November 26, 2008

Commentary
Southern California

anglers dodge bullet in

trout stocking lawsuit

By JIM MATTHEWS
Outdoor News Service

Southern California anglers mostly dodged the bullet fired at the Department of Fish and Game’s trout stocking program. Negotiations over a lawsuit the DFG staff feared could end trout, salmon and steelhead stocking in most waters in the state turned up better-than-expected results over the past two weeks.
After negotiations with the Pacific Rivers Council and the Center for Biological Diversity, most Southern California and -- surprisingly -- Eastern Sierra waters remain on the “can stock” list.
The DFG was sued by these two groups in 2007 because it did not have a programmatic environmental impact report for its trout and salmon hatchery program. Pacific Rivers and CBD argued that an EIR was necessary to measure and mitigate for the damage the plants of hatchery fish had on native species. The court agreed and ruled in 2007 that the state agency was to complete an EIR by the end of this year to address those concerns and comply with state law, but in October the DFG asked for a one-year extension to complete the EIR.
To reduce the impact of the DFG’s delay, Pacific Rivers and CBD asked the court for interim restrictions on stocking two weeks ago. Among other concerns, those restrictions included not stocking areas where sensitive species such as California golden trout, redband trout, Kern River rainbows, Santa Ana sucker, mountain yellow-legged frog are known or suspected of occurring. Sacramento Judge Patrick Marlette issued a tentative order Nov. 7 mandating that interim changes should take place and gave the DFG until Nov. 24 to negotiate an agreement with Pacific Rivers and CBD.
The DFG staff initially feared that all stocking would have to cease, but after two weeks of talks, the damage was not as bad as first feared. The DFG released the negotiated list of “can stock” and “can’t stock” waters on Tuesday this week. While these lists are interim and could change, they are likely to be in affect at least through the end of 2009. (These lists are available on the DFG’s web site at this address.)
While many other parts of the state saw their stocking programs slashed, very few waters in Southern California and the Eastern Sierra were included on the “no stock” list.
In the Eastern Sierra, only Pine Creek and Sotcher Lake (near Devil’s Postpile) are currently on the list of waters that can’t be planted. Virtually all of the major lakes, streams, and rivers in Inyo and Mono counties can be planted with hatchery trout during this interim period.
In Southern California, only Big Tujunga Creek, both the upper and lower portions, Little Rock Reservoir, Piru Creek, and the East and West Forks of the San Gabriel River have been banned from receiving hatchery trout. All other waters normally stocked in this region can continue to receive plants.
In the Western Sierra, as suspected, both the Kern and Kaweah rivers can no longer receive hatchery rainbows in an effort to protect the native rainbow trout in these watersheds.
Other parts of the state were not so lucky. Major fishing watersheds like the Truckee, Yuba, Feather, American, and Carson rivers will have stocking banned in all or parts of their watersheds. Major fishing reservoirs and lakes like Prosser, Boca, and Donner will no longer receive plants at least through this interim period -- which includes all of next year’s spring and summer trout season.
The sad part of all this is the DFG knew this lawsuit was eventually coming years if not decades ago, but it consistently refused to listen to pleas from concerned anglers’ groups, environmental organizations, and its own scientists to look at the environmental impacts of its stocking programs. The agency has long-known that it’s trout stocking has all but wiped out native, pure-strain golden, redband, Kern River, and cutthroat trout species throughout the state. Yet plants in sensitive places continued.
The DFG didn’t error on the side of caution. It erred on the side of planting its genetic mutant trout instead of managing for wild fish that might exist in a watershed. While the stocking reductions are a hard pill to swallow in many parts of the state, it will force the DFG to once-and-for-all define recreational hatchery fishing programs and wild and native fishery programs instead of trying to mix the two together. We might even end up with better fishing because of it.


OUTDOOR CALENDAR

DECEMBER 6 LEGG LAKES FREE YOUTH FISHING EVENT: A free youth fishing derby for kids five to 15 will be held beginning 7 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 6 at Legg Lakes in the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area, South El Monte. Sponsored by the Los Angeles County Department of Recreation and Parks and the Daniel Hernandez Youth Foundation, the event is designed to give boys and girls who live in urban areas an opportunity to enjoy a fishing experience in or close to their own neighborhood. Rods and reels, tackle, bait and assistance is provided. Contact the Daniel Hernandez Youth Foundation at 562-865-3764.
DECEMBER 6 CALIFORNIA WATERFOWL IMPERIAL VALLEY FUND-RAISER: The Imperial Valley Chapter of the California Waterfowl Association will have its fund-raising dinner banquet beginning 5 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6 at the Aspen In The Desert, 595 W. Main Street, Brawley. Tickets are $40 per person. Contact Hollis Daker at 909-615-6329, Frank Bailey at 760-359-0200, or Tom Homen at 209-587-0886 for more information. Web site: www.calwaterfowl.org.
DECEMBER 6 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 2009 class date schedule has not be set yet. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
DECEMBER 6-7 CONCEALED CARRY WEAPON COURSE: A 16-hour California Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) course is being offered by Firearms Training Associates at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises this Saturday and Sunday. Cost is $180 per person. This course meets the state requirement for 16 hours of training to qualify for a CCW (not valid in San Bernardino County). This is the final date for 2008 classes. Contact FTA at 714-701-9918 or 877-544-4867 for information about this class of the 2009 schedule. The web site is www.ftatv.com.
JANUARY 5-6 BAKERSFIELD GUN SHOW: The Central Coast Gun Shows Bakersfield event will be held Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 22-23 at the Kern County Fairgrounds, Bakersfield. The 2008 dates for the Bakersfield gun shows include April 5-6, June 21-22, Aug. 30-31, and Nov. 22-23. Information at www.centralcoastgunshows.com or call 805-481-6726.

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 (HIGH DESERT CHAPTER): The High Desert Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meets 6:30 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at the Apple Valley Gun Club, 16699 Stoddard Wells Rd., Victorville. Contact Dave Recce at 760-956-7092 or Dave Halbrook at 760-553-2794.
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.
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.

[Want your event or club listed here? Send the information to Jim Matthews, Outdoor News Service, P.O. Box 9007, San Bernardino, CA 92427-0007 or e-mail it to odwriter@charter.net. Following the style used above for events and clubs makes our life easier and increases the likelihood of it being included here.]

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