IDEAS SOUGHT ON EEL RIVER FISHERYDept. Of Fish & GameAug. 3, 1995 CONTACT: Dave Dick, Conservation Education Office (916) 653-6420 IDEAS SOUGHT ON EEL RIVER FISHERY The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) and the Advisory Committee on salmon and steelhead trout are sponsoring a series of public meetings in September to discuss fishery restoration actions and opportunities on the Eel River. The meetings will be hosted by the Fish and Game Advisory Commissions of Humboldt and Mendocino counties to receive public input for inclusion in an Eel River Fishery Recovery Action Plan. The public's ideas are important for a successful product. In recent years populations of Eel River salmon and steelhead have declined in spite of restoration efforts and increased restrictions on fishing. The Eel River is the third largest river system in California and has a history of plentiful fish runs. The watershed of the Eel River is primarily held in private ownership, and its residents, anglers, and other stakeholders are highly supportive of fisheries improvement. Thus, the Eel River provides a unique opportunity for reversing the current trend toward smaller populations of fish and wildlife. In 1994, valuable information about the Eel River was generated at a series of public meetings concerning proposed fishing regulations. In March of 1995, the EelSwap workshop, held in Redway, also developed useful ideas. A common theme at these meetings was the need to develop an Eel River action plan. The meetings this September will provide an opportunity to expand on the issues and ideas developed in the earlier workshops. The Eel River Fisheries Action Recovery Plan will be completed by February, 1996. Then it will be forwarded for review. The series of meetings will be held in Redway, Eureka, Willits, and Lakeport, and are tentatively scheduled for the week of September 11. The exact time and locations of the meetings will be announced in August. For more information call Scott Downie (707) 923-4802, Larry Preston (707) 441-5736, or Rick Macedo (707) 928-4369.
 Eel River |