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2B Daily News – Saturday, May 19, 2012 Outdoorlife living The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) reminds sport anglers to be vig- ilant about properly identifying their salmon before keeping them. The ocean salmon fishing season in Cali- fornia is well under way and proper identification is critical for the survival of a protected species of salmon. Chinook (or king) salmon is the pri- mary species targeted in California's ocean waters (although a few pink salmon are caught occasionally). However, the retention of coho (or sil- ver) salmon is prohibited in all Califor- nia ocean fisheries, specifically to pro- tect central coast and southern Oregon- northern California coast coho stocks. Both stocks are severely declining and listed under both the state and federal Endangered Species Acts. Coho salmon have existed in Cali- fornia coastal waters for thousands of years. Today, however, their popula- tions have declined to just a fraction of their historical levels, endangered by a wide range of factors. Coho salmon populations along the coast from the San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz County north to the Smith River in Del Norte County have reached a critical state of decline. Spawner escapement numbers are below those required for sustainable populations and constitute a crisis for coho salmon survival on the California coast. In most years, sport anglers begin catching coho salmon in the ocean fishery around mid-May. Coho catch- es generally peak during June and then gradually decline throughout the remainder of summer. Although some of these fish may have originated from hatcheries in Oregon and Washington, many are native California coho and any retention in California ocean fish- eries has been prohibited since 1995. California ocean fisheries are managed to provide for the maximum access to abundant Chinook stocks while still Department of Fish and Game (DFG) biologists are trying a new tactic to help California's ocean-bound juvenile salmon, in hopes of increasing survival rates. On May 3, for the first time in state history, DFG staff used a boat to move approximate- ly 100,000 young Chinook (called smolts) down the Sacramento River to San Francisco Bay. Upon arrival, the smolts were released in the Bay, where they will grow to adulthood before returning upriver to spawn. "We've been using trucks to transport smolts to points downstream for years, but we've never moved them by barge, and we've never moved them this far," said DFG Environmental Scien- tist Colin Purdy, who super- vised the boat transport to the Bay Area. "Truck releas- es are typically much further & Coho salmon identification is critical Courtesy photo from California Department of Fish and Game protecting depressed California coho populations. Sport fishing enthusiasts can signif- icantly help California coho stocks by taking the time to correctly identify each salmon caught before removing it from the water (netting or dropping a coho salmon onto the deck of a boat can cause both scale loss and trauma that will likely reduce its chance of sur- vival when released). Coho salmon should be identified through examina- tion of mouth and gums. The base of the bottom teeth on a Chinook salmon are all black whereas coho salmon have a narrow light gray band. A photo guide is viewable online athttp://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.as hx?DocumentID=36125&inline=true. Although not as often caught in ocean waters, steelhead cannot be targeted or taken during the ocean salmon season. Steelhead show no black color on lower jaw and tongue. To help avoid coming in contact with coho salmon, anglers should rig upstream, and though they do shorten the fish's journey to the ocean, they still face all kinds of hazards in the river. It's possible we could better the chances of sur- vival for this species just by making a few thoughtful changes in our operating practices. The data we col- lect over the next few years will tell the story, but we're hopeful that we'll see posi- tive results." their lines to fish deeper as coho are more often found in the top 30 feet of water. Anglers should plan to fish nearer to shore for Chinook salmon as coho salmon are typically found far- ther offshore. Using larger lures that select for the larger Chinook salmon will also reduce coho salmon catch. The daily bag limit remains two salmon of any species except coho salmon. For complete ocean salmon regulations, please visit the Ocean Salmon webpage atwww.dfg.ca.gov/marine/oceansalmo n.asp or call the Ocean Salmon Regu- lations Hotline at (707) 576-3429. Sport anglers are also reminded that coho salmon may also be found in coastal rivers and streams. Retention of coho salmon in any California inland salmon fishery has been prohib- ited since 1998. Protecting coho salmon in the ocean, as well as in streams and rivers, is an essential step in recovering this important salmon species. DFG tries new tactic to increase salmon survival rates spawning grounds using their sense of smell. The process, called