Conservation



	GWWF Contributions to Conservation 2007-08 by Cindy Charles, GWWF Conservation Chair The Golden West Women Flyfishers is extremely proud to be an active and leading participant in fisheries conservation efforts throughout California. In 2007, we continued to be involved in a wide range of projects and activities. Protecting Steelhead: Alameda Creek Barrier Removal Project For several years, we have been working with the Steelhead Committee of the Northern California Council Federation of Fly Fishers on a barrier removal project on Alameda Creek. Led by the Alameda Creek Alliance, steelhead restoration on Alameda Creek has made great strides forward over the past ten years. At one time, this watershed supported a very robust steelhead run, but these mighty fish were nearly extirpated due to several barriers that blocked their migratory route. Currently, all the major barriers to steelhead passage are scheduled to be removed by 2010. GWWF and the NCCFFF Steelhead Committee took on the project of a steelhead passage problem at the USGS Gauging Station which was initially not viewed as a high priority for removal. The GWWF made a grant to the project to help fund a land survey, a fish passage assessment from a consulting hydrologist and an AutoCAD base map. The fish passage assessment report concluded that the weir was a serious impediment to steelhead migration. We researched who owned the concrete apron which turned out to be the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. They were actually unaware that they owned the structure and that it had developed some serious cracks which would impact its function. It appears that the structure needs to be either removed or replaced, and we are making sure that any replacement plan would include adequate fish passage provisions. Not only did GWWF give an important grant to fund the project, our members helped with the actual survey of the creek, provided historical flow analysis and attended meetings with the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Alameda Creek Fisheries Restoration Workgroup to present our case. Alameda Creek We are very proud to have taken part in this important steelhead restoration project and look forward to the day soon to come when steelhead are able to migrate past the USGS gauging station structure without any delay or difficulties. Helping Red Band Trout: South Fork Pit River Hydropower Project Defeated GWWF was a major champion in preventing a new hydroelectric project on the South Fork of the Pit River in Modoc County which would have dewatered nearly three miles of migratory route for the Red Band Trout and seriously impacted a fine brown trout fishery. We continue to keep an eye on that remote area to ensure that these fish keep their water in case any further projects come to light. . Red Band Trout Washington DC Trip to Advocate for the Snake Salmon GWWF’s Conservation Chairperson, Cindy Charles, was invited in the Fall of 2007 to accompany the Save our Wild Salmon Coalition on a trip to Washington DC to meet with legislators about the huge problems faced by of the salmon in the Columbia-Snake River Basin in Oregon. Currently, there are four costly, outdated dams on the lower Snake River which we want to see partially removed since they are blocking passage for salmon on the brink of extinction. These dams generate very little power and are in fact used as transportation locks for barging grain downriver. Right now, fish are actually being captured and trucked around those dams at great cost since they are extremely vulnerable to being chopped up by the dams. It turns out that the Columbia-Snake River Basin salmon restoration is the most expensive endangered species recovery program underway in the U.S today. *Senator Barbara Boxer and Cindy Charles* In meeting with Congresspeople, our message was that we need to do something now to protect the salmon otherwise they will be gone within our lifetime. Twelve species of Columbia and Snake River salmon are now listed as endangered or threatened. The Snake River coho are already extinct and the Spring Run Chinook salmon are projected to disappear by 2016. Not only did we advocate the partial dam removal, to be replaced by rail transportation, but also wanted legislators to support the Salmon Economic Analysis and Planning Act which would authorize much-needed scientific and economic studies to restore the dwindling salmon populations. If the four lower Snake River dams were partially removed, a significant stretch of 140 miles of free-flowing river habitat will become available for Snake River salmon; they might be then able to travel once again all the way to Idaho, taking advantage of miles and miles of wonderfully empty, but precious salmon habitat. Right now, it is too soon to tell how successful we were in urging Congress to get involved with the stalled NMFS’ process and to take some immediate action to save this valuable fishery. However, I am hopeful that our voices were heard and am grateful for the chance to represent California anglers who care so much for the future of these great fish. Co-Chair of Salmonid Restoration Federation 2008 Conference Session The Golden West Women Flyfishers is very proud to have taken a key role in planning an important session for the 26th Annual Salmonid Restoration Federation Conference to be held in Lodi, CA March 5-8, 2008. This year’s conference will highlight California’s Central Valley fisheries and their issues which is very timely given the importance of the current San Joaquin River restoration. This restoration program is one of the largest river restoration efforts in the nation, after a win in 20 year court battle, and over 150 miles of the river will be restored. In addition, the San Joaquin’s neglected tributaries, the Tuolumne and Merced rivers stand to gain from the efforts. I am pleased to tell you that the Golden West Women Flyfishers is once again a leader in its involvement with this important conference where many fish experts will present on various cutting edge topics. We helped plan the session on Central Valley Salmon and Steelhead and we are the ONLY fly fishing club with such representation. For information about the conference, go to www.calsalmon.org. GWWF Expends Major Efforts to Protect and Restoration the Tuolumne River The Upper Tuolumne Threat In 2007, GWWF prepared comments on the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s Draft Program Environmental Report for its $4.3 billion water system upgrade. The bad news is that the Commission continues to pursue its proposal to increase diversions significantly from the Tuolumne River within Yosemite National Park in order to deliver more water