CSPA
Lake Oroville Fish Enhancement Committee
LOFEC Letter to DFG, Dec 1996
Feather River Fish Hatchery
Expansion Project
LAKE OROVILLE FISH ENHANCEMENT COMMITTEE
5360 TREASURE HILL DRIVE
OROVILLE, CALIFORNIA 95966
Mr. Pat O'Brien, Supervisor
Region II
Department of Fish and Game
1701 Nimbus Road
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
Re: Proposed Feather River Fish Hatchery Expansion Project; Request for Information and Data by LOFEC and CSPA
Dear Mr. O'Brien:
The Lake Oroville Fish Enhancement Committee and the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance would appreciate the following information and data:
Prior to March, 1996, the CDWR internally made a decision to undersize the proposed Feather River Fish Hatchery Expansion Project.
1. Please forward copies of all letters, memos, faxes, and other written material related to any internal meetings and/or telephone calls held by the Department, CDWR, and the State Water Contractors regarding any and all decisions related to the decision to undersize the hatchery expansion project. Please include agendas and minutes taken for those internal meetings.
2. Please explain the reasons why the Department agreed to the undersizing of the proposed hatchery expansion project.
3. Please explain whether or not the Department consulted with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding the undersizing of the hatchery expansion project. And whether or not the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was invited to the internal meetings.
4. Please forward the Department's written scientific findings which supports the undersizing of the proposed hatchery expansion project.
5. Please explain the reasons why all affected parties such as LOFEC, CSPA, and members of ORAC were not invited to attend internal meetings held by the Department, CDWR, and the State Water Contractors, to determine the size of the proposed hatchery expansion project.
6. Please explain the reasons why all affected parties such as LOFEC, CSPA and members of ORAC were not given the opportunity to provide written comments and recommendations to the Department to determine the size of the proposed hatchery expansion project.
7. Please forward the Department's written scientific findings regarding the proposed number of chinook salmon yearlings and fingerlings to be planted annually in Oroville Reservoir following the five year study which supports the undersizing of the proposed hatchery expansion project at this place in time.
It should be noted that you representing the Department, including the CDWR, stated at ORAC meetings that the decision to determine the size of the hatchery expansion project would be based on the results of the five year study of Oroville Reservoir. That five year study has not been completed, yet the CDWR and the State Water Contractors have determined privately to undersize the hatchery expansion project.
8. At the ORAC meeting of October 4, 1996, you were not present. However, according to CDWR, you made verbal comments to the CDWR which were included in the minutes for the ORAC meeting.
In mid-October, a chinook salmon derby is being proposed at Oroville Reservoir. Your verbal comments indicated that the proposed chinook salmon derby would not affect the chinook salmon fishery of Oroville Reservoir or the five year fishery study of the reservoir.
A verbal comment by telephone to CDWR regarding the derby was unreasonable since it did not give members of ORAC the opportunity to raise questions and obtain answers from you representing the Department.
Please forward the written findings made by the Department which determines the proposed chinook salmon derby and/or a number of chinook salmon derbies and also black bass touraments (cumulative) would not affect the chinook salmon fishery and black bass fishery of Oroville Reservoir, including the results of the five year fishery study of the reservoir.
Also, please forward a copy of the approved permit which was issued by the Department to the sponsor for the proposed chinook salmon derby at Oroville Reservoir.
We believe it would be prudent on the Department's part to either have you or someone from the Department attend the monthly ORAC meetings since the Department is a member of ORAC.
Please forward the requested information and data in writing to Tom Van Gelder, Chairman, LOFEC, at the address listed below.
___________________________________________
Tom Van Gelder, Chairman
Lake Oroville Fish Enhancement Committee
5360 Treasure Hill Drive
Oroville, CA 95966
Dated:_________________________________________
cc: Jacqueline Schafer, Director
California Department of Fish and Game
1416 Ninth Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dan Cook, Chairman
Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee
Oroville Chamber of Commerce
2060 Park Avenue
Oroville, CA 95966
Jim Crenshaw, President
California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
1248 East Oak Avenue, Suite D
Woodland, CA 95695
Mike Kelly
Butte County Citizens for Fair Government
5055 Miners Ranch Road
Oroville, CA 95966
Wayne Hough
Butt Sailing Club
P.O. Box 787
Oroville, CA 95968
Bill Geddes
City of Oroville
1735 Montgomery Street
Oroville, CA 95965
Tim Welsh
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
810 1st Street NE Room 434A
Washington, D.C. 20426
Bob Baiocchi, Consultant
California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
P.O. Box 357
Quincy, CA 95971
Interested Parties
For further information contact Bob Baiocchi at either 530-836-1115 or
at e-mail address: cspa@psln.com
CSPA