Conservation Corner

September 2005

by

Heath Wakelee

We continue to look for good flyfishing/trout related conservation projects that the Club can become involved with and contribute some sweat equity.  The Coon Creek fish ladder turned out to be too technical for us, and the feeling of the committee that went out to look at the project was that we could put our time to better use on other projects. We have, therefore, decided not to pursue the proposed project at Coon Creek, but that does not preclude us from looking at other opportunities along Coon Creek.  

In another Leader article, Bill Hagopian talks about the Sunrise Isolation Pool Removal Project along the American River.  We are all invited to help on October 1st to remove the natural ponds that form at low water levels and trap the salmon fry before they are able to move downstream. This is a  good, worthwhile project for a Saturday morning.

Ken Davis will be looking for volunteers to help with another New Zealand Mud Snail (NZMS) boot cleaning test that he will conduct in the near future. The NZMS has invaded Putah Creek and we need to prevent the spread of that algae eating snail from infesting other waters.

Ken will also be asking for volunteers to help with Water Hyacinth removal near the intersection of Douglas Blvd. and Sierra College Blvd. Near the new Safeway Grocery store, the Water Hyacinth has invaded a pool that drains into Linda Creek and then into Miners Ravine.  If we don't stop this non-native invasive plant now, it may spread to some very productive salmon water.  When Ken calls for help, please come!

Another Ken Davis project is working on a test for the EPA to determine the effectiveness of dried Water Hyacinth roots in arsenic removal. It turns out that the plant naturally removes arsenic and there is a lake in the Grass Valley area that the EPA may want to test the theory on a large scale.  More about this later, but it would be a win/win if we could help remove a non-native invasive plant and turn the waste to good use.

Heath Wakelee
VP Conservation

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