Butte County Fish and Game Commission hears salmon, turkey and warden reports

The Butte County Fish and Game Commission held its quarterly meeting Monday night in Chico. Agenda items included both a fisheries and wildlife biologists report.

Department of Fish and Game fisheries biologist Tracy McReynolds reported that the final package of three different ocean salmon fishing options has been created, and that National Marine Fisheries Service [NOAA Fisheries] will make a final decision no later than May 1. She observed, "The fall-run Chinook numbers are bleak across the board, and the winter-run has also plummeted". [*Ed. note, after May 1, the DFG will begin considering in-river salmon fishing options].

McReynolds also reported that Butte Creek's adult spring-run Chinook have already started arriving at Okie Dam, and that schools have been observed moving through the area. Last years' adult spring-run salmon on Butte Creek numbered some 6,200. Additionally, McReynolds' team has inserted coded wire tags into the noses of 311,000 out-migrating juvenile salmon. The Butte Creek fish roam far and wide in the ocean, and a second Butte Creek wanderer was recently captured in the offshore fishery of Washington State. Several have also been taken in Oregon waters. Butte County DFG wildlife biologist Henry Lomeli reported that he continues to move forward with the creation of a special either-sex deer hunt in the Sacramento River corridor. The Butte County F&G Commissioners have agreed to provide a letter of support, and the Tehama County F&G commission has also given its OK. Still needed is the approval of Glenn and Colusa counties. Details of the hunt cannot be completed until all affected counties have signed on. Lomeli also reported that this is the time of year when calls about bears mountain lions, orphaned fawns, etc. start to ramp up. So far, this year has been about average for the nuisance wildlife calls he has received. The state's wild turkey population is doing well in every county where they are present, added Lomeli. He reminded hunters that during the upcoming archery season for turkeys, junior hunters are still allowed to use a shotgun. Local DFG warden Lt. Sam Castillo reported that non-migratory white front geese are creating some depredation issues around Glenn City. Foremost on his mind is the potential for salmon fishing closures on the Feather and Sacramento rivers. "That is a big question" said Castillo. "If it [salmon closure] does happen, it will be a big headache. The economic impact on Oroville will be substantial. Even with the budget cutbacks, we have not experienced any cutback in our local warden staff." Castillo continued, "Wild turkey hunting season has not been too eventful, but we have had the usual number of issues with people ignoring signs and trespassing. The population of wild turkeys in the Sacramento River corridor is also doing very well. "There has also been an increase in the number of solid waste disposal cases along county waterways, mostly construction and demolition debris. It is really impacting the wetland corridors." Lake Oroville park ranger Brian Taylor reminded the public that the lake rangers are responsible for enforcing fish and game laws on the lake. Taylor also reported that lake levels after September 1 may be too low for the launch ramps to operate.

Trout plants

The DFG planted catchable-size trout this week in the following area waters: Butte County- Thermalito Forebay; Plumas County- Lake Almanor, Feather River middle fork; Shasta County- Lake Shasta; Siskiyou County- Bass Lake, Butte Creek, Greenhorn Reservoir, Lake Shastina, Lake Siskiyou, Orr Lake; Trinity County- Ruth Lake. Send your outdoor news items to Steve Carson via e-mail at scarson@sunset.net