by Chris Shutes and Gary Bobker First published as guest commentary in Maven’s Notebook, September 13, 2026 The latest chapter in the Trump Administration’s war on California opened on September 3 and 4, 2026, when the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation– which operates the largest water project in California – and Westlands Water District – the…

Bay-Delta Plan released: On August 19, 2026, the State Water Board released the almost-final version of the update of the Bay-Delta Plan. The Plan allows the vast majority of water right holders in the Bay-Delta watershed from Stockton north to skate under “voluntary agreements” that marginally increase flows compared to existing conditions. Comments on the…

For two years, I did not fish once. For someone who spends most of his waking life trying to make conditions better for California’s fish, this is not the desired condition. I had the chance to partially correct this sorry situation this August when I returned to the Bridgeport (Mono County) area to fish a…

The spike-toothed salmon (Oncorhynchus rastrosus) was a roughly 7-foot-long species that lived along the Pacific Coast and Japan five million years ago. This history of this species, particularly its evolution and extinction, reveals that it is difficult to predict the results of climate change.  Data from spike-toothed salmon fossils, reviewed with information from biological studies…

Last month, I was back in the Silver Fork American River watershed, roughly 6 miles east of reaches covered in my previous article. The outing inspired me to write a sequel. But before I give you the skinny on the trip’s fly-fishing adventures, there is a bit of business to discuss. The Silver Fork American…