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Conservation Corner
by Robin Egan
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Once again, it is May and this is California’s Water Awareness Month. Have you reduced your urban water usage by 20%, per the Governor’s recent request in his emergency drought proclamation? Here are a few simple things you can do:
For more water-saving tips, see the California Water Awareness Campaign website at www.wateraware.org.
Our April conservation committee meeting had 4 members in attendance, during which we discussed the proposed distribution of our remaining conservation funds.
SPECIAL PROJECTS —As of this writing, there are 7 of us signed up to participate in Creek Week 2009.
At the Kiene’s Expo, I had the opportunity to speak with Kevin Mather of Sac-Sierra TU about a joint effort on some special projects. Looks like they’ve found several things that they could definitely use extra bodies for. Kevin will be at our June conservation meeting, and has invited me to attend one of their board meetings to make the arrangements. More to come as things develop…
Classroom Aquarium Education Program (CAEP) – Please contact Frank Stolten or Rick Radoff if you have questions about this program.
EMERGENCY FISH RESCUE / VOLUNTEER SURVEY TEAM – We are up to 25 members on this list! If you aren’t on it, I will have a sign-up sheet at each general meeting. This is a list for all levels of volunteer work. Could be as simple as handing out bottled water to those doing manual labor, or counting fish, or doing the manual labor itself. Thank you for participating!
I had the opportunity to use the list for a recent DFG electroshock survey, but unfortunately, there wasn’t anyone able to participate this time around. Keep checking your e-mails for these notices… this will be the preferred method of communication.
STATUS REPORT on current legislation — AB1253 was introduced 2/27/09 by Assembly Member Fuller, to be heard in committee April 28, 2009: Existing law regulating fishing imposes various restrictions on the take, transport, and sale of specified fish, including striped bass. Existing law, until January 1, 2010, requires the funds generated by the imposition of a Bay-Delta Sport Fishing Enhancement Stamp or validation to be deposited in a separate account in the Fish and Game Preservation Fund, to be used solely for the long term, sustainable benefit of the primary Bay-Delta sport fisheries, as specified, including the striped bass fishery.
· This bill would prohibit a person from possessing, importing, shipping, or transporting in the state, or placing, planting, or causing to be placed or planted in any water within the state, striped bass. · The bill would subject any person who violates that prohibition, or who resists, delays, obstructs, or interferes with its implementation, to a civil penalty of not less than $500 and not more than $10,000. · The bill would require the Department of Fish and Game to adopt regulations to carry out those provisions. · The bill would delete striped bass from various existing provisions restricting the take, transport, and sale of specified fish. · The bill would delete the striped bass fishery from the fisheries for which Bay-Delta Sport Fishing Enhancement Stamp revenues are to be used.
CSPA (California Sportfishing Protection Alliance) has taken a position against this bill. You can see their press release at: http://www.calsport.org/cspa3-6-09.htm. I have written the appropriate letters on behalf of GBF against this bill as well.
There is also a petition that you can sign at www.saveourstripers.org. It started out as just businesses, but now individuals and groups can sign on as well. I have already signed on GBF, as well as myself.
As of this writing, this bill is scheduled to be heard in the Water, Parks & Wildlife committee on April 28th. Stay tuned to our webpage for up-to-date info.
The next conservation committee meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 5th at 7:00 PM at the Round Table Pizza in Granite Bay (Douglas Blvd at Auburn Folsom Rd). Final Discussions on distributions remaining for our 2008-09 budget will continue. As always, all are welcome to attend.
~Robin Egan (916) 396-0030 |
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