July 2, 2009

Commentary
Many Southern California
sportfish have elevated
levels of mercury, PCBs

By JIM MATTHEWS
Outdoor News Service

     Fish in many freshwater lakes and reservoirs tested in Southern California have highly elevated levels of mercury and some fish also have high levels of PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), according to a report issued by the State Water Resources Control Board in May. The levels are high enough to set off alarm bells for health officials, but anglers aren’t being asked to stop eating their catch.
     Yet.
     The report gives data from the first year of a two-year study being conducted by the SWRCB and represents the largest survey ever done on contaminants in sportfish from the state’s lakes and reservoirs. The first year of data showed methylmecury and PCB levels in commonly consumed sportfish -- catfish, largemouth bass, bullhead, and carp -- are likely to be very high in many waters, and anglers should be prudent about eating these fish and follow some simple, common-sense guidelines until the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) gets more data that might lead to official health advisories and warnings.
     “It’s a red flag, for sure, but it’s not a storm warning,” said Dave Clegern, a spokesman for the SWRCB. “People should be concerned, but not panicked. We certainly don’t want to discourage people from eating fish because it is an important part of a healthy diet.”
     The preliminary results show that it’s very likely that many, if not most, of the major fishing reservoirs in the region have levels of mercury that eventually will require some health advisories.
     For example, Lake Silverwood’s largemouth bass were found to have .48 to .49 parts per million (ppm) of mercury in their muscle flesh. The OEHHA threshold for a recommendation of no more than three servings per week is just .07 ppm, and OEHHA would consider recommending no consumption if levels exceed .44 ppm, which the Silverwood fish did. Sante Fe Reservoir’s bass had levels at 59 ppm, Hansen Dam bass were at .49 ppm, and Lake Piru at .46 ppm. Castaic, Casitas, and Pyramid all had levels between .29 ppm and .39 ppm in their bass during this preliminary testing.
     For PCBs, OEHHA recommends that no fish be consumed if the levels are 120 parts per billion (ppb), and the threshold level when no more than three servings per week are recommended is only 3.6 ppb. Pyramid Lake has PCB levels as high as 416 ppb in brown bullhead, and largemouth bass levels were 66 ppb. Silverwood Lake’s largemouth bass had levels from 55 ppb to 131 ppb, with the higher number in bigger, older fish.
     Are these numbers alarming to health officials?
     “We sort of lead with, ‘fish are good food’ because of the potential for health benefits [by eating fish], but you just need to make some smart choices,” said Dr. Robert Brodberg with OEHHA.
     Dr. Susan Klasing, also with OEHHA, explained that anglers need to know the problems associated with both mercury and PCB consumption and just be smart about how much fish they eat, how often, the size and species of fish, and what parts of the fish are eaten. Anglers need to be cautious until the public health agency has more data.
     “With methylmercury, the part of the population we’re really trying to protect is the fetus -- and women who might become pregnant,” said Klasing. Mercury affects the fetus and children’s neurological development as their brain grows, and studies have shown that children exposed to mercury in the fetus and early years can have problems, sometimes serious, at high exposure levels.
     Mercury stays in the body a long time. While it is shed slowly, its half-life is 40 to 70 days. High levels can remain in your system more than a year after initial consumption, which is why most warnings talk about limiting the number of servings per week, so levels don’t continue to build up in a person’s system. In cases where mercury levels become too high, even adults can begin noticing initial symptoms, such as numbness and tingling extremities. But most anglers who have an occasional meal of fish, at even the highest levels of mercury in this study, will not face problems. Pregnant women or women likely to become pregnant would be wise to avoid fish from most local waters for the duration of pregnancy and while nursing, and young children also face far more risks than adults.
