360 Acres of Backwaters to Be Closed ???

[Bob La Londe]

In today's issue of The Yuma Daily Sun there is a letter to the editor from Dave Greaves on this issue. Dave is currently the president of Yuma Bassmasters and he has has been actively involved in gathering information and trying to summarize the information regarding this issue.

Closing waters will hurt Yuma
Yuma Bassmasters wants to express our vehement opposition to closing navigable waters on the Colorado River to raise endangered species of fish under Endangered Species Act. Our main concern is that both state and federal agencies are attempting...

More of this story

[Blind Squirrel]

Here is the letter Bob mentioned.

Yuma Bassmasters wants to express our vehement opposition to closing navigable waters on the Colorado River to raise endangered species of fish under Endangered Species Act.

Our main concern is that both state and federal agencies are attempting to permanently cordon off virtually all of the navigable back waters from Lake Havasu to the Imperial Dam on the lower Colorado River.

Please note this includes both the Arizona and California back waters that are presently enjoyed by thousands of taxpaying citizens who frequent these waters for sporting and pleasure! Additionally, and most disturbingly, these agencies are planning to barricade these back water lakes and channels for a minimum of 50 years and will destroy all existing species of fish in these waters to "sterilize" them so that they can raise endangered Humpback chubs and carp.

Yuma Bassmasters is but one of about a dozen bass fishing clubs that fish tournaments on the lower Colorado on a regular basis. These clubs are responsible for the infusion of hundreds of thousands of dollars into our local and state economy.

Add to that the thousands of other people from all over the United States who play on our river throughout the year and you can quickly visualize the tremendous negative economic impact that would result if the proposed back water lakes and channels were permanently closed.

Members of our club have interviewed countless people from all over our region and not one person has been willing to give up these navigable waters. Businesses throughout our community are also in fierce opposition.

Because of the overwhelming support to keep our back water areas open to the public, we are presently meeting with our attorneys to protect our rights. Concurrently, we are proactively poised to ally our community and the news media to save our waters. We have seen what is taking place in Lake Havasu and we are taking this matter very seriously.

Fortunately, there is a viable compromise and a common sense approach that would have virtually no negative impact on our navigable waters.

We identified several landlocked lakes including Headquarters Lake on the Imperial Wildlife Refuge which would be good substitute waters for the targeted navigable lakes and channels given the fact they are inaccessible to the public. We identified enough back water to more than meet the requirements for the 150 acres needed on the Arizona side of the Colorado to raise the endangered species.

We consider this approach to be least injurious solution to the back water debacle. Our greatest concern is that the applicable agencies will want to take the easy approach which entails prohibiting access to our presently navigable and most prime public lakes as a matter of convenience for them. Given the present deplorable state of our economy, this is simply a ludicrous and unacceptable approach.


--
DAVE GREAVES
Yuma Bassmasters president

[saltcraw]

I think Dave is taking the right approach by publicizing the issue. One mis-statement in his letter though. The closures are proposed to provide areas for the rearing of razorback sucker, not humpback chubs and carp.

I think a good approach might be to contact the Bureau of Reclamation's Boulder Nevada office and speak to the folks in charge of the MSCP. I advise constructive dialogue (not ranting about the MSCP, endangered species, or the use of toxins). State that we are concerned that stakeholders are not being informed, and ask for meetings and input before final site selection is made.

One good solution might be to seek a commitment from the Bureau of Rec. that they will excavate access channels to lakes that we currently cannot get to in order to mitigate (or make for) the fishing acreage that we lose.

[wektech]

I have read over some of the documentation and I was not impressed with some of the methodology. For example the document found here http://www.lcrmscp.gov/worktasks/conser ... entory.pdf seems to have used a couple of short flyovers in December to determine if boats used the backwaters. I also noticed that some private property is not properly designated as such. I also must wonder at statements made about not knowing what the impact of blocking access to other fish from the closed waters will be. It seems sort of silly to designate an area as having excellent potential because of its flow of natural river water and then blocking the flow.

[Bob La Londe]

Bob,

We got the press release out (as I said it would not be anything new to you), but did you get it?

http://www.azgfd.gov/artman/publish/article_1017.shtml

I apologize it took so long, but we also got a webpage going (linked in the press release), again no new info, but maybe some decent summary information a bit easier to navigate then the MSCP site.

We will be planning additional outreach.

