<blockquote>
The decision whether to stock streams and lakes with hatchery-raised fish has an economic effect on recreational areas like Sly Park, above, near Pollock Pines. Fish and Game agreed to stop fish plantings where the practice threatens native species of fish and frogs.</blockquote>El Dorado Irrigation District officials are hopeful that a lake in the district's popular Sly Park Recreation Area will be stocked with fish this year.
Three other district reservoirs have been removed from the state's November list of lakes and streams that will not be stocked due to concerns about frog habitat.
Now, the state Department of Fish and Game and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are evaluating Jenkinson Lake for California red-legged frog habitat, said Dan Corcoran, environmental division manager.
District officials have a lot riding on a favorable evaluation. The state decision whether to stock lakes has an economic effect on recreational areas and entrance fee revenues.
Sly Park near Pollock Pines draws about 220,000 visitors annually, many of whom come to fish.
"This is a significant year not to have those economic impacts," Corcoran said.
State Fish and Game officials agreed to stop planting hatchery-reared fish in lakes and streams where the practice threatens any of 16 native fish and nine native frog species. The action resulted from a 2006 lawsuit by environmental groups.
Unless individual agencies present appropriate studies, Fish and Game will not stock those waters until an environmental impact report is completed, likely in January 2010, said Stafford Lehr, a department environmental scientist.
But based on biological surveys conducted for relicensing of the district's hydroelectric Project 184, Fish and Game exempted Upper and Lower Echo lakes near Echo Summit and El Dorado Forebay in Pollock Pines.
Corcoran said environmental studies done for the Sly Park Recreation Area Master Plan also found neither California red-legged frogs nor foothill yellow-legged frogs in Jenkinson Lake or its tributaries.
Lehr said Fish and Game has reviewed the information on Jenkinson Lake and forwarded it to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Lehr said the department typically begins stocking Jenkinson Lake between January and March.
Updated lists of lakes and streams that Fish and Game will and won't stock this year are available on the Web site at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/news/stocking/.
http://www.sacbee.com/fishing_hunting/stor...Fishing/Hunting
The decision whether to stock streams and lakes with hatchery-raised fish has an economic effect on recreational areas like Sly Park, above, near Pollock Pines. Fish and Game agreed to stop fish plantings where the practice threatens native species of fish and frogs.</blockquote>El Dorado Irrigation District officials are hopeful that a lake in the district's popular Sly Park Recreation Area will be stocked with fish this year.
Three other district reservoirs have been removed from the state's November list of lakes and streams that will not be stocked due to concerns about frog habitat.
Now, the state Department of Fish and Game and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are evaluating Jenkinson Lake for California red-legged frog habitat, said Dan Corcoran, environmental division manager.
District officials have a lot riding on a favorable evaluation. The state decision whether to stock lakes has an economic effect on recreational areas and entrance fee revenues.
Sly Park near Pollock Pines draws about 220,000 visitors annually, many of whom come to fish.
"This is a significant year not to have those economic impacts," Corcoran said.
State Fish and Game officials agreed to stop planting hatchery-reared fish in lakes and streams where the practice threatens any of 16 native fish and nine native frog species. The action resulted from a 2006 lawsuit by environmental groups.
Unless individual agencies present appropriate studies, Fish and Game will not stock those waters until an environmental impact report is completed, likely in January 2010, said Stafford Lehr, a department environmental scientist.
But based on biological surveys conducted for relicensing of the district's hydroelectric Project 184, Fish and Game exempted Upper and Lower Echo lakes near Echo Summit and El Dorado Forebay in Pollock Pines.
Corcoran said environmental studies done for the Sly Park Recreation Area Master Plan also found neither California red-legged frogs nor foothill yellow-legged frogs in Jenkinson Lake or its tributaries.
Lehr said Fish and Game has reviewed the information on Jenkinson Lake and forwarded it to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Lehr said the department typically begins stocking Jenkinson Lake between January and March.
Updated lists of lakes and streams that Fish and Game will and won't stock this year are available on the Web site at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/news/stocking/.
http://www.sacbee.com/fishing_hunting/stor...Fishing/Hunting
