SACRAMENTO – The Pacific Fishery Management Council on Tuesday adopted ocean salmon season recommendations that provide recreational and commercial opportunities for most of the Pacific Coast.

However, due to low forecasts, several areas are closed this year, and the open areas are significantly constrained.

The adopted salmon fisheries off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington do achieve conservation goals for the numerous individual salmon stocks on the West Coast..

The recommendation will be forwarded to the National Marine Fisheries Service for approval by May 1, 2017.

“It has been another challenging year for the Council, its advisors, fishery stakeholders and the public as we strive to balance fishing opportunities on harvestable stocks of Chinook and coho with the severe conservation needs we are facing on salmon stocks, both north and south of Cape Falcon,” said Council Executive Director Chuck Tracy. “The Council has recommended commercial and recreational ocean salmon seasons in Washington, Oregon, and California this year that provide important protections for stocks of concern including Klamath River fall Chinook, Washington coastal coho, and Puget Sound Chinook.”

“We have made the tough decisions and implemented fishery restrictions to protect salmon stocks while providing at least some opportunity for commercial recreational, and tribal ocean salmon fishing along much of the west coast,” said Council Chair Herb Pollard.

Washington and Northern Oregon (north of Cape Falcon)

Fisheries north of Cape Falcon (near Nehalem in northern Oregon) depend largely on Columbia River Chinook and coho stocks. Columbia River fall Chinook returns are expected to be healthy in 2017, and Columbia River coho are expected to return at reduced but moderate levels in 2017.

However, some coastal Washington and Puget Sound coho abundance is reduced from recent years, and some wild coho stocks are expected to return at very low levels.

In response, the Council has been challenged with shaping fisheries to provide access to relatively abundant Chinook stocks while protecting natural coho populations.
   
North of Cape Falcon, there is an overall non-Indian total allowable catch of 90,000 Chinook coastwide (compared to 70,000 last year) and 42,000 marked hatchery coho in (compared to 18,900 last year).

Recreational fisheries   

The recreational fishery north of Cape Falcon does not include a mark-selective Chinook season this year, but opens to all salmon on June 24 in most areas (July 1in Westport) and ends Sept. 4 or when Chinook or coho quotas are reached.

Recreational fisheries in all port areas will have access to 45,000 Chinook (compared to 35,000 Chinook last year), and a marked coho quota of 42,000 (compared to 18,900 last year). For details, please see the season descriptions on the council Web site at www.pcouncil.org .

Commercial fisheries

Tribal and non-Indian ocean commercial fisheries are designed to provide harvest opportunity on strong Chinook returns primarily destined for the Columbia River while avoiding coho stocks of concern.

Coho retention is allowed in commercial fisheries north of Cape Falcon this year, which is an improvement over the non-retention regulations from last year; however, the coho quotas are very low in 2017.

Non-Indian ocean commercial fisheries north of Cape Falcon include traditional, but reduced, Chinook seasons in the spring (May-June) and summer season (intermittent openings during July through September).

The Chinook quota of 27,000 in the spring is greater than the 2016 quota of 19,100. The summer season quotas include 18,000 Chinook and 5,600 coho.

Tribal ocean fisheries north of Cape Falcon are similar in structure to past years, with quotas that include 40,000 Chinook and 12,500 coho.

California and Oregon south of Cape Falcon, Oregon

Fisheries south of Cape Falcon (in northern Oregon) are limited by the need to protect Klamath River fall Chinook, and south of Point Arena (in northern California), they are also affected by the need to protect Sacramento River winter Chinook.

Returns of spawning Klamath River fall Chinook are projected to be the lowest on record in 2017 due to drought, disease, poor ocean conditions, and other issues. At the same time, the Council must protect Sacramento River winter Chinook, which are listed under the Endangered Species Act.

Because both of these fish intermix with other stocks in the ocean, fisheries targeting more abundant stocks must be constrained.

Recreational fisheries

Recreational fisheries off the central Oregon coast will allow Chinook retention from March 15 through October 31.

Coho fisheries consist of a mark-selective quota fishery of 18,000 in mid-summer (compared to 26,000 last year) and a non-mark-selective quota fishery of 6,000 in September (compared to 7,500 last year), both open from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain.

The Brookings/Crescent City/Eureka areas are closed for the entire season to conserve Klamath River fall Chinook, which are most abundant in these areas. Fisheries further south all opened on April 1.

In the Fort Bragg area, the season will close during June, July, and half of August, then reopen through Nov. 12.

