Habitat improvement project on the Calaveras River below Hogan dam. The chapter will partner with the National Marine Fisheries Service, California DFG, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Stockton East Water District and the US Army Corps of Engineers to improve habitat for anadromous fish in the so-called Trail of Skulls reach of the Calaveras River. Project planning and community outreach will begin in winter 2009. The Chapter plans on submitting an Embrace-a-Stream grant proposal for this project, after the assessment is complete.
Due to Department of Fish & Game scheduling issues involving another species of native trout, DFG currently has been unable to finalize their week-long 2011 Golden Trout Project projects. They DO have scheduled two USFS week long trips. DFG might be announcing a trip or two later that would probably occur in September. Please note that because of the high water levels in the Eastern Sierra this season, the Monache weekend fence work trip has been bumped into July. Please look over the information below and see what interests you or if you know someone who might be interested, please forward this information.
Click the "Read More" link for details on individual projects...
Thanks for your interest in helping California's state freshwater fish and we hope to see you on stream this summer! If you have questions, please contact Howard E. Kern, Volunteer Project Coordinator, California Golden Trout Restoration Project, (805) 405-9635(cell).
You can register on-line for all of the trips at: www.californiagoldentrout.org
14th Annual TRUCKEE RIVER DAY
2009 marks the 14th year of Truckee River Day. Each year since 1996, hundreds of volunteers have participated in numerous restoration projects throughout the Truckee River watershed. Truckee River Day has had huge support from the community and visitors since its inception. The first Truckee River Day was launched on 3 weeks of planning, and 400 volunteers came to help out. Ever since then, volunteer numbers have ranged from 400-800. Truckee River Day is still going strong!
Truckee River Day will be on Sunday, October 18, 2009. Several exciting restoration projects are planned, including work in the Davies/Merrill watershed, Perazzo Meadows, Martis Valley, Tahoe Donner, Coldstream Canyon, on the Truckee River Legacy Trail and other locations. There will be activities appropriate for the whole family. Pre-registration is required – and will open in September 2009.
The Dept of Fish and Game is looking for volunteers to assist with their genetics study of the Redband Trout in the Alturas area. The study will be conducted in 60 streams in the upper Pit River drainage, Warner Valley and Goose Lake areas. The Shasta Trinity Flyfishers Club has members currently volunteering, but DFG can use more. Sampling techniques include backpack electrofishing, and hook & line. This study is expected to be completed by the end of 2009.
Since this work can be demanding, volunteers should be in good physical condition. You will be asked to work from Mon-Fri, provided waders and will be paid per diem from DFG. Lodging in Alturas is closest to the work.
Anyone interested in volunteering, please contact Bill Jong, DFG, Heritage & Wild Trout Program at (530) 225-2062. Let Bill know that you are from our Chapter. If you do volunteer, also please contact John Sikora of our Chapter to report your experiences. He can be reached at (916) 502-2433 and will prepare a summary of your experiences for our Chapter newsletter.
by Sean Paul Golden, Chapter Member
On California Arbor Day, March 7th 2009, volunteers are needed to help plant up to 150 trees of all sizes, reforesting with native oaks in Elk Grove from 9 - noon. This is a wonderful event for families, teens and children. Sponsored by the Sacramento Tree Foundation, this will be the second year of Arbor Day planting with a goal to plant 5 million trees in the Sacramento Region by 2025. This initiative is called Greenprint, and is a partnership comprised of 22 cities and 6 counties to double the tree canopy over the next 40 years.
From an angler's perspective you know that trees are beneficial for not only water and air quality but also bug production/ life cycles with potential impacts to local fisheries. My vision is to get local fishery oriented conservation groups together, along with the Sacramento Tree Foundation, in hopes the Tree Foundation and its network of major partnerships (SMUD, City and County of Sacramento, and The Center for Urban Forest Research) will help plant our local watersheds and educate our local anglers. Stronger organized conservation efforts will help protect, educate and rebuild our local damaged fisheries.
Take a break from your tying bench and your local stream on March 7th and help plant a tree - your local fishery will reap the benefits.
[For further information, visit the Sacramento Tree Foundation website at www.sactree.com or contact Sean at 530-305-1423. If you are unable to participate March 7th, plantings at 2 other sites will occur March 21st.]