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Coalition Opposes Efforts to Repeal Suction Dredge Mining Moratorium
CSPA and a coalition of fishing and environmental groups submitted comments to the California Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee opposing SB 657 (Gaines). The bill would repeal the current prohibition on the use of suction dredge mining equipment, which was approved by the California Legislature in 2009. Suction dredging destroys critical fish habitat and…
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My Take on The Benefit Bass Tournament
Before blast off, I tied up to a dock because I didn’t want the wind to ping-pong me against the other participants drifting in the slough. John Sherman and partner, Ric Rudgers soon tied up to the same dock and almost wide-eyed, John said “what are we doing here?” Charlie Gonzales and I blasted off…
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DFG Caves Yet Again; Capitulates on Striped Bass Protection
On 17 March 2011, U.S. District Court Judge Oliver Wanger approved a settlement agreement between the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) and the Coalition for a Sustainable Delta regarding the Coalition’s lawsuit over DFGs striped bass fishing regulations. The Coalition, a group of water agencies attempting to deflect attention away from the export…
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DFG Releases Suction Dredge EIR, Schedules Public Meetings
The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has released the Draft Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) for its Suction Dredge Permitting Program. In 2009, a judge suspended the Program until DFG completed environmental review of the highly controversial program, as part of a lawsuit filed by a coalition of environmental and fishing groups including…
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Salmon Returns a Mixed Bag
In February, the California Department of Fish and Game released its Grand Tab (linked below) of Chinook salmon escapement in the Central Valley. Central Valley fall-run Chinook salmon returns increased this past year; aided by improved ocean conditions, export pumping restrictions and a trucking program that transports juvenile salmon around poor in-river and Delta conditions. …
