NCCFFF—NEWS

July 2005

News

STATE OF CALIFORNIA DFG REJECTS USE OF ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT

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Background Exhibits Documenting California Department of Fish and Game Position In Favor of De-listing Federally Protected Native Central Valley Steelhead Trout and Governor's Failure to Respond to Request for Statement by Schwarzenegger Administration to Protect and Enhance California's Native Steelhead Trout and Salmon Populations. Presented by the Following Sport Angling Organizations:

Federation of Fly Fishers Northern California Council, California Trout, Trout Unlimited, California Sport Fishing Protection Alliance, and the Federation of Fly Fishers Southwest Council

1. June 2004: Proposed Federal Endangered Species Act Listings Background - National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Comments and Responses

2. November 12, 2004: California Department of Fish and Game letter to NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (Recommends continuation of Endangered Species Act “endangered” listing for Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon while recommending removal of Central Valley Steelhead trout from “threatened” ESA protection. Relies on scientifically unsupportable conclusions (p.4); recommends NOAA Fisheries determine “benefit or consequence of losing the anadromous (sea-run) Steelhead form of Rainbow trout in Central Valley rivers (p.9); notes major threats to winter-run Chinook, including threats related to future water exports (p. 11), while ignoring same threats to Central Valley Steelhead trout).

3. January 7, 2005: Letter to Fish and Game Department Director L. Ryan Broddrick by Sport Angling Organizations objecting to and requesting that DFG supercede its November 12 letter based on new information (On January 25, 2005 Organizations representatives met with Director Broddrick and staff to request that the Department modify its positions. Assurances were given that a response would be forthcoming within a couple of weeks. See additional Organizations correspondence dated March 18, 2005).

4. January 24, 2005: Letter to Director Broddrick from the California Advisory Committee on Salmon and Steelhead Trout, a citizens advisory committee created by the Legislature which reports both to the Legislature and to the Director. The Committee requested that DFG immediately send a clarifying letter to NOAA.

5. January 2005: The Osprey, a publication of the Steelhead Committee of the Federation of Fly Fishers, “ The Rainbow Trout-Steelhead Debate, Continued .” The authors propose that under certain conditions resident rainbow trout should be counted along with their anadromous (sea-run) form, Steelhead, but that inclusion of resident rainbows should not be a basis for delisting Steelhead from Federal Endangered Species Act Protection.

6 March 18, 2005: Organizations follow-up letter to Director Broddrick requesting immediate response to correspondence dated January 7 and meeting held January 25.

7. April 5, 2005: American Fisheries Society peer review of DFG November 12, 2004 letter to NOAA Fisheries. AFS found DFG basis for recommending Central Valley steelhead to be delisted “...not based on sound science.” AFS found Central Valley steelhead instead “at risk of extinction” and warranted continued ESA protection.

8. April 11, 2005: Organizations request meeting with Resources Agency Secretary Mike Chrisman.

9. April 11, 2005: Organizations letter to NOAA Fisheries rebutting November 12, 2004 DFG letter to NOAA Fisheries.

10. April 20, 2005: Organizations outline goals of meeting set with Secretary Chrisman for May 10, 2005.

11. May 10, 2005: Organizations meet with Secretary Chrisman. Ask for reply to letters. Director Broddrick responds to Organizations January 7 letter and January 25 meeting. DFG letter non-responsive to Organizations requests.

12. May 13, 2005: Organizations thank you note and request for written response related to May 10 meeting with Secretary Chrisman.