Conservation Conversation

Conservation onversation

With Julie Ruth Haselden

Trout Unlimited is Working for Us “Trout Unlimited engages in an array of mining-related issues. We work directly with mining companies to clean up abandoned mines and create more clean water. We also engage with state and federal permitting agencies to apply policy and practices to mitigate the impacts of new mines on coldwater fisheries. In the case of a wrong mine in the wrong place – such as Bristol Bay in Alaska – Trout Unlimited strongly advocates in opposition when the threat of groundwater depletion, acid-mine drainage and potential for spills cannot be responsibly mitigated.”

~ Trout Unlimited – Journal of Coldwater Fisheries Conservation - Summer 2020

Klamath River Dam Removal This project took a big step forward recently when the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved a partial transfer of the license to operate the dams to the Klamath River Renewal Corp. (KRRC) from PacifiCorp. That said, they did not let PacifiCorp off the hook yet, and there is work to do to make this transfer complete. Additionally, we are working on full license surrender to KRRC, which will mean the project will move to completion. We are still on schedule to see removal begin Jan, 2022.

~ NCCFFI News – August 2020

Roger Wachtler’s 1st place prize winning #KEW photo of 2019

Reminder: KEEP EM WET! From the second they’re hooked to the moment of release, fish experience some level of injury and stress (in scientific terms: physiological disturbance) during fishing. Even if a fish vigorously swims away when you release it, impacts associated with catchand-release can cause negative consequences such as diminished ability to avoid predators, reduced reproductive success, and mortality due to increased susceptibility to disease.

Keep Fish Wet Principles:

Principle 1:MINIMIZE AIR EXPOSURE.

You can reduce negative impacts by keeping a fish’s mouth and gills fully submerged in water as much as possible. It’s simple - #keepfishwet

Principle 2: ELIMINATE CONTACT WITH DRY SURFACES. Fish have a layer of protective mucus (slime) and scales that protects them from disease. Contact with dry, hard, or rough surfaces (such as hands, rocks, sand, and boat bottoms) can remove slime and scales making fish more susceptible to diseases, especially fungal infections. Keeping fish in or over the water, and holding them with clean, wet hands or a soft rubber net will help keep their slime layer and scales intact and the fish disease free. Principle 3: REDUCE HANDLING TIME. Fish are wild animals and handling them (whether in a net or your hands) is stressful. If you are not going to take a photo of your fish, consider releasing it without touching or netting it; run your hand down the line and remove the hook (all the more reason to fish barbless).

Send photos of your KEEP EM WET fish to me, with location and backstory if possible. GPFF will have a contest for the most favorite photos! I will award prizes! Email photos to Julie Haselden jhaselden17@comcast.net

Note! All local volunteer work parties/ creek restoration projects are suspended until further notice due to pandemic response guidelines.

March 2019 Codornices Creek Restoration - Grizzly Peak Fly Fishers Work Party (From L to R: Dan McCormick, Ray Ronquillo, Julie Haselden and Tom Thompson).