     Anglers can also avoid some mercury by sticking with smaller fish for the table or focusing on species that are not at the top of the food chain. Striped bass, largemouth bass, and other predatory fish that make a living eating smaller fish, accumulate more mercury than fish like bluegill, carp, or even catfish. Young bass have less than old bass. At Santa Fe Reservoir, bass had mercury levels of 59 ppm, while carp in the same water had levels at .12 to .16 ppm. At the Castaic Lake lagoon, the bass had .18 ppm mercury readings, but the redear had between .02 and .03 ppm, below the threshold level.
     Mercury appears to be widespread in Southern California waters, likely spread in the atmosphere from industrial and mining operations around the world, but local watersheds with mining operations also seem to have more mercury than other waters thanks to runoff. Lakes at higher elevations and smaller, isolated lakes that don’t receive water from major water projects or significant runoff also seem to have lower levels of mercury.
     PCBs are known carcinogens (cancer-causing) and emerging studies are showing they can also have neurological impacts on humans. They are dangerous at very low levels, with health recommendations at parts-per-billion levels rather than parts-per-million. PCBs also stay in the human system longer than mercury. But anglers can avoid most PCBs in fish by not eating fatty tissue and skin, where PCBs accumulate. Fatty fish with marbled flesh (like carp), make this task more difficult. While predators seem to accumulate more mercury than insect and bottom feeders, PCBs build up more in bottom-feeding fish, with carp and catfish generally having higher levels than bass and stripers.
     The good news is that PCBs showed up less in the testing than mercury, but it seemed to be pervasive in Southern California, more than in other regions of the state. PCBs are known to concentrate in areas where there has been historic use and maintenance of electrical equipment, and there is far more in and around urban centers.
     OEHHA’s Brodberg said that anglers who ate “a lot of striped bass every week” from a water known to have high mercury levels was pushing the envelope, but that anglers that fished in different waters and ate a variety of fish species and sizes were less likely to have problems.
     The initial year of the monitoring program can best be described as a well-designed, shotgun-approach to testing, with waters selected from throughout the state that represent groups of similar lakes and reservoirs, and then the fish most-likely to accumulate contaminants in these waters were tested. The preliminary data likely represents a worst-case scenario for each water, but the fish sampled are also very representative of the types of fish anglers are likely to pursue and eat. Anglers need to take precautions now while more data is being evaluated and collected.
     “The survey has shown us where we need to focus in the future,” said Clegern with the SWRCB. “This problem is not going to go away.”
     The first-year report is from data gathered in 2007. In that year, the study team collected over 6,000 fish from 150 lakes and reservoirs statewide. The team sampled another 130 lakes in 2008. Results from this second round and a more in depth analysis of possible trends will be available in a final report early in 2010.
     For anglers who want to look up individual lake data on places they fish, all this information is in the 295-page study’s appendix, and the full report is available on-line at this website: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/swamp/lakes_study.shtml.