imprinting, begins before birth as waters flow over the eggs and con- tinues as they grow and make their way to the ocean. Each segment of water on their journey has distinctive chemical cues which they can re-trace to their spawn- ing grounds. Water is circu- lated through pumps from Salmon return to their Land Management has announced that its Trinity River campgrounds will be opening for the summer sea- son. The Junction City and Steel Bridge campgrounds will be first to open on May 21, followed by the Douglas City Campground on May 24. Junction City Camp- ground is a mile-and-a-half west of Junction City along State Highway 299. It offers 22 campsites for tents and trailers, a paved loop road, vault toilets, potable water, bear-proof storage boxes, fire rings and picnic tables. The facility can accommo- date trailers up to 40 feet long. The fee is $10 per night, with a $5 fee for addi- tional vehicles per campsite. The Steel Bridge Camp- ground is about three miles east of Douglas City on Steel Bridge Road, about two miles from the junction with Highway 299. There are 12 campsites with picnic tables, fire rings and bear- proof boxes. There are vault toilets, but no potable water. The fee is $5 per night with the Sacramento River into the boat's holding tank, where the fish are kept. The hope is that this may improve their ability to find their way back as an adult and predators are unable to access the fish in the holding tank during the journey downstream. This is the beginning of a multi-year study program aimed at increasing return rates of salmon from the sea to their native rivers. Over the next few years, scientists will use the data collected from the fish to test and eval- uate the idea that overall sur- vival rates and increased adult returns can be better achieved by barging the young salmon downstream. To form a basis of com- parison for this study, two other control groups of 100,000 smolts each were released by trucks in other a $5 nightly fee for an extra vehicle. The campground can accommodate trailers up to 20 feet long. A newly-built shower and restroom facility awaits campers at the Douglas City Campground. There are 24 tent/trailer campsites with fire rings, picnic tables and bear-proof storage boxes. The campground has a Trin- ity River beach, a paved loop road, flush toilets and potable water. It can accom- modate trailers up to 40 feet long. The fee is $10 per night with a $5 nightly fee locations at the same time as the barge release — one at a different location in the Bay, and one into the Sacramento River near Sacramento. All 300,000 fish in this study were implanted with coded wire tags smaller than a tiny piece of pencil lead, which will ultimately enable scien- tists to tell which of the three groups the returning fish came from — the barge release, or one of the two truck releases. The study is being con- ducted by DFG fisheries biologists with the support of the Commercial Salmon Trollers Advisory Commit- tee, which donated the use of the boat, fuel and crew time to help ensure a suc- cessful start to the study. They have committed to helping DFG for the next three years of data collec- tion. BLM to open Trinity River campgrounds The U. S. Bureau of for extra vehicles. To reach the campground take High- way 299 to Douglas City and then follow Steiner Flat Road a mile-and-a-half west to the campground entrance. BLM officials urge visi- tors to be careful around the Trinity River. Flows can change quickly, and there are hidden underwater obstacles in many areas. More information is available by calling the BLM Redding Field Office, (530) 224-2100, or by visit- ing www.blm.gov/ca/red- ding. Kayak tours offered Memorial Day weekend Whiskeytown National Recreation Area will once again offer free ranger- guided kayak tours during the Memorial Day week- end Saturday, May 26, through Monday, May 28. Reservations for the kayak programs are required and can be made by calling 530 242-3462 starting at 9 a.m. through noon on Monday, May 21 and continue through the week until all spaces are filled. Although partici- pants must have a valid park entrance pass to par- ticipate, there is no addi- tional fee for attending these special programs. In observance of Memorial Day on Mon- day, May 28, American Flags throughout the coun- try will fly at half-staff. Visitors are welcome to join in a national moment of remembrance at 3 p.m. local time by pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence. The Visitor Center will begin its extended summer hours on Friday, May 25, and be will open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sept. 3. Located 8 miles west of Redding at the intersection of High- way 299 and Kennedy Memorial Drive, the Visi- tor Center offers exhibits on the history and devel- opment of the Whiskey- Annual and day use passes, as well as books, maps, postcards and other publications can also be purchased at this location. For more information, call the Visitor Center at (530) 246-1225 or visit the park's website at www.nps.gov/whis. town area as well as infor- mation on summer inter- pretive programs, camp- ing, and