Pat Barber
Yuma Regional Supervisor
Arizona Game and Fish Department
9140 E. 28th St.
Yuma, AZ 85365
(928) 341-4040
(928) 343-0730 - fax

Backwater site selection continues for Lower Colorado River native fish conservation

News Media
Nov 14, 2008


Effort is to select areas with the lowest impact to recreational users
PHOENIX - Federal and state agencies are continuing the process of selecting appropriate backwater sites to create habitat for three native fish species as part of the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (LCR MSCP), a 50-year, $626 million* program that aims to:

protect the lower Colorado River environment while ensuring the certainty of existing river water and power operations,
address the needs of threatened and endangered wildlife under the Endangered Species Act, and
reduce the likelihood of listing additional species along the lower Colorado River.
The current backwater site selection effort includes areas along the Colorado River, from the Reclamation Cibola Gage (River Mile 87.3) to the Northerly International Boundary (River Mile 23.1), which is known as LCR MSCP Reaches 5 and 6. A future effort will be made to conduct backwater site selection for LCR MSCP Reaches 3 and 4, which span from Davis Dam (River Mile 276) to the Reclamation Cibola Gage (River Mile 87.3).

The program is one of the nation’s largest partnerships for the restoration of riparian, marsh and backwater habitats and has a steering committee consisting of more than 20 state and federal agencies (including the Arizona Game and Fish Department), cities, water districts and other affected parties in Arizona. The Bureau of Reclamation is the lead implementing agency for the program.

As part of the LCR MSCP, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is tasked with creating or restoring a total of 360 acres of backwater habitat along the Lower Colorado River, between the Davis Dam and the Mexico Border, to provide refuge for three native and endangered fish — razorback sucker, bonytail, and flannelmouth sucker. The program has a priority of designating approximately half of the backwater acreage (180 acres) on the California side of the river, with the remaining acreage on the Arizona or Nevada sides.

In an effort to provide a voice for Arizonans and at the request of Reclamation, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (Department) met with and solicited initial input from civic leaders, angling groups, and hunting clubs to assist Reclamation in selecting potential candidate sites that would result in minimum conflict and impact. The recommendations from those public meetings are available at the Department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov/lcrmscp. Additional informational meetings with potentially affected parties are anticipated, as the selection process proceeds.

Although Department recommendations will be considered by Reclamation, backwater site selection is still predicated on the biological needs of meeting the overall goal of the recovery of endangered species as required under the Endangered Species Act. To the extent practicable, priority in selecting backwaters will be given to choosing sites which minimize conflicts with recreational uses.

To date, the establishment of Imperial Ponds backwaters on the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge represents approximately 80 of the 180 acres for Arizona. The project area is within a portion of the refuge known as the Intensive Management Area. The entire area has been restricted from public access for many years and will have no effect on recreational users or sport fishing opportunity.

The next backwater being considered in the conceptual habitat creation planning is Headquarters Lake (A59.7), approximately 18.2 acres. This backwater is also within a portion of the refuge which is closed to the public, and therefore would have no effect on recreational uses. The current conceptual planning efforts involve significant expansion of this backwater, which would result in 25-40+ acres of backwater acreage for the program.

Additional potential candidate backwater selections include an unnamed lake (A49.2 - approximately 10.1 acres) and Secret Lake (A62.3 - approximately 11.2 acres), commonly referred to as “Clear Lake” by local anglers. However, no work beyond the conceptual habitat creation plan has been committed to Secret Lake pending further analysis. Reclamation is currently seeking two additional sites within Reaches 5 & 6 to add to this process.

The LCR MSCP anticipates a draft final report of the conceptual plans for the enhancement of Headquarters Lake (A59.7) and Secret Lake (A62.3) available for public review and comments by early December. The public will have 30 days to comment on this draft report. The report will be available at: www.lcrmscp.gov/worktasks/conservationa ... index.html.

For complete history and report information about the LCR MSCP, visit the Bureau of Reclamation’s Web site at www.lcrmscp.gov.

To keep up to date on Arizona-specific LCR MSCP issues, visit the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov/lcrmscp.

* Based on 2003 dollars, indexed for inflation over the life of the program.

[Bob La Londe]

Regarding Aerial Application of Rotenone

http://www.agfc.com/fishing/snakehead_eradication.aspx

During aerial application, some trees and vegetation will come into contact with rotenone, which will break down over time.

A quick search using Google appears to show that Rotenone emulsified in a solution has been applied by helicopter or airplane quite a bit in wildlife fisheries management. The quote above is the only one I read on a quick search that raised immediate concerns. "which will break down over time." is a very worrisome phrase.

[Bob La Londe]

I was at a meeting last night at the Yuma AZGFD office where we discussed backwaters on the Ca sde of the river with a couple guys from Ca DFG. Basically all we discussed was whether or not particular waters were high, medium, or low usage currently. This was to lend weight to the decisions about which backwaters close, poison, and utilize for raisngin endangered species minnows. No other topics of concern were discussed, and it seemed that nobody was there who could or would answer any of the hard questions.