OUTDOOR CALENDAR

     JULY 6-7 MLPA PUBLIC COMMENT MEETING: Public comments on the “Round 2” draft proposals developed for marine reserves in Southern California will be taken at two meetings next week. The first is Monday, July 6, at the Simons Banquet Center, Ports O Call Village, Berth 80, 1050 Nagoya Way, San Pedro (310-514-1050), and the second will be Tuesday, July 7, at the Marina del Rey Hotel, 13534 Bali Way, Marina del Rey (310-301-1000). For more information, go to www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/.
     JULY 11 NORCO HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises, Norco. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $35 per person. The remaining 2009 class dates are Aug. 15, Aug. 22, Aug. 29, Aug. 30, Sept. 12, Oct. 3, Oct. 10, Nov. 7 and Dec. 12. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
     JULY 11-12 DEL MAR GUN SHOW: The Crossroads of the West Del Mar Gun Show will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, at the Del Mar Fair Grounds, Del Mar. Admission is $10. The next Del Mar gun shows will tentatively be on Oct. 3-4, and Dec. 12-13. Information, directions, and $1 off coupons available at www.crossroadsgunshows.com.
     JULY 16 RIVERSIDE QUAIL UNLIMITED FUND-RAISER: The Riverside Chapter of Quail Unlimited will be hosting its annual fund-raising dinner beginning 6 p.m., Thursday, July 16, at Vince’s Real Italian Spaghetti Restaurant, 1206, W. Holt Blvd., Ontario. Cost is $25 per person. For information or reservations, contact Ron Gibbons at 909-902-9814 or via e-mail at gibbent@gte.net.
     JULY 18 YOUTH SAFARI DAY: Help expose youngsters who've never had a chance to experience the outdoors by rounding up neighborhood kids, inviting single moms, and bringing your own clan to the 14th Annual Youth Outdoor Safari Day, where they can learn to fish, rock climb, shoot .22s and shotguns, kayak, make quail calls, and identify wildlife. Registration begins at 7 a.m., Saturday, July 18 at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises in Norco. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
     AUGUST 12 DOVE TUNE-UP SHOOT AND BARBECUE: The San Gabriel Valley Chapter of Quail Unlimited will have a dove tune-up shoot and barbecue beginning 6 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 12, at Triple B Clays, 831 Rosemead Blvd, South El Monte. (Where the 60 freeway crosses Rosemead Blvd.) The group will also have a drawing for a two-day dove-hog hunt at the Chimineas Ranch, a Department of Fish and Game wildlife area. Those who can’t attend the shoot can still purchase raffle tickets for the hunt. Information at www.qu.org, or via e-mail at sgvqu@onebox.com, voicemail or fax at 866-206-9070 x6715.
     AUGUST 15 NORCO HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises, Norco. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $35 per person. The remaining 2009 class dates are Aug. 22, Aug. 29, Aug. 30, Sept. 12, Oct. 3, Oct. 10, Nov. 7 and Dec. 12. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
     AUGUST 15-16 COSTA MESA GUN SHOW: The Crossroads of the West Costa Mesa Gun Show will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, at the Orange County Fair and Event Center (Orange County Fairgrounds), Costa Mesa. Admission is $10. The next Costa Mesa gun show will tentatively be Nov. 28-29 (Thanksgiving weekend). Information, directions, and $1 off coupons available at www.crossroadsgunshows.com.
     AUGUST 20 CALIFORNIA WATERFOWL ASSOCIATION CHINO FUND-RAISER: A fund-raising dinner for the California Waterfowl Association will be held beginning 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 20 at the Chino Fairgrounds, 5410 Edison Avenue, Chino. Cost is $65 per person or $105 per couple. Contact Jim Morton at 909- 391-6512 or go to www.calwaterfowl.org for an event flyer.
     AUGUST 22 NORCO HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises, Norco. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $35 per person. The remaining 2009 class dates are Aug. 29, Aug. 30, Sept. 12, Oct. 3, Oct. 10, Nov. 7 and Dec. 12. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
     SEPTEMBER 5-6 BAKERSFIELD GUN SHOW: The Central Coast Gun Shows Bakersfield event will be held this Saturday and Sunday at the Kern County Fairgrounds, Bakersfield. The remaining 2009 date for the Bakersfield gun show is Nov. 21-22. Information at www.centralcoastgunshows.com or call 805-481-6726.
     SEPTEMBER 12-13 VENTURA GUN SHOW: The McMann’s Roadrunner Gun Show will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, at Seaside Park, Ventura. Admission is $9. The next Ventura gun shows will be Sept. 12-13 and Nov. 7-8. Information, directions, and $1 off coupons available at www.mcmannsroadrunner.com.
     OCTOBER 3-4 DEL MAR GUN SHOW: The Crossroads of the West Del Mar Gun Show will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, at the Del Mar Fair Grounds, Del Mar. Admission is $10. The next Del Mar gun show will tentatively be Dec. 12-13. Information, directions, and $1 off coupons available at www.crossroadsgunshows.com.
     OCTOBER 24-25 ONTARIO GUN SHOW: The Crossroads of the West Ontario Gun Show will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, at the Ontario Convention Center, Ontario. Admission is $10. The 2019 slate of shows in Ontario has not be set yet. Information, directions, and $1 off coupons available at www.crossroadsgunshows.com.

