So eh, where's Caltrout?

[Ed Wahl]

Well folks, for those that give a rat, the FERC relicensing for the Middle Fork American River Project goes on. It's now into the negotiation stage with PCWA.

Our own Bill Carnazzo is the main man for our side on this. He's attended all the meetings and understands all(or at least most) of the science involved.
He's an attorney who's ready and willing to fight for his water.

And we are going to get better flows, for both wet and dry years in the concerned streams.

When it's all said and done we should rename one of the canyon streams after him.

We're all kind of disappointed in the big 'trout' groups though.

CSPA has been a strong resource. Lot's of advice and technical help. They've been down this road and have the experience to prove it.

TU helps kind of, they have a local rep who's really good keeping a close and personal watch on the activities. But no real national level lawyer type help.

I'm sad to say, as a member, that Caltrout has been completly absent. No reps at the meetings, no advice, no nothing.

This after I contacted their rep personally, and sent her links, data, meeting dates, etc.
Apparantly this watershed, which includes the Middle Fork American, the Rubicon River, both forks of Long Canyon Creek, Duncan Creek, and the lower American between Oxbow Res down to Folsom, just isn't 'high profile' enough to warrant their time and expense.

I'm more than just a little po'd at this group and will no longer contribute to it.

My dollars will now go to CSPA, no if's and's or but's. Those guys are out to make a difference and it shows.

The proof is in the pudding, as they say.

If this looks like an attack piece, well, it is.

[B]If your going to call yoursefl Caltrout, I for one would expect you to leap into the fray when California Trout are at risk![B]

Thanks for nothing.

Ed Wahl

[BillB]

Okay Ed I'm with you on this. It's bothered me for some time to note that "most" of the action taken by TU is on the Battenkill or some Montana river. And CalTrout, who knows. Granted where I live there is not an abundance of great trout water, so we will receive little or no attention, but come on. I prefer to keep my dough close to home.

I'll look up CSPA for a membership donation and let my other two expire.

[Darian]

I was one of the charter members of Cal Trout back in the mid 70's. The thinking was that people were disenchanted with Trout Unlimited as they took our dues and invested in projects back east. Thus, the need for Cal Trout. Cal Trout has done a lot of good in California.

I'm not sure what's happened to the organization recently but have seen a couple of references to conflicts that have occurred written on other BB's. I have no idea what those conflicts are....

I long ago resigned my membership as Cal Trout became to preachy for me (....truth be told, I'm just not a joiner).

[BillB]

I just read a post on another board in which CalTrout was chiding the public to send letters to the editor of a newspaper for an unfavorable article regarding expenditures for a restoration project in SoCal. That seems to be the extent to their actions as near as I can tell.

I remember many, but not that many, years ago the local fly club built some barriers in the local Golden Trout Wilderness. To the best of my recollection neither of the "major" conservation "clubs" had any involvement fiscal or physical. All efforts were through Kaweah Flyfishers and or DFG. Guess Golden Trout are to far away from New York. NEW YORK CITY!

[Darian]

Hmmmm,.... Is Cal Trout located in N.Y. or am I misunderstanding your post....?? They used to be located in San Francisco.

As I recall, Cal Trout funded some studies on anadromous fisheries thru Humboldt State and set up some educational funds for potential Icthyologists who would then work for Cal Trout. Also, Cal Trout was heavily involved in the initial restoration of Hat Creek (removal of suckers and installation of fences to stop re-population). Not sure what they do now.

Guess I should've kept in touch but....

[caltagm]

Well, that was incredibly difficult. I can understand why no one knows what CalTrout is doing. It's so remarkably well-hidden and vague. If only they had a web page titled "Conservation" or something like that where they could summarize their main campaigns.....

http://www.caltrout.org/

[Darian]

OK,.... I took a moment to look at the Cal Trout website and found that there is a button for conservation that leads to further buttons for campaigns on FERC re-licensing projects. At the head of the projects listing is a list of priorities for opposition or support based on specified reasons that may answer Ed's question (or not).

At any rate, There's a website that does contain a bunch of info about Cal Trout.

[BillB]

Sorry Darian, just a snide remark of the type that really never gains ground. My reference was to TU. Why heck, TU isn't even in NY.

My wife always tries to get me not to make some sort of knee-jerk response events. Someday I will learn, maybe.

[Darian]

No need to apologize. I found this thread interesting as it brought up some old memories.... And a chance to see if anyhting's changed....

[BillB]

Thanks Caltagm. My red, embarrassed face just returned from CalTrouts site. Much more detail than the Stream Keepers Log that arrives in the mail. My wife knows me oh so well.

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