Fall Chinook Redd Counts Above Lower Granite Highest Since Surveys Began In 1988

The Columbia Basin Bulletin
January 30, 2009

A modern-day record total of 3,322 fall chinook salmon redds were observed during 2008 late fall-early winter surveys in the Snake River basin

The count is the highest recorded since inception of intensive surveys in 1988. The redd surveys were conducted cooperatively by biologists from the Idaho Power Company, the Nez Perce Tribe, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory during 2008.

'Threatened' status urged for longfin smelt

The Sacramento Bee
By Matt Weiser
January 30, 2009

Wildlife officials have recommended adding the longfin smelt to the state's list of endangered species.

In a report filed Tuesday, the Department of Fish and Game proposes "threatened" status for the 5-inch fish under the state Endangered Species Act, citing threats from water diversions, pollution and predation by foreign fish species. The longfin is one of nine fish species in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta that have declined sharply in recent years. A fall survey concluded in December found one of the smallest populations of longfin in 42 years of monitoring. Its cousin, the Delta smelt, set a new low.

Judge won't grant stay sparing sea lions

The Seattle Times
By Joseph B. Frazier
January 29, 2009

PORTLAND - A federal judge today denied a request by the Humane Society of the United States for a stay of his order allowing three Western states to resume capturing or killing sea lions that feed on salmon at the base of Bonneville Dam.

U.S. District Judge Michael Mosman ruled in November against the Humane Society, which is trying to prevent Oregon, Washington and Idaho from killing or transporting up to 425 California sea lions over five years to relieve pressure on the spring chinook salmon run.

'Worst drought' looking likely, California official says

Contra Costa Times
By Mike Taugher
January 29, 2009

Brace yourselves: California appears to be heading into a third dry year - and the first significant drought since the early 1990s.

It could get even worse.

"We may be at the start of the worst California drought in modern history," warned Lester Snow, director of the state Department of Water Resources. "It is imperative for Californians to conserve water immediately at home and in their businesses."

Fishing Managers meet but don't set chinook season

The Oregonian
January 29, 2009

OREGON CITY -- The two-state group that sets seasons for Columbia River fisheries met Thursday without setting a season for spring chinook salmon.

The Columbia River Compact has traditionally set the season for spring chinook at its winter meeting. This year, however, the process has been delayed because the fish and wildlife commissions in Oregon and Washington have not agreed on a final allocation between sport and commercial fisheries.

Releasing the Klamath: Studies examine expected environmental costs of dam removal

The Times-Standard
By John Driscoll
January 29, 2009

Removing four dams on the Klamath River will have dramatic, short-lived effects on its often struggling fisheries, but the river will rebound quickly, according to studies recently released by the California Coastal Conservancy.

The studies conducted by Arcata-based Stillwater Sciences for the conservancy determined that the biggest problem would be the biological effects of millions of tons of fine sediment cut loose when reservoirs are drawn down to allow the dams' removal. Salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and lamprey may suffer during the months-long flush, but the study doesn't anticipate the effects to be disastrous to any species.

Mining protected as salmon dwindle

The Sacramento Bee
January 29, 2009

The California Department of Fish and Game said "no" to fish this week and "yes" to gold miners. Even though experts within DFG have said that suction dredge gold mining is having "deleterious effects on fish," including endangered coho salmon, the department declined to further restrict gold miners who use giant dredges to vacuum up rock and sand from creek and river bottoms, likely killing fish in the process.

In a petition to the state, the Karuk Indian Tribe and several environmental organizations had asked the department to curtail dredging on sensitive stretches of waterway. The department said it could not act until it completed a court-ordered review of the issue. But DFG was supposed to complete that review last July. It hasn't even begun.

Calif. scientists: fish needs more protections

The Associated Press
January 28, 2009

FRESNO, Calif.-State scientists are recommending new protections for a tiny fish native to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

The Department of Fish and Game released a study Tuesday saying the longfin smelt should be listed as threatened under the state Endangered Species Act.

Dry January worsens state's water shortages

California Farm Bureau Federation
By Kate Campbell
January 28, 2009

A deepening drought and ever-tightening restrictions on water movement leave many California farmers and ranchers facing the prospect of severe-perhaps unprecedented-water shortages in 2009.

Though they welcomed last week's rain and snow, water officials say the series of gentle storms did little to improve the state's severe drought conditions and increase overall water supplies. They say time is running out on the state's traditional rainy period and even a late season deluge likely won't produce a happy ending for this year's water story.

Port of Stockton Tenants Pollute Impaired San Joaquin River

Environment News Service
January 26, 2009

The U.S. EPA has ordered four industrial tenants at the Port of Stockton to prevent chemicals and trash from polluting the stormwater running off their sites.
Two materials recycling companies, a steel products manufacturer and a power plant are required to comply with federal Clean Water Act stormwater regulations or risk potential fines of up to $32,500 per day.

Industrial materials such as fuel, oil and debris are carried by stormwater from these facilities, which discharge directly into the San Joaquin River and the Stockton Deep Water Ship Channel and also flow through municipal storm drains running to the river, which is already listed as impaired.