[AZAllen]

I read locally (I live in Bullhead City) several years ago that a portion of the Topock Marsh known as "Beale Lake" was going to be isolated for the purpose of providing sanctuary for a local endangered species, this may have been the Humpback Sucker. They gave reasons as "little used" and that oxygen levels were low enough in the summer that most fish found the area less habitable. At least that is what I think they said. Beale Lake is a modest part of Topock Marsh but I cannot tell you about the "use levels" etc., never made it that far over.
One thought I had relates to the Rotenone, how do they know that it will only affect the target areas?

[Bob La Londe]

MSCP Meeting Scheduled.

I just got a call today from Russ Engl over at teh local AZGFD office (hope I didn't butcher your name too bad Russ).

There is an open public meeting scheduled with the guys from MSCP January 12th 2009 at 5:30 PM.

I was unclear about the location exactly. As soon as I double check my e-mail from Russ I'll post that.

Be there to learn the plan, and express your opinion or don't complain.

[Bob La Londe]

Got a call yesterday from Nathan Leon with Beurau of Rec and MSCP. He just wanted to talk to some of the people who have been vocal and get feel for what is going to be happening at the meeting in January, and the issues that most concern us. He also dropped me an e-mail with his contact information for those who may be interested in talking with him directly.

Hi Bob,

It was good to finally speak with you today.

I wanted to put my contact info out there, and you can post it to the
blog, if you like. I'd like to get a more open dialogue going with the
fishing community along the Colorado River, so we can improve our public
outreach efforts. Thanks for taking the time to talk with me today, and
to care about the river.

Nathan Lenon
Biologist
Bureau of Reclamation, Lower Colorado Region
LCR Multi-Species Conservation Program Office
P.O. Box 61470
Boulder City, Nevada 89006-1470
702-293-8015 (office)
702-286-5375 (cel)
702-293-8146 (fax)

[Bob La Londe]

We have scheduled a public meeting on January 12th, 5:30 p.m. at the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area Office (Old City Hall, 180 W 1st St) for representatives from MSCP to present information on the MSCP and related backwater selection process for native fish refugia. There should also be ample opportunity for a Q&A session. I believe an announcement for the meeting will also come out in the Yuma Daily Sun within the next couple of days. Please pass this along to anyone you think might be interested in the meeting and don’t hesitate to give me a call if you have any questions about the meeting.

Russ Engel
Habitat Program Manager, soon to be Fisheries Program Manager
AZ Game and Fish Dept.
Region IV, Yuma

Sorry guys. I got confused and wanted to make sure I had the directions right. Here is the actual e-mail received from Russ Engel.

[Gilmafam]

Thanks for the update Bob... I don't get to the website often, but the backwaters on the river are important to me as well as out brothers etc...

Thanks and have a great new year... Bayrunner Ray

[Blind Squirrel]

We have scheduled a public meeting on January 12th, 5:30 p.m. at the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area Office (Old City Hall, 180 W 1st St) for representatives from MSCP to present information on the MSCP and related backwater selection process for native fish refugia. There should also be ample opportunity for a Q&A session. I believe an announcement for the meeting will also come out in the Yuma Daily Sun within the next couple of days. Please pass this along to anyone you think might be interested in the meeting and don’t hesitate to give me a call if you have any questions about the meeting.

Russ Engel
Habitat Program Manager, soon to be Fisheries Program Manager
AZ Game and Fish Dept.
Region IV, Yuma

Don't forget guys. Just because there was no news on the subject over the holidays doesn't mean anything has changed.

[Joe Cool]

You know I mostly didn't say anything to anybody about anything yesterday when me and my buddy where watching the Desert Bass weigh in, but I heard a couple people talking about this issue, and somebody made a comment about somebody else being a, "sky is falling, Chicken Little," type person. I think that is a mistake. Rights, priveledges, and opportunities are eroded in tiny little steps. 360 acres of backwaters on the river is a lot. What scares the heck out of me though is any possibility of aerial application of Rotenone. This is a constantly moving river system with constant winds through the river valley as well. There is no way you can convince me its 100% safe to drop poison out of the sky. Don't you people get all the water for your city water supply from the river? And doesn't all the water for your farm fields come directly out of the river with no filtration of any kind? The whole idea scares the living bejeebers out of me. I heard there are people who get their water out of your irrigation canals for their homes too. Is that true?

[saltcraw]

Being alarmist about rotenone will get absolutely nothing done!! It has been used in fisheries management for many years. The folks who are making the decisions are aware of the precautions needed and know much more about it than any of us.

The best approach for fisherman to take is to make the agencies aware of the fact that we do use parallel and cable lakes! If the agencies insist on taking some of our fishing waters, then try for a firm commitment (in writing if possible) from the agencies that they will get the dredge upriver and create access to lakes that we cannot get into now as mitigation for the loss of our fisheries. Make sure that minutes are being taken at the meeting!! Everybody wins in this scenario!!