Conservation News
SCFF Conservation Grants For 2007
By Dougald Scott
SCFF Conservation Grants For 2007
By Dougald Scott
In keeping with our club's dedication to conservation of our fisheries resources, each year we set aside a significant part of our budget to go to worthy conservation organizations. Prior to 2006, we distributed $2,500, but because of budget uncertainties, the Board decided to disperse $2,000 in 2006. With this year's improved budget situation, the Board allocated $5,000 for conservation.
This year the Board decided to immediately distribute $2,800 and reserve $2,200 for conservation projects that may come up during the year. Our goal is distribute the money where it will do the most good, both at the local, state and national level. Here are the organizations and amounts that the Board has allocated $2,800 for immediate distribution:
Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project. $500
The Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project is a nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to the restoration, conservation, and enhancement of native wild silver (coho) salmon and steelhead populations. This organization continues to do important work locally, and we have supported them for a number of years. I'm convinced that coho salmon would now be extinct south of the Golden Gate were not for the restoration efforts of this group. They also work with biologists at NMFS and CDFG on important research projects on steelhead and salmon. They have a superb education outreach program for elementary schools throughout the greater Bay Area. With only one paid employee, virtually all of our contribution goes into helping local fish and habitat.
Coastal Watershed Council. $500
The Coastal Watershed Council is a nonprofit organization committed to the preservation, protection and management of coastal watersheds through establishment of community-based watershed stewardship programs, education and community outreach. They continue to play a critical role in the central coast of California by providing watershed monitoring and educational programs focusing on salmonid streams: Snapshot Day; Urban Watch; Clean Streams; and watershed assessment of Aptos Creek. Without the data this organization provides, improvement of our local stream habitats would be much more difficult.
California Trout. $300
California Trout's mission is to protect and restore wild trout, native steelhead and the waters they inhabit throughout California, and to create high quality angling opportunities for the public to enjoy. Although great fishing has been restored, protected, or made possible by much of CalTrout's work, it is not a fishing club or organization. Rather, quality angling is an outcome of their primary focus: to improve the health of the state's watersheds, rivers and lakes. Bottom line, CalTrout is a water company for fish. They keep the water flowing and keep the resource healthy through their participatory work in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) dam relicensing process, protecting the public trust, reforming grazing on public lands, expanding the wild trout program, and recovering decimated steelhead populations statewide.
McCloud River Redband Trout Project. $300
Orvis is working with California Trout, timber companiesÑthe primary private landowners in the areaÑand others to restore genetically pure strains of McCloud River redband trout and their degraded habitat. Conservation strategies include: genetic monitoring and collection to gauge the extent of hybridization; improving fish passage through culvert alteration; creation of "fish ladders;" stream bank restoration; and outreach programs to empower the community and its visitors to be environmental stewards and ensure the health of this fish and its habitat. Our contribution will be matched by Orvis, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and California Trout, which will quadruple our contribution.
California Sportfishing Protection Alliance. $300
CSPA is an alliance of sport fishing groups seeking administrative and legal remedies to restore degraded fisheries and guard against threats to those that are still in good shape. CSPA effectively stands before the State and Regional Water Boards, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). These are the agencies that set standards for stream flow and water quality. CSPA is an agency watch dog, demanding compliance with environmental regulations and proper stewardship of public trust assets. They are instrumental in working with NCCFFF, CalTrout, and other fish conservation groups in the Central Valley water relicensing battles. It was their lawsuit that brought about the recent court decision that Delta pumping must follow guidelines that will protect the Delta fisheries, or shut down completely.
