Conservation

Conservation Committee Chair, Chuck Knutson

The Cal-Neva Chapter Conservation Committee is a long-term standing committee, currently composed of eight members plus one Chair, who also is a voting member of the Cal-Neva EXCOMM and acts as the Cal-Neva representative on the WDAFS Environmental Concerns Committee. Conservation Committee activities are highly relevant in accomplishing Chapter objectives, especially (a) and (c) below:

(a) To promote the conservation, development, and wise use of the fisheries;

(b) To promote and evaluate the development and advancement of all branches of fisheries science and practice;

(c) To gather and disseminate to Society members and the general public scientific, technical, and other information about fisheries science and practice through publications, meetings, and other forms of communication;

(d) To encourage the teaching of fisheries science and practice in college and universities and the continuing professional development of fisheries workers.

According to Chapter Bylaws, the Conservation Committee shall:

"review legislation, issues, environmental recommendations and policies of the Society and other organizations. This Committee shall submit these review statements with suggested actions for approval by majority vote of the Executive Committee or by majority vote of the Chapter membership at the next general membership meeting."

Any Cal-Neva Chapter member is welcome to join the Cal-Neva Conservation Committee and become actively involved in protecting and restoring the aquatic resources of California and Nevada!

E-mail Chuck Knutson at knutson1@surewest.net

CURRENT HOT ISSUES

Delta Vision - The Chapter has already provided written and oral testimony during the Delta Vision strategic plan process and is currently monitoring the implementation of recommendations by the Governor's Blue Ribbon Task Force and Delta Vision Committee. The Bay Delta Conservation Plan process is in progress and the Conservation Committee plans to become more involved soon. A proposed dual conveyance water transfer facility for the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta continues to be highly controversial.

The former Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force has now formed a Delta Vision Foundation to monitor the State's progress on their recommendations. So far, the Foundation has said that the Governor is moving too slow on solving the State's water problems and efforts so far are inadequate. For more information, see:

http://www.deltavisionfoundation.org/

Silver King Creek Paiute Cutthroat Trout Restoration Project (Project) - CDFG sent out an EIR/EIS Notice of Preparation for the Project in September, 2008. A fish eradication project will likely be planned for the fall of 2010. The Chapter will review the EIR/EIS and provide comments and possibly take a position in support of or against the Project.

CDFG/USFWS Hatchery EIR - The Conservation Committee has followed but not provided information on the scoping process, but will review the EIR when the first draft is completed this year.

Salmon, Steelhead, and Trout in California: Status of an Emblematic Fauna Report - This report by Peter B. Moyle, Joshua A Israel, and Sabra E. Purdy, Center for Watershed Sciences, UC Davis, as commissioned by California Trout, Inc., was released in November, 2008 and disseminated by the Conservation Committee to interested parties. The report describes the status and status certainty of 31 living salmonid taxa in California. Of the 22 anadromous taxa, 13 are in danger of extinction within the next century and seven of nine living inland taxa are in danger of extinction. The entire document can be read at http://www.caltrout.org.

Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) Groundwater Extraction - The SNWA is proposing to dramatically increase groundwater pumping from the desert aquifer in southern Nevada for use by Las Vegas and the surrounding area. Because this project will threaten surface water flows in Nevada, Utah, and perhaps Death Valley and the Amargosa River in California, a letter of concern has been drafted to Governor Schwarzenegger and Senators Feinstein and Boxer for consideration by the EXCOMM. An opposition letter has already been sent by a long list of scientists to the governors and senators of Nevada and Utah.

WDAFS Environmental Concerns Committee Issues - the WDAFS has requested that the Cal-Neva Chapter support the following efforts:

Fish Habitat Restoration Act of 2008 - support passage in 2009 by providing letters of support during the next Federal legislative session.

Pacific Salmon Stronghold Partnership Act of 2008 - support passage in 2009 by providing letters of support during the next Federal legislative session.

General Mining Law of 1872 - Another attempt will be made to reform this law in 2009, which the Chapter should support to help alleviate damage to aquatic ecosystems by hardrock mining activities, past and present.

Suction Dredging Moratorium (SB670) - the WDAFS sent a letter in support of SB670. which will declare a suction dredge moratorium in all streams, lakes and rivers in California until CDFG completes an updated EIR and new regulations on suction dredging are in place. The WDAFS asked the Cal-Neva Chapter for a recommendation, but the Chapter decided to be neutral on the bill because research results on the environmental impacts of suction dredging have been "mixed". Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill Thursday, August 6, 2009 calling for an immediate moratorium throughout the state on suction dredge mining until an environmental review determines how much harm the practice is doing to struggling salmon runs.