Protecting and restoring California's native trout, steelhead and salmon demands a strong legislative presence in Sacramento. CalTrout and Trout Unlimited partner to provide that unified voice for fish in Sacramento -- which is why we're pleased to annouce our three key pieces of legislation were signed. Here's what passed: CalTrout and Trout Unlimited worked together to craft SB 1148, which revitalizes California's flagging Heritage & Wild Trout program, much of the funding for which disappeared during California's budget struggles.
Essentially, it ensures the limited revenues generated by fishing license sales help support our Heritage and Wild Trout program and fund our recreational fish hatcheries. SB 1148 ensures DFG's Wild Trout program will receive at least $2 million per year, funds the seven permanent staff positions lost in past years, and directs the Department to protect and enhance quality trout fisheries sustained by natural reproduction. Read the full story.
A new federal report says it will cost as much as $2.1 billion to restore the endangered steelhead trout to Southern California rivers and streams over the next 100 years.
The Ventura County Star says the 600-page report from the National Marine Fisheries says, in addition to fish, the region will gain jobs, increased tourism and an improved ecosystem from the restoration.
Recent reports by UC Santa Cruz and others have demonstrated that only ten percent of salmon returning to the Mokelumne River are wild. The balance or majority are hatchery raised. The studies report that many hatchery fish are unmarked and thus require scientific evaluation to determine their origin. Scientists have developed a method to examine the growth pattern of the otolith of fish to determine if they are hatchery or wild raised. Hatchery fish receive more food as fry and thus produce more and smoother growth rings in the otolith. This study of course has implications to all of our California salmonid rivers. See the following link to read the whole story:
http://news.ucsc.edu/2012/02/hatchery-salmon.html
El Dorado County farmers are joining a fish friendly movement which started in the Napa Valley. The movement is designed to make farmers and consumers aware of a farm's actions to improve water quality and fish habitat. Actions were taken to reduce the potential for damaging runoff to streams. Farmers are publicising the program to improve their environmental image. See the complete story in the Sacramento Bee at
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/16/4190533/el-dorado-joins-napa-sonoma-mendocino.html