other local infor- mation. California Outdoors Q&A Geese lake front property and regularly chases away (or throws sticks and pine cones at) Canada geese during the nesting season. His intent is to keep them off his dock, but he extends his harass- ment about one-tenth of a mile up the beach on several others private ground and PG&E prop- erty. Is this legal? I figure the wildlife came with the property location and should be left alone. Love my neighbor but hate his treatment of our local geese. (Anonymous) Answer: Your neighbor is within his rights to haze geese from his property. Canada geese are state and federally protected under laws and regulations within the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and California Fish and Game Code. However, within those regula- tions, non-lethal hazing methods, such as harass- ment as done by this individual, are allowed to deter Canada geese from privately-owned property where property damage or a nuisance may occur to the landowner. Hazing Trespassing Canada Question: My neighbor has Carrie Wilson Resident Canada goose populations have increased considerably since the 1990s in California. In this time, Canada geese have expanded outside their historical nesting range. Due to this increase, conflicts between landowners and resident Canada geese have expanded in many counties in California. Your neighbor is allowed to scare resident geese away from his property with non-lethal means at any time. The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) advocates that landowners take proactive non-lethal measures to reduce Canada goose use on impacted private property. Possible suggestions for hazing geese away from properties during the breeding sea- son include landscape modification to make the area less attractive to resident geese (e.g. keep grass short to discourage feeding), use of dogs, visual deter- rents, such as scarecrows, predator decoys, mylar flagging and balloons, and fencing. Additionally, waterfowl hunting can be an effective deterrent in problem areas outside the breeding season when state and local regulations allow this activity. For additional questions regarding how private landowners can best control problem Canada geese, please contact DFG's Waterfowl Program staff at (916) 445-3763. Fishing on Private Property Question: Do I need a fishing license when fish- ing a private lake on a ranch behind a locked gate? There is no public access. The lake is fed by a year round creek that originates on federal land. The fish in it were planted by a private party, but the fish do run up the creek to spawn. Thanks for the clarifica- tion. (Ken, Alturas). Answer: Yes, you need a fishing license. Even though this lake is on private property, a fishing license is required because the lake is fed by a per- manent stream. A license would not be required if this lake is being maintained and operated as a licensed Aquaculture Facility. decade? Highest number of abalone harvested in last Question: When in the last decade were the most abalone harvested? (Anonymous) Answer: In 2007, a total of 309,000 abalone were harvested along the North Coast, which marked the highest abalone harvest season of the decade. That was the only year between 2002 and 2010 that more than 300,000 were harvested. According to DFG Environmental Biologist Jerry Kashiwada, these fig- ures are calculated from a sampling of abalone report cards that were returned to us and a systemat- ic telephone survey. The annual average for 2002 to 2010 was 264,000. Since this is based on what is entered on cards and wardens often encounter people who fail to complete their cards, we believe it repre- sents the minimum number taken. Using lead projectiles in air rifles in Condor Country? Question: I know that air rifles are not technical- ly considered firearms, but shouldn't the lead pellets from an air rifle still be illegal in Condor Country because they contain lead? It would seem the reason for banning lead projectiles is because it is made up of lead, not because of the type of firearm/weapon/tool it came out of. What is the pur- pose of the lead ban if it is legal to use lead pellets from a pellet rifle? Isn't there a health risk involved with condors and lead, thus the ban on lead? If the pellet rifle is not considered a firearm, isn't this a flaw in how the lead ban law is written when it states that the projectiles come from a firearm? (Sarah D.) Answer: DFG enforces the Fish and Game Code regulations after they go through the legislative process and are adopted by the Fish and Game Com- mission. You raise valid policy questions that may have been considered by the State Legislature and Commission in developing the lead bullet bans. DFG can't speak for the Commission, but If you'd like to research this issue further, please contact the Fish and Game Commission directly. Their website iswww.fgc.ca.gov. Carrie Wilson is a marine biologist with the California Department of Fish and Game. While she cannot personally answer everyone's questions, she will select a few to answer each week. Please contact her at CalOutdoors@dfg.ca.gov.