsuit prompted by the drying up of a historic salmon fishery below Friant Dam. The Natural Resources Defense Council and the Friant Water Users Authority have apparently come closer than ever before to settling the case. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton in Sacramento will conduct a hearing on the status of the highly confidential negotiations. Rep. George Radanovich, R-Mariposa, chairman of the House water and power subcommittee, said Wednesday that he's urged the Bureau of Reclamation this week to consider the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund. This is a big pot of money, with the Interior Department's share totaling $385million this year. However, it might also be a hard sell to convince lawmakers in other states to devote much of this national fund to solving a Central Valley problem. Another potential source could be the Central Valley Project Restoration Fund, which provides upward of $50million a year. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Thu Mar 2 09:59:28 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2006 09:59:28 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Monday's Delta fish hearing Message-ID: <005b01c63e23$0f994c00$1f9eb545@p4> I'm writing to thank you all for your involvement in the congressional hearing held in Stockon on Monday. The attendance in the hall was excellent, and we were greeted by more than a dozen people holding "pro-fish" signs. It was a great showing, and on behalf of myself and Congressman Miller, thank you very much for helping us demonstrate that so many people care about the Delta. I also wanted to make sure you saw the attached news articles. I think the coverage of the hearing was largely pretty good, though it was too bad that so many of the reporters emphasized the unknowns, rather than curious fact that the state and federal agencies aren't really taking responsibility for their actions' impact on California's fisheries. The hearing itself didn't reveal very much beyond what we already know, so we will need to stay active if the threats to the Bay-Delta system are going to be addressed. I figured you'd be especially interested in the first Tracy Press story about the importance of the fishing community in this debate. Enjoy the articles; feel free to distribute to anyone I might have missed. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or ideas, and thank you again for all your help. Ben Ben Miller Legislative Assistant Rep. George Miller (D-CA) 2205 Rayburn House Office Building Washington DC 20515 (202) 225-2095 Fax: (202) 225-5609 http://www.house.gov/georgemiller/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: deltafishstories.pdf Type: application/octet-stream Size: 131081 bytes Desc: not available URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Thu Mar 2 13:52:52 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2006 13:52:52 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Klamath water quality focus getting sharper Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE0926301961F06@mail2.trinitycounty.org> Klamath water quality focus getting sharper Article Launched: 03/02/2006 4:27 AM PST http://www.times-standard.com/local/ci_3561753 John Driscoll The Times-Standard Water quality agencies are mid-stream in developing plans to help clean up the Klamath River's water, considered imperative to boosting salmon and other fish populations. The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, the Oregon Department of Water Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are analyzing information about the river, beginning at Link River at the outlet of Upper Klamath Lake to the ocean. Currently, they are looking at nutrients, dissolved oxygen and temperature -- listed as out of whack by the agencies. By October, the North Coast water board hopes to have a draft document that identifies limits on these three factors -- called a TMDL, or total maximum daily load. The TMDL development team leader, David Leland, said that the plan could go to the board for approval by January. After that, farmers, timber operators, gravel extractors or any operation that may add nutrients, raise temperatures or deplete oxygen in the river would either need a special permit, or a waiver from the regulations. But Leland said it's too early to say what the limits might look like. "I'm reluctant to prejudge what the action plan would be before we do the analysis," Leland said. The water board's role is to set goals for improving water quality, he said, and can lend support to projects that aim to achieve those goals. A similar plan developed for the Shasta River -- a Klamath River tributary -- directs irrigators to improve the quality of water that is returned to the watershed, encourages ranchers to control erosion and polluted runoff, and directs cities to change wastewater operations to improve water quality. State Water Resources Control Board experts are also working to put the Klamath River below the confluence of the Trinity River on a list of rivers affected by sediment runoff. Water quality assessment unit chief Craig Wilson said he hopes the recommendation, which will come with many others of its kind, will be considered by the board this summer. That will then go to the EPA for its approval. A TMDL plan will eventually be drafted to deal with the sediment issue. How soon is a matter of where on the priority list the Klamath lands, Wilson said -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Thu Mar 2 16:40:58 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2006 16:40:58 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Dan Bacher Article on Delta Hearing Message-ID: <002201c63e5b$2f4ed780$1f9eb545@p4> Scientists At Congressional Hearing: No Simple Answers For Delta Decline by Dan Bacher Seven state and federal scientists, who testified on the Delta fishery decline in a House Resources Committee Hearing conducted by Congressman Richard Pombo in Stockton on February 27, said they don't yet have any clear answers to why Delta smelt, juvenile striped bass, longfin smelt and threadfin shad have plummeted to record low levels over the past several years. Agency administrators apparently coached the scientists to avoid answering the hard questions - those that connected science with water policy - like those asked by Congressman George Miller and other Representatives. "There is no simple answer to the causes of the pelagic organism decline," said Chuck Armor, Operations Manager of the DFG's Central Valley Bay-Delta Branch, contending that the causes are complex and vary by species. Armor and other scientists said the three possible causes are toxics, water flows and exports and invasive species. Before and after the meeting, over 30 representatives of fishing and environmental groups held signs on the street outside of the hearing, asking Congress to save the Delta and stop water exports. Those folks joined with many others inside the hearing room to make the event a standing room only affair. Fishing groups criticized Pombo for not inviting independent scientists and the public to testify. "I'm disappointed by the panel that was chosen, since it was essentially representatives of state and federal agencies who were there to defend the actions of those agencies," said Bill Jennings, chairman of the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance. " It's the proverbial case of asking the fox to guard the chicken coop." Unfortunately, the scientists failed to point out the major role that exports play in fish declines, in spite of the evidence accumulated by both government and independent biologists for over 30 years. "Although the impacts of entrainment losses have been implicated in the decline of the delta smelt, particularly in the south Delta, it is apparent that other causes such as non native species, contaminants and changes in food supply may also be limiting species recovery," said David Harlow, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Sacramento Field Office Supervisor. "Accordingly, it is unlikely that reduction of export pumping is sufficient alone to bring about recovery." One theory advanced by the scientists - the "Bad Suisun Bay hypothesis" - said that the Asian clam and other species have altered the bay's food web. Introductions of various small shrimp-like animals have also impacted the bay's food chain, according to Matt Nobriga of the California Department of Water Resources. Miller, who spurred Pombo to conduct the hearings, emphasized that the hearing should only be the first of several steps in solving the Delta pelagic fish decline, including implementing policy to save the ecosystem. "In addition to talking to federal and state agency scientists, we have a responsibility to discuss and implement policy. In addition to learning what has been done, we need to determine what should be done to protect the health of the Delta," he said in his opening statement. Pombo, who in his 1996 book This Land is Our Land" claimed that the environmental protections needed for the restoration of the Delta and other ecosystems "are borrowed from fascists, anarchists, globalists, and communists," said Delta policy decisions should be made on the basis of "science" rather than "finger pointing." "Some Delta fish species are at all time low, but no one can responsibly say why," said Pombo "The easy way out is to point at some policy or infrastructure hated by some groups. Throwing money at the cause of the month will not get us anywhere either. Science, not politics, must be the basis of our environmental politics and responses." However, Miller pointed out how the advice of the scientists is frequently discarded by state and federal water agencies when it conflicts with political pressure by water users to provide water exports. Miller emphasized how the federal and state water agencies in 2005 twice overrode the recommendations of scientists to temporarily reduce pumping, in spite of their full knowledge that Delta fish were undergoing an alarming decline. "We can keep talking about the best available science, but when you have the best available science, it is not being followed," said Miller. Miller also criticized the state and federal agencies for failing to discuss the impact of proposed increases in state and federal exports upon the Delta decline.' "We got to figure out what's going on today to make a decision on the future protocol for the operation of the pumps," said Miller. "We must try to make sure that the impacts of increased pumping are not taken out of the equation." At one point Miller asked David Harlow, "How can you have an increase in exports at a time when you don't know the interaction of exports among the impacts? You wouldn't introduce more Asian clams, would you? You wouldn't increase more herbicides, would you?" To Miller's question about the impacts of export increases, Harlow said, "I've been advised by legal counsel not to speculate." The enforced silence of the scientists about pumping impacts was apparent again when Rep. Dennis Cardoza asked, "Do you see any tremendous benefits in shutting the pumps down? None of the scientists responded. "By their silence we know a lot," said Cardoza. Rep. Grace Napolitano, D. -Norwalk, Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Atwater, and Rep. George Radanovich, R. Mariposa, also questioned the scientists at the hearing. In spite of the hearing's shortcomings, Bill Jennings and other fishing group representatives said it was an important step for Congress to make. "I'm glad that Miller said that now is not the time to increase water exports or undertake the hydrological changes proposed by the state and federal governments," said Jennings. "I think that Representatives Miller and Cardoza had good questions, but the scientists didn't have good answers to the causes of the Delta decline," summed up Red Bartley, northern California board member of the Recreational Fishing Alliance." "This is just stage one of many stages in the battle to restore the Delta. If we don't stop money from being the driving force in making decisions, rather than science, the Delta doesn't have a chance," said Bob Strickland, president of United Anglers of California. A diverse array of fishing and environmental groups appeared at the hearing. Dick Pool, board member of the American Sportfishing Association, Jim Martin, West Coast Director of RFA, Gary Adams, president of the California Striped Bass Association (CSBA), Jay Sorenson, founder of the CSBA, Dan Wolford from Coastside Fishing Club, Mark Rockwell from the Federation of Fly Fishers and John Ryzanych from the Bay Delta Sport Fishing Enhancement Stamp Committee attended the hearing. David Nesmith of the Environmental Water Caucus, Barry Nelson from the Natural Resources Defense Council and Brent Plater of the Center for Biological Diversity also came to the event. Many gave written statements to the Representatives to put in the hearing record. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Thu Mar 2 23:55:26 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2006 23:55:26 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] New York Times March 3 - Westlands Contract Message-ID: <000301c63e97$e0f1bac0$1f9eb545@p4> For Thirsty Farmers, Old Friends at Interior Dept. Printer-FriendlySingle-PageReprintsSave Article By TIMOTHY EGAN Published: March 3, 2006 FRESNO, Calif. - For more than 10 years, Jason Peltier was a paid advocate for the irrigation-dependent farmers here in the Central Valley of California , several hundred landowners who each year consume more water than the city of Los Angeles does. Skip to next paragraph Enlarge This Image Jim Wilson/The New York Times Some Central Valley farmers supplied by the Delta-Mendota Canal may be able to make money reselling the water. More Photos > Multimedia Slideshow Central Valley Project Irrigation Central Valley Project Irrigation The New York Times The Westlands Water District is seeking a government contract. More Photos > Now Mr. Peltier works for the Bush administration, and he helps oversee the awarding of new water contracts for the people he used to represent as head of the Central Valley Project Water Users Association. The federal contracts, tying up water for a quarter-century or more from the world's largest irrigation project, have the potential to bring the farmers a huge windfall if they turn around and sell the water on the open market. At the same time Mr. Peltier - as the deputy assistant secretary for water and science at the Interior Department - is involved with reviewing a request by the water association to stop paying up to $11.5 million a year into an environmental restoration fund, as required by a 1992 law. Mr. Peltier's role influencing decisions that could have a direct financial impact on his former employer is part of a pattern at the Interior Department over the last five years, critics say, with a revolving door between managers on the government side, and the people who buy or lease federal water, land or forests on the other side. At the Interior Department, at least six high political positions have been occupied by people associated with businesses or trade associations tied to public lands or resources. One of those appointees, J. Steven Griles, a deputy secretary, continued to receive $284,000 a year from his old lobbying firm while working for the government. Mr. Griles stepped down last year, saying he had not done anything to violate ethics rules at the department. Mr. Peltier, in an interview, said that when he first came to the Bush administration in 2001, he recused himself from some decisions involving the landowners he used to represent, but he said he was granted an exemption because of his expertise in California water issues. "I was given dispensation early on because of my knowledge of these issues," he said. He added, "I have not had the strict bar of separation on certain issues, but I've been very mindful of the appearance of a conflict and operated accordingly." Interior Department officials said Mr. Peltier, who is the chief policy adviser on California water issues, had cleared his activities with the ethics office. Mark Limbaugh, the assistant secretary for water and science and Mr. Peltier's immediate supervisor, said in a telephone interview that Mr. Peltier's role was only advisory on water issues that involve his former employer. "He provides background, insight and advice," Mr. Limbaugh said. "He is not in a position to make the ultimate decisions." But others say the arrangement is inappropriate, and they point to contract terms that could give farmers in the Central Valley, including the ones Mr. Peltier once represented, far more federally subsidized water under their new contracts than they could ever use. And because the water will be provided at a fraction of the price it would cost on the open market, the farmers could act as brokers to resell unneeded water at a huge markup, making them some of the most powerful players in Western water politics for well into the middle part of this century. Some of the farmers will pay about $40 per acre foot of water (roughly 326,000 gallons) under the new contracts for water that could fetch up to $200 an acre foot on the open market in dry years, according to groups that monitor the Central Valley Project. "They're basically locking up the last available water in California for 50 years, which they could then sell at big profit made on the back of taxpayers," said Tom Stokely, a water policy and planning official with Trinity County, in Northern California, which has been at odds with water users in the Central Valley for decades. The biggest pool of water at stake under Mr. Peltier's watch involves the Westlands Water District, a group of San Joaquin Valley landowners and the largest and most prominent member of the trade association that Mr. Peltier used to represent. Published: March 3, 2006 (Page 2 of 2) The new contract for Westlands, stuffed with arcane and obscure language, would give the landowners water from the government-financed Central Valley Project for 25 years, with an option for another 25 years. Skip to next paragraph Multimedia Slideshow Central Valley Project Irrigation Central Valley Project Irrigation Asked about his role in the Westlands contract negotiations, Mr. Peltier said, "I've tried to steer away from the nuts and bolts" of the contract because of his prior job. He also said, "There are a lot of layers of management beneath me - plenty of horsepower in there" to represent the government side. But critics in Congress like Representative George Miller, a Democrat from California who has long advocated loosening agriculture's grip on federal water supplies, said Mr. Peltier should have nothing to do with the contract. Mr. Miller also said far too much water was being offered to the Westlands farmers, violating the spirit of the 1992 environmental restoration law that tried to give competing interests in California equal access to water. "This is a clear conflict of interest and has been since his appointment," Mr. Miller said. Bush administration officials, including Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton , have said that top political positions in the Interior Department have always been filled by people who are more responsive to the party in power. They note that President Bill Clinton filled his Interior Department with former leaders of environmental groups that have long lobbied the government. But the difference, critics say, is that some of the current appointees came from groups that stand to benefit financially from the decisions made at the Interior Department about how much businesses will have to pay for public water, grazing land, timber and minerals. The appointees, both former and current, include William G. Myers III, who was the department's solicitor from 2001 through 2003 after working as a lawyer for ranching interests which rely on public grazing land; Bennett W. Raley, who was assistant secretary for water and science from 2001 to 2004 after working at a law firm whose clients had clashed with the federal government over the use of public water; Rebecca W. Watson, assistant secretary for land and minerals management, who is a lawyer who represented mining, logging, oil and gas interests; and Kit Kimball, director of external and intragovernmental affairs, who was a lobbyist on behalf of mining, oil and gas companies doing business on public lands. "It is one thing to have someone with a certain ideological bent fill a political position, but it's another to have somebody who is so identified with a special interest that they cannot be expected to make fair decisions," said Larry Noble, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonprofit group that monitors how money and politics intersect. Interior Department officials say the Westlands and other contracts do not show favor to one group or the other and do not noticeably depart from the approach taken by the Clinton administration in dividing the water supplies. John Leshy, the department's solicitor general under Mr. Clinton, disputed that, saying the Clinton administration had tried harder to balance water deliveries between environmental needs and agriculture, as required by the 1992 law. In the case of the Westlands contract, the Bush administration officials said they had recently started to negotiate provisions so that excess water will not be hoarded to be sold by the farmers. The terms under consideration would let Westlands receive up to 1.15 million acre-feet of water a year, about the same as it has been entitled to in the past - equivalent to the amount needed to supply roughly 2.5 million urban families for a year. But because at least 90,000 acres and maybe as much as 200,000 acres of the 580,000 acres of farmland used by Westlands may no longer be suited to growing because of its heavy mineral content, critics question why the district should continue to get such a large amount of water. A Westlands official, Thaddeus Bettner, the deputy general manager, said the district had no intention of selling any of the water at a markup. "Everyone talks about this reselling, but it's not even discussed by us," Mr. Bettner said. "We have a real need for the water." He said Mr. Peltier had not helped Westlands beyond his steering the contract to an orderly conclusion. He said he expected the new contract to be signed in the spring. The old one expires next year. Separately, the water users' association wrote a letter in December to the Interior Department requesting that the financial burdens on them from the 1992 environmental restoration law be revisited. It is first time the federal government has considered a review of the payments, and environmentalists say there is no evidence that significant improvements have been made to justify reducing payments. Mr. Peltier said, "I would not anticipate that we're going to end up reducing the amount, but we're willing to talk about it." At the time the law passed, Mr. Peltier, then serving as a manager of the trade association, indicated that the irrigators might resist complying. "We'll do anything and everything to keep from being harmed," he told The San Francisco Chronicle then. "If that means obstructing implementation, so be it." Mr. Peltier says his views have changed now that he is on the other side, representing government. "I was younger and brasher then," he said. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image003.gif Type: image/gif Size: 73 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image004.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 16267 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image005.gif Type: image/gif Size: 513 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image006.gif Type: image/gif Size: 388 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image007.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 7838 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image008.gif Type: image/gif Size: 8086 bytes Desc: not available URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Tue Mar 7 15:59:03 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Tue, 7 Mar 2006 15:59:03 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Continuation of Meetings on CVPWA/NCPA CVPIA Compliance? Message-ID: <001601c64243$22b81810$1f9eb545@p4> Reclamation Mid-Pacific Region Sacramento, CA MP-06-032 Media Contact: Jeffrey McCracken 916-978-5100 jmccracken at mp.usbr.gov For Release On: March 7, 2006 Central Valley Project Improvement Act - Restoration Fund Roundtable Meeting The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), in coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), will participate in a Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA) Restoration Fund Roundtable meeting to provide information on the background, purpose, and status of the CVPIA Program Performance Review. Reclamation and the Service are reviewing the CVPIA program and the program activities specified in sections that deal with fish, wildlife, and habitat restoration activities. The review will clarify and improve performance in achieving the purposes of the CVPIA. Reclamation and the Service are assessing overall program effectiveness, from how well the program is designed to how well it is implemented, and what results it has and will achieve. This review will help identify program strengths and weaknesses and assist in funding and management decisions to further improve CVPIA program effectiveness. All factors that may affect and reflect program performance will be assessed, including program purpose and design, performance measurement, evaluations, strategic planning, program management, and program results. This effort will further the agencies' goal of completing actions mandated by the CVPIA to accomplish the program purposes. The meeting will be held: In Sacramento Thursday, March 16, 2006 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Bureau of Reclamation 2800 Cottage Way Conference Room W-2620 The public is welcome to attend. For more information, please contact Ms. Shana Kaplan, Reclamation, at 916-978-5211, TDD 916-978-5608, or e-mail skaplan at mp.usbr.gov, or Mr. Dale Garrison with the Service at 916-414-6728 or e-mail dale_garrison at fws.gov. Proper identification is required to enter the parking lot and the building. Camera phones are not allowed in this Federal building. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Tue Mar 7 17:33:58 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Tue, 7 Mar 2006 17:33:58 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Public Notice of EA for Trinity River Coarse Sediment Injection/Rehabilitation Project Message-ID: <013101c64250$8ad96e00$5128a8c0@trinitycounty.org> This was posted at the request of hwenham at fs.fed.us: The letter incorrectly states that the preliminary version of the EA is available on our website, at this time it is not on the website. On Thursday, March 9, 2006 the EA will be available to view/download on the website. If someone would like a copy prior to March 9, I can send them either email or U.S. Mail a copy of the preliminary EA. My contact information is in the letter. Thanks, Hide Wenham, Range Planner Shasta-Trinity National Forest 3644 Avtech Parkway Redding, CA 96002 (530) 226-2432 Pursuant to 36 CFR 215.6, the Forest Service is accepting public comments substantive to the Trinity River Coarse Sediment Injection and Rehabilitation Project Environmental Assessment (EA). A preliminary version of the EA is available on the Shasta-Trinity website, http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/shastatrinity. My proposed decision is to implement Alternative 2, which is designed to benefit anadromous fish and their habitat by restoring coarse sediment supplies and developing diverse floodplain and main river channel habitat. This restoration project complements rehabilitation activities of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and is consistent with measures required for the restoration of the Trinity River mainstem fishery. We propose to 1) deliver and place approximately 5,100 cubic yards of coarse material within a 1,800 foot reach of the Trinity River, and 2) manipulate a river bank and portions of the riverbed to best accommodate this coarse material. The project site is located downstream from Lewiston Dam and adjacent to the Trinity River Fish Hatchery. The coarse material will be washed prior to placement and will originate in the Trinity River basin. Coarse material levels will be maintained into the future at this site as needed and provided funding is available. I am the responsible official for this proposed project. Comments will be accepted through the close of business 30 days following the date of publication of the legal notice in the Record Searchlight. Please address comments to Hide Wenham at the above address or by e-mail at: comments-pacificsouthwest-shasta-trinity at fs.fed.us. If you have any questions, you may reach Hide at (530) 226-2432 Please provide the following information when submitting comments: ? Your name, address and telephone number ? Project Title (Trinity River Coarse Sediment Injection and Rehabilitation Project EA) ? Specific substantive comments (36 CFR 215.2) along with supporting information you would like to be considered in reaching a decision ? Your signature and other verification of identity upon request |--------------------------------------------------| | | | | |--------------------------------------------------| | /s/ J. Sharon Heywood | |--------------------------------------------------| | J. SHARON HEYWOOD | |--------------------------------------------------| | Forest Supervisor | |--------------------------------------------------| -------End of letter-------- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Wed Mar 8 14:45:16 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 14:45:16 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Managers to close salmon fisheries in Oregon and Northern California due to Klamath Stocks Message-ID: <01a501c6430c$245e0d90$5128a8c0@trinitycounty.org> SALMON RUNS: Managers to close salmon fisheries in Oregon and Northern California Seattle Post-Intelligencer ? 3/7/06 By Robert McClure, staff writer Federal fisheries managers in Seattle on Tuesday declared their intention to close summer salmon fisheries off Oregon and Northern California to protect a stock battered by controversial water diversions to help farmers. ?It?s huge and unprecedented? to take such a sweeping action, said Brian Gorman, a spokesman for the National Marine Fisheries Service, whose officials briefed the Pacific Fishery Management Council. ?It?s a big deal and it?s tough for fishermen.? The closure to help the ailing Klamath River fall chinook run means that the much larger and healthier Sacramento River salmon stocks must also be left alone. It would affect waters off a 700-mile stretch of coastline from Northern Oregon to Big Sur, south of San Fransisco. ?If (the closure) were only the Klamath stocks, it wouldn?t be a big deal, but they mix with other stocks on the West coast and they?re indistinguishable,? Gorman said. Virtually all the fish in question are landed and eaten in northern California and Oregon. NMFS official Peter Dygert told the fishery council that the move still must be approved by the White House?s Council on Environmental Quality, said Seattle fisherman Joel Kawahara. Only a handful of fishing vessels from Seattle target the salmon stocks in question. But the proposed closure could have impacts in Washington as displaced fishermen from the south seek salmon here, Gorman said. The Klamath, in southern Oregon and northern California, became a flashpoint in the battle between farmers and fish advocates early this decade, with the Bush administration siding with farmers. Later, a massive die-off of Klamath salmon was traced by scientists to a parasite in the river that fares well when river flows are low and temperatures warm ? as when water was diverted to farm fields. The Klamath River stock that spurred the closure has failed to reach a population goal for the third year running, NMFS scientists say. Fisheries managers targeted the Klamath stock to return to 36,000 fish. But current counts indicate the actual number will fall short of that by about 6,000 fish, Gorman said. Karahawa, the Seattle fisherman, questioned why the White House should be involved in the decision. ?I?m concerned about the Klamath River stocks and I?m concerned about the political interference by the administration in the recovery of the Klamath River stocks,? Karahawa said. ?I?m angry about the diversion of the water. I?m angry about the fact that for conservation needs, they will shut down the fishery ? however, there will be no adequate measures taken in (the) river to support fish.? If the season is closed, the government would work to expedite federal disaster relief for fishermen, said Frank Lockhart, director of NMFS? northwest sustainable fisheries division. The council is expected to make its final recommendation to NMFS when it meets again in April in Sacramento. But NMFS officials have the final say, and they are the ones who announced their intentions on Tuesday. The fish in question are not protected under the Endangered Species Act. # http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/262103_salmon07ww.html Editorial: Klamath Basin salmon echoes Seattle Times ? 3/8/06 A sharply reduced salmon-fishing season may be the unhappy outcome of a meeting of policymakers in Seattle this week. They are dealing with poor decisions made by others five years ago in Oregon's Klamath Basin. Dramatically reducing the season from Northern Oregon into California, a 700-mile stretch, is necessary to save chinook at sea as they commingle with other salmon. Protecting one means cutting back on the catch of all. The options for the Pacific Fishery Management Council range from bad to devastating, but the choices between levels of curtailment and outright ban are about saving a fishery. It's that fundamental. Chinook runs on the Klamath River never rebounded from a historic fish kill in the basin in fall 2002, and from devastating and successive bouts of a parasite that claimed juvenile salmon. In a region with complex water issues, a brutal political shorthand reduced the competition for water to one of fish vs. farmers. Agriculture had suffered through a terrible drought in 2001. Over the protests of federal agencies, the headgates were opened with a flourish in spring 2002 by two Bush administration Cabinet members to increase water for irrigation. By fall, salmon died in numbers subsequently estimated at 70,000 because of low flows of warm water. An investigation by the California Department of Fish and Game laid the blame on the federal government for conditions that allowed disease to flourish and spread. This fishery is dwarfed by the salmon harvest from Alaska and competition grows from farm-raised salmon, but the economic impact is still significant. The alternative, really not a choice at all, is to risk harm that jeopardizes incomes beyond recovery. The council's final recommendation will come next month at a meeting in Sacramento. The hard choices driven by the Klamath experience come after a success story on the Sacramento River, which enjoyed a healthy rebound of salmon. Poor choices five years ago in one basin haunt an entire industry. # http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2002850635_fished08.html -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Wed Mar 8 14:46:08 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 14:46:08 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Delta pumping process may spur lawsuit Message-ID: <01a601c6430c$2a20a990$5128a8c0@trinitycounty.org> DELTA ISSUES: Delta pumping process may spur lawsuit Contra Costa Times ? 3/8/06 By Mike Taugher, staff writer California's largest water delivery system lacks the most basic permits required by the state's endangered species protection law, an association of anglers charged Tuesday in a formal lawsuit threat. The notice of intent to sue the state Department of Water Resources comes as the population of one fish protected under the law, the Delta smelt, is severely depressed and other fish populations throughout the Delta also are plummeting. At issue is whether the department's State Water Project, which delivers water from the Delta to more than 20 million people from Alameda County to Southern California, complies with the California Endangered Species Act. "They have just fundamentally blown off CESA," said Bill Jennings, executive director of the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, which filed the notice. The threat is the latest sign that a decade of relative calm in California water policy could be giving way to a more bare-knuckled approach. "I think those days (of cooperation) are over," Jennings said. Environmentalists, anglers and others blame the state-owned pumps in Byron and smaller pumps owned by the federal government in Tracy for an ongoing decline among Delta fish species. The decline appears to have dramatically worsened in recent years. Scientists are still trying to determine the cause but say the pumps could be a contributor. The fact that the State Water Project has no permits or other formal documentation required by the state endangered species law was first determined last August by a state Senate committee. The Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee's inquiry was prompted by a report in the Contra Costa Times that showed on two occasions last year that biologists were overruled when they recommended temporarily curtailing pumping to protect the smelt. On Tuesday, DWR deputy director Jerry Johns said that although the State Water Project does not have formal state-issued permits, a series of other documents give it a "patchwork" of compliance. "We think we are in compliance," Johns said. "We have a federal (document with a permit) and we meet once a week with biologists, including the state biologists, to make changes for Delta smelt." The documents in that patchwork include a 1986 agreement designed to offset losses of striped bass, salmon and steelhead at the pumps and a 1995 amendment that Johns said expanded the earlier agreement to include Delta smelt and other fish species. The documents do not make it clear that they are meant to serve as compliance for the state endangered species law. Terry Erlewine, general manager of the State Water Contractors, which represents water agencies that take water from the project, also said those earlier documents mean the state water department is complying with the law. Nevertheless, the Department of Water Resources and the Department of Fish and Game are attempting to develop a new species conservation plan authorized under the state law. Although the State Water Project has similar permits from federal agencies, Jennings and lawyer Michael Lozeau said the state law is more stringent. Jennings and Lozeau said this is because the federal law requires state water managers to simply develop reasonable alternatives that prevent jeopardizing the existence of fish species. The state law, they said, requires the state to fully "mitigate," or offset, the losses of fish. "That means the species is not any worse off after the project than before," Lozeau said. "We're seeing this blatant violation by DWR because they don't want to hear what Fish and Game has to say about full mitigation. We think that will have very substantial (protections) for these fish." Johns said the state law would require the department to fully offset the loss of fish only to the extent that it affects the overall population, he said. And, he said, it is difficult to tell whether the state pumps are affecting population levels. The sportfishing organization's notice said that it intends to sue after 30 days, but added it is willing to discuss a way to settle the case first. # http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/living/science/14045663.htm Anglers say they may sue; Group wants protection for fish dying at pumps Stockton Record ? 3/8/06 By Warren Lutz, staff writer STOCKTON - A sportfishing association says it will sue state water officials if they don't prevent the loss of endangered and threatened fish species at pumps that deliver water to 23 million Californians. The Department of Water Resources is violating state law, because it never got the permits required to take the thousands of Delta smelt and chinook salmon that die at the pumps near Tracy every year, the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance said Tuesday. "The (department) and the Department of Fish and Game have essentially ignored the requirements of the California Endangered Species Act," said Bill Jennings, the group's chairman. The plight of the smelt and other plummeting fish populations in the Delta is of increasing concern to environmentalists, anglers, scientists and politicians. The tiny, translucent, blue fish, seen as an indicator of the entire Delta estuary's health, are listed as threatened under the federal and state endangered species acts. Early results from a California Fish and Game trawl survey show that their population is at its lowest level since the surveys began in 1967. Department of Water Resources Deputy Director Jerry Johns acknowledged the state never applied for the so-called incidental take permits that allow the killing of fish at the pumps. Last year, a team of scientists identified exports that deliver water to homes and farms south of the Delta as a possible cause for the smelt's decline. Environmentalists blame higher water deliveries from the Delta during the winter for taking an unexpectedly high toll on Delta fish. But agreements with the Department of Fish and Game allow the pumping arrangement to continue without violating state law, Johns said. "From a legal standpoint, we're covered under both the federal Endangered Species Act and the state Endangered Species Act," Johns said. "But evidently, someone doesn't think that." Jennings said such agreements don't hold water. "Unfortunately, a wink and a back-room handshake doesn't comply with the statutory requirements of the (state law)," he said. A Department of Fish and Game spokesman referred questions regarding the controversy to the Department of Water Resources. The California Sportfishing Protection Alliance said it will sue to enforce state law if the state does not comply within 30 days. The state's failure to get permits for fish lost at the pumps emerged last year during a California Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water hearing. At the hearing, committee Chairman Michael Machado, D-Linden, said he found the arrangement between the Department of Water Resources and the Department of Fish and Game troublesome, despite the "patchwork of agreements" the two agencies had with each other. Machado said he believes that water exports have been a factor in the decline of several Delta fish species, including the smelt, and that the state should have obtained permits. "If you had incidental take permits, you would have benchmarks where you would monitor the activities of the pumping," Machado said. "That may have very well led to alterations in the way that system was run." In response to a public-records request in December, the Department of Water Resources told a California Sportfishing Protection Alliance attorney it had no record of applying for an incidental take permit, nor did it have any documents showing that the pumps' effects on fish were consistent with the state's Endangered Species Act. "All indications are they never bothered to comply with the statute," said Mike Lozeau, a California Sportfishing Protection Alliance attorney. # http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060308/NEWS01/603080321/1001 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Wed Mar 8 14:11:31 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 14:11:31 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Fw: NY Times Article and Responses from the Water User Community Message-ID: <01a301c6430b$b2eb63b0$5128a8c0@trinitycounty.org> ----- Original Message ----- From: Dan Keppen To: 'Dan Keppen' Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 12:11 PM Subject: NY Times Article and Responses from the Water User Community Last Friday, as the Family Farm Alliance annual conference was wrapping up, several people came into the meeting room, waving copies of the March 3 edition of the New York Times. On the front cover, just below the crease, ran a story by Timothy Egan that assessed Jason Peltier's role at the U.S. Interior Department ("For Thirsty Farmers, Old Friends at Interior Dep't"). Several speakers at the conference expressed anger and dismay at this article, including Peltier's boss at Interior, Mark Limbaugh, who sounded support for Peltier, whose role in the Bush administration was attacked earlier that day in the New York Times article. "Jason is doing excellent work for me, professionally and to high standards," said Limbaugh. "The article in the New York Times is a hatchet job and really bothers me." Peltier is the former manager of the Central Valley Project Water Association (CALIFORNIA). The Times offered predictable arguments that Bush Administration cronies are co-opting the democratic process. It is ironic, but not surprising, that John Leshy, a Clinton appointee at Interior, is quoted in the article. While Egan wrings his hands over Peltier's links with the water user community, no mention is made of Leshy's ties to some of the most vocal anti-farming groups in the country, including the Natural Resources Defense Council, where he worked for five years, prior to his appointment at Interior. Further, no mention is made of Leshy's former role as Special Counsel to Rep. George Miller (CALIFORNIA), who is also critical of Peltier's role in the Times article. I've attached the original NY Times article to this message. Three relevant and well-written responses from the water user community are pasted below, authored by former Interior Assistant Secretary Bennett Raley (COLORADO), Family Farm Alliance president Patrick O'Toole (WYOMING), and Mike Wade, of the California Farm Water Coalition. Dan Keppen To: letters at nytimes.com Cc: murphyd at nytimes.com Subject: March 3rd Page 1 story re "Thirsty Farmers" The opening salvo and basic premise of Timothy Egan's March 3rd article, "For Thirsty Farmers, Old Friends at Interior Dept." is utterly false. Egan asserts that Deputy Assistant Secretary Peltier influenced Interior's decisions on the renewal of long-term contracts for water in California. I will testify under oath that this allegation is untrue. I was the Assistant Secretary for Water and Science at Interior from 2001-2004. I was responsible for supervising the development and analysis of the alternatives for term, price, and renewal of these contracts, and was personally responsible for obtaining Departmental approval of the controversial contract provisions. I am absolutely certain that Mr. Peltier did not influence or make these decisions, in part because we both thought that was the ethical thing to do. Reasonable people can debate the policy implications of these decisions, but these debates are only hindered by Mr. Egan's reckless disrespect for the truth. Bennett Raley 1120 Lincoln St., Suite 1600 Denver, CO 80203 March 6, 2006 New York Times 229 West 43rd Street New York, New York 10036-3959 To the Editor: Timothy Egan ("For Thirsty Farmers, Old Friends at Interior Dep't", Mar. 3) misses the point. He criticizes Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Jason Peltier for reviewing an environmental restoration fund. Egan implies that Peltier, formerly employed by the affected water users association, will not make an honest assessment. He ignores the Central Valley Project Improvement Act, requiring multi-million dollar annual payments for fish AND providing for review and possible payment reductions. Such appointees are often drawn from related industries. Egan acknowledges that environmental lobbyists often fill such posts. He quotes Clinton appointee John Leshy, but doesn't mention Leshy's ties to vocal anti-farming groups with a dubious history of rural depopulation. Anti-farming sentiment is the real point. Farmers are not "thirsty." They grow food and fiber for America. This water is under pressure for urban growth and perceived environmental needs. Food, like oil, is a domestic security concern. Personal attacks on those who share these concerns are not warranted. Sincerely, Patrick O'Toole President, Family Farm Alliance Savery, Wyoming California Farm Water Coalition 717 K Street, Suite 417 Sacramento, CA 95814 New York Times March 3, 2006 Editor, Critics of California farm water will use any excuse to cast a shadow on an industry that provids the food and fiber demanded by a consuming public. The recent story---For Thirsty Farmers, Old Friends at Interior Dept.-is a classic example. Critics use the California water experience of Jason Peltier as a reason why he should not be involved in deciding that state's water issues while serving at the Interior Department. Yet, it is this same experience that qualifies Peltier to do the job. Why won't critics accept the word of Peltier's superiors at Interior that his involvement provides valuable background; yet, final decisions are made elsewhere. Why won't critics accept the fact that officials who determine conflicts of interest and ethics violations have given Peltier a clean slate. Why? I'll tell you why.these critics don't care about the truth. Mike Wade, Executive Director 717 K Street, Suite 417 Sacramento, Ca 95814 (916) 441-7723 mwade at farmwater.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: New York Times Peltier story, 3-3-06.doc Type: application/msword Size: 40448 bytes Desc: not available URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Wed Mar 8 16:02:25 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 16:02:25 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Draft TAMWG Agenda 3/22- 3/23 Message-ID: <01b401c6430c$bfbdbfb0$5128a8c0@trinitycounty.org> Draft Agenda TRINITY ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT WORKING GROUP Veteran?s Memorial Hall, 101 Memorial Lane, Weaverville, CA March 22-23, 2006 Wednesday, March 22 Time Presentation, Discussion, and/or Action on: Presenter 1. 1:00 Introductory remarks Randy Brown Designated Federal Official 2. 1:05 Adopt agenda; approve December minutes 3. 1:15 Open forum; public comment 4. 1:20 Federal tribal trust responsibilities Frank Perniciaro Native American Affairs Program Manager, BOR 5. 3:00 Executive Director?s report Doug Schleusner 6. 3:30 Reports from TRRP work groups TAMWG lead reps 7. 4:00 DFO topics- tech reps, travel policy, Charter renewal? Randy Brown 5:00 Adjourn for the day Thursday, March 23 8. 8:30 Election of TAMWG officers for 2006 9. 8:45 2006 Flow Schedule TMAG Staff 10. 10:45 Trinity River fishing regulations Tom Weseloh 11. 11:00 Resolution re water-year-type forecasting Spreck Rosekrans 12:00 Lunch on site 12. 1:00 Science Framework; TMAG update Rod Wittler 13. 2:00 TRRP Strategic Plan Jim Feider 14 3:00 TRRP Vision Statement Joan Hartmann 15. 4:45 Date and agenda topics for next meeting 5:00 Adjourn -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Wed Mar 8 21:05:54 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 21:05:54 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Salmon Disaster Message-ID: <001801c64337$262ccb90$1f9eb545@p4> This attached information was provided by Jonathon Birdsong, Legislative Director for Representative Mike Thompson. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Sec Gutierrez re 05 salmon disaster.pdf Type: application/octet-stream Size: 74322 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Klamath Disaster Letter.pdf Type: application/octet-stream Size: 73038 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Follow up on disaster declaration.pdf Type: application/octet-stream Size: 26849 bytes Desc: not available URL: From danielbacher at fishsniffer.com Thu Mar 9 08:33:18 2006 From: danielbacher at fishsniffer.com (Dan Bacher) Date: Thu, 9 Mar 2006 08:33:18 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Salmon Disaster In-Reply-To: <001801c64337$262ccb90$1f9eb545@p4> References: <001801c64337$262ccb90$1f9eb545@p4> Message-ID: <88B232B9-5507-42E4-A172-DF0CEB41FCAF@fishsniffer.com> CSPA Advisory 3/08/06 ESA Needs Your Help Now & CSPA?s 60 Day Notice on CESA Compliance To DWR [1] Below you will find an urgent request from Mark Rockwell on behalf of the Northern Calif. Council, Federation of Fly Fishers that requests your support to help save a law that provides critical protection to species threatened with extinction. While I'm sure we all care about this in a general context, I would remind everyone that without this law, a number of critically important runs of salmon would have most likely been lost from the waters of our state as was the case for the spring-run salmon of the San Joaquin River. The Sacramento winter-run and spring-run chinook salmon and all of the Central Valley's steelhead were listed under the ESA to provide government agencies the authority to stop the destruction of these runs and the habitat essential to their recovery. Due to this, positive strides have been made for these run that would most likely not have been the case if left to political pundits and policy makers that run our government. CSPA urges you to review the material below and take IMMEDIATE ACTION to stand up for keeping this law in tact. We greatly appreciate everyone?s efforts to fight for our fish! [2] Following the request below, please also find the Press Release CSPA issued on our 60 Day Notice of Intent To Sue DWR for failure to comply with the California Endangered Species Act. It demonstrates the importance of having acts that provide a safety net for all species including fish! John Beuttler, Conservation Director California Sportfishing Protection Alliance 1360 Neilson Street Berkeley, CA 94702 510-526-4049 Jbeuttler at aol.com NATIONAL CALL-IN DAY: CALLYOUR SENATOR ON MARCH 9TH IN SUPPORT OF THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT! The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee may take action on an Endangered Species Act bill as soon as this month. We need your help to make sure the Senate supports the Endangered Species Act and ensure that no bill passes the Senate! For over thirty years, the Endangered Species Act has been a safety net for wildlife, fish and plants on the brink of extinction. It has been successful in preventing the extinction of the American Bald Eagle, the gray wolf, the pacific salmon, as well as many other species. However, the Endangered Species Act is under threat from special interests, and the politicians they give money to. The House of Representatives has passed a bill [Representative Pombo?s bill (HR 3824)]that would significantly weaken protections for endangered species and habitat. The bill would eliminate habitat protection, abandon the commitment to recovering species on the brink of extinction, repeal protections against hazardous pesticides, and politicize the scientific decision-making process. In addition, it would set up a program that would require the federal government to use taxpayers dollars to pay developers for complying with the Endangered Species Act?s prohibition against killing or injuring endangered species. It is now up to the U.S. Senate to save the Endangered Species Act! It is critically important that Senators from across the country hear from their constituents that the American public supports the Endangered Species Act and the fish, plants and wildlife it protects in their state. Please join with Americans across the country by calling your Senators on Thursday, March 9th. Please ask your friends, relatives and colleagues to join you in calling. It only takes about 3 minutes of your time, but the results could last a lifetime. ACTION: On Thursday, March 9th, call your Senators in support of a strong Endangered Species Act and urge them to oppose any efforts to change the Act. PHONE NUMBER: Senator Feinstein, 1 202 224-3841. Senator Boxer, 1 202 224-3553. e-mail: Feinstein, Feinstein.senate.gov/email.html and Boxer, Boxer.senate.gov/contact. (To find your Senator, visit www.senate.gov) Questions: Call Dr. C. Mark Rockwell at 530 432-9198, e-mail: summerhillfarmpv at aol.com Media Release California Sportfishing Protection Alliance 3536 Rainier Avenue, Stockton, CA 95204 Tel: 209-464-5090, Fax: 209-464-1028, E: deltakeep at aol.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 7, 2006 For More Information:Bill Jennings, 209-464-5067, Cell 209-938-9053 Michael Lozeau, 510-749-9102, Cell 415-596-5318 CSPA ISSUES NOTICE OF INTENT TO SUE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES FOR ILLEGAL TAKE OF ENDANGERED SPECIES Today, Watershed Enforcers, the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance?s new environmental law enforcement project, placed the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) on notice that it intends to sue DWR for violation of the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) unless the agency acts within 30 days to cease its illegal take of listed species at the main intake pumps for the State Water Project or obtain long-overdue authorizations from the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) for incidental takes provided by CESA. The notice letter also includes DWR Director Lester Snow and four other administrators, acting in their official capacity . The CESA prohibits any persons ?taking? ? including killing, possessing, or trapping ? any threatened or endangered species unless specifically approved by DFG. CSPA?s investigation found that, despite numerous agency findings, scientific studies and reports describing takings of threatened spring-run and endangered winter-run Chinook salmon and threatened Delta smelt, DWR failed to procure authorizations for such takes from DFG pursuant to the Fish and Game Code. These violations at DWR?s Clifton Court Forebay, Skinner Fish Protection Facility and the Harvey O. Banks Pumping Plant have been ongoing for many years. ?It is outrageous that, during a period of crashing populations of salmon and Delta smelt, the agency responsible for annually killing many thousands of endangered species has failed to comply with the most basic requirements of state law to mitigate and protect those fish,? said CSPA Executive Director Bill Jennings. ?It is also incomprehensible that DFG, the state trustee agency charged with protecting fishery resources, has allowed DWR to continue to ignore CESA pursuant to a wink and backroom handshake,? added Jennings. In response to a 19 December 2005 Public Records Act request by CSPA, DWR admitted in a 11 January 2006 letter that it had no record of any consistency determinations or other authorizations from DFG addressing take of spring-run or winter-run Chinook salmon or Delta smelt at any of DWR?s facilities. These admissions are consistent with the testimony by DWR Director Lester Snow and DFG Director Ryan Broddrick before the Delta Resources subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water in late 2005. Section 2080 of the Fish & Game Code prohibits take of a listed species without a permit, pursuant to ? 2081, or a consistency determination, pursuant to ? 2080.1. An entity who has obtained an incidental take permit under the federal Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. ? 1531 et seq. (ESA) may request a consistency determination from DFG. However, the Director of DFG must make findings within 30 days that the federal ESA permit is ?consistent? with the requirements of CESA. The minimum requirements of CESA go substantially beyond minimal ESA requirements. For example, unlike ESA, CESA requires that impacts of any authorized incidental takes be minimal, fully mitigated, not jeopardize the continued existence of a species and that all measures be capable of successful implementation and adequately funded. Fish & Game Code 2081(2),(3) and (4). ?If DWR cannot comply with CESA within 30 days, we will file suit to enforce the protections mandated for California?s threatened and endangered salmon and threatened Delta smelt,? said Michael Lozeau, an attorney for CSPA. ?We owe it not only to the fish, but also the integrity of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and its tributaries and all the Californians who depend upon it for their health and well- being.? DWR?s State Water Project yearly pumps millions of acre-feet of water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta for agricultural and municipal uses in Southern California. The project?s powerful pumps cause reverse flows in the Delta and San Joaquin River and ?take? some 58 species and hundreds of thousands of fish, many of which are listed as threatened or endangered. Recently, state and federal scientists have confirmed that populations of open-water fish in the Delta, including Delta smelt, longfin smelt, threadfin shad, young-of-the- year striped bass and their food supplies, have dropped precipitously. An increase in the level of water exports is suspected to be a significant contributor to the declines. Although federal ESA permits have been issued, an independent CalFed expert panel recently concluded that the permits were not based upon ?best available science? and the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Commerce has found that the National Marine Fisheries Services violated its own procedural requirements in issuing the permits. Further, mitigation for export pumping is largely predicated on an Environmental Water Account that causes redirected impacts by killing other listed species. Although the notice letter states that Watershed Enforcers does not intend to delay filing of a lawsuit at the end of the 30-day period, it offers to meet with DWR to discuss possibilities of resolving the dispute short of litigation. Two law firms, led respectively by attorneys Michael Lozeau and Andrew Packard represent CSPA in this action. [CSPA is a 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation established as an advocate for fisheries, habitat and water quality. It implements its mission by working within the administrative and regulatory processes and, where necessary, through litigation. Watershed Enforcers is the enforcement arm of CSPA. You can support CSPA?S conservation efforts by becoming a member. Donations are tax-deductible, greatly needed and appreciated. Send checks to CSPA at1360 Neilson Street, Berkeley, CA 94702-1116. Membership starts a $25. If you are a member, then you know of the good work we do, so sign up a friend and help fight for restore our fisheries! Questions? 510-526-4049.] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Thu Mar 9 15:48:48 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Thu, 9 Mar 2006 15:48:48 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Alternatives for Salmon Catch Message-ID: <000001c643d4$0d916d00$1f9eb545@p4> Fishing Ban Is Among 3 Options Panel Is Considering to Save Klamath Salmon Los Angeles Times - 3/9/06 By Eric Bailey, Times Staff Writer SACRAMENTO - Facing a salmon shortage on the ailing Klamath River, a fishing advisory board Wednesday sketched out ways to slash this year's West Coast salmon catch that range from cutting the season by more than half to adopting an outright ban. The Pacific Fishery Management Council asked its staff to return Friday with a review of three potential options, all of them met with dismay by fishermen already hard-hit by a shortened 2005 season. Click here for Air New Zealand's latest Web Offers! "Last season was the most restrictive on record," said Duncan MacLean, president of the Half Moon Bay Fishermen's Marketing Assn. "This year we're hoping we just have some sort of season. But it's not going to be easy pulling a rabbit out of that hat." During an average year, salmon fishing in California and Oregon is a $150-million industry. The commercial mainstay is the silver-sided Chinook that return each fall from the sea to spawn. Experts say a commercial ban could put struggling coastal fishing fleets financially underwater. The fishery council, which acts as an advisory board for federal regulators who will decide the fate of this year's salmon season, is meeting in Seattle this week and expects by Friday to complete three options for public review during the coming month. On Tuesday, an official with the National Marine Fisheries Service - the agency involved in the final decision - told the council there appeared to be few options other than a ban. Fishermen, however, say they hope a compromise can be reached that will allow a short season. A ban, the most onerous proposal the council is considering, would cancel the salmon season from near Oregon's northern boundary to Point Sur, just south of Carmel. A typical season runs about six months, beginning in the spring. The council also is considering allowing commercial fishing boats to put to sea about as often as they did last year, when the fleets were left at the dock for the late spring and early summer months that are considered best. In between is a third option, which would likely allow fishermen on the water roughly half as long as they were in 2005. The trouble lies with the Klamath River, which rises from the snowmelt of the Cascade Range and empties into the ocean north of Eureka, Calif. During spring 2002 and again the next year, upward of 80% of the juvenile fish returning to sea from the Klamath River succumbed to a parasite scientists blame on a combination of low river flows, pollution and overheated water. "Simply put," said MacLean, "the river is killing its young." Environmentalists have blamed the current troubles on the Bush administration, which in recent years has allowed larger irrigation diversions from the Klamath for upriver farmers. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.gif Type: image/gif Size: 800 bytes Desc: not available URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Fri Mar 10 10:43:39 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Fri, 10 Mar 2006 10:43:39 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Gale Norton to resign from Cabinet Message-ID: <009601c64472$8cef95b0$5128a8c0@trinitycounty.org> Article Launched: 3/10/2006 09:59 AM Gale Norton to resign from Cabinet By Mike Soraghan Denver Post Staff Writer DenverPost.com Washington - Gale Norton is announcing her resignation today after serving more than five years as secretary of the Interior and overseeing a dramatic expansion of drilling, logging and development on the public lands of the West. But the former Colorado attorney general is to leave office at the end of the month without achieving her highest-profile political goal, opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to drilling. A source who requested anonymity said she is not leaving because of any problems, and is expected to cite water issues and her push for "cooperative conservation" among her accomplishments. "She wants to go home for a while," the source said. No successor has been named, but the confirmation hearings could give Democrats an opening to highlight their dissatisfaction with Bush on environmental issues. They could also use it as a way to highlight administration connections to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who lobbied the department on Indian casino issues. Norton, who was the first female Interior secretary, has served since the earliest days of the Bush administration. Her background working with polarizing former Interior Secretary James Watt for logging and mining interests made her one of Bush's most controversial cabinet nominees. A much more careful speaker, she proved less fiery than Watt, but achieved more in the way of opening up public lands for development. Under her watch, the department stripped protection from areas previously managed as wilderness, opened up forests to increased logging, sent snowmobiles back into Yellowstone and pressed federal land managers to speed up drilling for gas on public lands. While natural gas supplies increased, the environment suffered, according to environmentalists and government auditors. A report by the Government Accountability Office last year found that the focus on processing drilling permits for gas companies often left environmental monitoring undone. Norton, however, stressed that she was working toward "cooperative conservation," a way to achieve environmental results by partnering with landowners and developers rather than regulating them. Norton's tenure was also marked by repeated ethical controversies. Norton cleared her top deputy, former lobbyist J. Steven Griles, after her inspector general said his conduct showed that the department's ethics system was "a train wreck waiting to happen." Griles is now under investigation for allegations that he did the bidding of convicted Indian casino lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Norton is still supporting him. Abramoff also funneled more than $500,000 to one of Norton's former political aides, Italia Federici, to gain access to her department, which makes key decisions about which tribes can open casinos. Norton said she had no qualms about Federici's activities. Norton's BLM director Kathleen Clarke remained after apparently violating her recusals from a Utah land-swap that investigators said would have shortchanged the federal government. Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley said the deal involved a "jaw-dropping ... apparent cover-up" within Norton's department. She also suffered bad publicity when the head of the National Park Service police was fired after talking to a reporter and congressional staff about budget shortfalls. Norton was also the first Bush cabinet official to be held in contempt, though the ruling regarding Indian trust issues was later overruled by an appeals court. The Indian trust case metastasized from an obscure bookkeeping mess to a drain on Norton's entire department. She once said the issue occupied her top staff more than any other issue. In the National Journal Political Insider's Poll last year, she was voted the second-most underrated Bush cabinet secretary by Republican operatives who credited her with pursuing Bush's pro-development agenda with a minimum of bad publicity. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Sun Mar 12 17:24:19 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Sun, 12 Mar 2006 17:24:19 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] New York Times Editorial March 12 Message-ID: <000901c6463c$daac39e0$1f9eb545@p4> Gale Norton Resigns Editorial Published: March 12, 2006 Like her mentor, James Watt, the maniacally anti-environmental interior secretary under Ronald Reagan, Gale Norton came to Washington convinced that the pendulum of public policy had swung too far in favor of the protection of America's natural resources at the expense of their commercial exploitation - especially by the oil, natural gas and mining industries. In this she was little different from the other ideologues whom President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney picked to fill most of the administration's important environmental posts. But as the cheerful, upbeat face of a retrograde public policy, she may have been the most successful of them all. In public Ms. Norton spoke winningly of what she called her four C's: "cooperation, communication and consultation, all in the service of conservation." But this was little more than comfy language diverting attention from her main agenda, which was to open up Western lands, some of them fragile, to the extractive industries. Perhaps her signature moment was a secret deal in 2003 with Mike Leavitt, then governor of Utah, in which she not only exposed 2.6 million acres of previously protected lands to commercial development but also renounced her statutory authority to recommend additional lands for wilderness protection. There will be no new wilderness under my watch, she seemed to say, but there will be oil and gas. The agency she leaves behind is not a particularly happy one. Many National Park Service employees oppose her rewrite of the service's management philosophy, a rewrite favoring recreational use over conservation. Biologists at the Fish and Wildlife Service have complained of political interference. Her emasculation of the mining laws pleased few outside the industry. The White House has hacked unmercifully at key departmental programs - including the vital Land and Water Conservation Fund, which Mr. Bush vowed to protect - without audible complaint from the secretary. Ms. Norton has been an extraordinarily faithful steward of the Bush agenda - but not, we are sad to say, of the lands she was obliged to protect. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Mon Mar 13 13:17:27 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2006 13:17:27 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Planned Gravel Introduction Trinity River Message-ID: <005c01c646e3$890aba60$1f9eb545@p4> Attached is notice of planned gravel introduction into Trinity River together with information regarding comments that may be offered on the proposal. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Trinity Gravel Introduction.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 111676 bytes Desc: not available URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Mon Mar 13 13:33:28 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2006 13:33:28 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Money for More Dams in Proposed State Bond Message-ID: <008b01c646e5$c4a412e0$1f9eb545@p4> To all who those who care about our rivers and fish... Please call all State Assembly and Senate Democrats that you can. Call them this afternoon, or at the latest, Tuesday. Urge them NOT to vote for a Bond that contains significant money for new dams. Under consideration is language that includes millions for Temperance Flat Dam on the San Joaquin River, and Sites Reservoir that would take even more water out of the Sacramento River. These dams do not pass the most rudimentary tests of economics or reliable water supply. The only way to get them built is with public money, in this case money to be repaid by our grandchildren, NOT project beneficiaries. Future generations also will suffer the consequences of grave damage to the environment. To get contact information for Assembly Members and Senators, go to: www.assembly.ca.gov and www.senate.ca.gov Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Mon Mar 13 13:41:51 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2006 13:41:51 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Destroy the CVPIA? Message-ID: <009001c646e6$f749d030$1f9eb545@p4> Stakes are high as officials review valley's water rules Hearing in Fresno to look at progress of act, effect on farmers Modesto Bee - 3/13/06 Michael Doyle, Washington Bureau Last Updated: March 13, 2006, 08:40:45 AM PST WASHINGTON - Congress rewrote the Central Valley's water rules in 1992. Now, those rules are getting a second, third and fourth look. High-stakes talks under way in Sacramento are following two tracks. One is to yield the federal government's first official report card on how well the 1992 Central Valley Project Improvement Act is working. A parallel study could result in valley farmers paying less money into an environmental fund. Lawmakers are weighing in, too. A House subcommittee hearing set for March24 in Fresno is to bring the congressional spotlight to bear on controversies that defy easy solution. "It's time to take a look at this program," said Rep. George Radanovich, R-Mariposa. "We need to get the facts out." Far-reaching results The Central Valley Project Improvement Act dramatically changed how the Redding-to-Bakersfield series of dams and canals operates. It guaranteed 800,000 acre-feet of water annually to fish and wildlife protection. One acre-foot of water is enough to cover an acre of ground one foot deep. It also is enough to meet the water needs of a family of five for a year. It also established a restoration fund of about $50 million a year and shortened water contracts, among other things. Twelve years ago, Radanovich won his first congressional election in part over farmers' dissatisfaction with the 1992 water reform law. Now, he is chairman of the House water and power subcommittee, giving him a platform to ask questions and, sometimes, get answers. "It's to find out what has been accomplished in the past 12 or 14years," Radanovich said of the Fresno hearing. Usually, these hearings closely track the perspective of the Republicans who control Congress. Last year, for instance, Radanovich convened a hearing titled "Stabilizing rural electricity service through common sense application of the Endangered Species Act." Four wit-nesses represented power generators, one represented tribes and one represented environmentalists. Details being worked out Similarly, Radanovich conducted a hearing last year on environmental regulations and water-supply reliability. Six witnesses represented farmers or were sympathetic to their interests, while one represented an environmental group. A July 2005 hearing on the Bureau of Reclamation's water and power projects drew five witnesses from water or power groups, one witness representing Western states and one voicing primarily environmental views. Radanovich said the witnesses haven't been selected for the Fresno hearing nor has an exact location been pinpointed. The members who are likely to attend, though - including Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced, and Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno - have been skeptical, to various degrees, of the 1992 law. "I think it's dismal," agreed Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Visalia. "This has been an unfair tax on farmers; they sure don't like to see all this money that's been wasted." Nunes is to attend the Fresno hearing, although he is no longer a member of the House Resources Committee. The chief House sponsor of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act, however, will be absent. "It is one of the most important statutory protections in place for the bay-delta and for the watersheds of the Central Valley," Rep. George Miller, D-Concord, wrote to Radanovich last week. "Californians have benefited tremendously from the CVPIA." Miller further complained that because of previously scheduled commitments in New Orleans and on South Dakota Indian reservations, he can't attend the session on the legislation sometimes called the Miller-Bradley law. Bradley stands for Bill Bradley, the former New Jersey senator who was co-sponsor of the measure. The hearing will not delve into highly secret negotiations over potential settlement of a long-running San Joaquin River lawsuit. This week, though, parties to the potential settlement are to brief lawmakers. Leave differences at door This week, as well, officials are to continue mediator-led discussions in Sacramento on how well the 1992 law is working. Participants from the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Reclamation and Central Valley irrigation groups are being advised to "drop your history at the door," according to minutes of one recent meeting. "(It) is being watched closely in Washington, because there is little experience in applying this type of review to adaptive management programs," Susan Ramos of the Bureau of Reclamation told participants last month, according to minutes obtained by Miller's office. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dracup at ce.berkeley.edu Mon Mar 13 14:16:29 2006 From: dracup at ce.berkeley.edu (John Dracup) Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2006 14:16:29 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Money for More Dams in Proposed State Bond In-Reply-To: <008b01c646e5$c4a412e0$1f9eb545@p4> References: <008b01c646e5$c4a412e0$1f9eb545@p4> Message-ID: <4415EF3D.7070709@ce.berkeley.edu> Dear Byron, There are compelling reasons not to build new on-line (dams located across streams and rivers that block the streamflow) in California. However, about 60 studies on the impact of global warming in California have shown that this oncoming threat will bring more water to California farms and cities when we don't need it, i.e., earlier in the year, and less water when we need it, i.e., during the current summer irrigation months. This is due to the reduced snow storage that will occur in the mountains. This will require California to build more storage for water. I believe that these new storages should be off-line, such as MWD's Diamond Valley Lake and DWR's Los Banos unit. Regards, John Dracup Byron wrote: > *To all who those who care about our rivers and fish... * > > * * > > *Please call all State Assembly and Senate Democrats that you can.* > > * * > > *Call them this afternoon, or at the latest, Tuesday.* > > * * > > *Urge them NOT to vote for a Bond that contains significant money for > new dams.* > > * * > > *Under consideration is language that includes millions for Temperance > Flat Dam on the San Joaquin River, and Sites Reservoir that would take > even more water out of the Sacramento River. * > > * * > > *These dams do not pass the most rudimentary tests of economics or > reliable water supply. The only way to get them built is with public > money, in this case money to be repaid by our grandchildren, NOT project > beneficiaries. Future generations also will suffer the consequences of > grave damage to the environment.* > > * * > > *To get contact information for Assembly Members and Senators, go to: > www.assembly.ca.gov and www.senate.ca.gov > * > > > > > > //Byron Leydecker// > > //Chair, Friends of Trinity River// > > //Advisor, California Trout, Inc// > > //PO Box//// 2327// > > //Mill Valley////, CA 94942-2327// > > //415 383 4810 ph// > > //415 383 9562 fx// > > //bwl3 at comcast.net // > > //bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org // > > //http://www.fotr.org// > > //_http:www.caltrout.org_ // > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > env-trinity mailing list > env-trinity at mailman.dcn.org > http://www2.dcn.org/mailman/listinfo/env-trinity -- John A. Dracup Professor of the Graduate School Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering Room 625, Davis Hall Mail Code 1710 University of California Berkeley, CA. 94720-1710 dracup at ce.berkeley.edu http://www.ce.berkeley.edu/~dracup Phone: 510-643-4306 Fax: 510-643-4307 Cell phone: 415-519-1101 From bwl3 at comcast.net Mon Mar 13 19:19:43 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2006 19:19:43 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] More Dams? Message-ID: <013701c64716$276d3980$1f9eb545@p4> My understanding is that the Assembly this afternoon passed bond legislation that includes funding for Sites Reservoir and Temperance Flat Dam. That being the case, the issue now will be before the Senate. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Mon Mar 13 19:57:46 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2006 19:57:46 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] More Dams Correction Message-ID: <001701c6471b$756aa410$1f9eb545@p4> I was incorrect in stating that the bond legislation had passed the Assembly. Here's a copy of a message from one who is informed on the status of the legislation: "The Assembly has not actually voted on or approved anything yet. They are in floor session this evening as I write this (7:45 pm) and the TV screen on the internet shows both the Assembly Democrats and Republicans having a caucus. However, around noon today I did see bill language supposedly endorsed by the Assembly Speaker that allocates something like $500-750 million for surface storage, to be available for commencing construction on Sites, Temperance Flat or the rebuild of the dam at Lake Perris. The funds would be to cover the public benefits of such projects and could only be spent (assuming the voters approved the bond measure) via a 2/3rds vote of the Legislature. Here's a link to view via internet TV the Assembly Floor session: http://www.calchannel.com/webcast.htm " Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Tue Mar 14 10:22:15 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2006 10:22:15 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Status of Bond Legislation - Dam(s) Message-ID: <001e01c64794$3c414440$1f9eb545@p4> Governor proposes water storage plan Legislature would pick one of three projects in an effort to break a partisan impasse. By Andy Furillo -- Bee Capitol Bureau Published 2:15 am PST Tuesday, March 14, 2006 In an effort to break the infrastructure deadlock, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has offered up a $500 million surface water storage plan in which the Legislature would be asked to pick from three proposed projects, according to Republican and Democratic legislators. Democrats are supporting a dam restoration project in Riverside County that could add up to 425,000 acre-feet to the state water system, while Republicans are pushing for massive new storage locations in Colusa County and along the Madera-Fresno county line that could top a million acre-feet each. According to legislators, the governor's $500 million would pay for actual construction or assorted environmental and engineering studies and would leverage other possible funding sources to create what would amount to projects costing in excess of $1 billion each. The Legislature would need to approve the spending on a two-thirds vote, and if it could not decide on one of the three sites by 2018, the money would go toward a groundwater storage plan. "The three of them would go into a competitive bid for that money, and one or all three would get some of the money to proceed with everything they need," said state Sen. Sam Aanestad, R-Grass Valley, providing details Monday on the governor's water plan. Representatives of the Governor's Office did not immediately comment on the water plan. The Assembly, meanwhile, remained on standby late Monday night in hopes that Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders would hash out an infrastructure agreement that got held up in an early-morning vote Saturday in the state Senate, in large part over disagreements on the water storage issue. Assembly Speaker Fabian N??ez, D-Los Angeles, and Senate Minority Leader Dick Ackerman, R-Irvine, emerged from the governor's office around 10:30 p.m., saying there would be no vote and that they were sending their members home for the night. State Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata raised multiple objections to the new plan taking shape in the Assembly in a memo released to his caucus and reporters. Among other things, he said the Northern California water projects "are years, and billions of dollars, away from feasibility." Perata also objected to proposed Assembly amendments that would reduce the amount of urban park land, ease environmental restrictions, add funding for Highway 99 improvements at the expense of other Northern California road projects, and change the distribution of transit funding in the Los Angeles area. Schwarzenegger proposed a $222 billion infrastructure plan in his State of the State speech that would be jump-started with $71.5 billion in bond funding approved by voters over the next 10 years. Legislative Democrats proposed a $48.6 billion package to be approved over the next four years. But in early Saturday action, that plan fell three votes short of the two-thirds passage needed in the state Senate. Secretary of State Bruce McPherson initially established last Friday as the deadline to get a plan on the June ballot, but has since suggested lawmakers could take more time. In the Democratic plan unveiled last Friday, the state would put the $500 million into rehabilitating an improved Lake Perris dam in Riverside County, which represents the far southeast repository of the State Water Project. Seismic studies in the region had determined that the dam could not withstand a major earthquake, leading the state Department of Water Resources to draw down the lake's capacity from 125,000 acre-feet to 75,000, said agency spokeswoman Sue Sims. A new dam, Sims said, could maintain the lake's current size, go back to its old capacity or expand it to 500,000 acre-feet. "We're really at the early stages of looking at all of that," Sims said. "At the moment, we're proceeding with a retrofit to return it to its existing size." Republicans, meanwhile, have pushed for two surface storage sites further north, one along the San Joaquin River above the Friant Dam on the Madera-Fresno county line and the other in the Coast Range west of Maxwell in Colusa County. The San Joaquin River site at Temperance Flat could create space for up to 1.2 million acre-feet of water. Ron Jacobsma, the general manager of the Friant Water Users Authority, said the district wants the site to recover water it expects to lose in an impending settlement of a federal lawsuit brought by environmentalists to rehydrate dry stretches of the San Joaquin below Friant Dam. "In our minds, the best long-term solution to recovering most of that water supply hopefully would be surface storage," Jacobsma said. Barry Nelson, a senior policy analyst with the Natural Resources Defense Council, which brought the suit to force the water releases down the San Joaquin, said a new dam "is the single most expensive option" for the Friant district to solve its water problem. The proposed Sites Reservoir in Colusa County was one of five storage facilities suggested over the years in the state-and-federal Cal-Fed process that has sought to balance water needs among cities, farmers and the environment. No water agency has yet stepped forward to offer a concrete proposal to pay for the Sacramento River diversion project that could produce 2 million acre-feet of water annually. But David Guy, director of the Northern California Water Association, said there is still "lots of interest" in the project. "I think it could be one of the great water projects for the 21st century," Guy said. But the NRDC's Nelson said, "It's a mystery to us why the public should be asked to invest a half a billion in projects when water users are not willing to stand up and say, 'We'll write a check to help build it.' " Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Wed Mar 15 13:34:58 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Wed, 15 Mar 2006 13:34:58 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Salmon Season Sacramento Bee March 15 Message-ID: <003801c64878$4fca9630$1f9eb545@p4> Salmon season, livelihoods on brink To preserve the Klamath River's chinook, fishing could be banned off a large stretch of the California and Oregon coasts. But the survival of an industry is also threatened. Sacramento Bee - 3/15/06 By Matt Weiser -- Bee Staff Writer Along 700 miles of the Pacific Coast, fishing towns and fishermen are facing the unthinkable this spring: a total closure of the salmon season. For consumers, it means there may be no local wild chinook (or king) salmon in markets and restaurants this year. For fishermen, it could mean bankruptcy, the end of a way of life. "I hate to try and imagine how bad my life is going to get," said Larry Collins. He and his wife, Barbara Emley, are among the last commercial salmon fishers who still live and work in San Francisco. "I've been doing this 21 years, and I'm not really positioned to do anything else." The prospect is even harder to bear because, this time, fishermen share none of the blame. And tragically, salmon overall are expected to be abundant this year, thanks to healthy runs on the Sacramento River and its tributaries, including the American River. These fish make up the vast majority of commercial salmon caught in the ocean off California and Oregon. The blame falls, instead, on government and private interests who have failed to resolve their differences in just one corner of chinook habitat: the Klamath River. The overall Klamath chinook population is expected to hit its second-lowest level in 20 years. Fish returning this year to spawn naturally are predicted to fall below a critical management threshold for the third year in a row. Because these fish mingle in the ocean with Sacramento River salmon, the National Marine Fisheries Service says a total ban on ocean chinook fishing is the only way to protect the few remaining Klamath fish. The ban is proposed between California's Point Sur and Oregon's Falcon Point, a vast area where chinook represent a $150 million industry and the cornerstone of many local economies. "Most of our boats that fish here, the primary income from fishing is salmon," said Mike Stiller, a commercial fisherman in Santa Cruz for 30 years. "It's part of the heritage of this state. You could live without it. You could live without grapevines, too. But it's part of the history and the culture of this state." Stiller and other fishermen blame government officials for failing to solve the Klamath River's long-standing problems. The result could be the end of a commercial fishing tradition that, in some coastal towns, goes back a century or more. Tony Anello and his wife, Carol Ann, own Spud Point Crab Co. in Bodega Bay. Crab is a significant part of the business, but half their revenue comes from salmon. Their son Mark is poised to become the fourth generation in the business after investing $150,000 in a boat. The season closure could end his hopes. "We really worked hard to get our local wild king salmon in the marketplace, and now we're going to be just devastated," Tony Anello said. "It's all caused by the federal government, it's not caused by us, but we're the ones paying for it." Many blame a Bush administration decision in 2002 to ignore its own federal biologists and divert more water from the Klamath River for farm irrigation. The decision put salmon in jeopardy as they tried to swim upriver to spawn. An estimated 70,000 fish were killed that fall in stagnant pools on the lower Klamath by disease and suffocation - about half of them chinook salmon. A 2003 report by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said it was the worst die-off in history on the Klamath, and possibly the entire Pacific Coast. The report blamed the deaths on a combination of low water flows and a relatively large spawning run, which worsened the crowding and caused deadly parasites to spread. Because those fish didn't spawn, fewer adults remained in the ocean two years later, prompting the National Marine Fisheries Service to abbreviate the commercial salmon season last year. Some fishermen say the decision slashed their income by 50 percent. Last year, for the first time in its 30-year history, the Fort Bragg Salmon Restoration Association had to buy fish from Alaska for its "World's Largest Salmon BBQ," a fundraiser. As Larry Collins put it, a "death spiral" has begun, both for chinook and the people who depend on them. Only 24,000 fall chinook spawned naturally in the Klamath in 2004, followed by 27,000 last year. This year, fisheries managers predict 29,000 spawners. Under federal rules, three straight years below a spawning objective of 35,000 fish triggers a "conservation alert." The National Marine Fisheries Service announced at a meeting in Seattle on March 7 that it may be forced to close the salmon season to save next fall's spawners, even though they are only a small percentage of the fish caught commercially in the ocean. The ban would apply to ocean sportfishing, as well, and a recreational fishing ban is likely on the Klamath River itself. The Pacific Fisheries Management Council will make a recommendation on the closure at meetings in Sacramento in early April. But the council is only an advisory body to the National Marine Fisheries Service, which can impose the closure on its own. The commercial salmon season normally begins May 1 in California, and April 1 in Oregon. "We're trying to save what we can," said Scott Barrow, a senior biologist with the California Department of Fish and Game, a voting member of the management council. "It's a huge economic and political decision that's going to have to take place." Meanwhile, little has changed where the problem began - on the Klamath River. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation continues to follow the same water diversion policy blamed for killing salmon in 2002. That is the case even though fishing and environmental groups, led by the nonprofit group Earthjustice, won a federal appellate court ruling in October invalidating the policy. The group now hopes for another ruling to require a change in flows while a new plan is developed. John Hicks, planning division chief at the agency's Klamath regional office, rejected the idea that agricultural diversions are behind the salmon die-off. He said the water his agency controls represents only 11 percent of the flow at the mouth of the Klamath, where the fish died in 2002. "It's pretty hard for us to make significant impacts no matter what we do, which is part of the problem," said Hicks. "Everybody's kind of looking for the silver bullet: There must be one thing out there we can do that's going to fix it. But it's a very complicated system." That view is echoed by Peter Moyle, professor of fish biology at UC Davis. Moyle served on a National Academy of Sciences panel that reviewed the Klamath's problems in 2003. The panel found that a host of problems are killing the Klamath, including high water temperatures and sedimentation caused by logging, road construction and agriculture. It recommended new land-management rules, as well as acquiring water rights for fish on the Klamath's tributaries, especially the Trinity and Scott rivers. It also recommended removing Iron Gate Dam, the first of six major dams on the Klamath River, which has no fish ladders. "The chinook salmon are just the tip of the iceberg," Moyle said. "The decline of the salmon fishery is just a major indicator of the seriousness of problems on the Klamath River in general." Those six dams on the Klamath are in the middle of the relicensing process by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. A coalition of environmental groups and American Indian tribes wants the commission to order removal of the lowest four dams, including Iron Gate. The dams, owned by PacifiCorp, a unit of Scottish Power, provide hydroelectric power, but no water for farms or cities. "What we hope will happen as an outcome is that we'll look at these dams and realize they don't provide the benefit to society that the commercial fishery does," said Craig Tucker, campaign coordinator for the Karuk tribe. The closure proposal comes as commercial fishermen try to win international certification of California chinook as a "sustainable" fishery. Such a label is important to consumers who want to ensure their purchases don't deplete the environment. David Goldenberg of the California Salmon Council said there is no inconsistency, even though the sustainability of Klamath River chinook is very much in doubt. The proposed ban, he said, shows the system is working to sustain Klamath fish. It remains to be seen if fisherman will survive the closure. "If we don't get an adequate season, we're out of business. We're broke. Belly up," said David Yarger, a Bodega Bay salmon fisherman. "It would be just like you walking into your office in the morning and having them tell you, 'We don't need you anymore." Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Wed Mar 15 13:37:39 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Wed, 15 Mar 2006 13:37:39 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Power Plants and Delta Crash Contra Costa Times March 15 Message-ID: <003d01c64878$afa48cf0$1f9eb545@p4> Mirant plants attract attention in Delta crisis Contra Costa Times - 3/15/06 By Mike Taugher CONTRA COSTA TIMES A pair of Contra Costa County power plants that at one time killed tens of millions of fish a year are being scrutinized by researchers investigating potential causes of the ecological crash in the Delta. The plants in Antioch and Pittsburg are cooled with water from Suisun Bay, which is an important habitat for rearing fish and the place where scientists think some of the main problems leading to the crisis might be found. Although a consultant reported in 1979 that as many as 86 million smelt and smelt larvae were sucked into the two power plants each year, that was at a time when the now-aged plants were run much harder and there were more fish in the water. Those numbers included both Delta smelt, which are protected under the Endangered Species Act, and longfin smelt. But what has happened since then is unknown because the plants' owner, Mirant Corp., has not provided information about the effects of the plants' operations. Scientists want to know how much water is drawn into the cooling systems, how many fish are in that water and how much the discharges are warming the bay's water. "I want to get some data to really give me a sense of what's going on out there," said Chuck Armor, operations manager of the state Department of Fish and Game's Central Valley/Bay-Delta branch. Despite delays in providing information, the company is now cooperating more with regulators as its Endangered Species Act permits expire, according to officials. Officials say the company did not meet the conditions of the permits issued in 2002. Those conditions included a requirement for Mirant to install a screen to keep fish out of one of the power plants. If the screen worked, Mirant was expected to do the same at the other plant. The conditions also required Mirant to monitor the number of fish being killed at the plants. But Mirant never installed a screen and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says that it appears the company never monitored fish killed at the intake pipes, either. "As far as we know, that hasn't been done," said Fish and Wildlife Service spokesman Jim Nickles. "There is nothing happening that will reduce the impacts. We're definitely concerned about that." Nickles said his agency is working with Mirant to draft another permit, but he could not comment on any possible enforcement actions in connection with the company's failure to meet the permit conditions. In response to a series of specific questions asked by the Times, including queries about the lack of a fish screen and monitoring data about the number of fish killed at the plants, the company e-mailed a two-sentence response. "Mirant Delta is committed to doing its part to protect the environment, while maintaining power system reliability for residents of the San Francisco Bay area. Mirant Delta is also working directly with all associated agencies to ensure the safety of wildlife habitats in the Bay," the company said. The recent decline in populations of open-water Delta fish began in about 2001 or 2002 and represents a steep drop in what was already a decades-long general decline among Delta fish populations. Delta smelt, longfin smelt, threadfin shad and young-of-year striped bass all are at or near record lows. Scientists say the cause of the problem is likely a combination of toxic pollution, invasive species that are competing for resources with native fish, and water pumping operations. One leading theory holds that invasive clams now carpeting the bottom of Suisun Bay are consuming the food needed by young fish. The clams, which arrived about 20 years ago in ship ballast from Asia, might be taking advantage of increased salinity in the fall when less water flows into the Delta. Scientists say it is possible that, if the root of the problem is in Suisun Bay, the power plants could be adding to the problem. Environmentalists and anglers, meanwhile, are especially focused on the massive pumping stations at Byron and Tracy that deliver water to the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California. Jerry Johns, deputy director for the state Department of Water Resources, which operates the pumps at Byron, said the state and federal pumps are heavily scrutinized. But he notes that the Mirant pumps are almost completely ignored, even though the power plants take water out of more sensitive habitat. "It seems that we have fish counts four times a day (at the state pumps), but we have zero information about how many fish are being entrained (sucked up) right in the heart of Delta smelt area," Johns said. Combined, the two power plants' pumps can draw 3,240 cubic feet per second, or about 75 percent as much as federal pumps in Tracy that irrigate the San Joaquin Valley. It is unknown how much power those plants are generating and how much water they are using to cool them. Mirant, based in Atlanta, bought the power plants from Pacific Gas and Electric in 1999. It reaped a windfall during California's deregulation experiment, but is now in bankruptcy.# Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Wed Mar 15 13:42:59 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Wed, 15 Mar 2006 13:42:59 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] MWD Press Release Message-ID: <000001c64879$6e6f04d0$1f9eb545@p4> Roger Patterson Joins MWD Management METROPOLITAN GENERAL MANAGER REFINES LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE, EXECUTIVE TEAM Kightlinger names Debra C. Man, Roger K. Patterson as assistant general managers, returns to using public agency administrative titles MWD Press Release - 3/14/06 Marking his first month on the job, Metropolitan Water District General Manager Jeff Kightlinger today added a new member to his executive team as he refined the agency's reputation as one of the nation's leading public water providers. In solidifying his leadership role, Kightlinger announced to Metropolitan's Board of Directors that water policy expert Roger K. Patterson would join Debra C. Man, MWD's chief operating officer, as assistant general managers in the Office of the General Manager. Kightlinger further honed his executive team by declaring the district was reverting back to public agency administrative titles and dropping the corporate management headings used since 2001. "Today our leadership team is unrivaled in the water industry. It's comprised of committed, effective leaders with experience that speaks more to their true abilities than a borrowed title from the corporate world," said Kightlinger, who is dropping the use of chief executive officer, president and vice president titles. "Reclaiming the administrative titles of a public agency is a subtle yet significant step to regain our identity as a premier public water district," he added. Patterson, who had previously been serving as a consultant to Metropolitan on Colorado River issues, joins Metropolitan as assistant general manager of water planning and resources. He will oversee Colorado River issues and the management of Metropolitan's water planning and resources group. As director of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources from 1999 to 2005, Patterson was responsible for water administration, water planning, flood-plain delineation, dam safety and the state databank. He also represented Nebraska on interstate compacts, decrees and basin associations and led the state team in the settlement of U.S. Supreme Court cases on the North Platte and Republican rivers. Prior to his work in Nebraska, Patterson served in a number of leadership positions in the western United States during his 25 years with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. During his Reclamation tenure, he served as regional director in both the mid-Pacific region based in Sacramento and the Great Plains region headquartered in Billings, Mont. A registered professional engineer in Nebraska and Colorado, Patterson earned bachelor's and master's degrees in engineering from the University of Nebraska. Under the new organization and executive management responsibilities, Man continues to oversee the district's day-to-day core operations and business functions. Metropolitan's chief operating officer since 2003, she will manage Metropolitan's water system operations, corporate resources, and real property and asset management groups, as well as the workplace health, safety and environmental section. In addition to Kightlinger, Man and Patterson, the Office of the General Manager includes a chief administrative officer and two deputy general managers. Chief Financial Officer Brian Thomas' title remains unchanged. Gilbert F. Ivey takes over as Metropolitan's chief administrative officer responsible for human resources, the Office of the Board of Directors, business outreach efforts and long-term staffing strategies. Thomas maintains his responsibilities over Metropolitan financial programs, including financial and capital planning, risk management, investments, debt management and the annual budget, as well as accounting operations and reporting. He also is in charge of developing and implementing Metropolitan's rates and charges. Timothy H. Quinn serves as deputy general manager of State Water Project resources, reflecting his strategic oversight of district positions on state water issues, including district positions on the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the CALFED Bay/Delta Program. He also will work with Patterson on statewide water issues. Rounding out the executive team, Kathy Cole, Metropolitan's executive legislative representative and chief lobbyist in Sacramento, will continue to serve as interim deputy general manager of external affairs until the position is permanently filled. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From BGUTERMUTH at mp.usbr.gov Wed Mar 15 17:08:24 2006 From: BGUTERMUTH at mp.usbr.gov (Brandt Gutermuth) Date: Wed, 15 Mar 2006 17:08:24 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Public Notice of EA for Trinity River Coarse SedimentInjection/Rehabilitation Project Message-ID: http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/shastatrinity/documents/st-main/projects/ea/hq/tr-coarse-sediment/ea-3-3-06.pdf I've had several questions about this coarse sediment (gravel) placement planned for August 2006 at the Trinity River Hatchery site - This important joint Forest Service/Trinity River Restoration Program project Environmental Assessment is on the web now at the address above. Please address comments to Hide Wenham at the above address or by e-mail at: comments-pacificsouthwest-shasta-trinity at fs.fed.us. If you have any questions, you may reach Hide at (530) 226-2432 Best Regards- Brandt ___________________________________ Brandt Gutermuth, Environmental Specialist Trinity River Restoration Program PO Box 1300 (mailing) 1313 Main Street (physical address) Weaverville, CA 96093 (530) 623-1806 voice; (530) 623-5944 fax Bgutermuth at mp.usbr.gov ___________________________________ >>> "Tom Stokely" 3/7/2006 5:33:58 PM >>> This was posted at the request of hwenham at fs.fed.us: The letter incorrectly states that the preliminary version of the EA is available on our website, at this time it is not on the website. On Thursday, March 9, 2006 the EA will be available to view/download on the website. If someone would like a copy prior to March 9, I can send them either email or U.S. Mail a copy of the preliminary EA. My contact information is in the letter. Thanks, Hide Wenham, Range Planner Shasta-Trinity National Forest 3644 Avtech Parkway Redding, CA 96002 (530) 226-2432 Pursuant to 36 CFR 215.6, the Forest Service is accepting public comments substantive to the Trinity River Coarse Sediment Injection and Rehabilitation Project Environmental Assessment (EA). A preliminary version of the EA is available on the Shasta-Trinity website, http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/shastatrinity. My proposed decision is to implement Alternative 2, which is designed to benefit anadromous fish and their habitat by restoring coarse sediment supplies and developing diverse floodplain and main river channel habitat. This restoration project complements rehabilitation activities of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and is consistent with measures required for the restoration of the Trinity River mainstem fishery. We propose to 1) deliver and place approximately 5,100 cubic yards of coarse material within a 1,800 foot reach of the Trinity River, and 2) manipulate a river bank and portions of the riverbed to best accommodate this coarse material. The project site is located downstream from Lewiston Dam and adjacent to the Trinity River Fish Hatchery. The coarse material will be washed prior to placement and will originate in the Trinity River basin. Coarse material levels will be maintained into the future at this site as needed and provided funding is available. I am the responsible official for this proposed project. Comments will be accepted through the close of business 30 days following the date of publication of the legal notice in the Record Searchlight. Please address comments to Hide Wenham at the above address or by e-mail at: comments-pacificsouthwest-shasta-trinity at fs.fed.us. If you have any questions, you may reach Hide at (530) 226-2432 Please provide the following information when submitting comments: ? Your name, address and telephone number ? Project Title (Trinity River Coarse Sediment Injection and Rehabilitation Project EA) ? Specific substantive comments (36 CFR 215.2) along with supporting information you would like to be considered in reaching a decision ? Your signature and other verification of identity upon request |--------------------------------------------------| | | | | |--------------------------------------------------| | /s/ J. Sharon Heywood | |--------------------------------------------------| | J. SHARON HEYWOOD | |--------------------------------------------------| | Forest Supervisor | |--------------------------------------------------| -------End of letter-------- From danielbacher at fishsniffer.com Thu Mar 16 08:05:38 2006 From: danielbacher at fishsniffer.com (Dan Bacher) Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2006 08:05:38 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Breaking News: DFG Will Open Ocean Recreational Fishing Season April 1 In-Reply-To: <000001c64879$6e6f04d0$1f9eb545@p4> References: <000001c64879$6e6f04d0$1f9eb545@p4> Message-ID: <3F3924AC-5276-4F2A-93CA-6CF30D14AFF7@fishsniffer.com> Good Morning I was at the Legislative Forum at the State Capitol yesterday when I got this news from DFG Director Ryan Broddrick and Deputy Director Sonke Mastrup. The ocean salmon season from Point Arena to Point Sur will open as planned in state waters - 3 miles and less - on April 1. However, fishing in federal waters - beyond the 3 mile line - will remain closed. Please forward this to get the word out. Broddrick and Mastrup said the state's regulatory process prohibits the state from enforcing the closure requested by the Bush administration in state water waters on April 1 because the opener is already in state regulations booklets and any change has to go through the California Fish and Game Commission and then the State Office of Administrative Law. The Commission doesn't meet until April 6-7 - both days when the PFMC is meeting. The PFMC is planning to make a final recommendation on salmon options on April 7, probably after the Commission meeting is already over. News Release: For Immediate Release Mar. 15, 2006 DFG Will Open Ocean Recreational Fishing Season April 1 Pacific Fisheries Management Council Decision Enacts Limitations Contacts: Scott Barrow, DFG Senior Biologist, (916) 651-7670; Steve Martarano, DFG Office of Communications, (916) 654-5866 The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) will open the state?s recreational fishery between Point Arena and Point Sur as scheduled on April 1. However, a recent decision by the Ocean Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) closed the state?s commercial salmon fisheries and also limits the recreational season. The PFMC is scheduled to make final recommendations that could impose further restrictions April 3-7 during federal meetings in Sacramento. ?The bottom line is we need to ensure healthy stocks in the future,? said DFG Director Ryan Broddrick. ?Returns over the past three years have shown low numbers of naturally spawning Klamath River Chinook salmon.? Following the PFMC federal action March 10, California?s commercial fishing regulations will automatically conform, closing the state?s commercial salmon fishery. The PFMC also closed the sport fishery in federal waters between Point Arena (below Fort Bragg) and Point Sur (south of Monterey), however, because the PFMC is not set to make the final recommendations until the federal meetings, California?s sport fishery in state waters (shore to three miles) will open as scheduled April 1. The PFMC decision is subject to action by the California Fish and Game Commission, whose jurisdiction covers the sport salmon fishery in state waters. The Commission may consider an in-season emergency closing of the Central California sport fisheries to conform with federal action during its upcoming meeting April 7 in Monterey. The PFMC rulings were based on updated spawning numbers, and are intended to limit any further impacts to Klamath fall Chinook salmon off the entire West Coast. Other details of note: Recreational For Northern California, the recreational salmon fishery between Horse Mountain (above Shelter Cove) and Point Arena, which opened in February, will remain open in federal and state waters. In Southern California, the recreational salmon fishery below Point Sur will open on April 1 in federal and state waters. Commercial California?s commercial fishery was previously scheduled to open for the season on March 15. The emergency closure of the commercial fishery is in effect for all ocean waters from Point Sur north to the California-Oregon border, and includes more than 1,500 commercial boats (trollers) permitted through the DFG. This fishery will remain closed until further in- season review and notice by the PFMC. The National Marine Fishery Service is considering federal disaster relief funding for West Coast salmon-related fishing businesses impacted by the commercial closures. California?s salmon resource (commercial and sport) is valued between $44 million (PFMC estimate) and $150 million (industry estimate). Alternatives to allow commercial and recreational fishing for healthy Central Valley stocks that demonstrate no impact to Klamath stocks may be considered by the PFMC as well as by the Fish and Game Commission at their upcoming meetings, said Scott Barrow, a DFG senior biologist. Public comments concerning both California?s commercial and recreational salmon fisheries will be accepted at a public hearing scheduled for March 28 at the Flamingo Hotel in Santa Rosa. The PFMC will also accept public comments for the 2006 season at its April 3-7 meeting at the Doubletree Hotel in Sacramento. ?In summary at this point, state and federal waters are closed to commercial fishing; sport fishing is closed in federal waters between Point Arena and Point Sur; and the state waters between Point Arena and Point Sur will open on April 1 while the Commission considers options during its upcoming meeting in Monterey,? Barrow said. ?The sport fishing in federal and state waters for the Fort Bragg area will remain open and below Point Sur will open on April 1.? For additional information on the PFMC ruling and up-coming meetings, log on to www.pcouncil.org or call the Ocean Salmon Hotline at 1-800-662-9825. To obtain a copy of the PFMC press release on the closures and other emergency regulations affecting the West Coast, log on to www.pcouncil.org/newsreleases/pr031306_sal.pdf. For information on California?s salmon fisheries in state waters, log on to www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/oceansalmon.html#recreational or call the Ocean Salmon Regulations Hotline at (707) 576-3429. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Thu Mar 16 14:38:25 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2006 14:38:25 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Eugene, OR Editorial March 14 Message-ID: <003201c6494a$58657710$1f9eb545@p4> Norton's sorry legacy: Plight of Klamath salmon just one example A [Eugene] REGISTER-GUARD EDITORIAL Published: Tuesday, March 14, 2006 Gale Norton is resigning as secretary of the Interior just as salmon fisherman and coastal towns from Oregon to California are about to reap the devastating results of her mishandling of the Klamath Basin water crisis. Largely as a result of politically motivated intervention by Norton, farmers ended up winning their fight for water in the Klamath four years ago. Since then, scientists' warnings that Norton's policies would devastate the Klamath River's Chinook salmon populations, with dire consequences for the fishing industry and communities that depend on them, have become reality. In 2002, an estimated 70,000 salmon died in the Klamath River, after increased water diversions for agriculture turned the river into a shallow, warm killing ground for the once-abundant chinook. Now, federal fisheries officials are considering a total shutdown of fishing along 700 miles of Northwest coastline, a move that would plunge a gaff through the heart of an already-gasping fishing industry and cost coastal communities more than $150 million in economic activity. The Klamath crisis is just one facet of Norton's broadly anti-environment, pro-business legacy, one that surpasses in scope and audacity even that of her mentor James Watt, the former Interior secretary in the Reagan administration. Despite her cheery demeanor and lip service to the cause of conservation, Norton has worked tirelessly to open public lands to commercial exploitation. During her tenure, vast expanses of the West have been opened for oil and gas drilling. In 2003, Norton entered into an illegal agreement with the governor of Utah to open 2.6 million acres of protected lands in that state to commercial development. In exchange, she pledged that no additional lands would be recommended for wilderness protection. If she'd had her way, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, one of the last truly wild and pristine places left on Earth, would have been opened to oil drilling. But "wild" and "pristine" were never words that held much sway with Norton, who oversaw an expansion of mountaintop-removal mining in Appalachia. Norton's administration of the Endangered Species Act revealed a hostility to the act's primary mission of protecting and rebuilding endangered species populations. The secretary overruled scientists who warned against reducing habitat protections for species ranging from bull trout to marbeled murrelets. Thanks to Norton, a ban on snowmobiles in Yellowstone National Park was overturned, despite studies showing that banning the snarling, belching beasts is necessary to clear the haze and restore peace and quiet to the crown jewel of America's park system. And thanks to Norton, the National Park Service is about to scrap its founding mission to give conservation priority over recreational and commercial activities. It's hard to believe that President Bush will be able to come up with a worse candidate than Gale Norton as he begins a search for a new Interior secretary. But it's always dangerous to underestimate the Bush administration's capacity for wreaking environmental havoc. One need only consider the plight of Klamath chinook. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Thu Mar 16 14:49:13 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2006 14:49:13 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Breaking News: DFG Will Open Ocean Recreational Fishing Season April 1 Message-ID: <000001c6494b$d96c8320$1f9eb545@p4> _____ From: Dan Bacher [mailto:danielbacher at fishsniffer.com] Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2006 8:06 AM Good Morning I was at the Legislative Forum at the State Capitol yesterday when I got this news from DFG Director Ryan Broddrick and Deputy Director Sonke Mastrup. The ocean salmon season from Point Arena to Point Sur will open as planned in state waters - 3 miles and less - on April 1. However, fishing in federal waters - beyond the 3 mile line - will remain closed. Please forward this to get the word out. Broddrick and Mastrup said the state's regulatory process prohibits the state from enforcing the closure requested by the Bush administration in state water waters on April 1 because the opener is already in state regulations booklets and any change has to go through the California Fish and Game Commission and then the State Office of Administrative Law. The Commission doesn't meet until April 6-7 - both days when the PFMC is meeting. The PFMC is planning to make a final recommendation on salmon options on April 7, probably after the Commission meeting is already over. News Release: For Immediate Release Mar. 15, 2006 DFG Will Open Ocean Recreational Fishing Season April 1 Pacific Fisheries Management Council Decision Enacts Limitations Contacts: Scott Barrow, DFG Senior Biologist, (916) 651-7670; Steve Martarano, DFG Office of Communications, (916) 654-5866 The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) will open the state's recreational fishery between Point Arena and Point Sur as scheduled on April 1. However, a recent decision by the Ocean Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) closed the state's commercial salmon fisheries and also limits the recreational season. The PFMC is scheduled to make final recommendations that could impose further restrictions April 3-7 during federal meetings in Sacramento. "The bottom line is we need to ensure healthy stocks in the future," said DFG Director Ryan Broddrick. "Returns over the past three years have shown low numbers of naturally spawning Klamath River Chinook salmon." Following the PFMC federal action March 10, California's commercial fishing regulations will automatically conform, closing the state's commercial salmon fishery. The PFMC also closed the sport fishery in federal waters between Point Arena (below Fort Bragg) and Point Sur (south of Monterey), however, because the PFMC is not set to make the final recommendations until the federal meetings, California's sport fishery in state waters (shore to three miles) will open as scheduled April 1. The PFMC decision is subject to action by the California Fish and Game Commission, whose jurisdiction covers the sport salmon fishery in state waters. The Commission may consider an in-season emergency closing of the Central California sport fisheries to conform with federal action during its upcoming meeting April 7 in Monterey. The PFMC rulings were based on updated spawning numbers, and are intended to limit any further impacts to Klamath fall Chinook salmon off the entire West Coast. Other details of note: Recreational For Northern California, the recreational salmon fishery between Horse Mountain (above Shelter Cove) and Point Arena, which opened in February, will remain open in federal and state waters. In Southern California, the recreational salmon fishery below Point Sur will open on April 1 in federal and state waters. Commercial California's commercial fishery was previously scheduled to open for the season on March 15. The emergency closure of the commercial fishery is in effect for all ocean waters from Point Sur north to the California-Oregon border, and includes more than 1,500 commercial boats (trollers) permitted through the DFG. This fishery will remain closed until further in-season review and notice by the PFMC. The National Marine Fishery Service is considering federal disaster relief funding for West Coast salmon-related fishing businesses impacted by the commercial closures. California's salmon resource (commercial and sport) is valued between $44 million (PFMC estimate) and $150 million (industry estimate). Alternatives to allow commercial and recreational fishing for healthy Central Valley stocks that demonstrate no impact to Klamath stocks may be considered by the PFMC as well as by the Fish and Game Commission at their upcoming meetings, said Scott Barrow, a DFG senior biologist. Public comments concerning both California's commercial and recreational salmon fisheries will be accepted at a public hearing scheduled for March 28 at the Flamingo Hotel in Santa Rosa. The PFMC will also accept public comments for the 2006 season at its April 3-7 meeting at the Doubletree Hotel in Sacramento. "In summary at this point, state and federal waters are closed to commercial fishing; sport fishing is closed in federal waters between Point Arena and Point Sur; and the state waters between Point Arena and Point Sur will open on April 1 while the Commission considers options during its upcoming meeting in Monterey," Barrow said. "The sport fishing in federal and state waters for the Fort Bragg area will remain open and below Point Sur will open on April 1." For additional information on the PFMC ruling and up-coming meetings, log on to www.pcouncil.org or call the Ocean Salmon Hotline at 1-800-662-9825. To obtain a copy of the PFMC press release on the closures and other emergency regulations affecting the West Coast, log on to www.pcouncil.org/newsreleases/pr031306_sal.pdf. For information on California's salmon fisheries in state waters, log on to www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/oceansalmon.html#recreational or call the Ocean Salmon Regulations Hotline at (707) 576-3429. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Thu Mar 16 15:26:55 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2006 15:26:55 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Bush announces Idaho's Kempthorne for Interior Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE09263019622A0@mail2.trinitycounty.org> Bush announces Idaho's Kempthorne for Interior http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060316/pl_nm/bush_interior_dc 25 minutes ago WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Top of Form Bottom of Form President George W. Bush announced on Thursday he will nominate Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne as his choice to replace Gale Norton as Interior secretary. The Interior secretary job, which oversees federal lands, requires Senate confirmation. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Thu Mar 16 15:38:24 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2006 15:38:24 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Reuters News Service March 16 Message-ID: <002b01c64952$b7e67ec0$1f9eb545@p4> Reuters Bush picks Idaho's Kempthorne for Interior Thu Mar 16, 2006 4:27 PM ET WASHINGTON, March 16 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Thursday chose Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne as his choice to replace Gale Norton as Interior secretary, a Republican official said. Bush was expected to make a formal announcement at 5:30 p.m. EST on Thursday. Kempthorne, who was first elected governor in 1998, is also a former senator. The Interior secretary job, which oversees federal lands, requires Senate confirmation. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Thu Mar 16 15:42:37 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2006 15:42:37 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Dirk Kempthorne On The Issues Message-ID: <003901c64953$4e8f86a0$1f9eb545@p4> Dirk Kempthorne on Energy & Oil * Voted YES on approving a nuclear waste repository. (Apr 1997) * Voted YES on do not require ethanol in gasoline. (Aug 1994) * Voluntary partnerships reduce greenhouse gases economically. (Aug 2000) * Kyoto Treaty must include reductions by all countries. (Aug 2000) * Federal tax incentives for energy, with state decisions. (Aug 2001) Dirk Kempthorne on Environment * Supports salmon recovery without breaching Snake River dams. (Jan 2001) Despite the years of conflict over salmon recovery, we produced the Four Governors' Agreement. With our neighbors from Washington, Oregon and Montana we have provided a roadmap for salmon recovery. It represented consensus. It respected states' water rights and property rights. It did not call for breaching the lower Snake River dams. It has empowered the states to set their own priorities for salmon recovery, instead of reacting to federal dictates. Source: State of the State address to the Idaho legislature Jan 8, 2001 * States' rights: no grizzly bears; no roadless forests. (Jan 2001) Its time to move command and control away from Washington, D.C. and get the decision-making down to where it should be - on the ground and in the hands of the land managers - our national forest supervisors and our state foresters. Can you believe the Clinton Administration proposal to re-introduce flesh-eating grizzly bears into the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness? Folks, this could be the first land management action in history to result in sure death and injury of citizens. We will challenge this blatant confrontation to our state sovereignty in federal court. And just last week, in its waning days, the Clinton Administration announced its intent to implement its roadless plan, ignoring the Idaho Land Board. We will go to court once again to prevent this misguided and flawed federal policy from taking effect. Source: State of the State address to the Idaho legislature Jan 8, 2001 * Voted YES on transportation demo projects. (Mar 1998) * Voted NO on reducing funds for road-building in National Forests. (Sep 1997) Vote on an amendment to cut the $47.4 million provided for Forest Service road construction by $10 million, and to eliminate the purchaser credit program [which provides credits to timber companies to offset what they owe the government]. Bill HR.2107 ; vote number 1997-242 on Sep 17, 1997 * Voted NO on continuing desert protection in California. (Oct 1994) * Voted YES on requiring EPA risk assessments. (May 1994) * More state autonomy on brownfields & Superfund cleanups. (Aug 2001) Kempthorne adopted the National Governors Association position paper: The Issue The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), otherwise known as Superfund, was created to clean up the worst hazardous waste sites across the country and to recoup expenses from responsible parties. Since the law was enacted in 1980, the Superfund program has caused significant amounts of litigation, while cleanup of hazardous waste sites has not been as fast or effective as the statute envisioned. In addition, states have not had the necessary tools or funding from the federal government to adequately clean up state sites. "Brownfields" sites-abandoned or undeveloped non-Superfund industrial or commercial sites under state jurisdiction-have gained increasing attention from Congress in recent years as passage of a comprehensive Superfund package has become increasingly unlikely. NGA's Position NGA supports the reauthorization of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980. NGA policy calls for more opportunities for states to take authority for cleanup of National Priorities List (NPL) sites, increased autonomy and funding over brownfield sites, and the concurrence of a Governor before a site can be listed on the NPL. Source: National Governors Association "Issues / Positions" 01-NGA15 on Aug 1, 2001 * Support State Revolving Loan Fund for flexible Clean Water. (Aug 2001) Kempthorne adopted the National Governors Association position paper: The Issue The Clean Water Act (CWA) has not been reauthorized since 1987. At that time, provisions were added to address nonpoint source pollution, pollution from diffuse sources such as runoff of fertilizers and pesticides, stormwater runoff, and sediment. Governors and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) disagree on the best approach to addressing the problem of nonpoint source pollution. NGA's Position NGA supports the reauthorization of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972 (the Clean Water Act). The Governors support an increased focus on watershed management planning, including funding for the State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) and nonpoint source pollution programs. States should have the flexibility to develop plans for attaining federally approved water quality standards in impaired waters - in consultation with local government officials and stakeholders - and to allocate responsibility for cleanup among contributors. The TMDL regulations should be revised, by legislation if necessary, to give states adequate flexibility, funding, and time to address impaired waters. Source: National Governors Association "Issues / Positions" 01-NGA9 on Aug 1, 2001 * Focus on prevention and states for Endangered Species. (Aug 2001) Kempthorne signed the Western Governors' Association resolution: 1. Preventative conservation on both public and private lands is essential. Western states are actively developing conservation plans to restore declining species before they need the protections of the Endangered Species Act [ESA]. Most declining species can be restored to health only through a federal-state partnership that involves private landowners and interested parties. 2. The purposes of the ESA are undermined if the Act must be so narrowly interpreted that, in order to defend its application against legal challenge, the very species the Act was enacted to protect are disadvantaged. [For example], the decision in Oregon Natural Resources Council v. Daley, holds that the requirement under the ESA for federal agencies to consider state conservation plans means almost nothing. If decisions like the one in Oregon stands, the Western Governors believe there is a problem with the Act itself requiring amendment or regulatory clarification. 3. In addition, the Governors have long supported the reauthorization of the ESA based on three goals: to increase the role of states, to streamline the ESA, and to increase certainty and technical assistance for landowners and water users. And the governors call for the ESA to have the recovery of species as its central focus. 