In the San Francisco area, the season will close during the first half of May and reopen through October 31. Salmon fishing will remain open through July 15 in the Monterey Bay area and through May 31 for areas south of Monterey Bay.

Commercial fisheries

Commercial fisheries from Cape Falcon to the Florence South Jetty, Oregon open on April 15 and will run through July 31 with intermittent closures to reduce impacts on Klamath fall Chinook. This area will also be open in September and October.

Fisheries from the Florence South Jetty to Horse Mountain, California will be closed for the entire season to reduce impacts on Klamath River fall Chinook.

Between Horse Mountain and Point Arena (in the Fort Bragg area), there will be a 3,000 Chinook quota ocean fishery during the month of September, after 2017 Klamath River fall Chinook spawners have entered the Klamath River.

In the area from Point Arena to Pigeon Point (San Francisco), the season will be open for most of August and all of September. From Pigeon Point to the Mexico border (Monterey), the Chinook season will be open in May and June.

There will also be a season from Point Reyes to Point San Pedro (subset of the San Francisco area), open October 2 to 6 and October 9 to 13.

Management process

The council developed the management measures after several weeks spent reviewing three season alternatives.

The review process included input by Federal state, and tribal fishery scientists and fishing industry members; public testimony, and three public hearings in coastal communities.

The council received additional scientific information and took public testimony at its April Council meeting before taking final action. The decision will be forwarded to the National Marine Fisheries Service for approval and implementation.

In addition, the coastal states will decide on compatible state waters fishery regulations at their respective Commission hearings.

Council role

The Pacific Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional fishery management councils established by the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 for the purpose of managing fisheries 3-200 miles offshore of the United States of America coastline.

The Pacific Council recommends management measures for fisheries off the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington.

SACRAMENTO – The Pacific Fishery Management Council on Monday announced the continued closure of the Pacific sardine directed fishery through June 30, 2018.

This is the third annual closure in a row for this fishery.

Council members heard from scientists that the abundance forecast for the 2017-18 season, scheduled to start July 1, was significantly below the 150,000 metric ton threshold for a directed fishery.

They also considered testimony from fishery participants and environmental groups before reaching a decision to close the directed fishery.

Small amounts of sardines may be taken incidental to target fishing on other stocks, and a small harvest amount was allocated to the Quinault Indian Nation along the mid-Washington coast.

“This represents a real hardship for coastal communities that depend on sardines and other coastal pelagic species. However, there are signs that the sardine population is increasing, so we’re hopeful there will be some fishing opportunity for next year,” said Council Chair Herb Pollard.

Sardines are subject to large natural population swings associated with ocean conditions. In general, sardines thrive in warm water regimes, such as those of the 1930s, and decline in cool water years, like the 1970s.

After reaching a recent year peak of about one million metric tons in 2006, the sardine biomass1 has dropped to an estimated 86,586 metric tons in 2017.

The council takes a precautionary approach to managing Pacific sardines. When the fish are abundant, more fishing is allowed; but as the stock size declines, the amount of allocated to harvest decreases. When the biomass is estimated at or below 150,000 metric tons, directed commercial fishing is shut down.

Although directed commercial fishing will close, the Council will allow up to 8,000 tons of sardines to account for small amounts taken as incidental catch in other fisheries (such as mackerel), live bait harvest, Tribal harvest, and research.

The sardine biomass is assessed annually, and the fishing year runs July 1 through June 30. Although sardine fishing hasn’t generated the money that some other fisheries have in recent years, it is an important source of income for communities up and down the west coast.

The allowable harvest in recent years has been as high as 109,000 metric tons (2012), but has dropped as the biomass has dropped.

In 2013 the harvest guideline was 66,495 mt, and in 2014 it was 23,293 mt. Since July 2015, the harvest guideline has been zero.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional fishery management councils established by the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 for the purpose of managing fisheries 3-200 miles offshore of the United States of America coastline.

The Pacific Council recommends management measures for fisheries off the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington. All council meetings are open to the public.

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Milers Walking and Running Club will hold its 15th annual Spring Has Sprung event on Sunday, May 7.

The run takes place at Coyote Valley Elementary School in Hidden Valley Lake with the race for children starting at 8 a.m and the 5K warm-up at 8:15 a.m., starting at 8:30 a.m.

The event will feature along with their family-friendly 5K and very popular children’s runs 1/2K (300 yards) for ages 4 to 5 and 1K (600 yards) for ages 6-9. The age divisions for the 5K are 10 and under (for kids that are comfortable with a 3 mile distance) through ages 70+.