CALENDAR RESOURCES

     For a complete list of HUNTER SAFETY CLASSES held throughout the state, including times, dates, and locations, go to the Department of Fish and Game’s web site at this address: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/classes.aspx.
     For the rules and regulations on GRUNION RUNS, along with a complete schedule and the expected times of the runs, go to this web site address: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/gruschd.asp

CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS

     The following is a list of hunting, shooting, and fishing clubs and organizations in Southern California with contact information and regular meeting dates:
     976-TUNA ROD AND REEL CLUB: The 976-Tuna Rod and Reel Club meets 7 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at Bass Pro Shops, Rancho Cucamonga. At the December meeting a free trip to Palmas de Cortez in Baja will be given away. Contact Phil Friedman at 310-328-8426.
     CALIFORNIA STATE VARMINT CALLERS ASSOCIATION: The California State Varmint Callers Association meets 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at the Denny's just north of the 210 freeway at Irwindale Ave., Irwindale. Contact Steven Childs at 626-407-8826 or steve@sdchilds.com. Web site: www.csvca.com.
     CANYON OAKS SPORTSMAN’S CLUB: The Canyon Oaks Sportsman’s Club meets the first Tuesday of every month at it’s clubhouse in Lakeview Terrace-Sylmar. The club has regular trap, skeet, smallbore, big bore, handgun, and Cowboy Action shooting events. Contact Gary White at 818-998-7240, Mike Totta at 818-362-2181 or Mike Nickoloff via e-mail at idpamike@yahoo.com.
     CERRITOS ROD & GUN CLUB: The Cerritos Rod & Gun Club meets the second Wednesday of each month at Heritage Park in Cerritos. Contact Charles Sharp at 714-317-8290 or fish_90605@yahoo.com.
     CLUB FISH: Club Fish, a 20-year-old fishing club, meets 7:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Izaak Walton League Clubhouse, Santa Ana. The clubhouse is located at the entrance to Riverview Gold Course. Contact Mike Cross at 949-854-5258 or m_r_cross@yahoo.com.
     DEEP CREEK FLY-FISHERS: Deep Creek Fly-Fishers meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Izaak Walton League clubhouse in Fairmont Park, in Riverside. Go to www.deepcreekflyfishers.org to download a map to the club house. Contact Brett Browning at 909-793-8912.
     HIGH DESERT FLY-FISHERS: The High Desert Fly-Fishers holds its monthly meetings on the second Thursday of each month at The Apple Valley Fire Conference Center, 19235 Yucca Loma, Apple Valley. Contact John Rose at 760-247-5966.
     HIGHLAND PARK SPORTSMEN'S CLUB: The Highland Park Sportsmen's Club meets at 8 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of each month at 2035 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles. Contact Mauro Garcia at 323-254-0763 or incareal@juno.com.
     NATIONAL VARMINT HUNTERS: The National Varmint Hunters meets 7:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Veterans of Foreign Wars club located on Grand Avenue, just west of 17th Street, Santa Ana. Contact Mark Harris at 714-655-6954 or mhitis1@yahoo.com or Terry Mathers at 714-299-9938 or coyote@jps.net.
     NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION (INLAND EMPIRE CHAPTER): The Inland Empire Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meets 6:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at Bass Pro Shops, 7777 Victoria Gardens Lane, Rancho Cucamonga. Contact David Halbrook at 760-694-1191 or nrajrc@msn.com.
     NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION (ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER): The Orange County Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meets 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at The Firing Line, 17921 Jamestown Lane, Huntington Beach. Contact Pat Ryan at 714-373-3688 or Casey Rasmussen at 714-377-5859.
