volunteers planting trout in the Kern River.

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Kern River Hatchery volunteers planting trout in the Kern River.

Latest situation:

KERN RIVER FISH STOCKING ISSUE UPDATE

At 11am, Wednesday, February 10^th, California Department of Fish & Game volunteer, Mike Mencarini, released several of the 1,050 pounds of rainbow trout into the Kern River, along with retired DFG employee, Ted Panos, right. Many volunteers, residents and business owners were out at Kernville’s Riverside Park to witness the event that is making residents, tourists and business owners thankful after they have not stocked the river with fish in 15 months.

Bakersfield Californian 2-11-2010: Trout in river bring cheers from nearby businesses, lawsuit from environmental group & CORRECTION by Noah Greenwald of the Center for Biological Diversity

Statement on Kern Stocking from Noah Greenwald, Center for Biological Diversity
------------------
On 2/12/2010 8:17 AM, Noah Greenwald wrote:
We are challenging the EIR/EIS over impacts to Native Species. According to Dr. Peter Moyle, the Hardhead Minnow, which is the only known species of concern in the Kern below SCE Fairview Dam, is apparently doing okay in the presence of extensive stocking. There is thus currently a low likelihood of harm to native species in this reach. We are not planning to seek an injunction to stop stocking the Kern River at this time.

Noah Greenwald, M.S.
Endangered Species Program Director
Center for Biological Diversity
PO Box 11374
Portland, OR 97211
503-484-7495

Assemblymember Jean Fuller arranged for a meeting with Governor Schwarzennegger’s Chief Deputy Legislative Affairs Secretary John J. Moffatt (who grew up in the Kern Valley) and DFG Director John McCamman and other DFG top management staff to discuss the resumption of stocking the Kern River with a contingent representing the Kern River Valley on Wednesday, February 10th. DFG resumed stocking the Kern River exactly 1 hour before the meeting.

Left to Right at the Governor's office at the State Capitol 2-10-2010: Retired District Ranger Dave Freeland, Assistant to Supervisor McQuiston Judy Hyatt, former Friends of the Kern River Hatchery president Jim Hunt, Kernville's Chris Brayman, Assemblymember Jean Fuller, KRV Chamber president Rex Emerson, Kernville Chamber president Jill Thurman, Kern River Valley Revitalization representative Richard Rowe. 

SF Chronicle 2-11-2010: Watchdog's suit says hatchery fish hurt natives

2-10-2010: Lawsuit Filed to Protect Native Fish and Amphibians from Hatchery Fish Stocking by the California Department of Fish and Game

The Final DFG Hatchery Operations EIR/EIS was released on January 11, 2010.

What happens when an EIR is completed?
Key sections of the Final EIR/EIS:
Appendix K - Mitigation Strategies for Effects of Fish Stocking [8 page 2995 kb PDF file ]
Appendix M - Responses to Comments [1,256 page 6.2 mb PDF file]
More information & FAQs about DFG's hatchery programs, related studies & the EIR/EIS

Plaintiff's press release following release of final EIR/EIS
Center for Biological Diversity 1-18-2010:
California Fish & Game Releases Flawed Report on Fish-stocking Impacts, Fails to Propose Measures to Protect Native Fish

Example letter to Judge Patrick Marlette

Jim Hunt, past president of Friends of the Hatchery, asks a pointed question
about the proposed mitigations included in Alternative 2, the DFG’s preferred
alternative that recommends continued stocking of trout in the Kern River.
Also at issue, at the Oct. 28 meeting in Bakersfield, was DFG’s lack of
analysis of the economic impact the court-ordered prohibition is having on the valley.

 See more details here Kern River Fish Stocking Issue (updated frequently)

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Maria Rivas with a hatchery-raised Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) which had been planted in the N fork of the Kern River by the Kern River Hatchery. Riverside Park, Kernville with the Long Beach Casting Club on 11-4-06. Photo: Guy Jeans.

KRVR posts the following information to inform residents of the Kern River Valley about this issue. KRVR has not taken a formal position on this issue as yet.

The situation as we understand it:  

• In 2006, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Pacific Rivers Council filed a lawsuit against California Department of Fish & Game (DFG) claiming that DFG's fish stocking operation did not comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
• In May 2007 the Sacramento Superior Court ruled in favor of the Center for Biological Diversity and the Pacific Rivers Council against the DFG that stocking hatchery fish has a “significant environmental impact on native species of fish amphibians and insects”.
• The DFG was ordered to conduct an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) by the end of 2008. In October, 2008, the DFG told the court that they would not be able to complete the EIR until January 2010. In response, the Court ordered DFG to work Center for Biological Diversity and the Pacific Rivers Council to negotiate an agreement by November 24, 2008 where stocking can take place until DFG’s completion of the required EIR.
• As of November 24, 2008, the DFG was temporarily ordered to stop stocking hatchery trout in 175 streams, lakes and reservoirs across California, including most of Kern River (see map & list at the bottom of this article). See Sacramento Superior Court's Tentative Ruling PACIFIC RIVERS COUNCIL, et al., v. CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME, Case No. 06 CS 01451
• The plaintiffs had a list of 25 species (below) which, if present, they would not agree to allow stocking of trout. This was the basis for the list of waters that were allowed or not allowed to be stocked. 
  

  List of 25 species
  
  
• There are exceptions. Stocking will be allowed in reservoirs larger than 1,000 acres, which includes Isabella reservoir (surface area: 11,000+ acres), and smaller lakes or ponds not connected to rivers or streams including Ming Lake, Truxtun Lake and River Walk Lake in Bakersfield, Woollomes Lake near Delano & Hume Lake in Tulare County. This may change over time. Current information on the lists of waters and new developments are available on the DFG website: www.dfg.ca.gov including Fish Stocking Program Will Continue Following Court Order & Bodies of Water that will be stocked by DFG 11/24/2008 thru1/1/2010.
• The Kern River is currently not allowed to be planted because it contains one of the 25 sensitive species on the list, the Hardhead Minnow (Mylopharodon conocephalus). The Kern River above Kernville and below Isabella to the mouth of the Canyon also contains hardhead, and the court order for not stocking also includes that entire portion of the river.
• Dr. Peter Moyle of UC Davis is recognized as the foremost authority on inland fishes in California. He supports taking the Hardhead Minnow off the list of species that are negatively impacted by trout stocking. He is working with DFG representatives in negotiations with the plaintiffs in this case. Dr. Moyle researched & wrote CalTrout’s excellent report SOS: California's Native Fish Crisis, released 11-18-2008. Formed in 1970, CalTrout is the nation's 1^st statewide conservation group supported by trout fishermen with an altruistic goal: to protect & restore trout and the beautiful places where they live.
• DFG has plans to raise the Kern River Rainbow (Oncorhynchus mykiss gilberti) at the Kern River Hatchery. They would be allowed to plant that fish, if it were available now. BUT, that program is 3 to 5 years away from happening. The fish currently being planted by DFG are generic hatchery raised Rainbow Trout.
• The DFG is still fighting to get the Kern River back on the list of waters to be stocked.
• If the N. Fork of the Kern River is not restocked, it will be ‘fished out ’ very quickly according to DFG fish biologists & local KRV fishing experts.
• A local Kern River Valley ad hoc committee on the Fish Stocking Issue is headed by Jim Hunt of the Friends of the Hatchery, PO Box 901. Kernville, CA 93238-0901. Jim can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or (760) 376-2895.
  
• Jim Hunt’s Letter to Friends of the Hatchery 12-8-08
• The Friends of the Hatchery circulated a PETITION which has now been forwarded to elected officials.
• IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING - Write a letter! For a list of names/addresses, click on FISH STOCKING ISSUE ACTION ALERT 1-23-09

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John Davis, owner of Kernville’s River View Lodge, speaking to Assemblymember Fuller; DFG Staff Fisheries Biologist Jim Starr standing.




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Staff Fisheries Biologist Jim Starr standing, Assemblymember Jean Fuller seated; KRV resident This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , speaking.

 

On Friday, April 17, Assemblymember Jean Fuller, (R-Bakersfield) hosted a public forum to discuss fish stocking of the Kern River by Department of Fish and Game. Many people spoke, including This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , President Friends of the Hatchery,Sherian van Matre, and John Davis, owner of Kernville’s River View Lodge, who stated that his business is down 30% due to the impacts of the fish stocking ban in the Kern River. As a direct result of the meeting

2009 KRV TROUT FESTIVAL CANCELLED

Kern Valley Sun 4-21-09: Fish & Game tagged, 'disingenuous'/

At the 5-6-09 KRVR Community Meeting This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it made an update & gave out this 17 page detailed handout, including e-mails with plaintiffs.

5-14-09 Press Release: DFG Announces Changes to List of Water Bodies to b Stocked Kern River No good news: South Fork (Kennedy Meadow in Tulare County) added to the list of waters that will NOT be stocked. No change on N Fork of the Kern River (still not being stocked).

DFG is currently developing a joint EIR/EIS that is anticipated to be finalized by January 2010. Check DFG Hatchery Operations EIR/EIS Page for information. DFG staff indicates that a Draft EIR/EIS is scheduled to be available in early June 2009 [now early August 2009]. You can e-mail DFG’s Fisheries Branch Sacramento James A. Starr This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to ask to be notified about the Hatchery EIR/EIS process.

KBAK-TV 29 6-2-09: Kern River Valley fights to resume trout releases
Communities in the Kern River Valley say they're being hit hard by a ruling that stopped the stocking of Rainbow Trout in the Kern River. Businesses say it is keeping tourists away. Fishing groups say the ban makes no sense.

 

6-29-09 Letter from Friends of the Hatcher President Jim Hunt to California Secretary for Natural Resources Mike Chrisman on the Kern River Fish Stocking Issue.

7-31-09 Response from California Secretary for Natural Resources Mike Chrisman to Friends of the Hatchery President Jim Hunt to on the Kern River Fish Stocking Issue.

7-3-09 Letter from Friends of the Hatcher President Jim Hunt to California DFG Director Donald Koch on the Kern River Fish Stocking Issue

7-29-09 Response from California DFG Director Donald Koch to Friends of the Hatchery President Jim Hunt to on the Kern River Fish Stocking Issue