DWR Schedules Second Snow Survey of 2008-2009 Season

Market Wire
January 26, 2009

SACRAMENTO, CA - The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) will conduct its second snow survey of the season at 11 a.m., Thursday, January 29, 2009, near Lake Tahoe.

Survey Location and Results

Phillips Station at Highway 50 and Sierra at Tahoe Road, about 90 miles east of Sacramento, is the manual survey location. Reporters and photographers should take snowshoes or cross-country skis and park vehicles along Highway 50.

Grim salmon forecast has Fish and Game in a quandary

NBC-KTUU News
By Jill Burke
January 26, 2009

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Fishermen along the Yukon River faced a rough year in 2008: Highly prized king salmon didn't return as planned, while less-valuable chum were plentiful, but under-fished.

Biologists warn that 2009 could be another tough year, creating quite a problem for the Department of Fish and Game -- how to protect one kind of salmon while looking out for families who also need food and income to get by.

Arnold Applauds Clean Air Waiver as He Continues War on Fish!

Indybay
By Dan Bacher
January 26, 2009

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, in a cynical move to distract attention from his war on California's fish populations and his failure to reach an accord with the Legislature over the state budget, held a press conference today in Sacramento to applaud President Obama's announcement directing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to consider granting a waiver to California for its clean car law.

"With this announcement from President Obama less than a week into his administration, it is clear that California and the environment now have a strong ally in the White House," Schwarzenegger proclaimed. "Allowing California and other states to aggressively reduce their own harmful vehicle tailpipe emissions would be a historic win for clean air and for millions of Americans who want more fuel-efficient, environmentally-friendly cars."

Repaired Delta levee leaking again

The Sacramento Bee
By Matt Weiser
January 25, 2009

A Delta levee that burst in 2004 is leaking again, though officials differ on whether to call it an emergency.

The levee on Upper Jones Tract in San Joaquin County burst along Middle River, just north of Highway 4, on June 3, 2004. It flooded the 2,000-acre tract and 2,000 more acres on adjoining Lower Jones tract.

Spring chinook impasse continues

The Columbian
By Allen Thomas
January 23, 2009

The month-old impasse between Washington and Oregon over spring chinook sport-commercial catch allocations in the Columbia River remained unclear Friday, even after Oregon approved what might be a slight compromise.

In December, Oregon adopted a base-sharing agreement of 55 percent sport and 45 percent commercial, with 5 percent negotiating flexibility. On Friday, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission agreed on a 60 percent sport-40 commercial allocation, but give agency director Roy Elicker no room to negotiate further.

Proposed Salmon-Tagging Study Seeks Better Info On Lower River Sea Lion Predation

The Columbia Basin Bulletin
January 23, 2009

NOAA Fisheries' Northwest Fisheries Science Center is seeking funding, and regional approval, for a pilot study that could lead to a better understanding of the impact predatory seals and sea lions have on spawning spring chinook salmon in the lower Columbia River.

The research would involve netting salmon as they turn into the river at Buoy 10, outfitting them with PIT tags if they are not already so equipped, releasing the fish back into the river and then counting how many make it to Bonneville Dam, about 146 river miles upstream.

Salmon press conference at ISE drops a few bombshells

The Oroville Mercury-Register
By Steve Carson
January 23, 2009

Last week's International Sportsmen's Exposition show at Cal-Expo in Sacramento featured a panel discussion on the current state of California's salmon fishery. The panel included Dr. Josh Israel of UC Davis, Barry Nelson of the Natural Resources Defense Council, Jared Huffman of the California State Assembly Sixth District and Chair of the Water (Parks and Wildlife Committee), Michael Jackson of the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, Zeke Grader of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fisherman's Associations, and Dick Pool of Water4Fish.

Extinction imminent for California salmon?

Napa Valley Register
By Guy Carl
January 23, 2009

The treasured salmon runs of California's rivers are in real danger of disappearing forever.

The return numbers for the 2008-09 spawning season are not yet final, but preliminary counts show no improvement over the previous year's dismal figures. There is every indication that the recreational salmon fishing season will remain closed for all of 2009.

Possible water canal worries Delta farmers

The San Francisco Chronicle
By Samantha Young
January 23, 2009

Mike Robinson's family has been tilling land in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta since the 1880s, growing crops in some of California's most fertile soil.

His alfalfa, hay, corn and tomatoes thrive on water pulled from the delta, the estuary that also provides water to two-thirds of the state and cropland throughout the Central Valley. How long he will be able to draw on that supply is among Robinson's chief worries these days.

Fall fish count in Delta is dismal

The Sacramento Bee
By Matt Weiser
January 23, 2009

Delta fish continue to hover at the brink of extinction, and conditions could worsen for the estuary and the economy unless winter gets a lot wetter, according to a new state survey.

Native Delta smelt, a threatened fish, is at its lowest point in 42 years of record-keeping. Two nonnative fish, the American shad and threadfin shad, also set record lows.

The findings were in the state Department of Fish and Game's latest fall population survey of Delta fish species, which concluded in December.