CSPA

Action Alert Carmel River Steelhead

Subject: CSPA Carmel Steelhead Alert - CSPA Advises USNMFS To Get Tough

Date: Wed, 5 Nov 1997 06:53:48 -0800

Subject: CSPA Carmel Steelhead Alert - CSPA Advises USNMFS To Get Tough

CALIFORNIA SPORTFISHING PROTECTION ALLIANCE CONSERVATION ALERT

CSPA Advises U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service To Get Tough in

Protecting Threatened Carmel River Steelhead Trout

The CSPA advised the U.S. National Marine Fisheries (USNMFS) to get tough in dealing with steelhead trout kills on the Carmel River caused by the operation of California-AmericanWater Company's diversions onthe Carmel River.

The CSPA's claimed steelhead kill on the Carmel River has been documented by the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District and the USNMFS. 289 juvenile steelhead were killed when the water company dried the Carmel River on September 1, 1997. The Carmel River steelhead were listed as threatened for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act by the USNMFS. That listing became effective on October 17, 1997.

The CSPA formally requested the USNMFS to:

o Take administrative and legal actions against Cal-Am for the recent killing of steelhead on the Carmel River;

o Take timely and vigorous administrative and legal actions against Cal-Am for any and all future steelhead kills on the Carmel River;

o Requested fulltime field monitoring by local, state, and federal agencies to prevent future steelhead kills, with Cal-Am funding the field monitoring;

o Deny all requests by Cal-Am for the "taking" of steelhead;

o Requested a Carmel River Steelhead Conservation Habitat Plan to be prepared immediately by USNMFS, California Department of Fish and Game, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the State Water Resources Control Board, with the essential factor being mandatory daily flows of water to protect and restore the steelhead and their habitat;

o Advised the USNMFS that the steelhead belong to the people of the State of California, and are a public trust asset; and further advised them that the CSPA believes the public's interest will be served in protecting the Carmel River Steelhead because all of the people of California own the fish and the water.

For further information contact Bob Baiocchi at either 530-836-1115 or

at e-mail address: cspa@psln.com