to the Bay Area (mostly for landscaping and commercial growth in the Southern East Bay and SF Peninsula). The Upper Tuolumne River, which is designated as a Scenic and Wild River, has a very rich fishery, and we attended a SFPUC meeting where we went on record protesting any further water diversions. GWWF also joined efforts with the Bay Area Water Stewards, which includes the Tuolumne River Trust and the Sierra Club, to help prevent an increase in diversion. The Lower Tuolumne Threat The Turlock and Modesto Irrigation Districts are over two years behind in getting their required Fisheries Study Plan approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). That segment of river, from below the New Don Pedro Dam to above Modesto, has been much neglected and abused, yet is home to listed Central Valley Steelhead and a population of Fall Run Chinook Salmon whose numbers have dropped despite all the “studies” being done. Lower Tuolumne The situation has reached a critical point where all the parties involved--the Department of Fish and Game, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the National Fish & Wildlife Service and several conservation groups--have strongly urged FERC to make a decision on the proper and effective management and restoration of this great piece of Central Valley water. The project’s license expires in 2016, but we don’t want to wait that long before some effective actions are taken. GWWF has been active in working with the agencies and other non-governmental organizations in order to focus more attention on the Central Valley Steelhead which have been largely ignored in favor of the salmon which have been fairing very poorly. The critical issue is water flows: the Irrigation Districts control the water flows and avoid at all costs to release any more water than they have to. We all know that if the river were given adequate water flows, the water temperatures and spawning conditions would be favorable to population sustainment and expansion. GWWF has submitted several comment letters to the Commission and has met with top FERC officials in Washington, DC about the critical situation for fish in this river. Lower Merced River Rainbow Trout Restoration In 2007, GWWF lent its support of the Merced Fly Fishing Club’s proposed project of restoring a self-sustaining rainbow trout/steelhead population in the lower section of the Merced River. From the late 1960’s until 1985 the river below the Crocer-Huffman dam had an outstanding rainbow trout population. In 1984, the Department of Fish and Game made changes in how they managed the fishery in this river, by essentially switching to a single species management policy for salmon. The beginning fishing season was also changed from the traditional May opening to January 1 which wreaked havoc with out-migrant salmon smolts, and the rainbows endured extremely heavy fishing pressure from which they never fully recovered. *Merced River* The Merced’s club proposal includes planting of steelhead from the DFG in order to jump-start the population as well as to add appropriate-sized gravel into the river as spawning material for the trout, since most of the gravel present is too large for their needs. GWWF attended a meeting with the Merced Club and Department of Fish and Game to discuss the project and has been making follow-up calls to help move the project forward. GWWF Conservation Chair Receives Federation of Flyfishers 2007 Conservation Award In 2007, Cindy Charles, Conservation Chairperson for the GWWF over the past several years, received the Federation of Fly Fishers’ Conservation Award. This award is presented to an individual that has made extraordinary contributions to the conservation of our fisheries resources that are consistent with the philosophy of the Federation. She was recognized for her overall contribution to fisheries conservation which included GWWF’s involvement in stopping a hydroelectric plant on the South Fork Pit River as well as the Alameda Creek barrier removal project. Cindy was able to travel to Livingston, Montana to accept the award and also get some fishing in! Cindy accepting the Federation of Flyfishers 2007 Conservation Award GWWF Supports Educational and Conservation Groups Our club makes annual contributions to a variety of educational and conservation groups. The educational groups support children’s programs about watersheds and their inhabitants. Several of the conservation groups are working on rivers where we often go to fish and therefore we want to give something back for this pleasure. 2007 recipients include: California Sportfishing Protection Alliance • Urban Creeks Council • South Yuba River Citizen’s League • The Watershed Project • California Trout • SPAWN • Kids for the Bay • Monterey Bay Salmon & Steelhead Project • Alameda Creek Alliance • Salmonid Restoration Federation Other Conservation Activities GWWF is an active member of the Conservation Network of the Northern California Council, Federation of Flyfishers (NCCFFF) which is a group of conservation representatives from over 30 fly fishing clubs in California. Together, we work on such issues as the saving of the Sacramento Delta, the Klamath River Dam removal, and a great many other fishery issues which always seem to be on the horizon. Two GWWF members are participants of the NCCFFF Steelhead Committee. One of our members, Anne-Marie Bakker, is a member of the Al Taucher Advisory Committee which is a public forum which assists California’s Fish and Game Commission in resolutions on proposed regulations and management policies that provide a sustainable level of fish and wildlife resources for the state, as well as preserving hunting and sport fishing opportunities . Anne-Marie is also on the Board of Directors of the Northern California Council Federation of Fly Fishers. Anne-Marie and Cindy to the rescue We participate in fish rescues, when needed, in such places as Alameda Creek for steelhead and San Geronimo Creek for Coho Salmon. We also help the Monterey Bay Trout and Steelhead Project with their annual fin clipping work. They raise coho salmon in their private hatchery and the fins need to be clipped on +40,000 fry before they are released in an effort to restore populations in the Santa Cruz area. Some members have also helped on summer work parties for the restoration of Golden Trout in the Sierras. GWWF member Tina clipping fins As we look toward our future conservation work, we have the potential to do much more. I look forward to another fulfilling year of leading the GWWF's efforts to protect our fish! Cindy Charles GWWFConservation Chairperson For questions about our work in Conservation, contact the GWWF Conversation Chair Cindy Charles .