Newsletter of Water4Fish.org
January, February, 2013
Bureau of Reclamation Destroys Millions of Salmon - Join the Protest
Actions by the Bureau of U.S. Reclamation have put the future of Northern California fish very much at risk again. The most immediate problem is the destruction of 20 million fall run eggs and fry in the Upper Sacramento River. In 2011 and 2012 dramatic cuts in the flows released from Keswick Dam in November and December left millions of maturing eggs high and dry and rotting along the banks of the river. Spawning adults laid those eggs in the shallow edges of the river in October when the flows were heavy. The Golden Gate Salmon Association and other groups have protested strongly and have demanded changes. Other Bureau shortcomings include its failure to implement meaningful salmon recovery projects with the annual $50 million it receives from the CVPIA Restoration fund that congress established in 1992. This money was supposed to be used to double the salmon populations. Instead, the runs have crashed. Last is the Bureau practice of draining the cold water pool at Folsom Reservoir in the summer leaving hundreds of thousands of American River wild fall run salmon to perish due to lethal temperatures in the fall
If we are to fish in the future these practices must stop. Please help by sending letters to the Bureau Management, the Water Board and Senator Feinstein. Go to the Water4Fish main menu and click on Send letters. Thousands of letters demanding action represent our best strategy. Many of you have responded in the past and we urge you to help again.
Outlook for our Major Bay Delta Fisheries
Salmon - We enjoyed a modestly good ocean and river season in 2012. 2013 also looks good but there are major questions for 2014 and 2015. Salmon do well when heavy spring flows flush them down the rivers and past the pumps. The spring of 2012 had poor water flows. The impact will be felt in 2014 when the 2012 smolts will return as adults. Don't be fooled. Our salmon freshwater problems are far from over.
Striped Bass - Similar problems to the salmon. Too much Delta pumping in the spring and not enough water flowing out of the Delta to the Bay. The striped bass fishery is now at its lowest level in history. At the current pumping level, over 1 million baby stripers are destroyed at the pump salvage facilities every year.
In Thanks for your continuing support. Water4Fish now has over 85,000 supporters who have sent letters and signed petitions.
Dick Pool - editor
Water4Fish.org P.O. Box 5788, Concord, CA 94524, email action@water4fish.org