Conservation News
Let's Look to the Future
By Dougald Scott
Let's Look to the Future
By Dougald Scott
Do you think there are fewer fly fishing opportunities now than fifty years ago? How about fifty years from now, will there be even fewer? If you answered yes to both questions, sadly, you're probably right. Unless current trends change, I'm afraid our great grandchildren will never experience the joy and satisfaction of a well-presented fly to a wild fish. That they may miss out on this breaks my heart.
Stop to think, why are there fewer fly fishing opportunities now than fifty years ago, or even ten years ago? I can think of four main reasons: pollution; water development; population; and habitat degradation or removal. These reasons are interrelated. You can't solve one without addressing the others. For example, we can't solve the water problem without addressing how to supply water to an ever growing population.
In other columns, I've talked a lot about water issues and how they affect fish in California. I've also addressed population issues and habitat degradation. Undoubtedly these issues will continue to threaten fish populations and fishing opportunities, and I will continue to report on them as best I can.
What I want to discuss in this column is pollution. The largest source of pollution and contributor to environmental degradation is the burning of fossil fuels. In addition to contributing to numerous respiratory disorders, it is the principal contributor to global warming. It may well have the single greatest effect on fly fishing in the future, not to mention the quality of life for future generations.
What is our government doing to address this problem? In the energy bill just passed in Congress and signed into law by the President, nearly $32 billion goes into fossil fuels while $6.4 billion goes to renewable sources. Before you think "well that's at least $6.4 billion going to help solve the global warming problem," think again. More than $2 billion of it goes to ethanol subsidies and research. Unfortunately, substituting ethanol for gasoline does not result in a significant decrease in greenhouse emissions.
A positive inclusion in the energy bill is $12.4 billion for research and development in energy efficiency. This includes more than $3.5 billion in tax breaks toward more efficient homes, appliances and cars. The less energy used, the fewer greenhouse gases entering the atmosphere.
What about a long-term program to slow atmospheric pollution and global warming? We need to replace the burning of fossil fuels with clean, renewable sources of energy production. Unfortunately the energy bill provides very little relief in this area.
What is needed is a massive effort to research and develop alternative energy. The goal is doable, but will require a bipartisan commitment and a lot of money. For about the same amount of money that goes into government subsidies to the coal, oil and gas industries, such a program could be launched. Think about the benefits:
1. Cleaner air. This relieves many health issues such as childhood asthma. It also leads to cleaner aquatic habitats and a cleaner environment in general.
2. Lowering of greenhouse gases and slowing global warming.
3. Less dependence on foreign oil, especially from the Middle East.
4. Jobs. It is estimated that two to four million high quality jobs would be created by such a program.
LetŐs look to the future and ensure a safe, clean environment for those who follow us. And hopefully, our great grandchildren will have the opportunity to fly fish for wild trout.
NEW ZEALAND MUD SNAIL UPDATE
As noted in last month's Catchy Releases, Formula 409 Degreaser/Disinfectant proved to be effective in killing NZMS. Make sure to use Formula 409 Degreaser/Disinfectant...not regular supermarket 409. (It turns out that there are a dozen types of 409, each with a different chemical formulation).
The only effective way to use the Formula 409 Degreaser/Disinfectant is total immersion for 5 minutes in a 50% dilution. Spraying the solution onto your wading gear doesn't work. A field test using the 409 mixture in a spray application resulted in half the snails surviving after five minutes.
Formula 409 Degreaser/Disinfectant may be purchased locally at:
Coast Paper Supply:
151 Josephine St. (Off of River St.) in Santa Cruz 423-3350
The cost is $48.28/case (four1 gallon jugs) or $12.07 for a single 1 gallon jug.