     ORANCO BOWMEN: The ORANCO Bowmen meet the second Tuesday of each month at the club range, 17504 Pomona Rincon Rd., Chino (Euclid Avenue one block north of the 71 freeway). The range is open to the public on Sundays 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 909-597-7582. Web site: www.oranco.org.
     ORANGE COUNTY BASS CLUB: The Orange County Bass Club meets 7 p.m. the third Monday of each month at the Garden Grove Elk's Lodge. Contact Steve Pendergast at 949-651-8172 or prendergasts@netzero.com.
     PLUNGE CREEK COWBOYS: The Plunge Creek Cowboys, a new Cowboy Action Shooting club in the Inland Empire, has shoots the third Saturday of each month at the Inland Fish and Game range on Orange Street in East Highlands. Authentic or replica firearms and garb required. Information: www.plungecreekcowboys.com.
     PREDATOR CALLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY: The Predator Callers of Orange County meet 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month at the Denny's restaurant, 7490 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach. Contact Rickey Macy via e-mail at rickmacey@juno.com.
     QUAIL UNLIMITED (HIGH DESERT CHAPTER): The High Desert Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at the Apple Valley Gun Club. Contact Cruz Garcia at 760-949-6334 or fathercruz@verizon.net.
     QUAIL UNLIMITED (ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER): The Orange County Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at the Izaak Walton League Clubhouse (located at the entrance to Riverview Golf Course) in Santa Ana. Contact Craig Riedel at 714-282-1194 or criedel@mflex.com.
     QUAIL UNLIMITED (RIVERSIDE CHAPTER): The Riverside Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 7 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at Prado Olympic Shooting Park, 17501 Pomona Rincon Road, Chino (one block west of Euclid, just off the 71 freeway). Contact Ron Gibbons at 909-902-9814 or gibbent@gte.net. Web site: www.quriverside.com.
     QUAIL UNLIMITED (SAN DIEGO CHAPTER): The San Diego Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month at DFG Headquarters at 4949 Viewridge Rd., San Diego. Contact David Preddy at davidpreddy@cox.net or visit www.sdqu.org.
     QUAIL UNLIMITED (SAN GABRIEL VALLEY CHAPTER): The San Gabriel Valley Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at Triple B Clays in El Monte. Contact Tim Bovard at 866-206-9070, ext. 6715 or sgvqu@onebox.com.
     REDONDO ROD & GUN CLUB: The Redondo Rod & Gun Club meets 8 p.m. every Thursday of every month at its own clubhouse. The club has promoted hunting, fishing, sport shooting and the outdoors since 1948. The clubhouse is located at 2023 Vanderbilt Lane, Redondo Beach. Contact 310-379-7772.
     RIVERSIDE VARMINT CALLERS: The Riverside Varmint Callers meet 7 p.m. the last Saturday of each month at Flo's Country Kitchen, Riverside. Contact Lance Cochrane at 909-919-4309 or Ray Gauthier at 951-785-4986. Web site:www.californiavarmintcallers.com/chapters.html/.
     SAN DIEGO SPORTING DOG CLUB: The San Diego Sporting Dog Club meets 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Animal Medical Center, 600 Broadway, El Cajon. Contact Steve Sarmiento at 619-659-9393 or sssarmi@sbcglobal.net.
     SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA VARMINT CALLERS ASSOCIATION: The Southern California Varmint Callers Association meets 8 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at the Denny's Restaurant at Pioneer Blvd and Imperial Highway in Norwalk. Contact Granville Crow at 310-548-6221 or crowshot1@cox.net or Skip Gildner at 562-900-9020 or mtnhigh5@excite.com.
     TEMPLE CITY SPORTSMEN: The Temple City Sportsmen meet the first Thursday of each month at the Temple City Civic Center in Temple City. Contact Jim White at 626-201-7782 or TCSPresident2006@yahoo.com. The club’s web site is www.tcsportsmen.org.
     TURNER'S OUTDOORSMAN ROD AND REEL CLUB: The Turner's Outdoorsman Rod and Reel Club meets 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at Marie Calendar’s Restaurant, 2300 Foothill, Pasadena. Contact Richard Crowe at 626-960-9610.