Thursday, February 9, 2006

GBF Meeting Speaker

Dave Lentz

Fishery Biologist

California Dept. of Fish & Game

Wild & Heritage Trout Programs

Challenges and Opportunities for California Wild and Heritage Trout

Dave Lentz is a Fishery Biologist working for the California Department of Fish and Game as the Trout Management Coordinator.  Dave has worked with the DFG’s Wild Trout Project since 1989.  As the Project Leader, Dave coordinates wild trout management statewide, working with other DFG wild trout specialists. One of the Wild Trout Program’s responsibilities is to conduct a statewide inventory of trout streams and to monitor wild trout waters.  Other activities include monitoring fishing on trout waters and recommending special angling regulations for wild trout fisheries.  To accomplish stream surveys DFG wild trout biologists work with other biologists from state and federal agencies and with volunteers, mostly from the affiliated clubs from the two California Councils of the Federation of Fly Fishers, The Wild Trout program manages over 1,170 miles of streams and 20 lakes.

Dave acquired his background in aquatic ecology while studying and working in Montana, Wyoming, and Utah.  He studied at Montana State and Utah State Universities and has worked in environmental consulting, for a university research laboratory, and for the State of California.  This work has included experience in water quality monitoring and research, environmental assessments of development projects, water rights, and fishery management.  As a college student, Dave was fortunate to work summers for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Yellowstone National Park.  In this world-class wild trout setting Dave was inspired by and learned about wild trout biology and management.

Dave will talk about California Department of Fish and Game’s trout fishing programs. Dave will provide an update on the status of the Wild and Heritage Trout Programs.  He will provide information concerning new legislation and DFG efforts that affect trout angling.  He will talk about some of the upcoming issues facing our wild trout resources and things that may affect our future wild trout angling.  Come to the meeting with questions about California trout fishing and your favorite waters.