SLV High School Watershed Academy $300
This is a very impressive program of science education and hands-on watershed conservation. It serves students who have an interest in outdoor science and at-risk kids who might well otherwise drop out of school. There are two tracks for the Academy curriculum. The first is Watershed Honors for college bound students. It includes all of the advanced high school science classes through AP Biology, and calculus or statistics. The other track includes Environmental Science and Restoration Ecology in addition to Integrated Science. Some of the program activities include: salmonid census at the Felton Diversion Dam (Rubber Ducky) during the winter months; rearing steelhead fry from the MBS&TP for release into Fall Creek (just a short walk from the lab); many field trips to lakes, streams, hatcheries, forests and beaches; and an Aquaculture Program where students learn to grow fish (talapia, sturgeon and koi) and complementary aquatic plants in large tanks, they then sell the fish and plants to local pet stores as an ongoing fund raising activity.
Friends of the River. $200
Friends of the River was founded in 1973 during the struggle to save the Stanislaus River from New Melones Dam. Following that campaign, the organization grew to become California's statewide river conservation group. Friends of the River is dedicated to preserving, protecting, and restoring California's rivers, streams, and their watersheds. The organization accomplishes its mission by providing public education, citizen activist training and organizing, and expert advocacy to influence public policy decisions on land, water, and energy management issues. They have lobbied against increased pumping in the Delta, worked to protect 31 miles of Cache Creek, and successfully lobbied for minimum flow standards in the Lower American River. In addition, they continue to work on flood management, and public education programs. Closer to home, they have recently joined with Ventana Wilderness Alliance to include nine rivers and creeks in the Santa Lucia Mountains (Monterey/San Luis Obispo Counties) the Wild and Scenic Rivers Program.
Mono Lake Committee. $100
The Mono Lake Committee is a non-profit citizen's group dedicated to protecting and restoring the Mono Basin Ecosystem; educating the public about Mono Lake and the impacts on the environment of excessive water use; and promoting cooperative solutions that protect Mono Lake and meet real water needs without transferring environmental problems to other areas. Since 1978, the Mono Lake Committee has fought to protect Mono Lake from excessive water diversions to Los Angeles. Through litigation, legislation, cooperation, and most importantly, public support, their efforts have been successful in restoring fisheries in several eastern Sierra streams and in halting the decline of the Mono Lake ecosystem.
Sempervirens Fund. $100
The purpose of Sempervirens Fund is to preserve and protect the natural character of California's Santa Cruz Mountains and to encourage appropriate public enjoyment of this environment. Together with the State of California, the Sempervirens Fund has identified thousands of acres of unprotected lands within the proposed expansion boundaries of Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Butano State Park, Castle Rock State Park and Portola Redwood State Park. As they are able to acquire these lands, they transfer them to the parks system for public recreational access and permanent stewardship. Sempervirens Fund, along with the original Sempervirens Club, has successfully saved over 21,000 acres of redwood forest lands in the Santa Cruz Mountains. These lands are now preserved in perpetuity, mostly as public parklands, and are available for recreation and inspiration, today and for future generations.
Trout Unlimited. $100
Trout Unlimited's mission is to conserve, protect and restore North America's coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. Some of TU's recent accomplishments include: Securing permanent protection of 140,000 acres in California's Sierra Nevada in the Pacific Gas and Electric bankruptcy settlement; negotiating a water deal that permanently sets aside 10,000 acre-feet of water in Montana's Bitterroot River; coordinating the Trout in the Classroom program, which teaches children in more than 100 schools about the importance of healthy aquatic ecosystems; and mobilizing hunters and anglers to ensure responsible use and lasting protection of the nation's public lands.
American Rivers $100
Through national advocacy, innovative solutions and our growing network of strategic partners, American Rivers protects and promotes rivers as valuable assets that are vital to our health, safety and quality of life. American Rivers led the fight to protect the Columbia River's endangered salmon and steelhead. They also help to organize the highly successful National River Cleanup Week. Their annual "America's Most Endangered Rivers" report has brought attention to American rivers that are in trouble and in immediate need of help. Our own Pajaro River took the dubious honor of 2006's Most Endangered River.
Our club's support of these outstanding conservation efforts contributes to sustainable fish populations and habitat for future generations. We can be proud of our effort.