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NorCal Fishing Guides and Sportsmen's Association Mission Statement
NorCal Fishing Guides and Sportsmen's Association is a Northern California organization of fishing guides and sportsmen working together to protect and increase the fishing and guiding opportunities in the Northern California Water Ways!
We are currently working to make sure the salmon collapse is going to be fixed so all of California's salmon fishermen will be back to salmon fishing as soon as possible. If this problem is not fixed soon, salmon fishing on the Sacramento River will be LOST forever!
2008 Disaster Relief Aide - from the "California Salmon Coucil" website
The California Salmon Council (CSC) under the direction of the California Department of Fish & Game (DFG) assembled an Advisory Committee to develop a first draft recommendation for the 2008 Commercial and Recreational Salmon Fisheries Disaster Program. The DFG took the Council's recommendations and worked with the governments of Oregon and Washington to create a uniform set of criteria for the three impacted states. The following California plan is posted here for public view.
The CSC will assist the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) to distribute the 2008 disaster funds in accordance with the plan when it is officially approved by the Federal Government. Please see the PSMFC cover letter and the 2008 Disaster Relief Criteria Plan below:
PSMFC memo regarding relief plan
Criteria and relief distribution information
Visit the "California Salmon Council" website
Governor Schwarzenegger Proclaims Drought, Calls For New Dams
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger used his press conference at the on Tuesday at the State Capitol, where he signed an executive order proclaiming a drought in California, as yet another opportunity to campaign for his plan to build more dams and improve "conveyance"- a euphemism for the construction of the peripheral canal. ‹ Click to Read More ›
Ban The Pumping
The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, along with the adjoining rivers, are facing an ecological crisis caused by government policies and inaction. Over-pumping is widely believed to be the root cause of catastrophic decline in the numbers of various fish indigenous to the region. As well as salmon and crabs, this includes the Delta smelt, a fish that is endemic only to the Northern California Delta.
The Detrimental Effects Of Over-Pumping
Giant pumps have been systematically destroying the waters in which many species of fish and wildlife live. The smelt is perhaps the hardest hit because of its short lifespan (typically 1 to 2 years). Figures from the 2007 spring survey counted just 25 juveniles, a massive 92% drop from the record low set in 2006. Because many of the fish only live to spawn once before they die, this leaves a very short time span for positive action to be taken.
Endangered Smelt And Salmon
The smelt, along with endangered salmon, are listed on the endangered animals list meaning that the pumping is a gross violation of the Endangered Species Act. Even though the courts have been taking some action more recently, this action may be too late unless we continue to fight against the unlawful pumping and various other factors that are contributing to the degradation of our fish.
A Loss Of Natural Habitat
Water diversions and dams are removing the water in which our fish live. Obviously, without this water, the inhabitants of the rivers and the delta will continue to suffer. Smelt already look set to become extinct while salmon striped bass and other endangered and unusual species of salmon and other fish will continue to decline.
Degradation Of Natural Habitat
High temperatures, harmful toxins, pollution, and destruction of the natural habitat continues to be compounded. Governor Schwarzenegger has released a state water plan that makes no provisions whatsoever for the protection of indigenous fish. Two new reservoirs and a canal will, in fact, be more likely to increase the downfall of their habitat by channeling yet more water away from the rivers.
Unlawful Action By State And Federal Agencies
State and Federal agencies continue to ignore the fish. The Bureau of Reclamation has signed 50 year contracts that ignore them. The U.S. Department of Interior increases Delta exports so that the fish are the only real losers. While all of these changes are made, no heed is paid to the Central Valley Project Improvement Act, which was designed specifically to protect the fish.
Positive Action Is Needed
The only way to prevent the situation from worsening any further is to take action. By joining our petition your voice can join with tens of thousands of others and give us political weight. Legislators will be lobbied by the fishing groups in order to demand action and the more names we have accumulated, the greater the weight of that action.
Help Us Restock Our Waters And Protect The Fish
The willful destruction of the Delta and rivers has got to such a state, that action needs to be taken in order to reverse it. Simply stopping pumping is no longer enough. We need the courts to demand increased mitigation under the mitigation bill so that we can begin to restock the region's waters before it is too late. We can do this, but we need your help.