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Conservation Corner
by Robin Egan
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Report from February, 2008 Conservation Meeting:
Wow! It’s almost March already! Unfortunately, Ron Otto was not able to join us this month, so we couldn’t have further information and discussion on the FERC re-licensing issue.
A member at the general meeting had asked about the “8,000 steelhead per mile” statement in our last article. I just wanted to clarify that the statement was included in information I quoted from an e-mail sent to me by Ron Otto. The actual statement was “Our primary focus has been on the streams of Western Placer County, including Dry Creek, Secret Ravine, Auburn Ravine, Coon Creek, and others. These streams have exceptional resources which deserve our protection. In addition to rich riparian habitat, surprising fishery resources--with potential for restoration--are present (e.g. DFG recently sampled and reported near 8,000 steelhead trout per mile in reaches of Auburn Ravine).” I will look into this further to verify the sampling and provide the information at the next general meeting.
The main topic for discussion during our meeting on February 14th was Roseville’s Earth Day / Creek Week. It looks like GBF Creek Week volunteers will not be doing a clean-up this year because a city crew is now removing trash year-round from Roseville open spaces. Our members will be asked, however, to volunteer to remove unwanted non-native aquatic plants from a pond area near Miners Ravine Creek or Linda Creek. Water hyacinth, widely distributed because of its large purple flowers, has tremendous growth and reproduction rates and its free-floating mats cause substantial problems. We will put on our waders and pull out plants from the water after a heavy equipment operator has loosened the vegetation. The removal date has not been set, but will be either Saturday, April 27th or earlier that week. The activity, lasting about 4-hours, should be enjoyable and satisfying since it will help improve the creek. GBF member Dave Baker is working to firm up the date for the removal.
At the conservation meeting in February we did not get anyone to head-up the "GBF Table on Earth Day" proposal. If a volunteer steps up to lead the activity on Wednesday, April 19th, GBF can host a kid's fly-tying table and/or explain the salmon/steelhead egg-rearing program at the Roseville's Earth Day/Creek Week event to be held at their new Utility Exploration Center. We would want to feature GBF's Classroom Aquarium Education Program since many teachers are expected to attend this event. Holding Earth Day at the new Roseville Utility Exploration Center should bring a lot of people to the event.
Last, but not least, the Conservation Committee is looking into doing some repair work at the Bear River area this summer. More information will follow as we get the plan going. We will continue to have our meetings at 5:30pm on the night that GBF meets (2nd Thursday). We are looking into a place closer to Auburn-Folsom and Douglas. Check the website for the latest information.
One last note: Volunteers for these projects/activities do not have to be on the conservation committee or attend the committee meetings to be volunteers. More of us as club members, should get involved in these activities. This is our chance to give back to the environments in which we so enjoy fly-fishing. Many hands make light work! The more of us there are, the less time it takes to make a big impact on these areas. For more information, you may contact John Carroz at (916) 783-0802 and jwcarroz@surewest.net, or me at (916) 396-0030 and Tggr514@yahoo.com. Participation is the key! ~ Robin Egan |
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