4. The Western Governors believe that the courts, and the Congress, when writing the reauthorization of the ESA, should reaffirm the Secretary's ability to defer the listing of a species when the actions of a state conservation agreement eliminates the need to list a species. The courts and Congress should also clarify that voluntary actions that the Secretary finds will help restore a declining species and which have performance standards, implementation plans, and monitoring and reporting provisions, and are properly financed, are valid conservation tools. Source: WGA Policy Resolution 01 - 11: Endangered Species Act 01-WGA11 on Aug 14, 2001 * Collaborative, incentive driven, locally-based solutions. (Aug 2001) Kempthorne signed the Western Governors' Association resolution: 1. Water quality restoration is essential for economic and environmental sustainability of forestry, agriculture, fisheries, manufacturing, recreation and public water supply. 2. The Western Governors favor collaborative, incentive driven, locally based solutions to environmental and natural resource problems such as water quality restoration. 3. The governors continue to endorse the Park City Paradigm to guide water management. Its guiding principles are: * Recognition of diverse interests in water resource values. * Problems should be approached in a holistic or systemic way that recognizes cross-cutting issues, cross-border impacts and concerns, and the multiple needs within the broader "problemshed" - the area that encompasses the problem and all the affected interests. * The policy framework should be responsive to economic, social and environmental considerations. Policies must be flexible and yet provide some level of predictability. * Authority and accountability should be decentralized within national policy parameters. This includes a general federal policy of recognizing and supporting the key role of states in water management. * Negotiation and market-like approaches as well as performance standards are preferred over command-and-control patterns. 3. Implementing these water management principles can be expensive and beyond the ability of some states to fund. However, the benefits of managing the resource in this manner are significant. Therefore, the Western Governors encourage federal agencies to look for opportunities to use existing authority to provide funding, flexibility in funding, and/or shared or loaned personnel to states to help them address specific watershed problems. Source: WGA Policy Resolution 01 - 12: Watershed Partnerships 01-WGA12 on Aug 14, 2001 * Apply "Good Samaritan" rules to abandoned mine cleanup. (Aug 2001) Kempthorne signed the Western Governors' Association resolution: Good Samaritan 1. The Western Governors believe that there is a need to eliminate disincentives, and establish incentives, to voluntary, cooperative efforts aimed at improving and protecting water quality impacted by abandoned or inactive mines. 2. The Western Governors believe the Clean Water Act should be amended to protect a remediating agency from becoming legally responsible for any continuing discharges from the abandoned mine site after completion of a cleanup project, provided that the remediating agency -- or "Good Samaritan"-- does not otherwise have liability for that abandoned or inactive mine site and attempts to improve the conditions at the site. 3. The Western Governors believe that Congress, as a priority, should amend the Clean Water Act in a manner that accomplishes the goals embodied in the WGA legislative package on Good Samaritan cleanups. S.1787 from the 106 th Congress is a good starting point for future congressional deliberations. Cleanup and Funding 4. The Governors encourage federal land management agencies to coordinate their abandoned mine efforts with state efforts to avoid redundancy and unnecessary duplication. 5. Reliable sources of funds that do not divert from other important Clean Water programs should be identified and made available for the cleanup of hardrock abandoned mines in the West. 6. The Western Governors continue to urge the Administration and Congress to promptly distribute to states abandoned coal mine land funds in the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Trust Fund , including accumulated interest, collected under Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (see WGA Policy Resolution 00-012). Source: WGA Policy Resolution 01 - 15: Cleaning Up Abandoned Mines 01-WGA15 on Aug 14, 2001 * State primacy over water quantity & quality issues. (Aug 2001) State primacy over water quantity & quality issues. Kempthorne signed the Western Governors' Association resolution: 1. The states should retain primary jurisdiction over water quantity issues -- specifically water resource allocation and the determination of beneficial uses. 2. Control of pollutants from stormwater needs to be addressed with application of Best Management Practices. The Clean Water Act (CWA) should allow flexibility in both water quality criteria and beneficial use designations for receiving waters. Stormwater discharges to dry streams in arid regions pose substantially lower environmental risks than do the same discharges to perennial surface waters. 3. CWA reauthorization must take into account the environment in the arid West. Specifically, the CWA should recognize and Congress should provide adequate resources for the development of water quality criteria for non-perennial and effluent dependent streams. 4. The CWA reauthorization should include two new statements of purpose: (A) To recognize the need to establish water quality criteria for the wide variety of ecosystems that exist in the U.S. (B) To allow states to encourage the reuse of treated wastewater, as a component of water quality control. 5. The CWA should allow states flexibility in the designation of beneficial uses and establishment of criteria for certain waters, such as non-perennial and effluent dependent streams and man made water transportation canals. 6. Non-point source funding should enable states to balance program elements and focus, as needed, on technology development and transfer, monitoring, assessment, etc. Federal agency activities should also be required to comply with state non-point source management plans. 7. The Governors endorse the authorization of a regional water quality research project to design and develop water quality standards appropriate to unique conditions in the western states. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Thu Mar 16 15:59:57 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2006 15:59:57 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Earthjustice on Kempthorne Nomination Message-ID: <005d01c64955$bbd3b720$1f9eb545@p4> Earthjustice Statement on Nomination of Gov. Dirk Kempthorne As Interior Secretary Contact: Todd True, 206-343-7340 ext. 30 or John McManus, 510-550-6707, both of Earthjustice; Web: http://www.earthjustice.org WASHINGTON, March 16 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following is a statement by Todd True, Earthjustice staff attorney, on the nomination of Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne as Interior Secretary: "I wish President Bush could quit that man. Between the two of them, they've wrecked a lot of fine country. "As Governor, Kempthorne led the charge to strip protection from 60 million acres of America's last wild forests and he's consistently fought against protection for wildlife like grizzly bears and salmon in his home state of Idaho. He's openly hostile to America's natural areas and wildlife -- which puts him outside the mainstream of what people want to see for their children and their future. "As a one-term Senator, Kempthorne only cast one pro- environmental vote in six years, according to the League of Conservation Voters Scorecard. He also introduced a bill to undermine the Endangered Species Act that was unanimously opposed by conservation and scientific groups. "Gov. Kempthorne has built his career by pushing an anti- environmental agenda and catering to the oil, mining, and timber industries. Kempthorne is cut from the same cloth as Gale Norton. He will be a cheerleader for the Bush administration's efforts to open public lands to industrial development." Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Fri Mar 17 11:24:50 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2006 11:24:50 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] March 2006 CVP Water Supply Information Announced Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE09263019622D3@mail2.trinitycounty.org> From: Louis Moore [mailto:wmoore at mp.usbr.gov] Sent: Friday, March 17, 2006 11:11 AM To: Josh Allen Subject: March 2006 CVP Water Supply Information Announced Reclamation Mid-Pacific Region Sacramento, CA MP-06-035 Media Contact: Jeffrey S. McCracken 916-978-5100 jmccracken at mp.usbr.gov For Release On: March 16, 2006 March 2006 CVP Water Supply Information Announced The Bureau of Reclamation today announced the March Water Year 2006 water supply allocation from the Federal Central Valley Project (CVP). Reclamation prepared two forecasts. Water supplies projected in the first forecast are associated with dry hydrological conditions that have a 90-percent chance of exceeding the projection. Reclamation uses this dry forecast for the official water supply allocation. The second forecast is prepared for informational purposes using median hydrological conditions that have a 50-percent chance of exceeding the projection. This announcement of the available water supply allocation is based on the March 1, 2006, runoff forecast prepared by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR). Mid-Pacific Region Water Year 2006 Water Allocation March 2006 North of Delta (percentages of contracted water allocated) South of Delta (percentages of contracted water allocated) Ag M&I* R WR Ag M&I* R WR Dry Forecast Above Normal 104% of Avg 100 100 100 100 65 90 100 100 Median Forecast Wet 115% of Avg 100 100 100 100 70 95 100 100 Recent Historic Average (5-Year Average Allocation) 92 97 100 100 70 93 100 100 Ag = Agriculture M&I = Municipal and Industrial R = Refuges WR = Water Rights M&I Allocations are based on historical deliveries. The Trinity River year type is projected to be in the "Wet" category in both the dry and median forecasts. Wet-year releases will total 701,000 acre-feet. The Friant Division deliveries for Water Year 2006 are projected to be 1.5 million acre-feet, or 100 percent of the historic water supply of 1.5 million acre-feet. The preliminary allocation for Friant Division contractors will be 100 percent Class 1 water and Uncontrolled Season for Class 2 water. The Uncontrolled Season will be effective from March 1 through mid-June 2006. The projected Friant Division delivery of 1.5 million acre-feet is based on DWR's 50-percent exceedence forecast. Through March 13, 2006, precipitation in the San Joaquin River watershed was 36.55 inches compared to 40.81 inches this time last year. The CVP Cross Valley Canal Contractors' 65-percent water supply allocation remains unchanged. This water supply is dependent upon adequate capacity being available at the State Water Project Banks Pumping Plant to convey the water. In both the dry and median forecasts, the water supply available for the CVP Eastside Division contractors (Stanislaus River) is projected to remain at approximately 155,000 acre-feet. Throughout the precipitation season, updated information will be provided as conditions warrant. For additional information on the Water Year 2006 water supply, please contact the Public Affairs Office at 916-978-5100, TDD 916-978-5608. In the coming months, additional information will continue to be posted on the Central Valley Operations website at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/cvo/. ### Reclamation is the largest wholesale water supplier and the second largest producer of hydroelectric power in the United States, with operations and facilities in the 17 Western States. Its facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation, and fish and wildlife benefits. Visit our website at http://www.usbr.gov . -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Fri Mar 17 13:50:08 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2006 13:50:08 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Commissioner of Bureau of Reclamation Resigns Message-ID: <003201c64a0c$c6f0ca50$1f9eb545@p4> Norton Lauds Service of John Keys as Commissioner of Bureau of Reclamation News Release, the Department of the Interior - 3/17/06 Contact: Tina Kreisher/Shane Wolfe (DOI), 202-208-6416, Kip White (Bureau of Reclamation), 202-513-0684 WASHINGTON-Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton today announced the resignation of John W. Keys III, from his position as Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation. Norton lauded Keys' service to the nation and his success in handling water issues associated with the worst five years of drought in the past five centuries. After serving nearly 40 years with the Bureau, Keys intends to spend time with his family. His resignation is effective April 15. "As Commissioner, John led the way in developing the Water 2025 Initiative that is helping to avoid future water crises in the West," Secretary Norton said. "He and the rest of the Interior water team were crucial in resolving a nearly 75-year dispute when California water users reached agreement with the federal government and six other states on a multi-decade agreement for sharing and using water in the Colorado River. "He is a consensus builder who spent a long career with the Bureau of Reclamation and then agreed to join my team to lead the Bureau as Commissioner," Norton said. "He will be missed." Among Keys' accomplishments is development of the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (MSCP), a coordinated, comprehensive, long-term multi-agency effort to conserve and work toward the recovery of endangered species and protect and maintain wildlife habitat on the Lower Colorado River. "I love the Bureau of Reclamation," Keys said. "I believe in what we do. I am proud of our part in the water development and management that has made it possible for us to live in the arid West. I believe that the Bureau and our Department are ready for the water challenges of the 21st century. It is a bittersweet time to leave Reclamation again." In addition, in his letter to Secretary Norton, Keys thanked her for the privilege of serving in the job and wrote: "Secretary Norton, I leave the Bureau of Reclamation in good hands and with a strong course. Reclamation employees are among the best, with a pervasive can-do attitude and true commitment to Reclamation's purpose and mission." Keys spent 34 years as a career employee with the Bureau, first as a civil and hydraulic engineer and later as the Pacific Northwest Regional Director Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Fri Mar 17 13:52:30 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2006 13:52:30 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Eureka Times Herald Klamath Editorial March 16 Message-ID: <003701c64a0d$1e134f10$1f9eb545@p4> KLAMATH: Editorial: Fix the damage before it is too late Eureka Times-Standard - 3/16/06 Lawmakers are working on an infrastructure bond that contains money aimed at buying and removing dams on the Klamath River. The Klamath provision is an unspecified amount of money in a $700 million article that includes money to restore the San Joaquin River, the Sacramento River delta and Lake Tahoe. In 2001, there was an uproar when the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation cut off water to some farms in the upper basin. The next year, the policy was reversed, and up to 68,000 fish died in a warm, shallow river. Diseases have been killing young fish and reservoirs have seen spikes in toxic algae. Fish runs have been small the past three years, and this year federal fisheries managers may close all salmon fishing from Northern Oregon to Big Sur. It is hoped that the money involved will help facilitate a settlement of this issue. It is important that the removal of the dams be a part of the restoration of the Klamath. There is more at stake than fish. While every measure must be taken to guarantee the survival of our once-rich fisheries, fish kills and toxic algae are signs that we are killing the river and our resources. The quality of the river is in serious decline and if something is not done to reverse the damage we may reach the point where we won't be able to. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Fri Mar 17 14:54:32 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2006 14:54:32 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Final Trinity Weir Counts Message-ID: <006b01c64a15$c310bae0$1f9eb545@p4> Attached are final Trinity River weir trapping totals for the 2005-06 season, and a comparison with prior year. These figures are from weir counts only, and are not an indication of fish escapement totals for the year. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: weir&TRH_summary05.xls Type: application/vnd.ms-excel Size: 67072 bytes Desc: not available URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Mon Mar 20 10:10:18 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2006 10:10:18 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] SF Chronicle March 20 Message-ID: <001501c64c49$974198e0$1f9eb545@p4> Where are the Klamath salmon? San Francisco Chronicle Editorial Monday, March 20, 2006 GOT SALMON? Come next month, federal rule-makers may so restrict fish-catching off Northern California that the season will all but end. The reason is diminishing population of the migrating fish on the Klamath River. Farm diversions, dams and a long drought have reduced river flows, decimating salmon schools stuck in warm, unhealthy pools along the North Coast river. For several years, the numbers have dipped below a 35,000-fish-count judged minimal to perpetuate chinook salmon. The water-quality problem isn't much in doubt, not after federal studies and a review by the National Academy of Sciences. The hard part is coming up with a solution that will revive salmon runs. One painful step will begin in April. A federal fishery agency will likely recommend a reduced salmon season that will drop from a half to a quarter of last year's catch. Though salmon pour into the Pacific from many rivers, the silvery schools are impossible to tell apart -- hence the need to limit all fishing to save a sub-species reared in just one watershed. But stopping fishing, by itself, won't fill the Klamath with future generations of fish. If boat owners, deck hands and their orbit of wharf-side businesses endure hardship, there should be a response by the federal government that can do much to repair the larger problem of a sick river. For years, upstream farmers in eastern California and southern Oregon have held off calls for change. The salmon will come back after a bad patch, this group says in defending their historic water rights. But that's a delusional position, given the weak fish numbers. Farm runoff is tainting the water. Dams warm the water flows to fish-killing temperatures. Change can only come if there is concerted pressure on Washington to negotiate a compromise to a complicated, multisided problem. U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Napa, have shown an interest in the problem and should push for a solution. For starters, the Department of Commerce, which sets fishing catches, needs to press the Department of Interior, which watches over crucial water flows. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission also has a role because it is relicensing four dams on the Klamath River's upper end. Finding the money for these changes won't be easy. Washington has little to spare with the Iraq war, a Katrina fix-up and a deficit hitting $400 billion this year. But doing nothing means fewer salmon, ever-shorter fishing seasons and angrier participants from all sides. The prospects aren't hopeless. Sinking numbers of salmon along the Sacramento River, the state's biggest fish-nursery waterway, have shot up, thanks to better management and water conditions. That's a fish story worth repeating. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From emelia at trailofwater.com Mon Mar 20 10:28:18 2006 From: emelia at trailofwater.com (Emelia Berol) Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2006 10:28:18 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] SF Chronicle March 20 In-Reply-To: <001501c64c49$974198e0$1f9eb545@p4> References: <001501c64c49$974198e0$1f9eb545@p4> Message-ID: <3EC2B8F2-E692-40F8-B827-75A6DC9EEE74@trailofwater.com> What "long drought" is this article referring to? Writer should have been clearer that it was in the upper basin .. it's misleading... Certainly not in the lower Klamath or Trinity basin ... there has not been a drought here since the drought of the late 80's / early 90's ... maybe the writer is referring to the drought of compassion ... emelia On Mar 20, 2006, at 10:10 AM, Byron wrote: Where are the Klamath salmon? San Francisco Chronicle Editorial Monday, March 20, 2006 GOT SALMON? Come next month, federal rule-makers may so restrict fish- catching off Northern California that the season will all but end. The reason is diminishing population of the migrating fish on the Klamath River. Farm diversions, dams and a long drought have reduced river flows, decimating salmon schools stuck in warm, unhealthy pools along the North Coast river. For several years, the numbers have dipped below a 35,000-fish-count judged minimal to perpetuate chinook salmon. The water-quality problem isn't much in doubt, not after federal studies and a review by the National Academy of Sciences. The hard part is coming up with a solution that will revive salmon runs. One painful step will begin in April. A federal fishery agency will likely recommend a reduced salmon season that will drop from a half to a quarter of last year's catch. Though salmon pour into the Pacific from many rivers, the silvery schools are impossible to tell apart -- hence the need to limit all fishing to save a sub-species reared in just one watershed. But stopping fishing, by itself, won't fill the Klamath with future generations of fish. If boat owners, deck hands and their orbit of wharf-side businesses endure hardship, there should be a response by the federal government that can do much to repair the larger problem of a sick river. For years, upstream farmers in eastern California and southern Oregon have held off calls for change. The salmon will come back after a bad patch, this group says in defending their historic water rights. But that's a delusional position, given the weak fish numbers. Farm runoff is tainting the water. Dams warm the water flows to fish- killing temperatures. Change can only come if there is concerted pressure on Washington to negotiate a compromise to a complicated, multisided problem. U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Napa, have shown an interest in the problem and should push for a solution. For starters, the Department of Commerce, which sets fishing catches, needs to press the Department of Interior, which watches over crucial water flows. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission also has a role because it is relicensing four dams on the Klamath River's upper end. Finding the money for these changes won't be easy. Washington has little to spare with the Iraq war, a Katrina fix-up and a deficit hitting $400 billion this year. But doing nothing means fewer salmon, ever-shorter fishing seasons and angrier participants from all sides. The prospects aren't hopeless. Sinking numbers of salmon along the Sacramento River, the state's biggest fish-nursery waterway, have shot up, thanks to better management and water conditions. That's a fish story worth repeating. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org _______________________________________________ env-trinity mailing list env-trinity at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us http://www2.dcn.org/mailman/listinfo/env-trinity -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From look_mtr at montereybay.com Mon Mar 20 11:01:30 2006 From: look_mtr at montereybay.com (LOOKHOMEOFFICE) Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2006 11:01:30 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] SF Chronicle March 20 References: <001501c64c49$974198e0$1f9eb545@p4> Message-ID: <002801c64c50$b2dd73b0$6400a8c0@lookhomea0a76a> This article is somewhat inaccurate. The 35,000 figure is the target for natural spawners, not all fish; hatchery production is not included in this criterion. The closure is because the return projected by NMFS (Santa Cruz lab) software known as Klamath Ocean Harvest Model (KOHN) predicts less than 35,000 for three years in a row, triggering a closure based solely on the natural spawn conjecture by the software. The hatchery returns (Iron Gate, Trinity) are actually at or above 50000 year on year, and even in 2002 (32000 fish kill year) were over 24000 live return at Iron Gate alone. The natural spawn (basically just non-hatchery as includes hatchery escapement) is dependent on a lot of spotty reporting and guesstimates of how many fish use the river gravels. (You could do a aerial survey to try to photograph spawners the way they do ducks but it would have to be repeated at least weekly from Sept.-Dec.; high water would tend to reduce effectiveness but that would at least be empirical data.) The NMFS lab did publish a paper on the methodology of predicting (without detail on how KOHN works) but no detail on source data for 2006. So largely unknown what the actual number of spawners is or was in last three years. But because the KOHN number came up under 35000 (actually, 29200) and this is a third year, the closure gears whirr and click. And, strangely, the article doesn't mention the FERC proceedings in March 2006. Pacificorp has to renew licenses of upstream dams and I am not sure the final EIR is out yet. Attached is the DFG letter re license application for quick idea of some of the issues. Bill Van Loek ----- Original Message ----- From: Byron To: FOTR List ; Trinity List Server Sent: Monday, March 20, 2006 10:10 AM Subject: SF Chronicle March 20 Where are the Klamath salmon? San Francisco Chronicle Editorial Monday, March 20, 2006 GOT SALMON? Come next month, federal rule-makers may so restrict fish-catching off Northern California that the season will all but end. The reason is diminishing population of the migrating fish on the Klamath River. Farm diversions, dams and a long drought have reduced river flows, decimating salmon schools stuck in warm, unhealthy pools along the North Coast river. For several years, the numbers have dipped below a 35,000-fish-count judged minimal to perpetuate chinook salmon. The water-quality problem isn't much in doubt, not after federal studies and a review by the National Academy of Sciences. The hard part is coming up with a solution that will revive salmon runs. One painful step will begin in April. A federal fishery agency will likely recommend a reduced salmon season that will drop from a half to a quarter of last year's catch. Though salmon pour into the Pacific from many rivers, the silvery schools are impossible to tell apart -- hence the need to limit all fishing to save a sub-species reared in just one watershed. But stopping fishing, by itself, won't fill the Klamath with future generations of fish. If boat owners, deck hands and their orbit of wharf-side businesses endure hardship, there should be a response by the federal government that can do much to repair the larger problem of a sick river. For years, upstream farmers in eastern California and southern Oregon have held off calls for change. The salmon will come back after a bad patch, this group says in defending their historic water rights. But that's a delusional position, given the weak fish numbers. Farm runoff is tainting the water. Dams warm the water flows to fish-killing temperatures. Change can only come if there is concerted pressure on Washington to negotiate a compromise to a complicated, multisided problem. U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Napa, have shown an interest in the problem and should push for a solution. For starters, the Department of Commerce, which sets fishing catches, needs to press the Department of Interior, which watches over crucial water flows. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission also has a role because it is relicensing four dams on the Klamath River's upper end. Finding the money for these changes won't be easy. Washington has little to spare with the Iraq war, a Katrina fix-up and a deficit hitting $400 billion this year. But doing nothing means fewer salmon, ever-shorter fishing seasons and angrier participants from all sides. The prospects aren't hopeless. Sinking numbers of salmon along the Sacramento River, the state's biggest fish-nursery waterway, have shot up, thanks to better management and water conditions. That's a fish story worth repeating. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: klamathdfgfercltr.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 320453 bytes Desc: not available URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Tue Mar 21 16:03:59 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2006 16:03:59 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Draft March 29 agenda and attachments Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE09263019623DF@mail2.trinitycounty.org> Good afternoon, To aid in your preparation for next week's TMC meeting I am attaching the draft agenda, plus the draft December 2005 minutes and the current Director's Report. Paper copies of this material will be available at the meeting. I believe I've incorporated all of the agenda items that have been identified so far. The main objective of the meeting is to approve a recommended flow schedule, and that will take up most of the first day. The second day is currently scheduled to end about noon. If some topics run long, we can extend into an afternoon session. Thank you, Doug ___________________________________ Douglas P. Schleusner, Executive Director Trinity River Restoration Program P.O. Box 1300, 1313 South Main St. Weaverville, CA 96093 (530) 623-1800 Fax: (530) 623-5944 e-mail: dschleusner at mp.usbr.gov ___________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Draft TMC minutes & summary of 12-13and14-05.doc Type: application/msword Size: 179200 bytes Desc: Draft TMC minutes & summary of 12-13and14-05.doc URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Directors_Report_March_2006.doc Type: application/msword Size: 139776 bytes Desc: Directors_Report_March_2006.doc URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Mar29_2006_draft_agenda.doc Type: application/msword Size: 53248 bytes Desc: Mar29_2006_draft_agenda.doc URL: From danielbacher at fishsniffer.com Tue Mar 21 16:13:49 2006 From: danielbacher at fishsniffer.com (Dan Bacher) Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2006 16:13:49 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Fishermen Demand Real Solutions to Salmon Declines - Rally in Santa Rosa on March 28! In-Reply-To: <8B5E4E95-3A5E-4212-8F3D-785A46EB907D@fishsniffer.com> References: <003001c64798$c0be35d0$6a00000a@yourrvlnhr6v8d> <8B5E4E95-3A5E-4212-8F3D-785A46EB907D@fishsniffer.com> Message-ID: P R E S S A D V I S O R Y For Immediate Release: March 22, 2006 Contact: Mike Hudson, President SBCSFA, (510) 528-6575 (h), (510) 407-0046 (c) mike at sbcsfa.com FISHERMEN DEMAND REAL SOLUTIONS TO SALMON DECLINES Fishermen stage rally at Pacific Fisheries Management Council Meeting WHAT: Sport, commercial and tribal fishermen and their families, fishing business owners, and other salmon advocates will join to rally for real solutions to salmon recovery. Up and down the West Coast, fishermen and fishing communities are being hurt by the general failure of the federal government?s salmon recovery efforts. Now, the administration is seeking to further limit -- and even eliminate -- tribal, sport and commercial fishing as the ?solution? to dwindling Klamath River salmon runs. This policy unfairly targets fishermen while ignoring both sound science and sound economics. It is time for the federal government to step up and address the real causes of salmon decline, including the lethal impact of dams and habitat destruction, and focus on real solutions to protect and enhance our livelihoods, our communities and our way of life. WHERE: Outside the Flamingo Hotel, 2777 4th St., Santa Rosa, CA WHEN: Tuesday March 28 at 5 p.m. # # # -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Jay_Glase at nps.gov Fri Mar 24 08:59:05 2006 From: Jay_Glase at nps.gov (Jay_Glase at nps.gov) Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 11:59:05 -0500 Subject: [env-trinity] Commissioner of Bureau of Reclamation Resigns Message-ID: Can anyone tell me what this really means? "the worst five years of drought in the past five centuries" Are they referring to the entire western U.S., a specific location that saw some particularly dry years, or did the folks that estimate climatology from tree rings find that in the last 500 years the 5 worst precipitation years occurred within the last 40 years? I thought I had seen some tree ring information from the mid 1800's that looked much worse than the recent droughts. And some of the fire ecology presentations I saw in the mid 1990's suggested that, depending on the overall period of time observed, the western U.S. was actually in a fairly wet period when compared to tree ring climate estimates dating back several hundred years. thanks in advance for any insight jay Jay Glase Great Lakes Area Fishery Biologist National Park Service (906)487-9080 x27 |---------+----------------------------------------------> | | "Byron " | | | Sent by: | | | env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.| | | davis.ca.us | | | | | | | | | 03/17/2006 01:50 PM PST | | | | |---------+----------------------------------------------> >-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | To: "FOTR List" , "Trinity List Server" | | cc: (bcc: Jay Glase/Omaha/NPS) | | Subject: [env-trinity] Commissioner of Bureau of Reclamation Resigns | >-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| Norton Lauds Service of John Keys as Commissioner of Bureau of Reclamation News Release, the Department of the Interior ? 3/17/06 Contact: Tina Kreisher/Shane Wolfe (DOI), 202-208-6416, Kip White (Bureau of Reclamation), 202-513-0684 WASHINGTON-Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton today announced the resignation of John W. Keys III, from his position as Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation. Norton lauded Keys? service to the nation and his success in handling water issues associated with the worst five years of drought in the past five centuries. After serving nearly 40 years with the Bureau, Keys intends to spend time with his family. His resignation is effective April 15. ?As Commissioner, John led the way in developing the Water 2025 Initiative that is helping to avoid future water crises in the West,? Secretary Norton said. ?He and the rest of the Interior water team were crucial in resolving a nearly 75-year dispute when California water users reached agreement with the federal government and six other states on a multi-decade agreement for sharing and using water in the Colorado River. ?He is a consensus builder who spent a long career with the Bureau of Reclamation and then agreed to join my team to lead the Bureau as Commissioner,? Norton said. ?He will be missed.? Among Keys? accomplishments is development of the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (MSCP), a coordinated, comprehensive, long-term multi-agency effort to conserve and work toward the recovery of endangered species and protect and maintain wildlife habitat on the Lower Colorado River. ?I love the Bureau of Reclamation,? Keys said. ?I believe in what we do. I am proud of our part in the water development and management that has made it possible for us to live in the arid West. I believe that the Bureau and our Department are ready for the water challenges of the 21st century. It is a bittersweet time to leave Reclamation again.? In addition, in his letter to Secretary Norton, Keys thanked her for the privilege of serving in the job and wrote: ?Secretary Norton, I leave the Bureau of Reclamation in good hands and with a strong course. Reclamation employees are among the best, with a pervasive can-do attitude and true commitment to Reclamation?s purpose and mission.? Keys spent 34 years as a career employee with the Bureau, first as a civil and hydraulic engineer and later as the Pacific Northwest Regional Director Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org _______________________________________________ env-trinity mailing list env-trinity at mailman.dcn.org http://www2.dcn.org/mailman/listinfo/env-trinity From danielbacher at fishsniffer.com Sat Mar 25 17:51:26 2006 From: danielbacher at fishsniffer.com (Dan Bacher) Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2006 17:51:26 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Commissioner of Bureau of Reclamation Resigns In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hey Jay! I think they're referring to the worst manmade, politically engineered "drought" in five centuries. Yes, your absolutely right that the western U.S. is in a relatively wet period. For example, around 1300 there was a severe drought in the Sierra Nevada where many natural lakes, such as Fallen Leaf Lake, got close to becoming puddles. There are trees in Fallen Leaf that you can see on your fish finder in deep water when boating the lake. The lake was so low that the trees were growing at what is now the bottom on the lake. Dan On Mar 24, 2006, at 8:59 AM, Jay_Glase at nps.gov wrote: > Can anyone tell me what this really means? "the worst five years of > drought in the past five centuries" > > Are they referring to the entire western U.S., a specific location > that saw > some particularly dry years, or did the folks that estimate > climatology > from tree rings find that in the last 500 years the 5 worst > precipitation > years occurred within the last 40 years? I thought I had seen some > tree > ring information from the mid 1800's that looked much worse than > the recent > droughts. And some of the fire ecology presentations I saw in the mid > 1990's suggested that, depending on the overall period of time > observed, > the western U.S. was actually in a fairly wet period when compared > to tree > ring climate estimates dating back several hundred years. > thanks in advance for any insight > jay > > > Jay Glase > Great Lakes Area Fishery Biologist > National Park Service > (906)487-9080 x27 > > > |---------+----------------------------------------------> > | | "Byron " | > | | Sent by: | > | | env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.| > | | davis.ca.us | > | | | > | | | > | | 03/17/2006 01:50 PM PST | > | | | > |---------+----------------------------------------------> >> --------------------------------------------------------------------- >> ----------------------------------------------------------| > > | > | > | To: "FOTR List" , > "Trinity List Server" | > | cc: (bcc: Jay Glase/Omaha/ > NPS) > | > | Subject: [env-trinity] Commissioner of Bureau of > Reclamation > Resigns | >> --------------------------------------------------------------------- >> ----------------------------------------------------------| > > > > > Norton Lauds Service of John Keys as Commissioner of Bureau of > Reclamation > News Release, the Department of the Interior ? 3/17/06 > Contact: Tina Kreisher/Shane Wolfe (DOI), 202-208-6416, Kip White > (Bureau > of Reclamation), 202-513-0684 > > WASHINGTON-Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton today announced the > resignation of John W. Keys III, from his position as Commissioner > of the > Bureau of Reclamation. Norton lauded Keys? service to the nation > and his > success in handling water issues associated with the worst five > years of > drought in the past five centuries. After serving nearly 40 years > with the > Bureau, Keys intends to spend time with his family. His resignation is > effective April 15. > > ?As Commissioner, John led the way in developing the Water 2025 > Initiative > that is helping to avoid future water crises in the West,? > Secretary Norton > said. ?He and the rest of the Interior water team were crucial in > resolving > a nearly 75-year dispute when California water users reached > agreement with > the federal government and six other states on a multi-decade > agreement for > sharing and using water in the Colorado River. > > ?He is a consensus builder who spent a long career with the Bureau of > Reclamation and then agreed to join my team to lead the Bureau as > Commissioner,? Norton said. ?He will be missed.? > > Among Keys? accomplishments is development of the Lower Colorado River > Multi-Species Conservation Program (MSCP), a coordinated, > comprehensive, > long-term multi-agency effort to conserve and work toward the > recovery of > endangered species and protect and maintain wildlife habitat on the > Lower > Colorado River. > > ?I love the Bureau of Reclamation,? Keys said. ?I believe in what > we do. I > am proud of our part in the water development and management that > has made > it possible for us to live in the arid West. I believe that the > Bureau and > our Department are ready for the water challenges of the 21st > century. It > is a bittersweet time to leave Reclamation again.? > > In addition, in his letter to Secretary Norton, Keys thanked her > for the > privilege of serving in the job and wrote: ?Secretary Norton, I > leave the > Bureau of Reclamation in good hands and with a strong course. > Reclamation > employees are among the best, with a pervasive can-do attitude and > true > commitment to Reclamation?s purpose and mission.? > > Keys spent 34 years as a career employee with the Bureau, first as > a civil > and hydraulic engineer and later as the Pacific Northwest Regional > Director > > > Byron Leydecker > Chair, Friends of Trinity River > Advisor, California Trout, Inc > PO Box 2327 > Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 > 415 383 4810 ph > 415 383 9562 fx > bwl3 at comcast.net > bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org > http://www.fotr.org > http:www.caltrout.org > > _______________________________________________ > env-trinity mailing list > env-trinity at mailman.dcn.org > http://www2.dcn.org/mailman/listinfo/env-trinity > > _______________________________________________ > env-trinity mailing list > env-trinity at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us > http://www2.dcn.org/mailman/listinfo/env-trinity From curtisa at water.ca.gov Mon Mar 27 10:46:47 2006 From: curtisa at water.ca.gov (Anderson, Curtis) Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2006 10:46:47 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Commissioner of Bureau of Reclamation Resigns Message-ID: Hi Jay, This statement refers specifically to the amount of runoff in the Colorado River Basin from 1999-2004. We are definitely NOT in a drought situation in California this year. Here are some citations: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5239212/ http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2004/3062/ http://www.doi.gov/news/05_News_Releases/051219_speech Take Care, Curtis -----Original Message----- From: env-trinity-bounces+curtisa=water.ca.gov at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us [mailto:env-trinity-bounces+curtisa=water.ca.gov at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca .us] On Behalf Of Jay_Glase at nps.gov Sent: Friday, March 24, 2006 8:59 AM To: Byron Cc: Trinity List Server; FOTR List; env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us Subject: Re: [env-trinity] Commissioner of Bureau of Reclamation Resigns Can anyone tell me what this really means? "the worst five years of drought in the past five centuries" Are they referring to the entire western U.S., a specific location that saw some particularly dry years, or did the folks that estimate climatology from tree rings find that in the last 500 years the 5 worst precipitation years occurred within the last 40 years? I thought I had seen some tree ring information from the mid 1800's that looked much worse than the recent droughts. And some of the fire ecology presentations I saw in the mid 1990's suggested that, depending on the overall period of time observed, the western U.S. was actually in a fairly wet period when compared to tree ring climate estimates dating back several hundred years. thanks in advance for any insight jay Jay Glase Great Lakes Area Fishery Biologist National Park Service (906)487-9080 x27 |---------+----------------------------------------------> | | "Byron " | | | Sent by: | | | env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.| | | davis.ca.us | | | | | | | | | 03/17/2006 01:50 PM PST | | | | |---------+----------------------------------------------> >----------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------| | | | To: "FOTR List" , "Trinity List Server" | | cc: (bcc: Jay Glase/Omaha/NPS) | | Subject: [env-trinity] Commissioner of Bureau of Reclamation Resigns | >----------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------| Norton Lauds Service of John Keys as Commissioner of Bureau of Reclamation News Release, the Department of the Interior - 3/17/06 Contact: Tina Kreisher/Shane Wolfe (DOI), 202-208-6416, Kip White (Bureau of Reclamation), 202-513-0684 WASHINGTON-Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton today announced the resignation of John W. Keys III, from his position as Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation. Norton lauded Keys' service to the nation and his success in handling water issues associated with the worst five years of drought in the past five centuries. After serving nearly 40 years with the Bureau, Keys intends to spend time with his family. His resignation is effective April 15. "As Commissioner, John led the way in developing the Water 2025 Initiative that is helping to avoid future water crises in the West," Secretary Norton said. "He and the rest of the Interior water team were crucial in resolving a nearly 75-year dispute when California water users reached agreement with the federal government and six other states on a multi-decade agreement for sharing and using water in the Colorado River. "He is a consensus builder who spent a long career with the Bureau of Reclamation and then agreed to join my team to lead the Bureau as Commissioner," Norton said. "He will be missed." Among Keys' accomplishments is development of the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (MSCP), a coordinated, comprehensive, long-term multi-agency effort to conserve and work toward the recovery of endangered species and protect and maintain wildlife habitat on the Lower Colorado River. "I love the Bureau of Reclamation," Keys said. "I believe in what we do. I am proud of our part in the water development and management that has made it possible for us to live in the arid West. I believe that the Bureau and our Department are ready for the water challenges of the 21st century. It is a bittersweet time to leave Reclamation again." In addition, in his letter to Secretary Norton, Keys thanked her for the privilege of serving in the job and wrote: "Secretary Norton, I leave the Bureau of Reclamation in good hands and with a strong course. Reclamation employees are among the best, with a pervasive can-do attitude and true commitment to Reclamation's purpose and mission." Keys spent 34 years as a career employee with the Bureau, first as a civil and hydraulic engineer and later as the Pacific Northwest Regional Director Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org _______________________________________________ env-trinity mailing list env-trinity at mailman.dcn.org http://www2.dcn.org/mailman/listinfo/env-trinity _______________________________________________ env-trinity mailing list env-trinity at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us http://www2.dcn.org/mailman/listinfo/env-trinity From jallen at trinitycounty.org Mon Mar 27 10:52:42 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2006 10:52:42 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Fresno, farmers say split costs them: In second congressional hearing on Delta crisis, some object to project's environmental provisions Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE0926301962565@mail2.trinitycounty.org> http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/cctimes/living/science/14184974.htm?sourc e=rss&channel=cctimes_science Fresno, farmers say split costs them In second congressional hearing on Delta crisis, some object to project's environmental provisions By Mike Taugher CONTRA COSTA TIMES FRESNO - In the heart of the nation's richest agricultural region, farm agency representatives said Friday it was time to rein in a far-reaching environmental restoration law and move faster to build reservoirs to secure more water for farms, cities and wildlife. "We got to stick together ... for the fight of our lives," Fresno Mayor Alan Autry said before a crowd of more than 200. "There is enough water to go around, but it's going to other parts of the state." The Delta, an important source of water for the Bay Area, Southern California cities, Central Valley farmers and numerous fish species that depend on it for habitat, is under intense scrutiny as competing users battle over who gets the water. "Right now, we don't have enough water for the people who are already here," Autry said, predicting that failing to secure more water for farmers would leave the burgeoning San Joaquin Valley "the largest welfare state within a state that the world has ever seen." For the second time in less than a month, a congressional panel gathered to look at problems in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, this time focusing on frustrations about the Central Valley Project Improvement Act, which farmers believe has cost them water and money. The hearing was called by Rep. George Radanovich, R-Mariposa, to review the 1992 law, which was authored by Martinez Democrat Rep. George Miller and former New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley. San Joaquin Valley farmers who get water from the federal water project, one of the nation's largest, object to provisions that shift 800,000 acre-feet of water a year from agricultural use to the environment. That is enough water for about 1.5 million homes. They also question whether they should continue to be charged for environmental restoration. The law was meant to reverse environmental damage caused by the Central Valley Project since it began delivering water in the early 1930s, first to the relatively small Contra Costa Water District and eventually to sprawling corporate farms in the San Joaquin Valley. "There were some very good politicians that wrote this in the dead of night, stuck it in a (larger bill) and rammed it down the throat of the San Joaquin Valley," said Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Visalia, one of four congressional members from the valley to attend. After the hearing, Radanovich said his water and power subcommittee of the House Resources Committee might hold further hearings to consider amendments to the Central Valley Project Improvement Act. Tom Birmingham, general manager of the Westlands Water District, a region of farms that runs 70 miles long and 15 miles wide in Fresno and Kings counties, said his district's water supply is far less reliable since the law was passed 14 years ago. He also questioned the use of some of the nearly $500 million that farmers and other beneficiaries of the project have paid under the act for environmental restoration. But environmentalists, anglers and others say California's salmon and bird populations would be worse off without the law. And, with several open water species of Delta fish in a serious decline, they say this is not the time to ease environmental protection laws. The Central Valley Project was operating for 50 years before the law was passed, noted Mindy McIntyre, a water policy specialist at the Planning and Conservation League. "Of course, you can't fix all of the damage caused by the CVP already," she said. Zeke Grader, executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, a commercial fishing organization, said the legislation was the most important federal law for California's salmon in the past 50 years. In prepared testimony, Grader said the water delivery system prior to the 1992 legislation "ignored, and harmed, the environment, fisheries, drinking water quality, North Coast communities, indeed, most of California. The CVPIA (legislation) represented a modest attempt to restore some balance to the system." Neither Miller nor Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, the Resources Committee chairman, was able to attend Friday's hearing. But more hearings on the Delta's problems are planned for the coming months, according to committee spokesman Brian Kennedy. Last month, the committee met in Stockton to hear from scientists about why the Delta ecosystem appears to be unraveling. State and federal scientists said they were still uncertain why several species of open-water Delta fish have plummeted in recent years. Next month, the committee is expected to examine fragile Delta levees and the risk they pose to the state's water supply. That hearing is expected to be in Washington, D.C. The Delta is a source of drinking water for 23 million Californians and millions of acres of farmland. A series of levee failures could foul those water supplies because flooding into the subsided islands can suck saltier water into the Delta from San Francisco Bay. Scientists and water managers have become increasingly worried about the aging levees. The Jones Tract flood in 2004 and the flooding of New Orleans last year reinforced, in their minds, how devastating levee failures can be. Radanovich said Friday that the committee might also take a broad look at CalFed, the troubled state and federal program. It was created to protect the Delta environment and water supplies, but after more than five years and $3 billion, it has little success to show. _____ Mike Taugher covers natural resources. Reach him at 925-943-8257 or mtaugher at cctimes.com. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Mon Mar 27 17:48:05 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2006 17:48:05 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Court Order Klamath Flows Message-ID: <003f01c65209$a85b3210$1f9eb545@p4> NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release: March 27, 2006 Contacts: Kristen Boyles, Earthjustice: 206.343.7340 x33 Glen Spain, PCFFA: 541-521-8655 Tim McKay, NEC: 707-822-6918 MORE WATER WILL FLOW IN THE KLAMATH San Francisco, CA - On the eve of a potential salmon fishing closure that would devastate coastal communities and fishing families in California and Oregon, a federal court today ruled that the Bush administration can not continue to strangle water flows in the Klamath River in years with average or below rainfall. The court sided with fishing and conservation groups that have been seeking a more balanced distribution of water needed to rebuild Klamath River salmon stocks. The court ordered the federal Bureau of Reclamation to provide river flows needed for coho salmon now, instead of waiting for five more years to pass. "This order will help prevent the kinds of closures we're seeing this year and last year and help make the Klamath River a healthier place for salmon," said Glen Spain of PCFFA. "After years of uncertainty, we finally know what needs to be done for water for fish, and farmers and fishermen can plan accordingly." PCFFA is the west coast's largest organization of commercial fishing families. The court's order, which sets a floor for in-river flows, comes during a high water period on the Klamath. "We stand ready to make any changes as smooth as possible for all our communities," continued Spain. Salmon advocates have been pointing to the plan's inadequacies since it was released in May 2002. Indeed, as soon as it was implemented and water diversions to upstream farmers began, juvenile salmon died in the river. A severe shortage of adult Klamath River salmon this year is traced directly to the effects of diverting Klamath water to irrigators. This shortage resulted in commercial salmon fishermen losing about 50 percent of their normal fishing season in 2005. In 2003, the court struck down the long-term portion of the plan but ordered no change to current operations. Because Klamath River coho are protected as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, the National Marine Fisheries Service must approve any irrigation plan devised by the Bureau of Reclamation that relies on taking water from the Klamath River. In May 2002, the Fisheries Service held that the Bureau's plan would jeopardize the continued survival of the Klamath River coho, but failed to require adequate measures to protect the salmon. Five months after the plan was adopted, in the fall of 2002, low flows caused by unbalanced irrigation deliveries killed as many as 70,000 adult salmon. However months earlier, during the spring of 2002, juvenile salmon died in the river from low water conditions. "Today a court told the Bush administration to strike a better balance so it doesn't kill all the salmon in the river," said Tim McKay of Northcoast Environmental Center. "This order will help make sure that downstream communities that depend on salmon aren't left high and dry." "It's time for the federal agencies to stop making excuses and start working to protect salmon in the Klamath River," said Kristen Boyles of Earthjustice. "The Klamath was once the third mightiest salmon-producing river in the continental US, behind only the Columbia and Sacramento. We need to start now to bring it back." The case was filed by Earthjustice on behalf of PCFFA, Institute for Fisheries Resources, The Wilderness Society, WaterWatch of Oregon, Northcoast Environmental Center, Oregon Natural Resources Council, Defenders of Wildlife, Klamath Forest Alliance, and Headwaters. In the district court, these groups were joined by Congressman Mike Thompson (D-Napa) and the Yurok and Hoopa Valley Tribes; amicus briefs supporting the plaintiffs were filed by the Cities of Arcata and Eureka, Del Norte, Humboldt, and Trinity Counties, and the Humboldt Bay, Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District. For more information on the Klamath Basin and a copy of the opinion, please visit www.earthjustice.org Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Tue Mar 28 09:54:29 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2006 09:54:29 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Washington Post March 28, 2006 Message-ID: <004401c65290$ab414eb0$1f9eb545@p4> Klamath River Salmon Water Plan to Start Washington Post - 3/28/06 By Paul Elias, Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal judge has ordered the government to institute a Klamath River management plan immediately instead of waiting five more years, which means farmers could be deprived of irrigation if water levels drop low enough to threaten the survival of coho salmon. U.S. District Court Judge Saundra B. Armstrong said Monday that if river levels fail to meet 100 percent of the water flow needed for the coho as determined by the National Marine Fisheries Service, then farmers who rely on the Klamath will have to do without. That should not be a problem this year because a wet winter has left Northwest rivers swollen. "Everyone should get what they need," said Kristen Boyles, an Earthjustice attorney who represents the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations and other groups who opposed the government's plan for balancing water needs between the coho salmon and farms. But how to meet the salmon water requirements of farmers during dry seasons still remains an open question. "The wet winter does give us time to sit down with them and see how we can meet those requirements," said Zeke Grader, executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations in San Francisco. Commercial fishing organizations and environmental groups sued the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in 2002, alleging that the government's plan to wait eight years to provide the full amount of water needed for coho survival in the water-scarce basin was insufficient to ensure the salmon's survival. The 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals agreed last year, ruling the plan to be arbitrary and capricious and not supported by science. Armstrong on Monday rejected government arguments that it had new explanations supporting its plan to wait until 2010, and ordered the salmon to immediately have first dibs on the Klamath River. Stephen Macfarlane, a U.S. Department of Justice attorney who represents the fisheries agency, said he hadn't read the ruling and declined comment. The Klamath Reclamation Project irrigates 180,000 acres straddling the Oregon-California line in the high desert east of the Cascade Range. Irrigation was cut off to most of the project in 2001 to protect threatened coho, then restored the next year. In the fall of 2002, tens of thousands of adult Chinook salmon died in the lower Klamath from diseases associated with low and warm water, as well as some coho. Untold numbers of juvenile salmon died in the spring. Federal fisheries managers last year sharply reduced sport and commercial ocean harvests up and down the West Coast to reduce the likelihood Klamath fish would be killed. Similar restrictions could happen this year. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Fri Mar 31 09:28:32 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2006 09:28:32 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] News on Klamath FERC Relicensing Message-ID: <006701c654e8$c88d7f20$2f28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> Dams must pass fish Eureka Times-Standard - 3/30/06 By John Driscoll, staff writer Federal officials will require the owner of the hydropower project on the Klamath River to put in fish ladders or other structures to allow salmon past its dams as a condition of getting its federal license renewed. The U.S. Interior and Commerce departments' insistence that installing fish ways -- which could cost $60 million to $200 million -- could make it difficult for PacifiCorp to profitably operate the project, and some say that could prompt a settlement with tribes, conservation groups, farmers and fishermen to take down the dams. The departments also demanded that most water diverted from the Klamath for power at J.C. Boyle Dam be sent into the river instead, which would sharply reduce power generation at a key PacifiCorp facility. The departments don't have the authority to demand decommissioning the dams. That's left to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which is overseeing the complex relicensing effort. PacifiCorp's license expired this month, and it will now rely on an annual license to operate. Fish ladders could open up about 60 miles of river to chinook salmon, steelhead and lamprey and threatened coho salmon, and with further restoration efforts, eventually allow fish to reach historic spawning grounds in streams above Upper Klamath Lake in Oregon. The conditions released Wednesday also protect water intakes at Keno Dam, keeping in place vital infrastructure for U.S. Bureau of Reclamation project irrigators. "Restoring access to good-quality spawning and rearing habitat above Iron Gate Dam is a major step in rebuilding healthy salmon runs and fisheries that depend on them," said Jim Lecky, regional administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service. "It creates the opportunity to reconnect the Klamath basin, from headwaters to the ocean." Troubled river While the river has its share of troubles, the dams are of significant concern. They block fish from reaching spawning grounds, they heat water in reservoirs, prompt algae blooms -- including highly toxic algae -- and degrade water quality in the river. That is believed to have serious effects, especially on young salmon, which may be more vulnerable to deadly parasites when stressed by hot, slow, alkaline water. Federal fisheries managers are now considering sharp cutbacks or elimination of fishing in the river and along hundreds of miles of coastline to protect low numbers of salmon. That could cost coastal economies about $150 million. There are no fish ladders on the lowermost Iron Gate Dam or at Copco I and Copco II dams. The agencies wrote that PacifiCorp would also have to rebuild its antiquated fish passage facility at J.C. Boyle. Yurok Tribe biologist Dave Hillemeier said he was pleased with the federal agencies' commitment to begin helping the ailing river. Hillemeier hopes that PacifiCorp might realize the costs of the improvements outweigh the benefits. "Our hope is they'll do the right thing and remove at least four antiquated dams that produce a minimal amount of electricity from the mainstem river," Hillemeier said. The whole project produces about 150 megawatts of electricity, about enough for 150,000 households. Any group that disputes the conditions can request a hearing before an administrative law judge. Talks ongoing There are parallel settlement talks occurring alongside the relicensing process. Representatives from the Karuk, Yurok, Hoopa Valley and Klamath tribes, counties in Northern California and Oregon, agencies, fishing groups and conservation organizations have been meeting regularly. PacifiCorp spokesman Dave Kvamme said that he's not surprised about the terms and conditions. He said the company has until April 15 to file its comments about the demands. But Kvamme said that the utility, which has settled disputes over six other projects, believes that there is more leeway in the parallel discussions. Three of those have led to the removal of dams, he said. Kvamme said the company is hoping to find a practical solution that protects its shareholders. "I think it's been our preference all along to find solution in the settlement process," Kvamme said. "You can be more creative in the settlement process." While the talks are confidential, removal of the dams is undoubtedly a part of the discussions. Language that could provide funds from California to go toward such an effort was in an infrastructure bond that failed in recent weeks -- ironically, because of sparring over money for a new dam in the San Joaquin Valley. But supporters of the measure say that the language is likely to find its way into another bond measure, which, if passed, would go before voters in November. To help determine if such an enormous project is even feasible, the California Coastal Conservancy is working to find out what's behind the dams. Sediment trapped in reservoirs sometimes contains toxins, and if it does in this case, it may be more complicated and expensive to take out the dams. The federal requirements released Wednesday are further justification that the states need to fully study dam decommissioning, said Michael Bowen with the conservancy. But he said that PacifiCorp is stalling the project. "The conservancy is trying to answer some basic questions about removal," Bowen wrote in an e-mail. "But unless PacifiCorp lightens up and lets us move forward quickly, our publicly funded study is dead in the algae-laden waters of the Klamath reservoirs." The Interior and Commerce conditions are subject to public hearings. FERC is expected to come out with a draft environmental document in June, in which it will lay out a series of alternatives available for the PacifiCorp project. Bowen said the state study on trapped sediment and alternatives for fish passage will be critical to the federal agency as it weighs dam decommissioning as among the possibilities for the Klamath River. # http://www.times-standard.com/local/ci_3654685 U.S. Acts to Help Wild Salmon in Klamath River; As stocks plummet, agencies demand remedies from the owner of hydroelectric dams. Options include fish ladders, demolition Los Angeles Times - 3/30/06 By Eric Bailey, staff writer SACRAMENTO - Federal wildlife agencies demanded Wednesday that the Klamath River's imperiled wild salmon be given a way to pass four towering hydroelectric dams that for nearly a century have blocked the waterway's upper spawning grounds. The owner of the dams, PacifiCorp of Portland, Ore., could face a costly decision: Should it spend up to $175 million to erect very long fish ladders, or should it abandon the dams and undertake the nation's largest removal project? The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service and other federal wildlife agencies presented their demands in response to PacifiCorp's application to renew its operating license for the dams. The structures - combined with diversions for irrigation, polluted runoff from ranching, logging and other factors - have caused Klamath fish populations to plummet. Salmon runs have fallen so low in the last three years that federal regulators next week will decide whether to recommend that the annual fishing season be canceled. PacifiCorp, owned by billionaire financial guru Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway Inc., has in recent years agreed to demolish three other hydroelectric dams, including a 150-foot-tall concrete structure on the White Salmon River in southwest Washington. But that undertaking would be dwarfed by the scope of removing PacifiCorp's four dams on the Klamath, where worries over salmon have hurt farmers, whose irrigation supply was slashed in 2001. Also, commercial fishermen could lose this year's prized chinook catch. "Something of this magnitude in terms of the number of dams and the sheer size is unprecedented," said Kelly Catlett, a policy advocate with Friends of the River in Sacramento. "This would be in a league of its own." Company officials said they would consider appealing the demands of the wildlife agencies but remain optimistic that an agreement could be reached in talks that have been underway for more than a year with government agencies, Native American tribes, fishermen, farmers and other groups with a stake in the health of the Klamath River. "We think the settlement process is a better way to go," said Dave Kvamme, a PacifiCorp spokesman. "You can get creative. You can take risks." Steve Thompson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife's state operations officer, said those negotiations - conducted biweekly in closed-door sessions - are looking at potential remedies to the Klamath's myriad environmental problems, from its Oregon headwaters to where it pours into the Pacific north of Eureka, Calif. "A settlement could tackle many more issues than just dams," Thompson said. But, he added, PacifiCorp probably would have to choose "what's the best business decision for them" to ensure that fish can reach the more than 350 miles of historic habitat in the river's upper basin. The natural migration of salmon to Upper Klamath Lake and beyond into tributaries fed by the snowmelt of Oregon's Cascade Range was blocked by the completion of the first of the dams in 1918. Since then, half a dozen other dams have been erected on the Klamath, with the last of them - the earthen-sided Iron Gate Dam in California - the tallest of them all, rising 173 feet above the river. Iron Gate and three other hydropower dams - J.C. Boyle and Copco 1 and 2 - are being considered for alteration or elimination because they pose the biggest barrier to fish. The three other dams on the river are small enough to be surmounted by fish ladders. Critics of the four hydroelectric structures say they have combined with water diversions for agriculture and runoff from farms, logging and cattle grazing to brew environmental problems that threaten the river's salmon. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is expected to decide early next year on whether to issue a new license to operate the dams. Elimination of the four dams and the 151 megawatts of power they produce wouldn't come easy. The cost of demolition and river restoration has been estimated at $100 million by environmentalists and the tribes, but could climb higher if unforeseen obstacles emerged. Some backers of dam decommissioning have proposed that the idea be sweetened for PacifiCorp with public funds and are pushing to include Klamath dam removal money in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed infrastructure bond measures. "Dam removal is one piece of the puzzle, but it's a big piece," said Craig Tucker, a policy analyst with Northern California's Karuk Tribe, which has seen its Klamath catch nearly disappear. "There's no way you can conclude that the 151 megawatts those dams produce are more valuable to society than salmon." Two other tribes - the Hoopa and Yurok - fish the river as part of their cultural heritage. Commercial fishermen estimate that the loss of this year's chinook salmon season could cost coastal economies $150 million. The Klamath was once the nation's third-most productive salmon river, with up to 1.2 million salmon and steelhead trout joining an epic annual migration to spawn. Today, the river's coho salmon are on the endangered species list, and its chinook salmon are at record lows. PacifiCorp's Kvamme said the company remained unconvinced that salmon would survive in the watershed's upper reaches. Some university experts share that concern. Upper Klamath Lake has grown saturated with phosphorus runoff from the Cascades' volcanic slopes, compromising water quality. In addition, upstream tributaries are sullied by agricultural runoff and other pollution. "My biggest worry is that expectations about the positive impacts of Klamath dam removal on salmon and steelhead may be raised too high," said Peter Moyle, a UC Davis professor of fish biology who helped look at the Klamath for a National Academy of Sciences study. Meanwhile, the power the dams produce, though less than 2% of PacifiCorp's overall production of more than 8,000 megawatts, is still enough for 70,000 households, Kvamme noted. To replace that clean electricity, he said, would require burning 360,000 tons of coal or 5 million cubic feet of natural gas. But critics say the power isn't worth the environmental and economic costs. A study by the California Energy Commission found that losing electricity from the dams would not significantly harm regional power production. The National Academy of Sciences and the California Water Resources Control Board have recommended a full evaluation of dam removal. Other options include catching fish and hauling them around the dams, but that effort has not been very effective on the Columbia River and Northwest streams. Construction of fish ladders over the dams could prove formidable. The ladders would have to step an exhausting 120 times to top Iron Gate Dam and run for nearly two miles. Biologists question if salmon and steelhead trout would even use the ladders. # http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-salmon30mar30,1,7907211.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california A good week for Klamath salmon; Fish ladders, bigger water release ordered Sacramento Bee - 3/30/06 By Matt Weiser, staff writer Federal fisheries managers on Wednesday announced that fish ladders must be installed on four Klamath River dams, a move that could eventually restore more than 300 miles of salmon spawning habitat. The news is a big win for fishermen, who this year may face a total closure of the coastal salmon fishing season because of a plunge in fish numbers on the Klamath. "There is hundreds of miles of spawning habitat that will now become accessible to these fish," said Mike Hudson, president of the Small Boat Commercial Salmon Fishermen's Association, based in Berkeley. "It's good news for fishermen, it's good news for tribes, it's good news for consumers. It's just plain good news." The announcement follows a federal court ruling Monday that will benefit the salmon. It ordered the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to release more water into the river from its upstream agricultural water diversions. The call for fish ladders comes from the U.S. Department of the Interior and the fisheries branch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Their recommendation is part of a relicensing process for the Klamath dams now under way within the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. That process gives the recommendation of the federal agencies the weight of a mandate, meaning FERC must now make fish ladders a requirement for relicensing. "The federal government is proposing fish passage for the first time in 80 years," said Alex Pitts, Department of Interior spokesman. "That's a big deal." The Klamath River was once the third-largest salmon producer on the Pacific Coast, after the Columbia and Sacramento rivers. But this year, Chinook salmon spawning on the Klamath are expected to fall below a population of 35,000 for the third year in a row. As a result, the National Marine Fisheries Service has proposed closing the coastal salmon fishing season this year, which could jeopardize a $150 million industry. The Pacific Fisheries Management Council, an advisory group, plans to make a recommendation on the closure next week in Sacramento. Salmon and other fish lost access to hundreds of miles of spawning habitat on the Klamath with construction of the first of the four dams in 1918. Today, only one of the four has any sort of fish ladder, and it is the uppermost of the four, meaning that salmon have three insurmountable dams between them and that ladder. A federal dam license lasts up to 50 years, so the current relicensing effort is a rare opportunity to change the river's fortunes. "I'm impressed that the feds are really stepping up and taking a hard line," Craig Tucker, campaign coordinator for the Karuk Tribe, said of the call for fish ladders. The tribe is one of three with historic fishing rights on the river. The four small Klamath dams are owned by PacifiCorp, based in Portland, Ore., a division of Scottish Power. The company has estimated that installing fish ladders could cost $200 million, spokesman Dave Kvamme said. This compares with annual revenues from the dams of, at most, $32 million. Tucker and others hope the company will remove the dams if that proves to be cheaper than fish ladders. Dam removal would have the added benefit of reducing water temperatures in the river and eliminating warm-water parasites that kill fish. The four dams together produce 151 megawatts of electricity annually, or enough for about 70,000 homes. The dams do not supply any water for farms or cities or any significant flood control benefits. # http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/story/14236679p-15057622c.html Groups challenge fish barriers; Agencies want Iron Gate Dam to provide passage for salmon Redding Record-Searchlight - 3/30/06 By Dylan Darling, staff writer Federal agencies are calling for salmon to again be able to swim the entire length of the Klamath River. The Department of the Interior, along with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries, recommended Wednesday that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) require Portland, Ore.-based PacifiCorp to figure out ways for migrating fish to get around a string of four dams on the river. The company is seeking a 50-year license to operate the dams. "Restoring access to good-quality spawning and rearing habitat above Iron Gate Dam is a major step in rebuilding healthy salmon runs and fisheries that depend on them," said Jim Lecky, director of the NOAA Fisheries office of protected resources. "It creates the opportunity to reconnect the Klamath basin, from headwater to the ocean." Iron Gate Dam, a 173-foot-high earthen structure about 200 miles from the river's mouth at the Pacific Ocean, was built in 1962 and is the farthest downstream. It blocks salmon, steelhead and lamprey from 300 miles of spawning habitat. Migrating fish have been cut off from the upper reaches of the Klamath since the river's first dam, Copco I, was finished in 1918. The recommendations call for the construction of fish ladders, concrete structures that provide a regulated cascade of water that fish can swim through to get over a dam. If not fish ladders, then other types of structures should be built to get fish past the dams, the recommendations say. In accord with federal guidelines, PacifiCorp may disagree with the recommendations and offer alternatives, said Dave Kvamme, PacifiCorp spokesman. The company and stakeholders in the relicensing also can ask for a hearing. When PacifiCorp officials turned in a 7,000-page relicensing application to FERC in February 2004, fish passage wasn't included in the plan. Kvamme said fish passage wasn't included because of poor water quality and habitat conditions in the upper Klamath and its tributaries. "We didn't call for fish passage because we don't think that any significant numbers of fish can be sustained in the upper drainage," he said. The upper Klamath has been affected by agricultural runoff and damage from livestock. Meanwhile, fishermen groups and American Indian tribes downstream have called for not just fish passage, but for the complete removal of the dams. "We think the real answer to this problem is going to be dam removal," said Craig Tucker, spokesman for the Karuk Tribe. Tucker said the recommendations by Interior and NOAA Fisheries could be a step in that direction because the cost of putting in fish passage could be more than getting rid of the dams. Getting fish around Iron Gate alone would be a monumental project, with a two-milelong fish ladder needed to get fish over the dam, Tucker said. Kvamme said the cost of removing dams varies greatly depending on the method used to tear them down. He also said the economic impact of not having the dams in place, which among other things would mean losing the ability to regulate the river's flow, needs to be taken into account. Rough estimates put the cost of fish passage at $200 million. He said the company hasn't made any estimates of the cost of dam removal. The Klamath dams provide PacifiCorp with 151 megawatts of power, or enough to supply about 70,000 customers. # http://www.redding.com/redd/nw_local/article/0,2232,REDD_17533_4581917,00.html ##### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Fri Mar 31 13:21:00 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2006 13:21:00 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Is Westlands Attempting to Stop Trinity Restoration? Message-ID: <004801c65509$04cdf170$1f9eb545@p4> March 27, 2006 VIA FACSIMILE: 530-623-5944 VIA EMAIL: bgutermuth at mp.usbr.gov. Brandt Gutermuth P.O. Box 1300 Weaverville, CA 96093 Re: Environmental Assessment / Environmental Impact Report for Canyon Creek Suite of Rehabilitation Sites: Trinity River Run Mile 73 to 78 Dear Mr. Gutermuth: This letter is written on behalf of the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority (?Water Authority?) and Westlands Water District (?Westlands?). The Water Authority and Westlands appreciate this opportunity to comment on the Environmental Assessment and Environmental Impact Report for the Canyon Creek Suite of Rehabilitation Sites: Trinity River Run Mile 73 to 78 (?Canyon Creek EA/EIR?). Westlands is a California water district with a contractual right to receive Central Valley Project (?CVP?) water from the Bureau of Reclamation (?Reclamation?). Westlands provides water for the irrigation of approximately 600,000 acres on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley in Fresno and Kings Counties. The Water Authority consists of 32 water agencies providing service for agricultural, urban, and wildlife management purposes in the western San Joaquin valley, San Benito and Santa Clara counties. The Authority?s members deliver water to more than 1.3 million acres of the nation?s most productive farm lands, 1.7 million California residents, and over 150,000 acres of some of the State?s most important wildlife refuges in the Pacific Flyway. As federal water contractors for the Central Valley Project (?CVP?), the Water Authority and Westlands have an interest in the appropriate use of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (?CVPIA?) Restoration Fund. While the Canyon Creek EA/EIR is silent as to the source of the funding for this project, the budget for the Trinity River Mainstem Fishery Restoration Program (?Restoration Program?) identifies the CVPIA as a major source of funding for the program, including the mechanical restoration component that is being implemented through the approval of the Canyon Creek project. http://www.trrp.net . The CVPIA section that addresses fishery restoration on the Trinity River is CVPIA section 3406(b)(23). That section, however, only addresses certain identified activities to increase flows in the Trinity River, which are activities that have been completed and never included physical restoration activities. The CVPIA does not otherwise authorize the use of the Restoration Fund for the Canyon Creek project or any other Trinity River mechanical restoration project. The Water Authority and Westlands have concerns related to the California Environmental Quality Act (?CEQA?) compliance for the Canyon Creek Suite of Rehabilitation Sites. Trinity County served as the CEQA lead agency for the final Trinity River Mainstem Fishery Restoration Program Environmental Impact Statement / Environmental Impact Report (?Restoration Program EIS/EIR?) in 2000. The County of Trinity, however, has never certified the Restoration Program EIS/EIR, or any other CEQA compliance document for the Restoration Program. The Canyon Creek project is part of that larger program. By proceeding with parts of the program without completing the program level review, the state and local agencies involved are piecemealing the CEQA review. CEQA applies to discretionary approvals of ?projects? that may cause significant adverse environmental impacts. Pub. Res. Code ? 21080(d). CEQA and its implementing regulatory Guidelines broadly define the term ?project? to mean ?the whole of an action, which has the potential to result in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.? 14 Cal. Code Regs., ? 15378(a) (emphasis added). Thus, the term ?project? is defined as the whole activity to be carried out and ?which may be subject to several discretionary approvals by governmental agencies? but ?does not mean each separate governmental approval.? 14 Cal. Code Regs., ? 15378(c). Thus, the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (?Regional Board?), and the other state and local agencies, may not narrow the scope of their environmental impact analysis by defining the ?project? in terms of small sub-set of discretionary approvals, when the action approved is admittedly a necessary part of a much larger ?project? whose significant adverse environmental impacts go far beyond those attributable to just the narrowly defined action being approved. The Regional Board, as the lead agency for the Canyon Creek Suite of Restoration Projects, cannot justifiably take the position that it may now proceed with project level implementation of the Restoration Program because the Regional Board cannot change the decision made in the program record of decision signed by the federal government in 2000. Restoration Program EA/EIR p. 1-2. The series of discretionary approvals required to implement the Restoration Program trigger CEQA review, and that is why an EIR was prepared for the entire program. Trinity County apparently believes that the program EIR is flawed and therefore did not certify it. Nonetheless, the Restoration Program is a project that must be the subject of a single EIR before individual mechanical restoration projects may proceed. The Regional Board?s failure to properly identify the project has led to improper ?piecemealing? or ?segmentation? of CEQA compliance for the Restoration Program. CEQA?s mandate requires that environmental considerations not become submerged by chopping a large project into many little ones ? each with a minimal potential impact on the environment. See e.g., Bozung, et. al. v. Local Agency Formation Commission of Ventura County, et. al. (1975) 13 Cal.3d. 263, 283-284. See also, Cal. Code of Regs., tit. 14, ? 15165 (identical to predecessor section 15069 that court in Bozung identified as codifying prohibition against piecemealing CEQA review). By drafting individual CEQA documents for the various mechanical restoration projects, like the Canyon Creek EA/EIR, the Regional Board is improperly piecemealing CEQA compliance because it is chopping the impacts of the Restoration Program into small pieces that do not accurately account for the impacts of the whole project. Finally, the Water Authority and Westlands question the absence of Department of Fish and Game (?DFG?) permitting for the project. Canyon Creek EA/EIR at p. 1-21. While the federal government is involved in this project, the Canyon Creek Suite of Rehabilitation Sites are on private property. The owners of the private lands included in this project are subject to the authority of the DFG. The owners of the private lands are also subject to the permitting requirements of Trinity County, including Trinity County?s requirements for Floodplain Development Permits and Encroachment Permits. The Canyon Creek EA/EIR, therefore inappropriately assumes that the only state permit that is required for the Canyon Creek Suite of Projects is a section 401 permit from the Regional Board. Thank you for the opportunity to comment. Based on the issues raised in these comments, the project should not go forward without much broader CEQA review. Very truly yours, KRONICK, MOSKOVITZ, TIEDEMANN & GIRARD A Professional Corporation Becky D. Sheehan BDS/ll cc: Thomas Birmingham Dan Nelson Diane Rathman Ara Azhderian Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Sun Apr 2 10:09:02 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Sun, 2 Apr 2006 10:09:02 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] SF Chronicle April 2 Message-ID: <000301c65678$2eaf1c10$1f9eb545@p4> A fighting chance for the Klamath Imminent end to salmon season forces the many river users to make tough calls on priorities for a recovering resource Glen Martin, Chronicle Environment Writer Sunday, April 2, 2006 Klamath River Basin. Chronicle graphic by John Blanchard Dennis Scott pulls a "stickfish" -- what Yurok fishermen ... Mike Byrne says his family has operated cattle ranches in... The Klamath River, seen here near its intersection with I...More... * Printable Version * Email This Article These are times of both deep despair and unprecedented hope for California's $100 million salmon industry. Despair, because a federal agency is expected this week to recommend either canceling or severely curtailing the 2006 commercial and sport fishing seasons because of collapsing stocks on the Klamath River. Hope, because for the first time in years, genuine progress is being made on a long-term solution to the problem. Though the situation is mired in competing scientific theories, lawsuits and political skirmishing, the bottom line is fairly simple: There are plenty of Chinook salmon in the ocean now, but most of them originated in the Sacramento River. Salmon from the Klamath River, once a producer of millions of fish, are at all-time lows, compelling federal protections. Fewer than 30,000 Klamath Chinook salmon are expected to return to the river this year, well below the 35,000 fish biologists say are needed to sustain the runs. And because both populations mingle in the open sea, fishing for Sacramento River Chinook could imperil the Klamath salmon that remain. Though some biologists say part of the decline is due to poor marine conditions, most researchers say the main problem with the Klamath's salmon is the river itself. Over the years, it has become inhospitable to fish. Much of its water is diverted for agriculture, reducing flows critical to salmon. The water that remains is excessively warm, heated by reservoirs in the river's upper reaches. It is also contaminated with both natural and agricultural nutrients, as well as a toxic blue-green algae that thrives in the tepid reservoirs. "There are a whole host of challenges," said Steve Thompson, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's operations director for California and Nevada. "The simple fact is that more demands have been put on the river than it can support." Poor river conditions have beleaguered the river's salmon for decades, but things came to an ugly head in September 2002, when warm water and infestations of a small aquatic parasite, Ceratomyxa shasta, killed about 70,000 mature Chinook and an unknown number of Coho salmon. The next spring, low water and parasites wiped out thousands of young salmon. Though the two incidents are not directly related, the fish kills came on the heels of a farmer rebellion. After a court decision in 2000 that deprived them of water, basin irrigators staged protests. The next year, the Bush administration turned the spigot back on to the fields, again reducing water availability for fish. And now, with the Pacific Fishery Management Council poised this week to recommend to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to close all or most of the 2006 season, commercial, tribal and sport fisheries face oblivion. Restaurants and consumers also will feel the pinch. Nor are farmers secure. A federal court last week directed immediate implementation of a plan to increase flows to the river to protect Coho salmon, a Pacific Coast species smaller than the Chinook, which is listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Further demands could be made on agricultural water to sustain the Klamath's Chinook runs and provide more water to the Klamath and Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuges, two important reserves for migratory waterfowl. Though stakeholders have fought in the past, the current situation has drained much of the bile from the dialogue. If there is a silver lining to the cloud threatening the salmon season, it is this: Everyone is desperate for a solution, and compromise seems possible as never before. Two things have made an agreement possible. First, in April, the major hydropower dams on the river are scheduled for a 50-year reauthorization by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. If the dams are to be improved for fish passage -- or removed entirely -- it has to happen now, under new guidelines issued by the commission. The dams are owned by PacifiCorp, which has applied to the commission for their relicensing. Ultimately, FERC could approve relicensing the dams, which would allow them to operate for the next five decades. Or it could require such expensive fish passage mitigation that PacifiCorp might negotiate for dam removal. Just as significant as dam relicensing are discussions among farmers, fishermen, native tribes, environmentalists, federal and state regulatory agencies, and local governments. "For the first time, people in the watershed are having a tough, respectful dialogue about solutions," Thompson said. The weather is still cold and blustery in the river's upper basin, and irrigation is weeks off. But water is foremost in the farmers' thoughts. "I think it's becoming clear that government isn't going to be able to find a solution for this," said Mike Byrne, a cattle rancher from Malin, a minuscule town just north of the Oregon/California border. "I think the people are going to have to do it." Byrne, whose family has been ranching in Malin since the late 19th century, said the only way to devise a settlement is "to make sure everyone is taken care of, that no one group bears the entire burden." For fisheries advocates, dam removal tops the "must do" list. "There's every good reason to take Iron Gate and Copco (dams) out," said Glen Spain, the president of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, referring to the two largest reservoirs on the river. "They heat the river to lethal levels, and they're breeding grounds for toxic algae and C. shasta, the parasite that kills the salmon." Environmentalists were cheered last week when the U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration called for fish passage around the dams. The positions of the agencies bolster the cause for dam removal, because fish ladders are widely viewed as an inadequate remedy to the Klamath's problems. PacifiCorp hasn't yet indicated its position. David Kvamme, a spokesman for PacifiCorp, said the company has been involved in dam relicensing on six northwestern rivers, and has agreed to dam removal on three of them. "We are involved in confidential talks with Klamath stakeholders right now, so we can't discuss details," Kvamme said. "But we're open to anything that is practical and in the interests of our customers, shareholders and the state commissions that work with us." The dams deliver electricity to the basin. But that doesn't mean the agricultural community would necessarily oppose dam removal, said Greg Addington, executive director of the Klamath Water Users Association. "We need to know we have guarantees on water, and, if the dams come out, on power from other sources,'' Addington said. "And if (federally endangered or threatened fish) return to the basin, we may need protection from endangered species regulation. But if we can be sure we have a safe harbor, nothing is off the table." Water releases also are a point of contention. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation says it diverts up to 300,000 acre feet of water from the Klamath system for farmers. The Oregon Water Resources Department has assessed the amount at about 400,000 acre feet. In any event, Reclamation notes, that's only about 5 percent of the river's average annual flow. But Paul Heikkila, a biologist with Oregon State University, said the figures are deceptive. "They basically incorporate all the water that goes down the watershed, including the huge runoffs from winter storm events," Heikkila said. The real issue, Heikkila said, is the timing of releases. Currently, he said, the bureau holds back water during the late winter and early spring, when young salmon need higher flows. "And they also provide insufficient summer flows, allowing the river to heat up and encourage C. shasta infestation in returning adult fish," he said. Perhaps no group feels the paucity of Klamath fish more acutely than the three Indian tribes -- the Karuk, Hupa and Yurok -- which live on ancestral lands below Iron Gate Reservoir. For the Yurok, the Klamath's fish -- not just salmon, but sturgeon, steelhead trout, suckers and lamprey eels -- have been a source of both physical and spiritual sustenance. The tribe -- which is a key participant in the current stakeholder negotiations -- has enforced conservation fishing closures on its own members. But despair among the Yuroks runs deep as stocks continue to dwindle. "I go on my back deck and look at the river, and all I feel is horror," said Ray Mattz, a tribal councilman. Salmon was once the essential staple for the Yuroks, said tribal member Tommy Willson -- but now, he said, there aren't even enough fish to use as sacraments during religious ceremonies. "I've fished on this river all my life," said Willson, who started a program to provide Yurok elders with smoked salmon. "The elders were so happy when they started getting fish from us," he said. "But in the last few years, the salmon numbers have been so low that we can't take care of all the old people who need our help. For us, that's a terrible thing." On any given day, several tribal members can be found working the mouth of the Klamath River. Right now, they're setting gill nets for steelhead and snagging eel-like lampreys with handmade gaffs that have handles carved to represent the lamprey's distinctive head -- tubular, with circular gill openings and a sucker-like mouth. On the beach near the Klamath's mouth recently, Mattz chatted with Glenn and Dennis Scott, Yuroks who were trying to catch a few lamprey and steelhead. "No luck so far," said Glenn Scott, who remained sunny and optimistic despite the poor fishing. "When I was younger, you could come out here and fill four or five gunnysacks with eels," Scott said. "Now, you're lucky to catch one for supper." His nephew, Dennis, pulled a gill net, hoping a steelhead or two might be entwined among the mesh. The only thing he caught was a large log. "See more and more of those," he said, "and fewer and fewer fish." Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image004.gif Type: image/gif Size: 3477 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image003.gif Type: image/gif Size: 3871 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.gif Type: image/gif Size: 3514 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.gif Type: image/gif Size: 4014 bytes Desc: not available URL: From truman at jeffnet.org Sun Apr 2 12:11:29 2006 From: truman at jeffnet.org (Patrick Truman) Date: Sun, 2 Apr 2006 12:11:29 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] A Fighting Chance for Klamath Message-ID: <001101c65689$448c1fe0$020aa8c0@HAL> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A fighting chance for the Klamath Imminent end to salmon season forces the many river users to make tough calls on priorities for a recovering resource Glen Martin, Chronicle Environment Writer Sunday, April 2, 2006 More... a.. Printable Version b.. Email This Article These are times of both deep despair and unprecedented hope for California's $100 million salmon industry. Despair, because a federal agency is expected this week to recommend either canceling or severely curtailing the 2006 commercial and sport fishing seasons because of collapsing stocks on the Klamath River. Hope, because for the first time in years, genuine progress is being made on a long-term solution to the problem. Though the situation is mired in competing scientific theories, lawsuits and political skirmishing, the bottom line is fairly simple: There are plenty of Chinook salmon in the ocean now, but most of them originated in the Sacramento River. Salmon from the Klamath River, once a producer of millions of fish, are at all-time lows, compelling federal protections. Fewer than 30,000 Klamath Chinook salmon are expected to return to the river this year, well below the 35,000 fish biologists say are needed to sustain the runs. And because both populations mingle in the open sea, fishing for Sacramento River Chinook could imperil the Klamath salmon that remain. Though some biologists say part of the decline is due to poor marine conditions, most researchers say the main problem with the Klamath's salmon is the river itself. Over the years, it has become inhospitable to fish. Much of its water is diverted for agriculture, reducing flows critical to salmon. The water that remains is excessively warm, heated by reservoirs in the river's upper reaches. It is also contaminated with both natural and agricultural nutrients, as well as a toxic blue-green algae that thrives in the tepid reservoirs. "There are a whole host of challenges," said Steve Thompson, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's operations director for California and Nevada. "The simple fact is that more demands have been put on the river than it can support." Poor river conditions have beleaguered the river's salmon for decades, but things came to an ugly head in September 2002, when warm water and infestations of a small aquatic parasite, Ceratomyxa shasta, killed about 70,000 mature Chinook and an unknown number of Coho salmon. The next spring, low water and parasites wiped out thousands of young salmon. Though the two incidents are not directly related, the fish kills came on the heels of a farmer rebellion. After a court decision in 2000 that deprived them of water, basin irrigators staged protests. The next year, the Bush administration turned the spigot back on to the fields, again reducing water availability for fish. And now, with the Pacific Fishery Management Council poised this week to recommend to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to close all or most of the 2006 season, commercial, tribal and sport fisheries face oblivion. Restaurants and consumers also will feel the pinch. Nor are farmers secure. A federal court last week directed immediate implementation of a plan to increase flows to the river to protect Coho salmon, a Pacific Coast species smaller than the Chinook, which is listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Further demands could be made on agricultural water to sustain the Klamath's Chinook runs and provide more water to the Klamath and Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuges, two important reserves for migratory waterfowl. Though stakeholders have fought in the past, the current situation has drained much of the bile from the dialogue. If there is a silver lining to the cloud threatening the salmon season, it is this: Everyone is desperate for a solution, and compromise seems possible as never before. Two things have made an agreement possible. First, in April, the major hydropower dams on the river are scheduled for a 50-year reauthorization by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. If the dams are to be improved for fish passage -- or removed entirely -- it has to happen now, under new guidelines issued by the commission. The dams are owned by PacifiCorp, which has applied to the commission for their relicensing. Ultimately, FERC could approve relicensing the dams, which would allow them to operate for the next five decades. Or it could require such expensive fish passage mitigation that PacifiCorp might negotiate for dam removal. Just as significant as dam relicensing are discussions among farmers, fishermen, native tribes, environmentalists, federal and state regulatory agencies, and local governments. "For the first time, people in the watershed are having a tough, respectful dialogue about solutions," Thompson said. The weather is still cold and blustery in the river's upper basin, and irrigation is weeks off. But water is foremost in the farmers' thoughts. "I think it's becoming clear that government isn't going to be able to find a solution for this," said Mike Byrne, a cattle rancher from Malin, a minuscule town just north of the Oregon/California border. "I think the people are going to have to do it." Byrne, whose family has been ranching in Malin since the late 19th century, said the only way to devise a settlement is "to make sure everyone is taken care of, that no one group bears the entire burden." For fisheries advocates, dam removal tops the "must do" list. "There's every good reason to take Iron Gate and Copco (dams) out," said Glen Spain, the president of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, referring to the two largest reservoirs on the river. "They heat the river to lethal levels, and they're breeding grounds for toxic algae and C. shasta, the parasite that kills the salmon." Environmentalists were cheered last week when the U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration called for fish passage around the dams. The positions of the agencies bolster the cause for dam removal, because fish ladders are widely viewed as an inadequate remedy to the Klamath's problems. PacifiCorp hasn't yet indicated its position. David Kvamme, a spokesman for PacifiCorp, said the company has been involved in dam relicensing on six northwestern rivers, and has agreed to dam removal on three of them. "We are involved in confidential talks with Klamath stakeholders right now, so we can't discuss details," Kvamme said. "But we're open to anything that is practical and in the interests of our customers, shareholders and the state commissions that work with us." The dams deliver electricity to the basin. But that doesn't mean the agricultural community would necessarily oppose dam removal, said Greg Addington, executive director of the Klamath Water Users Association. "We need to know we have guarantees on water, and, if the dams come out, on power from other sources,'' Addington said. "And if (federally endangered or threatened fish) return to the basin, we may need protection from endangered species regulation. But if we can be sure we have a safe harbor, nothing is off the table." Water releases also are a point of contention. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation says it diverts up to 300,000 acre feet of water from the Klamath system for farmers. The Oregon Water Resources Department has assessed the amount at about 400,000 acre feet. In any event, Reclamation notes, that's only about 5 percent of the river's average annual flow. But Paul Heikkila, a biologist with Oregon State University, said the figures are deceptive. "They basically incorporate all the water that goes down the watershed, including the huge runoffs from winter storm events," Heikkila said. The real issue, Heikkila said, is the timing of releases. Currently, he said, the bureau holds back water during the late winter and early spring, when young salmon need higher flows. "And they also provide insufficient summer flows, allowing the river to heat up and encourage C. shasta infestation in returning adult fish," he said. Perhaps no group feels the paucity of Klamath fish more acutely than the three Indian tribes -- the Karuk, Hupa and Yurok -- which live on ancestral lands below Iron Gate Reservoir. For the Yurok, the Klamath's fish -- not just salmon, but sturgeon, steelhead trout, suckers and lamprey eels -- have been a source of both physical and spiritual sustenance. The tribe -- which is a key participant in the current stakeholder negotiations -- has enforced conservation fishing closures on its own members. But despair among the Yuroks runs deep as stocks continue to dwindle. "I go on my back deck and look at the river, and all I feel is horror," said Ray Mattz, a tribal councilman. Salmon was once the essential staple for the Yuroks, said tribal member Tommy Willson -- but now, he said, there aren't even enough fish to use as sacraments during religious ceremonies. "I've fished on this river all my life," said Willson, who started a program to provide Yurok elders with smoked salmon. "The elders were so happy when they started getting fish from us," he said. "But in the last few years, the salmon numbers have been so low that we can't take care of all the old people who need our help. For us, that's a terrible thing." On any given day, several tribal members can be found working the mouth of the Klamath River. Right now, they're setting gill nets for steelhead and snagging eel-like lampreys with handmade gaffs that have handles carved to represent the lamprey's distinctive head -- tubular, with circular gill openings and a sucker-like mouth. On the beach near the Klamath's mouth recently, Mattz chatted with Glenn and Dennis Scott, Yuroks who were trying to catch a few lamprey and steelhead. "No luck so far," said Glenn Scott, who remained sunny and optimistic despite the poor fishing. "When I was younger, you could come out here and fill four or five gunnysacks with eels," Scott said. "Now, you're lucky to catch one for supper." His nephew, Dennis, pulled a gill net, hoping a steelhead or two might be entwined among the mesh. The only thing he caught was a large log. "See more and more of those," he said, "and fewer and fewer fish." E-mail Glen Martin at glenmartin at sfchronicle.com. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: chronicle_logo.gif Type: image/gif Size: 1013 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: mn_klamath_t.gif Type: image/gif Size: 4014 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: ba_all_klamath02_362_kk_t.gif Type: image/gif Size: 3514 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: ba_all_klamath02_596_kk_t.gif Type: image/gif Size: 3871 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: ba_all_klamath02_139_kk_t.gif Type: image/gif Size: 3477 bytes Desc: not available URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Tue Apr 4 14:33:58 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Tue, 4 Apr 2006 14:33:58 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] NMFS: No Salmon Disaster? Message-ID: <004001c6582f$7b67df70$1f9eb545@p4> NO DISASTER DECLARATION FOR 2005 CALIFORNIA/OREGON OCEAN SALMON FISHERY NMFS announcement comes on eve of decision for 2006 season Despite pleas almost a year ago from 37 members of Congress, two governors, and fishing groups, the National Marine Fisheries Service has elected not to declare the sharply curtailed 2005 salmon fisheries off California and Oregon a "fishery disaster" under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The states and federal government shut down ocean trolling last summer because of low numbers of Klamath River chinook, but reopened the commercial season for short periods in the fall. Shortly after the restrictions were announced, NMFS received requests for a disaster declaration, which would have opened the door for federal financial aid -- not only for commercial fishermen but for the local businesses that support them. The decision was made public in the third paragraph of a March 31 letter from NMFS Regional Administrators D. Robert Lohn (Northwest) and Rodney McInnis (Southwest) to Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) Chairman Donald Hansen. The news also comes on the eve of a PFMC meeting later this week, where the council is widely expected to recommend severe curtailment -- and possibly a total shutdown -- of ocean salmon fishing this season off the coasts of California and Oregon. In their letter, Lohn and McInnis said, "[A]s you may now be aware, NOAA has determined that the best available information did not support a declaration of a commercial fishery failure in 2005. The commercial fishery failure could not be justified because the commercial fisher's [sic] sales of salmon either met or exceeded the average value of recent years because the price to fishermen was high and offset the effects of the more restrictive fishing seasons. "Community impacts also were assessed in the disaster consideration and the 2005 economic activity generated by commercial salmon fishing in each of the ports affected by the restrictions was found to be near the average of recent years," the administrators said. A NMFS spokesman confirmed that congressional staff in Washington, D.C., were briefed on the decision March 29, and that "calls were made" to governors. A letter from NMFS Administrator William Hogarth further explaining the agency's decision is "in the works," according to another NMFS official. The decision provoked outrage from the fishing community. Gerald Reinholt, an Oregon fish processor and industry representative to the salmon sub-panel of the PFMC, said, "NOAA doesn't have the right to decide what a fisherman should make." "No matter how you look at it, it certainly is a fishery failure," he told members of the Klamath Fishery Management Council in Sacramento April 3. According to Reinholt, there are some real dangers in thinking consumers will keep paying more for wild fish when farmed fish are readily available. "This party may soon be over," he said. Last year, the PFMC recommended severe cutbacks for salmon seasons off the coasts of California and Oregon. This season's forecasts are even grimmer and may result in a complete closure of both commercial and recreational salmon fisheries. The other two options would allow varying levels of fishing opportunities. If there is a shutdown, NMFS told PFMC it will "analyze the projected impacts of the 2006 ocean salmon management measures as soon as those measures are established." On March 28, Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski hosted an "emergency summit" in Salem on the expected closure of Oregon's salmon season, seeking upfront commitments to "bring relief to the families, businesses and towns affected by this problem." He said he was sending a letter to Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez asking him to declare the 2006 ocean fishery an economic disaster. He further promised to get Gutierrez and Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, nominated to be Interior Secretary, to visit the state and "participate in a dialogue about the 'inseparable connection' between federal management decisions in the Klamath Basin and federal responsibility to manage salmon and marine stocks. That dialogue should examine the question of how many Klamath fall Chinook must return every year to maintain their viability." At issue are record-low numbers of fall-run Chinook salmon originating in the Klamath River. What's particularly vexing to fishers is that the ocean is teeming with other salmon, especially those reared in the Sacramento River. However, because anglers can't distinguish which silver-sided fish was born in which river, NMFS manages on the basis of what it calls "weak stock," meaning fishing regulations are set to protect the weakest, or least abundant, salmon populations. Klamath stocks aren't major contributors to the ocean salmon fishery. Depending on the area and time of year, they can account for less than 1 percent and up to 10 percent of the catch off California and Oregon. But when Klamath salmon abundance levels are low -- even if other stocks are abundant -- West Coast ocean salmon fisheries are faced with severe regulatory closures, a scenario that fishers and the agencies that oversee them say appears unlikely to improve anytime soon. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Tue Apr 4 16:59:18 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Tue, 4 Apr 2006 16:59:18 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Article on NMFS Message-ID: <005101c65843$cb745610$1f9eb545@p4> The article on NMFS posted earlier today was provided by: "Steve Davies, ESWR" 04/04/2006 08:49 AM ESWR Update (4/4/06) "Steve Davies, ESWR" 04/04/2006 08:49 AM * Links to some past front pages of the newsletter. Send an e-mail to get a recent issue of ESWR in PDF format. * Federal Register Report has links to the latest notices on the Endangered Species Act from FWS and NMFS. * National Environmental Policy Act FR notices. * All About ESWR: More about the publication. * Lotsa links : Students and others who want to learn more about the ESA, wetlands and takings, go here and browse. If you find broken links, please let us know. * Find out how to subscribe to ESWR http://www.eswr.com | Copyright Poplar Publishing 1997-2005 Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Tue Apr 4 19:01:15 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Tue, 4 Apr 2006 19:01:15 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Article on NMFS Message-ID: <006b01c65854$d3485d30$1f9eb545@p4> Steve Davies Editor/Publisher Endangered Species & Wetlands Report ESWR Update (4/4/06) Editor's note: This story was reported and written by ESWR Contributing Writer Patricia Foulk NO DISASTER DECLARATION FOR 2005 CALIF./ORE. OCEAN SALMON FISHERY NMFS announcement comes on eve of decision for 2006 season Despite pleas almost a year ago from 37 members of Congress, two governors, and fishing groups, the National Marine Fisheries Service has elected not to declare the sharply curtailed 2005 salmon fisheries off California and Oregon a "fishery disaster" under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The states and federal government shut down ocean trolling last summer because of low numbers of Klamath River chinook, but reopened the commercial season for short periods in the fall. Shortly after the restrictions were announced, NMFS received requests for a disaster declaration, which would have opened the door for federal financial aid -- not only for commercial fishermen but for the local businesses that support them. The decision was made public in the third paragraph of a March 31 letter from NMFS Regional Administrators D. Robert Lohn (Northwest) and Rodney McInnis (Southwest) to Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) Chairman Donald Hansen. The news also comes on the eve of a PFMC meeting later this week, where the council is widely expected to recommend severe curtailment -- and possibly a total shutdown -- of ocean salmon fishing this season off the coasts of California and Oregon. In their letter, Lohn and McInnis said, "[A]s you may now be aware, NOAA has determined that the best available information did not support a declaration of a commercial fishery failure in 2005. The commercial fishery failure could not be justified because the commercial fisher's [sic] sales of salmon either met or exceeded the average value of recent years because the price to fishermen was high and offset the effects of the more restrictive fishing seasons. "Community impacts also were assessed in the disaster consideration and the 2005 economic activity generated by commercial salmon fishing in each of the ports affected by the restrictions was found to be near the average of recent years," the administrators said. A NMFS spokesman confirmed that congressional staff in Washington, D.C., were briefed on the decision March 29, and that "calls were made" to governors. A letter from NMFS Administrator William Hogarth further explaining the agency's decision is "in the works," according to another NMFS official. The decision provoked outrage from the fishing community. Gerald Reinholt, an Oregon fish processor and industry representative to the salmon sub-panel of the PFMC, said, "NOAA doesn't have the right to decide what a fisherman should make." "No matter how you look at it, it certainly is a fishery failure," he told members of the Klamath Fishery Management Council in Sacramento April 3. According to Reinholt, there are some real dangers in thinking consumers will keep paying more for wild fish when farmed fish are readily available. "This party may soon be over," he said. Last year, the PFMC recommended severe cutbacks for salmon seasons off the coasts of California and Oregon. This season's forecasts are even grimmer and may result in a complete closure of both commercial and recreational salmon fisheries. The other two options would allow varying levels of fishing opportunities. If there is a shutdown, NMFS told PFMC it will "analyze the projected impacts of the 2006 ocean salmon management measures as soon as those measures are established." On March 28, Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski hosted an "emergency summit" in Salem on the expected closure of Oregon's salmon season, seeking upfront commitments to "bring relief to the families, businesses and towns affected by this problem." He said he was sending a letter to Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez asking him to declare the 2006 ocean fishery an economic disaster. He further promised to get Gutierrez and Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, nominated to be Interior Secretary, to visit the state and "participate in a dialogue about the 'inseparable connection' between federal management decisions in the Klamath Basin and federal responsibility to manage salmon and marine stocks. That dialogue should examine the question of how many Klamath fall Chinook must return every year to maintain their viability." At issue are record-low numbers of fall-run Chinook salmon originating in the Klamath River. What's particularly vexing to fishers is that the ocean is teeming with other salmon, especially those reared in the Sacramento River. However, because anglers can't distinguish which silver-sided fish was born in which river, NMFS manages on the basis of what it calls "weak stock," meaning fishing regulations are set to protect the weakest, or least abundant, salmon populations. Klamath stocks aren't major contributors to the ocean salmon fishery. Depending on the area and time of year, they can account for less than 1 percent and up to 10 percent of the catch off California and Oregon. But when Klamath salmon abundance levels are low -- even if other stocks are abundant -- West Coast ocean salmon fisheries are faced with severe regulatory closures, a scenario that fishers and the agencies that oversee them say appears unlikely to improve anytime soon. http://www.eswr.com/206/nmfstopfmclet33106.pdf Letter to PFMC from NMFS Regional Administrators (3/31/06) http://www.pcffa.org/SalmonDisasterLetter.pdf Letter to DOC Secy. Carlos Gutierrez from 37 members of Congress (5/12/05) http://www.pcffa.org/Salmondisaster.pdf Similar letter from Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Wash.) to Gutierrez (5/3/05) http://governor.oregon.gov/Gov/sound/govsalmonsummit.wav Recent audio clip from Kulongoski http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/environment/jan-june06/salmon_4-3.html Story from PBS Online NewsHour (4/3/06) Copyright Poplar Publishing/Endangered Species & Wetlands Report 2006 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Wed Apr 5 15:57:18 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2006 15:57:18 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Researchers Link Chinook, Orca Populations Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE09263019628AF@mail2.trinitycounty.org> http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060405/ap_on_sc/northwest_orcas Researchers Link Chinook, Orca Populations By PEGGY ANDERSEN, Associated Press Writer Tue Apr 4, 10:36 PM ET SEATTLE - The killer whales that chase salmon in this region's inland waters feed almost exclusively on chinook, to the extent that the orca population ebbs and flows right along with that of the West Coast's largest and longest-lived salmon, researchers said Tuesday. The whales settle for chum salmon for six to eight weeks in the fall, when most of the chinook are gone, John Ford of Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans said at the 2006 Symposium on Southern Resident Killer Whales, a joint effort of his agency and the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service. Between 1996 and 2001, Ford said, sharp drops in the region's chinook runs correlated with declines in the northern and southern resident orca populations, as the inland killer whales of Canada and the United States are called. Orca mortality was 300 percent higher than expected, Ford said, and difficult to link to other known stressors. "It was a bit of a surprise to us," he said. Both the U.S. and Canadian orca populations have been declared endangered, and the findings suggest salmon managers may want to set aside some chinook for the whales, he said. "Chinook are what drive these animals," Ford said, even when other seemingly adequate salmon species may be far more abundant. Many of the region's salmon runs are also considered endangered. Killer whales may have come to prefer chinook over the centuries because the runs extend from April through October, he said. They spawn at different ages, and non-migratory chinook can be found in the area year-round. Chinook live as long as six years, longer than other salmon species, and can weigh up to 70 pounds. They also are fattier than other salmon species. "I came in here today thinking killer whales would eat the salmon that were most abundant, but I'm finding that's not the case," said salmon researcher Jeff Haymes of the Washington state Department of Fish and Game, who also spoke about chinook populations at the second day of the three-day conference. Longtime orca researcher Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research addressed the mystery of where the resident orcas spend the winter months. The southern residents have been seen as far south as Monterey, Calif., and as far north as Canada's Queen Charlotte Islands. "Now I know they hang around the core area till the chum run out ... and then go work chinook out on the coast," he said, laughing. Defining orca habitat for protection is one of the tasks faced by NMFS under the Endangered Species Act. "It's a moving target," Balcomb said. When chinook numbers are down, orcas work harder to find them, said University of Washington researcher Shannon McCluskey, who studied orca movements and population in relation to salmon populations. In the late 1990s, when runs were down, orcas spread out beyond the San Juan Islands, where the state's three resident orca pods are based. In the early '90s, when chinook numbers were up, they stayed closer to home. Orcas, actually a kind of dolphin found in all the world's oceans, feed on 200 prey species, Ford said. Transient orcas, which live along the coast, prefer marine mammals. Offshore orcas mostly eat fish, including sharks. Other researchers spoke about pollution threats from toxins such as long-lasting PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, which have been banned since the 1970s but persist in orcas and other top predators; and fire-retardant PBDEs, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, which are still produced. The impact of vessel traffic also was addressed. ___ On the Internet: Fisheries Canada: http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca National Marine Fisheries Service: http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/ Orca Network: http://www.orcanetwork.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From danielbacher at fishsniffer.com Thu Apr 6 08:46:22 2006 From: danielbacher at fishsniffer.com (Dan Bacher) Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2006 08:46:22 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Article on NMFS In-Reply-To: <006b01c65854$d3485d30$1f9eb545@p4> References: <006b01c65854$d3485d30$1f9eb545@p4> Message-ID: <6CC12AF6-CFA1-4B25-9DF7-DF76E3A86E53@fishsniffer.com> Byron The refusal of NOAA to declare a fishery disaster is just one more nail in the coffin of the salmon fishery! Just when you think that the Bush regime can't stoop lower, it does! Anyway, here's the press release on today's rally. Dan P R E S S R E L E A S E Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen?s Associations (PCFFA) and the Small Boat Commercial Salmon Fishermen?s Association (SBCSFA) For Immediate Release: April 5, 2006 For more information: Mike Hudson, President SBCSFA, (510) 528-6575 (h), (510) 407-0046, Email: mike at sbcsfa.com Zeke Grader, Executive Director PCFFA (415) 561-5080 x224; Cell: (415) 606-5140 What: Commercial FISHERMEN Rally and speak at final PFMC public input meeting about the 2006 Salmon Season Fishermen stage rally at Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC) Meeting, ask Council to adopt emergency regulations that would provide for a meaningful salmon season while minimizing fishery impacts on Klamath salmon stocks Where: Doubletree Hotel 2001 Point West Way Sacramento, CA When: Thursday, April 6, 12 noon Sacramento, CA - Despite large over-all numbers of fall chinook salmon, particularly the very large runs coming back to the Sacramento River, the Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC), meeting in Sacramento this week, is considering a total ban on ocean commercial salmon fishing for 2006 from south to Point Sur to Oregon?s Cape Falcon, nearly 700 miles of coastline, including what were once the most important salmon ports outside of Alaska. Yet many fishermen?s groups say such a draconian step of banning all fishing is unwarranted, and would cause enormous economic damage while providing very little conservation benefit. ?We are asking the Council to adopt an emergency rule that would enable the fleet to go fishing in places were Klamath salmon are very rare, places where some fishing could legitimately be done without having any real impact on the survival of Klamath Salmon stocks? said Zeke Grader, Executive Director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen?s Associations (PCFFA) Dave Goldenberg of the California Salmon Council stated ?The current management system mandates that 35,000 wild Salmon return to spawn in the Klamath River every year. However, this is a goal not to prevent extinction, but to ensure maximum productivity of the stock. The Klamath fall chinook are not listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act.? Thus there may be some flexibility in applying this standard. ?The Klamath River has proven times and times again that record numbers of offspring result from years with low returns of adult spawners?, said longtime fisherman Sunny Maahs, ?In 1992 only 12,000 adult Salmon came back to the river. The offspring of these 12,000 Salmon produced a near-record run of Salmon in 1995.? Dave Bitts, another longtime salmon fisherman, a member of the Klamath Fisheries Management Council and PCFFA?s expert on the Klamath, agrees with Maahs? testimony and adds, ?Through the emergency rule, we would tap into 10% of the available biomass of this year?s salmon run with very little Klamath impact. The easy question to ask is: Is saving an extra 3,000 Klamath salmon worth putting the whole coast out of business? ? The answer is NO.? Most fisheries experts agree that over-fishing is simply not the problem in the Klamath. Ocean and in-river salmon harvests have long been tightly regulated. The problems, they say, are all within the Klamath River. Years of artificially low flows and the effects of warm water reservoirs behind several fish-blocking dams have encouraged fish parasites to spread throughout the middle part of the river, killing off the juvenile salmon in spring 2003 right after low flows had already killed off 79,000 adult spawners in fall 2002 in a massive fish kill. The salmon thus suffered a ?double whammy? from these two back-to-back losses that have greatly reduced this year?s returning adults ? which are primarily the few remaining survivors from the fish kills of fall 2002 and spring 2004. Neither problem was caused by fishing. After the fish kill in fall 2002, the Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC) itself predicted that, as a result of this lost reproductive potential, the numbers of returning fish would be way down during 2005, 2006 and 2007. This prediction is now coming true. Last year these Klamath declines triggered severe fishing restrictions closing half the season that cost the California and Oregon economies over $50 million in economic losses. If the season is cancelled altogether this year, the additional losses could exceed $150 million. ?Mother Nature has provided plenty of rain this year to flush pollutants and parasites out of the river,? said Mike Hudson, President of the Small Boat Commercial Salmon Fishermen?s Association. ?A federal Judge has recently decided that the Bush Administration?s plan for Salmon recovery was severely flawed, and ordered immediate water releases to the Klamath. All this will help Klamath salmon survive in future years. Furthermore, the federal agencies are now mandating fish passage at all Klamath dams, which will make hundreds of miles of lost spawning grounds available to the salmon once again. We are finally on the right track. For that they should cut us at least a little slack.? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Thu Apr 6 11:45:34 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2006 11:45:34 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Panel to discuss salmon issues Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE09263019628F4@mail2.trinitycounty.org> Panel to discuss salmon issues http://www.charlotte.com/mld/montereyherald/news/14276494.htm?source=rss &channel=montereyherald_news By KEVIN HOWE Herald Staff Writer Changes in the state's salmon fishing regulations will be discussed by the state Fish and Game Commission when it meets in Monterey today and Friday. The commission has scheduled hearings in the City Council Chambers of Monterey City Hall, Madison and Pacific streets, beginning at 10 a.m. today and 8:30 a.m. Friday. Friday's session will concentrate on salmon fishing issues, including regulation of the Klamath and Trinity river fisheries, ocean salmon fishing, and possible adoption of an emergency action curtailing the sport salmon fishing season. The commission is considering three possibilities, including catch limits, shortening the salmon season, or shutting it down for sport and commercial fishers. "The indications we're getting is that the Klamath (river salmon) stocks will be entirely closed or drastically cut back this season," said Therese Wells, spokeswoman for Save Our Wild Salmon, an organization of sport and commercial fishermen and conservation groups. "Total closure of fishing would drive any fisherman here up to Alaska," she said. Sport salmon season on the Central Coast opened Saturday, with fishing restricted to within Monterey Bay and between Point Arena and Point Sur to within the 3-mile limit. A ban on fishing from federal waters -- from 3 miles to 200 miles off the West Coast -- was imposed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council, which declared the area an "essential fish habitat." Federal authorities say salmon are overfished along the Pacific Coast, while fishers contend that federal officials have mismanaged water flows on the Klamath River and other major salmon runs, causing a shortfall in fish replenishment. Sport salmon fishing is allowed only within the 3-mile limit, according to Fish and Game, with a limit of two king salmon a day. No coho salmon may be caught and kept. The Pacific Fishery Management Council is meeting this week at the DoubleTree Hotel Sacramento, 2001 Point West Way, Sacramento, to make its final recommendations to the Fish and Game Commission on the sport salmon season. Today's Fish and Game session will open with a public forum allowing anyone to speak on items not on the agenda, and continue with reports on wild turkeys in the state, recommendations by the department on wetland regulation and retention, the state's recreational fisheries and other matters. The commission will then go into closed-door session to discuss litigation items. montereyherald.com. _____ If you go * What: Fish and Game Commission hearings on salmon fishing * When: 10 a.m. today, 8:30 a.m. Friday * Where: Monterey City Hall council chambers, Madison and Pacific streets. MONTEREY _____ size=1 width="100%" noshade color="#cccccc" align=center> Kevin Howe can be reached at 646-4416 or khowe@ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Thu Apr 6 13:50:08 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2006 13:50:08 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] CA Dept. of Fish & Game's Fishery Restoration Grant Program Solicitation Available Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE0926301962904@mail2.trinitycounty.org> http://www.dfg.ca.gov/nafwb/fishgrant.html Native Anadromous Fish and Watershed Branch Department of Fish and Game Resources Agency State of California Fisheries Restoration Grant Program Project Solicitation Notice - April 5, 2006 Closes May 19, 2006 3:00PM PSN Document The electronic version of the notice is provided below (attached). The document is available as a set of files in Adobe's Portable Document Format. The application in Appendix A, and the example forms in Appendix B are also available as Microsoft Word documents. Applicants should consult the Coho Salmon Recovery Tasks and Steelhead Trout Management Tasks databases to identify high priority tasks addressed by their proposals. The tasks databases are organized by Calwater watershed units. To assist applicants in identifying the correct watershed unit, the FRGP map viewer was created. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image003.gif Type: image/gif Size: 73 bytes Desc: image003.gif URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image004.gif Type: image/gif Size: 73 bytes Desc: image004.gif URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: frgp_2006_psn.zip Type: application/x-zip-compressed Size: 1499500 bytes Desc: frgp_2006_psn.zip URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Thu Apr 6 17:13:44 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2006 17:13:44 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Trinity River Watershed Tour April 14 References: Message-ID: <018e01c659da$11163b10$2f28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> The Natural Resources Division of the Trinity County Planning Department is organizing a watershed tour of the Lewiston and Douglas City area on April 14, 2006. Everyone and anyone is invited to attend. The purpose of the tour is to show existing and proposed watershed restoration work. The main tour guide will be Trinity County Principal Planner Mark Lancaster from the Five Counties Salmonid Conservation Program. We will meet at 10 am at Mama's Restaurant in Lewiston on Trinity Dam Blvd. We will be touring roads in the Deadwood Creek watershed, the Lowden Burn area (Lewiston Fire), Browns Mountain Road (a Trinity County road which cross many of those smaller tributaries such as Trinity House Gulch that put out a lot of sediment this year), then driving through Weaverville and over China Gulch Road (another Trinity County road which has had work performed on it), then back to Lewiston. The route will allow everybody to avoid the Highway 299 construction at Rocky Point between Weaverville and Douglas City. I have heard that waits are up to 30 minutes. For those who are heading to Lewiston from Weaverville or areas west, such as Humboldt County, you can drive up highway 3 north of Weaverville to Rush Cr. Road and take that to Lewiston. You will be able to avoid traffic delays on Hwy 299, and the travel time is normally about the same as Hwy 299 (without construction). Please be sure to bring a lunch, water and sturdy boots. If you plan on driving your own vehicle, please be aware that Browns Mountain Road is very muddy and low clearance vehicles are NOT advised. Please let me know if you are attending and if you need transportation so that we can plan the appropriate amount of transportation. Sincerely, Tom Stokely Principal Planner Trinity Co. Planning/Natural Resources PO Box 2819 190 Glen Rd. Weaverville, CA 96093-2819 530-623-1351, ext. 3407 FAX 623-1353 tstokely at trinityalps.net or tstokely at trinitycounty.org From jallen at trinitycounty.org Mon Apr 10 09:49:05 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2006 09:49:05 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Klamath dams' removal would have severe impacts Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE092630196299B@mail2.trinitycounty.org> http://www.redding.com/redd/op_editorials/article/0,2232,REDD_18098_4607 266,00.html Klamath dams' removal would have severe impacts By Marcia H. Armstrong April 9, 2006 It has been 20 years since Congress passed the Klamath Act for the purpose of recovering anadromous fish (salmon) in the Klamath River system. Much of that time, parties have engaged in a tug of war over flows. Fingers have been pointed upstream at the negative of natural resource use on fish habitat, resulting in a cessation of timber harvest on local national forests and a suit that has halted suction-dredge mining. Although some support has been provided to the heroic voluntary habitat restoration efforts of farmers and ranchers in the Scott and Shasta River valleys of the mid-Klamath (where the fish spawn and rear), the bulk of funding has been expended elsewhere. With 700 miles of coastal fisheries about to be restricted because of a second year of low chinook returns to the Klamath, obviously what we have been doing is not working. Yet all we hear is the same old cry for flows, finger pointing and the demand to shut down more activities upon which the inland economy depends. Research being done in the Klamath by Scott Foott of the California-Nevada Fish Health Center indicated that in 2005, half of chinook juveniles sampled were infected with the parasite Ceratomyxa Shasta and 91 percent infected with the parasite Parvacapsula. Thirty-eight percent of the fish sampled were dually infected. The infection is generally lethal. The infection rate has been increasing over the sampling period since 1995. These are the same infections that caused the fish die-off of adult salmon near the mouth of the Klamath in 2002. The parasites have not been found in the mid-Klamath tributaries. Foott has observed that increased Klamath River flows in May did not appear to affect the rate of infection in juvenile fish. It was actually the increase of water temperature to 18 degrees centigrade, accompanied by a reduction in flows, that finally seemed to cause a decrease in infection in juveniles during the month of June. In regard to the adult die-off in 2002, the National Research Council in its final 2003 report stated, "... no obvious explanation of the fish kill based on unique flow or temperature conditions is possible" and "It is unclear what the effect of specific amounts of additional flow drawn from controllable upstream sources (Trinity and Iron Gate Reservoir) would have been." High temperatures may have stressed them, making them more susceptible to disease, but they did not die of low flows. The adult fish died of disease. The hue and cry has been raised to tear down the dams on the Klamath. Siskiyou County thinks that it would be rash to rush into removal of the Klamath River dams. There are more than 1,600 property owners around Copco Lake behind the lower complex of dams. In addition to providing low-cost renewable energy from hydropower, these facilities provide roughly $750,000 a year in tax revenue. The impact of dam removal to the county and local residents would be substantial. There are no compelling data or studies to demonstrate that dam removal is the best answer to assist in the recovery of fish. Information from PacifiCorp indicates that water quality would actually be decreased by dam removal. The county is particularly concerned about the effect that sediment migration might have on salmon runs. Alternatives to dam removal have not received the attention they deserve, such as fish ladders, trucking and other means of bypassing the dams. The county feels alternatives to dam removal should be tested on a pilot basis. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results. Siskiyou County's economy now stands at 11 percent unemployment -- 18.8 percent on the Klamath River corridor. Our median household income at the 2000 census was only $29,530. Let's take some new approaches to solving this problem before all of our economies collapse. Marcia H. Armstrong is a Siskiyou County supervisor. She lives in Fort Jones. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Mon Apr 10 10:06:21 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2006 10:06:21 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Klamath dams' removal would have severe impacts Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE09263019629A1@mail2.trinitycounty.org> Not only the press, but the decision maker in Siskyone County; the author is a County Supervisor for Siskyone. Joshua Allen Assistant Planner Trinity County Planning Department Natural Resources Division PO Box 2819 Weaverville, CA 96093 (530)623-1351 ext. 3411 (530)623-1358 fax jallen at trinitycounty.org jwa7 at humboldt.edu (secondary) _____ From: Guillen, George J. [mailto:Guillen at uhcl.edu] Sent: Monday, April 10, 2006 10:01 AM To: Josh Allen; env-trinity at crank.dcn.davis.ca.us Subject: RE: [env-trinity] Klamath dams' removal would have severe impacts Importance: High Thi is an incorrect statement "These are the same infections that caused the fish die-off of adult salmon near the mouth of the Klamath in 2002." The immediate cause of the Klamath Adult fish kill of 2002 was white spot disease (Ich) and Columnaris. This was widely discussed and documented in several agency reports (USFWS, CDFG etc). I am suprised that four years later that thee popular press is getting basic infomration like this mixed up. Respectfully, GG George Guillen Associate Professor Executive Director - Environmental Institute of Houston University of Houston Clear Lake City 2700 Bay Area Blvd, Box 540 Houston, TX 77058-1098 281-283-3950 Fax 281-283-3953 -----Original Message----- From: env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us [mailto:env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us]On Behalf Of Josh Allen Sent: Monday, April 10, 2006 11:49 AM To: env-trinity at crank.dcn.davis.ca.us Subject: [env-trinity] Klamath dams' removal would have severe impacts http://www.redding.com/redd/op_editorials/article/0,2232,REDD_18098_4607 266,00.html Klamath dams' removal would have severe impacts By Marcia H. Armstrong April 9, 2006 It has been 20 years since Congress passed the Klamath Act for the purpose of recovering anadromous fish (salmon) in the Klamath River system. Much of that time, parties have engaged in a tug of war over flows. Fingers have been pointed upstream at the negative of natural resource use on fish habitat, resulting in a cessation of timber harvest on local national forests and a suit that has halted suction-dredge mining. Although some support has been provided to the heroic voluntary habitat restoration efforts of farmers and ranchers in the Scott and Shasta River valleys of the mid-Klamath (where the fish spawn and rear), the bulk of funding has been expended elsewhere. With 700 miles of coastal fisheries about to be restricted because of a second year of low chinook returns to the Klamath, obviously what we have been doing is not working. Yet all we hear is the same old cry for flows, finger pointing and the demand to shut down more activities upon which the inland economy depends. Research being done in the Klamath by Scott Foott of the California-Nevada Fish Health Center indicated that in 2005, half of chinook juveniles sampled were infected with the parasite Ceratomyxa Shasta and 91 percent infected with the parasite Parvacapsula. Thirty-eight percent of the fish sampled were dually infected. The infection is generally lethal. The infection rate has been increasing over the sampling period since 1995. These are the same infections that caused the fish die-off of adult salmon near the mouth of the Klamath in 2002. The parasites have not been found in the mid-Klamath tributaries. Foott has observed that increased Klamath River flows in May did not appear to affect the rate of infection in juvenile fish. It was actually the increase of water temperature to 18 degrees centigrade, accompanied by a reduction in flows, that finally seemed to cause a decrease in infection in juveniles during the month of June. In regard to the adult die-off in 2002, the National Research Council in its final 2003 report stated, "... no obvious explanation of the fish kill based on unique flow or temperature conditions is possible" and "It is unclear what the effect of specific amounts of additional flow drawn from controllable upstream sources (Trinity and Iron Gate Reservoir) would have been." High temperatures may have stressed them, making them more susceptible to disease, but they did not die of low flows. The adult fish died of disease. The hue and cry has been raised to tear down the dams on the Klamath. Siskiyou County thinks that it would be rash to rush into removal of the Klamath River dams. There are more than 1,600 property owners around Copco Lake behind the lower complex of dams. In addition to providing low-cost renewable energy from hydropower, these facilities provide roughly $750,000 a year in tax revenue. The impact of dam removal to the county and local residents would be substantial. There are no compelling data or studies to demonstrate that dam removal is the best answer to assist in the recovery of fish. Information from PacifiCorp indicates that water quality would actually be decreased by dam removal. The county is particularly concerned about the effect that sediment migration might have on salmon runs. Alternatives to dam removal have not received the attention they deserve, such as fish ladders, trucking and other means of bypassing the dams. The county feels alternatives to dam removal should be tested on a pilot basis. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results. Siskiyou County's economy now stands at 11 percent unemployment -- 18.8 percent on the Klamath River corridor. Our median household income at the 2000 census was only $29,530. Let's take some new approaches to solving this problem before all of our economies collapse. Marcia H. Armstrong is a Siskiyou County supervisor. She lives in Fort Jones. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Mon Apr 10 10:14:07 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2006 10:14:07 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] California Water Agencies Join Clean Water Act Court Challenge Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE09263019629A3@mail2.trinitycounty.org> California Water Agencies Join Clean Water Act Court Challenge The Metropolitan Water District, the San Diego Water Authority, the Westlands Water District, and the Association of California Water Agencies are among the water agencies and groups that have joined the Pacific Legal Foundation in urging the U.S. Supreme Court to limit federal regulation of the Clean Water Act. The case involves a Michigan man who was fined for attempting to develop wetlands he owns. The foundation's attorneys content that the act only applies to navigable waterways and that federal regulators in this case exceeded their authority under the law. Source: California Special Districts Association News, page 14, Vol. 22, No. 2; March 2006 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From sethnaman at earthlink.net Mon Apr 10 10:16:52 2006 From: sethnaman at earthlink.net (Seth Naman) Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2006 10:16:52 -0700 (GMT-07:00) Subject: [env-trinity] Feds list some green sturgeon as threatened Message-ID: <2756781.1144689413297.JavaMail.root@elwamui-hound.atl.sa.earthlink.net> http://www.times-standard.com/fastsearchresults/ci_3688202 Feds list some green sturgeon as threatened Dave Rosso The Times-Standard EUREKA -- The National Marine Fisheries Service is listing the southern green sturgeon, a fish that can reach 7 feet long and weigh 350 pounds, as a threatened species. The NMFS, in a notice in the Federal Register, added that it ???is currently considering issuance of protective regulations that may be necessary and advisable to provide for the conservation of the species. The agency, within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, acted on a petition that had been filed by the Environmental Protection and Information Center (EPIC), Center for Biological Diversity and WaterKeepers Northern California that had requested the green sturgeon be listed as threatened or endangered. In its filing, the NMFS said, ???We conclude that the southern (sturgeon) is likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future throughout all of its range.??? It based its conclusion on the fact that the Sacramento River contains the only known green sturgeon spawning population in a distinct population segment, that there was a substantial loss of spawning habitat in the upper Sacramento and Feather rivers and that there is evidence that the Sacramento River and Delta System face mounting threats with regard to maintenance of habitat quality and quantity and the southern area is directly dependent upon this ecosystem for its long-term viability. Jeff Miller with Center for Biological Diversity said the fish should have been listed as endangered. He also said the designation should have extended to the northern species, which inhabit from the Eel River north to the Klamath and Rogue rivers. ???Fish and Game's estimate that 50 or fewer spawning green sturgeon will return to the Sacramento River this spring should sound alarm bells,??? said Miller. ???With the Delta food web that sturgeon depend upon unraveling, it is imperative we protect and restore suitable habitat for this ancient fish in the Sacramento River and Bay Delta. Endangered Species Act protection is the most effective tool available for recovering endangered species.??? ???It certainly needs protection,??? Miller added. ???We do think it should be endangered because the green sturgeon are in much more dire straits.??? Green sturgeon are among the largest and longest-living fish species found in freshwater, living up to 70 years, reaching 7.5 feet in length, and weighing up to 350 pounds. Sturgeon have a prehistoric appearance, with a skeleton consisting of mostly cartilage and rows of bony plates for scales. They have snouts like shovels and mouths like vacuum cleaners that are used to siphon shrimp and other food from sandy depths. For more information about the green sturgeon visit: http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/swcbd/species/grnsturgeon/index.html From bwl3 at comcast.net Mon Apr 10 14:56:12 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2006 14:56:12 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Trinity - Extremely Wet Water Year Message-ID: <007701c65ce9$979bbfe0$1f9eb545@p4> Water-type year for Trinity has been determined to be as an Extremely Wet Water-Type year. The following has been provided by Andreas Kraus of the Trinity River Restoration Program: The 50% April water year forecast came in at 2,105 TAF which officially makes this an Extremely Wet Water Year type. Therefore, the Flow scheduling workgroup will meet tomorrow April 11 at 9:30 AM at the TRRP office in Weaverville. Department of Interior solicitors have indicated that the extremely wet water year allocation for Trinity River releases in 2006 will be set at 783,000 acre-feet. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Guillen at uhcl.edu Mon Apr 10 10:00:35 2006 From: Guillen at uhcl.edu (Guillen, George J.) Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2006 12:00:35 -0500 Subject: [env-trinity] Klamath dams' removal would have severe impacts Message-ID: Thi is an incorrect statement "These are the same infections that caused the fish die-off of adult salmon near the mouth of the Klamath in 2002." The immediate cause of the Klamath Adult fish kill of 2002 was white spot disease (Ich) and Columnaris. This was widely discussed and documented in several agency reports (USFWS, CDFG etc). I am suprised that four years later that thee popular press is getting basic infomration like this mixed up. Respectfully, GG George Guillen Associate Professor Executive Director - Environmental Institute of Houston University of Houston Clear Lake City 2700 Bay Area Blvd, Box 540 Houston, TX 77058-1098 281-283-3950 Fax 281-283-3953 -----Original Message----- From: env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us [mailto:env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us]On Behalf Of Josh Allen Sent: Monday, April 10, 2006 11:49 AM To: env-trinity at crank.dcn.davis.ca.us Subject: [env-trinity] Klamath dams' removal would have severe impacts http://www.redding.com/redd/op_editorials/article/0,2232,REDD_18098_4607266,00.html Klamath dams' removal would have severe impacts By Marcia H. Armstrong April 9, 2006 It has been 20 years since Congress passed the Klamath Act for the purpose of recovering anadromous fish (salmon) in the Klamath River system. Much of that time, parties have engaged in a tug of war over flows. Fingers have been pointed upstream at the negative of natural resource use on fish habitat, resulting in a cessation of timber harvest on local national forests and a suit that has halted suction-dredge mining. Although some support has been provided to the heroic voluntary habitat restoration efforts of farmers and ranchers in the Scott and Shasta River valleys of the mid-Klamath (where the fish spawn and rear), the bulk of funding has been expended elsewhere. With 700 miles of coastal fisheries about to be restricted because of a second year of low chinook returns to the Klamath, obviously what we have been doing is not working. Yet all we hear is the same old cry for flows, finger pointing and the demand to shut down more activities upon which the inland economy depends. Research being done in the Klamath by Scott Foott of the California-Nevada Fish Health Center indicated that in 2005, half of chinook juveniles sampled were infected with the parasite Ceratomyxa Shasta and 91 percent infected with the parasite Parvacapsula. Thirty-eight percent of the fish sampled were dually infected. The infection is generally lethal. The infection rate has been increasing over the sampling period since 1995. These are the same infections that caused the fish die-off of adult salmon near the mouth of the Klamath in 2002. The parasites have not been found in the mid-Klamath tributaries. Foott has observed that increased Klamath River flows in May did not appear to affect the rate of infection in juvenile fish. It was actually the increase of water temperature to 18 degrees centigrade, accompanied by a reduction in flows, that finally seemed to cause a decrease in infection in juveniles during the month of June. In regard to the adult die-off in 2002, the National Research Council in its final 2003 report stated, "... no obvious explanation of the fish kill based on unique flow or temperature conditions is possible" and "It is unclear what the effect of specific amounts of additional flow drawn from controllable upstream sources (Trinity and Iron Gate Reservoir) would have been." High temperatures may have stressed them, making them more susceptible to disease, but they did not die of low flows. The adult fish died of disease. The hue and cry has been raised to tear down the dams on the Klamath. Siskiyou County thinks that it would be rash to rush into removal of the Klamath River dams. There are more than 1,600 property owners around Copco Lake behind the lower complex of dams. In addition to providing low-cost renewable energy from hydropower, these facilities provide roughly $750,000 a year in tax revenue. The impact of dam removal to the county and local residents would be substantial. There are no compelling data or studies to demonstrate that dam removal is the best answer to assist in the recovery of fish. Information from PacifiCorp indicates that water quality would actually be decreased by dam removal. The county is particularly concerned about the effect that sediment migration might have on salmon runs. Alternatives to dam removal have not received the attention they deserve, such as fish ladders, trucking and other means of bypassing the dams. The county feels alternatives to dam removal should be tested on a pilot basis. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results. Siskiyou County's economy now stands at 11 percent unemployment -- 18.8 percent on the Klamath River corridor. Our median household income at the 2000 census was only $29,530. Let's take some new approaches to solving this problem before all of our economies collapse. Marcia H. Armstrong is a Siskiyou County supervisor. She lives in Fort Jones. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Tue Apr 11 17:15:18 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2006 17:15:18 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] PACIFIC FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL VOTES TO ALLOW LOWEST EVER 2006 SALMON FISHERIES OFF CALIFORNIA AND OREGON Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE0926301962A60@mail2.trinitycounty.org> http://www.pcouncil.org/newsreleases/pr040706_sal.pdf Pacific Fishery Management Council NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: Dr. Donald McIsaac, Executive Director, 503?820?2280 Ms. Jennifer Gilden, Communications Officer, 503?820?2280 PACIFIC FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL VOTES TO ALLOW LOWEST EVER 2006 SALMON FISHERIES OFF CALIFORNIA AND OREGON At its meeting in Sacramento this week, the Pacific Fishery Management Council voted to allow limited commercial, recreational and tribal ocean salmon fisheries off the coast of California and Oregon this year. Prior to the decision, the Council had considered a complete closure of all salmon fisheries in this area due to low numbers of naturally spawning Klamath River fall Chinook salmon, which swim with healthier stock along a 700?mile stretch of the Oregon and California coast. The decision has been forwarded to National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for final approval. The Council heard compelling testimony from over 100 of the estimated 1,000 people that attended the public meeting where the decision was made. After describing her family fishing history, Barbara Stickel of Morrow Bay tearfully said, ?Only a few Klamath fish will be accidentally taken. I need some sort of meaningful salmon fishery.? Over 5,000 pieces of written comment were also received. Testimony was also received from representatives of Indian Tribes, coastal communities, ports, and Congressional offices. Troy Fletcher, a Yurok Indian, called for, ?not a blue ribbon committee, but a blue collar committee, to work together to fix the Klamath River.? Mike Rees from Salmon Trollers Marketing Association presented a petition with over 7,200 signatures asking for a fishery targeting Sacramento River Chinook salmon. ?Sometimes you have to go past the numbers that say no and do the right thing for the whole and say yes,? said Tom Creedon from Fisherman?s Wharf in San Francisco. The Council?s fishery management plan calls for at least 35,000 mature fall Chinook to spawn naturally in the Klamath River. However, less than 35,000 spawners were counted the past two years and only 25,000 spawners were expected this year even with a total closure of salmon fisheries where Klamath Chinook are found in the ocean. The Council?s decision to allow limited fishing will result in an estimated 21,000 natural spawners in the Klamath River, to provide for a catch of over 200,000 salmon in ocean recreational and commercial fisheries. The Council?s decision was justified in part by the fact that in the past, low numbers of returning Klamath spawners have produced high enough numbers to maintain strong runs in the future. For example, a spawning level of 18,500 in 1999 produced 196,000 salmon. However, in 1990, 16,000 spawners produced only 45,000 adult fish. The average number of natural Klamath River spawners during the past 10 years has been 55,400. Klamath River naturally spawning Chinook salmon are not listed under the Endangered Species Act. The Council recommended use of an emergency rule to allow the fisheries to remain open. A complete closure would have meant millions in lost economic activity for recreational and commercial salmon fisheries, as well as a lack of local wild salmon in stores and restaurants. These salmon fisheries have averaged $133 million dollars per year in economic impacts to coastal and inland communities. ?Even a low season is as devastating as a hurricane to us,? said Steven Kingsley of San Francisco, California. ?But we need at least a small season to survive.? NMFS and the States of Oregon and California have discussed ways to bring federal disaster relief to salmon fishing businesses. The season allows some commercial fishing around Newport, Oregon during June, July, September, and October. In California, there will be a limited season in September for Fort Bragg; in July, August, and September in San Francisco; and in May, July, August, and September in Monterey. Sport fisheries will be allowed most months in Oregon and California, but there will be closures. Details of the salmon season structure will be posted on the Council website shortly. In-river habitat factors are thought to be primarily responsible for the diminished Klamath returns the past few years. Drought, irrigation withdrawals, and dams have been blamed for raising river water temperatures, reducing or eliminating spring floods that rush fish to the sea, and creating conditions for parasite infestations. In 2002, 30,000 or more adult Chinook salmon in the lower Klamath River were killed by a combination of environmental factors including low river flows. Parent year spawners were well above the 35,000 goal and recent seasons have been greatly restricted, indicating overfishing has not been a factor. Nearby ocean conditions during the past two summers may have been poor for Klamath fish. Current rains in the Klamath River are ending a multi-year drought. For more information, please see: * Klamath salmon online press packet: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsreleases/sal06_presspacket.html * Press release on letter call for Klamath dam removal: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsreleases/pr040706_krd.pdf * Other Council correspondence on Klamath flows: http://www.pcouncil.org/habitat/habdocs.html * Guide to the Pacific Fishery Management Council process: http://www.pcouncil.org/guide/Guide?intropage.html -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.emz Type: application/octet-stream Size: 24342 bytes Desc: image001.emz URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.gif Type: image/gif Size: 2896 bytes Desc: image002.gif URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Wed Apr 12 09:53:23 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2006 09:53:23 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Trinity River Release Change Message-ID: <000f01c65e51$a15a7620$1f9eb545@p4> _____ From: Tom Morstein-Marx [mailto:TMORSTEINMARX at mp.usbr.gov] Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 8:51 AM Project: Lewiston Dam - Trinity River Release Date Time From To 4/12/06 1200 300 600 4/12/06 1300 600 800 4/12/06 1400 800 1000 Issued By: Tom Morstein-Marx Comment: Increase due to Lewiston local inflows -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Wed Apr 12 15:03:44 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2006 15:03:44 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Trinity River Watershed Tour April 14 Message-ID: <004d01c65e7e$0f4a0fc0$2f28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> Dear Watershed Tour Participants: Mama's Restaurant in Lewiston is now called the Mountain Valley Grill. We will still meet there at 10 am, rain or shine. We hope to be able to use the restaurant for a short briefing prior to the field tour. We have no bus or large vehicle to tranport everybody, but we should have room for those who don't have vehicles with high clearance. Sincerely, Tom Stokely Principal Planner Trinity Co. Planning/Natural Resources PO Box 2819 190 Glen Rd. Weaverville, CA 96093-2819 530-623-1351, ext. 3407 FAX 623-1353 tstokely at trinityalps.net or tstokely at trinitycounty.org ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom Stokely" To: "Rod Wittler" ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; "Brian Person" ; "Christine Karas" ; "Cecil Lesley" ; "Deanna Jackson" ; "Priscilla Henson" ; "Russell Smith" ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; "env-trinity" ; ; ; "Francis Berg" ; "John Knight" ; "Steve Gasaway" Cc: "Mark Lancaster" ; "Christine Jordan" ; "Larry Layton" ; "John Jelicich" Sent: Thursday, April 06, 2006 5:13 PM Subject: Trinity River Watershed Tour April 14 > The Natural Resources Division of the Trinity County Planning Department is > organizing a watershed tour of the Lewiston and Douglas City area on April > 14, 2006. Everyone and anyone is invited to attend. The purpose of the > tour is to show existing and proposed watershed restoration work. The main > tour guide will be Trinity County Principal Planner Mark Lancaster from the > Five Counties Salmonid Conservation Program. > > We will meet at 10 am at Mama's Restaurant in Lewiston on Trinity Dam Blvd. > We will be touring roads in the Deadwood Creek watershed, the Lowden Burn > area (Lewiston Fire), Browns Mountain Road (a Trinity County road which > cross many of those smaller tributaries such as Trinity House Gulch that put > out a lot of sediment this year), then driving through Weaverville and over > China Gulch Road (another Trinity County road which has had work performed > on it), then back to Lewiston. > > The route will allow everybody to avoid the Highway 299 construction at > Rocky Point between Weaverville and Douglas City. I have heard that waits > are up to 30 minutes. For those who are heading to Lewiston from > Weaverville or areas west, such as Humboldt County, you can drive up highway > 3 north of Weaverville to Rush Cr. Road and take that to Lewiston. You will > be able to avoid traffic delays on Hwy 299, and the travel time is normally > about the same as Hwy 299 (without construction). > > Please be sure to bring a lunch, water and sturdy boots. If you plan on > driving your own vehicle, please be aware that Browns Mountain Road is very > muddy and low clearance vehicles are NOT advised. > > Please let me know if you are attending and if you need transportation so > that we can plan the appropriate amount of transportation. > > Sincerely, > > > > Tom Stokely > Principal Planner > Trinity Co. Planning/Natural Resources > PO Box 2819 > 190 Glen Rd. > Weaverville, CA 96093-2819 > 530-623-1351, ext. 3407 > FAX 623-1353 > tstokely at trinityalps.net or tstokely at trinitycounty.org > From bwl3 at comcast.net Tue Apr 18 10:29:49 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2006 10:29:49 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Congressman Thompson's Salmon Rally Message-ID: <001d01c6630d$b23c2a90$1f9eb545@p4> >From Congressman Mike Thompson's Office: On Monday, April 24th, Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-01) will be holding a salmon rally at 10:00 a.m. on Pier 47. The purpose of the rally is to bring attention to the salmon season off the coasts of California and Oregon, and to also roll-out a disaster assistance bill that is aimed to help the communities in need. Another aspect of the bill will have a conservation component to help restore and monitor the salmon of the Klamath River. As you know, the reason for the dramatically shortened salmon season is because the Klamath River will not meet the 35,000 natural spawner floor for fall-run chinook for the third consecutive year. The reported result will likely be a near closure of Oregon and California's commercial ocean, in-river Klamath and tribal fisheries for 2006. The impacts on the California coastal economy from last year's season, which was cut by 60-percent due to poor Klamath River returns, combined to a near closure of this year's season, would be catastrophic and could very likely have permanent affects on the salmon fishing industry and related businesses in both states. As you also know, the declining salmon populations in the Klamath River basin are not due to over fishing by tribes or the commercial salmon fishing industry. They are due to federal mismanagement of the Klamath River system which hurt both farmers and fishermen. This mismanagement led to the fish kill in 2002 when up to 78,000 adult salmon died on the Klamath River. It also led to the outbreak of Ceratomyxa Shasta (C. Shasta) which has reportedly infected 80-percent of juvenile salmonids. Mortality from C. Shasta is 100-percent. The congressman, tribes and fishermen will speak about the need for good, long-term management of the Klamath River and it's resources. If your members are interested in attending, we would welcome all of their support at Monday's rally. Event: Salmon rally to help salmon fishermen, communities and to restore the Klamath River Time: Monday, April 24th at 10:00 a.m. Place: Pier 47 - San Francisco -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From zgrader at ifrfish.org Wed Apr 19 11:54:45 2006 From: zgrader at ifrfish.org (zgrader) Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2006 13:54:45 -0500 Subject: [env-trinity] [FOTR] Congressman Thompson's Salmon Rally In-Reply-To: <001d01c6630d$b23c2a90$1f9eb545@p4> References: <001d01c6630d$b23c2a90$1f9eb545@p4> Message-ID: <20060419185445.M88715@ifrfish.org> Congressman George Miller will also be there, and there may be other Congressional reps as well. - Zeke On Tue, 18 Apr 2006 10:29:49 -0700, Byron wrote > >From Congressman Mike Thompson's Office: > > On Monday, April 24th, Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-01) will be > holding a salmon rally at 10:00 a.m. on Pier 47. The purpose of the > rally is to bring attention to the salmon season off the coasts of > California and Oregon, and to also roll-out a disaster assistance > bill that is aimed to help the communities in need. Another aspect > of the bill will have a conservation component to help restore and > monitor the salmon of the Klamath River. > > As you know, the reason for the dramatically shortened salmon season > is because the Klamath River will not meet the 35,000 natural > spawner floor for fall-run chinook for the third consecutive year. > The reported result will likely be a near closure of Oregon and > California's commercial ocean, in-river Klamath and tribal fisheries > for 2006. The impacts on the California coastal economy from last > year's season, which was cut by 60-percent due to poor Klamath River > returns, combined to a near closure of this year's season, would be > catastrophic and could very likely have permanent affects on the > salmon fishing industry and related businesses in both states. > > As you also know, the declining salmon populations in the Klamath River > basin are not due to over fishing by tribes or the commercial salmon > fishing industry. They are due to federal mismanagement of the > Klamath River system which hurt both farmers and fishermen. This > mismanagement led to the fish kill in 2002 when up to 78,000 adult > salmon died on the Klamath River. It also led to the outbreak of > Ceratomyxa Shasta (C. Shasta) which has reportedly infected 80- > percent of juvenile salmonids. Mortality from C. Shasta is 100- > percent. > > The congressman, tribes and fishermen will speak about the need for > good, long-term management of the Klamath River and it's resources. > If your members are interested in attending, we would welcome all of > their support at Monday's rally. > > Event: Salmon rally to help salmon fishermen, communities and to > restore the Klamath River Time: Monday, April 24th at 10:00 a.m. > Place: Pier 47 - San Francisco From truman at jeffnet.org Wed Apr 19 13:19:45 2006 From: truman at jeffnet.org (Patrick Truman) Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2006 13:19:45 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] County Seeks Disaster Dec Message-ID: <004a01c663ee$9a1aed20$0400a8c0@HAL> Article Launched: 04/19/2006 04:18:27 AM PDT County seeks disaster declaration for Klamath Basin James Faulk The Times-Standard EUREKA -- The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors is pushing for a federal disaster declaration after the Pacific Fisheries Management Council proposed a dramatically curtailed commercial and sport salmon season that could cut deep into the pocket books of local businesses. "This year is probably one of the most devastating reductions in harvest opportunity that we've ever seen," said 1st District Supervisor Jimmy Smith. The board voted unanimously Tuesday to pass a resolution asking the U.S. Department of Commerce to expedite a disaster declaration and adopt a restoration plan for the Klamath Basin. Smith thanked 5th District Supervisor Jill Geist for her work on developing long-term solutions to the problem, like the removal of dams from the river. Dennis Mayo told the board that a method for anglers to identify where fish originate would be helpful. Pat Higgins, fisheries biologist and candidate for 5th District supervisor, also thanked his opponent Geist for working on the removal of dams. But he also criticized the board for not being more fully engaged in the issue. "Folks, this is crunch time," he said. The state and federal governments are failing, he said, so the responsibility falls to the county. "You have to have more engagement than just writing a letter once in a while on this," he said. Smith said the board is engaged, and described hours he's spent on the phone dealing with issues surrounding the Klamath and Trinity rivers. Geist said that when she first took office, the county lacked the infrastructure and staff to deal with these issues appropriately, but a natural resources planner is being brought on board to help with water quality issues. "The poor returns of salmon on the Klamath River in Northern California and Oregon is causing a near closure of the commercial and recreational salmon season along most of the Pacific Coast," said a county staff report. Cutting back the year's season by more than 90 percent "will have an immediate and devastating impact on commercial, tribal and recreational fisheries," it reads. The direct impact from the closures could be as high as $100 million. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Thu Apr 20 14:19:40 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2006 14:19:40 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Slim pickings as season winds down Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE0926301B8FB41@mail2.trinitycounty.org> Slim pickings as season winds down Article Launched: 04/20/2006 04:16:16 AM PDT http://www.times-standard.com/sports/ci_3730471 (The fishing report was cut by the moderator for this posting so that Trinity River salmonid issues can be clearly shown) Ed Duggan of Willow Creek, who represents guides, sportsmen and loggers, reports that the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) is making Dam Safety Water Releases. "This is because the water storage behind the dam is so close to the overflow and we are expected to get more rain plus snow melt. He goes on to say: "Well, the Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC) has made the biggest blunder of all time. Some how either the PFMC or their staff/tech team made the recommendation that a recreational harvest for KMZ Fall Salmon be made. On the surface this sounds great but the kicker is that the In-river Sport Harvest would be reduced to 3 percent instead of the normal 15 percent that we have always been assigned as our share of the sport Fall Chinook harvest. "You may ask what does that do to us? A reduction from 15 percent to 3 percent of 4,000 Fall Chinook would allow us to fish for exactly one half of one day before we reached our quota for the for the recreational in-river sport harvest of Fall Chinook. If you take the normal split of 600 fish and divide it like the DFG had traditionally done the lower Klamath would receive 60 Fall Chinook; the upper Klamath would receive 20 Fall Chinook; the lower Trinity would receive 20 Fall Chinook and the upper Trinity 20 Fall Chinook. It is time we ALL sent letters or e-mails to the chairman Donald Hansen of the PFMC and the chairman of the DFG Commission Mike Flores. The recommended water flows for the Spring Flows: "The Trinity Management Council (TMC) recommended to the Bureau of Reclamation) and the Secretary of Interior that the full 815,000 acre-feet for an Extremely Wet Year classification be released to provide the best benefit to the fishery restoration of the Trinity River. The TMC also recommends that the releases be delayed three days before ascending to 2,000 cfs and another five days before starting the flows." This would allow for some fishing in the Fly Fishing Only and upper section of the Trinity up to May 5 before the Spring Flows start. Until next time... (The following below is part of the article & is not a suggestion in any way by the moderator) Recommended E-mails be sent to: Mr. Donald Hansen, Chairman of PFMC pfmc.comments at noaa.gov Dear Chairman Hansen: The reduction from our normal 15% to 3% that the PFMC recommended for In-River Chinook Harvest is a sham and will ruin the economy of the North Coast and in-river communities. It will only allow for a half day fishing season for the fall Chinook salmon. One hundred twenty fish is a total disaster to the in-river fishery when it has to be divided into four areas of the river basin. There is no way I would spend my time, money and vacation to fish a half day in hopes of catching a salmon. Your name (any affiliation you my belong to) Your address and e-mail Mr. Michael Flores, president California Fish and Game Commission 1416 Ninth Street Box 944244-2090 Sacramento, CA 94244-2090 Mflores at dfg.ca.gov Re: Klamath River Sports Allocation 2006 Dear M. Flores: The reduction from 15% to 3% of the Klamath River Basin in-river sports harvest is a travesty of the greatest proportions. How can we afford to go fishing for one-half of one day? Not only would I not be able to spend my money and vacation time in the hopes of catching a Chinook for that short of time, but the communities I would visit or stay or shop in would go bankrupt because no one would go fishing for salmon. Over the years the CFG Commission has consistently looked at a 10-20% in-river harvest rate. A reduction to 3% from the usual 15% that the PFMC proposes would be devastating to the sports community and the communities that depend on us. I urge you to hold meetings in Crescent City and Weaverville to allow the sportsmen to be heard. Your name, (affiliation) Address and e-mail Also send copies to Neil Manji nmanji at dfg.ca.gov -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Thu Apr 20 16:35:58 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2006 16:35:58 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Reservoir causing faster flow Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE0926301B8FB5B@mail2.trinitycounty.org> Reservoir causing faster flow Trinity Journal Weaverville, CA Wednesday April 19, 2006 Concerns about a rapidly filing reservoir have superseded the Trinity River flow schedule recommended by the Trinity Management Council for now. On Tuesday, the release from the Lewiston dam to the river was 1,500 cubic feet per second rather than the 300 cfs recommended in the (Trinity Record of Decision of December 2000) schedule. This higher flow is being implemented by the federal Bureau of Reclamation to meet "safety of dams" criteria for how high Trinity Lake can get given the time of year. "We have a very full reservoir," said Trinity River Restoration Program Director Doug Schleusner. "What they're trying to do is keep some cushion in there in case we do have a storm come through." Releases over the next couple of weeks depend on the weather and are difficult to predict. Meanwhile, the Trinity River Management Council has recommended a flow schedule to the Bureau of Reclamation based on this being an "extremely wet year" for the Trinity River. As noted, the high flow being released now differs from that schedule. Assuming that the Bureau accepts the council's recommendation, the river will peak on May 23 with a release of 8,500 cfs, which will continue for 13 days through June 4 before beginning to ramp down. Moderator's Note: In an "Extremely Wet Water Year", the prescribed flows within the Trinity ROD would have a volume of 815,000 acre feet with a peak flow of 11,000 cfs for 5 days. The reason why such peak flows can not be implemented this is due to infrastructure impact concerns to property owners adjacent to the river. The following is from the public record of the Trinity Management Council's minutes of December 14, 2005: There are 109 properties between Lewiston Dam and Weaver Creek that represent 22 issues for the release of full ROD flows; there are 15 well pumps, 3 decks, one mobile, and a detached garage that needs to be addressed before the 11k cfs + 10yr tributary flow in May can be achieved. The recommended hydrology graph for the TMC's Water Year 2006 is shown below: -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.gif Type: image/gif Size: 16159 bytes Desc: image002.gif URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Fri Apr 21 13:07:57 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2006 13:07:57 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Congressional Office Press Release on Klamath Fishermen's Rally in SF on 4/24 Message-ID: <002001c6657f$511dfe90$1f9eb545@p4> Members of Congress and Fishing Community to Protest Bush Administration's Flawed Salmon Policy Thompson to Unveil Federal Disaster Assistance Legislation April 20, 2006 CONTACT: Matt Gerien (202) 225-3311 SAN FRANCISCO - Hundreds of commercial, recreational and tribal salmon fishermen will join Bay Area Reps. Mike Thompson, George Miller and Lynn Woolsey on Monday, April 24th at Pier 47 in San Francisco for a rally protesting the Bush Administration's flawed Klamath River salmon policies that have led to slashed salmon seasons. Thompson will also be unveiling legislation to provide federal disaster assistance for the fishing communities impacted by the near closure of this year's season. WHO: Reps. Mike Thompson, George Miller, Lynn Woolsey, hundreds of commercial, recreational and tribal fisherman from throughout the west coast WHAT: The introduction of federal disaster assistance legislation and salmon fishing groups and Members of Congress rally to Protest the Bush Administration's mismanagement of the Klamath River and. WHEN: Monday, April 24, 2006, 10:00am WHERE: Pier 47 in Front of Scoma's Restaurant, Al Scoma Way, San Francisco, CA 94113 **Note to assignment editors: Salmon fishermen will be mooring their boats in the basin behind Pier 47 as part of the protest. West coast fishing groups will also have a 30-foot inflatable salmon, large banners and other displays on the pier. Background Information: In 2002, the Bush administration's water diversions on the Klamath River resulted in a record fish kill that claimed 80,000 adult salmon the next fall. Experts have directly attributed the adult fish kill and a parasitic infection affecting spring juveniles, resulting from poor federal management of the river, as being responsible for the low salmon returns estimated for this year. The Pacific Fisheries Management Council recommended on April 6, 2006, that the 2006 salmon season be drastically reduced. The decision will severely affect ocean and in-river salmon fisheries along 700 miles of coastline, from Point Falcon, Oregon to Big Sur, California. The economic impact to coastal communities is expected to be devastating. The direct impact on commercial and recreational fisheries is estimated to exceed $100 million. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Fri Apr 21 14:54:53 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2006 14:54:53 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] DFG rulemaking for Klamath-Trinity salmon Message-ID: <003b01c6658e$38fcf0a0$1f9eb545@p4> PLEASE TAKE ACTION BEFORE MONDAY AT 5 PM TO PROTECT KLAMATH-TRINITY WILD CHINOOK SALMON - Talking points, Background and DFG news release are below; Klamath Riverkeepers letter to the Cal Fish & Game Commission is attached. This alert is from Felice Pace for Klamath Riverkeeper. Below is a news release I just found on the Department of Fish and Game web site concerning DFG rulemaking for Klamath-Trinity salmon. The announcement says that comments must be received by close of business on Monday April 24th. They can be submitted by e-mail to: sbarrow at dfg.ca.gov. Below are background and suggested talking points which you can use in your message: Background: Because Spring and Fall Chinook are not treated as separate species, both the State of California, the Pacific Fisheries Management Council and others have ignored them. Meanwhile the numbers of wild Springer spawners has fallen dramatically. Last year fewer than 100 were counted in the Salmon River b their stronghold on the Klamath side. Because there is a hatchery Springer run on the Trinity that is somewhat healthy, the F&G Commission has allowed full sport fishing on the Klamath and Trinity during the time the Springers are present. There is no overall quota, no requirement to release wild fish, virtually nothing except the daily and weekly bag limits. A few years back the Tribes (mostly Hoopa and Yurok) and the conservation community pressured the Fish & Game Commission to close the Klamath to salmon fishing when Springers are migrating. They did close it for a while down as far as Coon Creek below Weitchpec but then at some point they quietly opened it back up. Even the first action was not good enough because sport anglers could still target the Springers at places like Blue Hole. THIS TOOK PLACE EVEN ON DAYS WHEN TRIBAL FISHING WAS CLOSED. The wild Klamath Springers are needed as the brood stock to restore salmon to the Upper Basin when the dams come down or the fish ladders go up. But the way things are going there may not be enough wild Springers to accomplish the restoration. Also, if the F&G Commission will not act to protect Springers, the environmental community will likely petition to have them listed under the state ESA. This is being discussed by various groups now. TALKING POINTS: 1. The F&G Commission should take action now to protect wild Springers before they go extinct in the Klamath and/or before they are petitioned to be listed under the state ESA. 2. The Commission should close the entire Klamath River to take of adult salmon during the period when Spring Chinook are migrating: April, May, June and July. 3. The Commission should close the Trinity during the Spring Chinook migration period as far up as above Canyon Creek in order to protect wild, naturally-spawning Trinity River Spring Chinook salmon. 4. The Commission should close the Klamath below Wietchpec to salmon fishing during the Fall salmon season on the same days that the Yuroks have closed their fisheries, i.e. three days per week. 5. Failure to take appropriate action to protect Spring and Fall salmon in the Klamath and Trinity River will increase the potential for conflict between tribal and sport fishers and between sport fishers and local folks who want to see salmon restored throughout the Klamath River Basin. 6. The Fish & Game Commission should not sacrifice restoration of Spring and Fall salmon because a small number of guides and sport fisherman want to catch Spring salmon. Once the salmon fisheries are restored there will be plenty of opportunities for fishing. It makes sense to forgo some fishing opportunities now so that there will be more fishing opportunities for everyone later. This is what tribal fishers have done and sport fishers should do the same. 7. The Fish & Game Commission should also become active in a positive way by adding their strong voice to the chorus calling for Klamath River restoration. Please consider a resolution calling for: 1. removal or fish passage at the Klamath River dams and restoration of salmon and steelhead to the Upper Klamath River Basin, and 2. the NCWQCB and SWRCB to adopt strong clean-up plans for the Shasta, Scott and Klamath Rivers. Poor water quality from and in these rivers is killing hundreds of thousands of baby salmon each year. Remember to send your message by 5 PM on Monday! News Release: For Immediate Release Apil 14 , 2006 Commercial Salmon Regulations Conformance Public Hearing Scheduled Contact: Scott Barrow, DFG Fisheries Program Branch, (916) 651-7670 A public hearing on conformance with enforcement measures for state and federal commercial salmon regulations will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, April 21. The teleconference will take place at the Department of Fish and Game (DFG), 1416 9th St., Room 1206, Sacramento. Written comments must be received by 8 a.m., Monday, April 24, 2006. Emails will be accepted at sbarrow at dfg.ca.gov. DFG is proposing regulatory changes that are required to enforce the federal landing and possession limits. The teleconference hearing (the phone number is 916-274-2918) is for receiving public comment and is required under Fish and Game Code Section 7652.1(b). Recommendations for the federal regulations were developed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC), on April 7, 2006, and forwarded to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce for implementation by May 1, 2006. DFG is proposing regulatory changes to enforce the federal landing and possession limits stipulated in the PFMC's recommendations for the 2006 commercial salmon fishery. The PFMC recommendations await approval by the National Marine Fisheries Service. The changes will stipulate that a total and accurate number of commercial salmon will be recorded on the landing receipt in the "Note Pad" field and a copy of the landing receipts will be required to be maintained onboard the fishing vessel that landed salmon for 90 days after the date salmon were landed. This regulatory action is taken under the authority of Section 7652 of the Fish and Game Code, and is necessary for conformance of the commercial salmon fishing regulations in state waters to the Salmon Fishery Management Plan of the PFMC. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Mon Apr 24 13:14:00 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2006 13:14:00 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Trinity River Release Change Message-ID: <001401c667db$a0b62c30$1f9eb545@p4> Project: Lewiston Dam - Trinity River Release Date Time From To 4/24/06 1200 2000 2250 4/24/06 1600 2250 2500 Issued By: Tom Morstein-Marx Comment: Increased Inflow forecast -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Mon Apr 24 13:22:10 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2006 13:22:10 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Santa Rosa Press Democrat Message-ID: <001a01c667dc$c4111e00$1f9eb545@p4> Relief sought for salmon fishermen; Thompson, Woolsey bill urges federal disaster aid to industry hurt by likely shortened season Santa Rosa Press Democrat - 4/24/06 By Katy Hillenmeyer, staff writer North Coast lawmakers will seek $81 million in federal disaster relief for California and Oregon fishing communities where salmon fishing will be severely curtailed this year, a spokesman for Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, said Sunday. At a rally of fishermen in San Francisco this morning, Thompson and co-sponsors plan to unveil the legislation, which would cover losses suffered by commercial fleets and related businesses that face drastic cuts in their season. The restrictions are designed to protect dwindling numbers of chinook that spawn in the Klamath River. Thompson, a critic of the Bush administration's management of the river, also wants Congress to appropriate $45 million for Klamath restoration under the proposal, Thompson spokesman Matt Gerien said. "Not only do we have a bill that will help the fishermen who are affected," said Gerien, "we also have recovery legislation so this isn't a problem year after year." He noted Reps. Lynn Woolsey, D-Petaluma, and George Miller, D-Martinez, are co-sponsors. But it's uncertain whether Thompson's latest bid to bolster the hard-hit fishing industry will succeed. Although he worked for a year to expedite a disaster declaration for the 2005 salmon season, which was cut 60 percent, federal regulators found no justification for relief. "This year's season was even worse than last year's," Gerien said Sunday when asked about the new measure's prospects. Woolsey and Miller could not be reached Sunday for comment but were listed among those invited to today's rally of commercial, sport and tribal fishermen at Pier 47. Fort Bragg fisherman Jim Martin, skipper of an 18-foot recreational salmon boat, planned to participate, although the proposed bill focuses primarily on commercial fishing and related businesses. "I don't think it will help the private recreational fleet," said Martin, the Recreational Fishing Alliance's West Coast regional director. "But we're better off standing together as fishermen." Federal regulators are expected by next Monday to finalize an advisory panel's ocean salmon fishing recommendations, which cover 700 miles of California and Oregon coastline. As drafted, the rules would postpone commercial harvests of wild salmon off Bodega Bay until July 26 and off Fort Bragg until Sept. 1. Normally, the season would run May through at least September. After years of drought, a massive salmon die-off in 2002 and successive spawning shortfalls, "the goal, of course, is to let salmon rebound so we don't have this roller coaster ... year after year," said Todd Ungerecht, a policy adviser for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Ungerecht said NOAA officials have not reviewed Thompson's latest proposal and were not in a position to begin assessing economic effects, given the complex patchwork of season lengths, catch limits and other restrictions that are pending from Oregon's Cape Falcon to Point Sur. "I'm not saying there isn't a desire to assist communities," Ungerecht said, noting parameters for the season have yet to be finalized. "But when it comes to the areas where they are allowing fishing, it'll take some time to figure." Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Mon Apr 24 20:03:31 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2006 20:03:31 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Thompson Rally/Legislation Message-ID: <007501c66814$d85dfa30$1f9eb545@p4> News From House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi H-204, The Capitol, Washington D.C. 20515 Monday, April 24, 2006 Contact: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider, 202-226-7616 Pelosi: Save the Klamath Salmon Fishery San Francisco - House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement at a rally to save the Klamath salmon fishery, held at Fisherman's Wharf. On April 7, the Pacific Fishery Management Council set severe limits on salmon fishing in the region due to low numbers of Klamath River fall Chinook salmon. "Thank you all for coming to San Francisco today to rally for the survival of the Klamath salmon fishery. "Thank you to Congressman Mike Thompson for organizing this rally, and for your fierce, tireless leadership on behalf of commercial, recreational, and tribal fishermen and women, and fishing-related businesses. Mike Thompson is your champion in Congress, and whatever the odds, he never stops fighting for you. "Those who fish our waters follow an ancient and timeless way of life. From the dawn of humanity, from the days that Native Americans first settled these shores, and from the earliest days of European settlement of the Pacific coast, our forbears have followed the salmon and fed the people. Even today, while San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf flourishes primarily on the tourism, those who fish remain the heart and soul of the Wharf. How can there be a Fisherman's Wharf without fishermen? "The Klamath salmon runs have suffered for many reasons. The dams on the Klamath River must come down. Adequate water flows must be maintained, and polluted runoff must be reduced. Bycatch of Klamath salmon in other fisheries must be reduced. More research must be conducted, but we know many of the answers to the problem. "The causes of your plight are manifold, but we know that the cynical politics of the Bush Administration played a key role in today's fishing disaster. Karl Rove saw a political advantage for the Republicans in the drought of 2002, and he sent two cabinet secretaries to open the irrigation gates for Klamath farmers, resulting in the massive fish kill in the late summer of 2002. "Saturday was Earth Day, a day for us all to remember our interdependence with the natural systems of the planet Earth. The oceans are under siege - all around the world, fish populations are dropping sharply. We must bring back the fish, river by river, and region by region. "Here in California and Oregon, we must all work together-fishermen, tribes, scientists, farmers, and political leaders at the local, state, and federal level. I am proud to be a co-sponsor of Congressman Thompson's new legislation, which will provide disaster assistance and ensure funding for the recovery and restoration of the Klamath salmon. "Today I pledge to you that I will fight along with Congressman Thompson, many of our colleagues in Congress, and all of you to save your livelihoods and the Klamath salmon. We must save the Klamath salmon." Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Tue Apr 25 09:55:20 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Tue, 25 Apr 2006 09:55:20 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Congressman Mike Thompson's Salmon Legislation Rally Message-ID: <000d01c66889$13469980$1f9eb545@p4> San Francisco Salmon fishermen protest cuts Angered at the near or complete closure of fishing season, they rally at Pier 47 Glen Martin, Chronicle Environment Writer Tuesday, April 25, 2006 Annetta Pearson dresses as a large salmon at a rally of s... * Printable Version * Email This Article Fishermen, enraged at the likelihood of a near or complete closure of the upcoming California and Oregon salmon season, staged a spirited rally Monday at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, calling for restoration of degraded rivers and disaster relief for fishing families. About 100 commercial, sport and tribal fishermen showed up for the event at Pier 47, and several trolling boats bobbed in the adjacent bay, blowing air horns and displaying banners. The rally also was attended by Reps. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, and Lynn Woolsey, D-Petaluma. They, along with Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, are expected to introduce legislation today in the House of Representatives providing $81 million for fishermen and fishery-related businesses along the Pacific coast. The bill would also direct the U.S. Commerce Department to complete a salmon recovery plan for the Klamath River and provide $45 million for resuscitating the Klamath's fisheries. The poor state of Klamath salmon stocks is the cause of this season's fishing woes. There are plenty of chinook -- or king -- salmon in the open ocean, but they are mainly Sacramento River fish. Klamath fish are at critically low numbers, and because Klamath and Sacramento salmon mingle in marine waters, the Pacific Fishery Management Council earlier this month recommended greatly reducing the commercial catch to protect the Klamath's runs. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez is expected to make a final decision on the matter by the end of this week -- but the only choices appear to be either complete season closure or draconian reductions in the catch. Fishermen say they are being forced to pay for the poor water management policies of the federal government, which controls the flows on the Klamath. Much of the water on the river is diverted for agriculture, and four hydropower dams on the river warm the remainder of the flow to temperatures that are unhealthy for the fish but conducive to salmon diseases and parasites. In 2002, almost 80,000 mature salmon died from low water, high temperatures and disease. In subsequent years, large die-offs of young salmon were reported due to a parasite that thrives in warm water. The mood at Monday's rally was pugnacious, with fishermen saying they won't be able to survive drastic cuts in the catch. "We warned the (Bush) administration and federal agencies that there would be trouble from their policies, but we were met with indifference, inaction and silence," said Zeke Grader, the executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations. "Unless they start fixing things, we're not going to be pointing fingers -- we're going to be kicking ass." Scores of burly fishermen roared their approval at Grader's words. "If they shut this season down, they shut me down," said Will Kozlowski, who owns two commercial boats in Bodega Bay. "I'm a single parent, and I support two kids with my boats," said Kozlowski. "We don't get unemployment when we can't work." Ben Platt, a commercial fisherman from Fort Bragg, said local salmon fishermen take pride in their work. "Not many fisheries are environmentally cleaner than salmon trolling, and we provide Americans with the highest quality wild salmon in the world," Platt said. "We did not come down to the sea to get rich. We pursue the American dream, and for us, the dream is on the ocean. This is our life, and it is enough." Thompson called fishermen the heart and soul of the communities they live in. He blamed the U.S. Interior Department and its subordinate agency, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, for the Klamath's woes. "When 78,000 spawners died on the Klamath in 2001, (then Secretary of the Interior Gale) Norton said it was the fault of the salmon because they came in too early to spawn," said Thompson. "But it wasn't their fault." Jeff McCracken, a spokesman for the Bureau of Reclamation, said his agency is diligent in conforming to federal law on river flows. "We've always followed the biological opinions (of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the fisheries arm of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)," McCracken said. "A federal judge recently directed NOAA to develop a new biological opinion for the Klamath, and we will be consulting with them on that." The looming wild salmon shortage is resonating far beyond the docks -- especially in the immediate Bay Area, where consumers take both gormandizing and sustainable food production seriously. "This is a huge deal for us," said Russell Moore, the cafe chef and produce buyer for Chez Panisse in Berkeley. "Wild California salmon is our bread-and-butter fish in the spring," he said. "It's delicious, it's local, it's environmentally sound, and compared to other fish of similar quality, it's relatively inexpensive. Right now we're using some Alaskan fish. But one thing's for sure, we won't use farmed salmon." Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.gif Type: image/gif Size: 2065 bytes Desc: not available URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Tue Apr 25 14:03:35 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Tue, 25 Apr 2006 14:03:35 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Thompson Legislation/Rallies Message-ID: <001701c668ab$ba377210$1f9eb545@p4> Klamath solutions unveiled Eureka Times-Standard - 4/25/06 By James Faulk, Staff Writer EUREKA -- Several people gathered outside the Humboldt County Courthouse on Monday to show solidarity with a San Francisco event where Rep. Mike Thompson announced his intention to call for aid to local fishermen and a permanent solution to the problems in the Klamath River. Rep. Lynn Woolsey and Thompson announced the bill in front of hundreds of salmon fishermen at a rally on San Francisco's Pier 47. "The Bush administration's gross mismanagement of the Klamath River has led to this year's and last year's shortened salmon season," Thompson, the bill's author, said Monday in a prepared statement. "Yet, the administration isn't offering any assistance to the affected fishing communities nor do they have a plan to restore the salmon. That is why tomorrow we will be introducing legislation that would offer $81 million dollars in federal assistance. It will also contain measures to revive the Klamath salmon and hold this administration accountable to ensure they cannot manipulate the river for political gain ever again." Supervisor Jimmy Smith, a long-time county voice on fishery issues, said the gathering was meant to show that there is local support for those who are suffering because of problems on the Klamath River. "It shows that we want to support the entire coastal community, as well as the upper river -- the tribes and the in-river fisheries and make them a part of it," Smith said. "And it also shows that we support a solution that is basinwide, whatever it takes to make that river well again so that it's a productive place for all the fisheries and for the fish." His companion on the board, 5th District Supervisor Jill Geist, agreed. She said she has been working with all stakeholders along the Klamath River to help devise a solution to the river's ills. "Those of us who are up here are not able to get down and show our support, so this is a token of our support and our hearts and wishes are down in the Bay Area right now with Mike Thompson," Geist said. "This is an issue that tremendously affects us here on the North Coast." Andre Cramblit, a member of the Karuk Tribe, recalls his experience on the Klamath River during the 2002 fish kill. "It was really an emotionally, spiritually and personally devastating experience," Cramblit said. "So I'm here to explain my support and let people know that there's other perspectives on this salmon issue." Thompson's bill has three parts -- it would provide $81 million in emergency appropriations for impacted commercial fishermen and related businesses in the region; it would direct the Department of Commerce to complete a Klamath salmon recovery plan within six months of the bill's passage, and after the completion of the plan $45 million would be allocated for conservation projects; and the Department of Commerce would be required to report to Congress on the progress of the Klamath on a yearly basis. Thompson said the bill will officially be introduced today. It has 35 co-authors and has a good chance for success, he said. "There's precedent for this to happen," Thompson said. "It's the second year in a row that the fishing community has been terribly impacted because of the administration's water policy and there's a need in the community for this type of help." It's not just about fishermen, he said -- it's about the tax base of the community, the economic base of the community. It's about paying health insurance and making house payments, he said. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Tue Apr 25 14:05:31 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Tue, 25 Apr 2006 14:05:31 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Contra Costa Times Message-ID: <001c01c668ab$ff7371d0$1f9eb545@p4> Lawmakers plan aid for salmon fishermen At rally, representatives lay out bill that would help fix environmental issues, soften strain from season cut short by regulators Contra Costa Times - 4/25/06 By Denis Cuff, Staff Writer SAN FRANCISCO - Bay Area congressional representatives today will roll out an $81 million disaster relief bill for troubled West Coast salmon fishermen. Commercial salmon fishermen need a helping hand to soften the hardships from an expected federal slashing of the salmon season this year, lawmakers told a rally of 100 fishermen Monday at Fishermen's Wharf. The bill also would provide $45 million to help fix Klamath River environmental problems that spurred the shortened season, Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Napa, announced at the rally. "The (Bush) administration isn't offering any assistance to the affected fishing communities nor do they have a plan to restore the salmon," Thompson said. Another federal lawmaker, Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Santa Rosa, attended the rally, while several others pledged support for the legislation. The Bush administration denied California and Oregon salmon fishermen's pleas for assistance last year when they suffered heavy losses from a shortened season. This year's season limits are more severe, the most restrictive ever proposed on the West Coast. A federal expert panel has urged the Commerce Department to limit the season to weeks in various coastal areas, and restrict commercial boats to a catch of 75 salmon a week. A decision is expected by Monday. Federal experts say the limits are needed to protect dwindling Klamath River salmon runs. Fishermen say they are victims of a federal government that failed to protect salmon by allocating too much river water to farms and failing to fix river environmental problems. The relief bill would give the Commerce Department six months to devise a Klamath River restoration plan, and $45 million to carry out early measures. Rep George Miller, D-Martinez, a bill co-sponsor, said it's important to restore the salmon stocks that coastal communities rely upon. "Those of us who care about the Pacific Coast's salmon face a number of serious challenges," Miller said, "but if we work together, we can fix this situation." Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Tue Apr 25 16:33:27 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Tue, 25 Apr 2006 16:33:27 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] FW: Trinity Flow Release Update Message-ID: <009b01c668c0$ac474800$1f9eb545@p4> From: Andreas Krause, Trinity River Restoration Program The Bureau of Reclamation is currently releasing 2,500 cfs from Lewiston Dam to the Trinity River in response to larger than anticipated snowmelt runoff coming into Trinity Lake. Based on updated runoff forecasts, these releases are expected to continue at a level of approximately 2000 cfs or greater through early May. These releases are separate from, but closely coordinated with, the Trinity River spring release recommendation from the Trinity Management Council issued on April 14 (see attached). Reclamation is currently reviewing the spring release recommendations from the Trinity Management Council. I will forward the final spring release schedule from Reclamation when it becomes available. __________________________________ Andreas Krause, P.E. Physical Scientist Trinity River Restoration Program P.O. Box 1300 (mailing address) 1313 South Main St. (physical address) Weaverville, CA 96093 Phone: 530-623-1807; Fax: 530-623-5944 __________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 2006_Trinity_Release_TMC_Recommended.xls Type: application/vnd.ms-excel Size: 103424 bytes Desc: not available URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Tue Apr 25 17:19:20 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Tue, 25 Apr 2006 17:19:20 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Season's only salmon regulation meeting is Thursday in Crescent City Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE0926301B8FC69@mail2.trinitycounty.org> Season's only salmon regulation meeting is Thursday in Crescent City http://www.times-standard.com/sports/ci_3749384 Don Terbush Article Launched: 04/25/2006 04:21:28 AM PDT Ed Duggan, representative of the Trinity River Fishermen's Group, said he has been informed that there will be one hearing only for the fall salmon regulations rather than the two requested. The meeting will be held Thursday at the Del Norte County Board of Supervisors chambers in Crescent City starting at 6 p.m. Weaverville had also been requested as a second hearing site but was denied. Duggan requests that any and all fishermen e-mail Department of Fish and Game commissioners "and let them know how you feel about the reduction of the In-River sport fishing harvest for fall-run Chinook." "There are sample letters available at www.fishtrinity.com if you want to do it the easy way, Duggan said. "Otherwise, make your own comments to the commissioners at FGC at fgc.ca.gov. Mr. Michael Flores is the president of the commission, or just send it to the commissioners." E-mails must be sent before April 27. Duggan also points out that the Pacific Fisheries Management Council "was able to reduce the sport in-river fishing quota from our traditional 10-15 percent to 3 percent. With the lowering of the Klamath natural spawners to be reduced to 21,000 from the regular 35,000 it will allow the harvest of about 8,000 fall Chinook." That would break down to 8,000 Klamath River salmon available for harvest, meaning a 4,000 Tribal harvest and 4,000 for non-tribal harvest. Normal 15 percent in-river sport fishery would allow for 600 fall Chinook. A PFMC reduction to 3 percent would allow for 300 fall Chinook in river harvest. If you use the USFS hook mortality rate for catch-and-release that would be 325 Chinook, which would be over the 3 percent allowable harvest or 300 salmon, Duggan explained. "The in-river sport fishermen take a beating, while the ocean fishing gets the lion's share of the harvest. Last year the ocean harvest of KMZ Chinook between August and October went 6,123 salmon over their quota. Therefore, it was added to this year's fishing quota of harvestable Chinook. If we are to have any type of fall salmon season this year, you must e-mail the Fish and Game Commission before April 27." -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Tue Apr 25 18:32:48 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Tue, 25 Apr 2006 18:32:48 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Salmon Fishermen Rally For Disaster Relief and River Restoration! Message-ID: <00c401c668d1$54296390$1f9eb545@p4> Mike Thompson Unveils Disaster Relief Legislation at Salmon Rally by Dan Bacher Congressman Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena), before a boisterous rally attended by around 200 commercial fishermen, recreational anglers and tribal fishermen at San Francisco's Fishermen's Wharf on April 26, unveiled disaster relief legislation for salmon fishermen impacted by this year's slashed commercial fishing season. The legislation will provide $81 million for impacted commercial fishermen and fishery-related businesses in coastal communities in California and Oregon. The Department of Commerce would distribute the assistance through the Pacific Marine States Fisheries Commission. Thompson's bill would also direct the U.S. Department of Commerce to complete a Klamath salmon recovery plan within six months of the bill's passage. After the completion of the plan, $45 million would be allocated for conservation projects such as stream gauges and monitoring equipment, fish passage projects and additional NOAA fisheries staff and resources to better track and study Klamath River salmon, according to Thompson. The introduction of the legislation was spurred by requests for disaster relief by the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations and other commercial fishing organizations that have been ignored by the Bush administration to date. "The Bush administration's gross mismanagement of the Klamath River has led to this year's and last year's shortened salmon season," Thompson, the bill's author, stated. "Yet the administration isn't offering any assistance to the affected communities nor do they have a plan to restore the salmon." Thompson and representatives of fishing organizations and Klamath River Indian tribes all emphasized the importance of salmon to the culture, tradition and economy of California. Fishermen, in front of Scoma's Restaurant on Pier 47, held signs with slogans including "Don't Kill Our Salmon Fleet," "Will Work For Salmon," "Fix the Real Problem - Impeach Bush," and "Bush Destroys Salmon Runs For Agribusiness." Behind the rally stage, party boats including the Lovely March displayed banners such as "Pacific Power: Un-Dam the Klamath." "Salmon fishing represents the heart and soul of where we live," said Thompson. "It's also business along the coast of California, coastal Oregon and in the Central Valley. We don't want to point fingers, we want to take care of the problems and fix the problems of the Klamath River." The current slashing of commercial salmon season and a reduced recreational season are the results of the fish kills of 2002 and the unhealthy state of the river. Ever since Gale Norton, Secretary of the Interior, diverted Klamath water that year to fields in the Klamath Basin, tribes and fishermen warned the administration that fish kills would occur. Hundreds of thousands of juvenile salmon died in disease spurred by low, warm conditions in the river in the spring of 2002, while as many as 80,000 adult salmon died that September. Since that time, the change in water policy by the Department of Interior and the resulting poor water conditions have resulted in the deaths of the majority of juvenile salmon migrating down the river, due to the infestation of a parasite, C. Shasta, that thrives in degraded water conditions. Even if all recreational and commercial salmon fishing was closed, the escapement floor goal of 35,000 Klamath fish is not expected to be met. Ironically, commercial fishermen are being being kept off the water in spite of a relatively robust ocean salmon population. The forecasted 2006 ocean abundance of Central Valley chinooks is 632,482 fish, according to the Pacific Fishery Management Council. However, the fish mix together when they swim off the California and Oregon coast, so the fishing regulations are based on protecting the least abundant stocks. Although some may have been surprised by this year's salmon season cuts, Zeke Grader, executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, and others who have closely followed the Klamath water battles aren't. "It was no surprise when the fish kills of 2002 took place," said Grader. It was no surprise when juvenile salmon died in 2003, 2004 and 2005 from disease. We warned the Bush administration that there was trouble ahead, but were met with indifference, inaction and silence. We now have a disaster on hand, and what's the administration's answer? To close us down!" Other Bay Area Members of Congress, including George Miller, Lynn Woolsey, Anna Eshoo and House Leader Nancy Pelosi, are cosponsoring the bill. Lynn Woolsey addressed the rally herself, while staff members of Miller's, Eshoo's and Pelosi's office read letters announcing their co-sponsorship of Thompson's bill. Michelle Moss, staff member for Senator Barbara Boxer, also announced that Boxer is introducing a companion bill to the House bill in the Senate. "When you have a healthy river, you have fish, and that's good for local communities, the commercial fishing industry, recreational anglers, tribes and the entire West Coast," said Miller in his letter. "The bill we're introducing in congress will help everyone that depends upon a healthy salmon population." "I share the outrage of commercial and sport fishermen up and down the Pacific Coast," said Rep. Anna Eshoo. "In Half Moon Bay in my Congressional District, members of the small commercial and sport fishing fleet are fighting for their livelihoods. Along with my colleagues, I'm with them in this fight." Former Republican Congressman Pete McCloskey, who is now running against Rep. Richard Pombo in the upcoming primary election, is strongly supporting Thompson's bill. "If Pombo doesn't co-sponsor this bill, I will make his refusal a big part of my campaign," McCloskey said. Party boat skippers and representatives of recreational fishing groups showed up at the rally in support of disaster relief for commercial fishermen and restoring the Klamath River. "All of the speeches today have boiled down to 4 words - it's the river, stupid," said Mar Gorelnick, spokesman for the Coastside Fishing Club. Gorelnick noted that while the PFMC approved a relatively intact recreational fishing season, commercial fishermen are facing a "joke of a season." "Coastside Fishing Club strongly supports Thompson's legislation," he stated. "We consider any threat to the recreational salmon trollers as a threat also to the commercial fishermen. Recreational anglers stand shoulder to shoulder with commercial and tribal fishing to get the river fixed." Roger Thomas, president of the Golden Gate Fishermen's Association, stressed that the party boat fishing industry, along with the commercial fleet, represent a "valuable economic contributor" to all of the ports and all of the communities in California. "The commercial fishermen need to be in business and stay in business," he stated. Other recreational fishing representatives at the rally included Bob Strickland, president of United Anglers of California; Jim Martin, West Coast Director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance; and Craig Stone, manager of the Emeryville Sportfishing Center and charter boat representative of the Salmon Advisory Subpanel (SAS) of PFMC. Likewise, representatives of the Karuk and Yurok Indian tribes affirmed their solidarity with commercial fishermen and support for Thompson's bill. "My people and your people are both at risk," said Ron Reed, a Karuk Tribe cultural biologist who dip nets salmon below Ishi-Pishi Falls in the traditional manner. "What affects my people affects you and your people. Our tribe of 3,000 members harvested less than 100 salmon below Ishi-Pishi Falls in 2004 and 200 fish in 2005. This has had a devastating impact on our way of life." "I see the pain on the faces of the people in this crowd, just like I saw the pain on the farmers' faces when their water was cut off in 2001," he emphasized. Reed urged fishermen to support the t battle to take down the 4 Klamath River dams as a major step in restoring the fishery. The Tribes and other parties are currently in negotiations with PacifiCorp to develop a settlement agreement to determine the fate of the dams. He described the current Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) dam re-licensing process as "something that only happens once every 50 years. It presents all of us with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to restore the Klamath by having the dams removed." Troy Fletcher, consultant for the Yurok Tribe, said the tribe supports disaster relief - and reiterated the call that he made at the April PFMC meeting in Sacramento to form a "blue collar panel." This panel, made up of fishermen, farmers and others "whose hands touch the water," should be tasked with developing recommendations on how fishing dependent communities can survive this and anticipated closures in upcoming years. "There's no silver bullet that will have us feeling better tomorrow," said Fletcher. "We need to form this panel to form a bridge between today and the time when we get more fish into the river. There won't be more fish next year nor the following year - and we need to make sure that communities depending on salmon survive in the meantime." At press time, Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez still hadn't made his decision on whether to approve the recreational and commercial fishing seasons adopted by the Pacific Fishery Management Council on April 7. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Wed Apr 26 16:58:44 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2006 16:58:44 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Congressman Mike Thompson's Salmon Disaster/Restoration Legislation Message-ID: <001901c6698d$5cdcfe90$1f9eb545@p4> Undoubtedly you've seen media reports on rallies in San Francisco and Eureka in support of Salmon Disaster/Restoration legislation Congressman Mike Thompson introduced yesterday. The legislation will not have a number until later this week. My understanding is that Senator Boxer will introduce a similar bill in the Senate. A copy of the bill is attached. Below is a summary of what the legislation would achieve. This legislation will need broad public support if it is to be passed. I'll let you know to whom letters and other contacts should be directed in the next several days. Thompson's bill will do the following: 1. EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS - $81 MILLION: Through the Department of Commerce, provide emergency appropriations to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission to efficiently distribute the funds to the impacted commercial fishermen, tribes and related businesses in the region. This number was calculated by the state's based upon a complete closure. Commerce has yet to finalize a season, which would normally start next Monday - May 1. 2. IMMEDIATE CONSERVATION MEASURES - $45 MILLION: The Department of Commerce has 6 months to complete its recovery plan for the Klamath's Coho salmon (they were tasked to complete this plan in 2002, but have not finished it yet). After completion, the conservation funds will be distributed until expended to install and update: stream gauges and monitoring equipment, fish passage projects (i.e. road work/culverts, fish screens), riparian buffers, and add additional NOAA Fisheries staff and resources to better track and study the Klamath River's salmon in the ocean and rivers. Such projects are aimed at providing the "biggest bang for the buck." Counties and the states are working together to prioritize the projects and will get them to Commerce as they complete their Coho recovery plan. 3. REPORT ON CONSERVATION PROJECTS: For the first time, the Department of Commerce will be required to report back to Congress each year on how their conservation projects have increased water quantity, improved water quality, increased salmon populations and specifically benefited salmon spawning habitat. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: THOMCA_036_XML.PDF Type: application/pdf Size: 50517 bytes Desc: not available URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Thu Apr 27 11:25:28 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2006 11:25:28 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Klamath Salmon Disaster/Restoration Legislation Message-ID: <001201c66a27$f64d07b0$1f9eb545@p4> The bill numbers for the Salmon Disaster/Restoration Legislation, about which I emailed information to you yesterday, are HR 5213 in the House and S. 2649 in the Senate. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Thu Apr 27 11:34:33 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2006 11:34:33 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Fort Bragg Advocate and Monterey Herald on Salmon Disaster/Restoration Legislation Message-ID: <001c01c66a29$43df7840$1f9eb545@p4> SALMON FISHERIES: Thompson seeks $81 million in aid for commercial fishermen Fort Bragg Advocate-News - 4/27/06 By Frank Hartzell, staff writer More than 100 commercial, recreational and tribal fishermen came to a Monday rally in support of commercial fishing at Pier 47 in San Francisco, according to media reports. Some trolling boats also attended, displaying more banners, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. The Mendocino Coast Congressman, Mike Thompson, took the occasion to announce a bill he has authored that would aid commercial fishermen and related businesses. Reps.Thompson and Lynn Woolsey announced the bill together at the rally; it is expected to be introduced this week. "The Bush Administration's gross mismanagement of the Klamath River has led to this year's and last year's shortened salmon season," Thompson said, in a press release. "Yet, the administration isn't offering any assistance to the affected fishing communities nor do they have a plan to restore the salmon. That is why tomorrow we will be introducing legislation that would offer $81 million in federal assistance. It will also contain measures to revive the Klamath salmon and hold this administration accountable to ensure they cannot manipulate the river for political gain ever again." Ben Platt, a second-generation commercial fisherman from Fort Bragg presented Thompson with an 8,000-signature petition calling for the reopening of the salmon season. Platt was widely quoted and photographed by the media, as the rally got national coverage. Platt has the "Kay Bee" in Noyo Harbor. The bill has three components: - It would provide $81 million in emergency appropriations for impacted commercial fishermen and related businesses in the region. The Department of Commerce would distribute the assistance through the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. - It would direct the Department of Commerce to complete a Klamath salmon recovery plan within six months of the bill's passage. After the completion of the plan $45 million would be allocated for conservation projects such as stream gauges and monitoring equipment, fish passage projects, and additional NOAA fisheries staff and resources to better track and study Klamath River salmon. - The Department of Commerce would be required to report to Congress on the progress of the Klamath on a yearly basis. In 2002, water diversions on the Klamath River resulted in a record fish kill that claimed 80,000 adult salmon the next fall. Experts have directly attributed the adult fish kill and a parasitic infection affecting spring juveniles, resulting from poor federal management of the river, as being responsible for the low salmon returns estimated for this year. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said: "The oceans are under siege - all around the world, fish populations are dropping sharply. We must bring back the fish, river-by-river, and region-by-region. Here in California and Oregon, we must all work together - fishermen, tribes, scientists, farmers and political leaders at the local, state, and federal level. I am proud to be a co-sponsor of Congressman Thompson's new legislation, which will provide disaster assistance and ensure funding for the recovery and restoration of the Klamath salmon." The Pacific Fishery Management Council recommended on April 6 that the 2006 commercial salmon season be drastically reduced. The decision will severely affect ocean and in-river salmon fisheries along 700 miles of coastline, from Point Falcon, Oregon to Big Sur. The economic impact to coastal communities is expected to be devastating. Bill aims to help salmon industry Salmon industry focus of relief bill Monterey Herald - 4/27/06 U.S. Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., with Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., have introduced legislation to provide financial relief to salmon fishers, tribes and related industries, and support recovery efforts for wild salmon populations in the Klamath River. The Pacific Fishery Management Council has recommended a 90 percent closure of the commercial salmon fishing season along a 700-mile stretch of the California and Oregon coasts this year, an action that would impact sport and commercial fishermen and the businesses that the fishing industry supports. The Salmon Assistance and Recovery Act would: . Provide $81 million in funding for commercial fishers, tribes and related businesses impacted by the restricted fishing season. . Secure $45 million for immediate conservation measures on the Klamath River, including requiring the National Marine Fisheries Service to produce a recovery plan for the salmon population within six months, and to install and update stream gauges and monitoring equipment, improve river habitat and build fish passage projects, and add NMFS staff and resources to better track and study the Klamath River's salmon in rivers and oceans. . Require the fisheries service to submit an annual report updating Congress on the progress of its efforts to boost water quantity, improve water quality and increase salmon populations on the Klamath River. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Thu Apr 27 14:25:09 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2006 14:25:09 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Letters from Hoopa Valley Tribal Council and Westlands on Trinity Flows, etc. Message-ID: <005001c66a41$f4af3760$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> Attached are 2 very interesting letters by the Hoopa Valley Tribe and Westlands/San Luis& Delta-Mendota Water Authority. The letter from Westlands/SLDMWA is on this year's flows and appears to threaten litigation. The letter from the Hoopa Valley Tribe references Westlands' letter, as well as a couple of others by Westlands/SLDMWA recently posted on this list server about the Lewiston Gravel Project and the Canyon Creek Mainstem Projects, but also deals with issues such as the CVPIA Program Assessment Review, the massive fishing closures due to weak K-T stocks, and deficiencies in the Bureau of Reclamation's long-term CVP water contract renewals as they relate to the Trinity River. Sincerely, Tom Stokely Principal Planner Trinity Co. Planning/Natural Resources PO Box 2819 190 Glen Rd. Weaverville, CA 96093-2819 530-623-1351, ext. 3407 FAX 623-1353 tstokely at trinityalps.net or tstokely at trinitycounty.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: HVT letter to interior 4.24.06.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 494185 bytes Desc: not available URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Thu Apr 27 15:23:07 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2006 15:23:07 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] The letter from Westlands/SLDMWA that I forgot to attach Message-ID: <010701c66a49$29bda890$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> Here is the letter from Westlands/San Luis & Delta-mendota Water Authority that I forgot to attach in my last message. Tom Stokely Principal Planner Trinity Co. Planning/Natural Resources PO Box 2819 190 Glen Rd. Weaverville, CA 96093-2819 530-623-1351, ext. 3407 FAX 623-1353 tstokely at trinityalps.net or tstokely at trinitycounty.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Westlands' letter on Trinity flows 4.19.06.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 292692 bytes Desc: not available URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Fri Apr 28 09:50:51 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2006 09:50:51 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Trinity River Release Change Message-ID: <002201c66ae3$f31507c0$1f9eb545@p4> Project: Lewiston Dam - Trinity River Release Date Time From To 4/28/06 1200 2500 2750 4/28/06 1600 2750 3000 Issued By: Tom Morstein-Marx USBR Comment: Reservoir fill management -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Fri Apr 28 09:57:58 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2006 09:57:58 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Sacramento Bee - Thompson Legislation Message-ID: <003001c66ae4$f040bca0$1f9eb545@p4> Democrats' SOS for fishermen; Lawmakers seek help for commercial salmon fleets, inhospitable Klamath River Sacramento Bee - 4/28/06 By David Whitney, staff writer WASHINGTON - California and Oregon Democrats are rallying behind commercial salmon fishermen facing drastic reductions in their season because of poor runs in the Klamath River. The 32-member California House Democratic caucus and Oregon's four Democratic House members joined in legislation introduced this week by Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, that directs $81 million in emergency relief to the commercial fishermen. It also calls for spending another $45 million to make the Klamath River more hospitable to the prized fish. Similar legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, both California Democrats, and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., making the call for federal aid a unanimous Democratic initiative. So far, no Republican member has joined on the legislation. But Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., has introduced a much narrower bill that includes the $81 million for emergency assistance but does not seek any funds to improve river conditions. Wyden is also a co-sponsor of that bill. The political jousting showcases a huge divide over Bush administration environmental policy. It comes as Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez is about to act on a recommendation by the Pacific Fishery Management Council to drastically reduce the commercial salmon harvest this summer from Monterey to the Columbia River in an effort to protect the low numbers of fish migrating back to the Klamath River to spawn. More than 30,000 adult salmon died in the lower portions of the Klamath in the fall of 2002 when the river was running low, the water was warm and a fatal parasite spread. Poor runs last year and this year are related to that die-off, and continuing water quality issues in the river have been blamed for tens of thousands of additional fish dying either as they head out to mature in the ocean or as they return to lay their eggs as part of their three-to four-year life cycle. Fishermen blame federal water policy, saying the Bush administration's management decisions favor water for agricultural irrigation in the Upper Klamath basin north of the California-Oregon border. A federal court recently ordered the National Marine Fisheries Service to redo its biological opinion on water needs for the Klamath salmon. Glen Spain, Northwest regional spokesman for the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, said the $81 million included in the legislation in aid for commercial fishermen, Indian tribes and fishing communities reflects what Oregon and California estimate the economic damage will be from the proposed season closures. Democrats held a press conference with fishermen in San Francisco on Monday to announce the introduction of the bill. "The Bush administration's gross mismanagement of the Klamath River has led to this year's and last year's shortened salmon seasons," Thompson said. "Yet the administration isn't offering any assistance." Last year, Democrats, again unanimously, wrote the administration seeking an economic disaster declaration after the commercial season was shortened by 60 percent. The Commerce Department recently rejected such a declaration, however, saying that high prices paid for salmon last year canceled out the effects of the shortened season. Thompson has filed a Freedom of Information Act request in an effort to evaluate the information the agency used in reaching that conclusion. Thompson said the situation is so dire this year that the dock price for salmon would have to top $280 a pound for commercial fishermen to break even under the expected closures. The prospects of economic damage are serious enough that representatives of Boxer and Smith said separately Thursday they will try to persuade congressional leaders to include money for the fishermen in an emergency spending bill for hurricane relief and the war in Iraq nearing completion in the Senate. Even with the pared-down bill Smith proposes, however, the chances of passage seem grim. According to Spain, without the additional funding for improving the Klamath River included in the Democrats' version of the bill, there's not much hope for reversing the conditions that make the Klamath problematic for fish. "We can't solve the problem just with disaster assistance," Spain said. "The river itself is the problem." Under the Thompson bill, the Commerce Department would have six months to write a recovery plan for the salmon. Once done, the $45 million would be allocated for monitoring equipment, fish passages and more fisheries biologists to study the problem and issue annual progress reports to Congress. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Fri Apr 28 19:00:58 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2006 19:00:58 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] NOOA Press Release Salmon Season Message-ID: <00ab01c66b30$c82618e0$1f9eb545@p4> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: Jeff Donald 202-482-4640 April 28, 2006 Todd Ungerecht 206-499-0786 National Marine Fisheries Service Accepts Pacific Council's Salmon Recommendations The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) today announced that it was approving an emergency rule to allow some limited salmon fishing along the Oregon and California coasts. These new regulations will allow the ocean salmon fishery to open as scheduled on May 1. They mirror the recommendations made earlier this month by the Pacific Fishery Management Council in an effort to protect dwindling numbers of Chinook salmon returning to the Klamath River to spawn. The Pacific Council's Salmon Fishery Management Plan requires the Council and NOAA Fisheries to maintain long term productivity of the salmon stocks. The existing plan requires a fishery closure if the number of returning Klamath River fall Chinook falls below 35,000. NOAA scientists had predicted only 25,000 will return this year. After reviewing the data and in collaboration with NOAA Fisheries, the states, tribes and fishermen, the Council determined that conditions this year allowed for the plan to be temporarily be set at 21,000 without compromising the long-term productivity of the stock. The Council set the reduced number based on scientific models and numerous risk assessment factors. "NOAA Fisheries commends the Council for developing scientifically- sound recommendations to preserve salmon, while also allowing limited recreational, tribal, and commercial salmon harvest opportunities for fishermen in this difficult year," said William T. Hogarth, Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries. "This decision is important to our efforts to help rebuild and improve conditions for Klamath Chinook salmon for the long-term." "The Council process that led to this solution involved state, private, and federal interests, and they reached agreement on the science, and they respected tribal rights," said Hogarth. "This is a powerful way to solve resource problems, and we hope to build upon this collaboration as we move forward in addressing issues in the Klamath." NOAA Fisheries approval of the Council-adopted fishing regime will result in an estimated 21,000 natural adult salmon spawners in the Klamath River after the allowed commercial and recreational harvests. It will also provide for a catch of other salmon in ocean recreational and commercial fisheries. In addition, extra risk reduction measures, such as trip limits, will be put in place. There have been thirteen years where escapement has been significantly below the floor required by the Pacific Fishery Management Plan. During each of those, the stock rebounded to more than 35,000. This rule will allow about 40 percent of the usual commercial salmon harvest this year. The average landed value of salmon caught in commercial harvest in recent years has been about $12 million a year in California and $7 million in Oregon. Since 2000, commercial harvests on the West Coast have averaged over 700,000 Chinook annually, with coho commercial harvests averaging about 45,000 fish. Rod McInnis, Director of NOAA Fisheries Southwest Region, added, "We are acutely aware of the impact this rule has on fisherman and coastal communities, but feel this is a necessary step to ensure the long-term health of the salmon fishery. My staff has been working on an economic analysis to specifically quantify the impact on the fishing season." The regulations, which will be published in the Federal Register, can be found at: www.nwr.noaa.gov. More information regarding the Council's recommendation and process can be found at: http:// www.pcouncil.org. NOAA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation's coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners, 61 countries and the European Commission to develop a global network that is as integrated as the planet it observes, predicts and protects. On the Web: NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov NOAA's National Fisheries Services: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Sat Apr 29 09:58:54 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2006 09:58:54 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] San Francisco Chronicle April 29 Message-ID: <000301c66bae$35ea8000$1f9eb545@p4> U.S. OKs slashing salmon season Restrictions could hurt fishermen, markets, restaurants Glen Martin, Chronicle Environment Writer Saturday, April 29, 2006 The federal government on Friday adopted an advisory council's recommendations for deep cuts to the 2006 California and Oregon salmon season -- a decision that could bankrupt many fishermen and result in shortages of wild chinook salmon in supermarkets and restaurants. The decision, made by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Fisheries Service under the authority of the U.S. Department of Commerce, confirms a recommendation made this month by the Pacific Fishery Management Council. For commercial fishermen, the decision came at the 11th hour. Typically, the commercial season begins on May 1. Friday's decision will allow fishermen to begin trolling on the traditional date, but only under severe restrictions. The usually productive waters from San Francisco to central Oregon will be off-limits for commercial fishing throughout most of the season in order to protect stocks of threatened Klamath River salmon. There are plenty of salmon in the sea, but most are Sacramento River fish. Because Klamath and Sacramento salmon mingle in the ocean, regulators say, restrictions must be imposed when Klamath salmon fall to critical levels -- as they have in recent years. Commercial fishing in California will be allowed in the Monterey region from Pigeon Point south in May, and will be restricted further beginning in June, when fishing will only be allowed south of Point Sur until July 26. Commercial fishing will be allowed north to Point Arena after July 26 but will be restricted to 75 fish per boat per week. A limited trolling season also will be allowed around Fort Bragg in September. Everything considered, the 2006 season won't yield enough fish for salmon trollers to survive, said Zeke Grader, the executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations. In a news release sent out on Friday afternoon, NOAA Fisheries contended the season represents a 60 percent cut in a "usual" salmon season. But Grader disputed that analysis. In real terms -- the number of fish trollers can hope to catch, given the various season restrictions -- the 2006 commercial season amounts to a 90 percent cut, he said. "For much of the season, trollers will be restricted to southern waters, which often don't hold a lot of salmon," Grader said. "If the salmon aren't in the water where the people are allowed to fish -- which is a very real possibility -- it will be tantamount to a complete closure." Recreational anglers face significant restrictions in the northernmost part of the state, but will be able to fish as usual out of San Francisco area ports. "For some reason, the data shows that recreational fishermen in the (central state area) have little effect on the Klamath stocks," said Grader. "It isn't clear why -- we need more research." In Friday's news release, NOAA officials said the 2006 season restrictions will allow 21,000 mature spawning salmon to return to the Klamath instead of the 25,000 fish that are expected. At least 35,000 returning salmon are considered essential by NOAA regulators for optimum fishery production. Officials noted that Klamath spawner returns have fallen below the 35,000 figure at least 13 times, and have rebounded in subsequent years. The officials characterized the temporary lowering of the spawner target figure as the best possible compromise that could be made with commercial fishing interests. "We are acutely aware of the impact this rule has on fisherman and coastal communities, but feel this is a necessary step to ensure the long-term health of the salmon fishery," Rod McInnis, the director of NOAA Fisheries' Southwest Region, said in the news release. But the fishing community and many environmentalists contend that fishermen are being made to pay for federal mismanagement of the Klamath system. They say the Klamath's salmon collapse is due to excessive water diversion for agriculture along the river. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which controls the spigot on the Klamath, has countered it is meeting all fisheries criteria established by NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Mon May 1 09:02:58 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Mon, 1 May 2006 09:02:58 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Trinity River tensions simmer Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE0926301B8FDCD@mail2.trinitycounty.org> Trinity River tensions simmer http://www.times-standard.com/local/ci_3766592 Article Launched: 04/29/2006 04:27:20 AM PDT John Driscoll The Times-Standard While it may have appeared that the fight over the Trinity River was over, a series of letters from the main beneficiary of the water in recent months raises concern that a less visible battle is brewing. The Westlands Water District has written to federal officials recently contesting the amount of water that will be sent down the river to restore it for salmon, and protesting funding for projects meant to enhance the river for fish. In an April 19 letter from Westlands' attorneys, the western San Joaquin water district demands the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation release about 15 percent less water than is scheduled. It claims the bureau improperly forecast what type of water year this is, saying it's a "wet year," not an "extremely wet year." The difference is some 80,000 to 100,000 acre feet -- 26 billion to 33 billion gallons. Westlands writes that the bureau has no authority to make those releases. The letter ends with a threat. "We would prefer that this matter be addressed without renewed litigation," writes Westlands attorney Dan O'Hanlon. "However, we reserve the right to seek injunctive relief against the proposed unlawful releases if there is no prompt corrective action." Another April letter insists that environmental documents for restoration activities on the Trinity aren't sufficient and questions the use of funds through the Central Valley Project Improvement Act to perform the work. Earlier letters also question funding for restoration. Not surprisingly, that has drawn fire from the Hoopa Valley Tribe, which beat Westlands in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals last year. That effectively put in place a 2000 Interior secretary's decision to keep half the water in the river and send half to the Sacramento River, where it's sent on to Central Valley farms. The tribe wrote back to the Interior Department, calling Westland's meddling "persistent antagonism." Tribal Chairman Clifford Lyle Marshal wrote on April 24 that the actions arise in a year in which the ocean fishery for Klamath and Trinity river salmon has been nearly eliminated, and during a year in which there is abundant water available due to a stormy winter. Marshall wrote that the Trinity River diversion project has done major damage to the river's fishery, and districts that benefit from it have a financial obligation to restoration. Then Marshall strikes back at Westlands, asking that Interior not renew its water service contracts until Westlands complies with the 9th Circuit decision and agrees not to interfere with widely supported flow requirements and fishery restoration goals. Reclamation spokesman Jeff McCracken said that the difference between the two forecasts, by the time the decision was made, was negligible. Between 780,000 and 815,000 acre feet of water is scheduled to be released this year. A huge portion of that water will be released when flows from Lewiston Dam jump in mid-May as high as 8,500 cubic feet per second. That will taper down again in mid-July. There's so much snow in the Trinity Alps, about twice the average, that Reclamation is also letting out more water than it normally would at this time of year. That will make room for storing the snowmelt, and also ensure the safety of the dam. "There's just so much going down there right now," McCracken said. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Arcata Field Supervisor Mike Long agreed, and said the opportunity to use so much water to shape the river channel needs to be taken advantage of. "We're hoping we learn a whole lot this year," Long said. "These extremely wet years don't come along very often." Trinity County planner Tom Stokely said the bureau's decision to use the "extremely wet" forecast was prudent in light of the Klamath and Trinity rivers' fisheries problems. Restoring the Trinity is vital to boosting fish stocks, he said. Trinity water could also be used to cool and raise the lower Klamath River, where in recent years thousands of fish have died, if hot and slow-water conditions occur again. "Is Westlands trying to ensure that we have permanent ocean fishing closures?" Stokely said. "Because the Trinity is half the equation." The winter also put a huge amount of sediment in the river this year, he said, and it needs all the water it can get to wash the silt and sand downstream. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Mon May 1 09:30:30 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Mon, 1 May 2006 09:30:30 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Klamath River Woes - KWUA release re:Democrat bill Message-ID: <00ed01c66d57$44c87cd0$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> ----- Original Message ----- From: krizohr To: Jim Carpenter ; klamathstakeholders at lists.oregonstate.edu Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 7:15 PM Subject: Re: [Klamathstakeholders] Klamath River Woes - KWUA release re:Democrat bill MEDIA ADVISORY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Greg Addington, Executive Director greg at cvcwireless.net cell# 541.892.1409 The Klamath Water Users Association (KWUA) learned today, April 25, 2006 that Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA) plans to introduce legislation in Congress to provide emergency relief for coastal fishermen and provide funding for Klamath restoration activity. The legislation appears to have three primary components: 1.. It would provide $81 million in emergency appropriations for impacted commercial fishermen, tribes and related businesses in the region; 2.. It would direct the Department of Commerce to complete a Klamath Salmon Recovery plan within six months, and after completion of the plan $45 million would be allocated for conservation projects, including in river monitoring of diseases and parasites, additional ocean and river population monitoring, operation and maintenance of stream gauges for flow monitoring, fish passage on National Forest lands and restoration of aquatic habitats in the lower basin; 3.. The Department of Commerce would be required to report to Congress on the progress of the Klamath on a yearly basis. Broadly, KWUA is on record as supporting the apparent goals of the bill, which include mitigation of impacts of fishing restrictions and improvement of Klamath salmon stocks. On Monday, April 24, KWUA sent a letter supporting declaration of a fishing disaster to the Secretary of Commerce. KWUA supports relief for fishing families, Tribes and communities who will be impacted by the federal harvest restrictions. While we see the need for financial assistance to parties affected by fishing restrictions, we do have some concerns with the proposed legislative package. The environmental restoration provisions of the bill seem well-intended, however it is not clear how new money and a new process will compliment efforts already underway (see accompanying list). Irrigators support the need to better understand the river through monitoring and measurement. There is much to learn about fish populations and the stressors that affect them. However it is important to make sure that efforts are coordinated and that funding goes to the agencies that are best qualified to conduct these activities. Unfortunately this legislation does not address that issue. Finally, we are concerned that mandating a coho recovery plan be in place within a six month time-frame will not allow important, highly relevant processes to play out. These include finalization and National Academies of Science (NAS) peer-review of the Hardy flow study, the Bureau of Reclamation's naturalized flow study, and ongoing collaborative processes to deal with salmon issues. KWUA continues to support a comprehensive watershed-wide approach to recovery of all Klamath fish species as outlined in the 2004 Klamath report from the National Research Council of the NAS. Having not been contacted by the sponsors of this legislation, we are unclear how this legislation incorporates those peer-reviewed, scientific objectives. We urge Congressman Thompson to approach this issue in a bipartisan manner. It is our understanding that members of Congress who represent areas of the Klamath River Basin and have sincere desire to help address these issues had no advance knowledge of the bill or any opportunity to help craft language that would ensure successful passage of any beneficial legislation. KWUA also urges that any consideration of the bill reflect the interests and inputs of stakeholders currently engaged in addressing these same issues in a constructive manner. KWUA will further evaluate the bill in the near term and develop its positions and recommendations more fully. ### A partial list of restoration activity and research currently underway appears to include many of the concepts in this legislative package. Current Ongoing Restoration and Research Activity in the Klamath River Basin Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office: Salmon related modeling analyses including- a.. Salmon runs over the period of record b.. Determining the optimum flow for production c.. Naturalized flow analysis d.. Production estimates e.. Composite suitability programming, to allow computation of escape and distance to escape cover f.. Shasta and Scott River Habitat Assessment Study Planning Assistance g.. Klamath River habitat suitability criteria development h.. Klamath Spawning distribution and abundance Additional Studies ongoing- a.. Coho survival and migration behavior in relation to Iron Gate Discharge b.. Collection of juvenile chinook by hydrologic reach for pathogen infection rates and histology c.. Collection of juvenile coho for histology d.. Habitat distribution and life history study plan e.. Analysis of Klamath hydrology and fish returns f.. Analysis of water samples for spore densities g.. Water quality analysis of data and nutrients) h.. Analysis of Shasta River spectral imagery for riparian and instream classification i.. 2D hydrodynamic analysis of Pecwan riffle for adult fish passage j.. 2D Hydrodynamic and habitat modeling Training Karuk Tribe: a.. Water quality collection: Data sondes and nutrient suite b.. Big Bar and Salmon River outmigration trapping c.. Radio telemetry of salmon smolts during adverse mainstem Klamath conditions d.. Habitat evaluation of radio tagged, juvenile coho Yurok Tribe: a.. Water quality collection (Data sondes and nutrient suite) b.. Habitat evaluation of radio tagged, juvenile coho Salmon River Restoration Council: a.. Big Bar and Salmon River outmigration trapping b.. Otolith collection for microstructural analyses c.. Radio telemetry of salmon smolts during adverse mainstem Klamath conditions Siskiyou RCD: a.. Habitat Assessment Study Plan Development b.. Habitat Inventory c.. Limiting Factor Analyses Shasta RCD: a.. Habitat Assessment Study Plan Development b.. Remote Sensing for GIS Analysis of Spectral Imagery Idaho State University: a.. Hydrological analysis of departure for the Klamath and significant tributaries Bureau of Reclamation Funded: a.. Juvenile coho survival and migration behavior in relation to Iron Gate releases b.. Mainstem Klamath River adult coho spawning surveys c.. Development of a Conservation Implementation Program, including salmon considerations Trinity River Restoration Program: a.. Outmigration monitoring at Willow Creek b.. Pre and post channel reconstruction habitat analyses c.. Outmigration Database support d.. Outmigration monitoring coordination e.. TWGs and many subcommittees Otolith Microstructural Analyses: a.. Trinity River Hatchery and natural b.. Iron Gate Hatchery c.. Salmon River spring chinook Section 10, NMFS Research Permit: a.. Coverage for a wide variety of studies and incidental take of coho b.. Recent modification gave coverage for direct take of coho for disease analyses ----- Original Message ----- From: Jim Carpenter To: Klamathstakeholders Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 11:34 AM Subject: [Klamathstakeholders] Klamath River Woes Democrats' SOS for fishermen; Lawmakers seek help for commercial salmon fleets, inhospitable Klamath River Sacramento Bee - 4/28/06 By David Whitney, staff writer WASHINGTON - California and Oregon Democrats are rallying behind commercial salmon fishermen facing drastic reductions in their season because of poor runs in the Klamath River. The 32-member California House Democratic caucus and Oregon's four Democratic House members joined in legislation introduced this week by Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, that directs $81 million in emergency relief to the commercial fishermen. It also calls for spending another $45 million to make the Klamath River more hospitable to the prized fish. Similar legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, both California Democrats, and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., making the call for federal aid a unanimous Democratic initiative. So far, no Republican member has joined on the legislation. But Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., has introduced a much narrower bill that includes the $81 million for emergency assistance but does not seek any funds to improve river conditions. Wyden is also a co-sponsor of that bill. The political jousting showcases a huge divide over Bush administration environmental policy. It comes as Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez is about to act on a recommendation by the Pacific Fishery Management Council to drastically reduce the commercial salmon harvest this summer from Monterey to the Columbia River in an effort to protect the low numbers of fish migrating back to the Klamath River to spawn. More than 30,000 adult salmon died in the lower portions of the Klamath in the fall of 2002 when the river was running low, the water was warm and a fatal parasite spread. Poor runs last year and this year are related to that die-off, and continuing water quality issues in the river have been blamed for tens of thousands of additional fish dying either as they head out to mature in the ocean or as they return to lay their eggs as part of their three-to four-year life cycle. Fishermen blame federal water policy, saying the Bush administration's management decisions favor water for agricultural irrigation in the Upper Klamath basin north of the California-Oregon border. A federal court recently ordered the National Marine Fisheries Service to redo its biological opinion on water needs for the Klamath salmon. Glen Spain, Northwest regional spokesman for the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, said the $81 million included in the legislation in aid for commercial fishermen, Indian tribes and fishing communities reflects what Oregon and California estimate the economic damage will be from the proposed season closures. Democrats held a press conference with fishermen in San Francisco on Monday to announce the introduction of the bill. "The Bush administration's gross mismanagement of the Klamath River has led to this year's and last year's shortened salmon seasons," Thompson said. "Yet the administration isn't offering any assistance." Last year, Democrats, again unanimously, wrote the administration seeking an economic disaster declaration after the commercial season was shortened by 60 percent. The Commerce Department recently rejected such a declaration, however, saying that high prices paid for salmon last year canceled out the effects of the shortened season. Thompson has filed a Freedom of Information Act request in an effort to evaluate the information the agency used in reaching that conclusion. Thompson said the situation is so dire this year that the dock price for salmon would have to top $280 a pound for commercial fishermen to break even under the expected closures. The prospects of economic damage are serious enough that representatives of Boxer and Smith said separately Thursday they will try to persuade congressional leaders to include money for the fishermen in an emergency spending bill for hurricane relief and the war in Iraq nearing completion in the Senate. Even with the pared-down bill Smith proposes, however, the chances of passage seem grim. According to Spain, without the additional funding for improving the Klamath River included in the Democrats' version of the bill, there's not much hope for reversing the conditions that make the Klamath problematic for fish. "We can't solve the problem just with disaster assistance," Spain said. "The river itself is the problem." Under the Thompson bill, the Commerce Department would have six months to write a recovery plan for the salmon. Once done, the $45 million would be allocated for monitoring equipment, fish passages and more fisheries biologists to study the problem and issue annual progress reports to Congress. Carpenter Design, Inc. 541-885-5450 www.CarpenterDesign.com CCB 93939 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Klamathstakeholders mailing list Klamathstakeholders at lists.oregonstate.edu http://lists.oregonstate.edu/mailman/listinfo/klamathstakeholders To unsubscribe, send a message to: Klamathstakeholders-request at lists.oregonstate.edu with the word "unsubscribe" in the body. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.0.385 / Virus Database: 268.5.0/325 - Release Date: 4/26/06 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ Klamathstakeholders mailing list Klamathstakeholders at lists.oregonstate.edu http://lists.oregonstate.edu/mailman/listinfo/klamathstakeholders To unsubscribe, send a message to: Klamathstakeholders-request at lists.oregonstate.edu with the word "unsubscribe" in the body. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: tech.gif Type: image/gif Size: 862 bytes Desc: not available URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Mon May 1 14:28:17 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Mon, 1 May 2006 14:28:17 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] POWER COMPANY WOULD RATHER TRUCK FISH THAN BUILD LADDERS, SCREENS ON KLAMATH & other news Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE0926301B8FE10@mail2.trinitycounty.org> POWER COMPANY WOULD RATHER TRUCK FISH THAN BUILD LADDERS, SCREENS ON KLAMATH By Associated Press Apr 30, 2006 GRANTS PASS, Ore. PacifiCorp proposed Friday that it use a less expensive system of trucks and traps to haul salmon around dams on the Klamath River rather than spend $200 million to build fish ladders and screen turbines -- at least until it sees whether the fish can survive in waters they haven't inhabited in nearly a century.... After the third straight year of dangerously low returns of wild fall chinook salmon to the Klamath, the Pacific Fishery Management Council has recommended shutting down commercial salmon fishing along 400 miles of coast straddling the mouth of the Klamath River, with very limited fishing north and south of that zone. Salmon in the Klamath have had problems for more than a century. Gold mining in the 1850s caused extensive erosion that silted over spawning beds. In the early 1900s, a federal irrigation project diverted water from the river. A federal salmon egg collecting station cut off returns to the upper basin in 1910. The first of the dams, Copco No. 1, was completed in 1918 with no fish ladder, permanently shutting off access to the upper basin. Highly toxic algae has been discovered in reservoirs behind two of the dams. http://www.tdn.com/articles/2006/04/30/area_news/news03.txt Also in the news (thanks to the Karuk Tribe)... EPA HONORS TRIBES AS ENVIRONMENTAL HEROS: Karuk honored for work with toxic algae SAN FRANCISCO - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency selected American Indian tribes in the West, along the border and in Hawaii for environmental excellence, during the EPA's eighth annual Environmental Awards ceremony... The EPA also selected Sandi Tripp and Susan Corum of the Karuk Tribe of California, Department of Natural Resources, in Orleans, Calif The Karuk Tribe played a key role in discovering and providing a timely response to toxic algae blooms in the Klamath River. Tribal members notified resource managers and public health officials throughout the Klamath Basin and California, resulting in a comprehensive monitoring program. http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096412876 KLAMATH'S DAMS REMOVAL WILL HELP ECONOMY (This is a response to Marcia Armstrong's editorial against dam removal.) By S. Craig Tucker Many of us who live along the Klamath have watched the fish runs plummet and with them our local economies. Communities such as Happy Camp, once known as the steelhead capital of the world, attracted anglers from around the world. Today, these communities have had their economic bedrock, the fishery, ripped out from under them. The Klamath once returned nearly a million wild salmon each year. This year the expected return is less than 30,000. Now the Klamath problem is metastasizing. Recently, the decision to severely restrict more than 700 miles of coastline to salmon fishing has grabbed the attention of lawmakers from Los Angeles to Portland, Ore. The fishery closure could result in economic losses of $200 million and drive many family fishermen out of business. However, there is hope for the Klamath. The FERC relicensing of the Klamath dams provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reverse this trend by enabling the removal of the lower four Klamath dams. http://www1.redding.com/redd/op_speak_your_piece/article/0,2232,REDD_181 00_4648581,00.html -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Tue May 2 09:23:08 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Tue, 2 May 2006 09:23:08 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Trinity River Release Change Message-ID: <000201c66e04$b43ba490$1f9eb545@p4> Project: Lewiston Dam - Trinity River Release Date Time From To 5/2/06 1300 3000 3250 5/2/06 1500 3250 3500 Issued By: Tom Morstein-Marx Comment: Reservoir fill management -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Tue May 2 10:34:35 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Tue, 2 May 2006 10:34:35 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] SF Chronicle Editorial May 2 2006 Message-ID: <000901c66e0e$ae4f7c00$1f9eb545@p4> _____ EDITORIAL A hard choice on Klamath salmon Tuesday, May 2, 2006 JUST OFF Northern California's rocky coast, the ocean teems with salmon. Prime conditions on the state's biggest river, the Sacramento, have swelled the numbers. Why then are federal regulators cutting the season by 60 percent along a 700-mile stretch of California and Oregon coastline? Because the state's second-biggest salmon-producing river, the Klamath, is on life support. The result makes for a bitter choice: Because salmon are indistinguishable once they swim into the Pacific, the fish-catching at sea must be curtailed to safeguard the dwindling numbers from one river. The pared-back season is a hard outcome. Water diversions, dams, logging and development have harmed the clean, cold flows of water needed for rearing salmon. Commercial fishermen are paying the price for problems caused by others, and many may go bankrupt. This huge price shouldn't be ignored. Federal authorities should use the opportunity to mend failed policies and consider new approaches. Drought, which cut steady flows needed to raise salmon, may be uncontrollable. But other destructive policies to steer water to farmers or allow migration-blocking dams must be re-thought. This winter's heavy rainfall may restore rearing conditions, a gift that mustn't be wasted. The Klamath needs help badly. The minimum number of returning salmon is pegged at 35,000 by wildlife experts, though only 25,000 are expected this season. To accommodate this lapse, commercial boats will face a limited season that aims to push fishing away from the mouth of the Klamath north of Eureka. Expect the price for wild, local-caught salmon to soar as a result. In the short run, the Klamath's problems may push Congress to aid the state's $100 million salmon industry. But finding money in deficit-fixated Washington may be hard. Longer-range solutions may be just as hard, given the way the Klamath was treated in the recent past. A White House move in 2002 flipped the spigot on the upper Klamath to send water to farmers in southern Oregon. That move, in a low-water year, meant less for salmon, who died by the thousands in warm, sluggish pools downriver. It was a lesson in destructive environmental decision-making that ignored sound science. Salmon are a hallmark of the outdoors, thriving in clean surroundings. It's time to restore this image to the Klamath. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Tue May 2 11:18:27 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Tue, 2 May 2006 11:18:27 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Letter from DOI Approving TMC Recommended Flow Schedule Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE0926301B8FE6C@mail2.trinitycounty.org> Good morning, I am pleased to forward the attached letter from Regional Director Kirk Rodgers (Reclamation) and CNO Manager Steve Thompson (FWS) that approves the TMC recommended flow schedule of April 14. We will be updating our website in the next several days to include the approved release schedule and hydrograph (which you have already received), as well as a graph of projected end-of-the-month reservoir levels throughout the summer with associated boat ramp elevations. Please note that while Interior's approval included the recommended delay for opening of trout fishing season, Reclamation has had to release higher flows in order to manage reservoir storage capacity. As a result, the following release changes have been implemented: April 12: 300 cfs to 1000 cfs April 17: 1000 cfs to 2000 cfs April 24: 2000 cfs to 2500 cfs April 28: 2500 cfs to 3000 cfs May 2: 3000 cfs to 3500 cfs As of Midnight May 1, the elevation of Trinity Reservoir is 6' below the crest, with inflows of 10,000 cfs and total releases of 4,900 cfs (including 1900 cfs through Clear Creek Tunnel and Carr Power Plant). According to the approved fishery restoration flow schedule we would reach 4,000 cfs on May 20. Central Valley Operations staff are monitoring snow melt very closely and making adjustments as needed, sometimes on a daily basis. It appears unlikely that the releases needed to manage reservoir storage capacity will decrease in the near future, and could reach 4,000 cfs prior to May 20. We will continue to work closely with CVO, and will keep the rest of you updated if circumstances change. Thank you! Doug ___________________________________ Douglas P. Schleusner, Executive Director Trinity River Restoration Program P.O. Box 1300, 1313 South Main St. Weaverville, CA 96093 (530) 623-1800 Fax: (530) 623-5944 e-mail: dschleusner at mp.usbr.gov ___________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: DOI_Response_TMC_Recommendations_06_Flow_Schedule.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 716827 bytes Desc: DOI_Response_TMC_Recommendations_06_Flow_Schedule.pdf URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Fri May 5 07:48:21 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Fri, 5 May 2006 07:48:21 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] 50 Percent Exceedance Message-ID: <000601c67052$f45be490$1f9eb545@p4> The correction to 50 percent from 90 percent exceedance in determining water year-type forecasts and returns of water to Trinity River was published in the Federal Register today. A copy of the notice is attached. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: E6-6794[1].pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 55099 bytes Desc: not available URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Tue May 9 20:58:01 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Tue, 9 May 2006 20:58:01 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Klamath Bills Message-ID: <008501c673e5$eea084c0$1f9eb545@p4> Both the Boxer/Feinstein/Wyden bill with the $45 million for Klamath restoration, and the Smith/Wyden bill that lacked any funding for long-term solutions to fishery closures, have been killed by Senate leadership Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Wed May 10 11:15:57 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Wed, 10 May 2006 11:15:57 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Eureka Times-Standard May 10 Message-ID: <001401c6745d$ce3ca7e0$1f9eb545@p4> TRINITY RIVER FLOWS: Trinity torrent Eureka Times-Standard - 5/10/06 By John Driscoll, staff writer The massive snowpack and heavy rains winter dealt this year are swelling the Trinity River, which will run higher this spring than in any spring in decades. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is releasing twice as much water as it planned from Lewiston Dam in the past month in an effort to keep Trinity Lake from rising too high and posing a safety risk. The lake is only 4 feet from spilling out the glory hole -- a feature meant to relieve pressure on the dam. "They're watching that very closely," said Doug Schleusner with the Trinity River Restoration Program. If a warm spell or a storm strikes, the bureau may have to release even more water to make room for that flowing in from tributaries. But the biggest belt of water is scheduled for the end of the month. Reclamation will release 8,500 cubic feet of water per second or more from the dam for at least six days, sending a channel-changing, bank-scouring pulse downstream. For the year, Reclamation plans to release 815,000 acre feet of water. The high flows are called for as part of the restoration plan for the river. Along with mechanically removing bank-side vegetation and feathering banks, the water is expected to clear out fine sediment to improve conditions for salmon and steelhead. The extremely wet year, as it's been classified, is statistically supposed to happen only once every nine years. The 2000 restoration plan calls for releases of 11,000 cfs in such a year, but some structures and property along the river could be endangered by such a flood. Last year was a wet year, too, and Schleusner said that the large volume of water sent down in 2005 appears to have worked as expected. Whether fish are taking advantage of newly scoured areas and improved habitat has yet to be determined, he said. The restoration program will mechanically treat another eight areas along the river this summer, Schleusner said. Big water means serious rafting. But Marc Rowley of Bigfoot Rafting Co. in Willow Creek said it's a blessing and a curse, since there are great rafting opportunities, but the public tends to be concerned about safety. "It's the proverbial double-edged sword," Rowley said. Rowley said that there are ways to keep rafting safe and fun by sticking to tributaries or altering routes during high water. At the same time, Rowley said, swimmers, tubers and picnickers should be very wary of the fast, cold water. Any of the outfitters on the river can share information on what conditions are like on any given day, he said, making a trip to the river as pleasant as it sounds. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Thu May 11 13:12:40 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Thu, 11 May 2006 13:12:40 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Trinity River Release Change Message-ID: <001701c67537$4205b840$1f9eb545@p4> Project: Lewiston Dam - Trinity River Release Date Time From To 5/13/06 0900 3500 4000 5/14/06 0900 4000 4500 Issued By: Tom Morstein-Marx USBR Comment: Reservoir fill management Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Tue May 16 11:40:17 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Tue, 16 May 2006 11:40:17 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Trinity River Release Change Message-ID: <003101c67918$32b5d070$1f9eb545@p4> Project: Lewiston Dam - Trinity River Release Date Time From To 5/16/06 1200 4500 5000 Issued By: Lloyd Peterson Comment: Reservoir fill management Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Tue May 16 11:52:51 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Tue, 16 May 2006 11:52:51 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Los Angeles Times May 16 Message-ID: <003b01c67919$ef9f0fc0$1f9eb545@p4> SUPREME COURT RULING: Ruling Favors Rivers Over Power Dams; The Supreme Court says states may protect the waterways by requiring a steady flow at hydroelectric plants, which tend to harness it Los Angeles Times - 5/16/06 By David G. Savage, staff writer WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court sided with the environment over electric power Monday, ruling that state regulators may require a steady flow of water over power dams to benefit fish and kayakers. The unanimous decision holds that states may protect the health of their rivers, even though hydroelectric dams are regulated exclusively by the federal government. The dispute arose over five small dams on the Presumpscot River in Maine, but the court's decision affects an estimated 1,500 power dams in 45 states. They include scores of dams on the Sacramento, Klamath and San Joaquin rivers in California. Separately, the court agreed to take up an appeal from environmentalists who are seeking to enforce stricter clean-air rules against aging coal power plants. The justices said they would hear the clean-air case in the fall. The ruling on rivers and dams resolved a clear conflict in the law. The Federal Power Act says hydro-power dams are to be regulated by federal authorities with the aim of producing electricity. But the Clean Water Act says those who "discharge" anything into a state's navigable waters must obtain a permit from the state. Until recently, state officials believed they were entitled to protect their rivers by regulating the flow of water over and through dams. But last year, the privately owned SD Warren Co., which produces hydroelectric power in Maine, won the Supreme Court's review of its argument that water flowing in and out of a dam is not a discharge. Had the company prevailed, states would have lost their legal authority to protect their rivers and ensure a steady flow of water. Not surprisingly, officials of the power plants said that during dry seasons, they were more interested in holding back water so they could be assured of a steady flow over their generators to maintain power production. In its opinion, the Supreme Court looked to the dictionary to decide the meaning of the word "discharge." "When it applies to water, 'discharge' commonly means a 'flowing or issuing out,' " said Justice David H. Souter, citing Webster's New International Dictionary. Other judges and regulators have agreed with "our understanding of the everyday sense of term," he added. Therefore, since water flowing over a dam is discharged back into the river, a state may regulate the operation of the dam, the court concluded in SD Warren Co. vs. Maine. "This is a victory for rivers, for clean water and most of all for good common sense," said Rebecca Wodder, president of the environmental group American Rivers. But environmentalists are anxiously watching two other Clean Water Act cases that are pending before the Supreme Court. Both from Michigan, they will determine whether federal regulators can continue to protect inland wetlands and small streams from development or pollution. Private-property activists say the Clean Water Act protects only rivers and lakes where boats can float, not wetlands that are far inland. Decisions in those cases are due by late June. Bush administration lawyers joined all three Clean Water Act cases on the side of the environmentalists. The clean-air case to be heard in the fall, however, concerns a move by the Bush administration to relax a strict anti-pollution rule set by the Clinton administration. Under that rule, aging power plants that expanded or modified their facilities were required to adopt modern anti-pollution controls in the process. This issue has drawn much attention in the states of the Northeast, including New York, which are downwind of coal-powered plants in Ohio and West Virginia. The Duke Energy Corp. in North Carolina challenged the Clinton-era rules and won a ruling from the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals concluding that the Environmental Protection Agency had exceeded its authority in requiring such modifications. In a separate lawsuit, several Northeastern states are challenging the Bush administration's move to relax the same rules. Taking up the cause of clean-air advocates, lawyers for the nonprofit group Environmental Defense appealed to the high court. They argued it was the 4th Circuit Court that exceeded its authority. The ruling will have a broad impact, environmentalists say. "Over 160 million Americans, more than half of the country, live in communities out of compliance with the nation's health standards, and today the Supreme Court took a big step toward aiding those communities in their efforts to restore healthy air," Vickie Patton, an Environmental Defense lawyer, said on Monday Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Tue May 16 11:21:39 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Tue, 16 May 2006 11:21:39 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Fw: Stop finger-pointing on the Klamath Basin Message-ID: <014801c67929$2aab7ea0$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> ----- Original Message ----- From: Dan Keppen To: 'Dan Keppen' Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2006 7:54 AM Subject: Stop finger-pointing on the Klamath Basin In today's "Commentary" section of the Portland Oregonian . More | Subscribe | 14-Day Archives (Free) | Long-Term Archives (Paid) IN MY OPINION - THE COASTAL FISHERY CRISIS Stop finger-pointing on the Klamath Basin Tuesday, May 16, 2006 GREG ADDINGTON AND DAN KEPPEN George Gibbs, traveling through Northern California in 1851, was struck by conditions at the confluence of the Klamath and Trinity rivers. The Trinity, wrote Gibbs, "is in size about half that of the Klamath, and its waters, likewise rapid, are of transcendent purity; contrasting with those of the latter stream which never lost the taint of their origin." The origin of the Klamath River is warm, shallow Upper Klamath Lake, which feeds the federal Klamath Irrigation Project. More than 150 years after Gibbs' visit, the Klamath River and the irrigation project are now in the sights of the national media and environmental activists. Every week, we read claims that the river and the coastal salmon fishery are being destroyed by the project, a convenient source of blame for all that is apparently tainted in the Klamath ecosystem. What we don't see in the papers is the fact that, over the past four years, between 40,000 and 100,000 acre-feet of water originally developed for agriculture has instead been bought by the federal government and dedicated annually to an environmental water bank to "protect" fish. In 2005, nearly 30 percent of the water traditionally used in an average water year by the Klamath Project and wildlife refuges was reallocated in this manner. Further, even though the Klamath Project is one of the most water-use efficient reclamation operations in the country, more than 800 growers have applied for 2002 Farm Bill funding to implement cost-share projects that conserve water. These actions are laudable. However, one has to remember that there is only so much water that can be squeezed from an area that is just 2 percent of the watershed and uses only 3 percent to 4 percent of Klamath River flows in an average year. Despite these efforts, irrigators are now being blamed in the media by environmental activists for a looming crisis on the coast. This spring, commercial salmon fishing has been closed along 700 miles of Pacific shoreline, which federal regulators believe will prevent "take" of Klamath River salmon. This very complicated issue is deftly and simply portrayed by faraway activists as " fishermen vs. farmers." Once again, they've got it wrong. Recently, a group of irrigator representatives traveled to Coos Bay and met with more than 50 coastal fishermen and political leaders. It was somewhat of a revelation that not a single fisherman at the meeting pointed to the Klamath Project as the cause for the fishery closure. Instead, they offered up other explanations, including: ? Insufficient hatchery production and failure to count hatchery fish. ? Disjointed stock management by state and federal agencies. ? Sea lion predation. ? Unfavorable ocean conditions and several years of drought. The meeting ended in mutual pledges by the irrigators and the fishermen to work together. As a first step, the Klamath Relief Fund -- created to assist distressed farmers in 2001 -- has been re-activated by the Klamath farming community. This time, the money raised will be used to help fishermen and their families. We're tired of the Klamath finger-pointing. Instead, we want to extend a helping hand. Greg Addington is executive director of the Klamath Water Users Association. Dan Keppen is former executive director of the association and is now executive director of the Family Farm Alliance. They both live near Klamath Falls. You can donate to the Klamath Relief Fund for Commercial Fishermen at P.O. Box 5252, Klamath Falls, OR 97601. Dan Keppen -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.gif Type: image/gif Size: 2368 bytes Desc: not available URL: From jeff at weavervilleinfo.com Tue May 16 16:41:53 2006 From: jeff at weavervilleinfo.com (Jeff Morris) Date: Tue, 16 May 2006 16:41:53 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Stop finger-pointing on the Klamath Basin References: <014801c67929$2aab7ea0$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> Message-ID: <004201c67942$509bad60$1917920c@COMPAQ1> This is how real local and regional power is gained. Bravo. Jeff ----- Original Message ----- From: Tom Stokely To: env-trinity Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2006 11:21 AM Subject: [env-trinity] Fw: Stop finger-pointing on the Klamath Basin ----- Original Message ----- From: Dan Keppen To: 'Dan Keppen' Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2006 7:54 AM Subject: Stop finger-pointing on the Klamath Basin In today's "Commentary" section of the Portland Oregonian . More | Subscribe | 14-Day Archives (Free) | Long-Term Archives (Paid) IN MY OPINION - THE COASTAL FISHERY CRISIS Stop finger-pointing on the Klamath Basin Tuesday, May 16, 2006 GREG ADDINGTON AND DAN KEPPEN George Gibbs, traveling through Northern California in 1851, was struck by conditions at the confluence of the Klamath and Trinity rivers. The Trinity, wrote Gibbs, "is in size about half that of the Klamath, and its waters, likewise rapid, are of transcendent purity; contrasting with those of the latter stream which never lost the taint of their origin." The origin of the Klamath River is warm, shallow Upper Klamath Lake, which feeds the federal Klamath Irrigation Project. More than 150 years after Gibbs' visit, the Klamath River and the irrigation project are now in the sights of the national media and environmental activists. Every week, we read claims that the river and the coastal salmon fishery are being destroyed by the project, a convenient source of blame for all that is apparently tainted in the Klamath ecosystem. What we don't see in the papers is the fact that, over the past four years, between 40,000 and 100,000 acre-feet of water originally developed for agriculture has instead been bought by the federal government and dedicated annually to an environmental water bank to "protect" fish. In 2005, nearly 30 percent of the water traditionally used in an average water year by the Klamath Project and wildlife refuges was reallocated in this manner. Further, even though the Klamath Project is one of the most water-use efficient reclamation operations in the country, more than 800 growers have applied for 2002 Farm Bill funding to implement cost-share projects that conserve water. These actions are laudable. However, one has to remember that there is only so much water that can be squeezed from an area that is just 2 percent of the watershed and uses only 3 percent to 4 percent of Klamath River flows in an average year. Despite these efforts, irrigators are now being blamed in the media by environmental activists for a looming crisis on the coast. This spring, commercial salmon fishing has been closed along 700 miles of Pacific shoreline, which federal regulators believe will prevent "take" of Klamath River salmon. This very complicated issue is deftly and simply portrayed by faraway activists as " fishermen vs. farmers." Once again, they've got it wrong. Recently, a group of irrigator representatives traveled to Coos Bay and met with more than 50 coastal fishermen and political leaders. It was somewhat of a revelation that not a single fisherman at the meeting pointed to the Klamath Project as the cause for the fishery closure. Instead, they offered up other explanations, including: ? Insufficient hatchery production and failure to count hatchery fish. ? Disjointed stock management by state and federal agencies. ? Sea lion predation. ? Unfavorable ocean conditions and several years of drought. The meeting ended in mutual pledges by the irrigators and the fishermen to work together. As a first step, the Klamath Relief Fund -- created to assist distressed farmers in 2001 -- has been re-activated by the Klamath farming community. This time, the money raised will be used to help fishermen and their families. We're tired of the Klamath finger-pointing. Instead, we want to extend a helping hand. Greg Addington is executive director of the Klamath Water Users Association. Dan Keppen is former executive director of the association and is now executive director of the Family Farm Alliance. They both live near Klamath Falls. You can donate to the Klamath Relief Fund for Commercial Fishermen at P.O. Box 5252, Klamath Falls, OR 97601. Dan Keppen ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ env-trinity mailing list env-trinity at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us http://www2.dcn.org/mailman/listinfo/env-trinity -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.gif Type: image/gif Size: 2368 bytes Desc: not available URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Wed May 17 11:57:07 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 11:57:07 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] San Francisco Chronicle May 17 Message-ID: <003501c679e3$b55791f0$1f9eb545@p4> SALMON: Guest Opinion: It takes a watershed to sustain our salmon San Francisco Chronicle - 5/17/06 By Peter Moyle, professor of fisheries at the University of California, Davis. Dr. Moyle also is a member of the Board of Governors of California Trout, Inc. ONE OF the special things about California is that we still have large salmon spawning in some of our rivers, the southernmost populations of the species. The presence of salmon defines the nature of the rivers as "salmon streams," invoking images of wildness and abundance. Yet today salmon fisheries are being shut down as our rivers lose their wild salmon, the result of decades of neglect of rivers and watersheds. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Klamath River, where Chinook and coho salmon are at low ebbs of their populations. Given the complexity of the problems besetting Klamath River, it is going to take a long time to bring back the salmon to historic numbers, assuming our society has the will to do so. In the meantime, we need to protect the few remaining healthy populations in California, to make sure the salmon are not forgotten and to make sure that we have sources of fish for damaged rivers as they recover. For example, the continued protection of the beautiful and little appreciated Smith River, the next major river north of the Klamath, is an investment that will help sustain salmon fisheries in California and will also support recovery of the Klamath River. The Smith River is a stronghold for salmon, steelhead and cutthroat trout in California; at least five species in multiple runs use the river. It is unparalleled in its combination of natural river flows, protected habitat and healthy fish populations. Much of this watershed is within the Smith River National Recreation Area and the Redwood national and state parks, but not all. We now need to protect the entire watershed, to make sure that the Smith remains an example of what a healthy river is like. The Smith can also become our salmon insurance policy, a potential source of wild fish for restoration of other watersheds such as the Klamath. Right now, we have an opportunity to further secure the Smith River as a refuge for wild salmon. Thanks to the action of three hard-working organizations, Western Rivers Conservancy, California Trout and the Smith River Alliance, the public has the rare opportunity to purchase the lands surrounding Goose Creek, the Smith's largest tributary and an important spawning area for salmon. The timber company owners of the 9,500-acre Goose Creek property made the decision to sell the land and the nonprofit guardians moved quickly to forge a deal to add it to the Smith River National Recreation Area. Thanks to support from many individuals and organizations, including Del Norte County, more than half of the purchase has been completed with funds from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund. Sens. Dianne Feinstein Barbara Boxer and Rep. Mike Thompson all deserve credit for their diligent work to make this happen. But $2.7 million is still needed to complete the acquisition, and, this year, no funds have been allocated in the federal budget for Goose Creek. The need for forward-thinking restoration measures to recover California's northern salmon populations has never been more evident. Protecting Goose Creek is an important action we can take now with long-term, positive consequences for the Smith and Klamath rivers. Those of us who continue to be optimists about the restoration of California's rivers see this as a major, highly visible step toward reversing decades of abuse of our salmon rivers. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Wed May 17 12:00:32 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 12:00:32 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Trinity River Release Change Message-ID: <003a01c679e4$2c269bf0$1f9eb545@p4> Project: Lewiston Dam - Trinity River Release Date Time From To 5/17/06 1300 5,000 cfs 5,500 cfs Issued By: Tom Morstein-Marx Comment: Reservoir fill management Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Wed May 17 13:34:08 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 13:34:08 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Trinity River Release Changes Message-ID: <006f01c679f1$42eb3d70$1f9eb545@p4> Water returns to Trinity River will be increasing for some period of time. Rather than report daily changes, you can go to http://www.trrp.net/RestorationProgram/dailyrelease.htm to see release schedule as adopted by Trinity River Restoration Program and approved by Bureau of Reclamation. Safety of dam releases soon will be superseded by flow schedule as developed for fishery restoration purposes for an extremely wet water-type year except that full releases are limited by the need to remove or to relocate obstructions - houses, wells, pump houses, roads, etc. - in the river's floodplain. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Wed May 17 14:45:14 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 14:45:14 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Klamath River News: US streams polluted, Supreme Court rules on Dams, Trinity River Message-ID: <008a01c679fb$33baf340$1f9eb545@p4> KLAMATH RIVER NEWS a publication of the Klamath Restoration Council * MORE THEN HALF OF US STREAMS POLLUTED * RULING FAVORS RIVERS OVER POWER DAMS * USA: STUDY PARASITES TO TRACK SALMON, SAY RESEARCHERS * HOOPA VALLY TRIBE PROTEST WATER POLICY ON THE TRINITY RIVER * ACTION ALERT: COMMENT ON A SIX RIVERS TIMBER SALE * YOU'RE INVITED TO JOIN THE KLAMATH STAKE HOLDERS LIST MORE THEN HALF OF US STREAMS POLLUTED Reuters May 5, 2006 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - More than half of U.S. streams are polluted, with the worst conditions found in the eastern third of the country, according to a study by the Environmental Protection Agency. In its first-ever study of shallow or "wadeable" streams, the agency found 42 percent were in poor condition, and another 25 percent were considered fair. Only 28 percent were in good condition, EPA said. Another 5 percent were not analyzed because of sampling problems in New England. http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=scienceNews &storyID=2006-05-05T210711Z_01_N05299140_RTRUKOC_0_US-ENVIRONMENT-STREAMS-PO LLUTION.xml RULING FAVORS RIVERS OVER POWER DAMS The Supreme Court says states may protect the waterways by requiring a steady flow at hydroelectric plants, which tend to harness it. May 16, 2006 WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court sided with the environment over electric power Monday, ruling that state regulators may require a steady flow of water over power dams to benefit fish and kayakers. The unanimous decision holds that states may protect the health of their rivers, even though hydroelectric dams are regulated exclusively by the federal government. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-enviro16may16,1,3507067 .story?coll=la-headlines-nation USA: STUDY PARASITES TO TRACK SALMON, SAY RESEARCHERS May 6, 2006 Fish Farmer Magazine Researchers at Oregon State University have discovered that the best way to tell where an animal came from, such as salmon that scientists are trying to track, may not be the genetics of the animal itself, but rather the parasites that are hitching a ride. In a pioneering study that should give wildlife biologists an important new tool to track migrating animals, the OSU researchers found that genetic fingerprinting of parasites can be up to four times more effective for identifying the origin of a host animal than the DNA of the host animal itself. http://www.fishfarmer magazine.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/476/USA:_Study_parasites_to_track_salmon ,_say_researchers.html HOOPA VALLY TRIBE PROTEST WATER POLICY ON THE TRINITY RIVER by Sharon Letts 5/13/2006 In a letter dated, April 24, 2006, the Hoopa Valley Tribe requested a meeting with Mark Limbaugh, assistant Secretary of Water and Science at the U.S. Interior Department, and James E. Cason, associate deputy secretary and acting assistant secretary of Indian Affairs at Interior. The meeting is in response to the tribe's request that the Bureau of Reclamation not renew the long-term contracts with the largest consumers of irrigation water in the Central Valley until those contracts are revised to protect the Trinity River. According to a letter drafted April 19, 2006, by the Westlands Water District, the district is disputing a Bureau of Reclamation designation that this year's water forecast is an "extremely wet year" rather than a "wet year," and are threatening litigation if the Bureau of Reclamation does not change the language, thus allowing more water to be taken from the river. http://www.eurekareporter.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?ArticleID=11095 JOIN THE KLAMATH STAKE HOLDERS LIST There is another list server that includes most of the major interests in the Klamath Basin. It is klamathstakeholders at lists.oregonstate.edu . I suggest that if you aren't on that list, you should subscribe. In order to subscribe, I suggest you send a note to Terry Morton TMorton884 at aol.com and ask to be subscribed. Since we all have too much e-mail, I also strongly suggest that folks either follow the rules of that list (below), or don't subscribe. Since all the major interests are on the list and there is a lot of anger and frustration on all sides, it's easy to degrade into name calling, etc., which has happened recently because somebody simply posted an SF Chronicle editorial on the list. Anyway, I plan on using the Klamath Stakeholders list to have some open discussions with the upper Basin ag interests and others to try and find common ground, or at a minimum, expose the fact that some people aren't really interested in REAL solutions to the Klamath-Trinity problems. Either way, I think some healthy and respectful discussions are in order. Sincerely, Tom Stokely KRC's mission is to restore and protect the uniquely diverse ecosystem and to promote substainable management of the natural resources of the entire Klamath Watershed. The Klamath Restoration Council is a special project of the Karuk Tribe's Department of Natural Resources. To get involved with Klamath issues contact the Klamath Restoration Council at klamath at riseup.net or call 530 627-3446 ext 3020 or 541 951-0126. Updates and action alerts will be sent no more then once a week. To get involved contact the Klamath Restoration Council at klamath at riseup.net or call (530) 627-3446 ext. 3020. To be removed from list or subscribe go to https://lists.riseup.net/www and type in klamath list then hit subscribe or unsubscribe. Our mission is to restore and protect the uniquely diverse ecosystem and to promote substainable management of the natural resources of the entire Klamath Watershed. The Klamath Restoration Council is a special project of the Karuk Tribe's Department of Natural Resources. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jeff at weavervilleinfo.com Wed May 17 14:57:37 2006 From: jeff at weavervilleinfo.com (Jeff Morris) Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 14:57:37 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Stop finger-pointing on the Klamath Basin Message-ID: <004901c679fc$ea3725c0$1917920c@COMPAQ1> I guess there was some question re whether I was being ironic with this statement.....alas email is sometimes not the best way to communicate. This was a sincere statement. thanks - Jeff Morris ----- Original Message ----- From: Jeff Morris To: Tom Stokely ; env-trinity Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2006 4:41 PM Subject: Stop finger-pointing on the Klamath Basin This is how real local and regional power is gained. Bravo. Jeff ----- Original Message ----- From: Tom Stokely To: env-trinity Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2006 11:21 AM Subject: [env-trinity] Fw: Stop finger-pointing on the Klamath Basin ----- Original Message ----- From: Dan Keppen To: 'Dan Keppen' Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2006 7:54 AM Subject: Stop finger-pointing on the Klamath Basin In today's "Commentary" section of the Portland Oregonian . More | Subscribe | 14-Day Archives (Free) | Long-Term Archives (Paid) IN MY OPINION - THE COASTAL FISHERY CRISIS Stop finger-pointing on the Klamath Basin Tuesday, May 16, 2006 GREG ADDINGTON AND DAN KEPPEN George Gibbs, traveling through Northern California in 1851, was struck by conditions at the confluence of the Klamath and Trinity rivers. The Trinity, wrote Gibbs, "is in size about half that of the Klamath, and its waters, likewise rapid, are of transcendent purity; contrasting with those of the latter stream which never lost the taint of their origin." The origin of the Klamath River is warm, shallow Upper Klamath Lake, which feeds the federal Klamath Irrigation Project. More than 150 years after Gibbs' visit, the Klamath River and the irrigation project are now in the sights of the national media and environmental activists. Every week, we read claims that the river and the coastal salmon fishery are being destroyed by the project, a convenient source of blame for all that is apparently tainted in the Klamath ecosystem. What we don't see in the papers is the fact that, over the past four years, between 40,000 and 100,000 acre-feet of water originally developed for agriculture has instead been bought by the federal government and dedicated annually to an environmental water bank to "protect" fish. In 2005, nearly 30 percent of the water traditionally used in an average water year by the Klamath Project and wildlife refuges was reallocated in this manner. Further, even though the Klamath Project is one of the most water-use efficient reclamation operations in the country, more than 800 growers have applied for 2002 Farm Bill funding to implement cost-share projects that conserve water. These actions are laudable. However, one has to remember that there is only so much water that can be squeezed from an area that is just 2 percent of the watershed and uses only 3 percent to 4 percent of Klamath River flows in an average year. Despite these efforts, irrigators are now being blamed in the media by environmental activists for a looming crisis on the coast. This spring, commercial salmon fishing has been closed along 700 miles of Pacific shoreline, which federal regulators believe will prevent "take" of Klamath River salmon. This very complicated issue is deftly and simply portrayed by faraway activists as " fishermen vs. farmers." Once again, they've got it wrong. Recently, a group of irrigator representatives traveled to Coos Bay and met with more than 50 coastal fishermen and political leaders. It was somewhat of a revelation that not a single fisherman at the meeting pointed to the Klamath Project as the cause for the fishery closure. Instead, they offered up other explanations, including: ? Insufficient hatchery production and failure to count hatchery fish. ? Disjointed stock management by state and federal agencies. ? Sea lion predation. ? Unfavorable ocean conditions and several years of drought. The meeting ended in mutual pledges by the irrigators and the fishermen to work together. As a first step, the Klamath Relief Fund -- created to assist distressed farmers in 2001 -- has been re-activated by the Klamath farming community. This time, the money raised will be used to help fishermen and their families. We're tired of the Klamath finger-pointing. Instead, we want to extend a helping hand. Greg Addington is executive director of the Klamath Water Users Association. Dan Keppen is former executive director of the association and is now executive director of the Family Farm Alliance. They both live near Klamath Falls. You can donate to the Klamath Relief Fund for Commercial Fishermen at P.O. Box 5252, Klamath Falls, OR 97601. Dan Keppen ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ env-trinity mailing list env-trinity at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us http://www2.dcn.org/mailman/listinfo/env-trinity -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.gif Type: image/gif Size: 2368 bytes Desc: not available URL: From Jay_Glase at nps.gov Thu May 18 07:32:21 2006 From: Jay_Glase at nps.gov (Jay_Glase at nps.gov) Date: Thu, 18 May 2006 10:32:21 -0400 Subject: [env-trinity] Supreme Court ruling on FERC licensing Message-ID: The New York Times May 16, 2006 Justices Uphold State Rules in Decision on Dam Licenses By LINDA GREENHOUSE WASHINGTON, May 15 ? The Supreme Court ruled Monday that operators of hydroelectric dams must meet a state's water quality requirements in order to qualify for a federal license. The unanimous decision was the court's first ruling in an environmental case under Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., and it came as a relief to environmental advocates. Justice David H. Souter's opinion for the court upheld a ruling by the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine. The justices rejected the argument of a company that owns five dams on the Presumpscot River, which runs through Portland, that it did not need state approval because its operations did not add pollutants to the water that passed over its dams and through its turbines. The company, S. D. Warren Company, a subsidiary of South African Pulp and Paper Industries Ltd., uses the power it generates to run a paper mill in Westbrook, Me. The dispute arose when the company prepared to renew its federal licenses. A federal law, the Clean Water Act, requires an applicant for a federal license or license renewal to first obtain state certification if its activities "may result in any discharge into the navigable waters." Congress did not define the word "discharge," and the company argued that the word should be understood to refer to the addition of pollutants. Since it was not adding anything to the water, the company argued, Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, requiring state certification, did not apply to its activities. To the contrary, Justice Souter said, there was no reason not to give the word "discharge" its plain, everyday meaning: "flowing or issuing out." The flow of water over a dam was therefore a "discharge," he said. The decision applies to about 2,500 hydroelectric dams on 500 rivers in 45 states. Justice Souter said that the Clean Water Act was concerned with water quality and that alteration in water quality "is a risk inherent in limiting river flow and releasing water through turbines." He noted that Maine's environmental agency had concluded that S. D. Warren's dams had caused "long stretches" of the riverbed to become "essentially dry" and had blocked the passage of eels and spawning fish. The state agency made its approval contingent on S. D. Warren's maintaining a minimum water flow over its dams, a conclusion that the company challenged unsuccessfully in state court. In his opinion on Monday, S. D. Warren Company v. Maine Board of Environmental Protection, No. 04-1527, Justice Souter said that "changes in the river like these fall within a state's legitimate legislative business, and the Clean Water Act provides for a system that respects the states' concerns." Environmental groups had been alarmed by the court's decision last fall to hear the company's appeal in the absence of the usual reasons for a grant of Supreme Court review, such as a conflict among the lower courts on the interpretation of a federal law. Every court to consider the meaning of "discharge" had reached the same conclusion. The Bush administration had argued in the case in support of Maine. From Jay_Glase at nps.gov Thu May 18 09:07:09 2006 From: Jay_Glase at nps.gov (Jay_Glase at nps.gov) Date: Thu, 18 May 2006 12:07:09 -0400 Subject: [env-trinity] Fw: Stop finger-pointing on the Klamath Basin Message-ID: Gibbs and others of his time were much more eloquent in their writings than most things I've seen recently, but I sometimes struggle to interpret their meaning. Does anyone have any further description from Gibb's writings that help define phrases like "of transcendent purity" and "never lost the taint of their origin." It might seem obvious to some, but I can infer at least a few different meanings from phrases like these, and the article below appears to infer that the water quality in the Klamath 155 years ago was possibly as inadequate at sustaining fish life as it sometimes is in current times. Maybe I'm reading that incorrectly. If I am, I won't complain about the barrage of emails I'll receive. I work in an area where streams often begin in or flow through cedar and alder swamps, beaver ponds and other relatively warm areas. They tend to be stained from tannins, and often have high levels of organic nutrients due to the forests they flow through. Compare them with the Trinity River, and one might be inclined to say these streams are tainted in comparison. Yet they still support populations of cold and cool water species like brook trout, sculpin and others. Granted, this is a much different area than the Klamath Basin, but I see some similarities. The upper St Croix River at Danbury, Wisconsin will flow at about 1200-1500 cfs in mid July in most years. Temperatures can approach 25 degrees C in mid summer. Upstream of this point, the mainstem and it's major tributary have at least seven impoundments, yet I've not heard of any natural events creating lethally low levels of dissolved oxygen in this river. The lowest DO reading I've been able to find between 2000 and 2003 is 7.6 mg/l. I'll stop here, because maybe this isn't a fair comparison due to the differences between locations, and I don't want to be accused of finger pointing. I'm very glad that the two states on each side of the St Croix aren't practicing disjointed management, we don't need to rely on hatcheries to maintain a livelihood since brook trout aren't a commercial species, we don't have freshwater sea lions eating all the brook trout here, and there's no ocean to wreak havoc (although I suspect that last one might not be entirely true). Unfortunately, it seems to me that it's human nature that if we still have fingers on our hands, and something goes wrong, our fingers will be pointed somewhere. By the way, has anyone looked at how many pacific lamprey the sea lions are eating? cheers, jay Jay Glase Great Lakes Area Fishery Biologist National Park Service (906)487-9080 x27 |---------+----------------------------------------------> | | "Tom Stokely" | | | | | | Sent by: | | | env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.| | | davis.ca.us | | | | | | | | | 05/16/2006 11:21 AM MST | | | Please respond to Tom Stokely | | | | |---------+----------------------------------------------> >-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | To: "env-trinity" | | cc: (bcc: Jay Glase/Omaha/NPS) | | Subject: [env-trinity] Fw: Stop finger-pointing on the Klamath Basin | >-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| ----- Original Message ----- From: Dan Keppen To: 'Dan Keppen' Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2006 7:54 AM Subject: Stop finger-pointing on the Klamath Basin In today?s ?Commentary? section of the Portland Oregonian . (Embedded image moved to file: pic26880.gif) More | Subscribe | 14-Day Archives (Free) | Long-Term Archives (Paid) IN MY OPINION - THE COASTAL FISHERY CRISIS Stop finger-pointing on the Klamath Basin Tuesday, May 16, 2006 GREG ADDINGTON AND DAN KEPPEN George Gibbs, traveling through Northern California in 1851, was struck by conditions at the confluence of the Klamath and Trinity rivers. The Trinity, wrote Gibbs, "is in size about half that of the Klamath, and its waters, likewise rapid, are of transcendent purity; contrasting with those of the latter stream which never lost the taint of their origin." The origin of the Klamath River is warm, shallow Upper Klamath Lake, which feeds the federal Klamath Irrigation Project. More than 150 years after Gibbs' visit, the Klamath River and the irrigation project are now in the sights of the national media and environmental activists. Every week, we read claims that the river and the coastal salmon fishery are being destroyed by the project, a convenient source of blame for all that is apparently tainted in the Klamath ecosystem. What we don't see in the papers is the fact that, over the past four years, between 40,000 and 100,000 acre-feet of water originally developed for agriculture has instead been bought by the federal government and dedicated annually to an environmental water bank to "protect" fish. In 2005, nearly 30 percent of the water traditionally used in an average water year by the Klamath Project and wildlife refuges was reallocated in this manner. Further, even though the Klamath Project is one of the most water-use efficient reclamation operations in the country, more than 800 growers have applied for 2002 Farm Bill funding to implement cost-share projects that conserve water. These actions are laudable. However, one has to remember that there is only so much water that can be squeezed from an area that is just 2 percent of the watershed and uses only 3 percent to 4 percent of Klamath River flows in an average year. Despite these efforts, irrigators are now being blamed in the media by environmental activists for a looming crisis on the coast. This spring, commercial salmon fishing has been closed along 700 miles of Pacific shoreline, which federal regulators believe will prevent "take" of Klamath River salmon. This very complicated issue is deftly and simply portrayed by faraway activists as " fishermen vs. farmers." Once again, they've got it wrong. Recently, a group of irrigator representatives traveled to Coos Bay and met with more than 50 coastal fishermen and political leaders. It was somewhat of a revelation that not a single fisherman at the meeting pointed to the Klamath Project as the cause for the fishery closure. Instead, they offered up other explanations, including: ? Insufficient hatchery production and failure to count hatchery fish. ? Disjointed stock management by state and federal agencies. ? Sea lion predation. ? Unfavorable ocean conditions and several years of drought. The meeting ended in mutual pledges by the irrigators and the fishermen to work together. As a first step, the Klamath Relief Fund -- created to assist distressed farmers in 2001 -- has been re-activated by the Klamath farming community. This time, the money raised will be used to help fishermen and their families. We're tired of the Klamath finger-pointing. Instead, we want to extend a helping hand. Greg Addington is executive director of the Klamath Water Users Association. Dan Keppen is former executive director of the association and is now executive director of the Family Farm Alliance. They both live near Klamath Falls. You can donate to the Klamath Relief Fund for Commercial Fishermen at P.O. Box 5252, Klamath Falls, OR 97601. Dan Keppen _______________________________________________ env-trinity mailing list env-trinity at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us http://www2.dcn.org/mailman/listinfo/env-trinity -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: pic26880.gif Type: image/gif Size: 2368 bytes Desc: not available URL: From danielbacher at fishsniffer.com Wed May 17 17:04:48 2006 From: danielbacher at fishsniffer.com (Dan Bacher) Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 17:04:48 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] High Water Spurs Massive Salmon Die Off At Nimbus Fish Hatchery In-Reply-To: <003a01c679e4$2c269bf0$1f9eb545@p4> References: <003a01c679e4$2c269bf0$1f9eb545@p4> Message-ID: <7BA4688F-AD2A-45BF-8A21-50F74794E499@fishsniffer.com> High Water Spurs Massive Salmon Die Off At Nimbus Fish Hatchery by Dan Bacher Over 60,000 juvenile king salmon per day are dying as a result of disease spurred by high water conditions on the American River?s Nimbus Fish Hatchery in Rancho Cordova ? and little can be done about it, according to Department of Fish and Game officials. ?We have lost over one million of the 5 million fish that we were raising in the hatchery,? said Bob Burks, assistant manager at Nimbus Fish Hatchery. ?Before the disease runs its course, we could lose anywhere from 50 to 100 percent of the run.? The fish mortality in the hatchery started when high flows from Sierra Nevada snowmelt put a high and unhealthy amount of air into the water. The nitrogen over saturation in the water causes bubbles to form in the eyes, gills and fins of the juvenile salmon. The fish become stressed, just like when a diver contracts a case of the ?bends? when he/she comes up too quickly to the surface. Although the gas saturation would have become fatal to some fish, the real mortality started when the stressed fish contracted two diseases, cold water disease and IHN. Cold water disease, a bacterial infection, can be treated with antibiotics. However, IHN (Infectious Hematopoetic Necrosis), formerly called Sacramento River chinook disease, is a virus and is not treatable. IHN is found in the wild, but doesn?t cause the same problems in the wild that it does when it infests a hatchery. The hatchery fish are more vulnerable because they are crowded in a facility?s raceways and ponds. When one fish gets the disease, that fish spreads it rapidly to the rest of the population. ?IHN is mainly a threat to the hatchery system, rather than to wild salmon and trout,? said Mike Healey, DFG associate fishery biologist. ?First, the wild fish are generally tougher and more resistant to the disease. Secondly, the crowded conditions found in the hatchery cause the disease to spread all at once.? Burks, hatchery manager Terry West and other hatchery staff are working day and night to remove the dead chinooks from the runways and ponds, hoping that the disease will soon run its course soon. The flows on the American are normally around 2,500 to 3,000 cfs this time of year, but flows have gone as high as 35,000 cfs this winter and spring. At press time, releases to the river below Nimbus Dam were 11,000 cfs. Fish pathologists from the DFG are currently trying to determine the cause of the IHN outbreak. While the causes are being studied, the hatchery ponds and raceways are closed to the public to prevent the public from making contact with hatchery water and spreading the disease to other facilities. The hatchery visitors center will remain open. If people were to spread the IHN infestation to the DFG?s American River Trout Hatchery, located right next to Nimbus Hatchery, it would be a disaster for the DFG?s trout planting program in the Sacramento Valley region, according to Burks. One possible source of contamination could be king salmon, kokanee salmon and rainbow trout in Lake Natoma and Folsom Lake. After a similar IHN infection hit the Feather River Fish Hatchery in Lake Oroville in the mid 1980s, the DFG stopped planting chinook salmon and brown trout in Oroville, since they were hosts for the IHN virus. The Department started planting coho salmon instead because they aren?t susceptible to the disease, according to Bill Cox, senior DFG fishery biologist. ?At this point, we still don?t know the source of the IHN infection,? said Burks. ?If this occurs one time only and it doesn?t spread into other years, it won?t have that bad impact upon the salmon populations. However, if it continues in other years, it could become a real problem.? Healey noted that the salmonids put in Folsom and Natoma are free of IHN before they are planted into the lake, so he doesn?t think it?s likely that planted salmon and trout are the cause of the disease. More likely sources of the IHN are the sediments that were stirred up by high flows or the inadvertent human spread of IHN. ?I?m pretty confident that it isn?t the planted trout and salmon at Folsom that are causing the disease,?? said Healey. ?The disease could possibly come from people walking around the hatchery who put their hands in the hatchery water after contact with river water.? Bill Cox, the DFG?s senior fish pathologist, said there are two major areas of investigation in tracking down the source of the IHN virus - internal contamination at the hatchery itself and the water supply. Even though the adult salmon received at the hatchery are infected with IHN, the disease isn?t transmitted to eggs or young fish because the eggs are disinfected. ?It?s very unlikely that the virus would be transmitted this way, since the eggs are treated, although a break in procedures is possible,? said Cox. The second possibility is that the virus is in the water supply. ?A number of fish species are susceptible to the virus, but the principle ones are chinook and kokanee and they go through a rigorous process to ensure they are free of the virus before being planted,? he stated. ?But if there is a break in procedures, there is a possibility that infected fish were put in there.? The DFG will be looking at rainbow trout, chinook salmon and kokanee salmon at Folsom to see if they detect the virus in the fish. This disease infection comes at a time when commercial salmon fishermen along the coast are reeling from the impacts of the most severely restricted salmon season in history, the consequence of low projected salmon returns this fall on the Klamath River caused by the Bush administration?s mismanagement of Klamath River water. The American River is no stranger to fish kills and disease infection. Usually low, warm water is the culprit, as during the autumns of 2001, 2002 and 2003 when pre-spawning mortality among adult fish was very high. In the worst year, 2001, a total of 87,626 adult king salmon - 67 percent of the run died before spawning. More recently, many juvenile steelhead in the summer and early fall became infected with ?rosy anus,? a viral infection. In spite of the river?s water and disease problems, large numbers of chinooks have returned to the system in the last five years ? and the majority of the fish found in the system are wild spawners. In Fall 2005, 54,000 naturally spawning adult salmon and 2,842 grilse (2-year-olds) returned to the American, according to Healey. An additional 20,569 adult chinooks and 1780 grilse retuned to Nimbus Fish Hatchery in 2005. During the previous year, 75,991 naturally spawning adult chinooks and 13,756 grilse ascended the river. The hatchery took in 12,741 adults and 13,659 grilse; an unusual year because the grilse outnumbered the adult chinooks. The impact of the high flows on juvenile chinooks naturally spawned in the river is yet to be seen. Many become stranded along the river and its floodplain during the high flows, but high flows also wash the fish downriver more quickly, away from predators in the river and Delta. However, the fish have a higher rate of survival when they migrate to salt water as smolts five inches or larger. Nimbus Fish Hatchery and the American River are significant contributors to the Central Valley king salmon population, the most vibrant remaining chinook salmon stock on the West Coast. The four Central Valley hatcheries produce a total of 24 million salmon per year, with Nimbus contributing around 4 million salmon. ?We still don?t know what the high flows have done to the wild salmon that were in or emerging from the gravel in the river in December,? said Felix Smith, board member of the Save the American River Association and a frequent critic of U.S. Bureau of Reclamation water policy on the American and other Central Valley rivers. ?Do they also suffer from over saturation of nitrogen, cold water disease or IHN? We do know that numbers of out migrating salmon found in the screw traps that the DFG operates have been significantly lower this year than in previous years.? Smith noted that the reservoirs are as much cold sinks as they are heat sinks. On rivers below major dams, it takes longer for both the river to warm up and cool down. As a consequence, the fish are subject to diseases spurred by cold water, such as IHN and the cold water disease. ?The terrible thing with salmon is that you can?t go buy some fish from somewhere else to raise in the hatchery,? said Smith. ?It?s not like the case of a cattle rancher who loses 200 cows and replaces them by buying more. The question that seems to get lost in the discussion is how do you replace the part of the gene pool that?s lost? That?s very difficult to do.? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From sari at sisqtel.net Thu May 18 10:15:15 2006 From: sari at sisqtel.net (Sari Sommarstrom) Date: Thu, 18 May 2006 10:15:15 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Supreme Court ruling on FERC licensing In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20060518101052.02e3db10@pop.sisqtel.net> Congress did define "discharge" in the Clean Water Act under Sec. 502(16): " The term 'discharge' when used without qualification includes a discharge of a pollutant, and a discharge of pollutants." Odd that the judges apparently went to the dictionary to define it instead. ~Sari At 10:32 AM 5/18/2006 -0400, Jay_Glase at nps.gov wrote: >The New York Times > >May 16, 2006 >Justices Uphold State Rules in Decision on Dam Licenses >By LINDA GREENHOUSE > > >WASHINGTON, May 15 ? The Supreme Court ruled Mondday that operators of >hydroelectric dams must meet a state's water quality requirements in order >to qualify for a federal license. The unanimous decision was the court's >first ruling in an environmental case under Chief Justice John G. Roberts >Jr., and it came as a relief to environmental advocates. > > >Justice David H. Souter's opinion for the court upheld a ruling by the >Supreme Judicial Court of Maine. The justices rejected the argument of a >company that owns five dams on the Presumpscot River, which runs through >Portland, that it did not need state approval because its operations did >not add pollutants to the water that passed over its dams and through its >turbines. > > >The company, S. D. Warren Company, a subsidiary of South African Pulp and >Paper Industries Ltd., uses the power it generates to run a paper mill in >Westbrook, Me. The dispute arose when the company prepared to renew its >federal licenses. > > >A federal law, the Clean Water Act, requires an applicant for a federal >license or license renewal to first obtain state certification if its >activities "may result in any discharge into the navigable waters." >Congress did not define the word "discharge," and the company argued that >the word should be understood to refer to the addition of pollutants. Since >it was not adding anything to the water, the company argued, Section 401 of >the Clean Water Act, requiring state certification, did not apply to its >activities. > > >To the contrary, Justice Souter said, there was no reason not to give the >word "discharge" its plain, everyday meaning: "flowing or issuing out." The >flow of water over a dam was therefore a "discharge," he said. > > >The decision applies to about 2,500 hydroelectric dams on 500 rivers in 45 >states. > > >Justice Souter said that the Clean Water Act was concerned with water >quality and that alteration in water quality "is a risk inherent in >limiting river flow and releasing water through turbines." He noted that >Maine's environmental agency had concluded that S. D. Warren's dams had >caused "long stretches" of the riverbed to become "essentially dry" and had >blocked the passage of eels and spawning fish. > > >The state agency made its approval contingent on S. D. Warren's maintaining >a minimum water flow over its dams, a conclusion that the company >challenged unsuccessfully in state court. > > >In his opinion on Monday, S. D. Warren Company v. Maine Board of >Environmental Protection, No. 04-1527, Justice Souter said that "changes in >the river like these fall within a state's legitimate legislative business, >and the Clean Water Act provides for a system that respects the states' >concerns." > > >Environmental groups had been alarmed by the court's decision last fall to >hear the company's appeal in the absence of the usual reasons for a grant >of Supreme Court review, such as a conflict among the lower courts on the >interpretation of a federal law. Every court to consider the meaning of >"discharge" had reached the same conclusion. The Bush administration had >argued in the case in support of Maine. >_______________________________________________ env-trinity mailing list >env-trinity at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us >http://www2.dcn.org/mailman/listinfo/env-trinity From tstokely at trinityalps.net Thu May 18 09:12:36 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Thu, 18 May 2006 09:12:36 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Fw: Fw: Stop finger-pointing on the Klamath Basin Message-ID: <009001c67a9f$84607320$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> >From Jay Glase. This message bounced from the list server, for some unknown reason. Tom ----- Original Message ----- From: To: "Tom Stokely" Cc: "env-trinity" ; Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2006 9:07 AM Subject: Re: [env-trinity] Fw: Stop finger-pointing on the Klamath Basin > Gibbs and others of his time were much more eloquent in their writings than > most things I've seen recently, but I sometimes struggle to interpret their > meaning. Does anyone have any further description from Gibb's writings > that help define phrases like "of transcendent purity" and "never lost the > taint of their origin." It might seem obvious to some, but I can infer at > least a few different meanings from phrases like these, and the article > below appears to infer that the water quality in the Klamath 155 years ago > was possibly as inadequate at sustaining fish life as it sometimes is in > current times. Maybe I'm reading that incorrectly. If I am, I won't > complain about the barrage of emails I'll receive. > > I work in an area where streams often begin in or flow through cedar and > alder swamps, beaver ponds and other relatively warm areas. They tend to > be stained from tannins, and often have high levels of organic nutrients > due to the forests they flow through. Compare them with the Trinity River, > and one might be inclined to say these streams are tainted in comparison. > Yet they still support populations of cold and cool water species like > brook trout, sculpin and others. Granted, this is a much different area > than the Klamath Basin, but I see some similarities. The upper St Croix > River at Danbury, Wisconsin will flow at about 1200-1500 cfs in mid July in > most years. Temperatures can approach 25 degrees C in mid summer. Upstream > of this point, the mainstem and it's major tributary have at least seven > impoundments, yet I've not heard of any natural events creating lethally > low levels of dissolved oxygen in this river. The lowest DO reading I've > been able to find between 2000 and 2003 is 7.6 mg/l. > > I'll stop here, because maybe this isn't a fair comparison due to the > differences between locations, and I don't want to be accused of finger > pointing. I'm very glad that the two states on each side of the St Croix > aren't practicing disjointed management, we don't need to rely on > hatcheries to maintain a livelihood since brook trout aren't a commercial > species, we don't have freshwater sea lions eating all the brook trout > here, and there's no ocean to wreak havoc (although I suspect that last one > might not be entirely true). > > Unfortunately, it seems to me that it's human nature that if we still have > fingers on our hands, and something goes wrong, our fingers will be pointed > somewhere. > > By the way, has anyone looked at how many pacific lamprey the sea lions are > eating? > > cheers, > jay > > Jay Glase > Great Lakes Area Fishery Biologist > National Park Service > (906)487-9080 x27 > > > |---------+----------------------------------------------> > | | "Tom Stokely" | > | | | > | | Sent by: | > | | env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.| > | | davis.ca.us | > | | | > | | | > | | 05/16/2006 11:21 AM MST | > | | Please respond to Tom Stokely | > | | | > |---------+----------------------------------------------> > >--------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------| > | | > | To: "env-trinity" | > | cc: (bcc: Jay Glase/Omaha/NPS) | > | Subject: [env-trinity] Fw: Stop finger-pointing on the Klamath Basin | > >--------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------| > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Dan Keppen > To: 'Dan Keppen' > Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2006 7:54 AM > Subject: Stop finger-pointing on the Klamath Basin > > In today?s ?Commentary? section of the Portland Oregonian . > > (Embedded image moved to file: pic01421.gif) > More | Subscribe | 14-Day Archives (Free) | Long-Term Archives (Paid) > IN MY OPINION - THE COASTAL FISHERY CRISIS > Stop finger-pointing on the Klamath Basin > Tuesday, May 16, 2006 > GREG ADDINGTON AND DAN KEPPEN > > > George Gibbs, traveling through Northern California in 1851, was struck by > conditions at the confluence of the Klamath and Trinity rivers. > > > The Trinity, wrote Gibbs, "is in size about half that of the Klamath, and > its waters, likewise rapid, are of transcendent purity; contrasting with > those of the latter stream which never lost the taint of their origin." > > > The origin of the Klamath River is warm, shallow Upper Klamath Lake, which > feeds the federal Klamath Irrigation Project. More than 150 years after > Gibbs' visit, the Klamath River and the irrigation project are now in the > sights of the national media and environmental activists. Every week, we > read claims that the river and the coastal salmon fishery are being > destroyed by the project, a convenient source of blame for all that is > apparently tainted in the Klamath ecosystem. > > > What we don't see in the papers is the fact that, over the past four years, > between 40,000 and 100,000 acre-feet of water originally developed for > agriculture has instead been bought by the federal government and dedicated > annually to an environmental water bank to "protect" fish. In 2005, nearly > 30 percent of the water traditionally used in an average water year by the > Klamath Project and wildlife refuges was reallocated in this manner. > > > Further, even though the Klamath Project is one of the most water-use > efficient reclamation operations in the country, more than 800 growers have > applied for 2002 Farm Bill funding to implement cost-share projects that > conserve water. > > > These actions are laudable. However, one has to remember that there is only > so much water that can be squeezed from an area that is just 2 percent of > the watershed and uses only 3 percent to 4 percent of Klamath River flows > in an average year. > > > Despite these efforts, irrigators are now being blamed in the media by > environmental activists for a looming crisis on the coast. This spring, > commercial salmon fishing has been closed along 700 miles of Pacific > shoreline, which federal regulators believe will prevent "take" of Klamath > River salmon. This very complicated issue is deftly and simply portrayed by > faraway activists as " fishermen vs. farmers." > > > Once again, they've got it wrong. > > > Recently, a group of irrigator representatives traveled to Coos Bay and met > with more than 50 coastal fishermen and political leaders. It was somewhat > of a revelation that not a single fisherman at the meeting pointed to the > Klamath Project as the cause for the fishery closure. Instead, they offered > up other explanations, including: > > > ? Insufficient hatchery production and failure to count > hatchery fish. > > > ? Disjointed stock management by state and federal > agencies. > > > ? Sea lion predation. > > > ? Unfavorable ocean conditions and several years of > drought. > > > The meeting ended in mutual pledges by the irrigators and the fishermen to > work together. As a first step, the Klamath Relief Fund -- created to > assist distressed farmers in 2001 -- has been re-activated by the Klamath > farming community. This time, the money raised will be used to help > fishermen and their families. > > > We're tired of the Klamath finger-pointing. Instead, we want to extend a > helping hand. > > > Greg Addington is executive director of the Klamath Water Users > Association. Dan Keppen is former executive director of the association and > is now executive director of the Family Farm Alliance. They both live near > Klamath Falls. You can donate to the Klamath Relief Fund for Commercial > Fishermen at P.O. Box 5252, Klamath Falls, OR 97601. > > > Dan Keppen > _______________________________________________ > env-trinity mailing list > env-trinity at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us > http://www2.dcn.org/mailman/listinfo/env-trinity > > From tstokely at trinityalps.net Fri May 19 14:48:11 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Fri, 19 May 2006 14:48:11 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Eureka Reporter- HVT Protests Water Policy on Trinity R. Message-ID: <011201c67b9a$7c832f70$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> http://www.eurekareporter.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?ArticleID=11095 Hoopa Valley Tribe protests water policy on Trinity River by Sharon Letts, 5/13/2006 In a letter dated, April 24, 2006, the Hoopa Valley Tribe requested a meeting with Mark Limbaugh, assistant Secretary of Water and Science at the U.S. Interior Department, and James E. Cason, associate deputy secretary and acting assistant secretary of Indian Affairs at Interior. The meeting is in response to the tribe?s request that the Bureau of Reclamation not renew the long-term contracts with the largest consumers of irrigation water in the Central Valley until those contracts are revised to protect the Trinity River. According to a letter drafted April 19, 2006, by the Westlands Water District, the district is disputing a Bureau of Reclamation designation that this year?s water forecast is an ?extremely wet year? rather than a ?wet year,? and are threatening litigation if the Bureau of Reclamation does not change the language, thus allowing more water to be taken from the river. In a settlement proposal drafted by the Westlands Water District, the water forecast is key to providing water to the farmers of the Central Valley. In this settlement, Westlands provides a detailed rainfall chart that reflects data collected as far back as 1912. According to the Hoopa Valley Tribe Chairman Clifford Lyle Marshall, the degradation of the Trinity River fishery began in 1955 when Congress authorized diversions of the river?s water to the Central Valley. The act said enough water would be left in the river to support the fishery, but spawning runs have diminished since the diversions began. He said that the Bureau of Reclamation was taking up to 90 percent of the river?s water in some years. Congress passed the Central Valley Project Improvement Act, or CVPIA, in 1992, which included cooperative restoration studies by the tribe and Interior. The studies culminated in a record of decision agreeing to a river restoration plan, which was signed by Department of Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt in 2000. Litigation continued as the fight for water to and from the river continued over the years and conditions worsened until 2002 when some 68,000 fish died in the combined Trinity and Klamath rivers? now infamous ?fish kill.? ?The Hoopa Valley Tribe will not stop fighting those who are trying to destroy this river and the fish,? Marshall said. ?We have no choice. We do not have another river that flows through our ancestral land and blood. The fish do not have another river to spawn in.? The Westlands settlement proposal puts an emphasis on restoring the Trinity River fishery as well as providing water to the farmers. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Mon May 22 14:38:48 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Mon, 22 May 2006 14:38:48 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Klamath confluence: The mouth of the Klamath River is a scene frozen in time. Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE0926301B9060A@mail2.trinitycounty.org> Klamath confluence John Driscoll The Times-Standard Article Launched: 05/22/2006 04:30:26 AM PDT The mouth of the Klamath River is a scene frozen in time. Low clouds drape over greenest hills. A few Yurok fishermen watch the surf, trying to hook Pacific lamprey with sticks and flip them on shore. Whales blow just off the beach. A 6-foot green sturgeon lies in the bottom of a boat. The river, heavy with snowmelt, is wide. The place is eerily quiet, and it's likely to stay that way. This year, the tribe's allocation of fall chinook salmon is below what it considers its subsistence level. Commercial fishermen along 700 miles of coast will not have a salmon season. The ocean sport fishing season is crimped up and down the coast. River anglers cannot keep any adult fall chinook on the Klamath or Trinity river after September, a devastating blow to campgrounds and shops and guides who count on fishermen. These groups have long pointed fingers at each other. River fishermen sometimes grouse about Indian gillnets, Indians sometimes gripe about ocean commercial fisheries, and so on. Many in these groups have come to a sort of truce, based on an acknowledgment that the river that once produced the third largest salmon runs on the West Coast no longer puts out enough fish to go around. In the past five years, the river has become the centerpiece of a desperate environmental and economic struggle. Farms upstream and hydropower dams need water that salmon need, too. Fish diseases that hammer young salmon are more prevalent than once realized. Toxic algae has been found brewing in the river's reservoirs and downstream and may pose a risk to swimmers, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Faced with a total fishing closure this year, fisheries managers hedged their bets that ocean and tribal fishing wouldn't cut too deep into the number of naturally spawning chinook salmon predicted to return to the river. They enacted an emergency rule, dropping the projected number of these fish that will be allowed upstream from 35,000 to 21,000. The Yurok allocation for this fall is 8,000 fish, most of which are expected to be hatchery fish. That's less than two fish per tribal member this year, and it's not enough to support a commercial fishery that some of them earn income from. But if the water crisis of 2001 in the Upper Klamath Basin -- when the federal government shut off water to most of its irrigators to free up water for salmon -- and the fish kill of 2002 did anything, they steeled the resolve of many to fix the river. Perhaps more than ever, there is reason for hope. "I may not see it, my dad may not see it," said Yurok fisherman Tommy Willson. "Hopefully it will help out my son further down the road." A flowing together Indeed, so many events are coming together at once that it seems almost guaranteed that there will be major changes on the river soon. Some are already in swing. The Klamath's main tributary, the Trinity River, is seeing major restoration work, some of which depends on big flows that are being seen this year. The Hoopa Valley Tribe recently won its 20-year battle against Central Valley irrigators to get more water in the river. The Yurok Tribe has put aside its pitched public fight with Upper Klamath Basin irrigators, vowing to work together for a solution. The license for four hydropower dams on the main stem of the Klamath has run out. Relicensing them has been a process that is revealing a lot about their effects on the river. Their owner, PacifiCorp, was recently bought by Warren Buffett's MidAmerican Energy Holdings. A change of guard at PacifiCorp has the Yurok Tribe encouraged that the company may take a different approach to settlement talks that, while confidential, are reportedly yielding results. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service have demanded that PacifiCorp install fish ladders on its dams to pass salmon into areas where they once spawned. The company disagrees with the approach -- which would almost certainly cost more than $100 million -- and has appealed the matter. It wants to trap fish and haul them over the dam. Under the 2005 Energy Act, PacifiCorp will take its case to an administrative law judge at one of the agencies. There is no precedent. "No project has gone through this process yet," said David Diamond, an analyst with the U.S. Department of the Interior. "A lot of it depends on how the judges interpret their mandate." The hearing is expected to take place in August, after which the agencies will file revised provisions. PacifiCorp has also loosened up about allowing the California Coastal Conservancy access to test sediment trapped behind its dams for toxins, key for considering their possible removal. Willson is convinced that taking out the dams will improve conditions for salmon, and change the face of salmon fisheries on the West Coast. Urgent care And while all of these political, financial and regulatory machinations are taking place, there are on-the-ground approaches being taken. At McGarvey Creek just upstream from the mouth, the Yurok Tribe is counting and tagging fish. This year is a good year -- relatively speaking -- for chinook salmon. That is, there were six spawning adults that swam upstream. "They're in a sad state, no question about it," said Ben Laukka with the tribal fisheries department. Steelhead and cutthroat trout appear to be faring better. From a trap on the creek, Andrew Antonetti pulls a bucket full of steelhead and coho smolts, and a pair of chinook fry. Scott Gibson anaesthetizes a fish, measures it, clips a fin so it can be identified as caught, and surgically implants a tag that marks the individual fish and allows it to be tracked. Also in the bucket is a brook lamprey, which as adults only get to be about 8 inches long, and two juvenile Pacific lamprey. These spend seven years in the Klamath watershed's gravels before migrating to sea. They return and some are caught by tribal members, but the runs have appeared weak lately. Tribal Councilman Raymond Mattz suspects low water in the river may doom the young lamprey. Another once-important fish, the candlefish, has virtually vanished. "When you see something disappear off the face of the Earth, it's pretty shocking," Mattz said. Laukka is under no illusion that studying the fish, and performing restoration like removing barriers to fish and decommissioning sediment-bleeding logging roads, will produce immediate results. These are long-term solutions to the river's many woes, he said. Those deep-rooted problems have at least earned one of the greatest rivers in the West the wide attention it warrants at precisely the time that so many critical decisions need to be made. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 95006 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 15782 bytes Desc: image002.jpg URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Mon May 22 19:27:31 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Mon, 22 May 2006 19:27:31 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Trinity River Flows Message-ID: <005f01c67e10$72145730$1f9eb545@p4> The following message was from Douglas Schleusner, Executive Director of Trinity River Restoration Program: As most of you know, this morning at 8:00 a.m. we were scheduled to release 7,750 cfs from Lewiston Dam. The purpose of this pause was to visit key locations/properties along the river and ensure conditions were suitable for going up to 8,500 cfs on Tuesday. For reasons that Reclamation/CVO is still investigating, releases were actually closer to 10,000 cfs and didn't peak until about 11:00 a.m. Members of my staff noticed the discrepancy between river gages and the dam releases and contacted CVO. They have since brought the flows back down to 8,500 cfs where they will continue throughout the evening and part of tomorrow (Tuesday, May 23). Our field crews have not observed any problem areas as the result of these higher flows. As the result of our monitoring during today's higher than expected releases and the low flows coming in from the tributaries, it now appears that we have the opportunity to go back to 10,000 cfs as early as 10:00 a.m. Tuesday morning. This will allow us to monitor these levels during daylight hours, and then begin field work for that level (high water staking, etc.) on Wednesday - Friday. This plan has been reviewed with and confirmed by Reclamation's Area Manager and CVO. We will keep you informed if circumstances change. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Tue May 23 13:11:26 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 13:11:26 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Students organize 214-mile relay run Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE0926301B90672@mail2.trinitycounty.org> Students organize 214-mile relay run http://www.eurekareporter.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?ArticleID=11413 5/22/2006 The health of the spring Chinook salmon run will be on the minds of more than 100 runners as they trek alongside the Klamath and Trinity rivers. Runners will include members of the Yurok, Hoopa and Karuk tribes, sport fishermen, environmentalists, members of the Humboldt Track Club, and many other groups and organizations. Organized by Hoopa Valley High School students, this annual relay run was organized in response to the 2002 fish kill, which claimed the lives of more than 68,000 salmon returning to spawn. In a year when dam relicensing and fish closures are making headlines, the young organizers of the Salmon Relay Run have decided to extend the annual relay of 41 miles to a 214-mile journey. In 2005, organizers of the Salmon Relay Run received the Brower Youth Award for bringing attention to the urgent need for action to save the Klamath and Trinity rivers' salmon populations. The students said they hope to unite the communities affected by the fish kill, including tribes, fishermen and river enthusiasts, by inviting them to participate in running a one- to five-mile leg of this year's salmon relay. The students also hope to raise awareness of the long-term effects of the fish kill on the survival of the species and the river ecosystems, as well as local Native cultures, spirituality, and the traditional diets. The runners will be calling for increased water flows and the removal of the lower four Klamath River dams as steps necessary for restoring the salmon population. The run begins on Friday at the mouth of the Klamath River in Del Norte County, beginning with a boat relay arriving at Johnson's Bar at 7 a.m. In Weitchpec, at the confluence of the Klamath and Trinity rivers, the runners will continue following the routes of the two surviving wild spring salmon runs. One group of runners will continue to the South Fork of the Trinity River, about five miles east of Willow Creek on Highway 299, while the other will continue north from Weitchpec on Highway 96 to Somes Bar at the mouth of the Salmon River. Day two will begin at 7 a.m., and will run from Somes Bar to Sara Totten Campground, located 25 miles north of Happy Camp. The third day will again start at 7 a.m., to end at Iron Gate Dam. All are welcome to attend and participate in the run and/or the rally. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Wed May 24 08:28:37 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Wed, 24 May 2006 08:28:37 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Eureka! Times Standard- Trinity River higher than ever before Message-ID: <000f01c67f46$c0192730$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> http://www.times-standard.com/local/ci_3859266 Article Launched: 05/24/2006 04:18:26 AM PDT Trinity River higher than ever before John Driscoll The Times-Standard This year marks second biggest controlled release of water from Lewiston Dam since the 1960s; swimmers urged to be careful Officials expect to release more water from Lewiston Dam than they planned weeks ago, bringing the Trinity River higher than it has been in any spring in decades. So much water has flowed into Trinity Lake that when operators tried to release 8,500 cubic feet per second from the dam this week, they overshot the mark. Flows went as high as 10,000 cfs. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which was monitoring the river -- especially upstream from Douglas City near Weaverville -- didn't notice any problems. They cut the flows back to 8,500 cfs, but by Tuesday had ramped them back up to 10,000 cfs. If all goes well, the bureau may release 11,000 cfs for a few days sometime next week. ?If we can hit it, we're going to try to,? said Doug Schleusner with the Trinity River Restoration Program. The reason the program is able to release more than it planned is because less melt water is coming down the river's tributaries in the past few days, Schleusner said. It will be the second biggest controlled release of water from Lewiston Dam since it was built in the 1960s. Only once before, in January 1974, was more water released -- 14,000 cfs meant to prevent unsafe overfilling of the reservoir. This winter saw twice the average snowpack in the Trinity Alps and 11 feet of snow was reported at 5,500 feet about 10 days ago. Part of the 2000 restoration plan for extremely wet years calls for flows of 11,000 cfs to reshape river banks and clear out sand and silt from salmon spawning gravel. The program is expected to be limited to 8,500 cfs out of concern for some properties in the Douglas City area. Either way, there's a lot of water racing down the river. At Hoopa on Tuesday, 13,600 cfs was registered at the gauge, only 3,300 less than the maximum flow ever recorded. The cold torrent will be in full swing for Memorial Day weekend, and U.S. Forest Service safety officials are hoping people will be wary. Other rivers, too, are swollen, including the Klamath and the Salmon rivers. People should realize that beaches and drop-offs may have changed significantly with the heavy flows the rivers have experienced this winter and spring. Rafting companies have said they are choosing different routes from their usual runs in certain areas, or are floating tributaries until the bigger rivers come down. But it is swimmers and other non-professionals who don't keep up with river conditions like outfitters do who are most at risk. Six Rivers National Forest River and Wilderness Manager Bob Hemus said he'll be visiting popular sites along the river to encourage people to be safe. Kids are vulnerable, Hemus said, especially when they wander along the edge of a murky river. It can be difficult to see drop-offs and sometimes impossible to resist the current once caught in it. ?It's the parents that really need to keep a heads-up,? Hemus said. ?This year it's not going to be the status quo.? He said wearing a lifejacket and appropriate clothing and staying with at least one other person are basic measures that can help people stay safe. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: clear.gif Type: image/gif Size: 43 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 20060524__local_trinityflows_200.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 11007 bytes Desc: not available URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Wed May 24 08:55:07 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Wed, 24 May 2006 08:55:07 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Spring burn to begin Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE0926301B90702@mail2.trinitycounty.org> Spring burn to begin http://www.eurekareporter.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?ArticleID=11407 5/22/2006 As part of the ongoing Salyer/Hawkins Bar Community Protection Project, 80 acres of National Forest System lands in the Ziegler Point Road area above Trinity Village and Salyer Heights will undergo an "understory burn" that will be completed by early June. Consisting of woody debris, brush and small saplings, the burn is meant to reduce the threat of wildfire and maintain the canopy of larger trees, a Forest Service news release stated. According to the release, the burn will be conducted under precise environmental conditions to ensure that objectives are met and the area will be surrounded by control lines to prevent the fire from escaping. Wild land firefighters will patrol the area before, during and after the burn and all residual fires will be extinguished. Visible smoke will be seen during the ignition phase and for a short time thereafter, but should not impact local residents. The project was identified through a collaborative process involving the Trinity County Fire Safe Council, Trinity County Resource Conservation District, Salyer Volunteer Department, Hawkins Bar Volunteer Department and the Forest Service. It will be conducted in compliance with all North Coast Unified Air Quality Management regulations. For more information, phone Paul Johnson, Lower Trinity Ranger District fuels specialist, at (530) 629-2118. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Thu May 25 08:58:54 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Thu, 25 May 2006 08:58:54 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Trinity River flows are near record Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE0926301B907A4@mail2.trinitycounty.org> Trinity River flows are near record Trinity Journal May 24, 2006 150th Year, No. 21 http://www.trinityjournal.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=1&twindow=&mad =&sdetail=562&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=& reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1099 &hn=trinityjournal&he=.com A huge volume of water gushes from the glory hole's raceway outlet (upper right). The buildings are the dam's hydroelectric plant. By AMY GITTELSOHN The Trinity River is roaring with a release from the Lewiston Dam of 10,000 cubic feet per second - the highest it's been since 1974. Predicting the release to the river has been a moving target over the past few weeks as Central Valley Project operators have released higher flows than anticipated to compensate for rapid inflows to Trinity Lake from a heavy snowpack. "It's a pretty dramatic sight," said Doug Schleusner, executive director of the Trinity River Restoration Program. "We will be at 10,000 at least through the end of the week, and we're currently looking to see if we can go to 11,000." On Tuesday, Schleusner said that decision would be based on monitoring being performed that day, and if the release does go to 11,000 cfs it would probably be for only one day. The higher flows are meant to improve habitat for fish and this year are also serving the purpose of keeping the reservoir at a level operators are comfortable with. "These (extremely wet) years don't come along often and we would like to take full advantage," Schleusner said, but "we'll only do that if we're totally convinced that we could do so safely." The 10,000 cfs is the second-highest release to the Trinity River on record since the dam has been in place. The highest release was made in January 1974, when the release was raised to 14,400 cfs during destructive storms. Although a plan to restore the Trinity River calls for a spring peak release of 11,000 cfs in an extremely wet year such as this one, restoration program managers had not expected to be able to do that for fear of damaging structures. The federal Bureau of Reclamation had approved a proposal by the Trinity Management Council calling for a spring high of 8,500 cfs, with increases above that allowed if it could be done safely. With the recent dry spell, the tributaries to the Trinity River subsided enough for the higher flows to be possible, Schleusner said. The schedule had called for a spring peak lasting 13 days, but that time period will be shortened to compensate for the higher flow. Researchers with the restoration program are busy monitoring sediment movement and staking out high water areas. "We will use this new release level now to calibrate all the models we use to make a prediction," Schleusner said. On Tuesday, water was pouring out of Trinity Lake not only through the power plant and outlet works at the dam but also through the "glory hole" drain located above the dam. The water began trickling into the glory hole last Friday afternoon and increased over the weekend. Schleusner was quick to say that this is not an uncontrolled spill, adding that whatever goes through the glory hole can be compensated for by adjusting the gates at the dam. The flow to Clear Creek Tunnel, which takes water from Lewiston Lake to Whiskeytown Lake and the Sacramento River, can also be adjusted, he said. He added that teams have met with property owners along the river, and "most of them that we've talked to we've worked with them consistently enough that this is not a surprise." With high releases, river restoration personnel are monitoring the river in case of problems, Schleusner said. "Certainly," he said, "the public is encouraged to talk to them or the office with questions or concerns." -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 148949 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 19618 bytes Desc: image002.jpg URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Thu May 25 09:15:15 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Thu, 25 May 2006 09:15:15 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Enough Water for Central Valley Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE0926301B907AA@mail2.trinitycounty.org> Enough Water for Central Valley Trinity Journal May 24, 2006 150th Year, No. 21 The Bureau of Reclamation has announced that the Central Valley Project allocation will be 100% for all water users for Water Year 2006. Although the bureau uses a conservative forecast to determine the water supply available for the CVP water users, extremely wet conditions and high runoff through the end of April have provided sufficient water to make 100% of contractual obligations available to CVP South of Delta agricultural water service contractors. This is the first time in 10 years that a 100% allocation of water supplies has been available to those contractors. The 5 year historic average is 70%. The water year for the Trinity River instream flow release is classified as extremely wet with a water supply allocation of 815,000 acre-feet. For more information on the Water Year 2006 water supply, contact the public affairs office at (916)978-5100, TDD (916)978-5608. Additional information will continue to be posted on the Central Valley Operations Website at www.usbr.gov/mp/cvo/. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Vina_Frye at fws.gov Thu May 25 10:14:07 2006 From: Vina_Frye at fws.gov (Vina_Frye at fws.gov) Date: Thu, 25 May 2006 10:14:07 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] TAMWG Meeting Notice Message-ID: Hi Folks, The Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group Meeting (TAMWG) meeting notice was published in the Federal Register yesterday. Vina Frye U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Arcata FWO 1655 Heindon Road Arcata, CA 95521 Telephone: (707) 822-7201 Fax: (707) 822-8411 vina_frye at fws.gov [Federal Register: May 24, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 100)] [Notices] [Page 29974] >From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr24my06-111] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Notice of Meeting of the Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of meeting. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The TAMWG affords stakeholders the opportunity to give policy, management, and technical input concerning Trinity River restoration efforts to the Trinity Management Council. Primary objectives of the meeting will include: Trinity River Restoration Program Fiscal Year 2007 budget; Hoopa Valley and Yurok tribal perspectives; Trinity River Restoration Program emphasis on tributaries and watersheds; science framework; Executive Director's report; reports from Trinity River Restoration Program workgroups; Trinity River Restoration Program strategic plan; TAMWG member presentation; and CVPIA program review. Completion of the agenda is dependent on the amount of time each item takes. The meeting could end early if the agenda has been completed. The meeting is open to the public. DATES: The Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group will meet from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 15, 2006, and from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, June 16, 2006. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Trinity County Library, 211 Main St., Weaverville, CA 96093, telephone: (530) 623-1373. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Randy A. Brown of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office, 1655 Heindon Road, Arcata, California 95521, (707) 822-7201. Randy A. Brown is the working group's Designated Federal Officer. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App), this notice announces a meeting of the Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group (TAMWG). For background information and questions regarding the Trinity River Restoration Program, please contact Douglas Schleusner, Executive Director, Trinity River Restoration Program, P.O. Box 1300, 1313 South Main Street, Weaverville, California 96093, (530) 623-1800.???? Dated: May 18, 2006. Randy A. Brown, Designated Federal Officer, Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office, Arcata, CA.?[FR Doc. E6-7908 Filed 5-23-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P From tstokely at trinityalps.net Thu May 25 09:30:45 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Thu, 25 May 2006 09:30:45 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Fw: TAMWG Watershed "committee" Message-ID: <000301c68052$0393f6a0$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Pat Frost - TCRCD" To: "Doug Schleusner" ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; "Brian Person" ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Cc: ; ; ; ; "Andreas Krause" ; "Brandt Gutermuth" ; "Diana Clifton" ; "Dave Gaeuman" ; "Deanna Jackson" ; "Denise Wiltse" ; "Ed Solbos" ; "John Klochak" ; "Jeffrey McCracken" ; "Joe Riess" ; "Nina Hemphill" ; "Priscilla Henson" ; "Rod Wittler" ; "Tom Morstein-Marx" ; ; ; "Noreen Doyas - TCRCD" ; "Tiffany Riess" ; "Randi Paris" ; "Dan Westermeyer" Sent: Wednesday, May 24, 2006 12:45 PM Subject: Re: TAMWG Watershed "committee" > After a very successful kick-off meeting of the TRRP watershed group > organized by Andreas on May 3rd, Jim Spear & I have decided to bring folks > together for two purposes: > > [1] Begin the dialogue & planning to organize a Trinity River Coordinated > Resource Management Planning (CRMP) group to represent the broad interests > of landowners, land managers and folks interested in the restoration of > tributaries to the River. The South Fork CRMP was a very effective > organization that helped point the way fro all of the significant work > that has been done & is still planned in that watershed. > > [2] Engage in some project prioritization for the upcoming FY budget for > tributaries. > > I know it is short notice, and apologize. we will be meeting at the > RCD/NRCS Conference Room in Weaverville (Horseshoe Lane) at 1000 am on May > 31st. > > If you can't attend, but have some thoughts on either of these topics, > please feel free to zap them to Jim & me and we will share them with the > group. If you know of someone, who would be interested, but that isn't on > this email list, pass the message on. > > > Thanks > Pat Frost > TCRCD 530-623-6004 From bwl3 at comcast.net Fri May 26 13:36:14 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Fri, 26 May 2006 13:36:14 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Trinity River Release Change - REVISED Message-ID: <002301c68104$08840580$1f9eb545@p4> Project: Lewiston Dam - Trinity River Release This order supersedes the order of 5/26/06 0820 as follows: Date Time From To 5/26/06 1800 10,000 cfs 9,500 cfs 5/26/06 2200 9,500 cfs 9,000 cfs 5/27/06 0200 9,000 cfs 8,500 cfs Issued By: Tom Morstein-Marx Comment: Requested by Trinity River Restoration Program From tstokely at trinityalps.net Fri Jun 2 14:35:38 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2006 14:35:38 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Fw: Trinity River Release Change Message-ID: <002601c6868c$7e2efd70$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom Morstein-Marx" To: Sent: Friday, June 02, 2006 8:11 AM Subject: Trinity River Release Change > Project: Lewiston Dam - Trinity River Release > > Date Time From To > > 6/3/06 0100 8,500 cfs 8,250 cfs > > 6/3/06 2200 8,250 cfs 8,000 cfs > 6/4/06 0200 8,000 cfs 7,700 cfs > > 6/4/06 2200 7,700 cfs 7,400 cfs > 6/5/06 0200 7,400 cfs 7,150 cfs > > 6/5/06 2200 7,150 cfs 6,850 cfs > 6/6/06 0200 6,850 cfs 6,550 cfs > > Issued By: Tom Morstein-Marx > Comment: Trinity River Restoration Program Releases > From bwl3 at comcast.net Sat Jun 3 17:12:08 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Sat, 3 Jun 2006 17:12:08 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Seattle Times June 1 2006 Message-ID: <001601c6876b$86ef2db0$1f9eb545@p4> Thursday, June 1, 2006 - 12:00 AM Longtime salmon spokesman silenced By Craig Welch Seattle Times staff reporter For more than a decade, Brian Gorman has been the government's voice on salmon in Seattle, doling out news releases and explaining policies on everything from threatened Puget Sound chinook to Columbia and Snake river dams. But as of this spring, Bush administration officials have directed that all questions about salmon policy in Washington state be handled by political appointees, often as far away as Washington, D.C. "I essentially have been told that I can't speak about salmon issues to reporters," said Gorman, chief spokesman in Seattle for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which oversees Northwest salmon policy. NOAA officials say the change is merely a way to better coordinate public information. But it's only the latest example of the Bush administration tightening how employees of federal natural-resource agencies handle politically charged topics. This winter, NASA's top climate scientist told The New York Times that the administration was censoring him on global warming. In April, scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey and NOAA told the Washington Post that public-affairs officials were limiting their openness with the press. As for Gorman, a public-affairs officer who has worked at NOAA for 30 years, explanations vary for his sudden change of roles. The Washington Post on Wednesday noted that the change in Gorman's ability to talk about salmon came a day after Gorman was quoted suggesting that a judge's ruling and a new report, both rebutting administration positions on water policy in Oregon's troubled Klamath Basin, might be looked back upon as moments when "things really turned around for fish." Gorman referred questions Wednesday to his boss, Jordan St. John, the NOAA public-affairs director in Washington, D.C. St. John at first disputed there had been a specific change at all, saying he had merely reminded Gorman sometime in April that press inquiries should be referred to NOAA's regional director, Bob Lohn, who mostly works in Portland, or to policy experts in Washington, D.C. "My philosophy is that it should be my boss who is quoted," St. John said. "I was reminding Brian that this was our normal procedure." But Lohn said Wednesday that the decision was made in direct response to the ongoing controversy over the Klamath Basin. The battle involves several federal agencies, and "there was a desire to have a single point of contact," Lohn said. It was a "coordination issue, not a gag order," he added. Lohn denied Gorman's quote had played a role. Scott Rayder, the chief of staff for NOAA, acknowledged he spoke to St. John about having Lohn take over for Gorman as the spokesman on salmon policy. "Bob Lohn is the lead public spokesman," Rayder said. "He's got the big regional picture." Even so, on Wednesday Lohn said that NOAA will reconsider Gorman's role, because he "has more experience and remains more experienced and has a greater knowledge base" on local salmon issues than people in Washington, D.C. "As the Klamath issue has largely become more settled, we'll probably return to more normal ways," Lohn said. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.gif Type: image/gif Size: 3263 bytes Desc: not available URL: From BGUTERMUTH at mp.usbr.gov Wed Jun 7 15:35:59 2006 From: BGUTERMUTH at mp.usbr.gov (Brandt Gutermuth) Date: Wed, 07 Jun 2006 15:35:59 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] FONSI and Environmental documents available for 2006 Trinity R. Hatchery coarse sediment intro Message-ID: Trinity Enthusiasts: Trinity River Hatchery Area Channel Rehabilitation Project and Gravel Introduction The Trinity River Restoration Program (TRRP) has been working with the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Forest Service (both members of the Trinity Management Council), and other TRRP partners for several years to plan and implement placement of coarse sediment (1/4 to 5 inch diameter gravel) immediately downstream of Lewiston Dam near the Trinity River Hatchery. This is one of several gravel augmentation sites identified in the Trinity River Flow Evaluation Report and the December 19, 2000 Record of Decision where the river channel has degraded and is in immediate need of additional coarse sediment input. Post project improvements in river substrate and hydrodynamics will increase useable spawning habitat as well as spawning and egg incubation success, and will provide quality nursery habitat to increase survival of recently emerged egg sack fry and juvenile steelhead and salmon. Implementation of the project will include: [1] removal of existing riparian vegetation along the riverbank to access the project site, [2] excavation, redistribution and/or removal of approximately 6,900 cubic yards of existing riverbed and bank material, [3] mechanically re-shaping the river channel, including lateral channel widening of specific segments, [4] introduction and placement of approximately 5,100 cubic yards of washed coarse material originating from the Trinity River basin, and [5] maintaining levels of coarse material into the future at this site as needed and provided funding is available. Excavated material will be moved up-slope to build a vehicle turn-around and parking lot for anglers. The Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was signed on May 31, 2006, by the Program's Executive Director, thus allowing the Forest Service to immediately proceed with the project as described in the EA. The (1) the Forest Service EA, (2) additions to meet National Environmental Policy Act and Reclamation environmental compliance guidelines, and (3) a memorandum that details the circumstances surrounding the need for adoption of the Forest Service EA, were collectively adopted as an EA that meets all of Reclamation's requirements. This EA supports signature of the May 31 Reclamation FONSI. . The FONSI and the TRRP's EA are available for public review at Reclamation's Mid Pacific website at- http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=2220 and will be available June 7 on the TRRP's website at: http://trrp.net/RestorationProgram/HatcheryProject.htm ___________________________________ Brandt Gutermuth, Environmental Specialist Trinity River Restoration Program PO Box 1300 (mailing) 1313 Main Street (physical address) Weaverville, CA 96093 (530) 623-1806 voice; (530) 623-5944 fax Bgutermuth at mp.usbr.gov ___________________________________ From tstokely at trinityalps.net Wed Jun 7 16:11:16 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Wed, 7 Jun 2006 16:11:16 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Fw: Trinity River Release Change Message-ID: <015301c68a87$ae508b50$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeff Sandberg" To: Sent: Wednesday, June 07, 2006 3:55 PM Subject: Trinity River Release Change > > Project: Lewiston Dam > > Please make the following release changes to the Trinity River > > Date Time From (CFS) To (CFS) > > 6/08/06 0001 6000 5800 > 6/08/06 0200 5800 5600 > 6/08/06 0400 5600 5400 > 6/08/06 0600 5400 5200 > 6/08/06 0800 5200 5000 > 6/08/06 1000 5000 4800 > > Issued by: J. Sandberg > Comment: Trinity River Restoration Program Releases > From tstokely at trinityalps.net Thu Jun 8 10:50:07 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2006 10:50:07 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Salmon Disaster Declared for 10 counties Message-ID: <006501c68b24$44e74ad0$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> Governor declares state of emergency over salmon ban - Napa Valley Register Salmon industry to get crisis aid - Sacramento Bee Governor declares Salmon disaster - Eureka Times-Standard Governor declares state of emergency over salmon ban Napa Valley Register - 6/7/06 Associated Press SACRAMENTO -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday proclaimed a state of emergency in 10 California counties affected by the federal government's decision to severely restrict West Coast salmon fishing. The proclamation orders the state Department of Finance to provide loan guarantees to fishermen impacted by restrictions on commercial salmon fishing on 700 miles of coastline from Cape Falcon, Ore., to Big Sur. "By proclaiming a state of emergency, we are helping the fishermen and communities recover from the hardship and economic loss caused by the severely restricted salmon season," Schwarzenegger said in statement. The declaration was made for Del Norte, Humboldt, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Sonoma and Siskiyou counties. Fishermen in those counties will be allowed to apply for a total of $9.2 million in disaster assistance loans from three financial institutions. In April, the National Marine Fisheries Service adopted an emergency rule recommended by the Pacific Fishery Management Council to curtail commercial salmon fishing to protecting dwindling Chinook populations in the Klamath River. # http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2006/06/07/news/state/iq_3465466.txt Salmon industry to get crisis aid Sacramento Bee - 6/7/06 By Matt Weiser, staff writer Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency Tuesday in 10 counties to help the salmon-fishing industry cope with severe new catch limits. The declaration makes $9.6 million in low-interest loans available to fishermen and the businesses that support them as they struggle to survive a lean year. Salmon season began May 1 after federal officials restricted this year's catch to just 40 percent of a typical season. The rules affect 700 coastal miles along California and Oregon, where fishermen are already suffering from a reduced season last year. The shortened season is the result of severe chinook salmon declines in the Klamath River, which has been devastated by water diversions and other ills. Regulators hope the reduced catch will allow Klamath salmon runs to recover so the fishing season can return to normal in future years. Tuesday's declaration affects the following counties: Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma, Mendocino, Humboldt, Del Norte and Siskiyou. "The importance of it is the signal it sends," said Zeke Grader of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations. "This is not a partisan issue, but one of people who are really hurting." # http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/14264931p-15077432c.html Governor declares Salmon disaster Eureka Times-Standard - 6/7/06 By John Driscoll, staff writer Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency for 10 Northern California counties whose salmon fishing fleet has been put out of work from an anticipated paltry run of fish in the Klamath River this year. The governor's action provides guarantees to leverage some $9.2 million in small business loans for fishermen economically harmed by fishery closures and restrictions. It also follows Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski's request for a federal disaster declaration, further bolstering Schwarzenegger's similar April appeal. "Salmon fishing is the economic lifeblood of many Northern California communities," Schwarzenegger said in a news release. "By proclaiming a state of emergency, we are helping the fishermen and communities recover from the hardship and economic loss caused by the severely restricted salmon season." Humboldt, Del Norte, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Sonoma and Siskiyou counties qualify under the declaration. Many fishermen on the North Coast have fished longer than usual for Dungeness crab, or have opted to travel far out of the area to participate in other fisheries. Aaron Newman, a Eureka fisherman and president of the Humboldt Fisherman's Marketing Association, spent $30,000 for an Alaska salmon fishing permit. He'll soon motor his boat, the Maria Isabel, north, a significant financial risk with fuel at more than $3 per gallon. Newman said that small business loans might help fishermen, but paying back the money could be daunting. "When the government screws up and puts you out of business," Newman said, "you don't really want to take out loans." The declaration appropriates $778,000 to guarantee loans from three financial development corporations. Fishermen who can't otherwise get credit can qualify for up to $500,000 at between the prime interest rate to the prime interest rate plus 3 percent, according to information from the governor's office. Schwarzenegger's news release and an April 6 letter to the U.S. commerce secretary put the action to restrict the fishery in April in part at the feet of water management and dams in the Klamath basin. Since 2002, there have been several major fish kills of both juvenile and adult fish, just some of the chronic problems in the river. The emergency declaration comes on the same day that Assemblywoman Patty Berg and other state legislators of both parties pressed the governor's office for action. "Your declaration of a disaster is the first step needed in pursuing a federal disaster declaration," the group said in a letter, though it conceded that there was no guarantee of that. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, said getting the governor to make the declaration was an important step, but voiced concern about a faltering bipartisan effort to bring federal measures. "The idea that we'll give these guys a loan doesn't make them whole," Thompson said. # http://www.times-standard.com/local/ci_3908814 #### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From awhitridge at snowcrest.net Thu Jun 8 10:52:56 2006 From: awhitridge at snowcrest.net (Arnold Whitridge) Date: Thu, 08 Jun 2006 10:52:56 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] TAMWG agenda for June 15-16 Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.2.20060608104410.00c5fd80@mail.snowcrest.net> Here's the proposed agenda for the upcoming meeting of the Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group, June 15-16 in Weaverville. TAMWG meetings are open to the public; I'd be happy to try to answer any questions or provide further information. Arnold Whitridge, TAMWG chair 530 623-6688 Draft Agenda TRINITY ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT WORKING GROUP Trinity County Library, 211 Main Street, Weaverville, CA June 15-16, 2006 Thursday, June 15 Time Presentation, Discussion, and/or Action on: Presenter 1. 9:00 Adopt agenda; approve March minutes 2. 9:10 Open forum; public comment 3. 9:20 Flow schedule update Doug Schleusner 4. 9:40 TRRP fiscal year 2007 budget & program of work Doug Schleusner noon Lunch 5. 1:00 Integrated Assessment Plan; Science Framework Rod Wittler 6. 2:00 Federal tribal trust responsibilities & TRRP- Daniel Jordan, HVT; Perspectives of Hoopa Valley Tribe and Yurok Tribe Troy Fletcher, Yurok Tribe 7. 4:00 CVPIA review processes Ed Solbos 5:00 Adjourn for the day Friday, June 16 8. 8:30 TRRP perspective on watersheds and tributaries TMAG staff 9. 9:30 TRRP Strategic Plan Jim Feider 10. 10:30 Reports from TRRP work groups TAMWG lead reps 11. 11:00 Roles and responsibilities of TRRP participants Doug Schleusner 12. 11:30 Executive Director's report Doug Schleusner noon Lunch 13. 1:00 Further discussion/action (if needed) on '07 budget 14. 2:30 Open forum; public comment 15. 2:45 Tentative date and agenda topics for next meeting 3:00 Adjourn -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Fri Jun 9 11:47:45 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2006 11:47:45 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Siskiyou reels in salmon aid; Message-ID: <00a101c68bf5$a275df00$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> NORTH COAST SALMON: Siskiyou reels in salmon aid; Nine other counties will share state loans totaling $9.2 million Redding Record-Searchlight ? 6/9/06 By Dylan Darling, staff writer Although it's 20 miles from the Pacific Ocean at its westernmost point, Siskiyou County will get help from the state to cope with the economic impact of a restricted salmon fishing season. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this week declared a state of emergency in Siskiyou and nine other counties, opening the door for $9.2 million in loans for salmon-related businesses and anglers. The other counties -- Del Norte, Humboldt, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz and Sonoma -- all border the Pacific Ocean. Siskiyou County was included because the Klamath River runs through it, said Steve Martarano, spokesman for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It is not yet clear how the assistance is to be divided up. The Klamath has been at the heart of the current crisis. Low numbers of nativerun chinook salmon are expected in the river this fall, and since there's no way out in the ocean to distinguish a Klamath salmon from any other, the federal government has limited commercial fishing along 700 miles of coastline. The ban runs from Point Sur near Monterey to Cape Falcon near Astoria, Ore. The low Klamath numbers are the result of recent fish kills brought on by bacteria and disease, as well as a lack of good spawning grounds. There will be a limited season in September off Fort Bragg; in July, August and September in the ocean near San Francisco; and in May, July, August and September in the Monterey area, according to the Pacific Fisheries Management Council, the federal agency that sets ocean fishing seasons. This year's catch should be 40 percent of the usual commercial harvest. In addition to the federal limits, the state Fish and Game Commission -- which sets regulations for fishing and hunting -- has called for a ban on recreational fishing in the Klamath this fall, Martarano said. The proposed ban is undergoing legal review, but looks likely. "There is not going to be any fall fishing along the Klamath," he said. An exception is the Karuk Tribe, which will maintain its legal right to catch fish for traditional purposes. But tribal members expect this year's haul to be especially low. Fishing guides based in Siskiyou County will take an economic hit, as will river resort owners. "The disaster for fish on the Klamath River affects all of those people," said Marcia Armstrong, chair of the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors. Communities along the Klamath River already have a 19.6 percent unemployment rate -- mostly because of the effects on the logging industry from federal protection of the Northern spotted owl. Armstrong said unemployment could increase if there isn't a fall salmon season. Armstrong said she was pleased Schwarzenegger lumped Siskiyou in with the coastal counties that will receive assistance. Ron Reed, cultural biologist for the Karuk Tribe, said he also appreciates the help. But he added that more needs to be done to mend the problems -- such as dams blocking salmon from upstream spawning grounds -- that led to the low numbers of Klamath salmon in the first place. "I don't need a loan, I need a fish to eat," he said. # http://www.redding.com/redd/nw_local/article/0,2232,REDD_17533_4762212,00.html #### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Fri Jun 9 14:58:53 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2006 14:58:53 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] FW: Continuation Notice of Proposed Changes in Klamath RiverSportfishing Regulations Message-ID: <007601c68c0f$e666c250$d2d0a043@p4> Hi Folks Apparently there was a problem with the process of adopting some fishing regulations for the Trinity River including the trout season opener date change from the last Saturday in April to April 1. It was not officially adopted as part of the F&G Commission Klamath/Trinity package. Fortunately, the F&G Commission will be addressing this issues as outlined in the attached documents. I have no reason to believe there will be any problem with adopting this change at their June 23 meeting. CalTrout is submitting a letter of support just in case. Thanks for your continued support. Sincerely, Tom P.S. please circulate this to anyone I missed. Thomas J. Weseloh Northcoast Manager, California Trout 1976 Archer Rd. McKinleyville, CA 95519 707 839-1056 phone 707 839-1054 fax www.caltrout.org ----- Original Message ----- From: "FGC" To: "FGC" Sent: Friday, June 09, 2006 12:20 PM Subject: Continuation Notice of Proposed Changes in Klamath RiverSportfishing Regulations You are receiving this message because you sent in comments on the proposed changes to the Klamath River sportfishing regulations. Please see the attached letter, Notice, Pre-Adoption Statement of Reasons and proposed regulatory language. (Note: In converting the proposed regulatory language to PDF format, some of the double strikeout text appears as single bold strikeout. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.) If you prefer to receive this notice via Postal Service mail, please let me know. Sherrie Koell California Fish and Game Commission -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 06.09.06coverlettter.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 32513 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Continuation Notice.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 40395 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Pre-adoption Statement.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 88760 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Proposed Regulations.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 105095 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: season opener date change 6-9-06.doc Type: application/msword Size: 71680 bytes Desc: not available URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Fri Jun 9 15:21:19 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2006 15:21:19 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Joint Klamath Meetings 6/21-22 in Yreka Message-ID: <012901c68c13$08c91160$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> NEWS RELEASE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE CALIFORNIA-NEVADA OPERATIONS OFFICE Yreka Fish and Wildlife Office 1829 South Oregon Street, Yreka, CA 96097 CALIFORNIA/NEVADA For Immediate Release Contact: June 8, 2006 Gary Curtis - Ecosystem Restoration Team Leader Phil Detrich- Field Supervisor (530) 842-5763 Klamath River Basin Fisheries Task Force and Klamath Fishery Management Council Joint Meeting in Yreka, California The Klamath River Basin Fisheries Task Force (Task Force) and the Klamath Fishery Management Council (Council) will meet at the Yreka Campus of the College of the Siskiyous, 2001 Campus Drive, Yreka, California, to discuss issues related to the restoration of salmon and other anadromous fisheries in the Klamath River. The meeting will take place on June 21, 2006, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm; and June 22, 2006, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. The meeting will include topics of interest to both advisory committees, including habitat restoration planning and implementation in the Shasta, Scott, Salmon, Lower Klamath, and Middle Klamath sub-basins, and updates on the current condition of the Klamath River and its anadromous fisheries. The committees will also discuss future habitat restoration and harvest management information needs. On the afternoon of June 22, the Council will discuss a variety of issues related to salmon harvest management. The Task Force is a Federal advisory committee that assists the Secretary of Interior in the formulation, coordination, and implementation of a 20-year program to restore the anadromous fisheries of the Klamath River Basin Conservation Area. The Task Force membership includes representatives of the commercial salmon fishing industry; the in-river sport fishing community; the Yurok, Karuk, Hoopa, and Klamath Tribes; Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity, Siskiyou, and Klamath Counties; the California Department of Fish and Game; Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife; U.S. Departments of the Interior and Agriculture; and the National Marine Fisheries Service. The Council is a Federal advisory committee that makes recommendations to the Pacific Fishery Management Council, Native American Tribes, and States on the harvest of salmon originating in the Klamath River Basin. The members of the Council represent the commercial and recreational fishing industries, the Yurok and Hoopa Valley Tribes, the States of Oregon and California, and Federal agencies. Members of the public are encouraged to attend this meeting and offer comments and recommendations to the Task Force and Council. For additional information, please contact Gary Curtis or Jennifer Silviera, at (530) 842-5763. X X X DRAFT AGENDA Joint Meeting of the Klamath River Basin Fisheries Task Force and Klamath Fishery Management Council June 21 - 22, 2006 College of the Siskiyous Yreka, California June 21, 2006 9:00 am 1. Convene and opening remarks. John Engbring, Chair. Vice Chair is Marcia Armstrong 9:10 2. Introductions of Congressional staff in attendance 9:20 3. Business a. Adoption of agenda b. Approval of minutes from February, 2006, meeting 9:30 4. Brief review of last meeting actions/general correspondence/program update (Gary Curtis) 9:45 5. Brief Updates and Announcements a. Update on Shasta-Scott Incidental Take Permits (CDFG) b. Update on NOAA coho recovery planning (NMFS) c. Update on Klamath Hydroelectric Project Re-licensing (FWS) d. FWS Conservation Partnerships Program (FWS) 10:15 6. Report from Klamath Watershed Coordination Group a. Klamath Basin Compact Commission (Alice Kilham) b. Upper Klamath Basin Working Group (Jim Carpenter) c. Trinity Management Council (TF members) 10:45 Break 11:00 7. Report from the Technical Work Group (Petey Brucker) 11:30 8. Klamath Project Operations in 2006 and status of the Conservation Implementation Program (Bureau of Reclamation) 12:00 9. Public comment 12:15 Lunch 1:30 pm 10. Panel discussion with Sub-basin Coordinators-Retrospective and Prognosis for Fisheries Restoration (Sub-basin Coordinators) 2:30 Break 2:45 11. Accomplishments Report review and approval (Staff/Petey) 3:30 12. Systems Impact Assessment Model (SIAM; Sharon Campbell, USGS) 4:00 13. Public comment 4:15 Recess 6:30 - 9:00 pm Social Gathering, Greenhorn Park June 22, 2006 8:00 am 14. Klamath River Anadromous Fish Status Report (Rebecca Quinones, USFS) 8:30 15. Fish Health Working Group and 2006 disease update 9:00 16. Information on 2006 salmon season (CDFG) 9:15 17. Public comment 9:30 Break 9:45 18. The future beyond the Task Force. What?s next? 10:45 19. Public comment 11:00 20. Recap and conclusions Task Force Adjourn; Council to continue after lunch 11:30 Lunch 1:00 pm 21. Update on the salmon fisheries disaster declaration process 1:15 22. Update on California Fish and Game Commission actions 1:30 23. Update on future fisheries/habitat restoration funding in the Klamath basin (Phil Detrich) 1:45 24. Klamath Fisheries Management Post-Klamath Act 2:45 25. Proposed Fishery Management Plan Amendment # 15 (de minimis fisheries) 3:45 26. Public comment 4:00 27. Report on the Technical Advisory Team's "Tribal/non-Tribal report card" assignment 4:15 28. Approval of March and April, 2006, KFMC minutes 4:30 Adjourn -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Mon Jun 12 11:59:42 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2006 11:59:42 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Contra Costa Times June 10 Message-ID: <001a01c68e52$5d9eaba0$d9a8a943@p4> IRRIGATION CONCERNS: State plans to retire half of water district's farms Contra Costa Times - 6/10/06 By Mike Taugher, staff writer Up to half the farms in the nation's largest irrigation district would be taken out of production to prevent tainted runoff from polluting the Delta and ocean under a tentative plan released Friday. By retiring hundreds of thousands of acres in the Westlands Water District, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation hopes to end decades of controversy over how to drain the district's farms along Interstate 5. Originally, Westlands runoff was to be drained into the Delta near Antioch, but that plan was scrubbed after bird deformities due to selenium buildup in the water were discovered in 1983 at the Kesterson National Wildlife Refuge near Los Banos. In an environmental impact report released Friday, the reclamation bureau says it now favors retiring 300,000 acres of the 600,000-acre district, either by purchasing the farms outright or securing non-irrigation promises from landowners. The cost to buy out the farmers is tentatively estimated at $725 million. A final decision is at least a month away, and bureau officials said there could be changes to the plan. But even the second best option calls for retiring 200,000 acres of farmland, making it clear that the government intends to fallow large portions of the district and abandon plans to build a drain to the Delta or the ocean. Westlands general manager Tom Birmingham had no comment Friday, but district spokeswoman Sarah Woolf said the Westlands District is in general opposed to land retirement on such a large scale. "We disagree with the size of that type of retirement," Woolf said. Although Westlands in 2000 said it would consider retiring 200,000 acres, Woolf said the district no longer believes it necessary to retire that much land. About 90,000 acres have already been retired. That land can be grazed or dryland farmed but not irrigated. It could also be developed for housing or other uses. Environmentalists, meanwhile, welcomed the analysis. "The government is finally admitting after decades of delay that almost half the land in Westlands is too toxic for farming," said Hamilton Candee, a lawyer at the Natural Resources Defense Council. Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, a longtime opponent of the San Luis Drain, also welcomed the study. "Finally, it looks like the Bureau of Reclamation may have been forced to do the right thing and take the impaired farmland out of commission," Miller said in a written statement. "This means less water will be contaminated in the first place, and it should mean more water available for river restoration and water quality improvements for the rest of the state." Westlands is hindered by a layer of clay beneath the surface that prevents water from draining deep. The result is a high water table and an occasionally toxic buildup of salt near the surface. Farmers in the district get their water from a federal water project and have insisted that in addition to providing irrigation, the government also has an obligation to drain the land. The courts have agreed, and in 2000 the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the bureau to provide drainage while leaving the door open to land retirement as a solution. The report released Friday says the most economical option for the public is to retire the northern portion of the district, which runs generally along the east side of I-5 between an area just south of Los Banos all the way to Kettleman City, a stretch of 90 miles. The less problematic portions of the district would continue to receive irrigation water, and the runoff from those farms would be recycled, treated and disposed in evaporation ponds within the San Joaquin Valley. The nearing resolution of the Westlands drainage problems comes as the water district continues negotiations with the federal government on a 25-year renewal of its water contract. Its existing contract is due to expire next year. Westlands has in the past favored land retirement as a way not only to address the district's drainage problems, but also to improve water supplies to the remainder of the district by applying the same amount of water to less land. Westlands farms, which average about 900 acres each, grow a variety of crops, including cotton, vegetables, grains, nuts and grapes. But environmentalists say the district's water contract should be reduced along with the overall size of the district. "This drainage study demonstrates that the new proposed Westlands water contract is nothing but a sweetheart deal for a few hundred corporate farms," said Candee, the NRDC lawyer. Bureau spokesman Jeff McCracken said the amount of water that will be contained in the contract renewal is still the subject of negotiations. Any decision the bureau makes on land retirement, runoff treatment or even drain construction will have to be funded by Congress, McCracken said. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Wed Jun 14 10:12:19 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 10:12:19 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Draft Agenda for June 19-20 TMC meeting Message-ID: <099F81D877F1044DA24BA95E0CE0926301CDF8AF@mail2.trinitycounty.org> Good morning, Here is the draft agenda for next week's TMC meeting. Please note the location is at the Victorian Inn Restaurant - not at the Library. See you at 9:00 a.m. Doug ___________________________________ Douglas P. Schleusner, Executive Director Trinity River Restoration Program P.O. Box 1300, 1313 South Main St. Weaverville, CA 96093 (530) 623-1800 Fax: (530) 623-5944 e-mail: dschleusner at mp.usbr.gov ___________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: June19_2006_draft_agenda.doc Type: application/msword Size: 49664 bytes Desc: June19_2006_draft_agenda.doc URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Thu Jun 15 11:39:28 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2006 11:39:28 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Federal buyout could boost troubled Delta Message-ID: <006a01c6918d$b0c27cb0$c5653940@trinitycounty.org> DELTA ISSUES: Federal buyout could boost troubled Delta Stockton Record ? 6/15/06 By Warren Lutz, staff writer STOCKTON - The federal government proposes to buy half of the farmland in California's largest water district to stop a decades-long drainage problem, a plan that could bolster the ailing Delta. What environmentalists and local water agencies can't figure out is why the feds are renegotiating a contract with the same district to send them even more water, which they say created the problem in the first place. "It doesn't make sense," said Dante Nomellini, an attorney for the Central Delta Water Agency. "If land is going to be retired, the water ought to be withdrawn." The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, however, says its proposal to buy out as much as 300,000 acres in the Westlands Water District would eventually mean less water to the district, not more. Westlands, a 600,000-acre swath of farmland located just east of Interestate 5 that spans Mendota to Kettleman City, receives enough Delta water for 2.4 million families a year. The problem is that the land drains poorly, leading to a buildup of water beneath the land's surface that can become contaminated with salt. The Bureau of Reclamation is negotiating a contract with the district that would deliver another 30,000 acre-feet of water to the district. But Jeff McCracken, an agency spokesman, said the district isn't actually asking for more water since it bought the water from another smaller, local district. "It's water that would have been delivered anyway," he said. Westlands, for its part, isn't happy about the idea. The district's 600 farms produce about $3.5 billion in agriculture annually, spokeswoman Sarah Woolf said. Besides potentially cutting the district's farm income in half, the government's plan would disrupt water-sharing agreements that local farmers have with each other, she said. "Hopefully, Reclamation, Westlands, and other parties involved in the litigation can come to a better solution," Woolf said. Since the 1960s, the federal government has looked at ways to drain farm water from the region, at one point building a drain to the Delta. But environmental groups complained, and the project was abandoned after being partially built. Instead, the water drained at the Kesterson Wildlife Refuge, where the water-tainted selenium from farm runoff killed birds and left them with deformities. The Bureau of Reclamation, which runs the Central Valley Project, is under a 2000 court order to solve the issue. Buying the farmland is the leading solution among several options that the agency considered in an environmental report released last week. The bureau faces a tough decision, said Hal Candee, an attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group that is opposed to increasing Westland's take of Delta water. "Will they combine the strategy of land retirement that is recommended by their own (report) with a reduced water export program, or will they ignore that recommendation and continue business as usual?" Candee said. Environmental groups in general favor decreasing the amount of water sent south from the Delta, arguing that the exports hurt local water quality and contribute to the decline of Delta fish. Nomellini said the federal government should drain the water to the ocean, since water sent to Westlands will continue to add to the Valley's growing salt problem. Salt intrusion from San Francisco Bay contributes to the Delta's poor water quality, resulting in lower crop yields and lower oxygen levels, which hurt fish. But Westlands' drainage problem should have been solved before any water went there at all, Nomellini said. "There's got to be some kind of balance," he said. # http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060615/NEWS01/606150323/1001 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Mon Jun 19 10:45:10 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2006 10:45:10 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Sacramento Bee June 17 Message-ID: <001201c693c8$1dc156b0$d9a8a943@p4> SAN JOAQUIN RIVER: Some see a deal to get river rolling; A long-sought pact for dry San Joaquin could become reality after Monday hearing Sacramento Bee - 6/17/06 By Michael Doyle -- and Mark Grossi -- Fresno Bee WASHINGTON -- The dried San Joaquin River might flow again, along with lots and lots of money, under a historic deal coming closer by the hour. Long-warring parties who beat the odds to become negotiating partners will march once again before a federal judge in Sacramento on Monday. In their hands could be an accord that reshapes California's water future. "The agreement is there," said Rep. George Radanovich, R-Mariposa. Attorneys for farmers and environmentalists quietly concur, though the final haggling could well last all weekend. Negotiators are motivated. They know that if they fail, U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton will impose his own unpredictable solution -- which might hit farmers hard. "The negotiators believe that it is possible to reach agreement in principle on the few remaining issues before June 19, and will continue to work between now and the status conference," attorneys advised Karlton on Thursday. Details are cloaked and negotiators tight-lipped. Still, any deal will be heard loud and clear throughout the West. It will be ambitious, as officials revive the San Joaquin for the first time since Friant Dam began constraining the river in the 1940s. It will be far-reaching, with water users as far north as the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta waiting nervously to see the plans. It will be expensive, with San Joaquin River restoration costs estimated at a minimum of $100 million and possibly much more, depending on how the river is restored. It will also quickly become congressional business. Federal authorization will be required for the levees, streambed improvements and other work required to enliven the seasonally dry river with about 200,000 acre-feet of water annually. An acre-foot is the amount of water needed to cover an acre to the depth of 1 foot, or about 326,000 gallons. "If there's an agreement, we will come together to write the enabling legislation," said Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno. Last September, urged on by Radanovich and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., the Friant Water Users Authority and the Natural Resources Defense Council began quietly conferring on how to settle a San Joaquin River lawsuit first brought in 1988. The lawsuit challenges contract renewals for Friant, which represents 15,000 east San Joaquin Valley farmers. Arguments quickly turned to the loss of the river's two salmon runs in the late 1940s when two large stretches of the river dried up. State law requires dam operators to provide enough downstream flow to keep fisheries going. Nonetheless, state officials squelched complaints from their own Department of Fish and Game and allowed the federal government to dry up the river. Then-Gov. Edmund "Pat" Brown agreed with federal officials who wanted to irrigate highly productive land. Friant's lawyers have always maintained this is what Congress intended. But in 1997, Karlton invalidated 14 contracts, ruling environmental reviews were not properly conducted. After the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the case, the two sides spent more than three years trying to settle. They wound up back in federal court by 2003. In August 2004, Karlton decided the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation broke state law by drying up the river and wiping out the salmon runs. He has been poised since February to craft a solution unless a settlement is reached. The politics are as complex as the litigation. The congressman who represents most of the Friant district on the Valley's east side, Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Tulare, bluntly distrusts environmentalists. Nor does he want to release water from Friant for the purpose of saving the long-dry San Joaquin; at most, he indicated, he "may not oppose" the final deal. Downstream water users in Merced, Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties worry they might be hurt. For instance, some fear they will shoulder new Endangered Species Act burdens in order to protect the spring run of the chinook salmon enraptured by the San Joaquin River's new flow. "I'm hopeful that we'll come up with a solution that works for everyone," said Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced. On the other hand, a revived river would help water quality downstream, where environmentalists derisively talk of the "lower colon of the San Joaquin River." A healthy San Joaquin would mean higher water quality in the Delta, the source of drinking water for about 23 million Californians. But, back on the Valley's west side, another third party worries about what will happen if the river is restored. The westside farmers who once used the San Joaquin for irrigation have instead taken water from the Delta for years. They farm more than 200,000 valuable acres along the dried and withered sections of the river. A live river will inevitably spill out onto surrounding land, Central California Irrigation District officials fear. "Most of the big expense of restoring the river will take place right in this stretch," said district manager Chris White. Friant and the Natural Resources Defense Council neared an agreement several months ago. The struggle ever since has been to brief groups like Central California, Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts and to tinker as necessary with the final language Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From truman at jeffnet.org Mon Jun 19 18:42:02 2006 From: truman at jeffnet.org (Patrick Truman) Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2006 18:42:02 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Where is Danny Hagans? Message-ID: <002301c6940a$c8be8230$020aa8c0@HAL> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAPA Winery expansion sows dissension Officials look into possible violation of erosion control ordinance Glen Martin, Chronicle Environment Writer Monday, June 19, 2006 A Napa winery's dispute with state and county officials over the unsanctioned construction of terraced vineyards near a creek is raising concerns about the effectiveness of efforts to control agricultural expansion into forested mountain areas. At the heart of the issue is Palmaz Vineyards' disposal over the past three years of as much as 100,000 cubic yards of soil and rock dug from a huge subterranean winery complex. The "excavation spoils" were used to create about 20 acres of vineyards on the upper reaches of Hagen Creek, a small stream east of the Napa Valley. The work was done without a county erosion-control plan and accompanying environmental report conducted according to guidelines of the California Environmental Quality Act. Palmaz representatives say the brouhaha is a misunderstanding because the rules are complex and unevenly applied. But some government officials and local engineers say the project clearly violates the county's erosion control ordinance, a seminal conservation rule passed in 1991 that places tight strictures on hillside vineyard development. Unless Palmaz is kept to the letter of the law, they say, the ordinance -- which generally is obeyed by vineyard owners -- could unravel. "Nobody likes regulation, but I think most people around here now feel that planting vineyards wherever you want may not be a great idea," said Phill Blake, the Napa field office district conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, a subsidiary agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Blake helped write the original erosion control regulation. The problem, said Blake, "is that you see people waiting patiently for approval to plant a 1- or 2-acre vineyard. So it's understandable if they become upset when they see someone thumbing their nose at the ordinance, not playing by the rules." The conflict marks the second time Palmaz has run afoul of regulators. In 2001, it was cited by the California Department of Fish and Game for removing oaks and altering a tributary of Hagen Creek without appropriate permits. Fish and Game required the winery to remediate the damage. Cathy Roche, an attorney for Palmaz, said that the winery has been diligent in attempts to conform to county and state regulations, but that the process has been complicated. She said county officials approved the Palmaz plan to dispose of the excavated soil "under standard erosion control methods" on winery property rather than trucking it to a disposal site. Roche said a letter that Napa County Planning Department assistant director Patrick Lynch sent to her in the spring of 2004 stated that the vineyard work was consistent with the winery's use permit. "We complied with the use permits, so we determined we didn't need an erosion-control plan and (environmental) review," she said. Amalia Palmaz, the owner of the winery, said that she acted with the best of intentions and that even the winery's attorneys didn't always agree on interpretations of government regulations. But California Department of Fish and Game officials believe violations of state law may have occurred with the ambitious vineyard development. "We did meet with them recently, but that's after repeated efforts were made to contact them, dating from January," said Lt. Don Richardson of Fish and Game. "It has been a difficult process at best." Richardson said his agency is conducting an investigation of the winery, and that information may be filed with the county district attorney for possible charges. Hilary Gitelman, the Napa County planning director, said an erosion control plan with accompanying environmental report is required for any property with a slope greater than 5 percent. "It's definitely more than 5 percent up there (on the Palmaz property)," she said, adding that the winery did not obtain a required grading permit for the vineyard terracing. "We view this as an ongoing investigation of possible code violations," Gitelman said. "Right now, we're making sure they do what's necessary to get the grading permit. (Then) we'll have to determine what level of (environmental) review (for the erosion control plan) is required." Roche said the approval process for new vineyard development is confusing and onerous to growers and vintners. The process also puts a great financial burden on vineyard owners, she said. "An environmental review for a 50- or 60-acre vineyard can easily cost $500,000," she said. "It has become a major issue for the industry." But such an expense is nothing new for the premium wine business, said Jim Bushey, a vineyard engineer for PPI Engineering in Napa. "It's part of the cost of doing business, and if you get into this business, you know that," he said. Besides, said Bushey, environmental reviews are a relatively minor expense in the moneyed world of California wine -- especially for a winery like Palmaz, which is lavish even by Napa Valley standards. A tour of the disputed Palmaz vineyard site revealed a landscape that is significantly altered but shows no apparent signs of erosion. Flourishing vineyards grow on the terraced excavation spoils. While no large trees remain around Hagen Creek, the riparian zone has been vegetated with grasses, willows and other plants. The soils seem firmly anchored. Danny Hagans, an erosion and sediment-control specialist who is a consultant for Palmaz, said the project is soundly engineered. "This was abandoned agricultural land, not virgin forest," Hagans said. "The vineyards are only on the foot slopes, not along the creek. The buffers and setbacks for the creek are generous." Hagans pointed beyond the fence to a large landslide on forested land that occurred over the winter. "That slide dumped more than a thousand cubic yards of material into the creek, and it happened on wooded land," he said. "By contrast, there was no significant erosion in this vineyard." But critics say the project strayed from government rules even if it is superb in every detail. They claim the erosion control ordinance protects the Napa Valley's watershed as a whole -- and if variances are allowed, they say, the damage to the county's woodlands and waterways could be extreme. "While the ordinance had some growing pains, it is now working very well," Bushey said. "But if it's going to continue to work, it has to be applied evenly to everyone. Unfortunately, enforcement has been the weakest link in the regulation since it passed in 1991. That needs to be addressed." E-mail Glen Martin at glenmartin at sfchronicle.com. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: chronicle_logo.gif Type: image/gif Size: 1013 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: ba_vineyard02_t.gif Type: image/gif Size: 2433 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: ba_vineyard03_t.gif Type: image/gif Size: 2503 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: ba_vineyard01_t.gif Type: image/gif Size: 2242 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: ba_palma19_map_t.gif Type: image/gif Size: 3592 bytes Desc: not available URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Tue Jun 20 11:40:44 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2006 11:40:44 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Friant Settlement Status Message-ID: <002001c69499$0a80acf0$d9a8a943@p4> SAN JOAQUIN RIVER RESTORATION: River restoration plan advances; Judge grants additional time to finalize a plan to put water back into San Joaquin River Fresno Bee - 6/20/06 By E.J. Schultz and Mark Grossi SACRAMENTO - Farmers and environmentalists say they are close to a historic agreement to put water back into the San Joaquin River, but they need more time to define the state's role in the restoration plan. "We've really nailed down the details among the parties about what a settlement should look like," Barry Nelson, a senior analyst with the national Natural Resources Defense Council, said in an interview Monday. He made the comments after lawyers on both sides told a federal judge that they needed until the end of the month to get buy-in from the state. The goal is to bring back water - and fish - into a river that has been slowed to a trickle since Friant Dam was built in the 1940s. Farmers are seeking a deal that doesn't destroy the Valley's farm-based economy. "We're confident that what we negotiated has the support of the Friant community," Dan Dooley, a negotiator for Friant Water Users Authority, a quasi-governmental entity that represents east Valley farmers, told U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton. Karlton, who has threatened to schedule a trial if no progress is made, agreed to let lawyers submit a written report by the end of June. By then, lawyers said, they expect to have the state issues resolved. "I am obviously significantly encouraged by everything you say," Karlton told the lawyers. Attorneys remained mum on specific points of the agreement. The general public might not know the details of the deal until August. That is because lawyers are expected to hold confidential briefings with interested parties through much of the summer before finalizing an agreement. The dealings are being watched closely throughout California as the outcome could leave a lasting imprint on water policy along the 350-mile river, the state's second-longest stream. Environmentalists have held the upper hand in the case for many years. The lawsuit took a decisive turn in 2004 when Karlton ruled that the federal government violated the law more than a half-century ago when it destroyed two salmon runs. The decision weighs heavily on east San Joaquin Valley farmers, who have been irrigating with the river water for decades. They fear they will lose water to restoration. The question now is how to restore the river, which runs dry in two places as it makes its way from Friant Dam to the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Coming into Monday's hearing there was hope that a final deal might be announced. But lawyers said there still is too much ground to cover with the state. While the federal government had joined the negotiations, the state, though briefed, has not been directly involved. Nelson said it didn't make sense to bring the state into talks until the farmers and environmentalists had their differences resolved. With the two sides now in basic agreement, they have begun negotiating with the state over how the plan will be implemented. For instance, state approvals will be needed to alter the stream bed or to remove sediment, said Nancy Saracino, chief deputy director of the Department of Water Resources. All told, restoration could take about 10 years, she said. "The state will be actively involved in the long-term implementation in any settlement that is reached," she said. Work could begin "quite soon," said Saracino, noting that the state budget now being negotiated includes about $10 million, over three years, for restoration. Total costs are expected to begin at around $100 million and could run much higher. Financial help could come from a $5.4 billion natural resources bond that recently qualified for November's ballot. The bond earmarks $100 million for restoration, though its passage is not a certainty. Federal help also is expected because Friant is a U.S. Bureau of Reclamation dam. Another state issue involves levee work. Levees on the west side of Fresno, Madera and Merced counties belong to the state. The Lower San Joaquin Levee District maintains 191 miles of these earthen walls, which prevent flooding in high-water years such as this one. Before dams and levees, the San Joaquin River historically spread across a broad floodplain, making farming a risky business. The Chowchilla Bypass and its downstream cohort, the Eastside Bypass, are channels that run east of and parallel to the river, keeping high flows inside the levees. Officials need to decide whether the levees will be moved or completely taken out. They also will have to figure out where the river will run because many miles of the old channel have not carried a river flow in more than four decades. Farmers on the Valley's west side are worried that a restored river would flood their fields. Officials representing the farmers say they haven't seen the settlement agreement yet. "We cannot make any comments on it yet," said Steve Chedester, executive director of the quasi-governmental entity San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors Water Authority in Los Banos. Friant Dam talks yield little for settlement Stockton Record - 6/20/06 By Warren Lutz, staff writer STOCKTON - A decision expected Monday over a historic settlement to restore the San Joaquin River will have to wait at least two more weeks. Despite settlement talks that took place all weekend, the parties involved in an 18-year lawsuit to resuscitate the state's longest river told a Sacramento court Monday that they have not yet agreed on everything. Environmental groups are suing the federal government over Friant Dam, which diverts 90 percent of upper San Joaquin River water to farmers and towns near Fresno and points south - water that used to flow down the San Joaquin and into San Francisco Bay. For the past half-century, the dam dried up large sections of the river, killing off once-prodigious salmon and steelhead runs and creating low flows that plagued Delta farmers with salty water. The judge hearing the case agreed Monday to give the parties one more chance to settle. "The parties have made substantial progress and are optimistic that they can resolve the few outstanding issues in the next two weeks," said Hal Candee, senior attorney for the National Resources Defense Council, one of the parties in the suit. In 2004, U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton ruled Friant Dam had destroyed salmon runs and created severe water pollution in the Delta by drying up the river. The federal government, which operates the dam, has been negotiating with the other parties in the lawsuit since. Earlier this year, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger sent a letter to the court pledging his support to a proposed settlement. The parties have been discussing the settlement since then with state agencies. The remaining issues involve "translating the governor's strong statements of support into specific provisions for state participation in the implementation of this settlement," Candee said. Details of the intensely private negotiation process have been kept confidential. However, the NRDC and the Friant Dam Water Users Authority, a defendant in the lawsuit, have suggested a settlement is close. The Friant authority has said it already is considering other means of delivering water to its members. James Thompson, an attorney for the Friant group, said the parties have agreed not to discuss the settlement process until it is over but said the parties have reached an agreement in principle. "I think that sounds pretty good," he said. Previous reports have suggested it would take about 400,000 acre-feet of water per year to restore the river below Friant. The dam holds 520,500 acre-feet of water, roughly enough to grow 210,000 acres of tomatoes. Judge gives more time to reach final San Joaquin River agreement San Jose Mercury-News - 6/19/06 By Samantha Young, Associated Press staff writer SACRAMENTO - A federal judge on Monday gave farmers and environmentalists until the end of the month to reach an agreement that seeks to restore year-round water flows to parts of the San Joaquin River, negotiations aimed at bringing salmon runs back to one of California's most important waterways. Attorneys for both sides told U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence Karlton that they have resolved key substantive issues to reverse the negative effects of a dam built nearly 60 years ago. A final agreement remained elusive, however, as attorneys continued to negotiate details with state officials. Those details focused on how the state Department of Water Resources would implement the final accord, they said. "Our hope and expectation is we'll be able to close (discussions) off by the end of June," said Phil Atkins-Pattenson, an attorney representing the Natural Resources Defense Council. Details of the tentative agreement remain confidential under a court order. Attorneys representing Central Valley farmers, environmentalists and the federal Bureau of Reclamation had negotiated through Monday morning in hopes of meeting a court-ordered deadline for a final plan to release more water from Friant Dam, which was built in 1949 and created a reservoir that is now a state recreation area. The case dates to a 1988 lawsuit filed by the Natural Resources Defense Council. The environmental group was seeking to restore salmon runs after the dam choked the flow of water along the San Joaquin, leaving many downstream sections filled with tumbleweed. The expected agreement would set in motion the largest river-restoration project in state history, ensuring the river would run year round from below the dam to where it enters the delta near Stockton. The San Joaquin is a crucial link in the state's vast water-delivery network. It helps irrigate Central Valley farm land and is part of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River delta, which supplies drinking water to more than 20 million Californians as far south as Los Angeles. "What we're trying to do is get fish back to the delta without sacrificing the country's most productive agricultural economy," said Gregory Wilkinson, a partner with Best Best & Krieger who is representing the Friant Water Users Authority, a group that represents 15,000 farmers. At a previous court hearing in April, the judge had threatened to impose his own solution if the parties failed to reach an agreement by a deadline he set for Monday. But as the deadline day arrived, Karlton said he was "significantly encouraged" that an agreement appeared close and ordered the attorneys to submit a written report by the end of the month. "Last time we said we'd get this buttoned up by today," the judge said. "Here we are getting closer." Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From truman at jeffnet.org Wed Jun 21 22:57:19 2006 From: truman at jeffnet.org (Patrick Truman) Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 22:57:19 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Its A Deal, Maybe... Message-ID: <002601c695c0$c177c830$020aa8c0@HAL> SAN JOAQUIN RIVER: thanks Mike... Some see a deal to get river rolling; A long-sought pact for dry San Joaquin could become reality after Monday hearing Sacramento Bee - 6/17/06 By Michael Doyle -- and Mark Grossi -- Fresno Bee WASHINGTON -- The dried San Joaquin River might flow again, along with lots and lots of money, under a historic deal coming closer by the hour. Long-warring parties who beat the odds to become negotiating partners will march once again before a federal judge in Sacramento on Monday. In their hands could be an accord that reshapes California's water future. "The agreement is there," said Rep. George Radanovich, R-Mariposa. Attorneys for farmers and environmentalists quietly concur, though the final haggling could well last all weekend. Negotiators are motivated. They know that if they fail, U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton will impose his own unpredictable solution -- which might hit farmers hard. "The negotiators believe that it is possible to reach agreement in principle on the few remaining issues before June 19, and will continue to work between now and the status conference," attorneys advised Karlton on Thursday. Details are cloaked and negotiators tight-lipped. Still, any deal will be heard loud and clear throughout the West. It will be ambitious, as officials revive the San Joaquin for the first time since Friant Dam began constraining the river in the 1940s. It will be far-reaching, with water users as far north as the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta waiting nervously to see the plans. It will be expensive, with San Joaquin River restoration costs estimated at a minimum of $100 million and possibly much more, depending on how the river is restored. It will also quickly become congressional business. Federal authorization will be required for the levees, streambed improvements and other work required to enliven the seasonally dry river with about 200,000 acre-feet of water annually. An acre-foot is the amount of water needed to cover an acre to the depth of 1 foot, or about 326,000 gallons. "If there's an agreement, we will come together to write the enabling legislation," said Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno. Last September, urged on by Radanovich and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., the Friant Water Users Authority and the Natural Resources Defense Council began quietly conferring on how to settle a San Joaquin River lawsuit first brought in 1988. The lawsuit challenges contract renewals for Friant, which represents 15,000 east San Joaquin Valley farmers. Arguments quickly turned to the loss of the river's two salmon runs in the late 1940s when two large stretches of the river dried up. State law requires dam operators to provide enough downstream flow to keep fisheries going. Nonetheless, state officials squelched complaints from their own Department of Fish and Game and allowed the federal government to dry up the river. Then-Gov. Edmund "Pat" Brown agreed with federal officials who wanted to irrigate highly productive land. Friant's lawyers have always maintained this is what Congress intended. But in 1997, Karlton invalidated 14 contracts, ruling environmental reviews were not properly conducted. After the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the case, the two sides spent more than three years trying to settle. They wound up back in federal court by 2003. In August 2004, Karlton decided the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation broke state law by drying up the river and wiping out the salmon runs. He has been poised since February to craft a solution unless a settlement is reached. The politics are as complex as the litigation. The congressman who represents most of the Friant district on the Valley's east side, Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Tulare, bluntly distrusts environmentalists. Nor does he want to release water from Friant for the purpose of saving the long-dry San Joaquin; at most, he indicated, he "may not oppose" the final deal. Downstream water users in Merced, Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties worry they might be hurt. For instance, some fear they will shoulder new Endangered Species Act burdens in order to protect the spring run of the chinook salmon enraptured by the San Joaquin River's new flow. "I'm hopeful that we'll come up with a solution that works for everyone," said Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced. On the other hand, a revived river would help water quality downstream, where environmentalists derisively talk of the "lower colon of the San Joaquin River." A healthy San Joaquin would mean higher water quality in the Delta, the source of drinking water for about 23 million Californians. But, back on the Valley's west side, another third party worries about what will happen if the river is restored. The westside farmers who once used the San Joaquin for irrigation have instead taken water from the Delta for years. They farm more than 200,000 valuable acres along the dried and withered sections of the river. A live river will inevitably spill out onto surrounding land, Central California Irrigation District officials fear. "Most of the big expense of restoring the river will take place right in this stretch," said district manager Chris White. Friant and the Natural Resources Defense Council neared an agreement several months ago. The struggle ever since has been to brief groups like Central California, Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts and to tinker as necessary with the final language -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From truman at jeffnet.org Mon Jun 26 12:47:49 2006 From: truman at jeffnet.org (Patrick Truman) Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2006 12:47:49 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] The New Timber Line Message-ID: <000901c69959$7abfff60$020aa8c0@HAL> for pics of Craig Blencowe, Mendocino County RCD, see... http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=/c/a/2006/06/26/BAGM7JK9E61.DTL&o=0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CALIFORNIA The new timber line Conservationists and loggers, old enemies, try working together Glen Martin, Chronicle Environment Writer Monday, June 26, 2006 More... a.. Printable Version b.. Email This Article (06-26) 04:00 PDT Boonville, Mendocino County -- There it was, utterly fearless, stolidly returning stares from a Douglas fir branch. The living emblem of the Timber Wars -- a northern spotted owl. Not that this kind of encounter is necessarily rare for ornithologists, said Katie Fehring, a researcher for PRBO Conservation Science and a spotted owl maven. The endangered birds, she said, are renowned among scientists for their bland indifference to human beings. What does seem unusual is that the owl -- long associated with primeval, cathedral-like stands of conifers -- is in this particular place: the North Coast's "working forest," a vast tract of relatively young redwoods and hardwoods that stretches from northern Sonoma County to southern Humboldt County. These forests are on the cusp of change, with the likely future either rural development or continued timber production. But if it stays in timber, the old ways won't suffice, said Paul Brateris, the chief operating officer for Harwood Products, the region's last major mill, in the little town of Branscomb. Art Harwood, the president of the company, has been trying to get timber industry representatives, environmentalists and local citizens to forge a new approach to logging and milling, Brateris said -- one that emphasizes stewardship as much as lumber production. Sustainable forestry is the only real option for the North Coast if it is to retain its essential character, he said. "As it is now we can't get the logs we need locally," he said. "We have to barge them down from Washington and Canada, and that's expensive. If we're going to keep our heads above water, we need local product." For decades, this land has been logged by companies such as Louisiana Pacific, Georgia Pacific and Sierra Pacific. But in recent years, the timber companies have begun divesting themselves of their holdings because there isn't sufficient timber left for profitable operations. And some conservationists say opportunities now exist to buy the land before developers pounce on it. And though these forests have been stripped of mature trees, the presence of Fehring's spotted owl is reason for hope, conservationists say. "If they can find what they need -- abundant rodents and a fairly dense canopy -- they can do OK," Fehring said. Conservationists, of course, would like to see the owls and other species -- marbled murrelets, coho salmon, steelhead trout -- do more than OK. To thrive, these sensitive critters need large expanses of mature forests, their preferred habitat. And the North Coast's logged-over woodlands can't reach maturity if they're chopped up into subdivisions. "A lot of these lands already have moved into pension funds, real estate investment trusts and other investment group holdings," said Chris Kelly, the West Coast director of the Conservation Fund, which spent $10 million to buy 24,000 acres of timberland along Mendocino County's Garcia River and its tributaries. The fund's holdings now constitute about one-third of the Garcia's watershed. The transaction was supported by grants and loans, including a $4 million loan from the California Coastal Conservancy. Kelly said the Conservation Fund has negotiated for an additional 16,000 acres from the Hawthorne Timber Co., a spin-off of Georgia Pacific. "(The landowners) will sell to conservancies, but they also have a fiduciary responsibility to obtain fair market price," Kelly said. "We have to compete in the marketplace like everyone else. "If we can keep marching north, we will. This entire region is at stake." The Conservation Fund doesn't plan to manage its newly acquired lands as an inviolate reserve, Kelly said. Rather, they will remain working, sustainable forests. That means selective logging rather than clear-cutting. Particular care will be taken to restore riverine habitats to benefit salmon and steelhead runs. The fish once thrived in the Garcia and its tributaries, but were decimated by sedimentation from gravel extraction and logging. Kelly said the runs are starting to return. "There simply isn't the funding available to turn these lands into public parks," Kelly said. "One way or the other, they'll have to generate revenue. But some ways of generating revenue are preferable to others." About one-third of the fund's holdings will be permanent reserve with no commercial cutting. On the rest of the land, logging will help thin heavy stands of young, skinny trees that otherwise crowd each other. Scott Kelly -- a forester who consults with the Conservation Fund and is not related to Chris Kelly -- said these practices can help speed replacement of old-growth forests. It all remains to be seen whether such a free market approach to forest conservation will actually work in the global free market. Domestic prices for Douglas fir -- common along the Garcia -- are low at $450 to $500 for every thousand board feet. Redwood prices are better, about $950 a thousand board feet. However, redwood plantations are now expanding in New Zealand and it is unclear if the price will remain stable. Meanwhile, logging costs -- dependent on the price of diesel fuel -- are climbing rapidly. "They went up about 5 percent in the last year alone," said Scott Kelly. Small landowners also play a role in these changing forests. One is Fred Euphrat, a consulting forester from Healdsburg who owns 416 acres of woodland west of the town. The land has been in Euphrat's family since 1960 when his father bought it for recreation. Euphrat now wants to manage it as a working forest that accommodates both timber production and wildlife. He owns an additional 320 acres of logged-over land near the North Coast town of Elk that he is rehabilitating, and he plans further timberland acquisitions. Ultimately, Euphrat said, his Healdsburg property should yield $50,000, not including the salary he pays himself. For every tree cut, another is protected from logging or a new one planted. "We're saving our larger trees as heritage trees, and others as wildlife trees because they have good nesting or denning value," he said on a recent tour of his land with his stepdaughter, Elise Euphrat. As Euphrat talked, Elise and a crew of forestry technicians marked trees for the pending harvest. "This isn't a charity," Euphrat said. "We believe California timberlands are an excellent investment. But we aren't just managing for economic productivity. We're also managing for wildlife and watershed values, timber stand regeneration and fire control. For all that, we need multiple tools -- timber harvesting, government grants, conservation easements and good information." E-mail Glen Martin at glenmartin at sfchronicle.com. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: ba_forests01june06dp04_t.gif Type: image/gif Size: 1995 bytes Desc: not available URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Wed Jun 28 07:38:32 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2006 07:38:32 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Delay in salmon fisheries aid prompts anger Message-ID: <003401c69ac0$87fed120$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/14272475p-15082798c.html Delay in salmon fisheries aid prompts anger By David Whitney -- Bee Washington Bureau Published 12:01 am PDT Wednesday, June 28, 2006 Story appeared on Page A4 of The Bee Print | E-Mail | Comments (0) WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration said in a heated meeting with West Coast House members Tuesday that there will be no economic aid until at least February for salmon fishermen idled because of the collapsing Klamath River fishery. "This is NOAA saying to the fishermen of California and Oregon: Drop dead," snapped Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, after the closed meeting with Conrad Lautenbacher, head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The virtual closure of the West Coast salmon season is affecting fishermen from Monterey to Portland. "This has hurt communities just as seriously as Hurricane Katrina," said Rep. Lois Capps, D-Santa Barbara. "We have fishermen in San Luis Obispo suffering, not being able to make their boat payments, not being able to continue their family businesses. Our communities need help, and they need it now." Thompson and Capps were among a half-dozen House members appealing directly to Lautenbacher and the Commerce Department for $81 million in disaster aid for the fishermen and dependent communities. The meeting followed a letter from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to the Bush administration Monday expressing deep frustration over the delay. "I am at a loss as to what further information you need so that our fishing-dependent communities can become eligible to receive disaster assistance," the governor said. The House members said they were told no disaster declaration would be coming until at least February, after the closure of the season and enough time for the administration to calculate actual damages. Lautenbacher declined to confirm that, saying the agency was "still working with the congressional delegation." But that's not what the angry House members said. "We have fallen into a bureaucratic black hole," sighed Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore. The Commerce Department announced in May that it was slashing the commercial salmon season by 80 percent because of poor returns of fish to the Klamath River, where a huge die-off three years ago was blamed on Bush administration policies that favored farm irrigation over downstream water quality. Despite a regional office approving a disaster declaration, top officials in Washington have held up a final decision. Many believe that their decision is influenced at least in part by the fact that a disaster declaration would implicate the administration's controversial water policy. According to a Congressional Research Service memo to Thompson, there are no formal established procedures for fishery disaster declarations and the time for making them varies dramatically. For example, it took less than a week to issue such a declaration for fishermen affected by Hurricane Katrina. Thompson said he and fellow lawmakers would try to add $81 million in disaster aid to a 2007 spending bill for the Commerce Department this week, but that effort is likely to be challenged in the Republican-led chamber. About the writer: a.. The Bee's David Whitney can be reached at (202) 383-0004 or dwhitney at mcclatchydc.com. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 34303339366235623431666462616630?_RM_EMPTY_ Type: application/octet-stream Size: 43 bytes Desc: not available URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Wed Jun 28 07:54:26 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2006 07:54:26 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Thompson introduces amendment for fishing assistance Message-ID: <005001c69ac2$c18aa660$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> FYI, the Trinity County Board of Supervisors has requested that the Governor and federal govt also proclaim a Fishing State of Emergency in Trinity County. I should have a scanned copy of the resolution shortly. If anyone would like a copy, please send me a private e-mail and I'll send it to you. Sincerely, Tom Stokely Principal Planner Trinity Co. Planning/Natural Resources PO Box 2819 190 Glen Rd. Weaverville, CA 96093-2819 530-623-1351, ext. 3407 FAX 623-1353 tstokely at trinityalps.net or tstokely at trinitycounty.org Article Launched: 06/28/2006 04:27:30 AM PDT http://www.times-standard.com/local/ci_3989225 Thompson introduces amendment for fishing assistance The Times-Standard NOAA says no aid until February; governor joins call for relief WASHINGTON, D.C. -- North Coast Congressman Mike Thompson late Tuesday introduced an amendment to an appropriations bill to try to obtain assistance for coastal salmon fishermen. The congressman's action came after he and other members of Congress met with officials of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. ?A group of us met with NOAA fisheries today and they told us they aren't going to do anything for us,? Thompson said Tuesday in a telephone interview. Thompson said NOAA told the congressional delegation there would be no assistance until February. ?We are going to try to get an amendment passed for $81 million needed for disaster relief? in the Commerce Appropriations bill, Thompson said. He added, however, ?We don't think in our wildest dreams that it will pass.? The attempt, he said, is to ?tell our story that this administration is ignoring us up and down the coast.? Thompson also referred to a letter from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez, which Thompson said is ?the best letter out of his office about anything.? In his letter, Schwarzenegger said: ?I cannot understand why another day needs to pass without a declaration of disaster for California's salmon fishing season. Fishermen who rely on a full season to pay the bills have been restricted to approximately 20 percent of their normal season. It is within your authority to declare a disaster. I urge your immediate action to provide the relief necessary to fishermen, business owners and fishing-dependent communities. Without your assistance, those who rely on commercial salmon fishing may lose their boats, permanently shut their doors or be forced out of their livelihoods.? Last week, NOAA spokesman Jordan St. John said the fact that there is limited fishing allowed this year makes it difficult to determine whether there is a real, not just projected, effect on the industry, which he claimed is a requirement under the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Act. Only then can the U.S. secretary of commerce make a declaration, he said, adding that such a determination is in progress. Schwarzenegger's letter, dated Monday, follows an earlier push for a disaster declaration by him and the governor of Oregon. http://www.times-standard.com/local/ci_3989215 Article Launched: 06/28/2006 04:24:19 AM PDT Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's letter to the Secretary of Commerce The Times-Standard GOVERNOR ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER June 26, 2006 The Honorable Carlos M. Gutierrez Secretary of Commerce US. Department of Commerce 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20230 Dear Mr. Secretary, I cannot understand why another day needs to pass without a declaration of disaster for California's salmon fishing season. Fishermen who rely on a full season to pay the bills have been restricted to approximately 20 percent of their normal season. It is within your authority to declare a disaster. I urge your immediate action to provide the relief necessary to fishermen, business owners and fishing-dependent communities. Without your assistance, those who rely on commercial salmon fishing may lose their boats, permanently shut their doors or be forced out of their livelihoods. The federal government's decision this year to substantially reduce the salmon season along the California and Oregon coasts and eliminate the in-river fishery has created a substantial economic hardship in these areas. Yet despite declarations of emergencies in California and Oregon, requests from Governor Ted Kulongoski and me that you use your authority to determine there has been a commercial fishery failure and continuous technical support from my staff, you have not accepted the seriousness of this situation. I am at a loss as to what further information you need so that our fishing-dependent communities can become eligible to receive disaster assistance. These same fishermen worked extensively and in a professional manner with the states and your agency to provide the data to allow a limited commercial fishery this year. But it was clear at that time that the limited fishery would not be enough for the 'families to sustain themselves and their businesses, and it was not a substitute for necessary disaster assistance. These hardworking families and their communities deserve an explanation for why your immediate attention has been on hold. In a letter dated April 5 2006, I requested that you use your authority under the MagnusonStevens Act to determine there has been a commercial fishery failure and therefore make fishing dependent communities eligible to receive economic disaster assistance. Our request was supported by the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) southwest regional office. In your April 19 reply to me, you stated that you recognize the Klamath Basin is in trouble. For this reason, I was disappointed to learn that your department has now reportedly rejected NOAA's recommendation, an action that further delays the provision of disaster assistance that is critically needed along the Northern California and Oregon coasts. California has invested millions of dollars to restore salmon habitats through partnerships with the federal government, local agencies and non-profit organizations. In addition, Governor Kulongoski and I, along with your department and other federal agencies, signed "The Klamath River Watershed Coordination Agreement." This agreement calls for development of a long-term management approach, common vision and integrated planning associated with the Klamath Basin. I remain tirelessly committed to that agreement and the approach it dictates. Our efforts to restore critical habitat, however, do not address the immediate needs of fishermen and communities who are literally on the verge of bankruptcy. Earlier this month, I proclaimed a state of emergency in 10 California counties affected by the federal government's decision to reduce the salmon season and made available loan guarantees to those in need of financial assistance. I also requested the State Legislature approve $10 million in additional state funds to be invested for restoration in the Klamath Basin this year. While my administration has acted within its authority to address this crisis and to assist the people and communities hurt by this federal decision, corresponding federal assistance or even an acknowledgment of the need is missing. I strongly urge you to review these issues and act quickly to help. I look forward to your favorable reply. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: clear.gif Type: image/gif Size: 43 bytes Desc: not available URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Wed Jun 28 16:39:25 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2006 16:39:25 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Congressman George Miller on Salmon Disaster Message-ID: <005801c69b0c$1e000b30$b6fdb545@p4> REP. Miller and West coast DEMOCrats FIGHT FOR federal aid to salmon Fishermen WASHINGTON, DC - Rep. George Miller (D-CA) and other West Coast Democrats vowed today to block regular order in the House of Representatives in an effort to win $81 million in immediate disaster relief to the salmon fishermen and women of California and Oregon and the businesses and communities that depend on them. Despite the near-total closure of the 2006 salmon season and the destruction of the Klamath fishery, the Bush Administration has refused to declare a federal disaster in this industry. Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) is proposing an amendment to provide $81 million in aid to the affected businesses and communities but House Republican leaders are refusing to allow the House to debate or vote on his amendment. The West Coast Democratic lawmakers promised today to delay regular order in the House because their right to offer this amendment is being denied. The House is considering a federal spending bill that directly relates to the fishing industry, among other issues. "President Bush and his radical rubberstamp Republican allies in Congress have simply abandoned salmon fishermen, small businesses and local communities along the west coast," said Miller. "Democrats in the House have not abandoned our communities and we will do everything we can to fight for the federal aid that they deserve during this difficult fishing season. "The question is whether President Bush is on the side of these small businessmen and women or not. He has been unwilling to help these families, despite his party's rhetoric claiming to be on the side of small businesses," Miller added. "Apparently, this Administration plans to do nothing until fishermen and their communities have lost their boats and gone bankrupt before they make a decision on this critical issue. But they could declare an emergency and provide immediate relief to the families who are hurting if they wanted to do that. The Republican leadership needs to stop thwarting our efforts to help west coast communities and small businesses in the fishing industry and allow the House to vote on the Thompson amendment." Miller noted that the rights of the minority in Congress have been severely limited under GOP rule. Frequently, Democrats are not allowed to offer amendments that are relevant to the bill under consideration at that time. But there are still tools lawmakers can use to block or delay regular order to make the point that they deserve to have their amendments considered. The lawmakers promised today to use those tools to pressure the Republican leadership to allow the Thompson amendment to be considered. Background on 2006 Salmon Fisheries Crisis Several Democratic members co-authored legislation (H.R.5213) this year to address both the short- and long-term problems plaguing the Klamath fishery. Miller, Thompson, and others have also repeatedly asked the Department of Commerce to declare a disaster so that Congress can provide immediate assistance to the affected fishermen and women and communities. The Department has refused to do so and says it may be impossible to make such a declaration until February 2007. The Klamath River runs from Oregon through Northern California, and has been badly mismanaged by the Bush administration for political gain. In 2002, on behalf of the farm industry, the Bush Administration directed water to be diverted from the river, which resulted in a massive fish kill. This year's drastically reduced number of returning salmon is directly attributable to the 2002 fish kill and a parasitic infection resulting from poor federal management of the river. Here's how the LA Times wrote about the Administration's actions. "All administrations are political, of course. But never before has the White House inserted electoral priorities into Cabinet agencies with such regularity and deliberation. Before the 2002 midterm elections, for instance, Rove or Mehlman visited with the managers of many federal agencies to share polling information and discuss how policy decisions might affect key races. "In 2002, Rove told Interior Department officials of the importance of helping farmers in Oregon whose political support was crucial to Gordon Smith, a vulnerable Republican senator. Within months, perhaps because of Rove's exhortations, the agency did just that, supporting the diversion of water from the environmentally important Klamath River for the sake of irrigating farmland. Thousands of salmon eventually died in the newly shallow waters. But the senator secured his reelection." Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From windhorse at jeffnet.org Thu Jun 29 09:11:13 2006 From: windhorse at jeffnet.org (Jim Carpenter) Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2006 09:11:13 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] FW: [Klamathstakeholders] Book about Klamath Basin & Photo 1 Message-ID: Pictures really are worth a thousand words, just check out the body language! Meanwhile the clock on the Klamath wall ticks on.... Carpenter Design, Inc. 541-885-5450 www.CarpenterDesign.com CCB# 93939 -----Original Message----- From: klamathstakeholders-bounces at lists.oregonstate.edu [mailto:klamathstakeholders-bounces at lists.oregonstate.edu]On Behalf Of Stephen Most Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 12:49 PM To: klamathstakeholders at lists.oregonstate.edu Subject: [Klamathstakeholders] Book about Klamath Basin & Photo 1 Dear Stakeholders, A book that I have written about the history of the Klamath Basin will be published this September. Called River of Renewal, Myth and History in the Klamath Basin, it is being published by Oregon Historical Society Press and University of Washington Press. The last chapter is about the stakeholders workshops, for I regard these as significant for the future of the Klamath Basin. When I attended the Chiloquin workshop I took some photos before Terry informed me that some people didn't want the workshops photographed. I would like to use the attached photos in the book to accompany the last chapter. If you are in one or more of the photos please let me know either that I have your permission to publish the photo or that you do not want the photo to be published. Last year, Terry sent these photos to Chiloquin workshop participants for the same reason, asking if anyone objected to their publication. To my knowledge, no one responded. However, I want to make sure and also let my publishers know that no one minds having their photo in the book. Personally, I feel that I am honoring you, since you are making history, but it is up to you. Best, -- Stephen Most (510) 548-3537 P.S. I am sending the photos one by one so that the size of this email will not be excessive. -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: P1010023_1.JPG Type: application/octet-stream Size: 3053769 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- An embedded and charset-unspecified text was scrubbed... Name: ATT00036.txt URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Thu Jun 29 09:26:21 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2006 09:26:21 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Salmon Disaster Amendment Passes House Message-ID: <001301c69b98$c28ef1c0$b6fdb545@p4> Salmon Disaster Assistance Amendment Passes House FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 28, 2006 CONTACT: Matt Gerien (202) 225-3311 WASHINGTON-North Coast Congressman Mike Thompson today was able to attach an amendment to provide disaster assistance for California and Oregon fishers to the Science, State, Justice and Commerce Appropriations Bill. Thompson and members of the California and Oregon Congressional delegations offered the amendment which will transfer $2 million in funding from the Department of Commerce's administrative budget to NOAA Fisheries. The funding is meant to be a placeholder for additional disaster assistance funding as the appropriations bill moves through the Senate and then a conference committee. Thompson delivered three speeches on the House floor today. Links to video of the speeches can be found below: <<...OLE_Obj...>> &sTime=00:03:00.0&eTime=00:04:07&duration=00:01:06.0&UserName=repthomca&sLoc ation=G&sExpire=0> Time Code: Start Time: 10:37:38 End Time: 10:38:44 &sTime=00:02:25.0&eTime=00:04:31&duration=00:02:05.0&UserName=repthomca&sLoc ation=G&sExpire=0> Time Code: Start Time: 12:34:44 End Time: 12:36:49 &sTime=00:01:31.0&eTime=00:04:04&duration=00:02:33.0&UserName=repthomca&sLoc ation=G&sExpire=0> Time Code: Start Time: 12:43:48 End Time: 12:46:21 Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Thu Jun 29 13:19:51 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2006 13:19:51 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Miller and Thompson on Salmon Disaster Aid Message-ID: <005501c69bb9$6b69f900$b6fdb545@p4> WEST COAST DEMOCRATS USE "JOB ACTION" in the house TO Win HELP for salmon Fishermen WASHINGTON, DC - Republican leaders in the House backed down today in a dispute with Democrats regarding the need to provide federal aid to West Coast salmon fishermen and small businesses facing a severe salmon population shortage. Rep. George Miller (D-CA) and other West Coast Democrats led by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) vowed earlier today to block regular order in the House of Representatives because the House would not allow debate or a vote an amendment proposed by Thompson to provide $81 million in immediate disaster relief to the salmon fishermen and women of California and Oregon and the businesses and communities that depend on them. Despite the near-total closure of the 2006 salmon season and the destruction of the Klamath fishery, the Bush Administration has refused to declare a federal disaster in this industry. Thompson proposed aiding the affected businesses and communities but House Republican leaders refused to consider his amendment. After several hours of delay this morning, Republican leaders allowed a modified version of Thompson's amendment to be considered and it was unanimously approved by the House. While the modified amendment would provide $2 million in aid to the fishermen and local communities, Thompson, Miller and others said that approval of the amendment will allow them the opportunity to fight for more aid later this year when the House bill that the amendment was attached to is reconciled with a Senate version of the bill. "For no good reason, President Bush and his allies in Congress have abandoned salmon fishermen, small businesses and local communities along the West Coast," said Miller. "Democrats in the House refused to abandon these communities and today we have won an important victory for them. We will continue to press this concern in the Congress until we have done everything that we should be doing as a result of the Administration's fisheries mismanagement." Miller noted that the rights of the minority in Congress have been severely limited under GOP rule. Frequently, Democrats are not allowed to offer amendments that are relevant to the bill under consideration at that time. But there are still tools lawmakers can use to block or delay regular order to make the point that they deserve to have their amendments considered. Because the lawmakers promised today to use those tools to pressure the Republican leadership to allow the Thompson amendment to be considered, the leadership finally backed down and allowed the amendment to be considered so that they could continue with regular order for the rest of the day. Background on 2006 Salmon Fisheries Crisis Several Democratic members co-authored legislation (H.R.5213) this year to address both the short- and long-term problems plaguing the Klamath fishery. Miller, Thompson, and others have also repeatedly asked the Department of Commerce to declare a disaster so that Congress can provide immediate assistance to the affected fishermen and women and communities. The Department has refused to do so and says it may be impossible to make such a declaration until February 2007. The Klamath River runs from Oregon through Northern California, and has been badly mismanaged by the Bush administration for political gain. In 2002, on behalf of the farm industry, the Bush Administration directed water to be diverted from the river, which resulted in a massive fish kill. This year's drastically reduced number of returning salmon is directly attributable to the 2002 fish kill and a parasitic infection resulting from poor federal management of the river. Here's how the LA Times wrote about the Administration's actions. "All administrations are political, of course. But never before has the White House inserted electoral priorities into Cabinet agencies with such regularity and deliberation. Before the 2002 midterm elections, for instance, Rove or Mehlman visited with the managers of many federal agencies to share polling information and discuss how policy decisions might affect key races. "In 2002, Rove told Interior Department officials of the importance of helping farmers in Oregon whose political support was crucial to Gordon Smith, a vulnerable Republican senator. Within months, perhaps because of Rove's exhortations, the agency did just that, supporting the diversion of water from the environmentally important Klamath River for the sake of irrigating farmland. Thousands of salmon eventually died in the newly shallow waters. But the senator secured his reelection." Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Thu Jun 29 09:31:47 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2006 09:31:47 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Several Klamath Salmon Disaster Newspaper Articles Message-ID: <002101c69b99$84b14730$b6fdb545@p4> $2 million netted for fishermen - Eureka Times-Standard FISH FIGHT TURNS BITTER; Demanding $81 million in aid for struggling salmon fishermen, angry West Coast lawmakers stage protest in House -- and get $2 million; FEDERAL LIMITS: Restrictions to protect Klamath stocks are squeezing the industry - San Francisco Chronicle $2 million OK'd for salmon fishermen; Funds approved by House fall far short of $81 million sought - Santa Rosa Press-Democrat House OKs $2 million in disaster aid for salmon fleet - Sacramento Bee FISH FIGHT TURNS BITTER; REACTION: Modest help from Congress disappoints commercial fishermen, who say season is 'basically a total loss' - San Francisco Chronicle Yurok Tribe wins greater say on Klamath River - Sacramento Bee $2 million netted for fishermen Eureka Times-Standard - 6/29/06 By James Faulk, staff writer EUREKA -- Congressman Mike Thompson and other West Coast representatives would not take no for an answer this week when it came to securing emergency aid for area fishermen. The group was told by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration on Tuesday that no money and no disaster declaration would be forthcoming, at least until next February, to help fishermen deal with a severely curtailed commercial salmon season. Lawmakers originally asked for $81 million, but settled for $2 million after a strange legislative display in which the lawmakers used procedural votes to force action on an amendment Wednesday. "What we decided to do was pull out all the plugs," said Thompson, D-St. Helena. The $2 million may sound like little compared to the original amount requested, but it gets the foot in the door, said Thompson's press secretary, Matt Gerien, and allows for the U.S. Senate to provide even more money down the legislative line. The $2 million comes from the U.S. Commerce Department's administrative funds and goes into NOAA's general fund to help with fishermen. Thompson's measure passed on voice vote as an amendment to an annual spending bill funding the departments of Justice, Commerce and State. The underlying bill was expected to pass this week. Eureka fisherman David Bitts said Thompson and his staff have been working hard on this issue. "His persistence looks like it may pay off," Bitts said. "If it happens, it's going to happen in spite of NOAA fisheries and not because of them -- this not-till-February thing is basically thumbing their nose at fishermen." First District Supervisor Jimmy Smith also credited Thompson and his staff, as well as other West Coast lawmakers. "This is good work," Smith said. Thompson downplayed the victory Wednesday and said the work would only be done when the fishermen get the aid they need and the Bush administration takes responsibility for the problems it created in the Klamath Basin. Thompson said he met with Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Wednesday, and that she committed to supporting the funding on the Senate side, and to finding even more money. Thompson said the difficulty has been exacerbated by the fact that only a few congressional districts are affected by this, and that Republicans are reluctant to support help for the fishermen because it "would be an admission that the Bush water policy caused this problem." So it came time to take drastic action, he said. "We created some ... civil disobedience," Thompson said. # http://www.times-standard.com/local/ci_3993682 FISH FIGHT TURNS BITTER; Demanding $81 million in aid for struggling salmon fishermen, angry West Coast lawmakers stage protest in House -- and get $2 million; FEDERAL LIMITS: Restrictions to protect Klamath stocks are squeezing the industry San Francisco Chronicle - 6/29/06 By Zachary Coile, staff writer (06-29) 04:00 PDT Washington -- Lawmakers from California and Oregon, angry at the Bush administration for refusing to aid struggling Pacific Coast salmon fishermen, brought the House to a standstill Wednesday -- ultimately forcing GOP leaders to offer a small amount of economic relief. The issue has simmered for months as West Coast fishermen have struggled to cope with the nearly complete closure of the salmon season by federal officials, who are trying to protect critically low salmon stocks in the Klamath River. Lawmakers have been urging Congress to pass an $81 million relief package for fishermen and fishing-related businesses along the California and Oregon coasts to address the economic fallout of closing the fishery. "The administration is refusing to even look at it," Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, said on the House floor. "The Republican Congress is ignoring the fact that working families are being displaced, being put out of jobs and going bankrupt." Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski have declared state disasters for coastal fishing communities and are urging Congress to offer economic relief. But the White House so far has refused to declare a disaster, and until Wednesday House GOP leaders opposed economic assistance. "It's just unfair that this would happen, especially when this is a disaster that was created by the Bush administration," said Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez. "They ought to take responsibility; they ought to be held accountable for their actions, and they ought to provide relief for these hard-working families." In protest, Miller and other lawmakers used procedural moves to slow the House to a crawl. All morning, lawmakers labored through a series of 15-minute "motion to rise" votes that delayed action on a spending bill for the Commerce, Justice and State departments. West Coast lawmakers won a small victory and ended their protest when the House passed an amendment specifying $2 million for disaster relief for salmon fishermen. The money is seen as a placeholder so California and Oregon senators can seek to add more disaster aid to the bill later in a conference committee. The troubles for West Coast fishermen stem from the poor state of wild salmon stocks in the Klamath River near the California-Oregon border. Chinook -- or king -- salmon are bountiful this year off the Pacific Coast, but most of them are from the Sacramento River. Salmon from the Klamath River are at perilously low numbers, and because Klamath and Sacramento fish intermingle in the ocean, the Pacific Fishery Management Council, a federal agency, called for strict reductions in the commercial catch to protect the threatened Klamath stocks. Fishermen's groups argue that the poor condition of the Klamath salmon is the result of years of controversial federal water management decisions. Much of the river's flow is diverted to farmers, and four hydropower dams along the river warm the water, killing salmon through disease or parasites. In 2002, more than 33,000 salmon died because of low water, high temperatures and disease, and large die-offs of young salmon have followed in recent years. The restrictions by federal authorities sharply limited the season, banned fishing in some areas and allowed commercial fishermen to catch only 75 fish each week, which fishermen's groups and state officials say is economically unfeasible. "No one can afford to go far out and catch 75 fish, so no one is fishing," said Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore. Zeke Grader, executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, said fishermen in California coastal communities such as Bodega Bay, Half Moon Bay, Fort Bragg and Eureka have seen their incomes plummet as the harvest of salmon has dropped by as much 90 percent. "The younger people, who still have boat payments, they aren't going to make it," Grader said. "It's pretty bleak." The issue came to a boil Tuesday at a meeting on Capitol Hill between lawmakers and officials at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which oversees fisheries, including the agency's administrator, Conrad Lautenbacher. According to Congressman Thompson, agency officials said they wouldn't be able to declare a disaster until next year after the salmon season had ended. Lawmakers were irate. DeFazio asked why the agency didn't just cancel the salmon season so fishing communities could qualify for disaster relief. A spokesman for the agency said lawmakers were mistaken and that officials could declare a fishery disaster at any time based on data they receive from the state about salmon populations. NOAA spokesman Jordan St. John added that the agency was trying to allow limited fishing to keep the industry alive. "The original discussion was to close the entire fishery," St. John said. "At the request of fishermen's groups and some of the very same members of Congress, they worked out some way to keep the season partially open so there could be fishing." But Thompson said the agency's plan has been a disaster for fishermen, who have invested thousands of dollars in fishing permits, fuel, bait and payments on their boats. Federal officials are opening areas off the coast for two weeks at a time, but there's no guarantee there will be fish in those areas during those windows, he said. "I think the fishing industry is going to evaporate," Thompson said. "It's not just the people who are going out fishing. This has an impact on the whole community." Grader said he hopes for a technological solution: Fishermen are starting to use new technologies that can distinguish between the salmon from the Sacramento River and those from the depleted Klamath River. "We've been trying to use modern technology to do a better job," he said. "But we've gotten no help from the agencies. There's no leadership." By the numbers 80 million Amount, in dollars, fishermen expect to lose this season 100 million Average year's dollar value of the commercial salmon fishery in California 2 million Amount, in dollars, of aid approved by the House of Representatives 29,000 Number of spawning salmon expected to return to Klamath River this year 637,000 Number of spawning salmon expected this year in the Sacramento River system Source: Pacific Coast Federation of Fisherman's Associations # http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/06/29/MNGTOJMHB61.DTL $2 million OK'd for salmon fishermen; Funds approved by House fall far short of $81 million sought Santa Rosa Press-Democrat - 6/29/06 By Katy Hillenmeyer, staff writer The House approved $2 million Wednesday to help salmon fishermen whose seasons have been sharply reduced this year, but West Coast lawmakers who have angled for $81 million in disaster aid said federal fisheries managers are thwarting that relief. An amendment by Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, was added to a 2007 spending bill that funds the Departments of Commerce, State and Justice. It was passed Wednesday as part of a larger appropriation the House is expected to back this week. The measure's passage came a day after Thompson and fellow West Coast Democrats met with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials, who said they must calculate economic damage to Oregon's and California's fishing-dependent communities before declaring a disaster. Though conservation-driven delays in the commercial fishing season have idled many Sonoma and Mendocino coast trollers, NOAA spokesman Jeff Donald said Wednesday the two months of lost salmon harvests and sales they've endured is not enough to gauge how hard-hit fishermen will be. "Legally, we can't declare a disaster based on predictions," Donald said. "We have to have more economic data from the entire season." Those numbers could come "as late as February" or sooner, he said, but "we don't actually have a timeline at this point." In April, federal regulators adopted ocean fishing restrictions affecting 700 miles of the Oregon and Northern California coasts to protect dwindling chinook salmon that spawn in the Klamath River. Bodega Bay fishermen, including Chuck Wise, have relied on what's left of the crab season for earnings, but they're barred from commercially catching salmon until July 26. "Looking at the amount of disaster we're suffering, $2 million is not much," said Wise, who presides over the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations. "We were able to have a little income (from crab) for the month of June, but there won't be any in basically the whole month of July." After meeting with top NOAA leaders Tuesday, Thompson criticized the delay in a disaster declaration, which he and his aides said is critical for Congress to allot millions more in relief dollars. "They're derelict in their duty. They're completely callous toward the very real issues facing working families up and down the coast," Thompson said. "They're being disingenuous to suggest they need time to figure this out." In a letter Monday to Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said fishermen will be limited to 20 percent of their normal season. "I cannot understand why another day needs to pass without a declaration of disaster," the governor wrote. But Donald said California politicians are overestimating NOAA's influence over funding for fishermen, which he suggested Congress could appropriate without such a declaration. "There's this idea that the disaster declaration is going to trigger all this money. It does not. We're not FEMA," the NOAA spokesman in Washington said. "We're trying to look at all the options we have to help these guys out," he said, declining to elaborate on NOAA policies that might help the industry. "This isn't something we're sitting around idly watching happen." # http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060629/NEWS/60629 0330/1033/NEWS01 House OKs $2 million in disaster aid for salmon fleet Sacramento Bee - 6/29/06 By David Whitney, staff writer WASHINGTON -- Under pressure from angry West Coast Democrats, the House agreed Wednesday to open the door to emergency disaster assistance for commercial fishermen whose livelihoods are in jeopardy because of the failure of the Klamath River salmon fishery. The amount of money involved thus far is $2 million, a tiny fraction of the estimated $81 million in losses that fishermen and fishing dependent communities are expecting to endure because of the Klamath River fishery collapse. House members from Oregon and California tried in vain to convince Commerce Department officials at a meeting Tuesday that the assistance is critically needed now to keep boat owners and related businesses financially afloat through the 2006 season, but they were rebuffed. They charged onto the House floor Wednesday ready to force a series of procedural votes on the 2007 funding bill for the Commerce Department and other agencies to force some relief into the bill. They were in the process of doing so when Republican leaders agreed to permit the amendment offered by Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena. It passed on a voice vote. "This is a huge step forward," Thompson said afterward. "And it's the only step we had." Thompson said House supporters were going to work immediately with California and Oregon senators in an effort to bring the disaster funding up to $81 million when the two chambers meet later this summer to work out a compromise spending bill. Within an hour of the House victory, Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., released a letter the senators were sending to the heads of the Senate Appropriations Committee asking for the needed funding. "The more time that passes without assistance, the greater the threat of permanent damage to our rural, coastal economies," the letter said. Under the restrictions on the salmon season, commercial boats are permitted to catch no more than 75 fish a week in the few weeks that they can still fish. That's fewer than fishermen can catch in an average day, and some said it is too few to even pay the fuel costs of their boats. The financial impact is already showing up. Thompson, in his floor speech, cited calls he had received from a Klamath lodge that caters to fishermen and has lost $21,000 so far this season from cancellations, fish buyers who don't have fish to sell to retailers, and from fishermen who are all in desperate straits. "We traditionally make between $80,000 and $100,000 a year on salmon, and now we have nothing," said Barbara Stickel of Morro Bay, one of the families Thompson cited. Stickel said she has dropped out of college in San Francisco so she can help her husband, Tom, in what little fishing remains. She estimated that as many as 60 families in the Morro Bay and San Luis Bay areas are in similar situations -- idled at what should be the most lucrative time of their business. Asked if she thought she would be able to make it through the year, Stickel replied: "I don't know. I am terrified." # http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/14273035p-15083215c.html FISH FIGHT TURNS BITTER; REACTION: Modest help from Congress disappoints commercial fishermen, who say season is 'basically a total loss' San Francisco Chronicle - 6/29/06 By Glen Martin, staff writer Commercial fishermen reacted to news about minimal federal disaster relief for the truncated West Coast salmon season with both black humor about their plight and bitter recrimination for the Bush administration. "Got a towel?" asked Half Moon Bay salmon troller Duncan MacLean, feigning weepiness when asked about his economic situation. "Things have not been going good here," MacLean said. "We've been doing everything we can to get some financial relief for the salmon fleet, but we keep running into roadblocks -- and now this." Salmon fishermen had asked for $81 million in federal disaster relief to carry them through the current commercial season, which traditionally runs from around May to October. Federal regulators slashed by 80 percent the amount of fish available to commercial fishermen because of concerns over dwindling stocks of Klamath River Chinook salmon. However, no significant restrictions were placed on recreational anglers. In recent years, numbers of Klamath salmon have plummeted due to lower, warmer water, dams and parasites in the river. Commercial salmon fishing generates more than $100 million for the state's economy in a typical season, according to industry estimates. This year, fishermen say their fleets will be lucky to gross $20 million. They said the $2 million in aid approved Wednesday by the House of Representatives won't stave off financial ruin. West Coast lawmakers are hoping to increase the amount of aid, which requires Senate approval. It's unclear how any aid would be divided among the fishermen. "It's basically a total loss for me this year," MacLean said. "I've been catching some black cod, but it's a limited-entry fishery. I'm only allowed to land 3,000 pounds over a two-month period, and that's just not enough to keep me going." While local consumers have a range of seafood alternatives to wild salmon, the same isn't true for the men and women who catch the fish. Not only is black cod a tightly controlled fishery, but so are most of the other alternatives -- California halibut and rockfish, particularly. The wild stocks of these species are insufficient and the quotas too low to allow for a complete commercial switch. Nor are fishermen putting a lot of hope in the summer albacore runs, which sometimes can be extravagantly large. "You can't rely on albacore," said Dave Bitts, a salmon troller who typically fishes out of San Francisco and Fort Bragg. "You don't know where they're going to be, except that it'll probably be way offshore," Bitts said. "And when they do come in close enough, everybody goes out and hammers 'em, and the price drops fast." Even in the best of times, albacore seldom fetch more than 65 or 75 cents a pound, Bitts said. "On the other hand, there are times when you can get $6 or $8 a pound for salmon," he said. "There's no comparison." Fishermen are especially upset about the limits on their salmon catches because salmon are abundant in offshore waters. Klamath stocks may be at dire lows, but there are plenty of Chinook salmon from the Sacramento River system. Federal regulators say they were forced to curtail the commercial season because Klamath and Sacramento fish mingle in the open sea. "It's looking like a good flow year on the Klamath, which should help the root problem a bit, but it won't make it go away," said Bill Kier, a Humboldt County consulting fisheries biologist who specializes in the Klamath system. Kier said he thinks the Klamath imbroglio is a "red-state, blue-state issue, and basically this administration doesn't care what happens in a blue state. Louisiana fishermen got their relief approved right away (after Hurricane Katrina), and we'll still be screwing with Klamath relief next spring." Bitts said he knows many people in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the agency that has the final say over fishing in federal waters. "They hold local and regional posts, and they're good, honest people," Bitts said. But it seems, he said, "that they don't have any say over what's happening with the Klamath. It's all being determined in Washington. And back there, they're telling fishermen to get screwed." # http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/06/29/MNGTOJMHBI1.DTL Tribe wins greater say on Klamath River Sacramento Bee - 6/29/06 By Matt Weiser, staff writer Federal agencies agreed Wednesday to give the Yurok Tribe a larger role in managing the Klamath River, where water diversions and habitat loss have depleted salmon runs. The tribe will have a seat at the table with federal agencies that manage the river, including the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and Fish and Wildlife Service. Previously, it was a bystander. "We believe the tribe's role and input is going to be more valuable than ever to help restore a healthy Klamath River and stabilize basin communities," said Troy Fletcher, a tribal member who works on resources issues. The Yurok Tribe owns 13,000 acres on the Klamath River below the town of Weitchpec in Humboldt County. Salmon are a key food and cultural resource for tribes. Declining salmon threaten tribal health and have also triggered fishing limits that threaten coastal towns in California and Oregon. "It is a new beginning in our relationship, one that will greatly benefit both the tribe and the important resources of the Klamath basin," said Kirk Rodgers, Bureau of Reclamation regional director. # http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/story/14273018p-15083218c.html Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Fri Jun 30 11:02:46 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2006 11:02:46 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] News Articles on Salmon Disaster Aid Efforts Message-ID: <002901c69c6f$64d484f0$b6fdb545@p4> Editorial: Trolling for assistance; Salmon fishermen deserve some help Sacramento Bee - 6/30/06 By now, it's clear that thousands of salmon fishermen and owners of related businesses face economic ruin this year in California and Oregon. To protect runs of fish in the Klamath River, commercial fishermen are limited to taking 75 salmon per week from the ocean in a shortened season. It's not enough to pay for fuel, even with salmon prices topping $20 per pound in some markets. Fishing advocates are seeking $81 million in disaster aid from the Bush administration for affected communities. The Commerce Department is balking, saying it can't release such aid until the reduced season ends and the economic impact is calculated. Rebuffed, the House passed an amendment Wednesday that specifies $2 million for salmon relief. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced yesterday he would seek $35 million in state funds to help the industry. It's hard to know why the Bush administration is balking. Some have suggested the White House doesn't want to appear to be accepting responsibility for a Klamath fish kill three years ago that led to the current salmon collapse. All we know is the White House moved quickly to help fishing communities on the Gulf Coast devastated by Hurricane Katrina. It should do the same for suffering salmon ports on the West Coast. At the same time, environmentalists and fishing advocates need to stop blaming the Bush administration for all the woes of the Klamath River. As the National Academy of Sciences pointed out a few years ago, Klamath salmon are dying a death of many, many cuts -- including logging, erosion and hydroelectric dams. Water diversions from the federal irrigation project in Oregon are part of the problem, but not the only one. Disaster aid, of course, is just a Band-Aid for fishermen. What they really want is a Klamath River that supports healthy stocks of salmon. As they fight over aid payments for fishermen, California, Oregon and the White House need to keep their focus on the bigger challenge ahead. # http://www.sacbee.com/content/opinion/story/14273407p-15083508c.html State aid proposed for salmon fishermen; After federal snub, governor backs $35 million package San Francisco Chronicle - 6/30/06 By Lynda Gledhill, staff writer (06-30) 04:00 PDT Sacramento -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced a $35 million state aid package for salmon fishermen on Thursday, while blasting the federal government for not helping the beleaguered West Coast fishing industry. Schwarzenegger and two state senators said they will push for urgency legislation authorizing aid for commercial fishermen and other businesses affected by the near-closure of the commercial salmon fishing season by federal officials. "The federal government's decision to severely limit salmon fishing along the West Coast has had a terrible effect -- it's had a devastating impact on the fishermen, the community and their families," Schwarzenegger said. "It will literally wipe them out if they don't get help." Representatives from California and Oregon have been pleading with the federal government to declare a federal disaster and help the coastal fishing industry. "What is really outrageous is that the federal government made this decision and recognizes the devastating impact but will not issue a disaster declaration until next spring," Schwarzenegger said. The aid package will include $5 million in cash assistance, $20 million in no-interest loans and up to $10 million in small-business loans. Schwarzenegger also extended the state's declared disaster area to other three counties, including San Luis Obispo. Congressional representatives from California and Oregon slowed work in the House of Representatives on Wednesday until Republican leaders agreed to $2 million in economic relief -- far short of the $81 million that had been sought. Zeke Grader, executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, said the state aid will be "extremely helpful." "This gives a clear message to the federal government that this is a serious problem, and it should embarrass the federal government into doing what it should have done a year ago," he said. Schwarzenegger has made several requests of the Bush administration that have not been fulfilled, including a call for a federal disaster declaration for the state's aging levee system and demands that the federal government reimburse the state for the cost of incarcerating illegal immigrants. "This is almost like a tale of two Republicans -- one competent and one incompetent," Grader said. Because of low numbers of chinook salmon from the Klamath River, the Pacific Fishery Management Council, a federal agency, called for strict reductions in the commercial catch this year. Fishermen's groups argue that the poor condition of Klamath salmon is the result of years of federal water mismanagement, including diverting the flow of water from the river to farmers. In 2002, more than 33,000 salmon died because of low water, high temperatures and disease. Large die-offs of young salmon have followed in recent years. Grader and other fishermen said the next step is for the state to take the lead in fixing the Klamath River once and for all. "Now we need to see restoration activity on the Klamath so we don't have to see this aid be necessary again," said Duncan MacLean, a commercial fisherman and the California salmon troll adviser to the fishery management council. State Sens. Wes Chesbro, D-Arcata (Humboldt County), and Sam Aanestad, R-Grass Valley (Nevada County), will co-sponsor the emergency legislation authorizing the funds. But because lawmakers adjourned Thursday a week early for their summer vacation, the measure will be considered in August. "We have a comprehensive bipartisan plan to protect the lives of people on the coast," Chesbro said. "The administration in Washington single-handedly created this disaster, but now it's up to the state to help its people." Aanestad was also critical of the federal government. "This is just another case where the federal government is causing a problem and not solving the problem," he said. "Once again, the state has to bail out what should be a federal responsibility." # http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/06/30/BAG15JMUU01.DTL State looks to aid salmon industry Sacramento Bee - 6/30/06 By Judy Lin, staff writer California lawmakers went couch-diving Thursday, digging up $45 million in proposed emergency grants and loans to keep salmon fishermen and related businesses from going broke this summer in the face of a steep federal fishing cap. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger initiated a bipartisan effort Thursday to help the state's $100 million fishing industry weather severe restrictions imposed by federal regulators due to concerns over shrinking stocks of salmon on the Klamath River. However, with the Legislature out for the next five weeks, it's not clear how soon the proposals may pass. "The federal government's decision to severely limit salmon fishing along the West Coast has had a devastating impact on California fishermen -- not only on them but their families and the communities they support," Schwarzenegger said. "It would literally wipe them out if they don't get help." As part of the effort, Sens. Wes Chesbro, D-Arcata, and Sam Aanestad, R-Grass Valley, introduced emergency legislation under Senate Bill 1127 to create a $5 million emergency grant program for commercial fishing businesses and passenger vessel operators. The bill also proposes a $20 million interest-free revolving loan program. Another $20 million is being made available through a small business expansion fund, whereby the state guarantees loans on behalf of qualified applicants, administration officials said. That fund will be expanded to include bait and tackle shops. State lawmakers expressed outrage at the federal government for imposing salmon fishing restrictions without providing adequate relief to the fishermen whose livelihoods depend on them. "They put padlocks on people's doors and once again, it's the state that's got to bail them out," said Aanestad. While the two senators said they want to get the bill passed as soon as possible, both houses adjourned for summer recess Thursday. On Wednesday, Congress agreed to $2 million in disaster assistance for commercial fishermen after intense lobbying from West Coast Democrats. State officials said that wasn't enough. They pledged to continue lobbying the federal government for more support. Schwarzenegger noted that it won't do any good if the aid doesn't arrive until next spring. As part of Thursday's announcement, the governor expanded the list of counties eligible for emergency assistance to include San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Trinity. On June 6, he proclaimed a state of emergency in 10 California counties including Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma, Mendocino, Humboldt, Del Norte and Siskiyou counties. # http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/14273448p-15083523c.html Congressional reps force fishery review; U.S. commerce secretary agrees to look at salmon issues Eureka Times-Standard - 6/30/06 WASHINGTON -- North Coast Rep. Mike Thompson and Oregon Rep. Peter DeFazio on Thursday forced a meeting with Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez to press him to declare the West Coast salmon season a disaster. The secretary said that he would review the situation. Frustrated with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's claim that the agency could not declare a disaster until at least February, Thompson and DeFazio, among others, waited for the secretary outside the House Energy and Commerce Committee where he was due to testify. Committee Chairman Joe Barton agreed to allow the members to meet with the secretary prior to his testimony. During the meeting, Gutierrez agreed to review, in short order, the situation and what the department's options are. "We've been asking the secretary to meet with us for months. Today we decided to seek him out ourselves," said Thompson, D-St. Helena. "NOAA staff has signaled that they won't act to declare a disaster until February of 2007 -- this is an unacceptable and immoral timeframe. Fishers and coastal communities up and down our districts are struggling to get by day to day. Today we appealed to the secretary to take action." In other business, the amendment attached by Thompson to the Science, State, Justice and Commerce Appropriations Bill passed Thursday. It will transfer $2 million in funding from the Department of Commerce's administrative budget to NOAA Fisheries. Thompson hopes that allocation will serve as a placeholder for additional disaster assistance funding. On the state end, the Assembly overwhelmingly approved a resolution by Assemblywoman Patty Berg, D-Eureka, calling on federal lawmakers to provide relief to the men and women whose livelihoods have been threatened by the shortage of salmon on the Klamath River. # http://www.times-standard.com/local/ci_3998311 KLAMATH RIVER: 'Granddaddy of fish projects'; Coastal conservancy sees big role in possible Klamath dam effort Eureka Times-Standards - 6/30/06 By John Dricsoll, staff writer ARCATA -- Members of the California Coastal Conservancy envision the agency playing a key role in decommissioning and removing dams on the Klamath River, an effort whose time they said has come. "This is the granddaddy of all fisheries restoration projects," said conservancy Chairman Doug Bosco at a meeting here. Bosco also voiced hope that dam owner PacifiCorp -- now owned by billionaire Warren Buffett's MidAmerican Energy Holdings -- would agree to an arrangement that would make whole its customers and others that see some benefit from the four dams in question. Bosco said that if Buffet can give 85 percent of his estate to charity, as he's recently done, the renowned investor should be willing to play a part in restoring the river's struggling salmon runs. The conservancy also heard an update on studies now under way to study sediment trapped behind Iron Gate and Copco I dams. Conservancy project manager Michael Bowen passed around a container of muck from Iron Gate Reservoir, material that's being tested for toxins like mercury and cyanide to determine if it's safe to remove the dams. "I can't vouch for its contents," Bowen said about the fine, gooey mud. "I hope it's clean." There may be as much as 4.8 million cubic yards of sediment trapped behind Iron Gate Dam, and more than 10.3 million cubic yards behind Copco I, the first dam built on the river in 1917. Bowen said there does not seem to have been much historic mining activity in the vicinity of the dams, which could mean that lab tests only find contaminants from upstream agricultural practices. The dams block salmon at Iron Gate Dam -- 109 miles up the river -- from reaching some 300 miles of spawning grounds. Today, many of those areas would need to be restored to be of value to salmon, but experts estimate that under restored conditions, fish populations could average 149,000 to 438,000. This year, fewer than 30,000 salmon are expected to run upstream, a number too low to allow commercial fishing along 700 miles of the West Coast this year, and which limits tribal and sport fishing. The PacifiCorp project produces only about 150 megawatts of electricity, and as part of applying for a new 50-year license, may have to provide passage above the dams for salmon. That may cost up to $200 million under demands by the U.S. Interior Department. The company is appealing those demands, proposing instead to trap fish and truck them over the dams. Settlement negotiations are also ongoing, parallel to the relicensing project. Conservancy Executive Officer Sam Schuchat said he doesn't believe the dams themselves have a high value, though their removal could be expensive. Estimates have reached about $150 million for such a project. # http://www.times-standard.com/local/ci_3998300 Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Fri Jun 30 15:34:35 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2006 15:34:35 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] P R O C L A M A T I O N -Governor Schwarzenegger Proclaims Assistance Measures for California Salmon Fishermen Message-ID: <02ae01c69c95$5f685110$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> Please click here to return to the previous page. Proclamation Governor Schwarzenegger Proclaims Assistance Measures for California Salmon Fishermen EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT STATE OF CALIFORNIA -------------------------------------------------------- P R O C L A M A T I O N by the Governor of the State of California WHEREAS California's salmon runs are a vital component of our great State's resources that provide significant environmental, recreational, commercial, and economic benefits to the people; and WHEREAS Klamath River Basin Chinook Salmon have been significantly impacted by poor ocean conditions, drought, water management, water quality, water flows, disease, and the elimination of access to historical spawning habitat; and WHEREAS the Klamath Basin Chinook Salmon that commingle with other runs of salmon in ocean waters off of California and Oregon have been declining in abundance to a point where California's and Oregon's recreational, commercial, and tribal fisheries are being significantly constrained to conserve Klamath River Chinook Salmon; and WHEREAS Klamath River Basin Chinook Salmon are predicted to have extremely low ocean abundance for 2006 in waters from Cape Falcon in Oregon to Point Sur in Monterey County, California, and in the Klamath River Basin; and WHEREAS restoration of habitat and improved water quality and flows are critical to restoring an environment suitable to the long-term sustainability of the Klamath River Basin Chinook Salmon and other anadromous fish species; and WHEREAS appropriate management of the Klamath River Basin Chinook Salmon population is critical to California's businesses, and local communities that provide goods and services in support of California's salmon fisheries; and WHEREAS on April 5, 2006, I requested Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez to use his authority under the Magnusen-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to determine that there has been a commercial fishery failure due to a fishery resource disaster; and WHEREAS on April 28, 2006, the National Marine Fisheries Service adopted an emergency rule to implement the recommendations of the Pacific Fisheries Management Council that resulted in severe restrictions on the commercial ocean salmon and Klamath Basin tribal and recreational fisheries and included restrictions on the recreational ocean salmon fishery; and WHEREAS these restrictions will have significant impacts to California's commercial ocean salmon and in-river salmon fisheries and will result in severe economic losses throughout the State; and WHEREAS the Department of Finance has determined that approximately $778,000 is continuously appropriated and available in the Small Business Expansion Fund (Fund 918) for disaster purposes under the Corporations Code section 14030 et seq.; and WHEREAS the Small Business Expansion Fund's available monies can be leveraged to guarantee up to approximately $9.2 million in loans for disasters, including guaranteeing loans to prevent business insolvencies and loss of employment in an area affected by a state of emergency within the State; and WHEREAS Governor Ted Kulongoski of Oregon and I signed The Klamath River Watershed Coordination Agreement along with the responsible federal agencies in order to address the impacts to the fisheries in the region and to develop a long-term management approach, common vision, and integrated planning associated with the Klamath Basin; and WHEREAS on June 6, 2006, I proclaimed a state of emergency for the California counties of Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma, Mendocino, Humboldt, Del Norte, and Siskiyou counties due to the poor ocean conditions, drought, water management, water quality, water flows, disease, and the elimination of access to historical spawning habitat and resulting from the significant restrictions that have been imposed on the State's salmon fisheries; and WHEREAS the serious circumstances of the Klamath River Chinook Salmon run put at risk the livelihoods of families and businesses dependent upon them. NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State of California, find that conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist within the additional California counties of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Trinity due to the poor ocean conditions, drought, water management, water quality, water flows, disease, and the elimination of access to historical spawning habitat and resulting from the significant restrictions that have been imposed on the State's salmon fisheries. Because the magnitude of this disaster will likely exceed the capabilities of the services, personnel, and facilities of these counties, I find these counties to be in a state of emergency, and under the authority of the California Emergency Services Act, I hereby proclaim that a State of Emergency exists in these counties. I DIRECT the Secretary of the Business, Housing and Transportation Agency, with the cooperation of the Department of Finance, to activate the Small Business Disaster Assistance Loan Guarantee Program to guarantee loans to prevent business insolvencies and loss of employment in the counties of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Trinity as a result of this State of Emergency. I FURTHER DIRECT that to ensure that adequate assistance is available to individuals who have lost their jobs in the 13 counties where I have proclaimed a State of Emergency, the Secretary of the Labor and Workforce Development Agency and the Director of the Employment Development Department shall make available additional assistance grants in those circumstances where the local Dislocated Worker formula allocation is not adequate to cover the demand for services to individuals who have lost their jobs as a result of this State of Emergency and my previous June 6, 2006 State of Emergency. I FURTHER DIRECT the Director of the Department of Fish and Game to refund any fishing license fee issued for the current 2006 commercial salmon season and to waive fishing license fees for the 2007 commercial salmon season. I FURTHER DIRECT that as soon as hereafter possible, this proclamation be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this proclamation. IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have here unto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this the twenty-ninth day of June 2006. /s/ Arnold Schwarzenegger Governor of California * * * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: spacer.gif Type: image/gif Size: 67 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: govseal.gif Type: image/gif Size: 4041 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: SCaSealSig.gif Type: image/gif Size: 3785 bytes Desc: not available URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Mon Jul 3 08:57:14 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2006 08:57:14 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] SF Chronicle Editorial July 3 Message-ID: <000601c69eb9$609e18f0$b6fdb545@p4> San Francisco Chronicle _____ EDITORIAL Fishing industry gets skunked Monday, July 3, 2006 * Printable Version * Email This Article Opinion .Main Opinion Page .Chronicle Sunday Insight .Chronicle Campaigns SF Chronicle Submissions .Letters to the Editor .Open Forum .Sunday Insight SALMON DON'T need "the Katrina treatment.'' Yet that's what the fish -- and the fleets that catch them -- are getting from neglectful federal policymakers. After a disastrous job overseeing fish stocks on the Klamath River, Washington has compounded the problem by refusing aid to hard-hit commercial fisherman from Oregon to central California. Sacramento has stepped in with $35 million in funds, while federal officials have dodged and quibbled on the topic. The feds are fumbling away a problem that comes with reasonable solutions. After 33,000 salmon died because of diverted Klamath water in 2002, it was clear that returning schools would be approaching the vanishing point. Step one was taken in April: a severely limited fishing season on all salmon catches off the coast. Because salmon from healthy rivers swim with the depleted stocks of Klamath fish, it was necessary to restrict all fish-catching along a 700-mile stretch of coastline. The number handed to scores of small operators was 75 fish per week for a drastically shortened season. This cut foretold bankruptcy for many boat operators who endured a short season last year. Step two should be financial aid to tide over a $100 million per year industry. Suppliers, marina operators and other wharf businesses from Coos Bay to San Luis Obispo will feel the pain unless grants or low-cost loans are forthcoming. Finally, it's clear that Washington, which controls water diversions, logging practices and dam releases along the Klamath, needs to live up to its responsibilities in preserving salmon from further losses. It can be done. Sacramento River salmon are thriving in the watershed next door after their numbers took a scary drop. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and a bipartisan group of Northern California legislators are backing a $35 million salmon bailout to the fishing industry. It's the right response. In Washington, a team of Oregon and California congressional members have pried loose a down payment of $2 million as a step toward $81 million in aid. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez, who oversees a key fish-monitoring agency, has promised to review the matter. The pressure could be building for a new direction that will help salmon and the fishing industry that depends on their healthy numbers. It's not too late to have both thriving again. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.gif Type: image/gif Size: 1013 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.gif Type: image/gif Size: 672 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image003.gif Type: image/gif Size: 70 bytes Desc: not available URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Mon Jul 3 13:32:47 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2006 13:32:47 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Los Angeles Times 7/1/06 Friant Settlement Message-ID: <000f01c69edf$d980a460$b6fdb545@p4> Settlement Reached on Friant Dam Flows Terms of the accord in the 18-year-old case involving the San Joaquin River remain under wraps until approved by all the disparate parties. Los Angeles Times - 7/1/06 Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO - A settlement was reached Friday in an 18-year-old court battle over how much water should be allowed to flow from a dam on the San Joaquin River to restore the salmon that once lived there, attorneys said. Terms of the settlement won't be released, and the agreement won't take effect, until all parties - environmental and fishing organizations, farming interests and irrigation districts, federal agencies and the court - approve them, attorneys said. When Friant Dam started operating in 1949, it transformed San Joaquin Valley's main artery from a river thick with salmon into an irrigation powerhouse that nourishes more than a million acres of farmland in some of the country's most productive agricultural fields. But the 314-foot barrier also dried up long stretches of the river downstream, making it more a home for tumbleweeds and lizards than for spawning salmon. In 2004, Sacramento U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton agreed with the Natural Resources Defense Council, which contended that the Bureau of Reclamation, the federal agency that built and maintains Friant Dam, had broken the law by not letting enough water flow down the river to sustain the salmon population. Since then, environmentalists, federal water authorities and the farm interests that depend on that water had been trying to reach a settlement and avoid a court-ordered solution. "We're very encouraged that all these parties were able to work diligently over the last nine months to come to a place that seems to be a reasonable compromise," said Ron Jacobsma, general manager with the Friant Water Users Authority, a party in the case. The irrigation district distributes San Joaquin River water to thousands of farms in the Central Valley. Kate Poole, senior attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council, said the approval process for the settlement would take up to six weeks. "We are hopeful that these approvals will be obtained rapidly," she said in a statement. That would allow the parties to begin "working together to restore the San Joaquin River in a manner that will benefit not just the environment, but millions of people around the state, including Northern California salmon fishermen, Delta farmers and Southern Californians who will drink cleaner Delta water." Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Wed Jul 5 15:15:34 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Wed, 5 Jul 2006 15:15:34 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Fw: Trinity River Release Change Message-ID: <003e01c6a080$8bcffe80$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom Morstein-Marx" To: Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2006 1:03 PM Subject: Trinity River Release Change > Project: Lewiston Dam - Trinity River Release > > Date Time From To > > 7/09/06 2100 2,000 cfs 1,900 cfs > 7/10/06 0100 1,900 cfs 1,800 cfs > 7/10/06 0500 1,800 cfs 1,700 cfs > > 7/11/06 2200 1,700 cfs 1,600 cfs > 7/12/06 0200 1,600 cfs 1,500 cfs > > 7/12/06 2200 1,500 cfs 1,400 cfs > 7/13/06 0200 1,400 cfs 1,350 cfs > > 7/13/06 2200 1,350 cfs 1,250 cfs > 7/14/06 0200 1,250 cfs 1,200 cfs > > 7/14/06 2200 1,200 cfs 1,100 cfs > 7/15/06 0200 1,100 cfs 1,050 cfs > > 7/16/06 0100 1,050 cfs 950 cfs > > 7/17/06 0100 950 cfs 850 cfs > > 7/18/06 0100 850 cfs 750 cfs > > 7/19/06 0100 750 cfs 675 cfs > > 7/20/06 0100 675 cfs 600 cfs > > 7/21/06 0100 600 cfs 550 cfs > > 7/22/06 0100 550 cfs 500 cfs > > 7/23/06 0100 500 cfs 450 cfs > > Issued By: Tom Morstein-Marx > Comment: Trinity River Restoration Program Releases > From tstokely at trinityalps.net Fri Jul 7 11:19:33 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Fri, 7 Jul 2006 11:19:33 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Commerce Department Yields to Pressure from West Coast Democrats to Aid Salmon Fishermen Message-ID: <004701c6a1f1$e63e2320$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> NEWS Congressman George Miller, California's 7th District Friday, July 07, 2006 Andrea Purse, 202-225-7387 COMMERCE DEPARTMENT YIELDS TO PRESSURE FROM WEST COAST DEMOCRATS TO AID SALMON FISHERMEN WASHINGTON, DC - After months of intense pressure from West Coast Democrats, the U.S. Commerce Department announced on Thursday that it has taken the first steps in declaring a fishery resource disaster for the commercial salmon fishermen in California and Oregon. As a result of these first steps, fishermen in affected areas will now be able to apply for federal small-business low-interest loans to help them after an early end to the fishing season because of low salmon populations. "This is a step in the right direction, but much more needs to be done to help these fishermen, whose families and businesses depend on the health of the salmon populations each year," said Representative George Miller (D-CA). "I appreciate the efforts of Senators Feinstein and Boxer and Congressman Mike Thompson and the willingness of Secretary Gutierrez to hear our concerns." "Now, we need to make sure that we take the next steps to help the industry recover-and that means direct financial aid, and it means an increased commitment from the Bush administration to fix the problems of the Klamath River." Miller and other West Coast Democrats, led by Thomspon, vowed to block regular order in the House of Representatives last week because the House would not allow debate or a vote on an amendment proposed by Thompson to provide $81 million in immediate disaster relief to the salmon fishermen and women of California and Oregon and the businesses and communities that depend on them. Republican leaders in the house eventually allowed a modified version of Thompson's amendment to be considered and it was unanimously approved by the House. The amendment would give $2 million in aid to the fishermen from the Commerce Department Managerial Budget. Miller and Thompson are working with the California and Oregon Senators and the Department of Commerce to increase that amount. Background on 2006 Salmon Fisheries Crisis The Department of Commerce announcement on July 6 comes after a lengthy history of difficulties with the salmon population along the Kalmath River. Several Democratic members co-authored legislation (H.R.5213) this year to address both the short- and long-term problems plaguing the Klamath fishery. Miller, Thompson, and others have also repeatedly asked the Department of Commerce to declare a disaster so that Congress can provide immediate assistance to the affected fishermen and women and communities. The Klamath River runs from Oregon through Northern California, and has been badly mismanaged by the Bush administration for political gain. In 2002, on behalf of the farm industry, the Bush Administration directed water to be diverted from the river, which resulted in a massive fish kill. This year's drastically reduced number of returning salmon is directly attributable to the 2002 fish kill and a parasitic infection resulting from poor federal management of the river. Here's how the LA Times wrote about the Administration's actions. "All administrations are political, of course. But never before has the White House inserted electoral priorities into Cabinet agencies with such regularity and deliberation. Before the 2002 midterm elections, for instance, Rove or Mehlman visited with the managers of many federal agencies to share polling information and discuss how policy decisions might affect key races. "In 2002, Rove told Interior Department officials of the importance of helping farmers in Oregon whose political support was crucial to Gordon Smith, a vulnerable Republican senator. Within months, perhaps because of Rove's exhortations, the agency did just that, supporting the diversion of water from the environmentally important Klamath River for the sake of irrigating farmland. Thousands of salmon eventually died in the newly shallow waters. But the senator secured his reelection." ### Andrea Purse Press Secretary Office of Representative George Miller 2205 Rayburn HOB 202-225-7387 (direct) 202-680-8816 (cell) andrea.purse at mail.house.gov -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Sat Jul 8 09:16:13 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Sat, 8 Jul 2006 09:16:13 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Los Angeles Times July 8 - Trinity River Water Message-ID: <000301c6a2a9$d58b80a0$b6fdb545@p4> Repeat of Tragedy Feared in San Joaquin Drainage Plan Proposal for tainted San Joaquin drainage raises concerns about causing a new ecological disaster. By Bettina Boxall, Times Staff Writer July 8, 2006 LOS BANOS, Calif. - More than two decades after toxic farm drainage emptying into a small wildlife refuge stilled the chatter of migrating waterfowl with death and deformity, the federal government is on the verge of deciding what to do with vast amounts of tainted irrigation water still produced by San Joaquin Valley croplands. The selenium-spiked flows that poisoned ponds at Kesterson National Wildlife Refuge were shut down long ago. But the irrigation didn't stop, and the drainage continues to build up in the shallow groundwater table that underlies part of the valley's west side, stunting crops. ADV The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is under court order to do something about the drainage problem. But its proposed solutions - which involve treating the tainted water and taking a huge chunk of farmland out of production - have raised alarms that they could wreak more environmental havoc while costing federal taxpayers a potentially enormous sum. "There is no good answer to how to do this," said Joseph Skorupa, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist who spent 16 years working on Central Valley selenium issues. Nobody was thinking of selenium when growers persuaded Congress in 1960 to extend the federal Central Valley Project, the nation's biggest water supply system, to the San Joaquin Valley's west side. But they knew there were problems with drainage, caused partly by insoluble clay beneath the groundwater. So the expansion's congressional authorization included a clause that the government would also build a drainage system. In the 1970s, a master drain was partly constructed, ending in 1,200 acres of ponds at Kesterson Reservoir, where the farm water evaporated in the scorching summer sun. Fish and Wildlife officials at the nearby refuge welcomed the drainage, which seemed like a blessing in a region where most of the vast historic wetlands had been filled or plowed under. Some 10 million to 20 million waterfowl winter or pass through the Central Valley every year looking for places to rest and nest. But within two years of the drain's 1981 start-up, it was evident that something was terribly wrong. The Kesterson ponds had become a death trap. Federal biologists discovered chick embryos were missing eyes and parts of their beaks. Others had only stubs where their wings and legs should have been growing. Researchers testing the water and bird carcasses discovered toxic concentrations of selenium, which had washed by the ton into valley soils from the neighboring coast range. Essential to human and animal life in minute amounts, selenium had reached dangerous levels in the irrigation drainage, which leached the chemical from the soil and carried it into the aquatic food chain. The Kesterson drain was shut down in 1985. The ponds were covered with dirt. The old reservoir is now a field of brown grass guarded by a locked metal gate and red, white and blue U.S. government "No trespassing" signs. But the drainage problem didn't go away. Landowners went to court, and in 2000 they won a U.S. Court of Appeals decision that the federal government had to provide drainage. Now, the Bureau of Reclamation's proposal to create at least 1,270 acres of evaporation ponds as part of the drainage treatment has again raised the specter of Kesterson. "My God," said Ed Imhoff, a retired U.S. Interior Department official who in 1990 headed a state and federal task force on valley drainage. "Why would we be replicating something that caused all the deaths and deformities at Kesterson? Why would we do that?" Most selenium in the drainage would be removed by high-tech filtration and microbes before the resulting brine was piped to the ponds. But the water would still contain selenium at 10 parts per billion - twice the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's standard for aquatic life and five times a state standard used in some Central Valley wetlands. Moreover, some scientists warn that the microbial treatment could convert the selenium into a more toxic form. A March assessment by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concluded that the proposed project carried an "incredible amount of risk and uncertainty" and predicted that several thousand birds could die from selenium poisoning each year. Bureau of Reclamation officials acknowledge there will be bird losses and plan to create wetlands as compensation. Agency engineers say that though they initially experienced problems with a treatment pilot project, recent tests have yielded good results. "It's not perfect. We're not getting all the selenium out. But we're getting most of it out," said Scott Irvine, an environmental engineer. The treatment was outlined last month in environmental documents that sketch various steps the bureau could take to resolve the drainage issues. Its preferred alternative would also remove 308,000 acres, roughly the size of Los Angeles, from irrigation to reduce the amount of drain water. The proposal's price tag: $918 million, most of it to retire the land from production, along with $11 million in annual operating costs. ADVERTISEMENT A final decision is expected this summer. But federal officials are now engaged in settlement talks with the affected irrigation districts that could yield a new plan. Citing confidentiality, they declined to provide details. Still, any agreement would likely include a mix of taking some acreage out of production as well as treating the drain water. Cotton, tomatoes and lettuce are grown on the land with bad drainage, most of which lies in the huge Westlands Water District, one of the most politically influential irrigation districts in the country. Westlands General Manager Thomas Birmingham said the district opposes taking much more than 130,000 to 140,000 acres out of irrigation, a good deal of which is already at least temporarily fallowed by the district to resolve water supply and drainage issues. Birmingham also argued that the tab for any irrigation buyout would fall to the federal taxpayer. Under federal reclamation law, the cost of building a drainage system would be fronted by the U.S. government. But over decades growers would repay the amount - without interest - through an assessment on their water rates. They would also be responsible for annual expenses to operate the system. But Birmingham said land retirement is not a drainage service and would therefore "be borne entirely by the federal Treasury." At full market value, which reclamation says it would pay growers, that would amount to at least $725 million to take 308,000 acres out of irrigation. Kirk Rodgers, the regional reclamation director, said his agency hasn't determined its position on who would pay for the buyout. "We need to continue to review and evaluate our position on that," he said recently. If it fell to the government, it is also unclear what taxpayers would actually get for all that money - the land, or just the irrigation rights. "No decision's been made on that," Rodgers said. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Mon Jul 10 10:47:49 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2006 10:47:49 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Eureka Reporter- Ninth Circuit court upholds restriction of salmon season Message-ID: <006001c6a449$f816ced0$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> http://www.eurekareporter.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?ArticleID=12778 Ninth Circuit court upholds restriction of salmon season by Nathan Rushton, 7/7/2006 It was more bad news Thursday for the fishermen seeking a legal remedy to this summer?s drastically restricted salmon season, which has threatened the financial livelihood of West Coast fishermen and kept many boats docked. Despite the fishermen?s challenge, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the federal government?s action to restrict salmon fishing off a 700-mile stretch of Oregon and California coast because of low projected returns of salmon that will spawn naturally in the Klamath River. After numerous public hearings in the spring, the Pacific Fisheries Management Council recommended in April that the salmon season be significantly reduced because fewer than 25,000 chinook salmon were expected to return to the Klamath River ? 10,000 below the baseline number that triggers stricter management. The suit against Department of Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez and National Marine Fisheries Service directors objected to the 1989 regulation establishing the 35,000 natural spawner escapement number for the Klamath River on which the 2005 action was based, according to the court documents. The plaintiffs? primary claim was that the Magnuson-Stevens Act forbids the NMFS to distinguish between natural and hatchery spawners for the purposes of making decisions on Klamath chinook management and conservation. In its opinion published Thursday, the court rejected the legal challenge brought by the 15 coastal fishermen and fishing business owner plaintiffs, which include the Oregon Trollers Association, the Suislaw Fishermen?s Association, as well as McKinleyville?s Cap?n Zach?s Crab House, which is now closed in the wake of a dismally delayed crab season. The Hoopa Valley and Yurok tribes, whose reservations rely on salmon caught from the Klamath River and its tributaries for food, intervened in support of the NMFS decision. Russ Brooks, managing attorney for the Pacific Legal Foundation who represented the fishermen, said in a news release following the ruling Thursday that the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Act requires federal regulators to manage all members of a species the same way. ?Hatchery chinook are not only biologically identical to those that will spawn naturally, but many hatchery chinook do return to spawn naturally,? Brooks said. Indicating that the Marine Fisheries Service was wrong not to count all hatchery chinook as part of the returning chinook population, Brooks said the agency is ?deliberately lowballing? the number of salmon that will return to the river. ?If all hatchery chinook were counted as part of the population, the service would realize there is no need to drastically reduce salmon fishing,? Brooks said. Indicating that the court did not recognize the legal requirement that regulators must count all chinook, Brooks stated in the news release that the decision is ripe for an appeal before the full Ninth Circuit court and possibly the U.S. Supreme Court. Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Tue Jul 11 19:44:00 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2006 19:44:00 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Jason Peltier Principal Deputy Asst Sec Water & Science Message-ID: <002901c6a55d$0851d4c0$b6fdb545@p4> Attached is press release from Interior. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: DOI Press Release Peltier 7.10.2006.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 39518 bytes Desc: not available URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Wed Jul 12 10:49:09 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2006 10:49:09 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Sac Bee Editorial July 12 Message-ID: <003401c6a5db$7aeb7530$b6fdb545@p4> Editorial: Water's coming battle; Global warming will shape local debate Sacramento Bee - 7/12/06 A new report warning of global warming's effect on California highlights the different approaches for solving the problem of a shrinking water supply. When it comes to calibrating water supply and demand, two opposing political philosophies rule. There is the concrete crowd that wants to increase supply. And there is a conservation crowd that seeks to lower the demand. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger likened this to a "holy war" when he and legislators couldn't agree on a state bond for water and flood control challenges. He wasn't exaggerating. And the political gridlock, and its dangerous implications, might worsen as the Sierra snowpack starts to melt. The new 338-page analysis by the California Department of Water Resources signals two colossal policy debates. First is the Sierra. These days in an "average" winter, the melting Sierra snow provides about 14 million acre-feet of water supply. As it slowly melts, it gets captured downstream by Central Valley reservoirs that can hold 24.5 million acre-feet of water. By 2050, however, the average snowpack is likely to diminish by more than a third. That means closer to 9 million acre-feet of snowfall rather than 14 million acre-feet. And it means more precipitation falling as rain rather than as snow, making it harder for the reservoirs to capture for the long summer the same amount of water. The dwindling snowpack could reduce deliveries of Sierra supplies to Southern California and Central Valley farmers by 10 percent. Then there is the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. By 2050, the world's melting snowpack and glaciers could raise the sea level by a foot. Southern California and Valley farmers pump their water in the Delta. The sea level rise would push salty ocean water into the Delta. Absent changes, the only solution would be to release more reservoir water from the Sierra into the Delta to push back the salty water. But that approach would only aggravate the problem of reservoirs' limited water supply due to the dwindling snowpack. The singular political fixation on reservoirs as good or evil creates a set of false choices. Instead, a stockbroker's mind-set about a diverse portfolio would be the better approach. On the supply side, there is groundwater storage or better groundwater management, recycled treated water, desalinated water, better conveyance (particularly around the salty Delta) and, yes, reservoirs. The demand side has the urban conservation techniques environmentalists love as well as something they hate -- money for farmers to lower their water use while maintaining their crop production. The right mix of solutions depends on the specific circumstances and terrain. The wrong solution is to think concrete or conservation alone can solve all our problems. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Wed Jul 12 10:55:57 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2006 10:55:57 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Western San Joaquin - Trinity River Water Message-ID: <000001c6a5dc$7b2ea340$b6fdb545@p4> Feds May Let Salty Farmland Go Fallow San Francisco Chronicle - 7/12/06 By Olivia Munoz, Associated Press Dry, brittle grass is all that pokes through earth that once grew tons of tomatoes, garlic and lettuce. Poor drainage has left land on the San Joaquin Valley's west side salty and worthless, a nightmare for farmers and the federal government, which provides irrigation water here. Over the years, numerous efforts to drain the poisoned land and salvage it for agriculture have failed. Now, the government is considering spending hundreds of millions of dollars to pay off farmers and get out of its obligation to irrigate the land - effectively letting the 300,000-acre swath go fallow. That's the preferred alternative among the latest set of proposals from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Another calls for pumping the water out to sea, an idea opposed by officials in coastal cities. "It's a very complex issue. We've been trying to figure this out for a long time," said Jerry Robbins, a project manager with the reclamation bureau. Drainage problems on the land stretching along a 90-mile stretch from Los Banos to Kettleman City are caused by a natural layer of clay beneath the surface that keeps water from draining through. The small amounts of salt in the water builds up over time, leaving the fields unsuitable for crops. When the government agreed to irrigate the San Joaquin Valley in 1960, both growers and federal water officials knew drainage would be an issue. The government agreed to build a drainage system from the beginning. But a partially completed drainage system that funneled the salty water into 1,200 acres of ponds at Kesterson Reservoir became an environmental disaster in the early 1980s, due to high levels of the mineral selenium, which is toxic in large quantities. Residue from the evaporating water caused deaths and birth defects in millions of waterfowl, including missing eyes and partially developed limbs. The Kesterson drain was shut down in 1985 and the ponds were filled in with dirt. Many fear a similar tragedy if farmers take the buyout and the water is left to gather in "evaporation ponds." According to Robbins, it would cost the taxpayer-funded reclamation bureau at least $750 million to buy out the water rights. The farmers would still own it and could theoretically grow on it, but with rain water only, and that's scarce for most of the year. A few farmers, like John Diener, have found ways to squeeze a livelihood from the land. At his Red Rock Ranch in Five Points, the water is naturally filtered when it gently trickles down his sloping fields of alfalfa and grasses. >From high to low, each crop is more salt-tolerant than the last, and a little salt is removed from the water at each stage. He has other ways to convert the otherwise poison water into a more valuable product. He pumps it through a sprinkler, which sprays the water on a bed of slate chunks. They help separate the salt crystals from the water. Those salt particles are used to make dry laundry detergent. "I opted to find a way to keep farming," Diener said. "I thought we could find a way to do what Americans do best and that's be innovative." The Bureau of Reclamation has given the public until July 31 to comment on its proposals. Gabriel Gonzalez, city manager of nearby Mendota, said the retirement of all that land would devastate his residents. Mendota, which has about 8,700 people, has a steady unemployment rate of about 25 percent, even during peak harvesting season, Gonzalez said. "We are already a community that almost totally relies on agriculture for jobs and a tax base," he said. "There have already been thousands of acres retired and we've seen the impact." Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Wed Jul 12 10:58:47 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2006 10:58:47 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Klamath Salmon Message-ID: <000a01c6a5dc$d37fe400$b6fdb545@p4> Klamath turning out few young salmon; Biologists note small chinook numbers; many fish are sick Eureka Times-Standard - 7/12/06 By John Driscoll, staff writer Biologists are seeing few young Chinook salmon on the Klamath River and its tributaries this year, and already some of them are falling sick, possibly with diseases that have killed hundreds of thousands of fish in recent years. Agencies are still waiting to hear from a laboratory exactly what's making an increasing number of fish ill. Scientists are still trying to understand the dynamics of how the Klamath fish are getting sick and what can be done about it. With a marginal run of adult Chinook this fall, fewer young salmon were apparently produced. But heavy rains in late December and January may have also wiped out many of the salmon redds, nests where salmon eggs rest until they hatch. "We're just not seeing a lot of fish," said Randy Brown, deputy field supervisor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Arcata Field Office. Chinook are the mainstay of the Klamath's tribal and sport river fisheries, and for ocean commercial and recreational fisheries. This fall, so few adult fish are expected to return to the river that commercial fisheries were canceled up and down the coast, while tribal and sport fisheries were slashed. Federal legislators and California's and Oregon's governors have been pressing for government aid to buoy the latent fishing fleet and other businesses. The California Department of Fish and Game watches fish on both the Scott and the Shasta rivers, main tributaries of the Klamath. Fish and Game biologist Bill Chesney said the number of adults that returned last year wouldn't explain the low numbers of chinook being seen this year. He suspects the big winter rains roiled redds. "They never had a chance to incubate and get out of the gravel," Chesney said. In the tributaries, at least, there have been no obvious disease outbreaks. And one piece of good news is that there are more coho salmon -- the Chinook's threatened cousin -- than in recent years. Low juvenile numbers don't necessarily equate to poor runs three and four years out, Chesney said. If the little salmon can get to the ocean, there are currently favorable conditions, with plenty of food generated by upwelling caused by strong northwest winds. That often means that a higher percentage of the young salmon that migrate down the Klamath to the sea survive to return later. But the lower Klamath River has in recent years been hard on salmon. Outbreaks of parasites have stricken young fish, which are more susceptible to disease when they are stressed by high water temperatures or poor water quality, both common during the summer. This year, since the winter was so wet, there are higher flows in the main river than in recent years. Some believed that big flows would cut the number of tiny worms that are an intermediate host for the parasites, potentially reducing the number of "hot spots" in the river where fish are most vulnerable. Oregon State University researcher Jerri Bartholomew said it does appear that the worms are not in all the places they have been in recent years. The presence of the worms is not related to the presence of disease in fish. There are some areas where there are lots of uninfected worms, and so play no role in infecting fish. In the lower river, there appear to be fewer -- but heavily infected -- worms. The longer young fish are exposed to parasite spores the more likely they are to become infected. Also, the higher the water temperature, the more abundant the parasites, scientists believe. But if the winter rains helped, they did not eliminate the problem. "It may not be a single-year cure," Bartholomew said. "It may not be a cure at all." Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Wed Jul 12 17:27:00 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2006 17:27:00 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Spring Run Chinook Watershed Symposium Message-ID: <023201c6a613$4545ce70$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> Folks, Even though this spring chinook symposium is in the Sacramento Valley, SRF plans to have this symposium next year somewhere in the Klamath-Trinity basin, as we have some of the last wild (and unlisted) spring chinook in the South Fork Trinity and Salmon Rivers. TS For more information please see www.calsalmon.org Spring Run Chinook Watershed Symposium in Butte Creek July 27-29, 2006 Celebrating Spring-run Chinook Recovery Efforts Sponsored by Salmonid Restoration Federation, Pacific Gas and Electric, Friends of Butte Creek, Sacramento River Preservation Trust, & Trout Unlimited Schedule of Events Thursday, July 27 will Feature an Upper and a Lower Watershed Tour 8-8:30 am?Registration and tour departure is from the Chico Park and Ride on the east side of Hwy 99 at the junction of Highway 32 and Highway 99 8:30 am?Depart for Field Tours Upper Watershed Tour: Water Transfer and Hydroelectric Production to Benefit Salmon Led by PG&E, Jim Bundy, General Supervisor, DeSabla Centerville Project, and PG&E biologist 9 am?Overview of PG & E?s Water Projects at the Centerville Schoolhouse Tour of DeSabla Reservoir and Powerhouse. Noon?Lunch presentation with a discussion about Dam Relicensing with representatives from PG&E, California Hydropower Reform Coalition and FERC. Tour Philbrook Reservoir 4pm?Depart for Butte Creek Meadows Lower Watershed Tour: Lower Butte Creek Restoration Projects Led by Olen Zirkle, Conservation Programs Manager, Ducks Unlimited 9 am?Overview of Restoration Projects at Meridian Full day tour of restoration projects will visit East and West Borrow Dams and Diversions, Butte Outfall gates, Butte Sink, Sanborn Slough, and Western Canal Siphon 4pm?Depart for Butte Meadows 5-6 pm Registration and camp set-up at the Forest Service Cherry Hill Campground Thursday Evening Program 6 pm?Barbeque and Reception Sponsored by Butte Creek Brewing at the Butte County CDF Butte Meadows Fire station 7 pm?Butte Creek Spring-run Chinook Restoration and Recovery Efforts, Paul Ward/Tracy McReynolds, Fisheries Biologists with Department of Fish and Game 7:30 pm?Findings from the Spring-Run Technical Review Team, Tina Swanson, Senior Scientist, Bay Institute 8 pm?Spring-run Chinook? the Big Picture, Zeke Grader, Executive Director, Pacific Coast Federation of Fisherman?s Associations 8:30 pm?Salmon Videos and Networking Friday July 28- Saturday July 29 will Feature an Upper and a Lower Watershed Tour 7:30-8:30 am?Breakfast at Cherry Hill Campground 8:30 am?Introductions and Logistics 9 am?Depart for Field Tours Upper Watershed Workshops: Roads and Meadows Keeping the Upslopes Intact Geomorphologist Eric Ginney of Louis Berger Group, Mike Kossow of Meadowbrook Associates, Roger Cole of Streaminders, and Kent Reeves of California Native Grasslands Association 9 am?Depart for Butte Creek House Meadow Restoration, Grazing, Low-gradient Stream Restoration Noon?Lunch and Travel to Scotts John Creek Directions Schedule of Events, Continued Logistics: The cost of the event includes workshops, camping, and food. Come prepared: Please bring layers of clothes, sunscreen, a sun hat, and sneakers or boots. You may want to bring a wetsuit, snorkel, and mask. For camping you will need a tent, sleeping pad and bag, flashlight, and you may want to bring a camping chair. If you would prefer not to camp there are lots of lodging options in Chico and Paradise. Cabins are available close to Cherry Hill campground at the Outpost at 7589 Humboldt Rd Butte Meadows, CA 95942-9719 Phone: (530) 873-3050. On Saturday nights the Outpost has a HUGE BBQ feast. For more information: please contact visit SRF?s website at www.calsalmon.org, email srf at calsalmon.org or call SRF at (707) 923-7501. Please register for the symposium in advance. You can mail a check to PO Box 784, Redway, CA 95560 or fax credit card information to (707) 923-3135. Sales receipts are available upon request. Directions to Cherry Hill campground at Butte Meadows: Take CA-32 East 26.7 miles. Go Right at Humboldt Road for 5.3 miles to community of Butte Meadows. Continue on Humboldt Road 6.5 more miles to Cherry Hill Campground, which will be on the right. Directions to the Butte Meadows firehouse for evening presentations & BBQ: Take CA-32 East 26.7 miles. Go Right at Humboldt Road for 5 miles, the firehouse is on the right. www.calsalmon.org Logistics Got Water? Road-Related Erosion From When The Raindrop Falls To When The Culvert Blows Out l Relation of road erosion to erosion caused by other management and significance compared background erosion l Assessment considerations l Risk vs. Hazard l Tributary extension l Stream crossings Recreating the Success of Butte Creek House in Colby Creek l Rapid Assessment of creek/meadow processes/stressors l In-the-Field Brainstorming: How can we recreate the success of Butte Creek House in Colby Creek Meadow? Improving Road Function and Crossings, and Eliminating Problem Roads 5 pm?Friday Early Evening Hikes Hike to Deer Creek Falls with Mike Kossow of Meadowbrook Associates Big Chico Creek Ecological Preserve (BCCEP) Tour with Jeff Mott, BCCEP Manager 7 pm?Barbeque at the Cherry Hill Campground Lower Watershed Workshops 9 am?Leave for Lower Watershed Workshops 9:30 am? Centerville Schoolhouse-Overview of Fish ID and Counting Techniques, Weirs, Snorkel Surveys, Carcass Counts, Stanislaus Weir, Vaki Counters with Doug Demko, Fisheries Biologist, SP Cramer, Mark Gard, Ph.D, USFWS. Noon?Lunch by the Creek 1:00 pm?Methods to Assess the Relationships between Water Flow and Spawning Habitat, Mark Gard Phd. Spawning Gravel Surveys: Studying Flow & Habitat Relationships with fisheries biologist, Mark Gard, Ph.D, USFWS. 4:00 pm?Leave for Cherry Hill campground at Butte Meadows Registration Form Name: _________________________ Full Address: ________________________________________________ Phone/Fax/Email: ___________________________________________________________________________ Group/Organization Representing (if applicable): __________________________________________________ Organization Address: ________________________________________________________________________ Organization Phone/Fax/Email: ________________________________________________________________ Fees: Silding Scale $100-$150 includes food, workshops, & camping at Butte Meadows. Y Do you want to carpool? Y need a ride Y have room for ______ people Y I can volunteer, please call me! Register early! Some scholarships and work trade positions are available. Please call to inquire. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Mon Jul 17 10:52:04 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2006 10:52:04 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Eureka Times Standard July 16 Message-ID: <001901c6a9c9$beccc7d0$b6fdb545@p4> Editorial: Are the salmon the river's canaries? Eureka Times-Standard - 7/16/06 The problems affecting chinook salmon on the Klamath River are puzzling biologists. Agencies are waiting to hear from a laboratory exactly what's making an increasing number of fish ill. Chinook are the mainstay of the Klamath's tribal and sport river fisheries, and for ocean commercial and recreational fisheries. This fall, so few adult fish are expected to return to the river that commercial fisheries were canceled up and down the coast, while tribal and sport fisheries were slashed. It was thought that with this year's higher than usual water flows, the salmon would be at less risk of illness. One has to wonder if the fact that fish are apparently still getting sick isn't a sign that it is the river that is ill. Are the sick salmon a signal that something is ailing the river, much as canaries signaled bad air in mines? We hope answers are forthcoming and that they give us what we need to correct whatever is ailing the fish -- or the water. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bhill at igc.org Thu Jul 20 16:10:53 2006 From: bhill at igc.org (Brian Hill) Date: Thu, 20 Jul 2006 16:10:53 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Indian Creek Rehabilitation Project CEQA Notice of Message-ID: Dear Josh; Would you please send me the latest information on what stage of implementation the Indian Creek Sediment Removal Project is at? Thanks so much, Brian Hill 530-945-5526 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Fri Jul 21 09:58:33 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Fri, 21 Jul 2006 09:58:33 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] History in the Making? Message-ID: <002101c6ace6$e8ebf070$b6fdb545@p4> San Joaquin restoration starts at $600 million Sacramento Bee - 7/21/06 By Michael Doyle, staff writer WASHINGTON -- A plan to restore the San Joaquin River will cost at least $600 million and possibly much more, prompting sticker shock among some of the lawmakers who must find the money. In a private Capitol Hill briefing Thursday, members of Congress started learning about what could become one of the nation's most ambitious environmental endeavors. It would end an 18-year-old lawsuit and return life to a river channel stripped bare long ago. It could also force California to cash in lots of political chits. "If all goes well," Rep. George Radanovich, R-Mariposa, said Thursday, "I'd like to get it done this year." The actual river restoration downstream from Friant Dam could be a lifetime's work. But to get it started, Congress soon will be asked to approve legislation authorizing myriad river-related projects. The pending legislation could be tricky to pull together, but it's an integral part of the lawsuit settlement now coming into focus. Between $600 million and $700 million will be needed for the river restoration, lawmakers learned Thursday. Even those estimates may be low, and some outside analysts believe the real costs could reach $1.2 billion. The money will pay for levees, streambed improvements and other work along the state's second-longest river. Ever since construction of Friant Dam in the 1940s, the San Joaquin has all but dried up in portions of western Fresno and Merced counties. "Clearly, there is potential for some environmental work that is very positive," said Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced. "My concern is, how do we pay for this?" Cardoza further cautioned that not everyone in Congress is eager to divert more money to California. Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, said he likewise has "some concerns" about funding and other issues, while he considers the overall proposal "promising." State bond money will fund at least some of the work, as will local farmers served by Friant Dam. The federal government, whose Bureau of Reclamation built Friant Dam, also will pay a lot. The congressional briefing Thursday did not pinpoint the federal government's exact share. The deal will include releasing roughly 200,000 acre-feet of water annually into the river channel. "The agreement is set to run like nature runs," Radanovich said. "Sometimes there will be more water than in other years." Starting late last year, Radanovich and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., leaned on irrigators and environmentalists to settle the long-running lawsuit over the river's future. Without a privately negotiated resolution, the lawmakers warned, U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton in Sacramento would impose his own settlement. In August 2004, Karlton ruled that the federal government's operation of Friant Dam violated state and federal laws protecting fisheries. More than 95 percent of the river's flow is now diverted for irrigation water, relied upon by about 15,000 farmers on the San Joaquin Valley's east side. "This judge and these environmental extremists are in collusion together," fumed Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Tulare. "In the end, my farmers get stiffed." Nunes said he thought it was "outrageous" that a lawsuit settlement might essentially compel Congress to pass legislation -- written by others -- authorizing the various San Joaquin River fixes. Other lawmakers likewise question precisely how this might work. "The negotiators for the parties and the state of California have agreed on the text of proposed legislation that they are prepared to recommend for approval," attorneys advised Karlton on June 30. Members of Congress have yet to see this legislative language. For now, designated "third parties" who were not part of the lawsuit but who have a stake in its outcome -- like the Modesto and Merced irrigation districts -- are studying the detailed settlement at several sites in California. A formal settlement is possible in mid-August. Attorneys Dan Dooley, representing farmers, and Hal Candee, representing the Natural Resources Defense Council, led the briefing by phone while officials from the Justice and Interior departments attended in person. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Mon Jul 24 14:44:10 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2006 14:44:10 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Fw: August CRMP Meeting Message-ID: <01ca01c6af6a$4d5cf650$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Dan Westermeyer - TCRCD [mailto:dwestermeyer at tcrcd.net] Sent: Friday, July 21, 2006 5:06 PM To: Subject: August CRMP Meeting The next meeting of the Trinity River Watershed Group (CRMP) will be held on August 10th from 9:30-11:30 at the Trinity County PUD conference room. I will try and have an agenda developed and out to everyone by July 31st. Currently slated for discussion will be the watershed boundary and the MOU. If anyone has another item they would like to have placed on the agenda let me know before the 30th. Looking into the near future, in order to meet the timeline to have a public announcement placed in the RCD newsletter, I need to pick a date for the September meeting. Due to previously scheduled meetings and events, it looks like the last week in September, possibly the 26th may be a good time. Please let me know if this will work for you. The objective of this meeting will be to receive some input from the public at a large. We can discuss the best times for regular future meetings at the August meeting. I'm in the process of creating a "CRMP" email list, so if you received multiple postings or if you do not want to be on this list, please let me know. If someone else forwarded this email to you and you want to be on the list, please send your address to me and I will include you in the future. Dan Westermeyer Project Implementation Coordinator Trinity County Resource Conservation District 530-623-6004 530-623-6006 fax dwestermeyer at tcrcd.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Mon Jul 24 14:43:16 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2006 14:43:16 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Christian Science Monitor- Klamath Summit Message-ID: <01c101c6af6a$3720f9e0$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> from the July 21, 2006 edition - http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0721/p02s01-usec.html In Northwest water clash, a push to talk A 'summit' may be held to address fishing, farming, and environmental concerns in the Klamath River Basin. By Brad Knickerbocker | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor ASHLAND, ORE. "Oh, the farmer and the cowman should be friends." So sang (with irony) the young ladies in the musical "Oklahoma!" as the young men brawled at a country dance. A variation on that tune might be the anthem of the Klamath River Basin in Oregon and California, as farmers and fishermen work out their relationship in an era of troubled community economics and limited natural resources in parts of the American West. Except in this case, they really do have growing concern for each other's livelihood as the region sorts through its longstanding problem of allocating contested water supplies. Farmers who rely on irrigation at the headwaters of the Klamath, and downstream commercial fishermen who gather their catch in the area where the river empties into the Pacific, are being urged to change their work and way of life to benefit endangered fisheries. Some of this involves the work of the Nature Conservancy and other means of purchasing development rights - irrigation allotments in the case of farmers, fishing permits and even boats in the case of fishermen. But it's a complicated business also involving sovereign Indian tribes with treaty rights including water: those who traditionally harvest what have become greatly diminished suckerfish populations in Klamath Lake in Oregon, and Pacific Coast tribes in California that fish for dwindling salmon stocks. Now, the US departments of Interior, Commerce, and Agriculture, plus the White House Council on Environmental Quality, are being asked to hold a regional "summit" out here to address longstanding water issues in the Klamath Basin. Rep. Greg Walden (R) of Oregon - through whose sprawling, mostly rural district the Klamath flows - is organizing the effort. Watershed event in 2001 The need has been building at least since 2001, when the US Bureau of Reclamation announced that no water would be available for irrigation that summer due to drought and the needs of endangered and other species in and around national wildlife refuges along the Oregon- California border. This year, federal authorities have severely limited commercial salmon fishing along 700 miles of the US Pacific Coast. Referring to both episodes as "crises," Representative Walden wrote to Bush administration officials last week, "The cost to the environment and affected farmers, ranchers, fishermen and their communities is enormous, threatening the economy of the areas and causing great despair among residents." Getting all parties together at a high-level meeting is the kind of thing Bill Clinton did shortly after his first election - when he brought then-Vice President Al Gore and what seemed like half the cabinet to Portland, Ore., to deal with the forest crisis over the northern spotted owl. Getting everybody together in collaborative fashion is what former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt tried to do on other Western resource issues during the Clinton years. But it seems atypical of this administration, which clearly sided with agriculture over environmental and downriver interests during the long, hot summer of 2001 when farmers and ranchers symbolically defied federal marshals by opening irrigation head gates. A year later, irrigators got the water, and tens of thousands of salmon died from disease due to low, warm river flows. It remains to be seen whether or not the "Summit on the Klamath River Basin," as Walden calls it, happens. "We're still waiting to hear from the administration," says Matt Daigle, an aide to Walden. "But all early indicators have been favorable." If nothing else, the current effort could revitalize the cabinet-level working group announced by the Bush administration four years ago to address the problems - an effort that seems to have faded away. Skeptical environmentalists For their part, environmentalists are wary. "I'm highly skeptical," says Jim McCarthy, an environmental consultant working with river conservation groups and coast fishermen. "Getting more water to fish is the keystone to getting fisheries restoration in the Klamath." What that will take, Mr. McCarthy and many ecologists say, is allowing more water to flow downstream unimpeded by irrigation diversions, as well as taking out or reengineering four hydropower dams on the river - another highly controversial issue. Meanwhile, Pacific Coast fishermen and Klamath Basin farmers have been visiting each other, looking for ways to jointly tackle the problems they face that are connected by a river that flows from the Cascade Mountain Range to the sea. Farmers have set up a relief fund for commercial fishermen faced with high costs and low income this summer. At one recent meeting, someone passed a hat around, and $900 was collected - not a lot of money, but the effort was earnest. In the West, Mark Twain once quipped, "whiskey is for drinking; water is for fighting over." That may be less true these days in the Klamath Basin. Full HTML version of this story which may include photos, graphics, and related links www.csmonitor.com | Copyright ? 2006 The Christian Science Monitor. All rights reserved. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Mon Jul 24 14:33:27 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2006 14:33:27 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Delta Mendota/California Water Intertie Message-ID: <003401c6af68$cf9584e0$b6fdb545@p4> The Bureau of Reclamation will be holding scoping meetings on the Delta Mendota/California Water Intertie project on August 1st in Sacramento & August 3rd in Stockton. The Intertie would allow more pumping from the delta - in some years 400,000 acre feet more water. The Bureau and San Luis Delta Mendota Water Authority are the lead agencies pushing this project. They had planned to construct the Intertie in February 2006. The Planning and Conservation League filed suit based on the Bureau's inadequate environmental compliance. Now the Bureau is moving forward once again. The Intertie is being built to increase water deliveries to San Joaquin agriculture like Westlands. It poses the same threats to the Delta that the SDIP does. Because the Intertie is a much less complex project, it could be operational much sooner than the SDIP. The scoping meetings will be the first opportunity for public comment. These meetings also will establish what will be analyzed in the EIS. The EIS must include full analysis of impacts to fisheries, water quality, and impacts to upstream areas. The Federal Register announcement is attached. Scoping Meetings: * Tuesday, August 1, 2006, 10 a.m. to 12 Noon, Federal Building, 2800 Cottage Way, Cafeteria Rooms C- 1001 and C-1002, Sacramento, CA 95825 * Thursday, August 3, 2006, 6 to 8 p.m. Cesar Chavez Central Library, 605 North El Dorado Street Steward-Hazelton Room, Stockton, CA 95202 Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From truman at jeffnet.org Mon Jul 31 10:41:16 2006 From: truman at jeffnet.org (Patrick Truman) Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 10:41:16 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Fire Sweeps Through Trinity Message-ID: <006601c6b4c8$8c0dc790$020aa8c0@HAL> Elisha Page / Record Searchlight THIS WAY: Louie Avila points firefighter Bob Foxworthy, who is based in Dobbins in Yuba County, to a trail he can use to survey a slow-burning fireworking its way toward Avila's home on Slattery Gulch Road west of Weaverville on Sunday afternoon. Fire sweeps through Trinity More than 3,100 acres are burned, homes threatened By Rob Rogers, Record Searchlight July 31, 2006 WEAVERVILLE - Louie Avila stood outside the small, brown home he rents in the hills west of town and watched as smoke billowed a short 100 yards from his front door. The Junction Fire, which has charred more than 3,100 acres of forest between Junction City and Weaverville, had burned all around the area where Avila lives, moving east toward Weaverville and away from his house. Avila's house sits at the end of a dirt road, uncomfortably nestled between the feet of two hillsides, both in flames Sunday. Parked in his driveway was a California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection fire engine and three firefighters ready to move against the flames should the fire speed up or get close to the building. "It's backing down the ridge," said Bob Foxworthy, one of the firefighters stationed at the house. The winds picked up around 1 p.m. Sunday, and the fire northwest of the town grew and began moving back on itself, burning west instead of east, down the hillside toward Avila's home. "If they tell me to go, I'm not going to argue," he said late Sunday afternoon. Smoke curled and billowed, obscuring much of the terrain from view. But the sounds - almost a sizzle, like sand being poured down a slide - penetrated the gray clouds as trees ignited and flames licked the underbrush. "I've been close," Avila said. "Never this close." Highway 299, which had been closed Saturday night and Sunday morning, was reopened Sunday afternoon, with California Department of Transportation pilot cars escorting vehicles between Weaverville and Junction City. A few hours later, officials also opened Oregon Road to traffic. As of 9 p.m. Sunday, CDF officials reported one structure destroyed by the fire and one serious injury. Officials estimated the fire was about 30 percent contained. The fire is burning in much the same area as the 2001 Oregon Fire, but flames have not reached Weaverville, as they did in 2001. Residents living west of the city, Avila included, were evacuated Saturday night. Many returned when the highway was reopened. Also evacuated Saturday were 30 patients from Mountain Community Medical Services in Weaverville, who were sent to medical facilities in Redding.Mountain Community's emergency room, however, remained open. Avila sent his 12-year-old son and 16-year-old daughter to relatives in Weaverville when the fire first flared up Saturday. He spent half the night in a trailer park down the road from his house, where others in the area had been evacuated. After hours of trying to sleep in his car, he decided just to return to his home. The decision was difficult, he said. "I had no idea how fast a fire could move until yesterday," he said Sunday. With the Junction Fire still hot, the Redding area can look forward to another smoky morning today, a weather forecaster said. Smoke billowing from the Junction Fire likely will be trapped near the ground under a nighttime inversion layer, said Steve Leach, a meteorologist at the Redding Fire Weather Center. Inversion layers form on clear, relatively calm nights as the earth radiates heat into space. The cooler, heavier air will seep into the low-lying canyons and valleys, then hug the ground.Temperature increases with elevation under these conditions - hence the term "inversion layer." Afternoon heating mixes the air and blots out the inversion layer, Leach said.Winds from the south also will blow smoke away from the Redding area. The far northern Sacramento Valley will likely be less smoky than the mountain canyons of Trinity and Siskiyou counties, Leach said."We'll have some periodic bad spells in the valley," said Leach. "But air quality in the canyons will be very bad for days, maybe even weeks." -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: weir&TRH_summary06.xls Type: application/vnd.ms-excel Size: 29184 bytes Desc: not available URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Mon Jul 31 14:43:36 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 14:43:36 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Junction Fire Message-ID: <005f01c6b4ea$61640690$b6fdb545@p4> Junction Fire Junction Fire Incident Information: Last Updated: July 31, 2006 7:00 am Date/Time Started: July 29, 2006 12:20 pm Administrative Unit: CDF Shasta-Trinity Unit County: Trinity Location: West of Weaverville Acres Burned: 3,126 Containment 50% contained - 3,126 acres, full containment expected August 1 at 8 p.m. Structures Destroyed: 1 residence destroyed Evacuations: Evacuations have been lifted. Injuries: 3 Cause: Under Investigation Cooperating Agencies: US Forest Service, National Park Service, CHP, Trinity County Sheriffs Office, local government Total Fire Personnel: 1,556 (1,307 CDF) Fire crews: 39 CDF Engines: 145 (101 CDF) Airtankers: 1 CDF Helicopters: 4 (2 CDF) Dozers: 31 (14 CDF) Water tenders: 18 Costs to date: $1.2 million Major Incident Command Team: CDF Team #4 Conditions: All evacuations have been lifted. Hwy 299 is opened to CHP escorted traffic. Phone Numbers 1 (530) 225-2510 (Junction Fire Information) Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From sethnaman at earthlink.net Mon Jul 31 14:51:33 2006 From: sethnaman at earthlink.net (Seth Naman) Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 14:51:33 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Junction City Weir Fish Count In-Reply-To: <005401c6b4e8$853233f0$b6fdb545@p4> Message-ID: Looks like brown trout, a non-native species in a different genus than Pacific salmonids, are off to a great start this year. Seth _____ From: env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us [mailto:env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us] On Behalf Of Byron Sent: Monday, July 31, 2006 2:30 PM To: FOTR List; Trinity List Server Subject: [env-trinity] Junction City Weir Fish Count >From Wade Sinnen, Associate Biologist, Trinity River Project, CA Department of Fish and Game: Attached is the first trapping summary for our Junction City weir. Trapping summaries for Willow Creek weir and Trinity River Hatchery will be added in late August and early September, respectively. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Mon Jul 31 16:17:28 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 16:17:28 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Tim McKay Message-ID: <007001c6b4f8$004cf390$e1653940@trinitycounty.org> Tim McKay, the executive director of the Northcoast Environmental Center (NEC) for virtually its entire 35-year existence, died at Stone Lagoon of an apparently massive heart attack on Sunday while he was engaged in one of his favorite activities: birding. McKay, 59, was a relentless and inspirational defender of what he called the Klamath-Siskiyou. A native of Stockton who spent his boyhood in Benicia, McKay's interest in the environment bloomed during a family trip to Alaska in the 1950s. After coming to Arcata to study at Humboldt State, where he was a student government vice-president and eventually received a degree in history, McKay did a stint with the Forest Service in 1971. He also helped pioneer an early conservation group called Save Our Siskiyous. A federal grant allowed him to become co-director, and later executive director (and sole employee) of the NEC. He had guided its concerns, activities, goals and dreams ever since. McKay leaves a daughter, Laurel, 25; son, Forrest, 21; a brother, Gerry, his partner Michelle Marta, and numerous relatives and friends. Plans for a celebration of his life in August are in progress. Contact can be made through the NEC 707.822.6918 (M_F 10-6) nec at yournec.org yournec.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Mon Jul 31 09:21:25 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 09:21:25 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Junction Fire Message-ID: <000301c6b4bd$61441bf0$b6fdb545@p4> Junction Fire Junction Fire Incident Information: Last Updated: July 31, 2006 7:00 am Date/Time Started: July 29, 2006 12:20 pm Administrative Unit: CDF Shasta-Trinity Unit County: Trinity Location: West of Weaverville Acres Burned: 3,126 Containment 50% contained - 3,126 acres, full containment expected August 1 at 8 p.m. Structures Destroyed: 1 residence destroyed Evacuations: Evacuations have been lifted. Injuries: 3 Cause: Under Investigation Cooperating Agencies: US Forest Service, National Park Service, CHP, Trinity County Sheriffs Office, local government Total Fire Personnel: 1,556 (1,307 CDF) Fire crews: 39 CDF Engines: 145 (101 CDF) Airtankers: 1 CDF Helicopters: 4 (2 CDF) Dozers: 31 (14 CDF) Water tenders: 18 Costs to date: $1.2 million Major Incident Command Team: CDF Team #4 Conditions: All evacuations have been lifted. Hwy 299 is opened to CHP escorted traffic. Phone Numbers 1 (530) 225-2510 (Junction Fire Information) Category Links Incident Information State Fire Training CDF Academy Air Program Mobile Equipment Law Enforcement Cooperative Efforts Conservation Camps CDF Firefighter Memorial CDF Medal of Valor Honorees Be Prepared For Any Emergency Junction Fire More Info... Junction Fire Information Incident Maps Photos News Releases Weather Information Telephone Numbers Related Links Emergency Dial 911 CDF Arson Hotline 1-800-468-4408 _____ This site uses Adobe Acrobat. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 31045 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.gif Type: image/gif Size: 4413 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image003.gif Type: image/gif Size: 211 bytes Desc: not available URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Tue Aug 1 07:50:21 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Tue, 1 Aug 2006 07:50:21 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Times Standard on Tim McKay Message-ID: <00c401c6b579$d1350160$ed653940@trinitycounty.org> Article Launched: 08/01/2006 04:30:13 AM PDT http://www.times-standard.com/local/ci_4120789 Mourning McKay John Driscoll The Times-Standard Activist, historian, birder left big footprints on North Coast John Driscoll The Times-Standard When Tim McKay got his start in Humboldt County, there were still tepee burners sending plumes of wood smoke from sawmill waste into the fog-heavy air around Arcata and Eureka. The county's best-known environmentalist died Sunday, shortly after spotting a Cooper's hawk near Stone Lagoon. McKay had spent more than half of his 59 years building the Northcoast Environmental Center from its humble roots in a timber country that didn't exactly embrace his early work. On Monday, his partner, his friends and colleagues were just beginning to accept the vacuum he left behind. His partner of eight years, Michele Marta, described Tim as loving and tender. The two spent Saturday looking at elegant terns and other birds on Humboldt Bay. While birding at Stone Lagoon on Sunday, McKay had a major heart attack and could not be revived. Just before he died, Marta put a sweater under his head. ?The last thing he said to me was, 'I love you, sweetie,'? Marta said. ?And then he died.? ?We need to keep our eyes on the prize and not be mesmerized by smoke and mirrors.? -- McKay, regarding proposed water storage on the Klamath River Opinionated, thorough, well-spoken -- and so abundantly quotable -- McKay made an impression with his approach and with his size. A gentle man, McKay nonetheless stood by less imposing people trying to voice their views at sometimes hostile meetings. Longtime friend and neighbor of the Westhaven man, Lucille Vinyard remembers McKay standing beside her at the podium during a volatile California Coastal Commission meeting, acting as a de facto guard. Vinyard spearheaded the annual beach cleanup that has since caught on around the world, and which McKay took over after five years. ?He's just been a wonderful spokesman for the environmental community,? Vinyard said. ?He's just been an absolutely wonderful asset.? ?If it's a bad idea it's not a NIMBY kind of a thing.? -- McKay, regarding Calpine's proposal to build a liquefied natural gas plant on Humboldt Bay Historian, documentarian, photographer, McKay's vast knowledge and experience was backed up by an incredible library of documents that he amassed on dozens of issues over his nearly 35-year term as the Northcoast Environmental Center's executive director. The Gasquet-Orleans Road, the northern spotted owl, the Siskiyou Wilderness, the Klamath River. He spent many of his efforts on federal projects with ramifications for Northern California, and chronicled the issues in the advocacy newspaper EcoNews and on the longest-running radio show on KHSU. He also salvaged the environmental center after a fire burned it down in 2001. ?Tim was the organization and the organization was Tim,? said his friend and fellow environmentalist Ted Trichilo of Fortuna. Trichilo said that McKay forged ahead with the fledgling environmental center despite opposition from the powers that dominated the county in the 1960s and 1970s. Close friend and colleague Connie Stewart, who left the environmental center to work for Eureka Democratic Assemblywoman Patty Berg, was 19 when she met McKay. That was when the G-O Road controversy -- which aimed to build a road between Gasquet and Orleans and bisect a wilderness -- was wrapping up. The two even regularly donated blood to the same Blood Bank account for years. Stewart's composure faltered after a few minutes into the interview. She said that she loved McKay and will dearly miss him, but that his sudden death while birding may have been preferable to a drawn-out death from recent ailments. ?He couldn't have scripted his exit from this earth any better,? Stewart said. ?Endangered species are not the problem; their plight is only the symptom.? -- McKay, June 20, 2003, op-ed In recent years, McKay pressed for more wilderness to be added to existing back country tracts. Just before he died, a wilderness bill sponsored by Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, passed the U.S. House of Representatives, its most significant hurdle. If it passes the Senate as expected, it will designate some 273,000 acres of public land as wilderness. ?I'll always remember Tim when I go to the mountains,? said McKay's friend Joe Gillespie with the Friends of Del Norte County. Gillespie said that people in Humboldt and Del Norte counties will benefit from McKay's work and the work of those who knew him for years to come. McKay was also heavily involved in the dispute over Klamath River fish and water. His efforts redoubled in 2002 when up to 68,000 adult chinook salmon died in the river. Arranging for a helicopter flight up the river, his photos of thousands of salmon floating dead in the low, tepid water were poignant and distributed around the West. No stranger to controversy, McKay often rattled cages, but many said that he had become more moderate -- though no less passionate -- in recent years. Even those who were regularly at odds with McKay's politics or disagreed with him on environmental issues were quick to point out that they respected him. McKinleyville's Dennis Mayo, who has battled with McKay over vehicle access to Clam Beach, said they were often staunchly opposed during heated, public debates. Still, he said he was sad to learn of McKay's death. ?Whether you like what he did or didn't like what he did,? Mayo said, ?you've got to admit that he did something, and that's a good thing.? ?I always think of that biblical admonition, when God told Noah to take two of every species, not just the ones that are worth money.? -- McKay, regarding federal protection for lamprey RETURN TO TOP More News a.. Mourning McKay a.. Fortuna school seeks $3.9 million bond a.. Showdown with a clown a.. NorCal reign of fire a.. Cable's free speech platform a.. Revision to sewer plant design could save Ferndale millions a.. Potty talk resumes at Arcata City Council meeting a.. Suds and seeds -- maybe, maybe not a.. Explore North Coast schedule announced a.. End of the rat race a.. Alzheimer's help is available a.. Incumbents file campaign donations papers a.. Fern Cottage open for public tours a.. More counterfeit checks passed Job Home Car EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION ASSISTANT I (Job) College of the Redwoods -------------------------------------------------------- EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION ASSISTANT II (Job) College of the Redwoods -------------------------------------------------------- Senior Accountant/Auditor (Job) County of Humboldt -------------------------------------------------------- Parts Storekeeper (Job) County of Humboldt -------------------------------------------------------- P/T Transporter (Job) Environmental Alternatives Foster Family Agen -------------------------------------------------------- Positions Available (Job) Simpson Timber Company -------------------------------------------------------- Finance Director (Job) City of Eureka -------------------------------------------------------- Academic Mentors/Service Coordinators (Job) AmeriCorps -------------------------------------------------------- INDUSTRIAL SALES (Job) Partsmaster -------------------------------------------------------- OUTSIDE SALES POSITION (Job) Tri-City Weekly -------------------------------------------------------- Reporter Wanted (Job) The Humboldt Beacon -------------------------------------------------------- 96 Ford Explorer XLT 4x4 (Car) Click for Details -------------------------------------------------------- 1968 Chrysler Newport (Car) Click for Details -------------------------------------------------------- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: 20050808_011800_toplistings.gif Type: image/gif Size: 2345 bytes Desc: not available URL: From truman at jeffnet.org Tue Aug 1 08:53:50 2006 From: truman at jeffnet.org (Patrick Truman) Date: Tue, 1 Aug 2006 08:53:50 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Junction Fire Message-ID: <003e01c6b582$b16db210$020aa8c0@HAL> Junction Fire: Name: Junction Fire County: Trinity Administrative Unit: CDF Shasta-Trinity Unit Status/Notes: 90% contained - 3,126 acres, full containment expected August 1 at 8 p.m. Date Started: July 29, 2006 12:20 pm Last update: August 1, 2006 7:00 am Phone Numbers (530) 225-2510 (Junction Fire Information) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From truman at jeffnet.org Tue Aug 1 09:28:17 2006 From: truman at jeffnet.org (Patrick Truman) Date: Tue, 1 Aug 2006 09:28:17 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Was It Hot Last Week?... Message-ID: <008801c6b587$812f9730$020aa8c0@HAL> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IF YOU THOUGHT LAST WEEK WAS HOT ... / Higher temperatures, rising ocean, loss of snowpack forecast for state Jane Kay, Chronicle Environment Writer Tuesday, August 1, 2006 view chart a.. Printable Version b.. Email This Article Global Warming Higher temps, rising ocean, loss of snowpack in state's forecast (8/1) Read the full report (PDF) (8/1) Guv walks a tightrope on issue (8/1) State, U.K. strike emissions deal, bypassing Bush (8/1) Hottest year on record (7/30) Climate change seen hurting parks (7/26) Scientists gives Gore flick two thumbs up (6/27) Earth is the hottest in 400 years (6/23) Supreme Court gets global warming case (6/23) Chronicle Series: A Warming World (1/15) California will become significantly hotter and drier by the end of the century, causing severe air pollution, a drop in the water supply, the melting of 90 percent of the Sierra snowpack and up to six times more heat-related deaths in major urban centers, according to a sweeping study compiled with help from respected scientists around the country. The weather -- up to 10.5 degrees warmer by 2100 -- would make last month's heat wave look average. If industrial and vehicle emissions continue unabated, there could be up to 100 more days a year when temperatures hit 90 degrees or above in Los Angeles and 95 degrees or above in Sacramento, the report states. Both cities have about 20 days of such extreme heat now. The report's good news: If emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are significantly curtailed, the number of extremely hot days might increase by only half those figures. The report, released today by the California Environmental Protection Agency, was prepared by the California Climate Change Center, established three years ago by the California Energy Commission. Scripps Institution of Oceanography and UC Berkeley are responsible for the core research, and about 75 scientists from universities, government agencies and nonprofit groups contributed to the study. The report is the first under an executive order signed in June 2005 by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that calls for biennial studies on the potential impact on the state of continued global warming. "What we wanted to do with the document is summarize the scientific reports so regular citizens can understand the grave concerns that we believe are facing California,'' said Claudia Chandler, assistant executive director of the Energy Commission. Climate experts have faith in the reliability of global climate models and their ability to forecast what will happen to the planet as the heat-trapping greenhouse gases continue to build in the atmosphere. However, some scientists have been reluctant to say how global warming might affect specific regions, including areas the size of California. That's because there is debate over whether models are good enough to zoom in on possible local effects of planetary climate change. But Chandler said the state was depending on the core of scientists who prepared the report to use the best models available to help the state prepare for problems in the not-too-distant future. "We probably won't know until 10 years from now. But that will be too late. We cannot turn our backs on trying to address this very serious situation.'' Highlights of the report: -- Hotter weather would increase the risk of death from dehydration, heat stroke, heart attack, stroke and respiratory distress. Under the most extreme scenario, heat-related deaths could increase by four or six times. -- The snowpack, the state's major source of fresh drinking water, could nearly disappear. -- Power demand could go up as much as 20 percent, but hydropower supplies would drop. -- Heat could put stress on dairy cows, which could produce up to 20 percent less milk. Fruit and nut trees could produce smaller, inferior-quality crops. Wine grape quality could be severely affected in all but the coolest growing regions. -- Sea levels would rise, with the possibility of inundating the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, a source of two-thirds of the state's drinking water. "We looked at agriculture, one of the state's most important sectors, and the increased potential of wildfires,'' said Chandler. "We looked at public health from the standpoint of deteriorating air quality and the reduced water from the Sierra Nevada snowpack. We looked at what rising sea levels would mean to the delta's water pumps and levees and to the coastal cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland and San Diego.'' The study authors based their assessments on what would happen in California under three different emissions scenarios. The amount of emissions would determine the amount of temperature rise over the century as greenhouse gases trapped excess heat that would otherwise radiate into space. These scenarios -- which contain varying assumptions on economic and population growth, use of new efficient technologies and shifts away from the use of fossil fuels -- have been adopted by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a collaboration of 2,000 scientists from 100 countries. With continued higher emissions, temperature increases are projected between 8 and 10.5 degrees; with medium emissions, temperatures would increase between 5.5 and 8 degrees; with lower emissions, the temperature is projected to rise between 3 and 5.5 degrees. How the state manages emissions could have a significant impact on how global warming affects California, the report said. For example, if temperatures rise as much as 5.5 degrees, there will be 75 to 85 percent more days of weather conducive to production of unhealthful smog in Los Angeles and the San Joaquin Valley, it said. The days could be cut if emissions stayed at the lower scenario. Sea levels have already risen about 7 inches along the California coast in the past century. If greenhouse gases continue and temperatures rise into the upper range, the ocean is expected to rise 22 to 35 inches by the end of the century. A mix of increasingly severe winter storms and high tides is expected to cause more frequent and severe flooding, erosion and damage to coastal structures, the report said. The report concludes that California policy alone cannot significantly affect the warming planet. "California alone cannot stabilize the planet. However, the state's actions can drive global progress," the report concludes. If other states and nation's follow California's example of limiting emissions of greenhouse gases, "we would be on track to keep temperatures from rising ... and thus avoid the most severe consequences of global warming." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- E-mail Jane Kay at jkay at sfchronicle.com. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: chronicle_logo.gif Type: image/gif Size: 1013 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: mn_climategrf_t.gif Type: image/gif Size: 2195 bytes Desc: not available URL: From truman at jeffnet.org Tue Aug 1 17:25:28 2006 From: truman at jeffnet.org (Patrick Truman) Date: Tue, 1 Aug 2006 17:25:28 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Historic Town Out of Danger Message-ID: <003001c6b5ca$2cda8ee0$020aa8c0@HAL> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRINITY COUNTY Historic town out of danger Crews get handle on Weaverville blaze Demian Bulwa, Chronicle Staff Writer Tuesday, August 1, 2006 a.. Printable Version b.. Email This Article (08-01) 04:00 PDT Weaverville, Trinity County -- Firefighters were on their way Monday to surrounding flames that reached to the edge of this historic gold-mining town, bringing relief to 3,500 residents who survived a blaze five years ago that swept through some of the same rugged hills and canyons. "Everything went really well overnight," Jason Martin, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said Monday. "The winds died down, and the fire followed suit. That let firefighters put a stranglehold on this nasty little sucker." The Junction Fire was 70 percent contained Monday night after burning 3,126 acres over two days. Evacuation orders were lifted and a downtown lined with buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places was no longer threatened. Full containment was expected by this evening. Less than a mile west of the downtown strip, three firefighters from Shasta County were stationed outside the hillside home of Ron Fisher, a 49-year-old plumber, when they got a call at 10 a.m. Monday. "We've been reassigned," firefighter Rob Leal, 28, told Fisher, indicating the danger had passed. Fisher lost his home in 2001 to the Oregon Fire, which destroyed nine houses, prompted a citywide evacuation and led firefighters to form a wall around Weaverville's downtown. After a few months, Fisher and a longtime friend and neighbor agreed that they would both rebuild, using fire-resistant roofs and concrete siding. "I never thought this would happen again," Fisher said. The area around his house, once thick with fir, pine and oak trees, is less fire-friendly now. The 2001 blaze took out much of the timber, and some of the remaining trees are burned skeletons. Martin said firefighters had been helped in recent days by the lack of fuel. The Junction Fire started just outside Junction City along Highway 299, which connects Redding and Eureka and was temporarily closed. The fire's cause is not yet known. The blaze burned east over Oregon Summit toward Weaverville, sending up smoke that filled the air nearly 100 miles away. By Monday evening, the fire had destroyed one structure and had cost an estimated $2.3 million to fight. Four firefighters had suffered minor injuries. The forestry department said a blaze that gutted a downtown restaurant Saturday evening was unrelated to the wildfire, though many residents said they suspected an ember from that fire had dropped from the sky and done the job. Weaverville, founded by gold miners in 1850, has quite a fire history -- most of it ancient. A plaque outside the red-brick New York Hotel building states that it "burned in the town fire of 1859" and "was gutted by the big fire of 1863." Some downtown structures are built to collapse in a fire, the idea being to smother a blaze before it can spread. And since the 2001 fire, many residents have kept valuables packed together to prepare for quick evacuation. Jan Saxon, 46, bought the Weaverville Drug Store in January, when it was the oldest active pharmacy in California. She renovated the building and converted it into a flower, candy and gift shop called Kudos, betting that lightning would not strike twice in five years. "We figured it wasn't going to burn for another 100 years," Saxon said of Weaverville. "Once the downtown goes, there's nothing here." E-mail Demian Bulwa at dbulwa at sfchronicle.com. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: chronicle_logo.gif Type: image/gif Size: 1013 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: ba_weavervillemjm_t.gif Type: image/gif Size: 2170 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: ba_junctionfiremap_t.gif Type: image/gif Size: 3931 bytes Desc: not available URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Wed Aug 2 08:52:25 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Wed, 2 Aug 2006 08:52:25 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] TRINITY COUNTY: Historic town out of dange, Crews get handle on Weaverville blaze Message-ID: <8DB773F7046960499DFAABF71D3C3B1E035D11@mail3.trinitycounty.org> TRINITY COUNTY Historic town out of danger Crews get handle on Weaverville blaze Demian Bulwa, Chronicle Staff Writer Tuesday, August 1, 2006 http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/08/01/BAGFLK8U561. DTL&feed=rss.bayarea * Printable Version * Email This Article (08-01) 04:00 PDT Weaverville, Trinity County -- Firefighters were on their way Monday to surrounding flames that reached to the edge of this historic gold-mining town, bringing relief to 3,500 residents who survived a blaze five years ago that swept through some of the same rugged hills and canyons. "Everything went really well overnight," Jason Martin, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said Monday. "The winds died down, and the fire followed suit. That let firefighters put a stranglehold on this nasty little sucker." The Junction Fire was 70 percent contained Monday night after burning 3,126 acres over two days. Evacuation orders were lifted and a downtown lined with buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places was no longer threatened. Full containment was expected by this evening. Less than a mile west of the downtown strip, three firefighters from Shasta County were stationed outside the hillside home of Ron Fisher, a 49-year-old plumber, when they got a call at 10 a.m. Monday. "We've been reassigned," firefighter Rob Leal, 28, told Fisher, indicating the danger had passed. Fisher lost his home in 2001 to the Oregon Fire, which destroyed nine houses, prompted a citywide evacuation and led firefighters to form a wall around Weaverville's downtown. After a few months, Fisher and a longtime friend and neighbor agreed that they would both rebuild, using fire-resistant roofs and concrete siding. "I never thought this would happen again," Fisher said. The area around his house, once thick with fir, pine and oak trees, is less fire-friendly now. The 2001 blaze took out much of the timber, and some of the remaining trees are burned skeletons. Martin said firefighters had been helped in recent days by the lack of fuel. The Junction Fire started just outside Junction City along Highway 299, which connects Redding and Eureka and was temporarily closed. The fire's cause is not yet known. The blaze burned east over Oregon Summit toward Weaverville, sending up smoke that filled the air nearly 100 miles away. By Monday evening, the fire had destroyed one structure and had cost an estimated $2.3 million to fight. Four firefighters had suffered minor injuries. The forestry department said a blaze that gutted a downtown restaurant Saturday evening was unrelated to the wildfire, though many residents said they suspected an ember from that fire had dropped from the sky and done the job. Weaverville, founded by gold miners in 1850, has quite a fire history -- most of it ancient. A plaque outside the red-brick New York Hotel building states that it "burned in the town fire of 1859" and "was gutted by the big fire of 1863." Some downtown structures are built to collapse in a fire, the idea being to smother a blaze before it can spread. And since the 2001 fire, many residents have kept valuables packed together to prepare for quick evacuation. Jan Saxon, 46, bought the Weaverville Drug Store in January, when it was the oldest active pharmacy in California. She renovated the building and converted it into a flower, candy and gift shop called Kudos, betting that lightning would not strike twice in five years. "We figured it wasn't going to burn for another 100 years," Saxon said of Weaverville. "Once the downtown goes, there's nothing here." E-mail Demian Bulwa at dbulwa at sfchronicle.com. Page B - 3 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.gif Type: image/gif Size: 2170 bytes Desc: image001.gif URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.gif Type: image/gif Size: 3931 bytes Desc: image002.gif URL: From Vina_Frye at fws.gov Wed Aug 2 13:36:07 2006 From: Vina_Frye at fws.gov (Vina_Frye at fws.gov) Date: Wed, 2 Aug 2006 13:36:07 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group (TAMWG) Meeting Notice Message-ID: Hi Folks, The Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group (TAMWG) meeting notice for September 2006 was published in the Federal Register on August 1, 2006. Regards, Vina Vina Frye U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Arcata FWO 1655 Heindon Road Arcata, CA 95521 Telephone: (707) 822-7201 Fax: (707) 822-8411 vina_frye at fws.gov [Federal Register: August 1, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 147)] [Notices] [Page 43515] >From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr01au06-83] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Notice of Meeting of the Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of meeting. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group (TAMWG) affords stakeholders the opportunity to give policy, management, and technical input concerning Trinity River restoration efforts to the Trinity Management Council. Primary objectives of the meeting will include: Trinity River Restoration Program Fiscal Year 2007 budget; science framework; TAMWG Charter renewal; Executive Director's report; reports from Trinity River Restoration Program workgroups; Klamath River conditions and Klamath-Trinity management coordination: restoration experience on Clear Creek; and Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA) program review. Completion of the agenda is dependent on the amount of time each item takes. The meeting could end early if the agenda has been completed. The meeting is open to the public. DATES: The Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group will meet from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, September 12, 2006, and from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, September 13, 2006. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Weaverville Victorian Inn, 1709 Main St., 299 West, Weaverville, CA 96093; telephone: (530) 623- 4432. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Randy A. Brown of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office, 1655 Heindon Road, Arcata, California 95521; (707) 822-7201. Randy A. Brown is the working group's Designated Federal Officer. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App), this notice announces a meeting of the Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group (TAMWG). For background information and questions regarding the Trinity River Restoration Program, please contact Douglas Schleusner, Executive Director, Trinity River Restoration Program, P.O. Box 1300, 1313 South Main Street, Weaverville, California 96093; (530) 623-1800.??? Dated: July 20, 2006. Joseph Polos, Supervisory Fishery Biologist, Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office, Arcata, CA. [FR Doc. E6-12308 Filed 7-31-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P From jallen at trinitycounty.org Wed Aug 2 16:16:51 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Wed, 2 Aug 2006 16:16:51 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] August 10th CRMP Agenda Message-ID: <8DB773F7046960499DFAABF71D3C3B1E035D2D@mail3.trinitycounty.org> Attached is the agenda for the August 10th Trinity River Watershed Council (CRMP) meeting. Please pass it on to any interested parties, Thanks, Dan Westermeyer Project Implementation Coordinator Trinity County Resource Conservation District dwestermeyer at tcrcd.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Aug10_CRMP_Agenda.doc Type: application/msword Size: 23040 bytes Desc: Aug10_CRMP_Agenda.doc URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Wed Aug 2 16:46:33 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Wed, 2 Aug 2006 16:46:33 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Weaverville survives fire threat Message-ID: <8DB773F7046960499DFAABF71D3C3B1E035D30@mail3.trinitycounty.org> Weaverville survives fire threat http://www.trinityjournal.com/ By AMY GITTELSOHN The fire that started Saturday at the Junction City Rifle Range and swept to the east toward Weaverville, burning more than 3,100 acres and forcing evacuations, was fully contained Tuesday night. The cause of the "Junction Fire" was still under investigation, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said. Suppression costs were reported to be $4,300,000. The fire was initially difficult for firefighters to get a handle on Saturday as it started at approximately 12:30 p.m. and burned uphill on a steep slope. Then winds of 15 to 20 miles per hour fanned the flames, said CDF Public Information Officer Mike Carr. Firefighters from around Trinity County and the North State responded, but the fire jumped across Highway 299 and moved toward Weaverville. Although it burned more acreage than the "Oregon Fire" of five years ago, including a re-burn of part of the old fire area, the Junction Fire took a lesser toll on structures. Two trailers on a property near the top of Oregon Mountain were burned, along with numerous vehicles parked on the property. The trailers were owned by Tom Bourgoine, a 75-year-old retired mechanic who lived in one of them and used the other as a workshop. "Everything he had burnt to the ground," said James Robertson, a friend of Bourgoine's who is putting him up. "He had time to load up his little LUV pickup with his dog and leave." Bourgoine's is the only residence lost in the Junction Fire, although an ember from that fire is a possible cause of the fire Saturday night at La Grange Cafe in Weaverville. Still, the fire came too close for comfort in several areas. Mandatory evacuation orders were given for Rifle Range Road, Slattery Gulch Road and part of Oregon Street. Voluntary evacuations were declared for west Weaverville. For the most part, Sheriff Lorrac Craig said, "Everybody was really cooperative." Weaverville Fire Chief Richard Smith praised the work of the firefighters, which included members of nine volunteer departments from Trinity County. "I think these guys did an outstanding job," he said. The 3,126-acre fire area included approximately 1,350 acres of private land, 1,400 acres of public land managed by the federal Bureau of Land Management, and 300 acres of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. "It was hell," said Ken Daily, who with his wife Darlene lives at the top of Oregon Street. "The flames were about 60 feet in the air." As a reserve deputy sheriff, Daily helped evacuate his neighbors, and his wife Darlene evacuated along with their pets. "There were a few hangers-on, but they eventually left," Daily said. "You couldn't breathe." The trailer that burned was close to the Dailys' property. "There was ammunition going off and propane tanks exploding down there," Daily said. The Red Cross set up an evacuation shelter at the Douglas City School, and 19 people spent the night Saturday. The evacuation orders were lifted on Monday. Health concerns due to smoke caused Mountain Community Medical Services to evacuate 20 residents of its convalescent hospital and three patients in the acute care unit on Saturday. They went to stay at other nursing homes and with relatives, said hospital CEO Jim Sato, who hoped to move the residents back and open to inpatients on Tuesday. Other services at the hospital, including the emergency room, remained in operation. The fire took out 21 PG&E and Trinity Public Utilities District poles, and about a mile of power lines for each of the utilities, said TPUD Electric Superintendent Andy Lethbridge. As a result, Junction City was without power for several days as utility crews had to wait first for the flames to subside and then make repairs in rugged terrain, Lethbridge said early this week. Power was restored to Junction City Tuesday night. More than 1,500 firefighting personnel have been working on the fire each day, although fire managers began sending some home early this week as full containment of the fire with fire line was established. Four firefighters had minor injuries. Of other interest: Cause of fire at La Grange Cafe 'inconclusive' By AMY GITTELSOHN An investigator will label the cause of the fire that did major damage to La Grange Cafe in Weaverville on Saturday as "inconclusive," Weaverville Fire Chief Richard Smith said. However, Smith said, the two most probable causes of the fire that began behind the restaurant are an ember from the Junction Fire that was burning west of town at the time, or a discarded cigarette. The investigator leaned toward the theory of an ember from the fire, but there is not enough evidence for a conclusive determination, Smith said. The fire broke out Saturday evening as the restaurant was in full swing. Owner/chef Sharron Heryford was hosting her 45-year high school class reunion, with 52 people attending for that reason plus about 40 other diners. Heryford said she had stepped outside while determining when to start serving the reunion dinner and went back in to give the kitchen staff a two-minute warning when she heard people in the kitchen screaming "Fire!" and the bartender calling for everyone to get out. Two employees tried to put the fire out with a fire extinguisher and hose and it "blew them away," she said. "The windows were blowing out as we went out." Everyone was evacuated safely from La Grange, but there was major damage to the restaurant and lesser damage to the businesses on each side of the building: The Diggins bar and Olson Stoneware. The kitchen and restrooms built at La Grange during a renovation of the old building five years ago were destroyed. There is smoke, water and some fire damage to the front rooms, which were built in 1854 and were used by La Grange Caf? as a dining room and bar room. Estimated damages are $500,000, Smith said. The kitchen and bathrooms are a total loss, and it looks as if part of the ceiling will have to be replaced in the front rooms. Weaverville Assistant Fire Chief Cindy Shortt said firefighters achieved their goal, which was "to protect The Diggins and protect Olson's and keep anything off the shake shingle buildings" across the street. The restaurant had been for sale, but that plan is on hold. The couple plans to rebuild the restaurant, a process Duane Heryford estimates will take six to nine months. The fire spread to an exterior wall of The Diggins bar, which also had water damage and a hole in its roof from the firefighting effort. The Diggins was closed temporarily but reopened on Tuesday. On the other side of the restaurant, Olson Stoneware also had some minor smoke and water damage. There was much speculation by residents about the cause of the fire, including use of a barbecue. Duane Heryford told the Journal that the restaurant was not barbecuing in back on the day of the fire. The fire began behind the restaurant under a wooden ramp. "There is a history of cigarettes being discarded in that area that have caused fires in the past," Chief Smith said, "and certainly we have fallout from the Junction fire." Small fires caused by cigarettes were discovered in the back area and in a tree behind the restaurant recently, Smith said, although the fire department was not called. Smith noted that on Sunday there was a confirmed spot fire from the Junction Fire on Squires Road, which is across Highway 3 from the Weaverville transfer station and about a half-mile east of where the fire was burning. There were also reports of fire debris such as large leaves as far east as the Crystal Air shop on Highway 299. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 171781 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 16635 bytes Desc: image002.jpg URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: image008.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 30228 bytes Desc: image008.jpg URL: From BGUTERMUTH at mp.usbr.gov Thu Aug 3 13:54:13 2006 From: BGUTERMUTH at mp.usbr.gov (Brandt Gutermuth) Date: Thu, 03 Aug 2006 13:54:13 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Draft Indian Creek Rehab Site EA/EIR available for 45 day public review Message-ID: Dear Trinity River Enthusiasts- The Trinity River Restoration Program office of the Bureau of Reclamation (the Federal lead agency) and the Trinity County Planning Department (the State lead agency) announce the availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment (Draft EIR/EA) for the "Indian Creek Rehabilitation Site: Trinity River Mile 93.7 to 96.5" (Project). The joint document is being prepared under guidance of the Trinity River Restoration Program (TRRP) and meets California Environmental Quality Act and National Environmental Policy Act requirements. The Project would implement provisions of the Secretary of the Interior's December 19, 2000, Record of Decision (ROD) for the Trinity River Mainstem Fishery Restoration. Physical channel rehabilitation is identified in the ROD as a necessary step towards restoration of the Trinity River's anadromous fishery and fulfillment of the Federal government's tribal trust responsibility. The purpose of the proposed Project is to provide increased juvenile salmonid rearing habitat on the mainstem Trinity River and reduce impacts to homes and other improvements located adjacent to the Trinity River from the implementation of flows required by the ROD. The Project is expected to accomplish this by re-contouring bank and floodplain features starting in fall/winter 2006-2007 and completing in-channel modifications during summer 2007. Trinity County has received financial support for Project implementation from the California Department of Fish and Game's Fisheries Restoration Grant Program and from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Targeted Watershed Grants Program. Trinity County is working as a partner agency under the EPA program with the Yurok Tribe and the Trinity County Resource Conservation District. The Draft EIR/EA is available for a 45-day public review and comment period. It may be viewed on the TRRP website at http://www.trrp.net/RestorationProgram/IndianCreek.htm or on Reclamation's Mid-Pacific Region website at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=2094. The document may also be viewed at the TRRP Office, 1313 South Main Street, Weaverville, or the Trinity County Library, 211 North Main Street, Weaverville. Comments must be received by close of business September 18, 2006, and should be sent to Mr. Brandt Gutermuth, Trinity River Restoration Program, P.O. Box 1300, Weaverville, CA 96093, or e-mailed to bgutermuth at mp.usbr.gov. For further information or to request a copy of the Draft EIR/EA, please contact Mr. Gutermuth at 530-623-1806. Best Regards- Brandt ___________________________________ Brandt Gutermuth, Environmental Specialist Trinity River Restoration Program PO Box 1300 (mailing) 1313 Main Street (physical address) Weaverville, CA 96093 (530) 623-1806 voice; (530) 623-5944 fax Bgutermuth at mp.usbr.gov ___________________________________ From jallen at trinitycounty.org Mon Aug 7 08:57:46 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Mon, 7 Aug 2006 08:57:46 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Rescue on the river Message-ID: <8DB773F7046960499DFAABF71D3C3B1E035D91@mail3.trinitycounty.org> Article Launched: 08/05/2006 04:27:18 AM PDT Rescue on the river John Driscoll The Times-Standard http://www.times-standard.com/local/ci_4140796 Firefighters pull injured man from Trinity gorge When he was hopping from rock to rock along the Trinity River 1,100 feet below Burnt Ranch Campground, Dave Nicolls didn't feel far from his family above. But when Nicolls took one wrong step and fell about 4 feet onto his hip, he may as well have been a world away. Thanks to the help of firefighters on hand to fight fires in the Denny area, Nicolls narrowly escaped dehydration and exhaustion, which threatened to incapacitate him. Nicolls, 38, of Redding had made the steep descent to the river to go fishing, as he'd done a hundred times before. He left at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday. He took a trail posted as not maintained, reaching the big boulders in the turbulent stretch of river. In a Friday phone interview, Nicolls said he fished briefly, then walked up river toward a better fishing hole. He had to leap from rock to rock, when he lost his footing and fell onto his hip. Using the adrenaline from knowing he was hurt, he tried to climb up the steep sides of the canyon, trying to convince himself that he could get back to camp. "In my mind, I didn't think it was that bad," Nicolls said. He soon had to quit. The heat and the sun was quickly dehydrating him, he was in severe pain and bees were being annoyingly aggressive. He began to yell, and kept yelling for hours, until his voice was hoarse. Nicolls said he's been in tight spots before. But six years ago, he had a bout with cancer that left him weaker than he was in his younger years. "Every time I went to move I just ended up in a worse position," Nicolls said. Back at camp, Nicolls' fianc?e and daughter were getting nervous. At 1:30 p.m. they walked to the Bar Complex fire information office to call the Trinity County Sheriff's Department. They got more help than they could have expected. Firefighters and professional rescuers at the office began to learn what was happening. Fire medic Scott McKenney, communications unit leader Clay Flad and Shasta-Trinity National Forest resource advisor Larry McLean set out to look for Nicolls. More than an hour later, Flad heard a faint voice. He worked closer to the voice and at 3:00 p.m. found Nicolls about 150 feet from the river. With about a dozen rescuers on hand, the crews set up two rope and pulley systems to haul Nicolls -- secured to a litter -- up the first 200 feet. They attached the litter to the second rope system and hauled the 185-pound Nicolls another 600 feet, to where rescuers could carry him the rest of the way. Flad -- who has been teaching rope rescue techniques for six years -- said that the rescue took about an hour. It came none too soon. "There's no way he could have gotten out of there without assistance," Flad said. In all, people from 12 different agencies worked together to pull off the rescue. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Mon Aug 7 16:00:12 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Mon, 7 Aug 2006 16:00:12 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] SF Chronicle August 4 - Klamath Dams Message-ID: <000001c6ba75$4c38d210$b6fdb545@p4> KLAMATH RIVER Utility amenable to removing 4 dams San Francisco Chronicle - 8/4/06 By Glen Martin, Staff Writer In a move that could boost the Klamath River's depleted salmon runs, a utility company announced this week that it is willing to discuss removal of four hydroelectric dams on the river's upper reaches. The announcement by dam owner PacifiCorp has implications beyond the Klamath. The commercial salmon season was slashed in California and Oregon this year because of low numbers of salmon returning to the river. Fishermen fought the federal decision to curtail the catch because offshore waters are teeming with salmon from the Sacramento River. But because fish from the two river systems mingle in the open sea, regulators maintained Sacramento salmon could not be caught without further endangering Klamath salmon. The four dams, which are scheduled for relicensing this year by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, are considered obstacles to reviving the runs. Water collects in pools behind the dams and warms in sunlight. Warm water is lethal to salmon and also spurs growth of toxic blue-green algae. Removing the dams could expand spawning habitat for the Klamath's chinook salmon, coho salmon and steelhead trout. In a news release, PacifiCorp President William Fehrman said the company was swayed by the concerns of Indian tribes that live along the Klamath and rely on the fish for food. Until this week, the company had not indicated any willingness to remove the dams. But Fehrman said PacifiCorp now is "not opposed" as long as its power customers are safeguarded and company property rights are guaranteed. In another Klamath development, salmon fishermen have filed a lawsuit accusing the National Marine Fisheries Service of using poor science in setting Pacific Coast salmon quotas for the 2006 season. Ben Platt, a spokesman for the Salmon Trollers Marketing Association of Fort Bragg, said the lawsuit was filed Monday in federal court in Oakland. The suit claims federal officials used erroneous data to set the extremely restrictive salmon quotas fishermen are now working under. Platt said his group wants an injunction that would allow trollers to catch more fish. The season ends in October. NMFS spokesman Jim Milbury said Thursday that the agency had not yet seen the lawsuit and could not comment on it. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From truman at jeffnet.org Tue Aug 8 09:06:40 2006 From: truman at jeffnet.org (Patrick Truman) Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2006 09:06:40 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Hazardous Weather Outlook Message-ID: <004501c6bb04$a62feda0$0201a8c0@HAL> http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?wfo=eka&zone=caz004&fire=caz204&county=cac105 http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/warnings.php?wfo=eka&zone=CAZ004&pil=XXXHWOEKA&productType=HAZARDOUS%20WEATHER%20OUTLOOK HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EUREKA CA 859 AM PDT MON AUG 7 2006 CAZ003-004-081600- NORTH COAST INTERIOR-UPPER TRINITY RIVER- 859 AM PDT MON AUG 7 2006 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT LARGE HAIL...GUSTY WINDS...HEAVY RAINFALL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS OF INTERIOR NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OKLAHOMA HAS PLACED TRINITY...EASTERN DEL NORTE AND NORTHEASTERN HUMBOLDT COUNTIES IN A SLIGHT RISK AREA FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY AND TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NO SIGNIFICANT WEATHER IS EXPECTED. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT.. CONDITIONS IN THE ATMOSPHERE ARE FAVORABLE FOR HIGH-BASED THUNDERSTORMS AND LARGE HAIL...GUSTY DOWNDRAFTS...ALONG WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL TODAY AND TONIGHT. THE PRIMARY FOCUS FOR CONVECTION WILL BE ALONG THE TRINITY ALPS...SOUTH FORK RANGE AND WESTERN SISKIYOUS. SPOTTERS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS AS INDIVIDUAL CELLS MOVE OFF THE RIDGE TOPS AND INTO THE VALLEYS. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Tue Aug 8 10:58:45 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2006 10:58:45 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Trinity Weir Trapping Data Message-ID: <002801c6bb14$4b6ecb10$b6fdb545@p4> To interested parties, Attached is an excel spreadsheet containing information on salmonids trapped in the mainstem Trinity River near the town of Junction City. if you have any questions, feel free to contact me by responding to this email. Summaries for the Willow Creek weir and Trinity River Hatchery will be attached when those operations commence. Information provided by: Wade Sinnen Associate Biologist Trinity River Project CA Dept. of Fish and Game Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: weir&TRH_summary06.xls Type: application/vnd.ms-excel Size: 29184 bytes Desc: not available URL: From sethnaman at earthlink.net Tue Aug 8 11:09:14 2006 From: sethnaman at earthlink.net (Seth Naman) Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2006 11:09:14 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Trinity Weir Trapping Data In-Reply-To: <002801c6bb14$4b6ecb10$b6fdb545@p4> Message-ID: Thanks for making this important data widely available Wade. Again, tough not to notice that brown trout are the most numerous fish that have passed the JC weir thus far. Seth _____ From: env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us [mailto:env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us] On Behalf Of Byron Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2006 10:59 AM To: FOTR List; Trinity List Server Subject: [env-trinity] Trinity Weir Trapping Data To interested parties, Attached is an excel spreadsheet containing information on salmonids trapped in the mainstem Trinity River near the town of Junction City. if you have any questions, feel free to contact me by responding to this email. Summaries for the Willow Creek weir and Trinity River Hatchery will be attached when those operations commence. Information provided by: Wade Sinnen Associate Biologist Trinity River Project CA Dept. of Fish and Game Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Wed Aug 9 15:47:05 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2006 15:47:05 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Marin Environmental ED Position Message-ID: <007901c6bc05$bd5ffa40$b6fdb545@p4> From: Jerry Meral < jmeral at horizoncable.com > Date: Aug 9, 2006 1:59 PM Subject: Environmental job opportunity in Marin To: jmeral at horizoncable.com Dear Friends: Please pass this on to your network of friends and contacts and ask them to do the same. I serve on this board, and this is a terrific opportunity for someone who would like to be the ED of a small but influential action-oriented group. The board is very supportive, and the group is very stable. A copy of the full job announcement is attached. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks for your help. Best regards, Jerry Meral jmeral at horizoncable.com Executive Director, Environmental Action Committee of West Marin (EAC). The Environmental Action Committee of West Marin (EAC) is a grass-roots group dedicated to the protection, restoration and appreciation of the natural environment and rural character of West Marin County, California. We work through public education, advocacy, grassroots organizing, and litigation when necessary. Founded in 1971, EAC has had many victories in protecting the lands, wildlife, and ocean resources of West Marin. Current programs include protection of one of the most important dune systems on the Central Coast, protecting Marin's salmon streams, establishing Marine Protected Areas, protecting native species and habitat in the Point Reyes National Seashore and elsewhere, opposing irresponsible development, and participating in the revision of the Marin County General Plan, Local Coastal Plan, and Seashore General Plan. http://www.eacmarin.org/ EAC has 1200 members, an executive director, and an office manager. Offices are in Point Reyes Station. Salary around $60000,m depending on experience. Position is available December 15, 2006. Interviews will be held in October. A more detailed job description can be found at http://www.eacmarin.org/ED Please submit an application letter, a resume, and three references to bmeral at horizoncable.com No phone calls please. No response will be given until the end of the application period, which is October 8. Gerald H. Meral, Ph.D. PO 1103 Inverness, CA 94937 phone/fax 415-669-9883 mobile: 415-717-8412 jmeral at horizoncable.com Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Thu Aug 10 14:26:15 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 14:26:15 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Salmon Message-ID: <000b01c6bcc3$9e6a77a0$b6fdb545@p4> The Commerce Secretary declared a full emergency today for Northwest salmon. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Thu Aug 10 14:53:55 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 14:53:55 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Commerce Declares State of Emergency Re: Salmon Message-ID: <004401c6bcc7$7a3909b0$b6fdb545@p4> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, August 10, 2006 Commerce Department Declares Commercial Fishery Failure for Coastal Oregon and California WASHINGTON, DC -Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez today declared a commercial fishery failure has occurred for West Coast salmon fishermen this season from Cape Falcon, Oregon, to Point Sur, California, due to low numbers of fish caused primarily by the drought. The Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) oversees the nation's oceans based fishing industry and fisheries resources. The commercial fishery failure is being declared as a result of the information gathered by Commerce officials this season. The findings showed a significant economic impact resulting from limited opportunity to catch salmon due to the low number of fall Chinook salmon projected to return to the Klamath River in northern California to spawn. "The evidence is clear -- our fishing communities have been significantly impacted," said Gutierrez. "We have moved quickly to gather the necessary facts in order to make this declaration and we will continue to work closely with the communities and their elected leaders." Today's decision answers requests from Oregon and California Governors, Members of Congress and affected communities. Secretary Gutierrez led the Department's efforts in expediting the declaration process which was originally expected to take until February 2007. Gutierrez dispatched Commerce officials to the region who consulted closely with state and local officials to collect the data necessary for determining a fishery failure declaration. Deputy Secretary David Sampson, who was in Portland and Coos Bay, Oregon, to personally deliver the announcement to affected communities added, "We stand by the commercial fishing industry and will do what we can to help them through this difficult time. We heard their calls and acted quickly." A determination of whether a fishery failure occurred is made on a case-by-case basis taking into account a number of economic factors including overall revenue from caught fish, number of fishermen, degree of dependence on alternative fishing opportunities, documented decline in the fishery resource and other environmental data. A commercial fishery failure triggers authorities to respond to the economic impact of the failure and to promote the recovery of the resource. The fishery failure determination follows a decision last month by Gutierrez to declare a fishery resource disaster, making Small Business Administration (SBA) loans available. Since the Secretary's resource disaster declaration on July 6, SBA has begun receiving applications and has already approved nearly $200,000 in loans. Gutierrez also directed that the Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA) make fishery impacted communities a funding priority for FY'07 Economic Adjustment grants. Additionally, Gutierrez requested that the Governors of Oregon and California closely review their pending 2006 Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Fund grant applications and determine how to best channel existing resources and speedily disburse monies to programs that can help effected fishermen. Background/Historical Context: A lengthy 5-year drought in the Klamath Basin has led to significantly reduced precipitation and streamflows in the basin. These conditions have degraded important spawning habitat, increased infestation of harmful parasites, and thus have not provided the conditions necessary for healthy salmon populations. The Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) defines the criteria for determining a commercial fishery failure. The Secretary may declare a commercial fishery failure due to a fishery resource disaster as a result of natural causes; man-made causes beyond the control of fishery managers to mitigate through conservation and management measures; or undetermined causes. The Department of Commerce, through the NOAA Fisheries Service, is responsible for protecting and preserving our nation's living marine resources and their habitats through scientific research, management and enforcement. NOAA Fisheries Service provides effective stewardship of these resources for the benefit of the nation, supporting coastal communities that depend upon them, and helping to provide safe and healthy seafood to consumers and recreational opportunities for the American public. Andrea Purse Press Secretary Radio Booker, Democratic Policy Committee Office of Representative George Miller 2205 Rayburn HOB 202-225-7387 (direct) 202-680-8816 (cell) andrea.purse at mail.house.gov Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From sethnaman at earthlink.net Thu Aug 10 15:04:48 2006 From: sethnaman at earthlink.net (Seth Naman) Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 15:04:48 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Commerce Declares State of Emergency Re: Salmon In-Reply-To: <004401c6bcc7$7a3909b0$b6fdb545@p4> Message-ID: Is there anybody out there that can comment on the "lengthy 5-year drought in the Klamath Basin [that] has led to significantly reduced precipitation and streamflows in the basin"? I'm uncertain if this statement is technically correct or not. Seth _____ From: env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us [mailto:env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us] On Behalf Of Byron Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2006 2:54 PM To: FOTR List; Trinity List Server Subject: [env-trinity] Commerce Declares State of Emergency Re: Salmon FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, August 10, 2006 Commerce Department Declares Commercial Fishery Failure for Coastal Oregon and California WASHINGTON, DC -Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez today declared a commercial fishery failure has occurred for West Coast salmon fishermen this season from Cape Falcon, Oregon, to Point Sur, California, due to low numbers of fish caused primarily by the drought. The Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) oversees the nation's oceans based fishing industry and fisheries resources. The commercial fishery failure is being declared as a result of the information gathered by Commerce officials this season. The findings showed a significant economic impact resulting from limited opportunity to catch salmon due to the low number of fall Chinook salmon projected to return to the Klamath River in northern California to spawn. "The evidence is clear -- our fishing communities have been significantly impacted," said Gutierrez. "We have moved quickly to gather the necessary facts in order to make this declaration and we will continue to work closely with the communities and their elected leaders." Today's decision answers requests from Oregon and California Governors, Members of Congress and affected communities. Secretary Gutierrez led the Department's efforts in expediting the declaration process which was originally expected to take until February 2007. Gutierrez dispatched Commerce officials to the region who consulted closely with state and local officials to collect the data necessary for determining a fishery failure declaration. Deputy Secretary David Sampson, who was in Portland and Coos Bay, Oregon, to personally deliver the announcement to affected communities added, "We stand by the commercial fishing industry and will do what we can to help them through this difficult time. We heard their calls and acted quickly." A determination of whether a fishery failure occurred is made on a case-by-case basis taking into account a number of economic factors including overall revenue from caught fish, number of fishermen, degree of dependence on alternative fishing opportunities, documented decline in the fishery resource and other environmental data. A commercial fishery failure triggers authorities to respond to the economic impact of the failure and to promote the recovery of the resource. The fishery failure determination follows a decision last month by Gutierrez to declare a fishery resource disaster, making Small Business Administration (SBA) loans available. Since the Secretary's resource disaster declaration on July 6, SBA has begun receiving applications and has already approved nearly $200,000 in loans. Gutierrez also directed that the Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA) make fishery impacted communities a funding priority for FY'07 Economic Adjustment grants. Additionally, Gutierrez requested that the Governors of Oregon and California closely review their pending 2006 Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Fund grant applications and determine how to best channel existing resources and speedily disburse monies to programs that can help effected fishermen. Background/Historical Context: A lengthy 5-year drought in the Klamath Basin has led to significantly reduced precipitation and streamflows in the basin. These conditions have degraded important spawning habitat, increased infestation of harmful parasites, and thus have not provided the conditions necessary for healthy salmon populations. The Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) defines the criteria for determining a commercial fishery failure. The Secretary may declare a commercial fishery failure due to a fishery resource disaster as a result of natural causes; man-made causes beyond the control of fishery managers to mitigate through conservation and management measures; or undetermined causes. The Department of Commerce, through the NOAA Fisheries Service, is responsible for protecting and preserving our nation's living marine resources and their habitats through scientific research, management and enforcement. NOAA Fisheries Service provides effective stewardship of these resources for the benefit of the nation, supporting coastal communities that depend upon them, and helping to provide safe and healthy seafood to consumers and recreational opportunities for the American public. Andrea Purse Press Secretary Radio Booker, Democratic Policy Committee Office of Representative George Miller 2205 Rayburn HOB 202-225-7387 (direct) 202-680-8816 (cell) andrea.purse at mail.house.gov Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Guillen at uhcl.edu Thu Aug 10 15:50:17 2006 From: Guillen at uhcl.edu (Guillen, George J.) Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 17:50:17 -0500 Subject: [env-trinity] Commerce Declares State of Emergency Re: Salmon References: Message-ID: Those interested in the "official" drought ranking per week, year etc. should consult this web page. It utilizes the Palmer Drought Index for each week of the year nationally. It is put out by Mr. Guitterez's agency. http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/monitoring_and_data/drought.shtml A quick non-comprehensive review will show the following: 2002 - probably yes 2003 - moderate 2004 - yes 2005 - probably not 2005 - moderate George Guillen ________________________________ From: env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us on behalf of Seth Naman Sent: Thu 8/10/2006 5:04 PM To: 'FOTR List'; 'Trinity List Server' Subject: Re: [env-trinity] Commerce Declares State of Emergency Re: Salmon Is there anybody out there that can comment on the "lengthy 5-year drought in the Klamath Basin [that] has led to significantly reduced precipitation and streamflows in the basin"? I'm uncertain if this statement is technically correct or not. Seth ________________________________ From: env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us [mailto:env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us] On Behalf Of Byron Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2006 2:54 PM To: FOTR List; Trinity List Server Subject: [env-trinity] Commerce Declares State of Emergency Re: Salmon FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, August 10, 2006 Commerce Department Declares Commercial Fishery Failure for Coastal Oregon and California WASHINGTON, DC -Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez today declared a commercial fishery failure has occurred for West Coast salmon fishermen this season from Cape Falcon, Oregon, to Point Sur, California, due to low numbers of fish caused primarily by the drought. The Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) oversees the nation's oceans based fishing industry and fisheries resources. The commercial fishery failure is being declared as a result of the information gathered by Commerce officials this season. The findings showed a significant economic impact resulting from limited opportunity to catch salmon due to the low number of fall Chinook salmon projected to return to the Klamath River in northern California to spawn. "The evidence is clear -- our fishing communities have been significantly impacted," said Gutierrez. "We have moved quickly to gather the necessary facts in order to make this declaration and we will continue to work closely with the communities and their elected leaders." Today's decision answers requests from Oregon and California Governors, Members of Congress and affected communities. Secretary Gutierrez led the Department's efforts in expediting the declaration process which was originally expected to take until February 2007. Gutierrez dispatched Commerce officials to the region who consulted closely with state and local officials to collect the data necessary for determining a fishery failure declaration. Deputy Secretary David Sampson, who was in Portland and Coos Bay, Oregon, to personally deliver the announcement to affected communities added, "We stand by the commercial fishing industry and will do what we can to help them through this difficult time. We heard their calls and acted quickly." A determination of whether a fishery failure occurred is made on a case-by-case basis taking into account a number of economic factors including overall revenue from caught fish, number of fishermen, degree of dependence on alternative fishing opportunities, documented decline in the fishery resource and other environmental data. A commercial fishery failure triggers authorities to respond to the economic impact of the failure and to promote the recovery of the resource. The fishery failure determination follows a decision last month by Gutierrez to declare a fishery resource disaster, making Small Business Administration (SBA) loans available. Since the Secretary's resource disaster declaration on July 6, SBA has begun receiving applications and has already approved nearly $200,000 in loans. Gutierrez also directed that the Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA) make fishery impacted communities a funding priority for FY'07 Economic Adjustment grants. Additionally, Gutierrez requested that the Governors of Oregon and California closely review their pending 2006 Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Fund grant applications and determine how to best channel existing resources and speedily disburse monies to programs that can help effected fishermen. Background/Historical Context: A lengthy 5-year drought in the Klamath Basin has led to significantly reduced precipitation and streamflows in the basin. These conditions have degraded important spawning habitat, increased infestation of harmful parasites, and thus have not provided the conditions necessary for healthy salmon populations. The Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) defines the criteria for determining a commercial fishery failure. The Secretary may declare a commercial fishery failure due to a fishery resource disaster as a result of natural causes; man-made causes beyond the control of fishery managers to mitigate through conservation and management measures; or undetermined causes. The Department of Commerce, through the NOAA Fisheries Service, is responsible for protecting and preserving our nation's living marine resources and their habitats through scientific research, management and enforcement. NOAA Fisheries Service provides effective stewardship of these resources for the benefit of the nation, supporting coastal communities that depend upon them, and helping to provide safe and healthy seafood to consumers and recreational opportunities for the American public. Andrea Purse Press Secretary Radio Booker, Democratic Policy Committee Office of Representative George Miller 2205 Rayburn HOB 202-225-7387 (direct) 202-680-8816 (cell) andrea.purse at mail.house.gov Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Thu Aug 10 16:06:37 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 16:06:37 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Commerce Declares State of Emergency Re: Salmon Message-ID: <8DB773F7046960499DFAABF71D3C3B1E035E13@mail3.trinitycounty.org> The Oregon State University also has a "live" climatic service that has "PRISM" Maps located on the top right hand of the webpage that you may also find interesting (Tom & I like to check this site out daily). The webpage is found here: http://www.ocs.oregonstate.edu/index.html Joshua Allen Assistant Planner Trinity County Planning Department Natural Resources Division PO Box 2819 Weaverville, CA 96093 (530)623-1351 ext. 3411 (530)623-1353 fax jallen at trinitycounty.org ________________________________ From: env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us [mailto:env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us] On Behalf Of Guillen, George J. Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2006 3:50 PM To: Seth Naman; FOTR List; Trinity List Server Subject: Re: [env-trinity] Commerce Declares State of Emergency Re: Salmon Importance: High Those interested in the "official" drought ranking per week, year etc. should consult this web page. It utilizes the Palmer Drought Index for each week of the year nationally. It is put out by Mr. Guitterez's agency. http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/monitoring_and_data/drought.shtml A quick non-comprehensive review will show the following: 2002 - probably yes 2003 - moderate 2004 - yes 2005 - probably not 2005 - moderate George Guillen ________________________________ From: env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us on behalf of Seth Naman Sent: Thu 8/10/2006 5:04 PM To: 'FOTR List'; 'Trinity List Server' Subject: Re: [env-trinity] Commerce Declares State of Emergency Re: Salmon Is there anybody out there that can comment on the "lengthy 5-year drought in the Klamath Basin [that] has led to significantly reduced precipitation and streamflows in the basin"? I'm uncertain if this statement is technically correct or not. Seth ________________________________ From: env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us [mailto:env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us] On Behalf Of Byron Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2006 2:54 PM To: FOTR List; Trinity List Server Subject: [env-trinity] Commerce Declares State of Emergency Re: Salmon FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, August 10, 2006 Commerce Department Declares Commercial Fishery Failure for Coastal Oregon and California WASHINGTON, DC -Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez today declared a commercial fishery failure has occurred for West Coast salmon fishermen this season from Cape Falcon, Oregon, to Point Sur, California, due to low numbers of fish caused primarily by the drought. The Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) oversees the nation's oceans based fishing industry and fisheries resources. The commercial fishery failure is being declared as a result of the information gathered by Commerce officials this season. The findings showed a significant economic impact resulting from limited opportunity to catch salmon due to the low number of fall Chinook salmon projected to return to the Klamath River in northern California to spawn. "The evidence is clear -- our fishing communities have been significantly impacted," said Gutierrez. "We have moved quickly to gather the necessary facts in order to make this declaration and we will continue to work closely with the communities and their elected leaders." Today's decision answers requests from Oregon and California Governors, Members of Congress and affected communities. Secretary Gutierrez led the Department's efforts in expediting the declaration process which was originally expected to take until February 2007. Gutierrez dispatched Commerce officials to the region who consulted closely with state and local officials to collect the data necessary for determining a fishery failure declaration. Deputy Secretary David Sampson, who was in Portland and Coos Bay, Oregon, to personally deliver the announcement to affected communities added, "We stand by the commercial fishing industry and will do what we can to help them through this difficult time. We heard their calls and acted quickly." A determination of whether a fishery failure occurred is made on a case-by-case basis taking into account a number of economic factors including overall revenue from caught fish, number of fishermen, degree of dependence on alternative fishing opportunities, documented decline in the fishery resource and other environmental data. A commercial fishery failure triggers authorities to respond to the economic impact of the failure and to promote the recovery of the resource. The fishery failure determination follows a decision last month by Gutierrez to declare a fishery resource disaster, making Small Business Administration (SBA) loans available. Since the Secretary's resource disaster declaration on July 6, SBA has begun receiving applications and has already approved nearly $200,000 in loans. Gutierrez also directed that the Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA) make fishery impacted communities a funding priority for FY'07 Economic Adjustment grants. Additionally, Gutierrez requested that the Governors of Oregon and California closely review their pending 2006 Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Fund grant applications and determine how to best channel existing resources and speedily disburse monies to programs that can help effected fishermen. Background/Historical Context: A lengthy 5-year drought in the Klamath Basin has led to significantly reduced precipitation and streamflows in the basin. These conditions have degraded important spawning habitat, increased infestation of harmful parasites, and thus have not provided the conditions necessary for healthy salmon populations. The Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) defines the criteria for determining a commercial fishery failure. The Secretary may declare a commercial fishery failure due to a fishery resource disaster as a result of natural causes; man-made causes beyond the control of fishery managers to mitigate through conservation and management measures; or undetermined causes. The Department of Commerce, through the NOAA Fisheries Service, is responsible for protecting and preserving our nation's living marine resources and their habitats through scientific research, management and enforcement. NOAA Fisheries Service provides effective stewardship of these resources for the benefit of the nation, supporting coastal communities that depend upon them, and helping to provide safe and healthy seafood to consumers and recreational opportunities for the American public. Andrea Purse Press Secretary Radio Booker, Democratic Policy Committee Office of Representative George Miller 2205 Rayburn HOB 202-225-7387 (direct) 202-680-8816 (cell) andrea.purse at mail.house.gov Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- An embedded and charset-unspecified text was scrubbed... Name: ATT493003.txt URL: From windhorse at jeffnet.org Thu Aug 10 17:58:24 2006 From: windhorse at jeffnet.org (Stephanie Carpenter) Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 17:58:24 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Commerce Declares State of Emergency Re: Salmon In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Greetings, The Upper Klamath Basin Working Group was conviened 10 years ago by Senator Hatfield to work on drought issues. We're still at it. It's good to remember that much of the Upper Basin catchment of the river has it's origins in the high desert, with associated precipitation levels. Jim Carpenter Design, Inc. Project Coordination Commercial, Residential & Environmental CCB 93939 www.CarpenterDesign.com 541-885-5450 -----Original Message----- From: env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us [mailto:env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us]On Behalf Of Seth Naman Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2006 3:05 PM To: 'FOTR List'; 'Trinity List Server' Subject: Re: [env-trinity] Commerce Declares State of Emergency Re: Salmon Is there anybody out there that can comment on the "lengthy 5-year drought in the Klamath Basin [that] has led to significantly reduced precipitation and streamflows in the basin"? I'm uncertain if this statement is technically correct or not. Seth ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- From: env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us [mailto:env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us] On Behalf Of Byron Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2006 2:54 PM To: FOTR List; Trinity List Server Subject: [env-trinity] Commerce Declares State of Emergency Re: Salmon FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, August 10, 2006 Commerce Department Declares Commercial Fishery Failure for Coastal Oregon and California WASHINGTON, DC -Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez today declared a commercial fishery failure has occurred for West Coast salmon fishermen this season from Cape Falcon, Oregon, to Point Sur, California, due to low numbers of fish caused primarily by the drought. The Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) oversees the nation's oceans based fishing industry and fisheries resources. The commercial fishery failure is being declared as a result of the information gathered by Commerce officials this season. The findings showed a significant economic impact resulting from limited opportunity to catch salmon due to the low number of fall Chinook salmon projected to return to the Klamath River in northern California to spawn. "The evidence is clear -- our fishing communities have been significantly impacted," said Gutierrez. "We have moved quickly to gather the necessary facts in order to make this declaration and we will continue to work closely with the communities and their elected leaders." Today's decision answers requests from Oregon and California Governors, Members of Congress and affected communities. Secretary Gutierrez led the Department's efforts in expediting the declaration process which was originally expected to take until February 2007. Gutierrez dispatched Commerce officials to the region who consulted closely with state and local officials to collect the data necessary for determining a fishery failure declaration. Deputy Secretary David Sampson, who was in Portland and Coos Bay, Oregon, to personally deliver the announcement to affected communities added, "We stand by the commercial fishing industry and will do what we can to help them through this difficult time. We heard their calls and acted quickly." A determination of whether a fishery failure occurred is made on a case-by-case basis taking into account a number of economic factors including overall revenue from caught fish, number of fishermen, degree of dependence on alternative fishing opportunities, documented decline in the fishery resource and other environmental data. A commercial fishery failure triggers authorities to respond to the economic impact of the failure and to promote the recovery of the resource. The fishery failure determination follows a decision last month by Gutierrez to declare a fishery resource disaster, making Small Business Administration (SBA) loans available. Since the Secretary's resource disaster declaration on July 6, SBA has begun receiving applications and has already approved nearly $200,000 in loans. Gutierrez also directed that the Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA) make fishery impacted communities a funding priority for FY'07 Economic Adjustment grants. Additionally, Gutierrez requested that the Governors of Oregon and California closely review their pending 2006 Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Fund grant applications and determine how to best channel existing resources and speedily disburse monies to programs that can help effected fishermen. Background/Historical Context: A lengthy 5-year drought in the Klamath Basin has led to significantly reduced precipitation and streamflows in the basin. These conditions have degraded important spawning habitat, increased infestation of harmful parasites, and thus have not provided the conditions necessary for healthy salmon populations. The Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) defines the criteria for determining a commercial fishery failure. The Secretary may declare a commercial fishery failure due to a fishery resource disaster as a result of natural causes; man-made causes beyond the control of fishery managers to mitigate through conservation and management measures; or undetermined causes. The Department of Commerce, through the NOAA Fisheries Service, is responsible for protecting and preserving our nation's living marine resources and their habitats through scientific research, management and enforcement. NOAA Fisheries Service provides effective stewardship of these resources for the benefit of the nation, supporting coastal communities that depend upon them, and helping to provide safe and healthy seafood to consumers and recreational opportunities for the American public. Andrea Purse Press Secretary Radio Booker, Democratic Policy Committee Office of Representative George Miller 2205 Rayburn HOB 202-225-7387 (direct) 202-680-8816 (cell) andrea.purse at mail.house.gov Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Jim Carpenter.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 133 bytes Desc: not available URL: From kevin at yuroktribe.nsn.us Fri Aug 11 10:31:29 2006 From: kevin at yuroktribe.nsn.us (Kevin McKernan) Date: Fri, 11 Aug 2006 10:31:29 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Commerce Declares State of Emergency Re: Salmon Message-ID: <54037E008D2F0B47A8A4581529D2534F2BCD1B@exchsrvr.yuroktribe.nsn.us> Yes, it would be good to remember that when planting and irrigating crops that need more water than is naturally available and adjust appropriately. Good reminder. Kevin McKernan Director, Yurok Tribe Environmental Program P.O. Box 1027 Klamath, CA 95548 (707) 482-1350 xt. 355 _____ From: Stephanie Carpenter [mailto:windhorse at jeffnet.org] Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2006 5:58 PM To: Seth Naman; 'FOTR List'; 'Trinity List Server' Subject: Re: [env-trinity] Commerce Declares State of Emergency Re: Salmon Greetings, The Upper Klamath Basin Working Group was conviened 10 years ago by Senator Hatfield to work on drought issues. We're still at it. It's good to remember that much of the Upper Basin catchment of the river has it's origins in the high desert, with associated precipitation levels. Jim Carpenter Design, Inc. Project Coordination Commercial, Residential & Environmental CCB 93939 www.CarpenterDesign.com 541-885-5450 -----Original Message----- From: env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us [mailto:env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us]On Behalf Of Seth Naman Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2006 3:05 PM To: 'FOTR List'; 'Trinity List Server' Subject: Re: [env-trinity] Commerce Declares State of Emergency Re: Salmon Is there anybody out there that can comment on the "lengthy 5-year drought in the Klamath Basin [that] has led to significantly reduced precipitation and streamflows in the basin"? I'm uncertain if this statement is technically correct or not. Seth _____ From: env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us [mailto:env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us] On Behalf Of Byron Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2006 2:54 PM To: FOTR List; Trinity List Server Subject: [env-trinity] Commerce Declares State of Emergency Re: Salmon FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, August 10, 2006 Commerce Department Declares Commercial Fishery Failure for Coastal Oregon and California WASHINGTON, DC -Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez today declared a commercial fishery failure has occurred for West Coast salmon fishermen this season from Cape Falcon, Oregon, to Point Sur, California, due to low numbers of fish caused primarily by the drought. The Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) oversees the nation's oceans based fishing industry and fisheries resources. The commercial fishery failure is being declared as a result of the information gathered by Commerce officials this season. The findings showed a significant economic impact resulting from limited opportunity to catch salmon due to the low number of fall Chinook salmon projected to return to the Klamath River in northern California to spawn. "The evidence is clear -- our fishing communities have been significantly impacted," said Gutierrez. "We have moved quickly to gather the necessary facts in order to make this declaration and we will continue to work closely with the communities and their elected leaders." Today's decision answers requests from Oregon and California Governors, Members of Congress and affected communities. Secretary Gutierrez led the Department's efforts in expediting the declaration process which was originally expected to take until February 2007. Gutierrez dispatched Commerce officials to the region who consulted closely with state and local officials to collect the data necessary for determining a fishery failure declaration. Deputy Secretary David Sampson, who was in Portland and Coos Bay, Oregon, to personally deliver the announcement to affected communities added, "We stand by the commercial fishing industry and will do what we can to help them through this difficult time. We heard their calls and acted quickly." A determination of whether a fishery failure occurred is made on a case-by-case basis taking into account a number of economic factors including overall revenue from caught fish, number of fishermen, degree of dependence on alternative fishing opportunities, documented decline in the fishery resource and other environmental data. A commercial fishery failure triggers authorities to respond to the economic impact of the failure and to promote the recovery of the resource. The fishery failure determination follows a decision last month by Gutierrez to declare a fishery resource disaster, making Small Business Administration (SBA) loans available. Since the Secretary's resource disaster declaration on July 6, SBA has begun receiving applications and has already approved nearly $200,000 in loans. Gutierrez also directed that the Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA) make fishery impacted communities a funding priority for FY'07 Economic Adjustment grants. Additionally, Gutierrez requested that the Governors of Oregon and California closely review their pending 2006 Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Fund grant applications and determine how to best channel existing resources and speedily disburse monies to programs that can help effected fishermen. Background/Historical Context: A lengthy 5-year drought in the Klamath Basin has led to significantly reduced precipitation and streamflows in the basin. These conditions have degraded important spawning habitat, increased infestation of harmful parasites, and thus have not provided the conditions necessary for healthy salmon populations. The Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) defines the criteria for determining a commercial fishery failure. The Secretary may declare a commercial fishery failure due to a fishery resource disaster as a result of natural causes; man-made causes beyond the control of fishery managers to mitigate through conservation and management measures; or undetermined causes. The Department of Commerce, through the NOAA Fisheries Service, is responsible for protecting and preserving our nation's living marine resources and their habitats through scientific research, management and enforcement. NOAA Fisheries Service provides effective stewardship of these resources for the benefit of the nation, supporting coastal communities that depend upon them, and helping to provide safe and healthy seafood to consumers and recreational opportunities for the American public. Andrea Purse Press Secretary Radio Booker, Democratic Policy Committee Office of Representative George Miller 2205 Rayburn HOB 202-225-7387 (direct) 202-680-8816 (cell) andrea.purse at mail.house.gov Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Fri Aug 11 15:08:48 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Fri, 11 Aug 2006 15:08:48 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Trinity Restoration Funding Message-ID: <003801c6bd92$ba9c2cf0$b6fdb545@p4> The Senate's Energy and Water Appropriations legislation contains an additional $2 million next fiscal year for the Trinity Restoration Program. Program funding in the President's budget and from other sources had been cut substantially for next year. The House legislation contained no additional funding although two Representatives had requested it. The final amount of additional funding, therefore, will be determined in Conference Committee. The Program never has been fully funded as envisioned in the Record of Decision. Adequate funding for the Program is essential if we're to achieve some restoration of Trinity River's fish and wildlife. Trinity is the only river in the United States below a federally financed dam that has a real chance for significant restoration. Among other critical Program elements that require adequate funding are floodplain modifications to allow for Record of Decision prescribed flows to be returned to the river, the science function and watershed rehabilitation to control, that is to stop fine sediment before it enters the river. Several people have been in contact with or have contacted members of the Appropriations Committee encouraging adequate funding for the Trinity Restoration Program. We remain hopeful that the full $2 million will be included in the final legislation. Trinity River is an opportunity for a major "win" for all interests if the Program is funded adequately. This "win" can be achieved relatively soon - after more than 20 years of effort - with proper funding. Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mattson at EcosystemsNorthwest.com Mon Aug 14 16:27:19 2006 From: mattson at EcosystemsNorthwest.com (kim mattson) Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2006 16:27:19 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Commerce Declares State of Emergency Re: Salmon In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <44E106D7.1090205@EcosystemsNorthwest.com> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Wed Aug 23 10:48:31 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron ) Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2006 10:48:31 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Junction city trapping report Message-ID: <000001c6c6dc$5cf67bc0$b6fdb545@p4> Weir trapping figures from Wade Sinnen: To interested parties, Attached is the weekly trapping summary for the Junction City Weir. The Willow Creek weir was installed this week and a report will follow next week. Trinity River Hatchery will commence recovery and spawning operations September 7th. Wade Sinnen Associate Biologist Trinity River Project CA Dept. of Fish and Game Northern California - North Coast District Byron Leydecker Chair, Friends of Trinity River Advisor, California Trout, Inc PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org http://www.fotr.org http:www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: weirTRH_summary06.xls Type: application/vnd.ms-excel Size: 29696 bytes Desc: not available URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Thu Aug 24 14:22:26 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 14:22:26 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] RESEARCH USES DNA TO IDENTIFY OCEAN SALMON'S HOME RIVER Message-ID: <01dc01c6c7c3$6e0a3270$322bc1d1@trinitycounty.org> THE COLUMBIA BASIN BULLETIN: Weekly Fish and Wildlife News www.cbbulletin.com August 4, 2006 Issue No. 361 ------------------------------------- 1. RESEARCH USES DNA TO IDENTIFY OCEAN SALMON'S HOME RIVER Oregon State University scientists are teaming with commercial fishermen on a new research effort to rapidly identify the home river basin of chinook salmon found in the Pacific Ocean using genetic testing. Their goal is to learn more about offshore schooling behavior and stock composition of salmon and ultimately to prevent coast-wide fishing closures. The closures aim to protect weak stocks like those of the Klamath River basin that may constrain an otherwise healthy fishery. Funded by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, and managed by the Oregon Salmon Commission, the pilot project is called the Cooperative Research for Oregon's Ocean Salmon, or CROOS. The program is already seeing results. During the June 4 salmon fishing opener, fishermen caught chinook salmon off the Oregon coast between Newport and Florence and OSU scientists were able to positively match the DNA from the fins of 71 of the fish to establish their origin from river systems in California, Oregon, British Columbia and Alaska. An ongoing project coordinated and funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration involving 10 labs from California to Alaska -- including OSU's Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport -- has identified unique genetic profiles for 110 different salmon populations based on their home river basin. Scientists and resource managers previously were unable to identify stock composition of both wild and hatchery fish originating from the Pacific Northwest, Canada and Alaska. Project leaders say that this new technology allows scientists to assess the origin of an individual fish with remarkable accuracy. "This was the key for us to utilize the technology," said Michael Banks, an OSU geneticist and director of the Cooperative Institute for Marine Resources Studies, a joint Oregon State-NOAA research collaborative. "Having a bank of DNA profiles allows us to approach 'real-time' identification of fish. What used to take months, or even years, we've been able to pare down to about 48 hours." During the June field testing, participating fishermen caught chinook salmon off the Oregon coast between Newport and Florence and collected a fin-clip from each fish for DNA analysis. OSU scientists were able to match genetic profiles of fish from river systems as far south as Battle Creek in California, and from as far north as the Babine River in Alaska. Traditional efforts to identify the origin of ocean-caught salmon came from coded wire tags inserted into the snouts of a small percentage of hatchery fish. Those tags were useful for determining broad-scale distributions of stocks caught in fisheries, but revealed only the origin of select tagged fish. The time and location of these tagged fish also have been too general ? reported by week and catch area. The coded wire tag data weren't usually available until several months after the season ends. Using DNA testing, however, will allow the scientists to rapidly assess the origin of any chinook salmon caught off the West Coast -- not just coded wire-tagged hatchery fish -- and identify with about 95 percent accuracy its home river system. In theory, researchers say, they could test several salmon in schools from different locations to see what percentage of them originate from a weak run. "This could lead to the introduction of some degree of in-season harvest management," said Gil Sylvia, an OSU economist and superintendent of the Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station. "Having accurate information could lead to reducing access to some stocks in certain areas at certain times. But it is just as likely that it could result in decisions to open areas of the coast where higher concentrations of harvestable fish populations are." The researchers will compare their genetic assessment with coded wire-tagged fish to test the efficacy of the project. Many of Oregon's commercial fishermen, who have been shut down from pursuing their livelihood this summer, say they are excited by the research. "I started fishing in 1970 and this is the most optimistic I've been about any kind of research relating to salmon," said Paul Merz, who fishes out of Charleston. "I'm still a cynic when it comes to management decisions. But this is the science that has been missing in all of the policy arguments -- and it's something where you can see the immediate results." Jeff Feldner, a fisherman from Logsden, Ore., said that seasons are designed to minimize the impact on the weakest runs. "The problem," he pointed out, "is that we haven't known enough about the fish that are out there. Using information gathered over the summer to help predict where the fish will be next year doesn't help the fishermen. We haven't had a way of knowing in 'real time' where the fish are and where they've come from. Now we do." The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board has funded this pilot study for one year with a $586,391 grant, which will allow 50 Oregon commercial vessels to make a total of 200 fishing trips, and allow the scientists to run 2,000 DNA samples. As many as 90 vessel owners have expressed an interest in participating. "We need additional funding to continue the research," said Nancy Fitzpatrick, lead administrator of Project CROOS and an employee of the Oregon Salmon Commission. "One year just begins to give you information, but it isn't enough to determine all you need to know about salmon. Fish have fins, as they say, and they tend to move from one location to another. "Where you find them one year isn't necessarily where you'll find them the next." Fitzpatrick says any changes in how the oceans are managed for salmon would come from the Pacific Fishery Management Council, a regional council with members from Oregon, Washington, Idaho and California, that recommends fishery management measures to the National Marine Fisheries Service. The OSU researchers are keeping track of the salmon through an onboard electronic traceability system developed by the university over the past several years. This innovative barcode system allows commercial fishermen to log the location, date and time of the capture, as well as onboard handling techniques, for every fish captured. Each fish harvested by a participant receives a metal tag with a unique number and bar-code. A website under construction will eventually allow a consumer to access basic information about the salmon: where and when it was harvested, by whom, and from which river it originated. Eventually, such a tool may play a major role in marketing, according to Michael Morrissey, director of the OSU Seafood Laboratory in Astoria, and a principal investigator in the CROOS project. "By identifying the river system through genetics, and being able to accurately label a fish as 'wild,' the potential exists for fishermen to brand their product and increase the value to consumers," Morrissey said. "One such example is Copper River salmon, which often command twice the market price of similar fish, because of the attributes attached to it." As part of the study, local salmon processors and buyers are returning some of the heads from the specially marked fish to the OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, where scientists will conduct tests on their otoliths. Otoliths are crystalline structures located in the inner ear and act like growth rings in trees, recording not only age, but chemical elements that provide clues to the environment in which the fish lived. Some of the fish stomachs will be retained by participating fishermen and given to scientists to reveal clues about the salmon's diet, including how the proportion of baitfish consumed might vary by season and between areas. The fishermen involved in the project will contribute data on oceanographic conditions where the fish were caught, including depth and temperature. Some of the fishermen participating in the project say they are fascinated by the science and hope it will help them locate fish more effectively, as well as keep the season opened. "Every year, it seems like the challenges for commercial fishermen keep getting worse with restricted limits followed by complete closures," Merz said. "A lot of fishermen have packed it in. But this project gives me some hope. If it works the way it seems like it can, and if management is adjusted accordingly -- and that's a big if -- then it might be enough to keep me going. If not, I'll be looking for a new line of work and get on with my life." More information on this project is available at www.projectCROOS.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bhill at igc.org Fri Aug 25 18:36:39 2006 From: bhill at igc.org (Brian Hill) Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 18:36:39 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] RESEARCH USES DNA TO IDENTIFY OCEAN SALMON'S HOMERIVER In-Reply-To: <01dc01c6c7c3$6e0a3270$322bc1d1@trinitycounty.org> Message-ID: Two weeks ago we fished the Cowlitz River in WA, and our guide said that one of the steelhead we caught was from the Cowlitz hatchery, but that the other one was a Snake River steelhead which was resting and cooling off in the Cowlitz before going up the Colombia. He said the Cowlitz is cooler than the Colombia. The Snake River fish looked a lot healthier and more wild than the hatchery steelhead. I was surprised that the guide knew the difference, if his info is correct. Brian _____ From: env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us [mailto:env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us] On Behalf Of Tom Stokely Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2006 1:22 PM To: env-trinity Subject: [env-trinity] RESEARCH USES DNA TO IDENTIFY OCEAN SALMON'S HOMERIVER THE COLUMBIA BASIN BULLETIN: Weekly Fish and Wildlife News www.cbbulletin.com August 4, 2006 Issue No. 361 ------------------------------------- 1. RESEARCH USES DNA TO IDENTIFY OCEAN SALMON'S HOME RIVER Oregon State University scientists are teaming with commercial fishermen on a new research effort to rapidly identify the home river basin of chinook salmon found in the Pacific Ocean using genetic testing. Their goal is to learn more about offshore schooling behavior and stock composition of salmon and ultimately to prevent coast-wide fishing closures. The closures aim to protect weak stocks like those of the Klamath River basin that may constrain an otherwise healthy fishery. Funded by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, and managed by the Oregon Salmon Commission, the pilot project is called the Cooperative Research for Oregon's Ocean Salmon, or CROOS. The program is already seeing results. During the June 4 salmon fishing opener, fishermen caught chinook salmon off the Oregon coast between Newport and Florence and OSU scientists were able to positively match the DNA from the fins of 71 of the fish to establish their origin from river systems in California, Oregon, British Columbia and Alaska. An ongoing project coordinated and funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration involving 10 labs from California to Alaska -- including OSU's Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport -- has identified unique genetic profiles for 110 different salmon populations based on their home river basin. Scientists and resource managers previously were unable to identify stock composition of both wild and hatchery fish originating from the Pacific Northwest, Canada and Alaska. Project leaders say that this new technology allows scientists to assess the origin of an individual fish with remarkable accuracy. "This was the key for us to utilize the technology," said Michael Banks, an OSU geneticist and director of the Cooperative Institute for Marine Resources Studies, a joint Oregon State-NOAA research collaborative. "Having a bank of DNA profiles allows us to approach 'real-time' identification of fish. What used to take months, or even years, we've been able to pare down to about 48 hours." During the June field testing, participating fishermen caught chinook salmon off the Oregon coast between Newport and Florence and collected a fin-clip from each fish for DNA analysis. OSU scientists were able to match genetic profiles of fish from river systems as far south as Battle Creek in California, and from as far north as the Babine River in Alaska. Traditional efforts to identify the origin of ocean-caught salmon came from coded wire tags inserted into the snouts of a small percentage of hatchery fish. Those tags were useful for determining broad-scale distributions of stocks caught in fisheries, but revealed only the origin of select tagged fish. The time and location of these tagged fish also have been too general - reported by week and catch area. The coded wire tag data weren't usually available until several months after the season ends. Using DNA testing, however, will allow the scientists to rapidly assess the origin of any chinook salmon caught off the West Coast -- not just coded wire-tagged hatchery fish -- and identify with about 95 percent accuracy its home river system. In theory, researchers say, they could test several salmon in schools from different locations to see what percentage of them originate from a weak run. "This could lead to the introduction of some degree of in-season harvest management," said Gil Sylvia, an OSU economist and superintendent of the Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station. "Having accurate information could lead to reducing access to some stocks in certain areas at certain times. But it is just as likely that it could result in decisions to open areas of the coast where higher concentrations of harvestable fish populations are." The researchers will compare their genetic assessment with coded wire-tagged fish to test the efficacy of the project. Many of Oregon's commercial fishermen, who have been shut down from pursuing their livelihood this summer, say they are excited by the research. "I started fishing in 1970 and this is the most optimistic I've been about any kind of research relating to salmon," said Paul Merz, who fishes out of Charleston. "I'm still a cynic when it comes to management decisions. But this is the science that has been missing in all of the policy arguments -- and it's something where you can see the immediate results." Jeff Feldner, a fisherman from Logsden, Ore., said that seasons are designed to minimize the impact on the weakest runs. "The problem," he pointed out, "is that we haven't known enough about the fish that are out there. Using information gathered over the summer to help predict where the fish will be next year doesn't help the fishermen. We haven't had a way of knowing in 'real time' where the fish are and where they've come from. Now we do." The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board has funded this pilot study for one year with a $586,391 grant, which will allow 50 Oregon commercial vessels to make a total of 200 fishing trips, and allow the scientists to run 2,000 DNA samples. As many as 90 vessel owners have expressed an interest in participating. "We need additional funding to continue the research," said Nancy Fitzpatrick, lead administrator of Project CROOS and an employee of the Oregon Salmon Commission. "One year just begins to give you information, but it isn't enough to determine all you need to know about salmon. Fish have fins, as they say, and they tend to move from one location to another. "Where you find them one year isn't necessarily where you'll find them the next." Fitzpatrick says any changes in how the oceans are managed for salmon would come from the Pacific Fishery Management Council, a regional council with members from Oregon, Washington, Idaho and California, that recommends fishery management measures to the National Marine Fisheries Service. The OSU researchers are keeping track of the salmon through an onboard electronic traceability system developed by the university over the past several years. This innovative barcode system allows commercial fishermen to log the location, date and time of the capture, as well as onboard handling techniques, for every fish captured. Each fish harvested by a participant receives a metal tag with a unique number and bar-code. A website under construction will eventually allow a consumer to access basic information about the salmon: where and when it was harvested, by whom, and from which river it originated. Eventually, such a tool may play a major role in marketing, according to Michael Morrissey, director of the OSU Seafood Laboratory in Astoria, and a principal investigator in the CROOS project. "By identifying the river system through genetics, and being able to accurately label a fish as 'wild,' the potential exists for fishermen to brand their product and increase the value to consumers," Morrissey said. "One such example is Copper River salmon, which often command twice the market price of similar fish, because of the attributes attached to it." As part of the study, local salmon processors and buyers are returning some of the heads from the specially marked fish to the OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, where scientists will conduct tests on their otoliths. Otoliths are crystalline structures located in the inner ear and act like growth rings in trees, recording not only age, but chemical elements that provide clues to the environment in which the fish lived. Some of the fish stomachs will be retained by participating fishermen and given to scientists to reveal clues about the salmon's diet, including how the proportion of baitfish consumed might vary by season and between areas. The fishermen involved in the project will contribute data on oceanographic conditions where the fish were caught, including depth and temperature. Some of the fishermen participating in the project say they are fascinated by the science and hope it will help them locate fish more effectively, as well as keep the season opened. "Every year, it seems like the challenges for commercial fishermen keep getting worse with restricted limits followed by complete closures," Merz said. "A lot of fishermen have packed it in. But this project gives me some hope. If it works the way it seems like it can, and if management is adjusted accordingly -- and that's a big if -- then it might be enough to keep me going. If not, I'll be looking for a new line of work and get on with my life." More information on this project is available at www.projectCROOS.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Tue Aug 29 09:57:08 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron) Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 09:57:08 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Trinity River's Water Message-ID: <20060829165709.C8C862B77@velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us> CELEBRATION AT WHISKEYTOWN LAKE: Presidential effort: Tape of Kennedy's dedication of dam to be shown at Whiskeytown Redding Record-Searchlight ? 8/29/06 By Marc Beauchamp, staff writer Rarely seen footage of a live broadcast of President John F. Kennedy's Sept. 28, 1963, visit to dedicate Whiskeytown Dam will be shown this weekend at Whiskeytown Lake. "It's just like watching it on TV," said Clinton Kane, an interpretive ranger with the National Park Service. The black-and-white footage, originally aired on KRCR, was painstakingly restored by Jeff Engell of Crown Camera in Redding. It's the highlight of a two-hour DVD Engell has produced, using donated time and materials. Engell will show excerpts from the DVD and answer questions at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at the Oak Bottom Amphitheater. The DVD includes a 15-minute Bureau of Reclamation color film of the visit, footage of commemorative coins and other memorabilia marking the event, and recent interviews with those who attended the dedication, including Redding civic leaders and a school girl who walked from Hayfork. Engell spent 1? years and about 1,500 hours on the project. About half the time was spent restoring the badly deteriorated film of the KRCR broadcast. Engell, 45, has a personal connection to Kennedy's north state visit, part of a presidential tour to promote conservation. His grandparents, Ben and Ruth Smith, who owned the former Maple Shop furniture store on Bechelli Lane, donated an American colonial-style chair for the president to sit on. "It was quite an expensive chair back then," Engell said Monday. "It was a proud thing for our family to have been a part of that." Before, a three-minute sound recording and a few still photographs were the only reminders of Kennedy's Whiskeytown visit, Kane said. The KRCR live remote broadcast shows Kennedy breaking from his Secret Service entourage to greet and shake hands with the public, Kane said. Kennedy's visit to the Redding area came less than two months before he was assassinated in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963. Plans are to make the DVD available to local schools and sell it at the Whiskeytown park visitor's center, he said. Proceeds will benefit the park's interpretive programs, Engell said. Byron Leydecker Friends of Trinity River, Chair California Trout, Inc., Advisor PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 415 383 9562 fax bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org (secondary) http://www.fotr.org http://www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Tue Aug 29 11:57:18 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 11:57:18 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] NOTICE OF PUBLIC SCOPING MEETING: Indian Creek Rehabilitation Project: Trinity River Miles 93.7 to 96.5 Message-ID: <8DB773F7046960499DFAABF71D3C3B1E03603B@mail3.trinitycounty.org> TRINITY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION 60 Glen Rd. PO Box 2819 Weaverville, CA 96093 NOTICE OF PUBLIC SCOPING MEETING Indian Creek Rehabilitation Project: Trinity River Miles 93.7 to 96.5 Working together under guidance of the Trinity River Restoration Program, the federal lead agency, Bureau of Reclamation, and the state lead agency, Trinity County Planning Department, announced the publication and distribution of an Environmental Assessment/Draft Environmental Impact Report (EA/DEIR) on August 2, 2006. The EA/DEIR fully discloses and evaluates the environmental impacts associated with implementation of the proposed project within the Douglas City area entitled the Indian Creek Rehabilitation Project: Trinity River Miles 93.7 to 96.5 The Indian Creek Rehabilitation Project is located along approximately 2.8 miles of the mainstem Trinity River within the community of Douglas City, located between Biggers Road Bridge and Weaver Creek. Multiple parcels may be temporarily affected by the project. The project is the third channel rehabilitation project already built or in the planning stages that will work to enhance river processes and ultimately increase fisheries habitat as described in the December 19, 2000, Record of Decision (ROD) for the Trinity River Mainstem Fishery Restoration Environmental Impact Statement. The project purpose and need is to provide increased juvenile salmonid rearing habitat on the mainstem Trinity River, and to reduce flow impacts to homes and other human improvements located adjacent to the Trinity River, from implementation of ROD flows. Actions which may be conducted in the project area include removal of vegetation, earthwork in the Trinity River floodplain, material transportation and disposal, removal of in-river materials, and revegetation. A 45-day public review period has been established for the EA/DEIR. The review period began on August 3, 2006, and ends on September 18, 2006. Electronic copies of the EA/DEIR are available for public review on the TRRP's website at: http://www.trrp.net/RestorationProgram/IndianCreek.htm or on Reclamation's Mid-Pacific website at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=2094. Hard copies of the document are available in Weaverville, California at the following locations: the Trinity County Planning Department, 60 Glen Road; the Trinity River Restoration Program Office at 1313 South Main Street; and the Trinity County Library at 211 N. Main Street. All referenced materials will be available at the Trinity River Restoration Program office. Electronic CD copies of the EA/DEIR, and a limited number of paper copies, may be obtained at the Trinity River Restoration Program Office free of charge (subject to availability). Written comments must be received by the Trinity River Restoration Program, P.O. Box 1300, Weaverville, CA 96093 no later than 5:00 p.m., September 18, 2006. Emailed comments may be sent to Brandt Gutermuth, TRRP Environmental Specialist, at bgutermuth at mp.usbr.gov. The Trinity County Planning Commission will hold a public scoping meeting, which will also serve to meet Trinity County's public hearing requirement, on September 14, 2006. The meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. and will be located at the Trinity County Board of Supervisors Chambers within the Trinity County Library; 351 Main Street, Weaverville. Written and oral comments on the EA/DEIR will be received at this meeting. Written comments are highly encouraged. NOTE: If you Challenge the action or proposed action in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised through the public hearings and public comment period described in this notice. # # # # -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image003.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 6127 bytes Desc: image003.jpg URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 30388 bytes Desc: image001.jpg URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Tue Aug 29 13:35:52 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 13:35:52 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING: Indian Creek Rehabilitation Project: Trinity River Miles 93.7 to 96.5 Message-ID: <8DB773F7046960499DFAABF71D3C3B1E036046@mail3.trinitycounty.org> NOTE: PLEASE DISREGARD PREVIOUS NOTICE. THE MEETING IS NOT A "PUBLIC SCOPING" BUT RATHER A "PUBLIC HEARING"; MY APOLIGIES FOR ANY MISUNDERSTANDINGS. -Joshua Allen, Assistant Planner TRINITY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION 60 Glen Rd. PO Box 2819 Weaverville, CA 96093 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Indian Creek Rehabilitation Project: Trinity River Miles 93.7 to 96.5 Working together under guidance of the Trinity River Restoration Program, the federal lead agency, Bureau of Reclamation, and the state lead agency, Trinity County Planning Department, announced the publication and distribution of an Environmental Assessment/Draft Environmental Impact Report (EA/DEIR) on August 2, 2006. The EA/DEIR fully discloses and evaluates the environmental impacts associated with implementation of the proposed project within the Douglas City area entitled the Indian Creek Rehabilitation Project: Trinity River Miles 93.7 to 96.5 The Indian Creek Rehabilitation Project is located along approximately 2.8 miles of the mainstem Trinity River within the community of Douglas City, located between Biggers Road Bridge and Weaver Creek. Multiple parcels may be temporarily affected by the project. The project is the third channel rehabilitation project already built or in the planning stages that will work to enhance river processes and ultimately increase fisheries habitat as described in the December 19, 2000, Record of Decision (ROD) for the Trinity River Mainstem Fishery Restoration Environmental Impact Statement. The project purpose and need is to provide increased juvenile salmonid rearing habitat on the mainstem Trinity River, and to reduce flow impacts to homes and other human improvements located adjacent to the Trinity River, from implementation of ROD flows. Actions which may be conducted in the project area include removal of vegetation, earthwork in the Trinity River floodplain, material transportation and disposal, removal of in-river materials, and revegetation. A 45-day public review period has been established for the EA/DEIR. The review period began on August 3, 2006, and ends on September 18, 2006. Electronic copies of the EA/DEIR are available for public review on the TRRP's website at: http://www.trrp.net/RestorationProgram/IndianCreek.htm or on Reclamation's Mid-Pacific website at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=2094. Hard copies of the document are available in Weaverville, California at the following locations: the Trinity County Planning Department, 60 Glen Road; the Trinity River Restoration Program Office at 1313 South Main Street; and the Trinity County Library at 211 N. Main Street. All referenced materials will be available at the Trinity River Restoration Program office. Electronic CD copies of the EA/DEIR, and a limited number of paper copies, may be obtained at the Trinity River Restoration Program Office free of charge (subject to availability). Written comments must be received by the Trinity River Restoration Program, P.O. Box 1300, Weaverville, CA 96093 no later than 5:00 p.m., September 18, 2006. Emailed comments may be sent to Brandt Gutermuth, TRRP Environmental Specialist, at bgutermuth at mp.usbr.gov . The Trinity County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing, which will also serve to meet Trinity County's public hearing requirement, on September 14, 2006. The meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. and will be located at the Trinity County Board of Supervisors Chambers within the Trinity County Library; 351 Main Street, Weaverville. Written and oral comments on the EA/DEIR will be received at this meeting. Written comments are highly encouraged. NOTE: If you Challenge the action or proposed action in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised through the public hearings and public comment period described in this notice. # # # # -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 30388 bytes Desc: image001.jpg URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 6127 bytes Desc: image002.jpg URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Wed Aug 30 09:33:57 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron) Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 09:33:57 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Willow Creek and junction City weir trapping summaries Message-ID: <20060830163402.1C1002BC6@velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us> >From Wade Sinnen: To interested parties, Attached are trapping summaries for two mainstem Trinity River weirs. If you have any questions, please contact me by responding to this email. Regards, Wade Wade Sinnen Associate Biologist Trinity River Project CA Dept. of Fish and Game Northern California - North Coast District Byron Leydecker Friends of Trinity River, Chair California Trout, Inc., Advisor PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 415 383 9562 fax bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org (secondary) http://www.fotr.org http://www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: weir&TRH_summary06.xls Type: application/vnd.ms-excel Size: 40448 bytes Desc: not available URL: From awhitridge at snowcrest.net Sat Sep 2 07:32:30 2006 From: awhitridge at snowcrest.net (Arnold Whitridge) Date: Sat, 02 Sep 2006 07:32:30 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] TAMWG agenda Sept 12-13 Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.2.20060902072039.00c43b78@mail.snowcrest.net> Here's the agenda for the upcoming meeting of the federal advisory committee for the Trinity River Restoration Program. All TAMWG meetings are open to the public. Questions, suggestions, and inquiries accepted cheerfully, Arnold Whitridge, TAMWG chair 530 623-6688 Draft Agenda TRINITY ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT WORKING GROUP Victorian Inn, 1709 Main Street, Weaverville, CA September 12-13, 2006 Tuesday, September 12 Time Presentation, Discussion, and/or Action on: Presenter 1. 1:00 Adopt agenda; approve June minutes 2. 1:10 Open forum; public comment 3. 1:20 TRRP fiscal year 2007 budget & program of work Doug Schleusner 5:00 Adjourn for the day Doug Schleusner Wednesday, September 13 4. 8:30 Integrated Assessment Plan Rod Wittler 5. 9:00 Klamath River conditions; Rod Wittler & Klamath-Trinity management coordination TMAG staff 6. 9:30 CVPIA Program Reviews Tom Stokely 7. 10:15 Restoration experience on lower Clear Creek Francis Berg, BLM Redding 8. 11:15 Reports from TRRP work groups TAMWG lead reps 9. 11:45 Executive Director's report Doug Schleusner 10. 12:15 TAMWG Charter Renewal Randy Brown 11. 12:45 Open forum; public comment 12. 12:55 Tentative date and agenda topics for next meeting 1:00 Adjourn -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Wed Sep 6 09:48:55 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Wed, 6 Sep 2006 09:48:55 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Pigeon Fire News Message-ID: <8DB773F7046960499DFAABF71D3C3B1E061EF9@mail3.trinitycounty.org> Name: Pigeon Fire County: Trinity Administrative Unit: Shasta - Trinity National Forest Status/Notes: 20% contained - 4,954 acres Date Started: September 2, 2006 9:56 am Last update: September 5, 2006 9:00 am Phone Numbers (530) 623-9195 (Pigeon Fire Information) http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_current Summary http://www.inciweb.org/incident/357/ Pigeon: 4,790 acres 20% contained. Today the fire made a move north into the North Fork Gulch. Hwy 299 has been reopened as of 12 pm today. Current structural threat to Helena and Big Flat Community also exists. Structure protection is in place for both communities. Mandatory evacuations are in affect for the communities of Big Flat and Helena, voluntary evacuations are in place for Big Bar and DeLoma. Power lines affecting central and southern Trinity County are still shut down. Power has been rerouted to Weaverville and Junction City. Team is working with PG&E so their personnel can safely access and repair lines. Even though Hiway 299 is opening, everyone is strongly advised to use extreme caution while traversing the road. Travel will be single lane, escorted by pilot vehicle between Helena and mile maker 35.5. NOTE: Expect minimum of 15 minute delay. Highway is subject to closure at any time based on safety and fire activity. Before traveling, make sure to check with local CalTrans.1-800-427-7623 Fire Behavior Pigeon: The fire was very active yesterday with gradient southwest winds surfacing in the afternoon. Spotting out to a half mile, with crown runs, group torching was observed. Fire slopped over in area of Manzanita ridge. Crews are making progress lining the slopover area. Fire behavior is expected to increase this afternoon. Today's Significant Events Pigeon: Fire is still very active and spreading to the Northwest and Northeast. Planned Actions Pigeon: Crews and equipment continue to construct fire line. Structure protection mitigations have been implemented in affected communties. Projected Movement Pigeon: Today is expected to be similar to yesterday. Growth Potential Pigeon: Extreme Containment Target Pigeon: No estimate of containment Remarks Pigeon fire cause is under investigation. Highway 299 is now open to 1-way controlled traffic with pilot car escort between Junction City and DeLoma California. Trinity River remains closed to rafters and other water traffic from Slide Ranch Haul Out down to Big Flat. All trails within fire area are closed to public. Incident management will be transitioning from a type 2 to a type 1 management team. Highway closure pushes Labor Day travelers to alternate routes by Carol Harrison, 9/5/2006 http://www.eurekareporter.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?ArticleID=14683 With State Highway 299 closed for the bulk of the Labor Day Weekend, many North Coast travelers had little choice but to return home via State Highway 36. "Where else do you go?" asked the local California Highway Patrol dispatcher before reaching the official CHP spokesperson. "We are concerned," said CHP Sgt. Brett Fabbri, a North Coast resident for the past 37 years who could not remember Hwy. 299 ever suffering a closure on one of the biggest traffic days of the year. "299 is a busy route during the holidays and right now, the only alternates are 36 or 3 in Trinity County." "It will probably tag on two to two-and-one-half hours, if not more," Redding CHP Sgt. Mike Sherman said. "36 is a route that doesn't look like it gets much travel, but it sure will (Monday)." Sherman estimated 90 percent of the Hwy. 299 diversion went south on 3 to hook up with 36, or took 36 from its Red Bluff connection with U.S. Interstate 5. "The traffic flow has been extremely heavy," Sherman said of routes 3 and 36. He reported a boat trailer lost an axle on Hwy. 3 and started a 3- to 4-acre fire controlled by Hayfork personnel. Earlier in the day, the CHP confirmed a Hwy. 36 fatality who came from out of state and apparently took a corner faster than the Corvette could handle. The 150-mile stretch of asphalt connecting Red Bluff to Fortuna is virtually devoid of rest stops and fast food. Monday, it became increasingly crowded with travelers yearning for both. "It's like watch out, here they come," said Yvonne Mills, owner of Platina's General Store, which is located 37 miles west of Red Bluff on Hwy. 36. "We've been getting a whole lot of traffic. We're usually open 'til 7 p.m. and on a big weekend, it's 10 p.m. Who knows when we'll get out of here tonight." When told that 299 was expected to remain closed all day, Mills groaned. "Oh my gosh," she said at 2 p.m. Monday. "There's no restaurants, no pull-outs, no bathrooms. I only have one 1,000 gallon tank of gas. I don't know if I'll make it." Regular unleaded at $3.59 is the only gasoline Mills carries. Diesel, however, was available another eight miles up the road in Wildwood. "Business has been great," said Debbie Nelson of Wildwood's general store. She expected to stick with her 7 p.m. closing time and didn't seem too concerned with meeting the extra demand. "It's deer season," she said by way of explanation. "It's always busy in deer season. This is no biggie." Usually, according to Redcrest's Angie Flosi, Hwy. 36 is so lightly traveled that she avoids it at night. "I only do 36 if I absolutely have to," she said by phone Monday afternoon as she headed back to California State University, Chico, via Hwy. 20. "It's dark and windy and it's hard on me. I've got an older car, too, and if a break down happens out there . . ." "People don't realize it's 150 miles of mountainous, treacherous roadway," Mills said. "After Wildwood, it's almost to Mad River, and that store was closed at one time. I don't even know if it's open." The Mad River Burger Bar was hectic well before the dinner rush. "There's no way I can talk to you right now," said one frazzled worker who had tried twice to no avail to get a break in the tide of customers. "It's not bad in Trinity County until you get to Mad River, but then from Mad River to Humboldt County it's a lot slower." Sherman estimated peak traffic to be around 5 p.m. He said he assigned three officers to the route and air support to handle the increased load usually covered by one officer. Fabbri said the local CHP also posted extra help starting at the Humboldt County border. "It took me an extra half-hour Sunday to come down from Weaverville, but it's hard to take a guess for the time today," Fabbri said. "Many people waited until (Monday) hoping the main route might open." -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Wed Sep 6 17:33:55 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron) Date: Wed, 6 Sep 2006 17:33:55 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Junction City and Willow creek weir trapping summaries Message-ID: <001301c6d215$51a43520$311ca443@optiplex> >From Wade Sinnen: To interested parties, Attached is an excel file containing trapping summaries for two mainstem Trinity River weirs. Trinity River Hatchery will commence recovery operations on Thursday September 7. Wade Sinnen Associate Biologist Trinity River Project Byron Leydecker Friends of Trinity River, Chair California Trout, Inc., Advisor PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 415 383 9562 fax bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org (secondary) http://www.fotr.org http://www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: weir&TRH_summary06.xls Type: application/vnd.ms-excel Size: 40448 bytes Desc: not available URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Thu Sep 7 10:06:11 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2006 10:06:11 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Pigeon Fire perplexes crews: Big Bar blaze flighty in hot, dry, breezy weather Message-ID: <8DB773F7046960499DFAABF71D3C3B1E061F3B@mail3.trinitycounty.org> Pigeon Fire perplexes crews: Big Bar blaze flighty in hot, dry, breezy weather John Driscoll / Times-Standard http://www.times-standard.com/local/ci_4291760 Mark McKenna / Times-Standard A plume of smoke billows from a burn-out, a controlled burn meant to deprive a fire of fuel, near the junction of East Fork Road and US Highway 299.[Watch Video] BIG BAR Firefighters lit fires ahead of the Mark McKenna / Times-Standard >From left to right: Joe Lindaman, Mike Wakoski, and Dennis Lang monitor radio traffic for crews working fires in the Trinity County, while eating lunch at the Straw House. The coffee shop and eatery has been open 24 hours a day to serve fire crews working the blaze.[Watch Video] BIG BAR Firefighters lit fires ahead of the newly started Pigeon Fire Tuesday, trying to starve it of fuel as it threatened the historic town of Helena, and watched closely as the weather shifted and fanned the flames. The little communities of Big Bar and Big Flat along the Trinity River were quiet, as many residents had heeded evacuation orders. Fire managers were concerned the fire that blew into the upper reaches of Manzanita Creek over the weekend could sweep down the drainage and into Big Flat. Fire engines were parked at the ready there and in Big Bar in case the fire came back down the hill. The fire on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest has torched more than 5,000 acres, and has twice blown over fire lines carved by bulldozers. Starting on the roadside Saturday morning, the burn has been unwieldy and unpredictable. Burning embers have started fires ahead of the blaze, which has thrived on the dry wood and brush blanketing steep slopes, and with high temperatures and fickle winds. For now, fire managers are unable to tell residents of the area just where the blaze might spread in the next three days. "We can't be certain how this will set up," said fire information officer Chris Worth. Firefighters expected the fire to eventually fuse with the larger Bar Complex 12 miles away. That wildfire, which is being managed with the Pigeon Fire, has burned 32,019 acres in the rough wilderness near Denny. State Route 299 was reopened to controlled traffic mid-day Tuesday. But travelers had to be stopped occasionally as rocks tumbled onto the highway from burnt slopes. That hazard kept Labor Day revelers from driving from the coast inland to Trinity Lake. Before the official reopening, some motorists took their chances and headed back home. Gary Pelton of Redding got lucky, being held up at a traffic stop for a few minutes in his RV before being let through on his way home. "I thought about staying another day at the casino," Pelton said. "I won $260 last night." The Pacific Gas and Electric Co. used a helicopter to assess power lines consumed by the fire, which knocked out power to central and southern Trinity County. Power has been rerouted to Weaverville and Junction City. The fire had disastrous consequences on tourism in the area this past weekend. The Trinity River was closed to rafters and boaters, and campgrounds were empty. Many trails in the Trinity Alps are closed, and Worth said hunters have been inquiring about what areas are accessible for upcoming deer season. Some of those who stayed behind became an informal part of the firefighting effort. The Straw House a popular cafe and cappuccino stop was staying open 24 hours a day to serve firefighters. Employees slept on air mattresses over the weekend, hoping the business wouldn't fall prey to the blaze. "Up in the Trinity Alps we're protected from a lot of things," said employee Kieara Kiefel. "The one thing that can destroy us is fire." A sign in front of the store thanks firefighters. About 530 are working the blaze, with a total of about 1,100 on the Bar Complex. Three firefighters from Southern California sat on the Straw House patio, taking a break from the smoky work to grab a bite to eat. Mike Wakoski is working his seventh fire of the season. He said the Pigeon Fire has potential to become big, and predicted its merger with the Bake-Oven part of the Bar Complex. And while he may be gearing up to leave, he expected others will have to stay on the fire for a long time. "This fire will burn until it snows," Wakoski said. There is no rain in the forecast, and meteorologists are expecting hot and dry conditions and increased variable winds later in the week. Officials are also keeping an eye on several other fires in the region. The Orleans Complex has burned 15,710 acres and is considered 90 percent contained. No significant fire activity has been reported there. The Happy Camp Complex has burned 4,650 acres, and has made some short runs, torched trees and sent burning embers ahead of the blaze recently. A small fire aboard a helicopter forced the pilot to land, but no one was injured. The Uncles Complex in the Marble Mountains Wilderness is made up of three fires totaling nearly 19,000 acres. The Hancock Fire is expected to continue to spread to Portuguese Ridge. The Uncles Fire is projected to burn down Deadman Gulch and into the North Fork of the Salmon River. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: image005.gif Type: image/gif Size: 73 bytes Desc: image005.gif URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Thu Sep 7 10:38:00 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2006 10:38:00 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Sunday's Article and Photos from Times Standard Message-ID: <013801c6d2a4$5e564760$db653940@trinitycounty.org> Env-trinity subscribers, I have deleted the pictures from the article below because I don't want to clog your inbox with a 1 mb file, but you might want to look at them online. One picture is of a helicopter sucking water from the pool upstream of Hell Hole, with Hell Hole in the foreground. It's pretty classic, but not good for the rafters. Tom Stokely http://www.times-standard.com/local/ci_4282010 Shaun Walker / Times-Standard A helicopter hovers just above Hell Hole as it sucks water up a hose near Big Flat on Saturday afternoon. It and other others were dropping water on a fire blazing above Highway 299.[Watch Video] Shaun Walker / Times-Standard A U.S. Forest Service truck drives past billowing smoke near Hell Hole.[Watch Video] BIG FLAT A wind-blown wildfire that started small along Highway 299 on Saturday morning quickly spread to over 1,000 acres, causing Big Flat to be evacuated and the road to be closed. Firefighters, helicopters and tanker planes, already nearby because of the Bar Complex fires, attacked the Pigeon Fire soon after it started about 4 miles upstream of Big Flat shortly before 10 a.m. By noon, it had grown to about 30 acres. Winds blew the fire to the north and the west and it covered about 1,000 acres at 6 p.m. The fire had burned back down to the highway in one area, with debris and large rocks rolling down the steep hillside north of the Trinity River. Zero percent containment was reported at an 8 p.m. briefing. The fire was ?human caused? but is still under investigation, said Bar Complex fire information officer Tom Efird. Most of it is now located in steep, inaccessible terrain significantly uphill of the roadway. Law enforcement told people in Big Flat to evacuate at around 3 p.m. and highway traffic had already been stopped for several hours. About 130 were evacuated from Big Flat and another 100 voluntarily evacuated from Big Bar a few miles downstream. A Red Cross shelter was being set up in Salyer at the Wayside Church, said fire information officer Bruce Palmer. The blaze started near the middle of the Pigeon Point river section, a popular white water rafting and kayaking run. A guided trip with 27 rafters on five boats was stranded just below the fire because large helicopters were swooping down to the large pool above nearby Hell Hole and other downstream rapids, sucking water up through hoses. The rafting trip had started further upstream just before the fire did. Rafters watched flames on the hillside flare over 50 feet high and smoke billow and swirl wildly while they were stuck, said Travis Robinson of Trinity River Rafting, one of the guides stranded along the river for over three hours. -------------------------------------------------------- ?A helicopter dropped a firefighting crew down right in front of us,? Robinson said. A different raft trip floated downstream earlier before it could be stopped, and its passengers got the excitement of running the rapids and watching low-hovering helicopters as they made their way to Big Flat, Robinson said. Law enforcement and firefighters escorted vehicles and trailers from Big Flat, including some from Bigfoot Rafting, to the fire area to help get the larger group of rafters and their boats out. About 300 firefighters with 12 fire engines, 11 hand crews, three helicopters, two heavy air tankers, three bulldozers and other equipment Shaun Walker / Times-Standard Flames engulf trees on steep terrain about a 1/3 of a mile above the Trinity River after the Pigeon Fire quickly spread up from the highway.[Watch Video] were dedicated to the rapidly spreading fire. Most were from the U.S. Forest Service, but the California Department of Forestry and other agencies assisted. ?It made a tremendous difference to have the resources nearby already,? said Efird. All of the Bar Complex's airborne firefighting efforts were shifted to the Pigeon Fire for the initial attack. Rafting companies already hurting some from what some say was sensationalized and misleading media reports after a rainy spring, typically get a surge of business on Labor Day weekend. Most are centered in Big Flat, but were moving employees and equipment to milder but runnable sections downstream. The fire also affected power and telephone service in the area. Highway 299 was closed from Highway 96 in Willow Creek, or possibly Big Bar for locals, to Junction City. Caltrans expected the closure to last well into Sunday. Travelers should check www.dot.ca.gov/dist2, or call (800) 427-ROAD for road condition updates. RETURN TO TOP -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: clear.gif Type: image/gif Size: 43 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: icon-uparrow.gif Type: image/gif Size: 75 bytes Desc: not available URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Fri Sep 8 11:03:49 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Fri, 8 Sep 2006 11:03:49 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Bar Complex and Pigeon FIRE INFO. meeting and smoke advisory information Message-ID: <8DB773F7046960499DFAABF71D3C3B1E061F6C@mail3.trinitycounty.org> There will be two informational meetings down river presented by the Forest Service and Incident Management Team Members. Tonight September 8th at 6:00 pm at the USFS Big Bar Ranger Station in Big Bar and tomorrow Saturday September 9th at 11:30 am at the Junction City Fire Hall (old JC school house). You can also visit the web site Http://www.inciweb.org or call 623-9195 or 623-9257 for Bar Complex and Pigeon fire information. See attachment on the smoke advisory. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Wed Sep 13 13:45:20 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Wed, 13 Sep 2006 13:45:20 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Fixing the Klamath; Part I Message-ID: <8DB773F7046960499DFAABF71D3C3B1E06200F@mail3.trinitycounty.org> Fixing the Klamath; Part I: Why the Klamath matters here (The first in a multi-part series) By Joel Gallob Of the News-Times http://www.newportnewstimes.com/articles/2006/09/13/news/news16.txt Early in the 20th century, the federal Bureau of Reclamation developed a plan to use the Klamath Basin, straddling the Oregon-California border, and the adjacent Lost River basin for farming. Through the "Klamath Project," the bureau dammed rivers, drained wetlands, cut forests, dug canals, diverted waters, and enabled the irrigation of tens of thousands of acres in the basin. Farmers began to raise potatoes, onions, alfalfa, barley and other crops in areas east of the Cascade Range that are naturally been semi-arid, even though they are laced with wetlands and lakes fed by runoff from that range. Starting at about the same time, a series of dams were built on the Klamath River; only one was designed as part of the irrigation effort and the others were intended for power production and flood control. Copco 1 was built in 1918; Link River Dam (key to the Klamath irrigation effort) in 1921; Copco 2 in 1925; J.C. Boyle Dam in 1958; Iron Gate in 1962; and Keno Dam in 1967. For decades, it appeared to most everyone - except the Native American tribes who relied on Klamath salmon for their food and culture -the dams and the Klamath Project had succeeded. But both the irrigation system and the power production have become embroiled in controversy; it appears there was a price to be paid for their successes. There are different views on just how to allocate the blame for the reduced Klamath salmon runs between the irrigation diversions, the effects of the dams, and other causes, as well. Still, the bill appears to have come due in 2001 and 2002, when a regional drought lowered water levels in the Klamath to the point where farmers, who need it for irrigation, found themselves fighting conservationists, Native tribes and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who all wanted the water for fish. In 2001, Klamath farmers confronted federal marshals for several weeks at the head-gates that kept water available for endangered sucker fish (also known as mullet) in Upper Klamath Lake and for threatened coho salmon in the Klamath River. Some 1,400 family farms received no irrigation water and suffered serious economic losses. Some went into bankruptcy, some went out of business. In the summer of 2002, the Bush Administration overrode the US Fish & Wildlife Service and restored full irrigation flows to the farmers. That spring, there had been smaller die-offs of juvenile fish in the Klamath; come September, tens of thousands of returning Chinook salmon died in the river. The original estimate was 35,000; later estimates doubled the number. The cause, according to the National Research Council of the National Academies was "two types of pathogens that are widely distributed and generally become harmful to fish under stress, particularly if crowding occurs." The findings of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife report, "Klamath River Fish Die-Off September 2002: Causative Factors of Mortality," reached the same conclusion conservationists and Native American tribes had reached - that low flows below the Klamath's Iron Gate Dam, (the dam closest to the ocean and the die-off area), caused by upstream irrigation diversions, had created the conditions causing the epidemic which led to the die-off in the river's lowest 40 miles. In 2005, Oregon and California coast commercial salmon fishers joined the fish in helping pay the Klamath Project bill. Fish from the reduced 2001 outgoing run were coming back and had to be protected. The 2005 salmon season was limited to prevent fishers from catching many of the returning Klamath Chinook. This summer, the worry about returning Klamath Chinook led to a virtual closure of the commercial ocean salmon season, a first-ever shutdown (with a few exceptions) along 700 miles of coast from below the Columbia River to California's Point Sur. The closure led to calls for changes in how the Klamath Basin, Klamath lakes, and Klamath River are managed. It led, also, to the Klamath farmers, in an effort by the "Klamath Bucket Brigade," providing aid to coastal salmon fishers struggling to survive the season. And it has led to various proposed solutions to the problems of the Klamath. But nothing is certain, including the exact cause of the 2002 fish die-off. It may seem common sense to figure that fish need water, and salmon need cold, clear water - and a shortage of both would damage the Klamath salmon. But the Klamath Water Users Association says upstream water diversions did not cause the crisis, and that Upper Klamath water is too warm to have helped the fish had it been released. Further, South Coast salmon fisherman Scott Boley, who grew up in the Klamath and returned there recently with other coastal fishers to talk with Klamath farmers, says the strong returning Chinook brood in 2002 and consequent overcrowding in the lower Klamath, with or without the water diversions for farmers, was enough to cause the 2002 die-off. Even if the environmentalists, fishermen, California Department of Fish and Game and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are correct in believing competition between fish and farmers for Klamath flows caused the die-off, there in no guarantee the required water will go to the fish. The flows, especially in drought years, may not be enough to meet all the claims on them. Salmon runs One thing certain is that, before the Klamath was dammed and diverted, it was the West Coast's third greatest salmon stream, behind the Columbia and Sacramento rivers. It drains a basin of 9,691 square miles that gets less than 12 inches of rain per year, but is also watered by runoff from the Cascades Range. According to an April 2005 article by John Hamilton, Gary Curtis, Scott Snedaker and David White in "Fisheries," published by the American Fisheries Society, the Klamath River in 1908 was filled with salmon. It quoted a Klamath Falls Evening Herald article of Sept. 24, 1908 that, "There are millions of the fish below the falls near Keno, and it is said that a man with a gaff could easily land a hundred of the salmon in an hour, in fact they could be caught as fast as a man could pull them in." One estimate, the article noted, put the Klamath salmon runs at 650,000 to 1 million fish. Chinook historically used the whole length of the 350-mile long system including the distant tributaries of Upper Klamath Lake. But much of their best spawning sites were in the middle reach at, above, and now underneath the river's dams and reservoirs. Steelhead, too, made it into the tributaries of the Upper Klamath Basin, as did coho salmon. They prefer smaller streams than Chinook, and historically spawned mainly in the upper basin (as did sockeye and pink salmon, and cutthroat trout). The coho are down to 1 percent of pre-project numbers, according to an article by Zeke Grader of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Association, in the Fishermen's News of August 2001. The chum and pink salmon are gone. The coho runs are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The Chinook are protected under the Magnuson Stevens Act. But when people spoke of immense Klamath salmon runs in years gone by, it was the Chinook they were referring to. The Chinook have spring and fall runs, and if the basin were somehow returned to a state of nature, it is the spring runs (aided by Cascades and other melt water) that would re-colonize the Klamath to its highest springs. The fall Chinook (protected by the truncated 2006 salmon season) might make it that far up in good water years, but not in lesser years. Geography The Klamath region is one of the most complex in Oregon. Besides receiving water from the Cascade's eastern slopes, it also gets runoff from the ridges, small mountains and streams to its east. Historically, its lakes grew and shrunk naturally with the seasons, and were surrounded by great wetlands. With two wildlife refuges and an abundance of fish, birds and other critters, the region has been called the Everglades of the West. Three large lakes are at the heart of the region: Upper Klamath Lake, Lower Klamath Lake, and Tule Lake. Various streams flow into the north side of Upper Klamath Lake; at its south end, the Link River flows out beside the city of Klamath Falls, into a brief, mini-lake (Lake Ewauna) and then becomes the Klamath River. It flows south and then bends east, heading through canyons and past dams to the ocean. There is also Lower Klamath Lake, which is connected to the river. Tule Lake, further east, had naturally been separate, a terminal evaporative pond, but has been connected to the broader Klamath system by man. Clear Lake, and Malone and Gerber Reservoirs, east of Tule and the Klamath lakes, add their water to the upper Klamath system. Several smaller rivers further downstream feed into the Klamath River, including the Shasta, Salmon and the Scott rivers. Finally, just 43 miles before the Klamath reaches the ocean, the Trinity River - the biggest single tributary - enters into it. The fish die-off in 2002 took place within the first 36 miles from the mouth of the river, downstream from virtually all of this. What happens in the basin, affects the salmon - and the Oregon coast. Joel Gallob is a reporter for the News-Times. He can be reached at 265-8571 ext. 223, or joel.gallob at lee.net. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 27951 bytes Desc: image001.jpg URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 28216 bytes Desc: image002.jpg URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image003.gif Type: image/gif Size: 73 bytes Desc: image003.gif URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Wed Sep 13 15:00:27 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Wed, 13 Sep 2006 15:00:27 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Forest Service needs publics help in Pigeon Fire Message-ID: <8DB773F7046960499DFAABF71D3C3B1E06201A@mail3.trinitycounty.org> News Releases: 2006 News Release USDA Forest Service Shasta-Trinity National Forest Contact: Mike Odle (530)226-2494 Forest Service needs publics help in Pigeon Fire REDDING, Calif. (September 12, 2006) - Forest Service fire investigators suspect the cause of the Pigeon Fire was associated with a vehicle traveling on State Highway 299, September 2, ten miles west of Junction City, Calif. Fire official's need the publics help in locating any motorist that may have seen anything out of the ordinary during their travel. If you were a motorist that was: * Traveling on State Highway 299 * on September 2 * between the hours of 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. * between Big Flat and Pigeon Point Campgrounds * and have any information that could help Fire Investigators Please contact the Weaverville Ranger Station at (530) 623-2121. The Pigeon Fire has grown to more than 9,400 acres and more than 1, 140 personnel. The fire is currently at 24 percent containment. The Pigeon Fire remains under investigation. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.gif Type: image/gif Size: 2150 bytes Desc: image001.gif URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Wed Sep 13 15:26:57 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Wed, 13 Sep 2006 15:26:57 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Forest Service needs publics help in Pigeon Fire Message-ID: <8DB773F7046960499DFAABF71D3C3B1E06201F@mail3.trinitycounty.org> News Releases: 2006 News Release USDA Forest Service Shasta-Trinity National Forest Contact: Mike Odle (530)226-2494 Forest Service needs publics help in Pigeon Fire REDDING, Calif. (September 12, 2006) - Forest Service fire investigators suspect the cause of the Pigeon Fire was associated with a vehicle traveling on State Highway 299, September 2, ten miles west of Junction City, Calif. Fire official's need the publics help in locating any motorist that may have seen anything out of the ordinary during their travel. If you were a motorist that was: * Traveling on State Highway 299 * on September 2 * between the hours of 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. * between Big Flat and Pigeon Point Campgrounds * and have any information that could help Fire Investigators Please contact the Weaverville Ranger Station at (530) 623-2121. The Pigeon Fire has grown to more than 9,400 acres and more than 1, 140 personnel. The fire is currently at 24 percent containment. The Pigeon Fire remains under investigation. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.gif Type: image/gif Size: 2150 bytes Desc: image001.gif URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Wed Sep 13 15:37:54 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Wed, 13 Sep 2006 15:37:54 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] BAR COMPLEX MANDATORY EVACUATION (Given 30 minutes ago) Message-ID: <8DB773F7046960499DFAABF71D3C3B1E062021@mail3.trinitycounty.org> http://www.inciweb.org/incident/announcements/article/357/2847/ Incident Contact: (530) 623-9195 Incident: Bar Complex Wildland Fire Released: 2006-09-13 18:07:00 ET Due to the anticipated wind event the following evacuations and advisories are now in effect: MANDATORY EVACUATION: ALL RESIDENCES NORTH OF HWY 299 FROM NORTH FORK TO AND INCLUDING JUNCTION CITY: POWERHOUSE ROAD,VALDOR ROAD,UPPER ROAD AND CANYON CREEK ROAD. 48 HOUR ADVISORY: ALL RESIDENCES FROM BIG BAR TO (AND INCLUDING) JUNCTION CITY; SOUTH OF HWY 299 TO DUTCH CREEK A WEST WIND HAS STARTED TO PUSH EXISTING SMOKE INTO THE JUNCTION CITY AREA AND AREAS TO THE EAST. CONDITIONS IN JUNCTION CITY ARE EXTREMELY SMOKEY AND VISIBILITY IS LIMITED. INCREASE IN FIRE ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED AS THE INVERSION LIFTS OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From truman at jeffnet.org Sat Sep 16 09:14:48 2006 From: truman at jeffnet.org (Patrick Truman) Date: Sat, 16 Sep 2006 09:14:48 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Pigeon Fir Complex Message-ID: <00eb01c6d9ab$417f13c0$0201a8c0@HAL> Select an incident incident Amazon Anderson Arrastre Bar Complex Barton Battle Mountain Bear Gulch 2 Big Creek Bitterroot Wildland Fire Use Fires Black Crater Fire Blaisdell Blister Fire Bluecut Bootlegger Boulder Complex Boundary Boundary Brins Broder / Beck Buffalo Creek Burnt Fire Carbon Copy Complex Cascade Crest Complex Cavity Lake Fire Cedar Creek Charleston Complex Columbia Complex Crater Fire Cuddy Complex Day Derby Mountain Devil's Den Dewatto 2 East Humboldt East Roaring Elkhorn Complex Emerald Emerald Hills Ferguson Rockslide Flick Creek Foot Ford Creek Fire Foster Gulch Complex Frog Complex Garden Creek Gash Creek Gran Grease Fire Green Canyon Fire Greenwater 7440 Hambly Complex Happy Camp Complex Heart - Millard Heavens Gate Complex Hechtman Holland Peak Horse Horse Creek Hughes 32 Complex Hunter Iowa Complex Jim Creek Jim Creek Judeman Fire King Mountain Fire La Barranca Lakin Lick Creek Little Venus Magpie Fire Manzanita Maxwell Meadow Messenger Middle Fork Complex Middle T Mill Mt. Hood Complex Mt. Pinos Lightning Complex Mudd Murr Creek Fire Navajo Mountain #1 Oak Observation Complex Ola Complex Orleans Complex Panther Paradise Valley Complex Passage Falls Payette Wfu Complex Perkins Perkins Complex Pigeon Pilgrim Plunge Polallie Potato Purdy Quartz Creek Rainbow Ralston Ramp Rattlesnake Complex Red Eagle Fire Red Mountain Rockland Romero Sage Fire San Rafael Lightning Complex Sawmill Sawtooth Complex Shake Table Complex Sharps Ridge Sioux Fire Complex Snow Canyon South End Complex South Fork Complex South Pine Stinky Fire Sun Dog Sunset Canyon Survey Tatoosh Complex Teton Interagency North Zone The Jungle Fire Thurman Tinpan Trail Creek Trailhead Fire Tripod Complex Trout Creek Turtle Lake Twin Lakes Complex Ulm Peak Uncles Complex Van Peak Fire Verdi Warm Watt Draw Weaver Woodleaf Yolla Bolly Complex Select a state state Alabama Alaska American Samoa Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District Of Columbia Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming InciWeb - Wildland Fire and Incident Information System [Skip to content] a.. You are here: b.. National > c.. California > d.. Shasta - Trinity National Forest > e.. Bar Complex Wildland Fire Bar Complex Wildland Fire a.. Incident Information b.. Announcements c.. News d.. Pictures e.. Maps Incident Contact: (530) 623-9195 ANNOUNCEMENT Area Closure Forest Service issues Emergency Area Closure Order in the Trinity Alps Wilderness REDDING, Calif. - Shasta-Trinity National Forest Supervisor Sharon Heywood issued an Emergency Area Closure Ord... more Bar Complex Area, 9/14 9pm pdt Credit: California Interagency Incident Management Team 1 click to enlarge Summary 6:15pm 9/15/06-- Forest Area Closure is now in effect for Canyon Creek, North Fork Trinity River and areas east and north of New River, south of the Trinity River to the Hayfork Divide. Under the new closure order, hiking trails and roads within the fire area remain closed to provide for public safety. The closures will remain in effect through the foreseeable future. The Trinity River closure has been expanded, the river is closed from Junction City to Cedar Flat. MANDATORY EVACUATIONS STLL IN EFFECT: All residences north of Hwy 299 from North Fork to/and including Junction City: Powerhouse Road, Valdor Road, Upper Road, Canyon Creek Road,and Rifle Range Road. 48 HOUR ADVISORY IN EFFECT: All residences from Big Bar to/and including Junction City south of Highway 299 to Dutch Creek. The first priority is to continue efforts for structure protection and prepartion for the communities of Big Bar, Big Flat, Power House, Canyon Creek in the area of Junction City and alongthe 299 corridor to Grasshopper Flat. Evacuation procedures have been conducted by CHP and the Sheriffs' office for residents effected in the immediate area. Saturday gusty winds will shift to the Northwest, possibly threatening residences and communities of Junction City, Cecilville, Petersburg and Weaverville. Basic Information Updated 2006-09-15 22:11:49 ET Incident Type Wildland Fire Benefits & Objectives 1. Protect the communities of Helena, Big Bar, Junction City, Canyon Creek, Denny, and Big Flat from the fires. All available air and ground assets will support this operation, when necessary. Hold the Pigeon Fire north of Highway 299 and west of Canyon Creek. For the Bake Oven Fire, hold the fire east of New River/Slide Creek and a line from Denny to French Bar. In addition, hold the Bake Oven Fire south of Slide Creek, Mary Blaine Meadows, and the Salmon Mountains. 2. Provide initial attack response of any new fire starts. Engagement principles of Mass and maneuver will be employed. 3. Third priority will be to continue direct and indirect fire suppression tactics, where practical, with the intent of containing the Bar Complex fires. The overall goal is to hold the fires north of Highway 299. Cause Lightning Date of Origin 07/24/2006 at 0001 hrs. Location N by NW of Weaverville, California Incident Commander Don Feser Current Situation Size 68,619 acres Percent Contained 31% Estimated Containment Date 09/30/2006 at 1800 hrs. Total Personnel 1,791 Fuels Involved 10 Timber (litter and understory) NFFL fuel models 6, 8 & 10. Heavy loading of 1000 hour fuels from past fires and non-fire (bug kill) mortality in the areas surrounding the fires exists. Fire Behavior Today temperatures were cooler, with a significant rise in humidity. Rain was reported along ridge tops and in the North Fork drainage. Strong winds continue through tonight. Moderate fire activity with a slow fire spread and small flame lengths. Today's Significant Events A type 2 team is expected to arrive soon. The team is assigned to manage the Bar Complex where, it has burned on to Klammath National Forest. Outlook Estimated Date of Control Planned Actions Structure preparation continues along the south and southwest fire perimeter of the Pigeon near Big Bar. Structure protection also continues along the North Fork Road that goes to Hobo Gulch. Throughout the fire area structure protection and and prepartion continued. Crews patrolled the the north edge of the Bake Oven from Mary Blaine Meadows to north edge of St. Claire Creek. Mop up was continued near Helena. Projected Movement Starting Saturday temperatures are expected to rise and humidity to fall, possibly causing increased fire behavior. The potential for new fire runs with spotting will grow with the drying trend. Growth Potential EXTREME Terrain Difficulty EXTREME Containment Target Remarks The Pigeon Fire is now at $12.3 million, 16,988 acres and 20% containment. The Bake Oven is now at $23.1 million, 51,631 acres, and 39% containment. Weather Current Wind Conditions 7 mph NW Current Temperature 48 degrees Current Humidity 55 % Forecasted Wind Conditions 7 mph NW Forecasted Temperature 54 degrees Forecasted Humidity 45 % Unit Information Shasta - Trinity National Forest 3644 Avtech Parkway Redding, CA 96002 News Releases a.. Area Closure Released: 2006-09-15 22:12:00 ET b.. Crews Prepare For Predicted Wind Event Released: 2006-09-12 23:05:00 ET c.. Bar Complex Firefighters Assist In Canyon Rescue Released: 2006-08-06 18:12:00 ET Cooperators a.. USDA Forest Service b.. Bureau of Land Management c.. National Park Service d.. CA Div. of Forestry & Fire Protection e.. California Conservation Corps f.. California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation g.. Hoopa Fire h.. National Weather Service Available Feeds a.. News Feed Need help with feeds? a.. Links b.. Terminology c.. About This Site d.. Help e.. Feeds f.. Disclaimer g.. Privacy Act h.. Log In -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: pict-20060915-193533-0.gif&w=420&h=420 Type: application/octet-stream Size: 61737 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: usfs.gif Type: image/gif Size: 2943 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: blm.gif Type: image/gif Size: 2470 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: bia.gif Type: image/gif Size: 3125 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: fws.gif Type: image/gif Size: 3545 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: usfa.gif Type: image/gif Size: 2716 bytes Desc: not available URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Sun Sep 17 20:35:29 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron) Date: Sun, 17 Sep 2006 20:35:29 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Trapping summaries for Junction City and Willow Creek weirs and Trinity River Hatchery Message-ID: <000001c6dad3$7db24eb0$73a41718@optiplex> >From Wade Sinnen: Attached are trapping summaries for two mainstem Trinity River weirs and the Trinity River Hatchery. Please keep in mind that Junction City weir is primarily used to estimate spring chinook abundance and Willow Creek weir is operated for estimating runs of fall chinook, coho and adult fall steelhead. Trapping schedules at both weirs allow for daily and weekend openings, thus we trap and tag only a portion of each run. Run estimates are based on post season data from the weirs, hatchery and natural spawning areas. Wade Sinnen Associate Biologist Trinity River Project CA Dept. of Fish and Game Byron Leydecker Friends of Trinity River, Chair California Trout, Inc., Advisor PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 415 383 9562 fax bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org (secondary) http://www.fotr.org http://www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: weir&TRH_summary06.xls Type: application/vnd.ms-excel Size: 55808 bytes Desc: not available URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Wed Sep 20 16:48:15 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron) Date: Wed, 20 Sep 2006 16:48:15 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Bush Roadless Plan Thrown Out Message-ID: <000001c6dd0f$5278bc50$73a41718@optiplex> This significant message came from Mark Rockwell, Vice President Conservation for the Northern California Council, Federation of Fly Fishers: "I just heard that the 9th Circuit has thrown out the Bush Administration policy on roadless areas, and we are back to the Clinton policy for now. That will stop all current logging, mining and other activities in these areas, including the Tongass National Forest in Alaska." Byron Leydecker Friends of Trinity River, Chair California Trout, Inc., Advisor PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 415 383 9562 fax bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org (secondary) http://www.fotr.org http://www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From truman at jeffnet.org Thu Sep 21 07:18:09 2006 From: truman at jeffnet.org (Patrick Truman) Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2006 07:18:09 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Bush Roads Policy Struck Down Message-ID: <017901c6dd88$c635c060$0201a8c0@HAL> http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/09/21/MNGPDL9LSB1.DTL -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Mon Sep 25 07:46:57 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Mon, 25 Sep 2006 07:46:57 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Trinity R Watershed CRMP Meeting Postponed to Mid-October Message-ID: <000201c6e0b1$90ae8ef0$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Dan Westermeyer - TCRCD [mailto:dwestermeyer at tcrcd.net] Sent: Thursday, September 21, 2006 2:36 PM To: Doug Schleusner; Jan Smith; Patrick Garrison; Larry Hanson; Mike Berry; caltrout at sbcglobal.net; Abbey Stockwell; Andreas Krause; Arnold Whitridge; Bill Britton; bill brock; Dave Gaeuman; Jim Spear; Josh Allen; Joyce Andersen; Kenneth Baldwin; Loren Everest; Mark Lancaster; Mary Ann Madej; Paris, Randi - Yreka, CA; Pat Frost - TCRCD; Scott Morris; Susan Erwin; Tiffany Riess; Tom Stokely Subject: Trinity river Watershed CRMP Hi everyone, Due to the number of conflicts with other meetings and conferences, the scheduled September Trinity River Watershed Council (CRMP) meeting will be postponed until mid-October. The Restoration Programs watershed Workgroup meeting will be held on October 23rd so I am trying to schedule the Watershed Council meeting sometime around the 11th or 12th of October. Can everyone check their calendars and let me know if either of those dates will work and then get back to me if it makes a difference. Also, if you would like to comment on the draft MOU for the Council, please return the comments within the next week so I'll have time to review them. Thanks, Dan Westermeyer Trinity County Resource Conservation District. 530-623-6004 dwestermeyer at tcrcd.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Wed Sep 20 10:45:02 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron) Date: Wed, 20 Sep 2006 10:45:02 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] (no subject) Message-ID: <001701c6dcdc$806f6e20$73a41718@optiplex> >From Wade Sinnen: Attached are Trinity River weir and hatchery trapping summaries. Wade Sinnen Associate Biologist Trinity River Project CA Dept. of Fish and Game Byron Leydecker Friends of Trinity River, Chair California Trout, Inc., Advisor PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 415 383 9562 fax bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org (secondary) http://www.fotr.org http://www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: weir&TRH_summary09 20 06.xls Type: application/vnd.ms-excel Size: 56320 bytes Desc: not available URL: From env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us Mon Sep 18 10:56:03 2006 From: env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us (env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us) Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2006 10:56:03 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Pigeon Fir Complex Message-ID: Select an incident |----------------------------------------| | ( ) incident | | ( ) Amazon | | ( ) Anderson | | ( ) Arrastre | | ( ) Bar Complex | | ( ) Barton | | ( ) Battle Mountain | | (*) Bear Gulch 2 | | ( ) Big Creek | | ( ) Bitterroot Wildland Fire Use Fires | | ( ) Black Crater Fire | | ( ) Blaisdell | | ( ) Blister Fire | | ( ) Bluecut | | ( ) Bootlegger | | ( ) Boulder Complex | | ( ) Boundary | | ( ) Boundary | | ( ) Brins | | ( ) Broder / Beck | | ( ) Buffalo Creek | | ( ) Burnt Fire | | ( ) Carbon Copy Complex | | ( ) Cascade Crest Complex | | ( ) Cavity Lake Fire | | ( ) Cedar Creek | | ( ) Charleston Complex | | ( ) Columbia Complex | | ( ) Crater Fire | | ( ) Cuddy Complex | | ( ) Day | | ( ) Derby Mountain | | ( ) Devil's Den | | ( ) Dewatto 2 | | ( ) East Humboldt | | ( ) East Roaring | | ( ) Elkhorn Complex | | ( ) Emerald | | ( ) Emerald Hills | | ( ) Ferguson Rockslide | | ( ) Flick Creek | | ( ) Foot | | ( ) Ford Creek Fire | | ( ) Foster Gulch Complex | | ( ) Frog Complex | | ( ) Garden Creek | | ( ) Gash Creek | | ( ) Gran | | ( ) Grease Fire | | ( ) Green Canyon Fire | | ( ) Greenwater 7440 | | ( ) Hambly Complex | | ( ) Happy Camp Complex | | ( ) Heart - Millard | | ( ) Heavens Gate Complex | | ( ) Hechtman | | ( ) Holland Peak | | ( ) Horse | | ( ) Horse Creek | | ( ) Hughes 32 Complex | | ( ) Hunter | | ( ) Iowa Complex | | ( ) Jim Creek | | ( ) Jim Creek | | ( ) Judeman Fire | | ( ) King Mountain Fire | | ( ) La Barranca | | ( ) Lakin | | ( ) Lick Creek | | ( ) Little Venus | | ( ) Magpie Fire | | ( ) Manzanita | | ( ) Maxwell | | ( ) Meadow | | ( ) Messenger | | ( ) Middle Fork Complex | | ( ) Middle T | | ( ) Mill | | ( ) Mt. Hood Complex | | ( ) Mt. Pinos Lightning Complex | | ( ) Mudd | | ( ) Murr Creek Fire | | ( ) Navajo Mountain #1 | | ( ) Oak | | ( ) Observation Complex | | ( ) Ola Complex | | ( ) Orleans Complex | | ( ) Panther | | ( ) Paradise Valley Complex | | ( ) Passage Falls | | ( ) Payette Wfu Complex | | ( ) Perkins | | ( ) Perkins Complex | | ( ) Pigeon | | ( ) Pilgrim | | ( ) Plunge | | ( ) Polallie | | ( ) Potato | | ( ) Purdy | | ( ) Quartz Creek | | ( ) Rainbow | | ( ) Ralston | | ( ) Ramp | | ( ) Rattlesnake Complex | | ( ) Red Eagle Fire | | ( ) Red Mountain | | ( ) Rockland | | ( ) Romero | | ( ) Sage Fire | | ( ) San Rafael Lightning Complex | | ( ) Sawmill | | ( ) Sawtooth Complex | | ( ) Shake Table Complex | | ( ) Sharps Ridge | | ( ) Sioux Fire Complex | | ( ) Snow Canyon | | ( ) South End Complex | | ( ) South Fork Complex | | ( ) South Pine | | ( ) Stinky Fire | | ( ) Sun Dog | | ( ) Sunset Canyon | | ( ) Survey | | ( ) Tatoosh Complex | | ( ) Teton Interagency North Zone | | ( ) The Jungle Fire | | ( ) Thurman | | ( ) Tinpan | | ( ) Trail Creek | | ( ) Trailhead Fire | | ( ) Tripod Complex | | ( ) Trout Creek | | ( ) Turtle Lake | | ( ) Twin Lakes Complex | | ( ) Ulm Peak | | ( ) Uncles Complex | | ( ) Van Peak Fire | | ( ) Verdi | | ( ) Warm | | ( ) Watt Draw | | ( ) Weaver | | ( ) Woodleaf | | ( ) Yolla Bolly Complex | |----------------------------------------| Select a state |--------------------------| | (*) state | | ( ) Alabama | | ( ) Alaska | | ( ) American Samoa | | ( ) Arizona | | ( ) Arkansas | | ( ) California | | ( ) Colorado | | ( ) Connecticut | | ( ) Delaware | | ( ) District Of Columbia | | ( ) Florida | | ( ) Georgia | | ( ) Guam | | ( ) Hawaii | | ( ) Idaho | | ( ) Illinois | | ( ) Indiana | | ( ) Iowa | | ( ) Kansas | | ( ) Kentucky | | ( ) Louisiana | | ( ) Maine | | ( ) Maryland | | ( ) Massachusetts | | ( ) Michigan | | ( ) Minnesota | | ( ) Mississippi | | ( ) Missouri | | ( ) Montana | | ( ) Nebraska | | ( ) Nevada | | ( ) New Hampshire | | ( ) New Jersey | | ( ) New Mexico | | ( ) New York | | ( ) North Carolina | | ( ) North Dakota | | ( ) Ohio | | ( ) Oklahoma | | ( ) Oregon | | ( ) Pennsylvania | | ( ) Puerto Rico | | ( ) Rhode Island | | ( ) South Carolina | | ( ) South Dakota | | ( ) Tennessee | | ( ) Texas | | ( ) Utah | | ( ) Vermont | | ( ) Virgin Islands | | ( ) Virginia | | ( ) Washington | | ( ) West Virginia | | ( ) Wisconsin | | ( ) Wyoming | |--------------------------| InciWeb - Wildland Fire and Incident Information System [Skip to content] You are here: National > California > Shasta - Trinity National Forest > Bar Complex Wildland Fire Bar Complex Wildland Fire Incident Information Announcements News Pictures Maps Incident Contact: (530) 623-9195 ANNOUNCEMENT Area Closure Forest Service issues Emergency Area Closure Order in the Trinity Alps Wilderness REDDING, Calif. - Shasta-Trinity National Forest Supervisor Sharon Heywood issued an Emergency Area Closure Ord... more (Embedded image moved to file: pic03022.jpg)map: Bar Complex Area, 9/14 9pm pdt Bar Complex Area, 9/14 9pm pdt Credit: California Interagency Incident Management Team 1 click to enlarge Summary 6:15pm 9/15/06-- Forest Area Closure is now in effect for Canyon Creek, North Fork Trinity River and areas east and north of New River, south of the Trinity River to the Hayfork Divide. Under the new closure order, hiking trails and roads within the fire area remain closed to provide for public safety. The closures will remain in effect through the foreseeable future. The Trinity River closure has been expanded, the river is closed from Junction City to Cedar Flat. MANDATORY EVACUATIONS STLL IN EFFECT: All residences north of Hwy 299 from North Fork to/and including Junction City: Powerhouse Road, Valdor Road, Upper Road, Canyon Creek Road,and Rifle Range Road. 48 HOUR ADVISORY IN EFFECT: All residences from Big Bar to/and including Junction City south of Highway 299 to Dutch Creek. The first priority is to continue efforts for structure protection and prepartion for the communities of Big Bar, Big Flat, Power House, Canyon Creek in the area of Junction City and alongthe 299 corridor to Grasshopper Flat. Evacuation procedures have been conducted by CHP and the Sheriffs' office for residents effected in the immediate area. Saturday gusty winds will shift to the Northwest, possibly threatening residences and communities of Junction City, Cecilville, Petersburg and Weaverville. Basic Information Updated 2006-09-15 22:11:49 ET Incident Wildland Fire Type Benefits & 1. Protect the communities of Helena, Big Bar, Junction City, Canyon Creek, Denny, and Big Flat from the fires. Objectives All available air and ground assets will support this operation, when necessary. Hold the Pigeon Fire north of Highway 299 and west of Canyon Creek. For the Bake Oven Fire, hold the fire east of New River/Slide Creek and a line from Denny to French Bar. In addition, hold the Bake Oven Fire south of Slide Creek, Mary Blaine Meadows, and the Salmon Mountains. 2. Provide initial attack response of any new fire starts. Engagement principles of Mass and maneuver will be employed. 3. Third priority will be to continue direct and indirect fire suppression tactics, where practical, with the intent of containing the Bar Complex fires. The overall goal is to hold the fires north of Highway 299. Cause Lightning Date of 07/24/2006 at 0001 hrs. Origin Location N by NW of Weaverville, California Incident Don Feser Commander Current Situation Size 68,619 acres Percent Contained 31% Estimated 09/30/2006 at 1800 hrs. Containment Date Total Personnel 1,791 Fuels Involved 10 Timber (litter and understory) NFFL fuel models 6, 8 & 10. Heavy loading of 1000 hour fuels from past fires and non-fire (bug kill) mortality in the areas surrounding the fires exists. Fire Behavior Today temperatures were cooler, with a significant rise in humidity. Rain was reported along ridge tops and in the North Fork drainage. Strong winds continue through tonight. Moderate fire activity with a slow fire spread and small flame lengths. Today's Significant A type 2 team is expected to arrive soon. The team is assigned to manage the Bar Complex where, it has Events burned on to Klammath National Forest. Outlook Estimated Date of Control Planned Actions Structure preparation continues along the south and southwest fire perimeter of the Pigeon near Big Bar. Structure protection also continues along the North Fork Road that goes to Hobo Gulch. Throughout the fire area structure protection and and prepartion continued. Crews patrolled the the north edge of the Bake Oven from Mary Blaine Meadows to north edge of St. Claire Creek. Mop up was continued near Helena. Projected Starting Saturday temperatures are expected to rise and humidity to fall, possibly causing increased fire Movement behavior. The potential for new fire runs with spotting will grow with the drying trend. Growth EXTREME Potential Terrain EXTREME Difficulty Containment Target Remarks The Pigeon Fire is now at $12.3 million, 16,988 acres and 20% containment. The Bake Oven is now at $23.1 million, 51,631 acres, and 39% containment. Weather Current Wind Conditions 7 mph NW Current Temperature 48 degrees Current Humidity 55 % Forecasted Wind 7 mph NW Conditions Forecasted Temperature 54 degrees Forecasted Humidity 45 % Unit Information (Embedded image moved to file: pic12570.gif)USFS ShieldShasta - Trinity National Forest 3644 Avtech Parkway Redding, CA 96002 News Releases Area Closure Released: 2006-09-15 22:12:00 ET Crews Prepare For Predicted Wind Event Released: 2006-09-12 23:05:00 ET Bar Complex Firefighters Assist In Canyon Rescue Released: 2006-08-06 18:12:00 ET Cooperators USDA Forest Service Bureau of Land Management National Park Service CA Div. of Forestry & Fire Protection California Conservation Corps California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation Hoopa Fire National Weather Service Available Feeds News Feed Need help with feeds? Links Terminology About This Site Help Feeds Disclaimer Privacy Act Log In (Embedded image moved to file: pic19700.gif)(Embedded image moved to file: pic07855.gif)(Embedded image moved to file: pic28908.gif)(Embedded image moved to file: pic08050.gif)(Embedded image moved to file: pic30945.gif) (Embedded image moved to file: pic20815.gif)National Association of State Foresters(Embedded image moved to file: pic32369.gif) _______________________________________________ env-trinity mailing list env-trinity at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us http://www2.dcn.org/mailman/listinfo/env-trinity -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: pic03022.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 61737 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: pic12570.gif Type: image/gif Size: 2943 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: pic32369.gif Type: image/gif Size: 2716 bytes Desc: not available URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Tue Sep 26 11:04:29 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Tue, 26 Sep 2006 11:04:29 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Trinity river Watershed CRMP Message-ID: <8DB773F7046960499DFAABF71D3C3B1E062198@mail3.trinitycounty.org> Hi everyone, Due to the number of conflicts with other meetings and conferences, the scheduled September Trinity River Watershed Council (CRMP) meeting will be postponed until mid-October. The Restoration Programs watershed Workgroup meeting will be held on October 23rd so I am trying to schedule the Watershed Council meeting sometime around the 11th or 12th of October. Can everyone check their calendars and let me know if either of those dates will work and then get back to me if it makes a difference. Also, if you would like to comment on the draft MOU for the Council, please return the comments within the next week so I'll have time to review them. Thanks, Dan Westermeyer Trinity County Resource Conservation District. 530-623-6004 dwestermeyer at tcrcd.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Fri Sep 29 14:46:41 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Fri, 29 Sep 2006 14:46:41 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] DFG's Klamath-Trinity Proposal Solicitation Notice Message-ID: <00d901c6e410$c8aba6a0$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> http://www.dfg.ca.gov/nafwb/klamathrivergrants.html Proposal Solicitation Notice - September 26th, 2006 Proposal Solicitation Notice Thank you for your interest in the Klamath River Restoration Grant Program's proposal solicitation notice. The Department of Fish and Game is soliciting proposals to accomplish fishery restoration work that will have immediate benefits to salmonids. The Department will direct funds to projects that improve fish passage and significantly enhance fish habitat or cold water fall flows. Grants are made to a variety of public entities, Indian Tribes and nonprofit groups. Project proposals must be postmarked no later than October 13th, 2006. The electronic version of the notice is provided below. The document is available as a set of files in Adobe's Portable Document Format. The application in Appendix A, and the example forms in Appendix B are also available as Microsoft Word documents. (see the website for all the forms) Please note there is one Trinity River project in the list below. Klamath River Restoration Grant Program Appendix E ? High Priority Projects Araujo Dam Fish Passage and Water Quality Improvements Project This project will replace an existing diversion system with a suitable, fish-friendly water delivery system. In order to meet the needs of the Araujo Dam water users and to assist in salmonid restoration and improve water quality in the Shasta River the following activities shall be proposed: 1) design and install a system that will still provide continued agricultural water to the Araujo Dam water users while providing fish passage, 2) design and install a new fish screen at the diversion location and 3) remove existing flashboard diversion dam. Shasta River Water Association Fish Passage and Water Quality Improvements Project This project will replace an existing diversion system with a suitable, fish-friendly water delivery system. In order to meet the needs of the Shasta Valley water users and to assist in salmonid restoration and improve water quality in the Shasta River the following activities shall be proposed: 1) design and install a system that will still provide continued agricultural water to the Shasta Valley water users while providing fish passage, 2) design and install a new fish screen at the diversion location and 3) remove existing flashboard diversion dam. Grenada Irrigation District Fish Passage Improvement Project This project will replace an existing diversion system with a suitable, fish-friendly water delivery system. In order to meet the needs of the Grenada water users and to assist in salmonid restoration and improve water quality in the Shasta River the following activities shall be proposed: 1) design and install a system that will still provide continued agricultural water to the Grenada water users while providing fish passage, 2) design and install a new fish screen at the diversion location and 3) remove existing flashboard diversion dam. Fall Flows Enhancement Program Adult Chinook salmon access is limited in the Scott River watershed by stock water diversions that continue after irrigation season ends. This project would be an extension of the Scott River Water Trust. Chinook can enter Scott Valley when the USGS gage is at 25-30 cubic feet per second (cfs). These flows shall be achieved through use of alternative sources for watering stock or reimbursing operations for not diverting stock water. This project will make agreements that will secure up to 7 cfs for instream benefit in the Scott River watershed after irrigation season for up to 75 days in the fall. Enhancement of Critical Rearing Areas through Improved Flows This project would seek to negotiate opportunities to lease/purchase water for instream benefit in critical rearing areas in the Scott River Watershed. This would be an extension of Phase II of the Scott River Water Trust. By April 2007, three or more negotiations will be explored to the point of contract. This project shall secure 5 cfs from the later half of the irrigation season to the end of irrigation season in critical over-summering areas. E2 Mid Klamath Tributary Fish Passage Improvement Project This project would coordinate crews of local volunteers under the guidance of a senior fisheries biologist to annually provide fish passage on Aikens, Slate, Red Cap, Camp, Stanshaw, Sandy Bar, Rock, Ti, Dillon, Elliot, Swillup, Independence, Titus, Little Horse, China, Thompson, Fort Goff, Portuguese, Grider, Walker, O?Neil, and other creeks with alluvial fish passage issues. A goal of this project is a voluntary program where local residents are educated on fish passage needs and encouraged to maintain fish passage in future years. Cold Creek Fish Passage Improvement Project Cold Creek is a tributary to Bogus Creek which is known to be a major spawning and rearing tributary for steelhead, coho and Chinook salmon in the mainstem Klamath River. There is a seasonal diversion located on Cold Creek that is currently impeding movement of juvenile salmonids during the summer months. This project would relocate the existing diversion approximately 200 feet upstream; install a screen and bypass channel; a pipe to transfer water; construct a boulder weir that will also provide fish passage; and install a head gate/measuring weir. Seiad Creek Fish Screen Project Seiad Creek is an important fisheries tributary to the mainstem Klamath River. This project is to install fish screens at four unscreened diversions on Seiad Creek. Ti Creek Channel Restoration Project In the 1964 flood, the lower half mile of Ti Creek was severely degraded as the creek diverted into a new high gradient channel, impeding coho and steelhead passage to approximately four miles of anadromous fish habitat upstream. This project would design, engineer and implement channel restoration by restoring the creek to its historic low gradient channel, including side channel pool habitat critical for juvenile salmonids over-summering in Middle Klamath River refugia. Crawford Creek Fish Ladder This project would install a fish ladder with baffles to provide anadromous fish passage above the Highway 96 cement box culvert on Crawford Creek. This project would open up 3,100 feet of low gradient habitat for coho and steelhead. Tectah Creek Instream Restoration Creek Tectah Creek, a tributary to the Lower Klamath River, supports populations of coho salmon, fall-run Chinook salmon, steelhead, cutthroat trout, and other non-anadromous species. Habitat within Tectah Creek has been substantially degraded from legacy land management practices that have resulted in increased sedimentation, clearance of large woody debris (LWD) from the stream channel, and harvest of LWD that would naturally be recruited to the stream. The result has been the minimization of habitat complexity within the stream; complexity essential to support viable populations of anadromous salmonids. The purpose of this project is to increase habitat complexity within the stream channel, primarily by introducing LWD to increase the overall diversity of habitat as well as to stimulate scour to remove fine sediment from lower portions of the stream. E3 Little Horse Creek Culvert Replacement The existing culvert at the China Grade Road crossing on Little Horse Creek was severely damaged in the 2006 flood. It is still 80% plugged and needs to be replaced by a bridge or an open bottom arch culvert. This project would open up approximately one mile of coho and steelhead habitat. Marble Mountain Ranch Water Conservation Project Marble Mountain Ranch diverts up to 3.5 cfs from Stanshaw Creek for the purposes of hydropower generation, domestic use and irrigation. Stanshaw Creek is a cold water tributary that possess excellent habitat/refugia at the confluence. This project seeks to reduce diversion volume through piping the entire diversion. This project will also convert from flood to pressurized irrigation to reduce diversion demand. More efficient hydro-systems and/or return the diverted water volume used for hydro-power to Stanshaw Creek above the anadromous reach shall be explored. The project shall begin with an investigation in existing conditions/demands and review of alternatives resulting in a selected alternative for installation. In order to provide benefit this project will have to maintain a minimum 1.5 cfs stream flow at Highway 96 either by conservation or returning flow after hydro-generation use. Unscreened Diversions on the Shasta River Mainstem and Parks Creek Install fish screens at unscreened diversions located on the Shasta River and on Parks Creek in Siskiyou County. This project calls for the installation of fish screens on the three remaining unscreened diversions on Parks Creek and one major unscreened diversion known to exist on the Shasta River. The Shasta River provides critical habitat for adult and juvenile salmonids. Parks Creek is an important cold water tributary to the Shasta River and provides valuable rearing habitat for fisheries in the watershed. Fort Goff Creek Grade Control / Baffles The existing culvert at the Highway 96 crossing on Fort Goff Creek is a barrier. Fish passage for coho and steelhead could be restored to four miles of high quality habitat by creating grade control structures below the culvert and/or baffles in the culvert. This project would provide grade control and/or install baffles at the new structure. Fish Passage Through Diversion Improvement in the Scott River Watershed This project would eliminate at least 12 fish barriers in the Scott River watershed (within over summering sites). All sites shall be located within stream reaches currently used by Chinook and/or coho salmon and shall be considered the highest priority diversion sites to be reconfigured. This project would provide fish passage either by re-profiling the diversion ditch, conversion of the diversion structure to one that provides fish passage, or changing/adding the point of diversion. Priority sites proposed for this project are on the following streams: Scott River (3 sites), Shackleford Creek (2 sites), French Creek (3 sites), East Fork (2 sites), Etna Creek (1 site), Big Slough (1 site). Rail Creek Fish Passage Rail Creek, tributary to the East Fork of the Scott River is a steelhead and coho stream. A reservoir levee established in 1964 prevents fish passage on Rail Creek. This project shall provide fish passage that will allow access to 0.9 miles of cold water anadromous habitat located above the reservoir to coho and steelhead. The project will also incorporate a diversion ditch (Rail Creek ditch) into the proposed fish passage channel design and install a fish screen on the ditch that meets DFG/NOAA fish screening criteria. The ditch (up to 8.0 cfs) will be piped 1,700? to the point of use to reduce diversion volume to E4 provide more flow to the fish passage channel (ensuring at least 1.0 cfs in fish passage channel during low flow period). The fish passage channel will allow adult and juvenile access. Shasta River Diversion Improvement and Fish Screen Installation The water released from Lake Shastina has cold temperatures and is potential over-summering habitat for coho. There are two diversion dams that impede fish passage during irrigation season. These diversions are also unscreened. This project would do the following: ? Survey design and replace two fish passage barriers with boulder vortex weirs on the upper Shasta River. ? Survey design and install a head gate, fish screen and measuring weir on two unscreened diversions located on the Shasta River. Lewiston 4 and Dark Creek Channel Rehabilitation Projects ? Trinity River This project shall: ? Increase rearing habitat for anadromous salmonids in areas of highest intensity natural spawning in the Trinity River by modifying channel banks and floodplains, constructing side channels, incorporating large woody debris, and revegetating floodplains and channel margins. ? Increase spawning habitat and channel complexity through the addition of coarse sediment. ? Reduce stranding by removing riparian berms, filling dredge ponds and sloping floodplain and gravel bar surfaces to drain to the river. ? Remove instream barriers such as relic gabion weirs to enhance sediment routing and access to spawning and rearing habitat. Ullathorne Creek Fish Ladder The existing culvert at the Highway 96 crossing on Ullathorne Creek is a barrier to all anadromous fish species and life stages and is blocking approximately one mile of high quality cold water habitat. This project would install a fish ladder leading up to the culvert and baffles in the existing culvert to prevent a velocity barrier at higher flows. Stanshaw Creek Fish Ladder The existing culvert at the Highway 96 crossing on Stanshaw Creek is currently blocking one mile of steelhead habitat above the culvert. This project would install a fish ladder below the culvert and install baffles inside the culvert to allow fish passage. Scott River Tributary Gaging Program Stream flow gages have been in operation on various tributaries to the Scott River since 2002 (East Fork, South Fork, Kidder Cr., Shackleford Cr, and Mill Creek). A gage was installed in another key tributary (Sugar Creek) in 2005. These gages provide valuable stream flow data needed for the development of a Scott River Water Balance Model, verification of the Water Trust and other water conservation programs. These gages were originally installed by the California Department of Water Resources (CDWR) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). In 2005 the RCD took over operation of the three gages installed by the USFWS, and plans to continue operation as long as funds can be secured. The three remaining gages (East Fork, South Fork, and Kidder) are still being operated by the CDWR. However, budget limitations annually put the gages in jeopardy, and the gages are some times shut down for E5 periods of time. During the water master season of 2006, the RCD and CDWR have been cooperating to keep those gages in operation. This project would provide funding to operate these gages. Shackleford Creek Confluence Restoration Shackleford Creek is a prolific tributary to the Scott River that provides excellent spawning and rearing habitat (estimated 11 miles of anadromy). The Scott River confluence with Shackleford Creek is located at the base of Scott Valley, making the stream excellent potential refugia for fish in the Scott River seeking cold water during summer months. The limiting factor is that the confluence of Shackleford Creek disconnects due to a gravel bar deposited at the mouth. Shackleford Creek enters the Scott River perpendicular to flow. During high flow the streams negate each other?s velocities and bed load deposits at the mouth in the low flow channel. This project would allow/encourage Shackleford Creek to run parallel to the Scott River for a reach, and then connect after a downstream meander (five feet of fall). The realignment would allow both Shackleford Creek and the Scott River to the flow parallel with each other, eliminating the requirement that Shackleford Creek flow over deposited gravel bar. The realignment would allow an historically natural channel to be reoccupied and increase the duration of connectivity of Shackleford Creek allowing earlier access of adults at a lower flow volume than currently occurs (about 20 cfs at DWR Shackleford Gage). The objective with Shackleford Creek and other cold water contributors is to hold connectivity with the Scott River to the period of year (early to mid-July) where the Scott River temperatures become lethal. Farmers Ditch Fish Passage Currently funding has been provided for one vortex weir to replace a gravel push up dam with a fish passage friendly diversion structure at a location on the Scott River. However, DFG engineering has identified the need for a second weir to increase durability of the new structure. This project is to add funding to the currently funded project to address new engineering concerns. This will allow for year round fish passage where it is currently lost by the first of August. The area is utilized by Chinook, coho and steelhead. Diversion Demonstration Project on Shackleford Creek Shackleford Creek is a prime spawning and rearing reach. There is currently a diversion that blocks fish passage from July until November. The point of diversion shall be relocated to the point of use using a pump system and the irrigation system shall be converted to a pressurized irrigation during the second half of the irrigation season. This project would allow the 0.9 cfs of water to stay in the stream for an additional 0.7 miles (in an area of known Chinook, coho and steelhead use) and only half of the amount of water would have to be diverted at the new location under a pressurized system to satisfy the agricultural need. Scott River Head Gate and Measuring Weir Installation program This project would install head gates and measuring devices on 14 diversions in priority locations including the Scott River, Patterson Creek, Sugar Creek and Etna Creek (in areas of known coho and steelhead use). O?Neil Creek Fish Passage and Rearing Enhancement Project Current replacement of the State Highway 96 culvert at O?Neil Creek with a bridge in 2006 has opened up new habitat for salmonids. However, this project may not result in expected benefits if the alluvial blockage below the bridge is not addressed. This project would design, engineer and implement E6 reconfiguration of the alluvial blockage with an excavator. Further, this project would seek to modify the Klamath River floodplain at the mouth of the creek to create a deep side channel pool with complex habitat for over summering juvenile coho and other salmonids. South Fork Clear Creek Fish Passage Enhancement Coho, Chinook and steelhead fish passage is currently blocked to approximately 1.2 miles of high quality habitat above two log jams on the South Fork of Clear Creek. This project would notch the log jams to allow for fish passage using manual methods, including chain saws and grip hoists. Scott River Fish Screen Construction and Maintenance Program There are five known diversions that are currently unscreened within the Scott River Watershed. All diversions are within known coho and steelhead areas. This project would screen four of those five diversions. Funding for screening the fifth diversion has already been secured. All four diversions would receive a head gate and measuring weir as well a fish screen that meets DFG/NOAA fish screen criteria. Fish screen maintenance shall be conducted to ensure that the screens are maintained/properly operated and by-pass flows are present. Storm Damage Repair of Vortex Boulder Weirs in the Scott River Watershed Six boulder weirs in the Scott River watershed were damaged during the floods of 2006. This project would either repair the existing weir or add a second weir to spread energy over wider range. The sites are all within coho and steelhead rearing/spawning areas and two are within Chinook spawning areas. Spawning Gravel Demonstration Project in the Scott River Watershed There are several key stream reaches on Etna Creek, Kidder Creek and South Fork of Scott River that possess good water quality for over summering salmonid habitat but have very little appropriately sized gravel for spawning. This project shall install constrictors and import spawning gravel to reestablish spawning areas. The treatments shall depend on access and natural potential to provide gravels. Five areas will be treated in this project to develop spawning habitat for anadromous fish species. Fish Screens and Feasibility Study of Montague Water Conservation District (MWCD) Infrastructure The main objective of this project is to investigate existing conditions/affects of MWCD?s infrastructure and propose/install improvements that either reduce or eliminate impacts to anadromous fishery habitat of the Shasta River watershed. Tom Martin Creek Fish Passage and Rearing Enhancement Project This project would modify the Klamath River floodplain at the mouth of Tom Martin Creek to create a deep side channel pool with complex habitat for over summering juvenile coho and other salmonids. Summer Rearing Habitat Improvement Instream fish habitat structures shall be installed in the Scott River watershed creating and/or maintaining pools and providing cover and/or woody debris in over-summering areas where temperatures are acceptable for anadromous fish but habitat components are limiting. This project will install 16-20 instream habitat structures in critical over-summering areas E7 Pump Station and Fish Screen Improvements Project on the Shasta River This project shall upgrade and make modifications to an existing pump station and install a new fish screen (if deemed necessary) at a location on the mainstem Shasta River. Fish Screen and Fish Passage Improvement Project This project shall install properly functioning fish screens on the mainstem Klamath River above the Interstate Highway 5 Bridge. Little Shasta River Fish Screen and Passage Improvement Project This project shall install a fish screen and improve to fish passage on the Little Shasta River. The Little Shasta River is a tributary to the Shasta River. Manley Fish Screen and Fish Passage Improvements Project This project shall install of a fish screen and improve fish passage at a small diversion on Oregon Slough. The Oregon Slough is a small tributary of the Shasta River and enters the river below all fish barrier diversions the Shasta River. Instream Flow Assessment Methodology on the Shasta River This project will assist the Department in evaluating and comparing several instream flow assessment methodologies for the purpose of facilitating compliance with the Fish and Game Code, providing outreach to landowners, and leading to recovery of anadromous fish populations in the Shasta River watershed. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From BGUTERMUTH at mp.usbr.gov Tue Oct 3 13:07:12 2006 From: BGUTERMUTH at mp.usbr.gov (Brandt Gutermuth) Date: Tue, 03 Oct 2006 13:07:12 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Canyon Creek Suite of Restoration Sites EA/EIR complete and certified - PROJECT TO START THIS WEEK Message-ID: Dear Trinity River enthusiasts- The Trinity River Restoration Program and North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board have finalized the Canyon Creek Suite of Rehabilitation Sites Environmental Documents: Project to Start This Week Under guidance of the Trinity River Restoration Program (TRRP), the Bureau of Reclamation (the Federal lead agency) and the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) (the State lead agency) have finalized a joint environmental document for the Canyon Creek Suite of Rehabilitation Sites Project: Trinity River Mile 73 to 78 (Project). The Environmental Assessment (EA) meets National Environmental Policy Act provisions and fulfills evaluation needs stipulated under Executive Orders 11988 (floodplain management), 11990 (protection of wetlands), and 12898 (environmental justice). A Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) has been signed for the project, and the RWQCB has certified that the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) meets all California Environmental Quality Act requirements. The proposed Project will conduct river rehabilitation activities at four locations downstream of the TRRP's recently constructed Hocker Flat Channel Rehabilitation Project at Junction City, California. These channel rehabilitation projects are identified in the Secretary of the Interior's December 19, 2000, Record of Decision as a necessary step towards restoration of the Trinity River's anadromous fishery. Together, Hocker Flat and the proposed Project include work at five sites that will enhance river processes locally and are also expected to increase and maintain fisheries habitat throughout the Trinity River reach below Canyon Creek. The proposed Project will accomplish this by re-contouring bank and floodplain features during fall 2006. The FONSI-EA/Final EIR includes the EA/Draft EIR (incorporated by reference), a list of persons and agencies commenting on the EA/Draft EIR, written comments, Lead Agency responses to comments, revised EA/Draft EIR text, and a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the proposed Project. The document will be used to support necessary permit applications as well as to identify and adopt appropriate monitoring and mitigation plans. All Project documents may be viewed online at http://trrp.net/RestorationProgram/CanyonCreek.htm . For further information, please contact Mr. Brandt Gutermuth, TRRP, at 530-623-1806. ___________________________________ Brandt Gutermuth, Environmental Specialist Trinity River Restoration Program PO Box 1300 (mailing) 1313 Main Street (physical address) Weaverville, CA 96093 (530) 623-1806 voice; (530) 623-5944 fax Bgutermuth at mp.usbr.gov ___________________________________ From jallen at trinitycounty.org Tue Oct 3 17:13:33 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Tue, 3 Oct 2006 17:13:33 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Lice From Fish Farms Killing Wild Salmon Message-ID: <8DB773F7046960499DFAABF71D3C3B1E0622A1@mail3.trinitycounty.org> Lice From Fish Farms Killing Wild Salmon http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/10/061002-sea-lice.html John Roach for National Geographic News October 2, 2006 Clouds of sea lice billowing from fish farms infect and kill up to 95 percent of the wild juvenile salmon that swim past the farms on the way out to sea, according to a new study. The finding is further evidence that aquaculture-the practice of raising fish in underwater cages or nets or in tanks-is dangerous to wild fish populations, according to the researchers. Enlarge Photo RELATED * Can Angling Save World's Largest Salmon? (August 19, 2004) * Atlantic Salmon Photos From National Geographic Magazine * Wild-Farm Salmon Hybrids Not Reaching Spawning Grounds (October 28, 2003) The fish-farming industry has kept a steady supply of cheap salmon on supermarket shelves as wild salmon populations have crashed in recent decades from overfishing. (Related: "Salmon Farm Escapees Threaten Wild Salmon Stocks" [June 16, 2003].) But the farms are controversial. One thorny debate is over whether the practice enhances the spread of deadly diseases to wild salmon populations. The answer is yes, suggests a new study of Canadian farms, to be published tomorrow in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "The results will undoubtedly intensify the debate," Ray Hilborn, a fisheries scientist at the University of Washington in Seattle, wrote in an accompanying commentary. Changed Ecology Sea lice are common on adult salmon. But at 15 to 40 pounds (7 to 18 kilograms) and covered in scaly armor, the mature fish face little threat from the tiny lice. Juvenile salmon, however, are only about an inch (2.5 centimeters) long and lack scales. "The lice inflict really severe damage on the surface of the fish," said Martin Krko?ek, a mathematical biologist at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. "Their feeding activity results in big lesions, puncture wounds, open sores. In the wild, the salmon's migratory life cycle naturally separates adults from juveniles: Most adults are far out to sea when the juveniles swim from the rivers where they were born and into the ocean. As a result, wild juveniles are rarely exposed to the lice, Krko?ek says. But fish farms holding hundreds of thousands of adult salmon in open net pens have sprouted up in the narrow channels and inlets along the salmon migration routes in the coastal waters of British Columbia, Canada (map of British Columbia ). Clouds of sea lice form around the pens, forcing juvenile fish to swim through them on the way out to sea, Krko?ek said. As the juveniles pass by the fish farms, the sea lice attack. "The farms are changing the ecology of this parasite," he said. Krko?ek led the new study, which used a mathematical model to estimate the impact of fish farms on salmon populations. The model combined data on infection rates from fish farms with the effect the lice have on salmon. The team found that wild salmon mortality due to lice from fish farms ranged from 9 to 95 percent, depending on the time of the year. Krko?ek explains that early in the migration season, the sea lice are less abundant than they are toward the end of the migration season, which is also when the most juveniles migrate past the farms. "We are erring towards 95 percent [mortality] towards the end of the season," he said. The researchers say nonfarm sea lice infect some juveniles before they reach the fish farms. But infection rates due to natural encounters with sea lice are limited to about 5 percent of the population and only one louse per fish, they say. "Once they pass the farms, we are getting [up to] over 90 percent prevalence. Some salmon populations are 100 percent infected, and they have 20, 30, 40 lice each," Krko?ek said. Research Implications According to Krko?ek, other farmed fish may be transmitting diseases to their wild cousins in a similar fashion. If so, ocean-based fish farms may not be the best bet for countering the effects of overfishing. "This disease mechanism is likely to cause problems wherever aquaculture goes and interferes with natural systems," he said. Hilborn, the University of Washington fisheries scientist, writes that the large-scale impacts of salmon farming on wild fish populations remain murky. But the data presented "would seem to support an important population level impact." -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 7310 bytes Desc: image001.jpg URL: From dwestermeyer at tcrcd.net Wed Oct 4 06:09:33 2006 From: dwestermeyer at tcrcd.net (Dan Westermeyer - TCRCD) Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2006 06:09:33 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Trinity River Watershed Council (CRMP) Message-ID: <000801c6e7b6$5669b470$b500a8c0@DAN> Hello everyone, it looks like the best date for the next meeting will be Thursday, October 12th. I will get back to everyone once I reserve the meeting place and time but I'll try for 9:30 at the PUD conference room again. If anyone has any questions or would like something on the agenda let me know. Thanks, Dan Westermeyer Trinity County RCD dwestermeyer at tcrcd.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Thu Oct 5 10:15:13 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron) Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2006 10:15:13 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Trinity River Water Release Change Message-ID: <001e01c6e8a1$d51b9090$73a41718@optiplex> Project: Lewiston Dam - Trinity River Release Date Time From To 10/15/06 2000 450 cfs 400 cfs 10/16/06 0000 400 cfs 350 cfs 10/16/06 0400 350 cfs 300 cfs Issued By: Tom Morstein-Marx Comment: Trinity River Restoration Program Releases Byron Leydecker Friends of Trinity River, Chair California Trout, Inc., Advisor PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 415 383 9562 fax bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org (secondary) http://www.fotr.org http://www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Fri Oct 6 13:59:43 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Fri, 6 Oct 2006 13:59:43 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] NOAA SCIENCE CENTER TO HOLD SYMPOSIUM ON SALMON EVOLUTION Message-ID: <002f01c6e98b$6bbc3420$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> 8. NOAA SCIENCE CENTER TO HOLD SYMPOSIUM ON SALMON EVOLUTION "Evolutionary Changes and Salmon: Consequences of anthropogenic changes for the long-term viability of Pacific salmon and steelhead," will be the topic of a symposium sponsored by NOAA Fisheries Northwest Fisheries Science Center on Dec. 7 in Seattle. In announcing the symposium this week, the science center said, "A great deal of effort (and money) has been expended in evaluating the anthropogenic factors that have contributed to the widespread declines of anadromous Pacific salmonids. With few exceptions, however, these efforts have focused on ecological/demographic effects, and relatively little attention has been paid to the evolutionary response of salmon to anthropogenic change. This is unfortunate, because any changes to the ecosystems that salmon inhabit will alter the selective regimes they experience and can be expected to elicit an evolutionary response. What is not clear is the nature and magnitude of these evolutionary changes and the consequences they have for long-term viability of natural populations of these species, which play such an important role in marine and terrestrial ecosystems as well as in human societies. The symposium is expected to bring together top salmon biologists and top evolutionary biologists to explore the topic. The meeting will end with a hosted reception and poster session. Contributed posters are being solicited on three general themes: -- 1) The nature and extent of anthropogenic changes that affect salmon and their ecosystems; -- 2) Data for salmon that provide insights into their potential for evolutionary change; -- 3) Case studies from other organisms that demonstrate an evolutionary response to anthropogenic change. Posters on other related topics also will be considered. Anyone interested in presenting a poster at the Symposium, should submit an abstract (less than 200 words) by November 10 to Robin Waples (robin.waples at noaa.gov). You will be notified soon afterwards whether the poster is accepted. Please contact Waples for any questions. More information about the meeting and how to register can be found at the following website: http://www.regonline.com/108983. For questions about registration or logistics, contact Tara Torres (tara at ucar.edu; 303-497-8694). Columbia Basin Bulletin Weekly Fish and Wildlife News www.cbbulletin.com October 6, 2006 Issue No. 369 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dwestermeyer at tcrcd.net Mon Oct 9 16:36:35 2006 From: dwestermeyer at tcrcd.net (Dan Westermeyer - TCRCD) Date: Mon, 9 Oct 2006 16:36:35 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Trinity River Watershed Council (CRMP) Message-ID: <002101c6ebfb$c51b57e0$b500a8c0@DAN> The next Trinity River Watershed Council meeting will be held Thursday, October 12, from 9:30 to 11:30 in the morning at the Trinity County PUD conference room (same location as last time). I will get an agenda and the notes from the last meeting out to everyone tomorrow. If you have anything you wish to talk about let me know. Thanks, Dan Westermeyer Trinity County RCD 530-623-6004 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Wed Oct 11 09:53:58 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Wed, 11 Oct 2006 09:53:58 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Analysis shows Bar fires mostly gentle Message-ID: <005501c6ed75$5f7dbbf0$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> http://times-standard.com/local/ci_4474716 Analysis shows Bar fires mostly gentle John Driscoll/The Times-Standard Article Launched:10/11/2006 04:18:12 AM PDT Click photo to enlarge The vast majority of the 100,000-acre wildfire between Willow Creek and Weaverville has burned lightly, with only a small percentage of the trees in the area killed outright, fire managers said. The Bar Complex fires are still burning, and there may be potential for it to grow some more, as gusty winds were expected Tuesday and humidity remains low. But temperatures are lower and days are shorter, and most of the burning is now well within the fire lines crews have been carving for weeks. While the last mapping effort to determine the severity of the blaze was done on Sept. 19, fire experts expect the character of the fire to stay about the same. Some 59 percent of the fire on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest burned at a very low intensity, and 18 percent burned at a low intensity. That consumes grasses and some brush, but leaves trees alive. Only 15 percent burned at a moderate intensity and 8 percent burned at a high intensity, in which large areas of trees are killed. Another such flight is scheduled for this week, but forest ecosystem management officer Alan Olson believes cooler temperatures will likely lead to more gentle burning. Most of the fire is in the Trinity Alps Wilderness, and has effectively removed fuels from the forest over a wide area. That could never have been accomplished mechanically. ?What options would you have in places that don't have roads or have wilderness values?? Olson said. ?Fire is probably the tool you're going to be able to use more and more in the future.? Olson said he does wish the timing of fires, and the amount of smoke they put out, could be more controllable. The Bake-Oven Fire started in July from lightning, while the Pigeon Fire started in September and was caused by humans. An investigation is ongoing. The two fires merged in recent weeks, making the fire one of the largest 15 in California since the 1930s. The west side of the fire is being called contained, and the east side is nearly wrapped up as well, said fire information officer Tricia Christofferson. She said helicopters remain at the ready to dump water on any hot spots. There is no plan to try to contain the fire's northern boundary, she said, since that is in the high, rocky alpine country where there is little fuel. ?There's no reason for us to go up there and impact the land,? Christofferson said. The final evacuation order in the area -- for residents near Hobo Gulch -- was lifted Tuesday morning. Crews are largely focused on hauling out equipment and debris leftover from the firefighting operations, Christofferson said. The fire has cost nearly $60 million to fight. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 20061011__local_fireupdate_Viewer.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 5815 bytes Desc: not available URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Wed Oct 11 21:02:18 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron) Date: Wed, 11 Oct 2006 21:02:18 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Trinity River Weir Counts Message-ID: <001901c6edb3$38b06110$73a41718@optiplex> Following from Wade Sinnen: Attached is an excel spreadsheet with the most recent trapping totals for the Junction City and Willow Creek weirs and Trinity River Hatchery. Wade Sinnen Associate Biologist Trinity River Project CA Dept. of Fish and Game Northern California - North Coast District Byron Leydecker Friends of Trinity River, Chair California Trout, Inc., Advisor PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 415 383 9562 fax bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org (secondary) http://www.fotr.org http://www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: weir&TRH_summary06.xls Type: application/vnd.ms-excel Size: 53760 bytes Desc: not available URL: From dwestermeyer at tcrcd.net Thu Oct 12 15:40:30 2006 From: dwestermeyer at tcrcd.net (Dan Westermeyer - TCRCD) Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2006 15:40:30 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Klamath Watershed Conference 2006 Message-ID: <001901c6ee4f$6f8fa5f0$b500a8c0@DAN> FYI This is the link to the Klamath Watershed Conference 2006 that will be held November 7-9 in Redding. Deadline for reservations is October 27th. http://extension.oregonstate.edu/klamath/watershedconference06/ Dan Westermeyer Trinity County RCD -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Mon Oct 16 10:13:58 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:13:58 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Klamath River Summit News Message-ID: <000b01c6f151$c722cef0$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> States join forces for Klamath solutions 10/14/2006 http://www.eurekareporter.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?ArticleID=16133 California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski announced Thursday that they are directing their respective state agencies to organize a Klamath River Summit to be held before the year ends. The summit is aimed to resolve a multitude of complex issues related to the health of the river that impact salmon fishermen, tribes, hydroelectric power and a host of environmental and habitat concerns. A date for the summit will be determined once various schedules can be worked out. ?We have the problems of water quality, water supply, listed species, energy generation and agricultural sustainability expressed in countless ways in the Klamath Basin,? Kulongoski said. ?We must forge a consensus on a sustainable approach to the Klamath.? ?Both our states are recognized leaders in protecting our environment,? added Schwarzenegger. ?I look forward to working with Governor Kulongoski and his team to develop a plan that will protect these valuable natural resources while balancing our needs as responsible stewards of the environment.? The summit follows a partnership between Washington, Oregon and California governors, who signed an agreement to create a partnership which would work to protect the entire Pacific coast. Recognizing the environmental and natural resource challenges within the Klamath Basin, the summit aims to bring all groups with Klamath River Basin interests together, including states, federal partners, fishermen, tribes and PacifiCorp. To date, resolving Klamath issues has been a challenge because of the interconnected nature of water, energy, fishing, wildlife habitat, tribal land use and farming needs. PacifiCorp is currently seeking relicensing of its Hydro Project on the Klamath River, while many parties are calling for dam removal and river restoration. At the same time, commercial salmon catch in California and Oregon is expected to drop this year from recent averages, the state and federal lawmakers said in a recent letter to Senate appropriators. PacifiCorp operates seven hydroelectric generating facilities along 65 miles of the Klamath River from the Link River Dam at Upper Klamath Lake to Iron Gate Dam. In recent months, PacifiCorp has expressed their willingness to consider dam removal, provided that shareholder property rights and cost recovery issues are appropriately addressed, according to the news release. According to PacifiCorp testimony, ?these and other restrictions cause PacifiCorp to operate the Klamath Hydroelectric Project more for compliance than for generation. ?Making matters worse, return flow from the Klamath customers is unpredictable, unmanaged and often occurs during high-water periods. Each of these factors has negative effects on PacifiCorp?s ability to use the Klamath River to generate hydroelectric power,? according to PacifiCorp testimony. ?In light of PacifiCorp?s characterization of the value, it seems only appropriate that dam removal be explored as part of the discussion and quite frankly, as part of the eventual solution to restore Klamath River health,? said Schwarzenegger. States join forces for Klamath solutions 10/14/2006 California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski announced Thursday that they are directing their respective state agencies to organize a Klamath River Summit to be held before the year ends. The summit is aimed to resolve a multitude of complex issues related to the health of the river that impact salmon fishermen, tribes, hydroelectric power and a host of environmental and habitat concerns. A date for the summit will be determined once various schedules can be worked out. ?We have the problems of water quality, water supply, listed species, energy generation and agricultural sustainability expressed in countless ways in the Klamath Basin,? Kulongoski said. ?We must forge a consensus on a sustainable approach to the Klamath.? ?Both our states are recognized leaders in protecting our environment,? added Schwarzenegger. ?I look forward to working with Governor Kulongoski and his team to develop a plan that will protect these valuable natural resources while balancing our needs as responsible stewards of the environment.? The summit follows a partnership between Washington, Oregon and California governors, who signed an agreement to create a partnership which would work to protect the entire Pacific coast. Recognizing the environmental and natural resource challenges within the Klamath Basin, the summit aims to bring all groups with Klamath River Basin interests together, including states, federal partners, fishermen, tribes and PacifiCorp. To date, resolving Klamath issues has been a challenge because of the interconnected nature of water, energy, fishing, wildlife habitat, tribal land use and farming needs. PacifiCorp is currently seeking relicensing of its Hydro Project on the Klamath River, while many parties are calling for dam removal and river restoration. At the same time, commercial salmon catch in California and Oregon is expected to drop this year from recent averages, the state and federal lawmakers said in a recent letter to Senate appropriators. PacifiCorp operates seven hydroelectric generating facilities along 65 miles of the Klamath River from the Link River Dam at Upper Klamath Lake to Iron Gate Dam. In recent months, PacifiCorp has expressed their willingness to consider dam removal, provided that shareholder property rights and cost recovery issues are appropriately addressed, according to the news release. According to PacifiCorp testimony, ?these and other restrictions cause PacifiCorp to operate the Klamath Hydroelectric Project more for compliance than for generation. ?Making matters worse, return flow from the Klamath customers is unpredictable, unmanaged and often occurs during high-water periods. Each of these factors has negative effects on PacifiCorp?s ability to use the Klamath River to generate hydroelectric power,? according to PacifiCorp testimony. ?In light of PacifiCorp?s characterization of the value, it seems only appropriate that dam removal be explored as part of the discussion and quite frankly, as part of the eventual solution to restore Klamath River health,? said Schwarzenegger. Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-sbriefs13.2oct13,1,976420.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california IN BRIEF THE STATE / SACRAMENTO Two States to Address Klamath River Troubles From Times Staff and Wire Reports October 13, 2006 Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski announced plans Thursday for a multi-state summit to address ways to fix the troubled Klamath River, blamed for nearly shutting down the West Coast commercial salmon season this year. Dams on the river have had a serious effect on salmon and other fish in the river. The call for a summit comes as federal energy regulators are wrangling over whether to approve a new long-term license for four Klamath hydropower dams considered a culprit in the river's sagging salmon runs. "We have the problems of water quality, water supply, listed species, energy generation and agricultural sustainability expressed in countless ways in the Klamath Basin," Kulongoski said in a statement. "We must forge a consensus on a sustainable approach to the Klamath." -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Mon Oct 16 10:13:58 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:13:58 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Klamath River Summit News Message-ID: <00a901c6f151$d174de20$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> States join forces for Klamath solutions 10/14/2006 http://www.eurekareporter.