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Conservation Corner
by Robin Egan
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Report from January, 2008 Conservation Meeting:
A group of us met briefly at the January general club meeting. Thanks to all who participated. The general consensus is that we want to find local causes to focus on for this year.
Ron Otto brought up the FERC Yuba-Bear/Drum-Spaulding/Rollins re-licensing and the need for getting involved, however we don’t yet know to what extent we can participate. Ron may present more information on possible donations for the project at the February conservation meeting. For those who are as lost as I was when this was mentioned, Ron provided this brief history and explanation of this potential project:
“Since the Gold Rush, cold clear water has been brought down from the Sierra for use in the surrounding valley and foothills for mining, and when the mining played out, for agriculture, domestic use, and later for hydropower. Significant agricultural, domestic, and hydropower use continues. This water plays a vital role in the health of anadromous streams from the Dry Creek system to the Lower Yuba--and is a crucial element in sustaining coldwater fisheries and habitat. There are no guarantees that this water will continue to flow in the way that it has. But with hydropower generation comes federal regulation and licensing; Nevada Irrigation District/NID and Pacific Gas and Electric/PG&E are coordinating their Federal Energy Regulatory Commission/FERC re-licensing processes. With the ongoing FERC re-licensing of the Yuba-Bear/Drum Spaulding Projects, we have the opportunity to profoundly affect these streams in our local area for up to 50 years. 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. Salmon and steelhead have long been present in the Dry Creek system, Auburn Ravine and Coon Creeks, although their populations appear in several cases to be greatly diminished. This is an ideal opportunity for the Granite Bay Flycasters to become actively involved with the FERC re-licensing, and, possibly, with a local project or projects. Aside from support with letters and review and preparation of FERC-related communications, if anyone can attend meetings held during the work week and participate on behalf of GBF it would help a lot. We've begun preliminary discussions with a local fishery biologist about a possible project or projects, and I may have more specifics to present for the February GBF conservation meeting if things progress quickly enough. Information on FERC hydro re-licensing and access to NID/PG&E's FERC-related websites can be found through the FWN site, http://foothillswaternetwork.org/ Project time schedules, meetings, proposed studies, and process flow diagrams are located on the NID site. Planning for Western Placer stream studies is set for 2008. The process moves swiftly, so we need to be "in the loop" and heard when it matters!”
OK, so on with the rest of the story… Tom Pettey is willing to head up the scholarship program. He will contact Ken Davis about UC Davis and look into Sac State and Sierra College as possible candidates as well. And, last but not least, I’ve volunteered to write the conservation articles for the Leader.
Due to the limited time, congestion, interruptions and noise, it was very difficult to hear at the general meeting, but I’d like to thank Rick Radoff for providing extra time at the break for us to meet. It was agreed that the committee would meet on the same night as GBF, at the Raley’s store on Douglas Blvd at Rocky Ridge (next to Target) 5:30 – 6:30PM. This will give us one hour and if more time is needed we can continue at the Club House. John Carroz volunteered to reserve the meeting room, and he will also attend the January board meeting. Until next time, Robin Egan - Tggr514@yahoo.com |
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