Battle Creek, CA - Five Small Dams Removed To Restore Salmon As State OKs Logging On Same Stream

[hatrack]

:wtf:

Five environmental and fishing groups on Thursday urged Gov. Jerry Brown to protect a costly salmon restoration project from state-approved logging. The Bee reported Sunday that the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, also known as Cal Fire, has approved thousands of acres of clear-cut logging in the Battle Creek watershed.

Just downstream, other state agencies are spending voter-approved bond funds to remove five dams. The aim is to return endangered salmon to 48 miles of creek that have been blocked for 90 years. "It makes no sense to be both restoring and destroying a river all at the same time – and at taxpayer expense," said Glen Spain, regional director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermens Associations, a commercial fishing group and longtime supporter of the dam removals.

Taxpayers are investing $128 million in the project, which focuses on a system of dams on Battle Creek owned by Pacific Gas & Electric Co. About halfway finished, it includes removing five small dams and building new fish ladders on four others. Money for the project comes from federal grants and taxpayer-approved bonds overseen by the state's water and wildlife agencies.

The logging, under way mainly on land owned by Sierra Pacific Industries, complies with state law. But it occurs at a time when the state Department of Fish and Game no longer monitors affects on wildlife and aquatic habitat due to budget reductions and job cuts.

EDIT

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/24/3724178/groups-ask-jerry-brown-to-protect.html

[liberal N proud]

1. Oh the stupidity

[kestrel91316]

2. Pathetic, boneheaded move.

[XemaSab]

3. This may not call for a lot of hand waving

The creek drains 365 square miles of timber land. That's 233,600 acres. Also, California's forest practice rules call for a buffer from 50-200 feet around watercourses as well as the leaving of slash on site.

Wood comes from the forest, and California's timberlands provide building materials for everyone. I live in a wood house, and I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't support forestry.

[hatrack]

4. But wouldn't you want to, err, uhh, limit the number of variables here?

If the goal is restoring salmon runs . . . .

I'm just saying!

[XemaSab]

5. I totally hear ya

They've been cutting that land aggressively for decades, and I'm open to seeing how well the salmon do with the small dams removed before limiting SPI's forest management options. If the runs are still terrible in a few years, then we can pull a few more tools out of the box.

(Battle Creek is totally right around the corner from me. Maybe I'll go there this weekend. :) )