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?ArticleID=16133 California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski announced Thursday that they are directing their respective state agencies to organize a Klamath River Summit to be held before the year ends. The summit is aimed to resolve a multitude of complex issues related to the health of the river that impact salmon fishermen, tribes, hydroelectric power and a host of environmental and habitat concerns. A date for the summit will be determined once various schedules can be worked out. ?We have the problems of water quality, water supply, listed species, energy generation and agricultural sustainability expressed in countless ways in the Klamath Basin,? Kulongoski said. ?We must forge a consensus on a sustainable approach to the Klamath.? ?Both our states are recognized leaders in protecting our environment,? added Schwarzenegger. ?I look forward to working with Governor Kulongoski and his team to develop a plan that will protect these valuable natural resources while balancing our needs as responsible stewards of the environment.? The summit follows a partnership between Washington, Oregon and California governors, who signed an agreement to create a partnership which would work to protect the entire Pacific coast. Recognizing the environmental and natural resource challenges within the Klamath Basin, the summit aims to bring all groups with Klamath River Basin interests together, including states, federal partners, fishermen, tribes and PacifiCorp. To date, resolving Klamath issues has been a challenge because of the interconnected nature of water, energy, fishing, wildlife habitat, tribal land use and farming needs. PacifiCorp is currently seeking relicensing of its Hydro Project on the Klamath River, while many parties are calling for dam removal and river restoration. At the same time, commercial salmon catch in California and Oregon is expected to drop this year from recent averages, the state and federal lawmakers said in a recent letter to Senate appropriators. PacifiCorp operates seven hydroelectric generating facilities along 65 miles of the Klamath River from the Link River Dam at Upper Klamath Lake to Iron Gate Dam. In recent months, PacifiCorp has expressed their willingness to consider dam removal, provided that shareholder property rights and cost recovery issues are appropriately addressed, according to the news release. According to PacifiCorp testimony, ?these and other restrictions cause PacifiCorp to operate the Klamath Hydroelectric Project more for compliance than for generation. ?Making matters worse, return flow from the Klamath customers is unpredictable, unmanaged and often occurs during high-water periods. Each of these factors has negative effects on PacifiCorp?s ability to use the Klamath River to generate hydroelectric power,? according to PacifiCorp testimony. ?In light of PacifiCorp?s characterization of the value, it seems only appropriate that dam removal be explored as part of the discussion and quite frankly, as part of the eventual solution to restore Klamath River health,? said Schwarzenegger. States join forces for Klamath solutions 10/14/2006 California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski announced Thursday that they are directing their respective state agencies to organize a Klamath River Summit to be held before the year ends. The summit is aimed to resolve a multitude of complex issues related to the health of the river that impact salmon fishermen, tribes, hydroelectric power and a host of environmental and habitat concerns. A date for the summit will be determined once various schedules can be worked out. ?We have the problems of water quality, water supply, listed species, energy generation and agricultural sustainability expressed in countless ways in the Klamath Basin,? Kulongoski said. ?We must forge a consensus on a sustainable approach to the Klamath.? ?Both our states are recognized leaders in protecting our environment,? added Schwarzenegger. ?I look forward to working with Governor Kulongoski and his team to develop a plan that will protect these valuable natural resources while balancing our needs as responsible stewards of the environment.? The summit follows a partnership between Washington, Oregon and California governors, who signed an agreement to create a partnership which would work to protect the entire Pacific coast. Recognizing the environmental and natural resource challenges within the Klamath Basin, the summit aims to bring all groups with Klamath River Basin interests together, including states, federal partners, fishermen, tribes and PacifiCorp. To date, resolving Klamath issues has been a challenge because of the interconnected nature of water, energy, fishing, wildlife habitat, tribal land use and farming needs. PacifiCorp is currently seeking relicensing of its Hydro Project on the Klamath River, while many parties are calling for dam removal and river restoration. At the same time, commercial salmon catch in California and Oregon is expected to drop this year from recent averages, the state and federal lawmakers said in a recent letter to Senate appropriators. PacifiCorp operates seven hydroelectric generating facilities along 65 miles of the Klamath River from the Link River Dam at Upper Klamath Lake to Iron Gate Dam. In recent months, PacifiCorp has expressed their willingness to consider dam removal, provided that shareholder property rights and cost recovery issues are appropriately addressed, according to the news release. According to PacifiCorp testimony, ?these and other restrictions cause PacifiCorp to operate the Klamath Hydroelectric Project more for compliance than for generation. ?Making matters worse, return flow from the Klamath customers is unpredictable, unmanaged and often occurs during high-water periods. Each of these factors has negative effects on PacifiCorp?s ability to use the Klamath River to generate hydroelectric power,? according to PacifiCorp testimony. ?In light of PacifiCorp?s characterization of the value, it seems only appropriate that dam removal be explored as part of the discussion and quite frankly, as part of the eventual solution to restore Klamath River health,? said Schwarzenegger. Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-sbriefs13.2oct13,1,976420.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california IN BRIEF THE STATE / SACRAMENTO Two States to Address Klamath River Troubles From Times Staff and Wire Reports October 13, 2006 Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski announced plans Thursday for a multi-state summit to address ways to fix the troubled Klamath River, blamed for nearly shutting down the West Coast commercial salmon season this year. Dams on the river have had a serious effect on salmon and other fish in the river. The call for a summit comes as federal energy regulators are wrangling over whether to approve a new long-term license for four Klamath hydropower dams considered a culprit in the river's sagging salmon runs. "We have the problems of water quality, water supply, listed species, energy generation and agricultural sustainability expressed in countless ways in the Klamath Basin," Kulongoski said in a statement. "We must forge a consensus on a sustainable approach to the Klamath." -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From snaman at yuroktribe.nsn.us Tue Oct 17 12:04:42 2006 From: snaman at yuroktribe.nsn.us (Seth Naman) Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2006 12:04:42 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] "Traditional hatchery fish will not rebuild wild populations"-Mark Chilcote Message-ID: <54037E008D2F0B47A8A4581529D2534F3B81B4@exchsrvr.yuroktribe.nsn.us> The findings of the research described below, and the results of dozens of other studies, have direct bearing on Trinity River restoration. The Oregonian Flaw limits captive fish, study says The finding on poor breeding potential answers a key point in the salmon debate Wednesday, October 11, 2006 MICHAEL MILSTEIN Hatchery-bred fish have long sliced through Northwest rivers along with wild fish, raising the question: What's the difference? An intensive study of steelhead in the Hood River has verified the difference. Fish bred for generations in hatcheries do little besides fill fishing nets, because they have slim hope of producing young that reach adulthood. The finding, by Oregon State University and federal researchers, stands out because the difference between hatchery and wild fish lies at the center of debates over salmon in the Northwest, where more than a half-billion dollars annually goes to efforts for the recovery of the fish. While many scientists contend wild fish are vital to the future of their species, other groups argue that wild fish do not need protection if hatchery fish are plentiful. Hatchery fish abound in the Columbia River system, and the research confirms that captive fish lose the instincts and other traits that let wild fish thrive. Typical hatchery steelhead produced 60 percent to 90 percent fewer offspring that last long enough to become adults than wild steelhead, according to the OSU study just published in the journal Conservation Biology. By breeding fish over and over in hatcheries, "we've essentially created a fish version of white lab mice," said Michael Blouin, an associate professor of zoology at Oregon State. "They are well adapted to life in the hatchery but do not perpetuate themselves in a wild environment as successfully as native-born fish." The study shows that the longer fish spend in hatcheries, the poorer they will do in the wild, Blouin said. Nine of every 10 hatchery programs in the Northwest turn out captive-bred fish that threaten to mix with wild fish, spreading their inferior traits. "They certainly don't do well in the wild and can have significant detrimental effects on wild fish," said Rod French, a district fish biologist with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife who is familiar with the study. Biologists said the results may bear out with other species, among them coho salmon. The good news is the study also found that much better results come from the newer strategy of taking eggs from local wild fish, hatching and raising the young in captivity, and then turning them loose. The strategy attempts to protect the fish during their most vulnerable age but set them free before they morph into creatures of captivity. The study found that these fish do about as well, or possibly better, than wild fish when it comes to producing offspring. It means the few hatcheries that have adopted the "supplementation" approach can boost wild fish populations without diluting their fitness. Hatcheries increasingly are shifting to the new supplementation strategy, especially where they are trying to resurrect salmon species that are sinking toward extinction. Fish factories Far more hatcheries serve as fish factories, using salmon stocks bred in captivity to churn out large numbers for fishermen to catch. Many were built to stand in for important commercial salmon runs lost to dams built on the Columbia and other rivers. Fish turned out of those hatcheries are not meant to recover the populations, but biologists have grown increasingly concerned that they also may compete with and interbreed with wild fish. The new study looked only at steelhead that in the past 15 years have returned from the ocean to the Hood River. The river was long stocked with domesticated hatchery fish from other parts of Oregon and Washington. In the 1990s, state biologists phased out that stocking program and instead switched to the new supplementation approach that hatches wild fish in captivity and then releases them. State biologists collected and saved scales from fish swimming up the river since 1991. OSU scientists obtained DNA from the scales, which allowed them to trace the history of each fish and determine whether it was wild or came from a hatchery. Faring poorly The results showed that domesticated hatchery fish in 1991 fared very poorly compared to wild fish, but the fish kept only briefly in the Parkdale fish hatchery did about as well as wild fish. It makes clear that traditional hatchery fish will not rebuild wild populations, said Mark Chilcote, a conservation biologist with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. But the fish held briefly in hatcheries can help. However, biologists caution that it is not clear whether they can hold successive generations of fish in hatcheries the same way without altering their character. Other studies suggest that hatchery fish lose about 20 percent of their fitness each generation they spend in a hatchery compared to wild fish. Jim Lichatowich, a fisheries biologist and critic of hatcheries, said the findings are good news because it suggests a method of boosting wild populations, at least briefly. But he cautioned against viewing it as a cure-all because salmon also need healthy habitat. Michael Milstein: 503-294-7689; michaelmilstein at news.oregonian.com Abstract Conservation Biology doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2006.00564.x Volume 0 Issue 0 Reproductive Success of Captive-Bred Steelhead Trout in the Wild: Evaluation of Three Hatchery Programs in the Hood River HITOSHI ARAKI*?**, WILLIAM R. ARDREN*?**, ERIK OLSEN?, BECKY COOPER*, and MICHAEL S. BLOUIN* Abstract: Population supplementation programs that release captive-bred offspring into the wild to boost the size of endangered populations are now in place for many species. The use of hatcheries for supplementing salmonid populations has become particularly popular. Nevertheless, whether such programs actually increase the size of wild populations remains unclear, and predictions that supplementation fish drag down the fitness of wild fish remain untested. To address these issues, we performed DNA-based parentage analyses on almost complete samples of anadromous steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in the Hood River in Oregon (U.S.A.). Steelhead from a supplementation hatchery (reared in a supplementation hatchery and then allowed to spawn naturally in the wild) had reproductive success indistinguishable from that of wild fish. In contrast, fish from a traditional hatchery (nonlocal origin, multiple generations in hatcheries) breeding in the same river showed significantly lower fitness than wild fish. In addition, crosses between wild fish and supplementation fish were as reproductively successful as those between wild parents. Thus, there was no sign that supplementation fish drag down the fitness of wild fish by breeding with them for a single generation. On the other hand, crosses between hatchery fish of either type (traditional or supplementation) were less fit than expected, suggesting a possible interaction effect. These are the first data to show that a supplementation program with native brood stock can provide a single-generation boost to the size of a natural steelhead population without obvious short-term fitness costs. The long-term effects of population supplementation remain untested. For more on the Hood River, see Kostow, K. E. 2004. Differences in juvenile phenotypes and survival between hatchery stocks and a natural population provide evidence for modified selection due to captive breeding. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 61: 577?589. For more from Mark Chilcote see Chilcote, M. W. S. A. Leider and J. J. Loch. 1986. Differential reproductive success of hatchery and wild summer-run steelhead under natural conditions. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 115:726-735. Chilcote, M. W. 2003. Relationship between natural productivity and the frequency of wild fish in mixed spawning populations of wild and hatchery steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 60: 1057?1067. Both Mark Chilcote and Kathryn Kostow are researchers with ODFW. From jallen at trinitycounty.org Wed Oct 18 08:54:52 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2006 08:54:52 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Bush appoints Crisp to Klamath commission Message-ID: <8DB773F7046960499DFAABF71D3C3B1E0623F9@mail3.trinitycounty.org> Bush appoints Crisp to Klamath commission http://www.siskiyoudaily.com/articles/2006/10/17/news/doc45354f9f2b8d742 9351740.txt Published: Tuesday, October 17, 2006 6:21 PM CDT E-mail this story | Print this page WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representatives Wally Herger and Greg Walden, in a joint press release, announced that President Bush has appointed Debra Crisp to the Klamath River Compact Commission. Crisp, a resident of Merrill, Ore., has been the Executive Director of the Tulelake Growers Association since 1993. "We applaud President Bush for appointing Deb Crisp as the Chairperson to the Klamath River Compact Commission," Herger and Walden said in a joint statement. "Deb is intimately familiar with the challenges faced by farmers, ranchers and community members in the Klamath River Basin and has worked hard to develop common-sense solutions to them. She brings tremendous experience and leadership to the Commission and understands that all involved are seeking solutions for certainty - the certainty of water for farmers, certainty of fish for tribes and fishermen, and economic certainty for the communities. We expect she will do a great job." The Klamath River Compact was ratified by the states of Oregon and California and consented to by the United States Congress in 1957. The Compact Commission consists of one federal representative, one representative from the State of California, and one representative from the State of Oregon. In her capacity as chair, Crisp will serve as the federal representative on the commission. She will direct the Commission in facilitating and promoting the integrated and comprehensive development, use, conservation and control of the water of the Klamath River Basin for domestic purposes, irrigation, protection of fish and wildlife, recreational usage, industrial purpose, including hydroelectric power production, and the use and control of the water for navigation and flood prevention. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Thu Oct 19 20:03:15 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron) Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2006 20:03:15 -0700 Subject: [env-trinity] Trinity River Weir and Hatchery Counts Message-ID: <003501c6f3f4$569d0a60$73a41718@optiplex> >From Wade Sinnen: Attached is an excel spreadsheet containing the latest provisional trapping data from two mainstem Trinity River weirs and Trinity River Hatchery. Please note that the Junction City weir has been removed for the season. Wade Sinnen Associate Biologist Trinity River Project CA Dept. of Fish and Game Northern California - North Coast District Byron Leydecker Friends of Trinity River, Chair California Trout, Inc., Advisor PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 415 383 9562 fax bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org (secondary) http://www.fotr.org http://www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: weir&TRH_summary06.xls Type: application/vnd.ms-excel Size: 54272 bytes Desc: not available URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Mon Oct 30 20:03:34 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron) Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2006 20:03:34 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Times Standard - Klamath Message-ID: <004a01c6fca1$8dcfd520$329eb545@optiplex> State says Klamath smothered in sediment Eureka Times-Standard - 10/29/06 By John Driscoll, staff writer A state water quality agency put the Klamath River on a list of troubled waters this week, this time for having too much sediment for its own good. The lower reach of the river is now considered impaired for sediment, but it will be some time before a plan is formed to cut the amount of dirt that reaches the river and chokes salmon spawning grounds. "We're just saying there is a problem there and it needs to be looked at," said State Water Resources Control Board spokesman Chris Davis. Davis said the listing was a cautionary approach, because they had been notified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that states don't have regulatory jurisdiction on tribal lands. The Yurok Reservation is a mile on each side of the river from its mouth to Weitchpec. Davis said the EPA will determine if the river should be moved onto a federal list. Kevin McKernan, environmental program director for the Yurok Tribe, said that it's good the state recognizes the tribe's jurisdiction. "We agree with what the board said," McKernan said. "We support the science and the science says it's impaired." The listing paves the way for a cumbersome process called Total Maximum Daily Load, which sets a limit for a pollutant, then develops a plan to meet the standard. That process can take many years. In the meantime, the Yurok Tribe and Green Diamond Resource Co. have for years been working on retiring roads that bleed silt into the river and its tributaries and by replacing culverts with bridges. Green Diamond Forest Policy Manager Gary Rynearson said he hopes its program will address the problem, which he imagined may cost more money to collect more information on sediment coming from roads and logging. He said he'd be concerned if additional regulations eventually came out of the decision. "We think that we should already be addressing some of these sediment issues," Rynearson said. Retired surgeon and river advocate Denver Nelson sees sediment as a critical problem facing the struggling river, and was among those who pressed for the impaired designation. He believes it may be more important than removing dams or raising water levels, which tend to get more attention. "Sediment is the cake," Nelson said, "the dams are the frosting." Byron Leydecker Friends of Trinity River, Chair California Trout, Inc., Advisor PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 415 383 9562 fax bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org (secondary) http://www.fotr.org http://www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Tue Oct 31 16:30:45 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron) Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2006 16:30:45 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Trinity Weir Trapping and Hatchery Numbers Message-ID: <000601c6fd4c$fbb96190$329eb545@optiplex> >From Wade Sinnen: Attached is an excel spreadsheet containing trapping summaries for two mainstem weirs and Trinity River Hatchery through Oct. 28th. Wade Sinnen Associate Biologist Trinity River Project CA Dept. of Fish and Game Northern California - North Coast District Byron Leydecker Friends of Trinity River, Chair California Trout, Inc., Advisor PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 415 383 9562 fax bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org (secondary) http://www.fotr.org http://www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: weir&TRH_summary06.xls Type: application/vnd.ms-excel Size: 54272 bytes Desc: not available URL: From Vina_Frye at fws.gov Thu Nov 9 13:15:25 2006 From: Vina_Frye at fws.gov (Vina_Frye at fws.gov) Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2006 13:15:25 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group (TAMWG) Meeting Notice Message-ID: Hi Folks, The Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group (TAMWG) meeting notice for December 2006 was published in the Federal Register on November 7, 2006. Best Regards, Vina Vina Frye U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Arcata FWO 1655 Heindon Road Arcata, CA 95521 Telephone: (707) 822-7201 Fax: (707) 822-8411 vina_frye at fws.gov [Federal Register: November 7, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 215)] [Notices] [Page 65122] >From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr07no06-60] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of meeting. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group (TAMWG) affords stakeholders the opportunity to give policy, management, and technical input concerning Trinity River (California) restoration efforts to the Trinity Management Council. Primary objectives of the meeting will include: Integrated Assessment Plan, Trinity River Restoration Program (TRRP) budget process, flow scheduling for 2007, riparian land ownership, non-TRRP restoration activity in the Trinity basin, Klamath Basin (Oregon and California) initiatives, juvenile fish health, 2006 fish return information, and updates and reports on ongoing activities. Completion of the agenda is dependent on the amount of time each item takes. The meeting could end early if the agenda has been completed. The meeting is open to the public. DATES: The Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group will meet from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, December 12, 2006. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Weaverville Victorian Inn, 1709 Main St., 299 West, Weaverville, California 96093. For more information, please contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1655 Heindon Road, Arcata, California 95521. For background information and questions regarding the Trinity River Restoration Program, please contact Douglas Schleusner, Executive Director, Trinity River Restoration Program, P.O. Box 1300, 1313 South Main Street, Weaverville, California 96093. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Randy A. Brown of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office, telephone: (707) 822-7201. Randy A. Brown is the working group's Designated Federal Officer. For questions regarding the Trinity River Restoration Program, please contact Douglas Schleusner, Executive Director, telephone: (530) 623-1800. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), this notice announces a meeting of the Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group (TAMWG).??? Dated: October 30, 2006. Randy A. Brown, Designated Federal Officer, Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office, Arcata, CA. [FR Doc. E6-18736 Filed 11-6-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P From bwl3 at comcast.net Thu Nov 9 11:24:05 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron) Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2006 11:24:05 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Weirs Counts Message-ID: <004a01c70434$9f756570$329eb545@optiplex> Wade Sinnen's weir and hatchery summaries. Byron Leydecker Friends of Trinity River, Chair California Trout, Inc., Advisor PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 415 383 9562 fax bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org (secondary) http://www.fotr.org http://www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: weir&TRH_summary06.xls Type: application/vnd.ms-excel Size: 54784 bytes Desc: not available URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Tue Nov 14 10:01:24 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2006 10:01:24 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Irrigators appeal key Klamath decision Message-ID: <009f01c70816$e6a9f830$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> Irrigators appeal key Klamath decision Eureka Times-Standard ? 11/14/06 By John Driscoll, staff writer Irrigators in the Upper Klamath Basin are going back to a federal appeals court in an effort to overturn a ruling that provided more water to threatened salmon. The Klamath Water Users Association lodged its argument to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, which had ordered a district court judge to write the injunction the irrigators are appealing. Farmers say that while there was enough water to irrigate during a wet 2006, it drew down Upper Klamath Lake, and they worry that during a drier year sending more water to salmon could jeopardize supplies. ?If that happens in a wet water year,? said water users' Executive Director Greg Addington, ?what's an average year hold for us?? The group claims that the U.S. District Court in Oakland overreached its authority and imposed higher flows downstream of Upper Klamath Lake than federal agencies had determined were needed for coho salmon. The National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation -- whose plans were the original aim of a lawsuit by fishermen, environmentalists and tribes -- are not part of the new appeal. Addington said he was aware that the appeal could potentially endanger a growing spirit of cooperation in the region. But he said that irrigators need something to hold onto in a strained basin. ?It's important that we send a message that we don't think there's adequate resources in the system to do it all,? Addington said. That's been the sentiment of tribes and fishermen for years. It was also the take of the 9th Circuit Court when it took up the first appeal of the case, writing that the government's plan for river flows could wipe out coho salmon eight years into the 10-year program. ?All the water in the world in 2010 and 2011 will not protect the coho,? wrote the court, ?for there will be none to protect.? Both young and mature chinook salmon have also struggled in the river in recent years, with high rates of infection from diseases biologists believe are made worse with low water. Water purchased from farmers by reclamation has boosted flows in the spring, but also cost millions. Reclamation spokesman Jeff McCracken was unable to reach federal attorneys about the appeal. He said that the agency intends to meet with the fisheries service to hammer out the guidelines for flows to the river by the end of this year or early 2007. Kristen Boyles, an attorney with Earthjustice that was among the groups that sued the federal government, said the appeal is probably futile. It's unlikely the court would even hear the petition for nine months or longer, she said, at which point a new plan may be in effect. She also questioned irrigators' intentions and signals toward cooperation while taking the legal action. ?They don't want to change any of their irrigation projects and they want the first take of water from the river,? Boyle said. # http://www.times-standard.com/local/ci_4655750 Klamath Farmers Appeal Order Over Salmon San Francisco Chronicle ? 11/14/06 By Jeff Barnard, Associated Press staff writer Klamath Basin farmers are going ahead with their appeal of a federal court ruling that gave more water to salmon, raising doubts among salmon advocates that farmers are really interested in solving the region's environmental problems. Attorneys for the Klamath Water Users Association, which represents about 1,000 farms irrigated by the Klamath Reclamation Project, filed a brief Monday with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco in their appeal of an injunction speeding up the timetable for the government to increase Klamath River flows for threatened coho salmon. The appeal came after the Bush administration withdrew its own appeal and four weeks before a summit organized by the governors of Oregon and California to find solutions to the Klamath Basin's long-standing environmental problems, particularly four hydroelectric dams widely blamed for hurting struggling salmon runs. "While we're getting close to turning the corner and getting along a lot better, we're not quite there yet. Until we get there, we have to keep our options open," said Greg Addington, executive director of the association. In 2001, irrigation water was shut off to most of the Klamath Reclamation Project to provide water for threatened coho salmon in the Klamath River during a drought. After irrigation was restored the next year, tens of thousands of adult chinook died of gill rot while stuck in low warm pools in the river. Last summer, commercial salmon fishing was practically shut off along 700 miles of Oregon and California coastline to protect struggling Klamath River chinook. The Klamath summit is tentatively set for the middle of December in Klamath Falls with representatives of state and federal agencies, farmers, tribes, conservation groups and fishermen. The appeal seeks to lift an injunction imposed last May by U.S. District Judge Saundra B. Armstrong, which says that irrigators will have to do without water in years when there is not enough for both farms and fish. # http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/11/14/financial/f011656S07.DTL&hw=water&sn=015&sc=451 #### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Tue Nov 14 10:09:20 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2006 10:09:20 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Fw: Klamath water opponents look for common ground Message-ID: <00bb01c70818$02a0abf0$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> To print this page, select File then Print from your browser URL: http://www.redding.com/redd/nw_local/article/0,2232,REDD_17533_5133713,00.html Klamath water opponents look for common ground By Dylan Darling, Record Searchlight November 10, 2006 While a national attention-grabbing crisis no longer defines the Klamath Basin, debates over water and how to prevent another calamity persist. As part of the continuing effort to bring accord to the oft-splintered basin that straddles the California-Oregon border, those involved with the debates -- farmers, fishermen, environmentalists and members of American Indian tribes from along the Klamath River -- spent the past three days in Redding learning more about the issues and more about one another. "We have to understand and appreciate that we are connected," said Troy Fletcher, former executive director of the Yurok Tribe. The Yurok Reservation extends for one mile on each side of the Klamath River from its mouth about an hour's drive north of Eureka to 44 miles upstream. It's at the bottom of the Klamath Basin. Atop the basin is Klamath Falls, Ore., where the federal government closed the head gates to an irrigation project that normally waters more than 200,000 acres of agricultural land at the start of the 2001 growing season. Instead, the water was used to protect fish in Upper Klamath Lake and the river it feeds. The decision sparked protests that drew journalists from major newspapers and television networks to the town of about 40,000 people for the summer. More than 270 people were at the Klamath Watershed Conference on Tuesday through Thursday at the Holiday Inn on Hilltop Drive, said conference organizer Lindsey Lyons. She said it was an opportunity for people at opposite ends of the issues to spend time in the same room. "Just getting people together is a step in the right direction," she said. Next up on the seemingly endless calendar of conferences and symposiums involving the Klamath Basin is a summit called by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his Oregon counterpart, Gov. Ted Kulongoski. An adviser to Kulongoski announced Thursday that the summit will be held the week of Dec. 11 in Klamath Falls. The conference in Redding followed up on six other conferences, some focusing on the science of the watershed, others on the strong emotions people have expressed on the issues. The conference was a mix of biological and social science. "You can't do much for fish and wildlife if you can't work with people," said Phillip Detrich, field supervisor at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Yreka office. But you can't do much work when you don't have money, said Glen Spain, Northwest regional director for the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations. Spain said while the conference had talk of people working together and finding a solution on which they all agree, there was little talk of how funding has been stripped from a federally run task force and management council that had been focused on Klamath River salmon for 20 years. The Klamath Fisheries Task Force and the Klamath Fishery Management Council, which had received $1 million a year from the federal government between them, did not get any more money after U.S. Reps. Wally Herger and John Doolittle, whose districts are in Northern California, raised questions about what the groups had accomplished in nearly two decades of work. Spain said the task force and council had guided restoration projects throughout the Klamath Basin. "My fear is we'll come back a year from now and 80 percent of those projects will be gone," he said. Reporter Dylan Darling can be reached at 225-8266 or at ddarling at redding.com. Comment (0) | Trackback (0) Copyright 2006, Redding. All Rights Reserved. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Mon Nov 13 18:24:27 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron) Date: Mon, 13 Nov 2006 18:24:27 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Chum Salmon Captured at Willow Creek Weir Message-ID: <004301c70794$02105ed0$329eb545@optiplex> Bill Brock was good enough to forward these impressive pictures of two Chum Salmon captured at the Willow Creek weir - pictures courtesy of Wade Sinnen. First I've ever seen of the species. Byron Leydecker Friends of Trinity River, Chair California Trout, Inc., Advisor PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 415 383 9562 fax bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org (secondary) http://www.fotr.org http://www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Chum_Willow Cr Weir_2006_JPG.JPG Type: image/jpeg Size: 1029962 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Chum_WCW_2006 teeth.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 822000 bytes Desc: not available URL: From James_Earley at fws.gov Tue Nov 14 11:19:10 2006 From: James_Earley at fws.gov (James_Earley at fws.gov) Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2006 11:19:10 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Chum Salmon Captured at Willow Creek Weir In-Reply-To: <004301c70794$02105ed0$329eb545@optiplex> Message-ID: Very Interesting! An adult Chum salmon was trapped in our lower Battle Creek rotary screw trap on Feb 14, 2006. The fish was still alive in the trap and released below. It was the first time one had been observed from the juvenile traps, since 1998 (we rarely capture adults, with the exception of carcasses or in this case an almost carcass). (See attached file: IMG_1489.JPG)(See attached file: IMG_1491.JPG) Enjoy, Jim Jim Earley, Supervisory Fish Biologist, CDSO United States Fish and Wildlife Service Red Bluff Fish and Wildlife Office 10950 Tyler Road, Red Bluff, CA 96080 (530)527.3043 xx 261 Fax: (530)529.0292 Mobile: (530)567.5166 james_earley at fws.gov "Byron" To Sent by: "FOTR List" , env-trinity-bounc "Trinity List" es at velocipede.dcn .davis.ca.us cc Subject 11/13/2006 06:24 [env-trinity] Chum Salmon Captured PM at Willow Creek Weir Bill Brock was good enough to forward these impressive pictures of two Chum Salmon captured at the Willow Creek weir ? pictures courtesy of Wade Sinnen. First I?ve ever seen of the species. Byron Leydecker Friends of Trinity River, Chair California Trout, Inc., Advisor PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 415 383 9562 fax bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org (secondary) http://www.fotr.org http://www.caltrout.org (See attached file: Chum_Willow Cr Weir_2006_JPG.JPG)(See attached file: Chum_WCW_2006 teeth.jpg)_______________________________________________ env-trinity mailing list env-trinity at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us http://www2.dcn.org/mailman/listinfo/env-trinity -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: IMG_1489.JPG Type: image/jpeg Size: 512362 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: IMG_1491.JPG Type: image/jpeg Size: 522403 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Chum_Willow Cr Weir_2006_JPG.JPG Type: image/jpeg Size: 1029962 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Chum_WCW_2006 teeth.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 822000 bytes Desc: not available URL: From hupafish at pcweb.net Tue Nov 14 21:35:44 2006 From: hupafish at pcweb.net (George Kautsky) Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2006 21:35:44 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Chum Salmon Captured at Willow Creek Weir In-Reply-To: Message-ID: say guys, have some mercy... Please consider posting images on the web for individual downloads, this took up a lot of time to upload in my hotel room over the phone line. Thanks for the info though.. G. Kautsky -----Original Message----- From: env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us [mailto:env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us]On Behalf Of James_Earley at fws.gov Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2006 11:19 AM To: Byron Cc: FOTR List; Trinity List; env-trinity-bounces at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us Subject: Re: [env-trinity] Chum Salmon Captured at Willow Creek Weir Very Interesting! An adult Chum salmon was trapped in our lower Battle Creek rotary screw trap on Feb 14, 2006. The fish was still alive in the trap and released below. It was the first time one had been observed from the juvenile traps, since 1998 (we rarely capture adults, with the exception of carcasses or in this case an almost carcass). (See attached file: IMG_1489.JPG)(See attached file: IMG_1491.JPG) Enjoy, Jim Jim Earley, Supervisory Fish Biologist, CDSO United States Fish and Wildlife Service Red Bluff Fish and Wildlife Office 10950 Tyler Road, Red Bluff, CA 96080 (530)527.3043 xx 261 Fax: (530)529.0292 Mobile: (530)567.5166 james_earley at fws.gov "Byron" To Sent by: "FOTR List" , env-trinity-bounc "Trinity List" es at velocipede.dcn .davis.ca.us cc Subject 11/13/2006 06:24 [env-trinity] Chum Salmon Captured PM at Willow Creek Weir Bill Brock was good enough to forward these impressive pictures of two Chum Salmon captured at the Willow Creek weir ? pictures courtesy of Wade Sinnen. First I?ve ever seen of the species. Byron Leydecker Friends of Trinity River, Chair California Trout, Inc., Advisor PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 415 383 9562 fax bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org (secondary) http://www.fotr.org http://www.caltrout.org (See attached file: Chum_Willow Cr Weir_2006_JPG.JPG)(See attached file: Chum_WCW_2006 teeth.jpg)_______________________________________________ env-trinity mailing list env-trinity at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us http://www2.dcn.org/mailman/listinfo/env-trinity From jallen at trinitycounty.org Wed Nov 15 17:16:02 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Wed, 15 Nov 2006 17:16:02 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Diabetes epidemic could wipe out indigenous peoples: experts Message-ID: <8DB773F7046960499DFAABF71D3C3B1E0B974E@mail3.trinitycounty.org> Diabetes epidemic could wipe out indigenous peoples: experts http://www.physorg.com/news82607698.html Indigenous peoples around the world faced extinction this century unless an obesity-driven diabetes epidemic was curbed, experts told an international conference in Australia Monday. "We are dealing with the biggest epidemic in world history," said the director of Monash University's International Diabetes Institute, Professor Paul Zimmet. "Without urgent action there certainly is a real risk of a major wipe-out of indigenous communities, if not total extinction, within this century," he told an International Diabetes Federation meeting in Melbourne. The "diabesity" epidemic threatened the original inhabitants of Asia, Australia, the Pacific, and North and South America, he said. Indigenous people were particularly at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, which was primarily caused by obesity, because of the rapid transition to Western diets and lifestyles, Zimmet said. The "thrifty gene" allowed communities of hunter-gatherers to store fat in times of feast for survival of famines, but modern lifestyles provided continuous "feasts" and less exercise, he told AFP. Complications of Type 2 diabetes, now being found in indigenous children as young as six years old, include increased risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. Canadian diabetes expert Professor Stewart Harris said with up to half the adult populations in some indigenous communities affected, diabetes posed a serious threat to their survival. "The rapid cultural transition over one to two generations of many indigenous communities to a Western diet and sedentary lifestyle has led to diabetes replacing infectious diseases as the number one threat to their survival," he said. Type 2 diabetes already affected 50 percent of adults on the Pacific Island of Nauru, up to 45 percent of Sioux and Pima Indians in the United States, and up to 30 percent of Torres Strait Islanders in northern Australia, he said. Diabetes was unknown in the Pacific islands before World War II, the conference heard. Among Torres Strait Islanders, children as young as six have been diagnosed with diabetes, Cairns Base Hospital director Ashim Sinha told the meeting, and teenagers were found to have high blood pressure and high cholesterol. "These children are prone to develop heart attacks, renal failure and blindness but at a much younger age," he said. The world-first three-day conference on diabetes in indigenous peoples aims to agree on a set of measures to present to the United Nations for an international effort to curb the epidemic. These are likely to include improved maternal and child health services, and access to an affordable and nutritious diet for impoverished communities, particularly through child care centres and schools. The experts said because dramatic changes to indigenous health had happened relatively quickly and were largely environmental, it was likely the trend could be reversed with appropriate management. Obesity has reached pandemic proportions throughout the world, not just in indigenous communities, and is the greatest single contributor to chronic disease, the 10th International Congress on Obesity heard in Sydney in September. The world now has more fat people than hungry ones, according to World Health Organisation figures, with more than a billion overweight people compared to 800 million who are undernourished. (c) 2006 AFP -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.gif Type: image/gif Size: 43 bytes Desc: image001.gif URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Thu Nov 16 10:43:47 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2006 10:43:47 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] This includes some watershed/water conservation projects in the Trinity basin Message-ID: <00e001c709af$3a0d85c0$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> Sonoma County Water Agency Press Release For Immediate Release CONTACTS: November 14. 2006 Brad Sherwood Programs Specialist (707) 521-6204 North Coast Recommended to Receive $25 Million for Water Management, Environmental Restoration Projects State Recommends $25 Million for Integrated Regional Water Management Projects; Additional Proposition 84 Funds are Anticipated Santa Rosa, CA ? The Sonoma County Water Agency (Agency) announced today that $25 million in state grant funding has been recommended to the North Coast from the 2004 water bond, Proposition 50 and an additional $37 million will be allocated to the Region from the recently approved Proposition 84. The funding will be used for water supply reliability, clean water, water recycling, environmental restoration and fisheries, and watershed planning projects included within the North Coast Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP). On November 13, the California Department of Water Resources and the State Water Resources Control Board released its preliminary funding recommendations for the Integrated Regional Water Management Implementation Grant Program. Ranking first on the recommendation list is $25 million for projects within the North Coast Integrated Regional Water Management Plan. ?The incentive provided by Proposition 50 funding has led to regional planning efforts throughout the state that will help to improve water supplies, water quality, and the natural environment of California,? said John Woodling, Chief, Conjunctive Water Management Branch, California Department of Water Resources. ?The North Coast integrated regional plan is an extraordinary effort to bring together interests from a large and diverse area for mutual benefit. It effectively incorporates the water management approaches we are trying to encourage in California.? The plan was developed by a consortium of cities, counties, tribes, non-governmental organizations, watershed groups and interested stakeholders from the counties of Del Norte, Siskiyou, Modoc, Humboldt, Trinity, Mendocino and Sonoma. The coalition has spent the last three years working to create the comprehensive plan that will enhance the beneficial uses of water, recover salmonid populations and promote intra-regional cooperation throughout the North Coast Region. ?This regional plan is the product of a tremendously dedicated team of representatives from seven northern counties. They shared their knowledge and energy to create one of the most encompassing water-related documents in the State.? said Humboldt County Supervisor and Chair of the North Coast IRWMP Policy Review Panel Jimmy Smith. Jake Mackenzie, Vice Chair of the North Coast IRWMP Policy Review Panel and Councilmember for the City of Rohnert Park added, ?The North Coast IRWMP team is deeply honored to be the top ranked application in the State. We feel that this is the result of the combined efforts and extraordinary commitment of our Technical Peer Review Committee, support staff, project proponents, stakeholders and Policy Review Panel.? The Agency initiated the effort to prepare an IRWM plan for the North Coast Region. The Agency Board of Directors funded the initial development of the plan and directed staff to work with a network of agencies in seven counties to reach consensus on the funding priorities for the region. ?The $25 million received for the North Coast IRWMP is monumental for the Agency and the North Coast,? said Paul Kelley, Chairman of the Sonoma County Water Agency Board of Directors. ?Receiving this funding demonstrates the importance of regional cooperation and the commitment of the Agency and the North Coast to work together to for the sustainable management of our natural resources.? Local projects benefiting from funding include: upgrades to the Graton wastewater treatment facility; the construction of new sewer collection, treatment and disposal for the community of Monte Rio; habitat restoration and enhancement for seven federally-protected salmon, steelhead and plant species through the implementation of Sonoma County?s Water Recycling and Habitat Preservation Project; and the development of a watershed management plan for the Russian River. Catherine Kuhlman, Executive Officer of the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board said, "The IRWMP process has been phenomenal. The North Coast projects put together from participants from Modoc to Sonoma will have an incredible and positive effect on our waterways." Development of the plan also enabled several North Coast communities to secure funding through other state grant programs. Taken together, funding from Propositions 40 and 50 will total some $38 million. Proposition 84, approved by the voters on November 7th, will add an additional $37 million in funding for North Coast Regional Plan projects and up to $45 million for restoration of coastal salmon and steelhead populations. David Lewis, Chair of the North Coast IRWMP?s Technical Peer Review Committee and Watershed Management Advisor for the University of California Cooperative Extension stated, "This grant award will be a wonderful extrinsic acknowledgement of our effort and needed boost to our regional capacity. What should not be overlooked, however, is the intrinsic value that our process has had in increasing our capacity and understanding to do regional water resource planning. The willingness of project proponents and the Region?s Policy Review Panel and committee members to identify and develop a plan to address shared project and county issues made this possible. This plan and our motivation to implement it is a benefit derived from the process that matches in value the grant support we stand to receive." For more information regarding the North Coast?s Integrated Regional Water Management Planning effort please visit www.northcoastirwmp.net. ### Sonoma County Water Agency provides water supply, flood protection and sanitation services for portions of Sonoma and Marin counties. Visit us on the Web at www.sonomacountywater.org. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Thu Nov 16 12:50:49 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2006 12:50:49 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Humboldt County leaders advocate Klamath dam removal Message-ID: <01e901c709c5$848b2fb0$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> County leaders advocate Klamath dam removal Eureka Times-Standard ? 11/15/06 By John Driscoll, staff writer Humboldt County supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday in favor of removing four of the Klamath River's dams, riding what many say is a wave of public opinion and political will toward restoring salmon runs and economies on the river. The resolution comes as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission hears communities' concerns about the continued operation of the hydropower dams. The agency, which will decide whether to issue Pacificorp a new 50-year license, has not considered removing the dams as a viable option. But several key developments recently have provided momentum toward such an end. Pacificorp lost an administrative hearing challenging federal fisheries agencies' orders to build expensive fish ladders over the dams. A bond measure just passed by voters holds millions that could be used for restoring the Klamath. California Coastal Conservancy studies have found the cost of dam decommissioning relatively low, and also found few toxins in sediment trapped behind the dams. ?This is really the Berlin Wall of fisheries issues on the North Coast,? Tom Weseloh of California Trout told the board. Several speakers said the amount of electricity the dams produce isn't worth the damage done by the dams. The dams block several hundred miles of potential spawning habitat for salmon. Fisheries biologist Pat Higgins said the reservoirs also pollute the river by prompting toxic algae blooms, which can also be dangerous to people. FERC is holding a public hearing on its draft environmental impact statement on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Red Lion Inn in Eureka. Pacificorp has lodged its own solution to getting fish around the dams by trapping them and trucking them up above Upper Klamath Lake, then doing the same for young fish getting ready to migrate downstream. Ross Taylor, a McKinleyville fisheries biologist, said that trapping and trucking programs have been a failure on the Columbia River, and won't work on the Klamath either. It also doesn't address water quality problems on the river, said Erica Terence with the Northcoast Environmental Center. ?These dams present a massive obstacle to improving water quality,? Terence said. Fifth District Supervisor Jill Geist said that removal of the dams will help salmon and upstream economies, and that the loss of power generation will be made up with a planned large natural gas power plant in the region. It's also become clear that the dams do not play much of a role in flood control, she said. Available bond money and political support from both California and Oregon's governors are critical. ?Now is the time,? Geist said. The board voted 4-0 in support of the resolution. Supervisor Bonnie Neely was absent. # http://www.times-standard.com/local/ci_4662498 #### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Thu Nov 16 17:12:32 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron) Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2006 17:12:32 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Weir and Hatchery Summaries Message-ID: <005301c709e5$7806a290$329eb545@optiplex> >From Wade Sinnen, California DFG Biologist: Attached is an excel spreadsheet with trapping totals for the Willow Creek and Junction City weirs and Trinity River Hatchery. Both Willow Creek and Junction City weir operations are now over for the season. Trinity River Hatchery will continue to take in fish through March. I will be sending periodic updates for the hatchery from this point forward, however not on a weekly basis. Byron Leydecker Friends of Trinity River, Chair California Trout, Inc., Advisor PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 415 383 9562 fax bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org (secondary) http://www.fotr.org http://www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: weir&TRH_summary06.xls Type: application/vnd.ms-excel Size: 55808 bytes Desc: not available URL: From BGUTERMUTH at mp.usbr.gov Fri Nov 17 16:57:46 2006 From: BGUTERMUTH at mp.usbr.gov (Brandt Gutermuth) Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2006 16:57:46 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Another Alternative for the Indian Creek Rehabilitation Project Message-ID: Dear Trinity River enthusiasts - In response to comments, a Value Engineering study, and general need to do more with less, the Trinity River Restoration Program and Trinity County are developing another alternative for the Indian Creek Project. Details on this alternative and an environmental document which reviews its impacts will be published in December for public review as a Revised EA/Recirculated Partial EIR (EA/REIR). Below is a letter that has been sent to commenters on the Public Draft EA/EIR and local Indian Creek landowners. The upcoming EA/REIR will be posted on the TRRP's website at: http://www.trrp.net/RestorationProgram/IndianCreek.htm and at Reclamation's Mid-Pacific Region website at: http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=2094 Happy Thanksgiving week - Brandt LETTER BELOW ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Subject: Indian Creek Rehabilitation Site: Trinity River Mile 93.7 to 96.5 Revised Environmental Assessment/Recirculated Partial Environmental Impact Report To: Interested Parties, Indian Creek Rehabilitation Site: Under guidance of the Trinity River Restoration Program (TRRP), the Bureau of Reclamation (federal lead agency), and the Trinity County Planning Department (state lead agency) are developing a new alternative (Alternative 3) for the Indian Creek Rehabilitation Site: Trinity River Mile 93.7 to 96.5 (Project). A project description and impact analysis for this new alternative will be released for public review as part of a revised Environmental Assessment/Recirculated Environmental Impact Report (EA/REIR). The EA portion of this document will meet National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) needs, while the recirculated segment of the EIR will follow California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines ?15088.5 for recirculation of some or all portions of a draft EIR when significant new information is added after public notice is given. The new alternative is being developed to enhance the TRRP's ability to address the goals and objectives outlined in the EA/Draft EIR for the Project. Specifically, the goal of conducting in-channel activities in a manner that reduces construction-related impacts, maximizes the rivers ability to rehabilitate itself during high flows, and reduces the cost and complexity of implementation, will be incorporated into this new alternative. This alternative is responsive to information provided during the public review of the EA/Draft EIR and the outcome of a Value Engineering Study conducted in October 2006. Additionally, this alternative would assist the TRRP in developing a source of alluvial material that can be utilized for on-going spawning gravel enhancement efforts upstream. The EA/REIR will be available for 45 day public review and comment starting in December 2006. The fundamental purpose and need of the Indian Creek Rehabilitation Project remains unchanged: 1) to increase juvenile salmonid rearing habitat, and 2) to reduce Trinity River flow impacts to structural improvements. Alternative 3 provides opportunities to reduce overall project costs by decreasing in-channel construction and reducing the overall quantity and area of excavation. The project boundary has been modified to encompass an alternative access route to the activity areas in the vicinity of the Weaver Creek delta. These changes will be examined in the environmental analysis documented in the EA/REIR. Alternative 3, if selected, would utilize on-site processing of excavated alluvial materials (e.g., sand, gravel, cobbles) from the Trinity River floodplain resulting from rehabilitation activities. This material could be incorporated into other TRRP restoration projects (spawning gravel enhancement) and may provide opportunities to defray costs for processing and transport. Transport of processed materials to off-site locations would further reduce potential of on-site environmental impacts resulting from placement of excavated materials within the project boundary. After a 45 day public review period for the EA/REIR, comments on this new information will be consolidated and responded to in an EA/Final EIR along with comments received on the original EA/Draft EIR. The final document will be used by federal and state agencies to satisfy the NEPA/CEQA requirements and provide the basis for the various permits, authorizations and approvals necessary to implement the project. The project schedule would be revised, with an anticipated implementation date of summer 2007, when impacts to fish and wildlife from in-channel work may be minimized. If you have further questions on the Indian Creek Rehabilitation Project prior to completion of the recirculated draft, please contact Trinity County Planner, Joshua Allen, at (530) 623-1351 (x 3407) or jallen at trinitycounty.org or TRRP Environmental Specialist, Brandt Gutermuth, at (530) 623-2318 or bgutermuth at mp.usbr.gov. Sincerely, John Jelicich Douglas Schleusner Planning Director Executive Director Trinity County Trinity River Restoration Program CEQA - Lead Agency NEPA - Lead Agency ___________________________________ Brandt Gutermuth, Environmental Specialist Trinity River Restoration Program PO Box 1300 (mailing) 1313 Main Street (physical address) Weaverville, CA 96093 (530) 623-1806 voice; (530) 623-5944 fax Bgutermuth at mp.usbr.gov ___________________________________ From windhorse at jeffnet.org Wed Nov 22 08:33:01 2006 From: windhorse at jeffnet.org (Jim Carpenter) Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2006 08:33:01 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] FERC Comments Message-ID: For the record. See attachment presented as FERC comments for public meeting held in Klamath Falls last week. Jim & Stephanie Carpenter Carpenter Design, Inc. Project Coordination Commercial, Residential & Environmental CCB 93939 www.CarpenterDesign.com 541-885-5450 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Jim Carpenter.vcf Type: text/x-vcard Size: 133 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.doc Type: application/msword Size: 21504 bytes Desc: not available URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Thu Nov 30 15:11:10 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron) Date: Thu, 30 Nov 2006 15:11:10 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Sacramento Bee November 30, 2006 Message-ID: <002d01c714d4$d31e0250$0201a8c0@optiplex> As many of you know, I don't like my name in print, but this one is worth it - just state the facts. Land in the Western San Joaquin Valley irrigated with Trinity River water can be retired (and ultimately it must be - see USGS Open File Report 00-416) for far less money than any one or more of the current proposed unproved, uncertain "solutions." Byron Leydecker Selenium fix remains elusive A solution to the problem will be expensive and could spawn its own environmental issues. Sacramento Bee - 11/30/06 By David Whitney - Bee Washington Bureau Negotiations are under way to resolve one of the Central Valley's messiest issues -- how to drain selenium-laced runoff from hundreds of thousands of acres of federally irrigated land. The Bureau of Reclamation, irrigators and other interested parties met for about a week earlier this month in Sacramento in an effort to reach agreement. More meetings are planned. "We've begun talking with irrigators to come up with some sort of collaborative resolution that meets everybody's needs, including the federal taxpayers, the water users and the environment," bureau spokesman Jeff McCracken said Wednesday. Selenium is a naturally occurring mineral that in the right amounts is essential to good health. But in vast areas of the Central Valley, farmlands are so rich with it and other compounds that they must be flushed to remain productive. The result is huge amounts of drain water that has such high concentrations of selenium that it is toxic to fish and birds. The dangers were dramatically revealed in the 1980s after drain water had been directed to Kesterson Reservoir. Deformed waterfowl were found in 1983, and releases there were halted in 1985. While there is some limited disposal into the San Joaquin River, a permanent solution has remained elusive. The drainage disaster spawned a federal lawsuit. One consequence so far has been an order that the Bureau of Reclamation must find a way to drain and dispose of the water that has inundated tens of thousands of acres. Among the solutions on the table are bureau proposals to retire 308,000 acres of highly productive agricultural land so that it is no longer irrigated, or to pump the contaminated drain water into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta or the Pacific Ocean. Other alternatives include treating it in the Valley by constructing four large treatment plants with evaporation ponds as big as 3,300 acres. None of the alternatives is environmentally benign, and all are expensive and controversial. Pacific Ocean dumping would involve construction of a pipeline through San Luis Obispo County and into Morro Bay, with the outfall just 10 miles south of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Prospects for that alternative are not good. But the mere threat has reinvigorated an effort to extend the boundaries of the marine sanctuary so that ocean dumping would be barred in waters off the county's famously spectacular coastline. Neither is the proposed dumping in the Delta winning much support. One alternative would end with an outflow near the Carquinez Bridge, another on Chipps Island near Antioch. The volume of effluent could be as much as 70,000 acre-feet a year. Westlands Water District spokeswoman Sarah Woolf called ocean or Delta dumping "politically unviable." "Congress is unlikely to fund it," she said. But environmentalists don't like other alternatives that include four industrial-size plants using a process called reverse osmosis to separate the waste, sending it to huge evaporations ponds to dry for disposal. Byron Leydecker, chairman of Friends of the Trinity River, said the technology is untested and the evaporation ponds amount to "mini-Kestersons." "From the point of view of rational human beings, the answer is to retire much of that land," Leydecker said. But ceasing the irrigation of valuable cropland has met with resistance on Capitol Hill, and is opposed by Westlands, the biggest irrigator in the talks. Retiring 308,000 acres would cut its land base in half. Whatever is decided will have to go before Congress for funding. The cheapest alternative is the San Luis Obispo dumping at $589 million, and other proposals range upwards of $700 million, although some think the costs ultimately will soar past $1 billion. The bureau issued a final environmental impact statement in May laying out its alternatives. But on Aug. 1 the agency announced that it was suspending completion of a final decision because the parties in the lawsuit had indicated they wanted to explore settlement. After a delay of more than three months, those talks finally got under way two weeks ago. McCracken estimated that there were about 40 people attending the sessions but could provide no other details because of their confidentiality. There is some time pressure, however. The bureau has notified the court that it intends to move ahead with its own solution by Feb. 15, assuming no other deal has been struck.# Byron Leydecker Friends of Trinity River, Chair California Trout, Inc., Advisor PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 415 383 9562 fax bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org (secondary) http://www.fotr.org http://www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From awhitridge at snowcrest.net Mon Dec 4 08:16:33 2006 From: awhitridge at snowcrest.net (Arnold Whitridge) Date: Mon, 04 Dec 2006 08:16:33 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] TAMWG meeting December 12 Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.2.20061204080933.02e0b578@mail.snowcrest.net> Here's the proposed agenda for the December 12 meeting of the Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group, which is the "stakeholder" advisory committee for the Trinity River Restoration Program. All TAMWG meetings are open to the public. Arnold Whitridge, TAMWG chair 530 623-6688 Draft Agenda TRINITY ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT WORKING GROUP Victorian Inn, 1709 Main Street, Weaverville, CA Tuesday, December 12, 2006 Time Presentation, Discussion, and/or Action on: Presenter 1. 8:30 a.m. Adopt agenda; approve September minutes 2. 8:45 Open forum; public comment 3. 9:00 Integrated Assessment Plan Rod Wittler 4. 11:00 Non-TRRP restoration activity in Trinity basin Tom Stokely et al noon Lunch 5. 1:00 Integrated Information Management System (IIMS) TMAG staff 6. 1:30 2006 construction activity Joe Reiss 7. 2:00 Juvenile Fish Health Nina Hemphill 8. 2:30 Klamath Basin Initiatives all 9. 3:00 Reports from TRRP work groups TAMWG lead reps 10 3:30 Executive Director's report Doug Schleusner 11. 4:00 Designated Federal Officer topics Randy Brown 12. 4:30 Open forum; public comment 13. 4:45 Tentative date and agenda topics for next meeting 5:00 Adjourn -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Tue Dec 5 09:53:33 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 09:53:33 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Fw: Berkeley River Restoration Symposium December 9th - FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT Message-ID: <009401c718a1$2eb00f80$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> ----- Original Message ----- From: To: Sent: Monday, December 04, 2006 3:36 PM Subject: Berkeley River Restoration Symposium December 9th - FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT > The Fourth Annual > BERKELEY RIVER RESTORATION SYMPOSIUM > Saturday 9 December 2006 > > 112 Wurster Hall > University of California, Berkeley > Presented by UCB Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental > Planning (Beatrix Farrand and Child Funds), and the UC Water Resources > Center Archives. > > Please join us Saturday for an exciting morning of presentations and > discussion covering a variety of river restoration topics. We'll have a > keynote address by Phil Williams on issues of scale in river restoration, > an inside look at the recently-adopted Berkeley Creeks ordinance, a > demonstration of LIDAR applications in river restoration, and student > presentations on river restoration projects. > > Free and open to the public... > > BUT PLEASE RSVP TO mtompkins at berkeley.edu NO LATER THAN THURSDAY 7 > DECEMBER so that we can plan appropriately for refreshments and printing. > > Full program and abstracts available at: > > http://lib.berkeley.edu/WRCA/227_06.html > > > From jallen at trinitycounty.org Tue Dec 5 13:18:57 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 13:18:57 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] HFAC Adopt-a-Fish Message-ID: <8DB773F7046960499DFAABF71D3C3B1E0B9B94@mail3.trinitycounty.org> Adopt-a-Fish through Humboldt Fish Action Council Humboldt Fish Action Council (HFAC) is pleased to offer this 3rd annual adoption opportunity! Adopt a live Freshwater Creek salmon or steelhead for just $20! Your fish will be tagged and tracked throughout the Freshwater basin on its epic spawning adventures! In the spring (after the spawning season) you will receive: Fish adoption certificate---Picture of your fish---Map showing where your fish spawned---Date of river entry---Species---Gender---Length All proceeds will help Humboldt Fish Action Council enhance salmonid populations in the Humboldt Bay watershed. Humboldt Fish Action Council is a 501(c) 3 Non-profit Federal I.D. # 23-7062676. HFAC P.O. BOX 154, Eureka, CA 95502 Ph (707) 822-3834 dougk at h-fac.org FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS OFFER CALL: (707) 825-4862 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Please send bottom portion of this announcement with enclosed check to: HFAC PO Box 154 Eureka, CA 95502 Donor Name: _______________________________________ Phone _____________________ Address: ___________________________________________________________________ _____ Number of fish you wish to adopt: ________ Tax-Deductible Donation Amount: ___________ Fish Name(s): __________________________________Email address_________________________ If Sending as a Gift: Recipient Name: __________________________________________________________________ Address (to send certificate and fish information): ___________________________________________ I Fish Name(s): ____________________________________________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 33172 bytes Desc: image001.jpg URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Fri Dec 15 10:08:49 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2006 10:08:49 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Fish sex change investigated: CU group establishes treatment plant effluent as culprit Message-ID: <8DB773F7046960499DFAABF71D3C3B1E0B9E29@mail3.trinitycounty.org> Fish sex change investigated:CU group establishes treatment plant effluent as culprit http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2006/dec/10/fish-sex-change-investigated x1/ By Boonsri Dickinson and Todd Neff, Camera Staff Writers Sunday, December 10, 2006 In 2004, David Norris reported that fish just below the Boulder Wastewater Treatment Plant's outflow pipe were changing sex. Two years later, the University of Colorado integrative physiology professor has expanded his study, which now involves one "Fish Exposure Mobile" research trailer in operation and a second on the way. Science done in the trailer has verified Norris' 2004 study and shown that surprisingly low concentrations of treatment-plant effluent can change male fish into females. The 2004 study showed that certain chemicals from pharmaceuticals and personal-care products made it through the Boulder Wastewater Treatment Plant and into Boulder Creek. Ninety percent of the white suckers swimming downstream of the plant were female. Upstream, there was an even split. "What we see in the fish downstream is as if they are taking birth control pills," Norris said. The female fish - both the transsexuals and the original girls - had smaller-than-average ovaries. The remaining males produced less sperm, showing the water effluent also has contraceptive effects, he said. The chemicals are believed to come from excreted birth-control hormones, natural female hormones and detergents flushed down toilets and drains. In the ecosystem, they are known as endocrine disrupters, settling into cell receptors intended for hormones and garbling the body's chemical communications. To bolster his evidence, in 2005 Norris and colleague Alan Vajda, a CU research associate, set up the Fish Exposure Mobile in a trailer borrowed from the Colorado Division of Wildlife. U.S. Geological Survey scientists Larry Barber and James Gray also are working with Norris' team, and the city of Boulder's cooperation also has been vital, the scientists say. "I consider the city an equal partner," Barber said. "Without their cooperation and encouragement to do good science and answer questions regardless of implications, it wouldn't have happened." Where Norris and Vajda are what Barber called "world-class endocrinologists," Barber and Gray are chemists who have advanced detection techniques to the point they can spot human estrogen in concentrations as low as 0.2 parts per trillion. They needed such exactitude because human estrogen, or 17 beta estradiol, affects fish at concentrations as low as one part per trillion - the equivalent of a pinch of salt in an Olympic pool, Norris said. Barber said volumes of human estrogen in the pure treatment-plant effluent range from one part per trillion to about 10 parts per trillion. The Fish Exposure Mobile, parked next to the creek on sewage treatment plant property, pulls water directly from the plant's outflow pipe and can dilute it using precise volumes of upstream Boulder Creek water. Fathead minnows swim in two identical tanks inside, each 200 gallons. One fills with upstream creek water; the other with varying degrees of wastewater plant effluent. Such control lets researchers see how fish react to varying effluent concentrations. They aimed to create a controlled experiment and confirm if estrogen and other compounds from the treatment plant were responsible for the fish sex change. "The males were feminized in seven days," Norris said. "You don't need a Ph.D. to sex them." The males have bumps on the forehead and often attack each other. The fish exposed to the effluent water lost their bumps and acted like girls. It confirmed effluent to be the culprit. The Fish Exposure Mobile's ability to control effluent concentrations is providing new insights. Diluting the treatment plant's effluent 50 percent feminized breeding male fish in a week to 15 days, Norris said. Some of the effects remained evident even when the wastewater plant effluent was diluted 75 percent. "We were excited to get these results, but at the same time we're a little bit appalled at what we've seen," Norris said. Norris said CU and USGS researchers are converting a second trailer donated by the state health department. They hope to have it ready by next spring. Fish Exposure Mobile II will travel to different sewage-treatment plants, starting in Vail and later in Grand Junction. The researchers suspect they will find similar chemistry in treatment-plant effluent elsewhere. Sheila Murphy, a hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Boulder, said the Fish Exposure Mobile work has been important to counter skeptics who attribute transsexual fish in the Potomac River and other waterways to temperature changes or other environmental influences. "What it's showing is that it's indeed from the wastewater plant," Murphy said. Contact Camera Staff Writer Todd Neff at (303) 473-1327 or nefft at dailycamera.com. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Tue Dec 19 09:00:07 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2006 09:00:07 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Rural Counties Could Lose Federal Funding Message-ID: <8DB773F7046960499DFAABF71D3C3B1E0B9F0D@mail3.trinitycounty.org> Amador County Could Lose Federal Funding http://www.mymotherlode.com/News/article/kvml/1166462278 Monday, December 18, 2006 - 09:30 AM ________________________________ ""It's going to really hurt us next year, because that's money that we've really counted on for a long time now," said Mike Carey, Superintendent for the Amador County Unified School District." ________________________________ By Raheem Hosseini Barring a congressional miracle, Amador and hundreds of other rural counties across the nation are in danger of losing federal funds earmarked toward schools and roads. Congress adjourned last week without extending a federal law that funnels millions in national forest reserve money to rural counties in the country. The law, commonly referred to as the county payments law, was approved by Congress in 2000 as the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act. Expiring earlier this year, it was originally enacted to offset the losses in revenue rural counties endured when the federal government closed national forests off to development. "It's been flowing for us for a very long time and with good reason," said Lou Bosetti, a consultant with the National Forest Counties & Schools Coalition, one of the groups that supports the county payments law. "Most rural counties don't have a lot of money to (spend on schools and roads)." Amador County Public Works Director Larry Peterson seconds Bosetti's comments, explaining the county will lose a quarter of a million dollars in annual federal funds if the law goes unrenewed. "It's a lot of money to lose for a small county," he said. Peterson said the shortfall could become apparent in any number of areas, from a lack of equipment to a mile of unpaved road. Bosetti said rural counties have "one last hope" for a reprieve when Congress reconvenes next month. But if a one-year extension isn't authorized - and Bosetti is skeptical it will - the law's supporters will almost have to start from scratch by seeking reauthorization with a new Congress. The 39 California counties that receive nearly $69 million a year in forest reserve funds will get their final payments this month or next. How these counties will fare after the federal dollars dry up depends on whether the money has already been factored into schools and transportation budgets, and on how much rural counties rely on these funds, Bosetti said. "It's going to really hurt us next year, because that's money that we've really counted on for a long time now," said Mike Carey, superintendent for the Amador County Unified School District. Of the more than $650,000 Amador County received last year in the forest reserve funds, the school district received approximately $260,000. Thirty thousand of that was spent on new buses for special education students within the county's office of education, but the vast majority of the money went directly into the district's general fund, explained Barbara Murray, assistant superintendent of business services. "It's like a $236,000 hit on our general fund," Murray said of the expected loss. It's a hit that will land this summer, when the district releases its 2007-08 fiscal year budget. With facility costs pretty much locked in, Murray said layoffs and school supply cuts are both possibilities. "There's really no funding options to replace that (money)," she added. But Amador County won't be the worst off. The $650,000 it receives annually is considerably less than the $9.5 million Siskiyou County receives and the nearly $8 million Trinity County gets each year. Bosetti, a former Tehama County schools superintendent, estimates that 70 percent of his district's budget will be impacted. And then there's Alpine, which is 85 percent federally owned. "That doesn't leave much for a tax base," Bosetti said. Amador schools are comparatively lucky. The loss of $236,000 makes up less than one percent of the district's $30 million annual budget. But for a district that hasn't had to make cuts in the past two years, serious consideration is being given to how the gap will be filled. For the public works department, the losses could be partially offset by allocations from the statewide transportation bond voters passed in November, though Peterson said the the county had grown to bank on these forest reserve funds. The apparent demise of the county payments law isn't catching local officials off guard, though. Peterson informed the Board of Supervisors during a budget hearing in August that it looked like support for the law had dried up. Similarly, Murray said the district has been thinking about this day for the past two years. "So it's not like it's a surprise, but it's not anything we wanted to see," she said. The major roadblock to reauthorizing the act, Bosetti said, has been "turfdom." Congressional leaders from areas that don't receive these funds don't understand why, while the leaders whose districts do benefit can't come to terms on an equitable agreement. "There's a pot of money and they all want some of it," Bosetti said. The end result may be that no one gets it, with the residents of rural counties left wondering why six years wasn't enough time to reach an agreement. Reprinted with permission from the Amador Ledger Dispatch -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Tue Dec 19 09:04:40 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2006 09:04:40 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] River recreation area proposed Message-ID: <8DB773F7046960499DFAABF71D3C3B1E0B9F0F@mail3.trinitycounty.org> River recreation area proposed: 17,000 acres lie near Red Bluff By ABBY FOX-DN Staff Writer Article Last Updated: 12/18/2006 09:03:50 AM PST http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/news/ci_4861228 < * 1 * > WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Dec. 7, Congressman Wally Herger proposed before the U.S. House of Representatives that 17,000 acres of public land northeast of Red Bluff be turned into the Sacramento River National Recreation Area. The bill, H.R. 6413, called the Sacramento River National Recreation Area Establishment Act of 2006, states that the purpose of the park is to enhance recreational opportunities and public lands, and promote local economic development through recreation. The land is located mostly in Tehama County, with some in Shasta County. The area is adjacent to the Sacramento River, between Seven Mile Creek and Battle Creek. Hunting of deer, wild turkey, dove and pheasant, as well as fishing, won't be hindered by the creation of the recreation area, the bill states, nor will private property rights be altered. Livestock grazing will also be protected, according to Herger. The bill calls for the development of trails and campgrounds as well as restrooms and parking areas. In remarks before the U.S. House, Herger said, "In my view, you can never have too much local participation. Initiatives like this one succeed not because they were created in Congress or by national interest groups. "They succeed because they are the product of an on-the-ground effort, led by those who live near and are the most familiar with this special area." I look forward to continuing to work with my constituents who have been involved in this legislation to this point, and urge anyone else with an interest to participate to do so." The bill can be read at http://thomas.loc.gov. --------- Staff writer Abby Fox can be reached at 527-2153, extension 114, or clerk at redbluffdailynews.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.png Type: image/png Size: 222221 bytes Desc: image002.png URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image003.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 35172 bytes Desc: image003.jpg URL: From tstokely at trinityalps.net Tue Dec 19 14:27:04 2006 From: tstokely at trinityalps.net (Tom Stokely) Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2006 14:27:04 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Times Standard Editorial: Big words, little help by Congress for fishing Message-ID: <000301c723cb$8a25e120$2a28a8c0@trinitycounty.org> NORTH COAST SALMON FISHERY RELIEF: Editorial: Big words, little help by Congress for fishing Eureka Times-Standard ? 12/18/06 There were a whole lot of words from Congress in the recently closed session but not a lot of money where its mouth is concerning fisheries assistance. The good news was that the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the nation's foremost ocean fisheries law, was renewed, and included a precedent-setting order for federal fishery managers to fast-track a plan for recovery of endangered coho salmons runs in the Klamath River. The bad news is that senators and House members adjourned without funding disaster relief for fishermen and associated businesses hurt by the nearly total closure of the 2006 salmon season off the Pacific coast from Morro Bay to the Columbia River -- including Humboldt County. The spending bill for emergency aid was the victim of the post-election paranoia about special-interest earmarks related to the Abramoff scandal. The aid could have been part of temporary measures to keep the government funded through mid-February, but lawmakers closed that door for fear it would open the door to billions of dollars in farm subsidies. Ironically, the Magnuson-Stevens Act included a $25 million federal loan to help buy out some of the seine-boat salmon fishermen in Alaska to thin their ranks. The Alaska situation is a self-inflicted wound caused by overfishing of pink salmon. (The co-sponsor of the act, by the way, is Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska.) The salmon disaster on the North Coast, on the other hand, was caused in large part by federal mismanagement of the Klamath River spawning waters that spread parasites that killed thousands of salmon in 2002 and 2003. The crews of more than 1,000 fishing boats in California and Oregon depend upon coho for much of their income. The crab season looks as if it will be a good one, but not all fishermen benefit from that catch, and salmon runs also are expected to remain low for the 2007 season. The new Congress must act quickly to fund assistance to keep the North Coast fishing industry viable in the short term, but also should keep the pressure on the federal government to follow through on a long-term turnaround to protect the endangered coho salmon. # http://www.times-standard.com/opinion/ci_4859994 #### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From truman at jeffnet.org Thu Dec 21 09:18:18 2006 From: truman at jeffnet.org (Patrick Truman) Date: Thu, 21 Dec 2006 09:18:18 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] The Thirteenth Tipping Point Message-ID: <007401c72524$0557a9b0$0201a8c0@HAL> ones The Thirteenth Tipping Point News: 12 global disasters and 1 powerful antidote By Julia Whitty November/December 2006 Issue The 12 tipping points are: 1. Amazon Rainforest 2. North Atlantic Current 3. Greenland Ice Sheet 4. Ozone Hole 5. Antarctic Circumpolar Current 6. Sahara Desert 7. Tibetan Plateau 8. Asian Monsoon 9. Methane Clathrates 10. Salinity Valves 11. El Nino 12. West Antarctic Ice Sheet WE'VE BEEN DIVING SHIFTS through the night for a week, donning clammy wet suits long after bedtime in order to hover above coral heads and peer into the pools of light from handheld strobes. We are examining the coral polyps, those goose bump-like swellings decorating staghorn, elkhorn, brain, fan, lettuce-leaf, and plate corals. Virtually all of the scleractinian, or reef-building, corals are readying themselves for the greatest sex show on earth, preparing to unleash an orgy of fertilization, self-fertilization, hybridization, and every other manner of fruitful and unfruitful coupling Mother Nature can dream up. The pink and orange gamete bundles that look like caviar eggs but are actually hermaphroditic clusters of eggs and sperm are migrating up the polyps toward the oral cavities, the corals' single, multi?purpose orifices. Each night these bundles have been growing and stretching the polyps until they resemble nothing so much as minuscule pregnant bellies. On this night, the fourth night after the full moon of the austral springtime, the gametes are beginning to crown, like human heads in their birth canals. I check my watch. When I glance back to the coral, the ocean is transformed. I blink, thinking I'm seeing things. But it's really here-the black water engulfed in a pink and orange blizzard flowing toward the surface. Within seconds, countless billions of magenta and tangerine gamete bundles have been birthed from their polyps and are floating upward on the buoyancy of the fatty eggs. Those of us underwater at this moment are also transformed by the bundles, which collect under the folds and angles of our wet suits, buoyancy control devices, dive masks, and regulators. Colorful gametes tangle in our hair. If we could breathe water, we'd be breathing them. The rate of the blizzard amplifies until the light from the strobes blinds us. Clicking to a lower setting, I see eruptions of milky white sperm pulsing rhythmically from nearby sponges and sea cucumbers, polychaete worms and giant clams. On this night, as many as half of the reef-building corals-perhaps 150 species-plus a host of other invertebrates inhabiting the 1,200 miles of Australia's Great Barrier Reef, are spawning. It's an ancient ritual, maybe as old as the 200 million-plus years that scleractinian corals have been alive. These corals emerged in the darkest days after the Permian-Triassic extinction, when the planet was impoverished nearly beyond repair by massive global climate change, and when almost all life died in hot, dry, and iceless conditions. Since then they have survived two subsequent mass extinctions, including the one that killed the non-avian dinosaurs. Already, manta rays with six-foot wingspans are sailing into view, mouths open, filtering the eggs from the water. At the outer range of our strobes, reef sharks are circling, preparing to gorge on those that have come to feast. From the cold and perpetually dark reaches of the deep known as the mesopelagic, fish that glow in the dark, and live a mile or more below the tidal, lunar, and seasonal influences that trigger the mass spawning, are rising toward it now, preparing to devour the bonanza they have perceived in ways we can't. No modern human knew of the mass spawning of corals on the Great Barrier Reef before 1982, when marine biologists accidentally happened upon it. Since then, other spawnings adhering to their own unique schedules have been discovered on many reef systems. Somehow, spineless, brainless, eyeless, earless, immotile marine animals that meet all our criteria for zero intelligence manage to synchronize their activities to ensure survival. Otherwise, all their gametes-a year's investment in energy-would launch off into open water without ever finding suitable partners. While an individual animal might survive such behavior for the term of its natural life, the species could not. 12 ASTEROIDS AND EVOLVING INTO WISDOM IN 2004, JOHN SCHELLNHUBER, distinguished science adviser at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research in the United Kingdom, identified 12 global-warming tipping points, any one of which, if triggered, will likely initiate sudden, catastrophic changes across the planet. Odds are you've never heard of most of these tipping points, even though your entire genetic legacy-your children, your grandchildren, and beyond-may survive or not depending on their status. Why is this? Is it likely that 12 asteroids on known collision courses with earth would garner such meager attention? Remarkably, we appear to be doing what even the simplest of corals does not: haphazardly tossing our metaphorical spawn into a ruthless current and hoping for a fertile future. We do this when we refuse to address global environmental issues with urgency; when we resist partnering for solutions; and when we continue with accelerating momentum, and with what amounts to malice aforethought, to behave in ways that threaten our future. A 2005 study by Anthony Leiserowitz, published in Risk Analysis, found that while most Americans are moderately concerned about global warming, the majority-68 percent-believe the greatest threats are to people far away or to nonhuman nature. Only 13 percent perceive any real risk to themselves, their families, or their communities. As Leiserowitz points out, this perception is critical, since Americans constitute only 5 percent of the global population yet produce nearly 25 percent of the global carbon dioxide emissions. As long as this dangerous and delusional misconception prevails, the chances of preventing Schellnhuber's 12 points from tipping are virtually nil. So what will it take to trigger what we might call the 13th tipping point: the shift in human perception from personal denial to personal responsibility? Without a 13th tipping point, we can't hope to avoid global mayhem. With it, we can attempt to put into action what we profess: that we actually care about our children's and grandchildren's futures. Science shows that we are born with powerful tools for overcoming our perilous complacency. We have the genetic smarts and the cultural smarts. We have the technological know-how. We even have the inclination. The truth is we can change with breathtaking speed, sculpting even "immutable" human nature. Forty years ago many people believed human nature required blacks and whites to live in segregation; 30 years ago human nature divided men and women into separate economies; 20 years ago human nature prevented us from defusing a global nuclear standoff. Nowadays we blame human nature for the insolvable hazards of global warming. The 18th-century taxonomist Carolus Linnaeus named us Homo sapiens, from the Latin sapiens, meaning "prudent, wise." History shows we are not born with wisdom. We evolve into it. CLIMATE CLIQUES AND NAYSAYERS EISEROWITZ'S STUDY OF risk perception found that Americans fall into "interpretive communities"-cliques, if you will, sharing similar demographics, risk perceptions, and worldviews. On one end of this spectrum are the naysayers: those who perceive climate change as a very low or nonexistent danger. Leiserowitz found naysayers to be "predominantly white, male, Republican, politically conservative, holding pro-individualism, pro-hierarchism, and anti-egalitarian worldviews, anti-environmental attitudes, distrustful of most institutions, highly religious, and to rely on radio as their main source of news." This group presented five rationales for rejecting danger: belief that global warming is natural; belief that it's media/environmentalist hype; distrust of science; flat denial; and conspiracy theories, including the belief that researchers create data to ensure job security. We might wonder how these naysayers, who represent only 7 percent of Americans yet control much of our government, got to be the way they are. A study of urban American adults by Nancy Wells and Kristi Lekies of Cornell University sheds some light on environmental attitudes. Wells and Lekies found that children who play unsupervised in the wild before the age of 11 develop strong environmental ethics. Children exposed only to structured hierarchical play in the wild-through, for example, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, or by hunting or fishing alongside supervising adults-do not. To interact humbly with nature we need to be free and undomesticated in it. Otherwise, we succumb to hubris in maturity. The fact that few children enjoy free rein outdoors anymore bodes poorly for our future decision-makers. Another study, this one from the Earth Institute at Columbia University, found an ominous silence when it comes to educating American K-12 students on the relationship between our personal behavior and our environment: that the size and inefficiency of our cars, homes, and appliances, our profligate fuels, our love of disposables, and the effects of buying more than we need actually undermine our prospects on earth. Slightly more time is spent teaching kids how the environment can affect us, overpowering humanity with floods, droughts, storms, earthquakes, climate change. But in our overall failure to illuminate the interdependence between Homo sapiens and earth we withhold critical knowledge from those whose lives depend upon it most. Many of today's kids recreate in the unwilderness of the shopping mall, where messages of prudence and wisdom are overwhelmed by the consumerism that feeds global warming. We send our kids to the mall because we fear the dangers outside. We could hardly be more wrong in our assessment of risk. THE ALARMISTS AND THE ACROBAT ON THE OTHER END of Leiserowitz's spectrum of perception regarding global warming is an interpretive community he calls the alarmists, generally comprised of individuals holding pro-egalitarian, anti-individualist, and antihierarchical worldviews, who are supportive of government policies to mitigate climate change, even so far as raising taxes. Members of this group are likely to have taken personal action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Collectively, alarmists compose 11 percent of Americans, with the remaining interpretive communities falling considerably closer to the alarmists than the naysayers in the spectrum-suggesting the gap might be cinched by sustained public education on the neighborhood dangers likely to arise in a changed global climate. Hurricane Katrina provided a wake-up call for how bad it can get in the neighborhood, and may prove a tipping point itself. Yet long before its rampage, American kids were coloring pictures of the first icon of global environmentalism, the Amazon. Its billion-plus acres of rivers and rainforest-its trees collecting and containing excessive greenhouse gases from the atmosphere-were our primer for the revolutionary notion that the earth's neighborhoods are interdependent. Today Amazonia is the most famous of Schellnhuber's tipping points. For a generation, kids have grown up learning that the Amazon is at risk from massive deforestation. But even if clearcutting were to halt, climate models forecast that a warming globe will convert the wet Amazonia forest into savanna within this century, and the loss of trees will render the region a net CO2 producer, further accelerating global warming. Amazonia's tipping point might be fast approaching. The year 2005 saw the driest conditions in 40 years, with wildfires raging unabated, and 2006 is looking worse, raising alarms that environmental synergism is already in play as changes become self-sustaining and reinforce one another. Dan Nepstadt of the Woods Hole Research Center in Massachusetts questions whether the warming of the Atlantic (the tropical North Atlantic rose 1.7 degrees Fahrenheit above the 1901-1970 average in 2005) is affecting airflow over the Amazon, leading to drier and fierier conditions there. Changes in the currents of the North Atlantic constitute another tipping point. As the Atlantic warms, ice caps melt, diluting the ocean and potentially shutting down its thermohaline circulation (THC), the oceanic river currently delivering the thermal equivalent of 500,000 power stations' worth of warmth to Europe. A 2005 study published in Nature found that after 50 years of monitoring, a critical component of the THC had suddenly slowed by 30 percent. The fate of this circulation is closely linked to one of Schellnhuber's more notorious tipping points, the Greenland Ice Sheet. Encompassing 6 percent of the earth's freshwater supply, this ice, if melted, would raise sea levels by about 23 feet worldwide-not counting ice loss from the rest of the Arctic and the Antarctic. A study by NASA and the University of Kansas showed the decline of Greenland's ice unexpectedly doubled between 1996 and 2005, as glaciers surged into the sea with unpredicted speed. More worrying, the area of melt shifted 300 nautical miles north during the last four years of the study, indicating the warmth is spreading rapidly. One tipping point affects the other in a balance as delicate as that of an acrobat's spinning plates. Greenland's increasing freshwater flow into the North Atlantic will certainly impact the THC. Warm water recirculating within the central Atlantic may further rearrange airflow over the Amazon, accelerating its dry-down and tree loss, and potentially freeing as much carbon dioxide from its enormous reservoir as the 20th century's total fossil fuel output. A sudden Amazonian release would surely melt whatever of Greenland hadn't already melted, crashing the THC and drastically cooling Europe-in the worst-case scenario, freezing it solid. Although we like to compartmentalize, nature does not. Biology and climatology are the indivisible warp and weft of earth's living fabric. SOCIAL FACILITATION, REWARDING PRUDENCE A VARIETY OF FACTORS enable tiny coral animals to coordinate spawning with pinpoint precision. Many synchronize to inescapable environmental factors-maximum water temperature, for instance, fine-tuned to moon phase and tides. Spawners also stimulate the spawning of their fellows by the presence of their eggs in the water. Thus, among some species, local spawning triggers a cascade of spawning down current, night after night, as the gamete cloud passes overhead. Many animals coordinate their activities through what is known as social facilitation. The howling of wolves, the twittering choruses of African wild dogs, the cawing of crows when settling to roost, all serve to synchronize the group, and perhaps to spur individuals to their best performance. In human psychology, social facilitation is defined as the tendency for individuals to perform better at simple or well-known tasks when they know they are being observed. Interestingly, research out of the Max Planck Institute in Germany found that people are more likely to take action to protect the climate when they are seen to be doing so. Manfred Milinski and his cohorts used a variation on game theory, a tool born from mathematics and economics, now used across many disciplines to analyze optimal behavior strategies when the outcome is uncertain and is dependent on the choices of others. In Milinski's version of the game, players were asked to contribute money-in some rounds anonymously, in other rounds publicly-to a common pool used to pay for a magazine advertisement warning the public of the dangers of global warming and listing simple means to limit individual carbon dioxide emissions. Some rounds enabled players to reward or not reward fellow players whose "reputations" as donors from previous rounds were revealed. Some groups received scientific information on the causes and consequences of climate change; others did not. The results showed that almost no one was willing to donate money anonymously. Those who did had received the scientific education. Overall the largest donors were those both tutored in the science and able to donate publicly. In the reputation rounds, players generally only rewarded fellow players who were known to be donors. Clearly, we are inclined to behave as better citizens when we are educated and when our actions are visible. Perhaps if we're vigorously informed of the neighborhood dangers of global warming, we'll make sustainable and sensible lifestyle choices. Abetted by knowledge, social facilitation might begin to reward prudence. SOCIAL LOAFING, THE MEDIA, THE OZONE HOLE EVEN WELL-INTENTIONED CITIZENS feel helpless in the face of looming global calamities and respond by circling the wagons and focusing on family-size problems. The end result is that most of us practice denial, which appears in the culture at large as indifference, and which collectively enables us to embrace the dark sister of social facilitation: social loafing. Social loafing is the tendency of individuals to slack when work is shared and individual performance is not assessed. There may be no better example of social loafing than in the U.S. Congress, where members cloak their lethargy regarding global climate change behind the stultifying inactivity of their fellows. And why not? After all, who's watching? Not the media. For example, on the day the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that the first half of 2006 was the hottest on record in the United States, the news vaporized in the explosions of the Israeli-Lebanese conflict. Though the media would never ignore another round of Middle East bloodletting by rationalizing that we've heard all that before, this is exactly what it does with environmental news. Part of the reason is that the organizations responsible for bringing us the news fail to assess that new science stories are not the same global warming story rehashed from last week/month/year but worrisome new data. Combined, the growing body of scientific knowledge gains heft and power. But the public rarely hears it, reinforcing our denial and indifference. A 2005 workshop at the Tyndall Centre assessed the performance of the media and found that its sensationalist approach simplified complex issues, while its "balanced" coverage ignored the consensual scientific view, awarding a few skeptics equal billing. The workshop also noted a seminal study from Philadelphia's Drexel University, which found the U.S. media subservient to (at least) or controlled by (at worst) the fossil fuel industry. A classic example of the bad marriage between a compromised media and a slacking public fuels another of Schellnhuber's tipping points. We've known since 1985, when scientists first reported a "hole" above Antarctica, that chlorofluorocarbons deplete ozone in the stratosphere. Two years later the world mobilized to sign the first Montreal Protocol phasing out ozone-destroying chemicals. All seemed well enough. Kofi Annan called the Montreal Protocol one of the undoubted success stories of international cooperation. Yet along with the hole over the Antarctic, and the newer ozone dimple over the Arctic, a general thinning is under way everywhere else on earth at the rate of about 3 percent per decade. Schellnhuber calls the ozone hole the mother of all tipping points since it tips even as we declare victory. In June 2006 researchers from NASA, NOAA, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research announced findings that the hole will take 20 more years than previously predicted-that is, until 2018-to begin significant healing. This is partly the result of a paradoxical effect of global warming: It actually makes the stratosphere cooler, and a cooler stratosphere slows ozone repair. Yet the critical new findings, the snowballing data, go largely unreported. Similarly, we hear about the connection between ozone depletion, skin cancers, and cataracts but very little about the fact that increased ultraviolet radiation will also impair or destroy phytoplankton. Without these tiny marine plants turning inorganic sunlight into organic life, none of us would or will be here. Although they live underwater, phytoplankton mitigate atmospheric carbon dioxide more powerfully than any other known agent. They are critical counterweights to another tipping point: the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), which circulates 34 billion gallons of water around Antarctica every second, carrying nutrients from the depths to the surface. A 2006 Princeton study identified this current of the Southern Ocean as the key global player in the balance between the nutrient and carbon cycles of our planet. Put simply, the more nutrients in Antarctic waters, the less carbon dioxide in earth's atmosphere, because the nutrients fuel the phytoplankton that absorb CO2. Moreover, when these phytoplankton die, they sink, taking their CO2 load with them to the cold bottom of the ocean and sequestering it there. But global warming is predicted to slow the nutrient upwelling, affecting phytoplankton populations in the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic oceans, too. Just as the oceans affect the atmosphere, so the land affects the oceans. In another of Schellnhuber's tipping points, global warming is expected to shrink the Sahara by increasing rainfall along its southern border. A greener Sahara will emit less airborne desert dust to seed the Atlantic and feed its phytoplankton, to suppress hurricane formation, and to fertilize the CO2-eating trees of Amazonia. Hardly a neighborhood on earth will look the same if Africa tips. THE GAME THEORY OF COCKROACH DEMOCRACY Recent research out of the Universit? Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium shows that cockroaches live in a democracy composed of individuals with equal standing that consult to reach consensus on decisions affecting the whole group. These decisions are made nonhierarchically and in the absence of perfect knowledge. Somehow these simple creatures balance the inevitable conflicts between cooperation and competition in ways that benefit all. Some dolphins manage this social dilemma ingeniously, too. At 5.5 feet long and 150 pounds, Tahitian spinner dolphins are among the world's smallest cetaceans, inhabiting the tropical waters of the globe, often in close proximity to coral reefs. They live in flexible, ever-changing groups composing what the late Ken Norris of the University of California-Santa Cruz called "a society of remarkably cooperative friends." This day in French Polynesia, a group of about 25 spinner dolphins is sleeping behind the barrier reef protecting Moorea's lagoon from the open sea. Like all dolphins, they remain conscious during sleep, resting only the hearing parts of their brains while relying on their sight to identify predators. In this state, they move as stealthily as ghosts, surfacing quietly, breathing low. But by the late afternoon the school begins to awaken and the dolphins pick up speed, with individuals bursting through the surface to perform the dramatic aerial leaps and spins for which the species is named. Then almost as quickly as they awoke, the dolphins slow down again. The spinners have entered the phase of their day Norris and colleagues dubbed "zigzag swimming," with the group oscillating between sleep and wakefulness, as some individuals wish to awaken and others wish to lounge abed in the lagoon a while longer. Underwater, the split in intentions is even more obvious. When the group is persuaded to sleep, the dolphins fall silent. When the group is urged to awaken, the sea explodes with the whistles, clicks, quacks, moos, baahs, barks, and squawks of their varied calls. In short order, these sounds are accompanied by an artillery barrage of dull booms and hissing bubble trains: the percussion of belly flops and back flops at the surface. Like howling wolves and cawing crows the spinners are consolidating their intentions, using zigzag swimming to cast and recast their votes until consensus is reached. As the afternoon progresses, their phonations grow louder, eventually merging into the congested cross talk that Norris et al. jokingly called the Yugoslavian News Broadcast. This is the buoyant clamor of true democracy. Since there is no leader or hierarchy in this or any other aspect of spinner life, every dolphin is awarded the same voting power. However many individuals reside here today is the same number that must now agree on when to leave and where to go. It's no easy decision. At stake are their lives. By leaving the lagoon the spinners face real danger. To catch fish they must venture offshore and dive alone or in mother-calf pairs to depths of 1,000 feet or more in the nighttime sea. They will be hunting alongside many larger predators, including sharks hunting them. Throughout the night the school maintains auditory contact as members share information (location of a food source) and resources (the food), even when that sharing might diminish their own wellbeing (less food left for them). This trade-off enables individuals to survive conditions they could not survive alone. Curiously, cockroaches and spinner dolphins have learned to share in ways both prudent and wise-despite the predictions of game theory, which in its simplest guise posits that cheaters will beat altruists every time. Clearly, nature knows otherwise. A recent study hints at the evolution of altruism. A team of Swiss and American mathematicians and population biologists ran a variant of game theory known as a public goods game, in which players contribute money to a common pot that an experimenter doubles, divides evenly, and returns to the players. In ordinary play, if all players contribute all their money, everyone wins big. If one player cheats, everyone wins small. If an altruist and a cheater go head-to-head, the cheater wins consistently. This paradox is known as the Tragedy of the Commons. But in the new computer variant, population dynamics were introduced into the game. Players were divided into small groups that played among themselves. Each player eventually "reproduced" in proportion to the payoff received from play-thereby passing her cooperator or cheater strategy to her offspring. Mutations and dispersions were introduced, creating a shifting population of individuals divided into groups of changing sizes and allegiances. After 100,000 generations, the results were surprising. Rather than succumbing to the cheaters, the cooperators overwhelmed them. This is because cooperators flourish in smaller groups where their high investments begin to pay off, says Thomas Flatt, one of the study's authors. They reproduce at higher rates, gain a toehold in a group, eventually come to dominate it, then launch their offspring to spread their altruism to other groups. Cockroaches have been on earth about 300 million years and dolphins about 50 million years-what amounts to millions of rounds of play. During those eons they have evolved what ethologists call "obligate cooperation": an evolutionarily stable strategy that reflects the individual's inescapable dependence on the group. Somewhere along the way, these two very different life-forms found the tipping point and slipped from selfishness toward altruism, transforming what we perceive as the Tragedy of the Commons into something more like a triumph. SEQUESTERED KNOWLEDGE AND SNOW MIRRORS KNOWLEDGE CAN BE VIEWED as a commons. At the moment, science knows far more than it "tells" to the larger world, in effect hoarding its resource. Not all scientists agree with this strategy, leading the community to play out its own version of zigzag swimming. At a recent meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology, members argued over whether they should simply publish their findings in their scientific journals or advocate solutions-by forcing their results, conclusions, and suggestions in front of lethargic policymakers and the press. Some vigorously oppose the proactive approach as one that sullies research. Others believe the time has come for the man behind the curtain to step forth. A survey in the wake of the conference found that 70 percent of the 300 members favored increased advocacy. At the moment, however, the behavior of most researchers is still largely non-advocatory, depriving the lay world of the right to zigzag on its own through global warming issues. Sequestering scientific knowledge is the equivalent of piling lead weights on the scales of the tipping points we hear little or nothing about. Take another tipping point: the Tibetan Plateau, a million square miles of steppe, mountains, and lakes. This roof of the world is home to fewer people per square mile than any land besides Greenland and Antarctica. Rising an average of 15,000 feet above sea level, its snowy heights act like an enormous mirror reflecting the sun's warming rays back to space. But global warming is forecast to melt these snows and uncover dark soils ideal for absorbing sunlight and warming the earth in a positive feedback loop. The Tibetan Plateau acts like a powerful chimney between earth and the sky, connecting tipping points in both places. It cools the stratosphere by drawing water vapor and chemicals upward via thunderstorms. A cooler stratosphere rearranges the jet stream, resulting in warmer winters in North America and Europe, and exacerbating the Greenland and ozone-hole tipping points. The source of Tibet's thunderstorms is the Asian monsoon, which drives oceanic moisture up the flanks of the Himalayas. Geoscientists expect a warming climate to either weaken or strengthen the monsoon, perhaps one after the other. Either effect is potentially catastrophic for the more than half the world's population adapted to and reliant on the monsoon as it currently exists. For this reason, the monsoon is another of Schellnhuber's tipping points. The health of the monsoon is critically connected to the ocean, notably the faraway North Atlantic thermohaline circulation. Working with fossilized plankton and ancient iceberg debris, scientists from India and America have concluded that periods of a cooler and less salty North Atlantic corresponded to-or else produced-weaker monsoons. This suggests a warming climate might strengthen the monsoon, perhaps ruinously, then weaken it below present levels if and when the THC shuts down. Other studies hint that the connective tissue between the monsoon and the North Atlantic is none other than the Tibetan Plateau. Normally, spring warms the air above Tibet and powers the pressure gradient driving the monsoon. But a cooler North Atlantic might cool the plateau lying downwind, stalling the monsoon's ignition. No matter how badly it manifests for us, nature evolves toward efficiency, balancing the spinning plates at the point of minimum effort, rearranging them with ruthless dexterity. THE RECIPROCAL ALTRUISM OF VAMPIRE BATS AN ASSESSMENT BY the World Health Organization concluded that the effects of climate change since the mid-1970s likely caused more than 150,000 deaths in the year 2000. Other analyses estimate 160,000 deaths a year since then. In contrast, terrorism caused 56 American deaths in 2005, the same year we spent about $100 billion fighting it and its shadow oil war-even as these investments fantastically increased the real threats to our homeland security. To mitigate and survive the global changes coming our way, we need to cooperate in unprecedented ways. Biologists have long struggled with the notion of cooperation, which was once seen as benefiting the "survival of the species"-until geneticists pointed out that, evolutionarily speaking, there is no mechanism in place for species survival, only individual survival. William Hamilton's work on colonial-living insects advanced the radical idea that related individuals might act altruistically because they share genes. Eventually, scientists surmised that individuals act altruistically toward even unrelated others in expectation of an equivalent reciprocal act at some time in the future. A now-classic example was found among vampire bats. Gerald Wilkinson of the University of Maryland discovered that on any given night, 7 percent of adult vampire bats and 33 percent of juveniles fail to find a blood meal. They rarely go hungry, however, since well-fed bats regurgitate blood to them upon return to the roosting colony. Wilkinson's experiments showed that bats are more likely to share blood with a bat that has previously fed them. Without these reciprocated favors, he wrote, "annual mortality should exceed 80 percent, but female vampire bats are known to survive more than 20 years in the wild." In other words, because they share a little every day, vampire bats increase their longevity over a lifetime. Those that don't share die young. The notion of reciprocal altruism is tested in game theory through the Prisoner's Dilemma, in which two players pitted against each other choose to cooperate or not cooperate (cheat). Cheaters always win-except when the same players engage in repeated rounds together. Iterated play eventually produces a tit-for-tat response, until the players learn to cooperate, lest they both lose. In this way, punishment for cheating leads to cooperation. A Prisoner's Dilemma variant run by Stuart West of the University of Edinburgh found that small groups of people are more likely to come together and cooperate (share resources) when engaged in repeated interactions, and when the competition for resources occurs on a more global than local scale. His study took place over two years, engaging undergraduate classes of 12 or 15 students broken into groups of 3. West's results suggest that manipulating how the players perceive competition alters the level of cooperation. He suggests this insight could be used to encourage altruism. One way would be to reward local cooperation. Another would be to create a common enemy who must be competed against globally. Since we already have our common enemy, global warming, perhaps we can bring it to life. Picture a fiery monster consuming our neighborhoods. It's big and scary yet vulnerable to the Lilliputian arrows each of us wields with personal lifestyle choices. However, the hybrid car is not enough. Wielding the big stick of consumer choice, we can batter the fiery monster more convincingly if we persuade the corporate world that we are serious and, collectively, powerful. We can buy or not buy. We can invest or not invest. Business can survive by becoming green and sustainable. How might we get these messages across? Imagine a lottery funding advertising about the fiery monster, the Lilliputian arrows, the neighborhood dangers. Ideally these advertisements would be big and splashy and persistent enough to awaken us from our slumber in the televised lagoon. Instead of a ticket, we'd buy a web listing displaying our commitment to the battle as well as our marksmanship rating: a number reflecting how much money we'd donated, the efficiency of our car, home, appliances. The highest-rated players would earn high-visibility web pages. Low-rated players could improve their ratings by following a list of lifestyle amendments. The higher our rating, the greater our chances in the lottery. Every week someone would win. Would we play? THE CLATHRATE GUN HYPOTHESIS HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS when we don't. Left to governments alone, the troubles breed and fester. For example, the Kyoto Protocol, ratified by 165 nations (but not the United States), requires its signatories to report their greenhouse gas emissions. A 2004 study by the European Commission Joint Research Centre in Italy found this voluntary reporting to be grossly inaccurate. The United Kingdom, for instance, which advertises itself as a leader in the global warming fight, actually emits up to 92 percent more methane than reported. Other enormous discrepancies were found in Germany, China, and France. Methane is one of the three greenhouse gases reported under Kyoto (along with carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide). Twenty times as powerful a greenhouse gas as carbon dioxide, methane has more than doubled in the atmosphere in the last 150 years until today it totals about half the greenhouse effect caused by carbon. Worse, methane emissions increase rapidly in a warming climate. So even as methane alters climate, it is also affected by climate-another dangerous positive feedback loop. Methane garners its own tipping point in the form of methane clathrates, the 1- to 2.5-trillion-ton reservoir of frozen methane underlying the ocean floor and the Arctic permafrost. Some scientists believe that the sudden melting of clathrates in the past released massive "burps" into the atmosphere, catastrophically amplifying global warming. The Clathrate Gun Hypothesis posits that a big burp of methane triggered the Permian-Triassic extinction 250 million years ago. Schellnhuber and others fear this could happen again as ocean temperatures warm, and as the permafrost melts. A recent study in Nature reported that the Siberian and Alaskan permafrosts are rapidly melting, releasing five times more methane than expected. Exacerbating those problems, a study by Russian and American researchers in Science published in June announced, is a heretofore unknown global carbon source in a deep layer of permafrost known as loess, which contains an estimated 500 gigatons of carbon. The loess has never been accounted for in climate warming models. Warming oceans may also trigger the tipping point known as salinity valves-the chemical plugs enabling oceanic bodies to maintain strikingly different ecosystems and biodiversity. These include the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, the Caribbean, the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Mexico, the Black Sea, the Baltic, and the Java Sea. Warming waters may unbalance the El Ni?o tipping point, too, which NOAA researchers report could create a persistent El Ni?o with biblical droughts and floods afflicting half the globe all year, every year. Finally, the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Long believed too cold to melt anytime soon, this icy world now confounds the soothsayers. New data from the British Antarctic Survey hint that the slumbering giant is awakening, its 7 million cubic miles of ice thinning dangerously. If melted, the ice sheet will raise sea levels between 16 and 50 feet worldwide. This recent melt may be caused in part by the Antarctic Oscillation-a kind of on/off switch affecting pressure gradients in the Southern Hemisphere. At its current setting, the Antarctic Oscillation is warming Antarctica, increasing the melt, and accelerating the flow of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (our earlier tipping point). As we've heard, changes in this current affect plankton populations, which affect atmospheric CO2. Changes in the ACC also affect the global thermohaline circulation, which controls everything from Europe's thermostat to the monsoon. In the end, all the spinning plates spin or fall together, and the Antarctic Oscillation appears to be triggered by none other than the ozone hole, the wound that refuses to heal. The cooler stratosphere caused by (and causing) the ozone hole produces the weather changes at ground level now threatening to turn Antarctica's icescape into a continent-swallowing seascape. In less than 200 years, armed with fossil fuels, we've wrested hold of the spinning plates, donned the acrobat's tights, and initiated our own wobbly circus. Nature, impassive and plenipotent, waits to reward or punish us. LET THEM EAT CO2 THE NATURE OF TIPPING POINTS is that they happen dizzyingly fast. The good news is that history proves we are capable of keeping up. Social scientists once believed it would take decades of government pressure and education for Americans to choose smaller families, since the desire to procreate is an absolute part of the human animal, or so they thought. Yet population radically declined in the course of only three years in the 1970s-one woman at a time, without an ounce of government involvement. Harvard sociobiologist Edward O. Wilson calls the voluntary choice of women around the globe to limit their families an almost miraculous gift to future generations. We also changed with breathtaking speed in 1941 when we recalibrated the entire economy of the United States in one short year to fight global enemies in Germany and Japan. The effort was promoted by the government but carried forward by individual citizens. Obviously, our powers of transformation are magnified by visionary leaders. Mahatma Gandhi's Salt March in 1930 ignited Indians of diverse religions, languages, and ethnicities to unite in the common cause of independence. Gandhi, in turn, inspired Martin Luther King Jr., Stephen Biko, Nelson Mandela, and Aung San Suu Kyi, who catalyzed their followers to change the world as well. Leaders can rouse us against them, too. Whether or not Marie Antoinette actually said, "Let them eat cake," she inspired change that reverberated far beyond Europe. Likewise, when George W. Bush says we can't act on global warming until we "fully understand the nature of the problem," we can use his callous disregard as a rallying cry. The truth is, we can change, and change fast, even in the absence of perfect knowledge. Like cockroaches, our hallmark is adaptability. Long ago, we looked out from the trees and saw the savannas. Beyond the savannas we glimpsed other frontiers. History proves that when we behold a better world, we move toward it, leaving behind what no longer works. WE ARE THE ANTIDOTE THIS MORNING, IN THE AFTERMATH of the coral spawning on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, the surface of the sea is slick and pink with eggs. >From the air or from afar it looks like an oil spill and smells like a fish kill, drawing in creatures from the deep and creatures from the land, including crocodiles cruising the reefs. Underwater, the fish that make their living picking plankton are hyperactively at work-the day shift toiling alongside the night shift, as lobsters, cuttlefish, and flashlightfish forgo sleep to feast. Above, the air is crowded with seabirds plucking at the surface with pink-stained beaks. In the coming days the gamete cloud will travel on prevailing currents, triggering the corals below to spawn. Seduced by moonlight, spring, and the tides, stimulated by the chemistry of other spawners, the tiny creatures that build their own world will build it again. So too with us. The difference between people and corals is that if we build our world poorly, we can rebuild it well. We know what to do. We know how to do it. We know the timeline. We are our own antidote. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: masthead1_277x91.gif Type: image/gif Size: 4180 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: climate_image.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 31711 bytes Desc: not available URL: From jallen at trinitycounty.org Thu Dec 21 12:22:19 2006 From: jallen at trinitycounty.org (Josh Allen) Date: Thu, 21 Dec 2006 12:22:19 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] There will be no moderation of the list-serve next week Message-ID: <8DB773F7046960499DFAABF71D3C3B1E0B9FFF@mail3.trinitycounty.org> Season's Greetings Trinity River Enthusiasts, Tom & Josh, your moderator's here at Trinity County Planning Dept., want to wish you a Happy Holidays. Please note; we will be with our families during the next week and we will be out of the office. There will be no one to moderate your e-mails to the env-trinity list-serve. If you have something to post, it is advised that you keep it under the 75kb threshold for moderation. If it is larger than that and includes graphics, it will languish on the server until after the New Year. Take care, travel safe, and we'll see you next year! Joshua Allen Tom Stokely Assistant Planner Principal Planner Trinity County Planning Department Natural Resources Division PO Box 2819 Weaverville, CA 96093 (530)623-1351 (530)623-1353 fax -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image002.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 9342 bytes Desc: image002.jpg URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 73565 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Tue Dec 26 10:08:15 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron Leydecker) Date: Tue, 26 Dec 2006 10:08:15 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Fresno Bee Message-ID: <000f01c72918$d0a9a080$0301a8c0@acer47253a5cc0> Dam proposal could come soon; Temperance Flat one of top picks for state's plan Fresno Bee ? 12/23/06 By E.J. Schultz, staff writer SACRAMENTO ? Get ready for another round of water wars. Gov. Schwarzenegger's administration is preparing a proposal ? to be released as soon as January ? that would use state money to pay for a new dam, perhaps one near Friant Dam in Fresno County, an administration official said Friday. "The governor will lay out a package [for] additional ground-water storage but also specifically to pursue surface storage," Lester Snow, director of the state Department of Water Resources, said in an interview. But there's no indication that Democrats, whose support would be needed to push the plan through the Legislature, will budge on their long-held opposition to using public money for dams. "Democrats need to be convinced there's a realistic plan and need, and that the environment is protected," Steve Maviglio, spokesman for Assembly Speaker Fabi?n N??ez, said in an e-mail Friday. "We haven't seen that yet." Details are still being finalized, but the governor's proposal could split water-storage costs between the state and local users, Snow said. The state would pay for the "public benefit" portion of a new dam ? for flood control or to store cold water for salmon fisheries, for instance. The dam would also be used for water supply, and local agencies would pay that portion, Snow said. Global warming, he said, is increasing the need for storage. As mountain snow melts more quickly, more capacity is needed to deal with the earlier runoff, he said. The state's top two choices for a dam are Temperance Flat, which is upstream of Millerton Lake near Friant Dam, and a site in Colusa County, Snow said. It's estimated that a dam at Temperance would cost about $2 billion. If approved by lawmakers, the state portion could be paid with a bond, which could go on the ballot as soon as 2008. But that's a big if. Water storage efforts didn't get very far in the last legislative session, despite heavy lobbying by Valley lawmakers and the agricultural industry. Environmentalists still say that more studies are needed to see if dams are worth the public investment. "Our position is a simple one," said Barry Nelson, a senior analyst with the national Natural Resources Defense Council. "Finish the studies and let's see if any of these projects are feasible." Nelson said that above-ground storage at Temperance Flat would not be used during many average or below-average rainfall years, making it a waste. But Schwarzenegger appears ready to make a push for dam money to be included in future public works bonds. "Even though I want more infrastructure and to have more bonds approved, it would never happen unless above-the-ground water storage is part of this package," Schwarzenegger said during a Dec. 6 address to the California Farm Bureau Federation's annual meeting, according to a farm bureau statement. But with the state's budget already stretched thin, money could get tight. The governor has already proposed a $10.9 billion prison and jail expansion plan. And his top priority, along with Democratic lawmakers, is reducing the number of medically uninsured residents in the state, which could bring billions more in costs. For Democrats, Maviglio said: "It's safe to say that dam-building will continue to take a back seat to education, health care and public safety." Byron Leydecker Friends of Trinity River, Chair California Trout,Inc., Advisor PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 ph 415 383 9562 fx bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org (secondary) http:// www.fotr.org http:// www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bwl3 at comcast.net Thu Dec 28 07:43:31 2006 From: bwl3 at comcast.net (Byron) Date: Thu, 28 Dec 2006 07:43:31 -0800 Subject: [env-trinity] Deleted Message Message-ID: <000801c72a96$f3547d10$0301a8c0@optiplex> A message I received yesterday from a gentlemen in Sacramento accidentally was erased from my computer. If that person is on this Env-Trinity List, I'd very much appreciate receiving the message again so that I can respond. I do not recall the gentleman's name, or other contact information beyond his Sacramento residence. Sorry to impose upon everyone, but I very much would like to respond to the inquiry. Byron Leydecker Friends of Trinity River, Chair California Trout, Inc., Advisor PO Box 2327 Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327 415 383 4810 415 383 9562 fax bwl3 at comcast.net bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org (secondary) http://www.fotr.org http://www.caltrout.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: