Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3707 March 16-30, 2018 | Page 7

March 16 - 30, 2018 VOL.37 • ISS. 07 Hey Dan! — Letters To The Editor COVER STORY 7 Established 1982 What’s on your mind? Do you have something you’d like to share with us and our readers? A picture... a story... a question to ask, or an answer to another? Let’s hear your compliments, or your gripes! Whatever it is, send it to: HEY, DAN!, c/o Fish Sniffer Publications, The Fish Sniffer - P.O. Box 776, Colfax, CA 95713, or you can now e-mail it at danielbacher@fishsniffer.com. Please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope for the return of pictures or text. Thanks! Legislation Introduced to Increase Fishing Participation in California Declining participation rate harming wildlife funding, outdoor tourism and jobs Hey Dan! February 28, 2018 (Sacramento, CA): Assemblyman James Gallagher of Yuba City introduced Assembly Bill 2465 which aims to increase fishing participation throughout the state by collaborating with the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) to identify and remove barriers to sport fishing that have con- tributed to a significant decline in the state’s participation rate and sport fishing license sales. The California Sportfishing League, the state’s leading advocate for recreational an- glers, will serve as the bill’s sponsor. This bill establishes a panel of sportfishing leaders tasked with developing a strategic plan to Retain, Recruit and Reactivate angler participation, otherwise referred to as an “ R3 Stakeholder Group.” The goal of this group is to develop and approve recommendations for removal of those barriers, and submit to the Legislature a report containing the approved recommendations. “California’s fishing participation rate has declined to “dead last” in the Nation, and developing solutions that increase participation in outdoor recreation is long overdue,” said Assemblymember James Gallagher. “Growing fishing participation is critical to the state and for communities that depend on recreational fishing for outdoor tourism and jobs.” Annual fishing license sales have declined over 55% since 1980, while the population has increased over 60%. This has had a consider- able negative impact on funding for the DFW’s conservation and hatchery programs. In 2017, the California Fish and Game Preservation Fund, funded by hunting and fishing licenses, experienced a $20 million deficit. Absent an influx of new revenue, future deficits are pro- jected for years to come. “There is a growing recognition among wildlife agencies all over the country that new and innovative approaches are needed to make fishing more affordable and accessible,” said Marko Mlikotin, executive director of the CSL. “Passage of this bill will introduce more Californians to the joy of fishing and the great outdoors.” When California has one of the costliest fishing licenses in the U.S., combined with increasing limitations on when and where one can fish, it comes as no surprise that Califor- nia’s fishing participation rate ranks dead-last in the U.S. (per capita). Consequently, annual license sales have declined over 55 percent since 1980, a time when annual licenses cost a mere $5 a year. Assemblymember James Gallagher is also the author of AB 986, legislation that will establish a 12-month fishing license, and discount hunting and fishing licenses for Cali- fornia veterans. The California Sportfishing League is a nonprofit coalition of recreational anglers, and small business owners devoted to protecting access to recreational fishing. Recreational fishing contributes over $4.6 billion annually to California’s economy, a major contributor to outdoor tourism and jobs. To learn more visit www.savefishing.com or Twitter @CASportfishing. ~Marko Mlikotin, Marko@save- fishing .com Hey Marko! Thanks for sponsoring this bill designed to increase fishing participation throughout the state. This legislation is long-overdue. As California increases limitations on when and where one can fish, I agree with you that it is no surprise that California’s fishing par- ticipation rate ranks dead-last in the U.S. (per capita). We need to increase fishing opportunities and participation, not decrease them. I hope this legislation passes through the Legislature and is signed by the governor. ~Dan CALIFORNIA-NEVADA EDITION “The No.1 Newspaper Dedicated Entirely To Northern California Sportsmen!” Published By NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ANGLER PUBLICATIONS, INC. The Fish Sniffer P.O. Box 776, Colfax, CA 95713 Toll-Free (833)-347-4661 www.fishsniffer.com CAL KELLOGG’S E-MAIL: calkellogg@.fishsniffer.com EDITORIAL E-MAIL: danielbacher@.fishsniffer.com MWD Looking to Get Control of First Delta Tunnel and State’s Water Distribution Hey Dan! On February 27 at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) Bay-Delta Committee meeting, General Man- ager Jeff Kightlinger and Assistant General Manager Roger Patterson revealed that Gov- ernor Brown, the State Water Contractors, and the Department of Water Resources (DWR) have been part of discussions to move forward with the first tunnel of the phased-in CA Water- Fix project, while keeping quiet about specifics of a potential second tunnel. In addition to contributing to half of the State Water Project share of the tunnel project, MWD is considering the creation of a separate joint-powers authority (JPA) to pay for the Central Valley Project share of the tunnel, providing it can achieve favorable contractual guarantees from the state to control water de- liveries and repayment terms for the project. Mr. Kightlinger explained during a question period that Santa Clara Valley Water District staff is presenting an option to the Santa Clara Valley Board to consider co-financing an $11 billion single tunnel as part of the phased-in project. He also explained that Westlands Wa- ter District has indicated interest in purchasing wheeled water (water that is moved and resold from project to project) from a project financed by Metropolitan Water District. Kightlinger also mentioned that Governor Brown wants de- cisions made by MWD and other key players within a two-week period. MWD board members expressed deep concern about Kightlinger’s goal of a board action vote taking place this April before the supplemental Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is completed, and before the State Water Resources Control Board diversion criteria and permits are determined later this fall. Restore the Delta’s executive director Bar- bara Barrigan-Parrilla said, “There is so much to unpack for the public from what was revealed today at MWD’s Bay-Delta Committee meeting. On the surface, it is clear that the California Department of Water Resources is moving forward with a two tunnels application for the change in the point of diversion to secure a State Water Project right for MWD, who will become the finan- cier and operator of the project. California’s water management is being gamed to give the majority of power over watershed management throughout the state to Metropolitan Water Dis- trict. The state is abdicating its responsibility to manage water for all people in California as a public trust resource.” ~Nora Kovaleski, Restore the Delta Hey Nora! I greatly appreciate this alarming news about Metropolitan Water District’s plan to seize control of the first Delta Tunnel and Cali- fornia’s water distribution system. We must do everything in our power to stop this plan from becoming reality. ~Dan Lenny Slender and Joe Dodge hold up a pair of awesome San Pablo Bay stripers that gobbled up herring during a recent trip with Captain Chris Smith. Big stripers have been popping up in many different areas. Anglers fishing San Pablo and Suisun Bays are getting their fish on cut baits gen- erally while targeting sturgeon. In the West Delta, anglers fishing with live baits are routinely hooking fish that range from 20 to 40 pounds and guys fishing well up the Sacramento River in the Colusa area are landing and re- leasing some massive 30 to 45 pound fish while tossing a variety of different swimbaits. Photo courtesy of CAPTAIN CHRIS SMITH, Happy Hooker Sportfishing. ...SUBSCRIPTION QUESTION? 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