This year the Spring Has Sprung event will support Middletown High School Track and Field and Kelseyville High School Track and Field.

The entry fee for the kids run is $5 and includes a finisher’s medal (limited to 45 kids so register early).

The 5K entry fee is a low $15 for ages 19 and under and $30 for adults and includes an event shirt in a variety of styles while supplies last.

Register at www.runsignup.com/spring or find the link at www.lakecountymilers.com .

The popular Spring Has Sprung annual event features a flat 5K (3.1 mile) run and walk through the beautiful Hidden Valley Lake golfing neighborhood.

Participants can choose to “race” the timed event as a runner or fast walker or take their time strolling the course.

Medals are awarded to the top 3 in age and gender division in the 5K. The popular kid’s 1/2K to 1K run for kids between ages 4 through 9 is not timed and is limited to 45 kids.

Each child in the kids run will receive a finisher’s medal as they cross the finish line and can head right over to a kid-specific refreshment table.

Participants in the 5K will receive an event shirt and goodie bag.

The male and female first-place overall winners will receive a free entry into the Santa Rosa Marathon event of their choice happening Aug. 26 and 27; 5K, 10K, half marathon or full marathon distance, valued at $45 to $145.

For more information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Save

Save

Save

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – This year promises to be quite a show for Redbud Audubon’s Heron Days pontoon boat tours.

Herons, egrets and cormorants are nesting now, and their numbers are amazing. 

If you haven’t taken one of these tours, this year is the year to do it.

Boats will depart on April 29 and 30 at Lakeside County Park.

On May 6 and 7 they depart from Shady Acres Campground. 

A number of tours already are closed; sign up now.

For more information, and to register, go to www.redbudaudubon.org .

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Thursday Morning Breakfast Group that meets weekly in Clearlake has announced its lineup of invited guest speakers for April.

The group meets at 7 a.m. at Main Street Café, 14084 Lakeshore Drive.

The lineup is as follows:

• April 13: Whitney Petrie, Lake County interim museum curator, 2015/16 fire stories.

• April 20: District Attorney Don Anderson, Perjury Investigation Unit.

• April 29: Ed Robey, Team Lake County.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Calpine Geothermal Visitors Center, located at 15500 Central Park Road in Middletown, will be closed this Friday, April 14, in observance of Good Friday.

On Saturday, April 15, the center will resume our regularly scheduled operational hours of Wednesday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For Geysers and tour information, please visit website, www.geysers.com .

LUCERNE, Calif. – California Water Service is now accepting applications from eligible students in its service areas for the company’s fourth annual college scholarship cycle.

In total, $60,000 in scholarships for college and vocational-technical education will be awarded for the 2017-18 school year, with two top scholarship prizes equaling $10,000 each.

Scholarship recipients will be determined by academic achievement, community service and financial need.

The scholarship program, which is funded through California Water Service Group’s philanthropic giving program, not ratepayers, will be administered by Scholarship Management Services, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

To be eligible for a scholarship, students or their parents must live in a Cal Water service area, plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college or vocational-technical school, and not already possess a degree or diploma from an accredited two- or four-year college or vocational-technical school.

“At Cal Water, we are committed to improving the quality of life in the communities we serve and making good things happen. We believe that an investment in students’ education is an investment in the future leadership of our local communities,” said Local Manager Darin McCosker. “I encourage all eligible students in our service areas to consider applying.”

Students interested in learning more about the scholarship program or applying should visit www.calwater.com/scholarship .

The deadline to apply for this scholarship period is May 1. The scholarships will be awarded this summer.

Cal Water serves approximately 1,900 service connections in the Redwood Valley area and about two million people through 480,300 service connections in California.

The company, which has provided water service in the area since 2000, was ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Water Utilities in the West” in 2016 by J.D. Power in its inaugural Water Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study.

Additional information may be obtained online at www.calwater.com .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Helen Smith Ryder, 91, peacefully passed away Sunday, April 2, 2017, at Evergreen Health Care in Lakeport.

A wonderful loving mother, she is survived by her four daughters, Susan Weir (Clearlake, Calif.) Carol Rohlfing (Kelseyville, Calif.) Peggy Parker (Clearlake) and Shirley Sullivan (Southport, North Carolina); 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

She was a successful Avon manager and loved her ballroom dancing.

Her celebration of life will be performed by Dignity Celebrant Sirre J Reed at Jones Mortuary on Thursday, April 13, at 11 a.m.

The family asks in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the ASPCA in Helen’s name.

Arrangements entrusted to Jones Mortuary, www.jonesmortuary.com , FD311, Lakeport.