It seems to be the appropriate timing for a discussion of the current state of the Striped Bass fishery in the Delta/tributaries.
Recent reports of surveys by DFG on the health of the delta eco-system indicate that the food chain is virtually on the verge of collapse beginning at the bottom end up thru and including the fact that there’re few small or baby stripers in the system. DFG and others attribute this condition to a number causes. Such as, pumping of water out of the delta for any purpose, run-off that includes agricultural pesticides and heavy metals, storm drain run-off, effluent from development, invasive species and more ad nauseum… .
A Project that recently made its way into the limelight is the South Delta Improvement project (SDIP). I’ve been told that project proposes to increase pumping of water from the Delta to wherever under the guise of improving water conditions in the south Delta . An Environmental Impact Report is due out from Department of Water Resources (DWR), shortly (may’ve already been released). All of this and more appears in posts on Blanton’s BB, already and many of you’re aware of it.
Formal Proposals:
1. Some groups are proposing a slot limit for take of Striped Bass.
2. A number of groups are banding together to oppose the SDIP
There’re probably many other proposals out there but unknown to me.
I’m wondering how much longer our current fishery can withstand the stresses put upon it by the demands of our economy and societal needs Is this current trend merely an interim downward cycle or a signal of the total collapse of the fishery as happened in Winchester and Coos Bays of Oregon
OK, your turn. What do you think What can be done, if anything
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