Good on ya Chief.

Note, I mis-wrote the date the grazing allotment is set to expire.

Mulkey expires in 2015. In 2011 they will start the review process (I believe).

I have written USFS people to ask for a schedule of grazing allotments for the Golden Trout Wilderness.

I hope others will sign on and vote for this wilderness area, named after our state fish, to be allowed to heal from many decades of cattle grazing and provide world class habitat for native fish!

How goes the Bighorn Sheep area reclassification efforts?

butitsadryheat wrote:

jrbouldin wrote:I think Chief's point is that the trout have rights to life as well, regardless of their lack of endangerment status, which I much agree with, and I also very much agree with his viewpoint about the sanctity of all life. At the same time, as an ecologist I know that biodiversity is important in many ways. I hold this as an internal conflict for which there is no simple solution. But we do all have to recognize that "our" way of viewing the problem is certainly not the only way, nor necessarily the "right" way either. There are lots of different values and perspectives.

Great post

I'll second that, really great post, jrbouldin.

peninsula wrote:

butitsadryheat wrote:

jrbouldin wrote:I think Chief's point is that the trout have rights to life as well, regardless of their lack of endangerment status, which I much agree with, and I also very much agree with his viewpoint about the sanctity of all life. At the same time, as an ecologist I know that biodiversity is important in many ways. I hold this as an internal conflict for which there is no simple solution. But we do all have to recognize that "our" way of viewing the problem is certainly not the only way, nor necessarily the "right" way either. There are lots of different values and perspectives.

Great post

I'll second that, really great post, jrbouldin.

+1

Just got off the phone with a local buddy who is an avid local long time FFer.

He is and has been asking the same question that I did in my last post....

"Why haven't the lakes that are void of any known trout, being considered for this reintroduction? Why can't these many bodies of water be used instead of all this destruction of fish that is now being considered throughout the Sierra?"

The Chief wrote:Just got off the phone with a local buddy who is an avid local long time FFer.

He is and has been asking the same question that I did in my last post....

"Why haven't the lakes that are void of any known trout, being considered for this reintroduction? Why can't these many bodies of water be used instead of all this destruction of fish that is now being considered throughout the Sierra?"

Many lakes never were suitable for trout or frogs. Some of these "barren" lakes have been considered at one time or another, but my recollection on the subject is these lakes are feared uninhabitable for amphibians and fish alike.

Speaking of factoids, the following is from one of the documents referred to by Peninsula:

"Since 2001, biologists in
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National
Parks have been removing nonnative
trout using gill netting and
electroshocking from selected naturally
fishless high lakes and streams (limited
trial under a plan approved in 2001
following public review of an
Environmental Assessment);
approximately 23,000 trout have been
removed from 11 lakes. Mountain
yellow-legged frog tadpole and frog
densities measured in 2001 and 2007 in
six of the restored lakes showed an
average increase of 19-fold and 16-fold,
with one lake showing a 60-fold
increase in frog populations. The
biomass recovery in these lakes has
attracted native species such as snakes,
birds, and mammals, which have been
observed preying on now-abundant
frogs, tadpoles, and aquatic
invertebrates. "


[my emphasis]

This is the document it came from:

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-24148.pdf

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFXoaMY4rnI

Sorry about that. Carry on.

didn't you mean to point to this one?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYNJPOgByyg&feature=related

FYI to any concerned:

For Immediate Release: November 2, 2009
Contact: Adrienne Freeman, 559/565-3131

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks to Host Public Meetings on
Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks will be hosting two public meetings
to provide information on the proposed Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Plan.
Park staff will present a free program about the proposed restoration plan
and be on-hand to answer questions and provide information on how to
comment on the proposal and the timeline for the environmental analysis.
Anyone interested in more information about the parks aquatic ecosystems
and the restoration proposal is invited to attend. The meeting schedule is
as follows:

November 5, 2009, 7-8 pm Three Rivers, CA Three Rivers Art Centre,
North Fork Road off of Highway 198, Three Rivers
November 13, 2009, 6-7 pm Fresno, CA REI, 7810 N. Blackstone
Avenue, Fresno

There are approximately 560 lakes and ponds within the parks that contain
introduced trout, and removal of these non-native species from up to 15% of
these sites will be considered. This project is needed to preserve and
restore aquatic ecosystems and populations of native species, including
mountain yellow-legged frogs in high elevation lakes and streams, creating
new opportunities for visitors to experience native wildlife yet also
maintaining recreational fishing opportunities.

Initially public scoping was conducted in early 2007, and it was
anticipated that an environmental assessment (EA) would be prepared to
analyze the project. During that time, the parks received comments from
over 30 different sources. As staff began the environmental analysis and
re-examined information provided by the public, it became clear that the
project had a level of controversy associated with the potential for
uncertainty regarding both adverse and beneficial consequences, and unique
and unforeseeable environmental impacts. For these reasons, in early 2009
the Superintendent determined that an environmental impact statement (EIS)
would be prepared. An EIS is a more comprehensive document that is prepared
when a federal action may result in a significant impact on the human
environment.

All scoping comments received to date are included in the official
administrative record; the Scoping Summary Report includes all comments and
information obtained to date and is available on-line at
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/seki. It is not necessary for previous letters
to be resubmitted; however if prior respondents have new issues or
information they wish to bring forward then new letters should be
submitted. The public can submit comments on the project until November 21,
2009, online at: http:/parkplanning.nps.gov/seki, by email at
SEKI_Planning@nps.gov, or by writing:

Superintendent
Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
47050 Generals Highway
Three Rivers, CA 93271

Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other
personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment - including your personal identifying information - may
be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your
comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

-NPS-

Anyone interested has a good opportunity to listen and have a say at the upcoming SEKI workshop. I'll paste an email I received yesterday:

For Immediate Release February 17, 2010
Contact Adrienne Freeman 559/ 565-3131

Get Involved! Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks to Host Public Open
House

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks will be presenting a free workshop
to help the public better understand park issues, projects, and the
planning process, (including compliance with the National Environmental
Policy Act) and to identify opportunities for public involvement.

Please join us on February 23, 2010 at 7pm at the Veterans Memorial
Building in Three Rivers, California for the first of several workshops in
the area. Future dates will be announced as they are determined.

Additionally, park staff will be available to distribute information and
answer questions about park programs, plans, and projects including:

Mineral King Management Plan Environmental Assessment (EA)

Upcoming wilderness planning

Wilderness Ranger Stations EA

Crystal Cave Restoration and Redevelopment EA

Cave Management Plan EA

New firearms regulations, in effect February 22, 2010

Restoration of Native Species in High Elevation Aquatic

Ecosystems Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

Park-wide road construction update

Bear management program

Marijuana operations update

Fire management update


If these projects or others are of interest to you, this is your
opportunity to find out where we are in the planning process and discover
how and when you can best provide your input. Please contact Adrienne
Freeman at 559/565-3131 for more information.


-- NPS --