Public comment begins Sept. 1 on the proposed Lake Davis Pike Eradication project's joint draft environmental review document, according to the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG).?? Four public hearings have been scheduled that will take place in September and October. The comment period is scheduled to run for 45 days, from Sept. 1 to Oct. 16.

The public may provide verbal and written comment at the hearings scheduled on ?ĮTuesday, Sept. 26, 2006 ??? Two sessions, 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m., Portola Station Baptist Church, 171 S. Gulling Street, Portola; and Thursday, Oct. 5, 2006 ??? Two sessions, 1 to 4 p.m., and 6 to 9 p.m., National University, Room 120, 9320 Tech Center Dr., Sacramento. Written comments may also be submitted by e-mail by going to the Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/northernpike, or by fax, hand-delivery, or U.S. mail. Verbal comments, in addition to the hearings, may be submitted to the U.S. Forest Service, Plumas National Forest (PNF) by appointment. Call (530) 283-7761 to make an appointment.

The Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) was prepared by Entrix, Inc. for DFG and the PNF, for the proposed project. The Draft EIR/EIS addresses the potential environmental effects that could result from the proposed project, as well as proposed project alternatives. An Initial Study was prepared and distributed in September 2005.

The Draft EIR/EIS and supporting documents are available on the DFG Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/northernpike and upon request at (916) 445-3584. Copies of the Draft EIR/EIS are available to review at the following locations:??

DFG, 4001 N. Wilson Way, Stockton ?ĮDFG, 1701 Nimbus Road, Suite A, Rancho Cordova ?ĮDFG, 1416 9th St., 1st Floor, Office of Communications, Sacramento?ĮPlumas National Forest, Beckwourth Ranger District, 23 Mohawk Road, Blairsden?ĮPlumas National Forest, 159 Lawrence St., Quincy?ĮSacramento Public Library, 828 I St., Sacramento?ĮPlumas County Library, 445 Jackson St., Quincy, ?ĮPlumas County Library Portola Branch, 34 Third Ave., Portola?ĮPortola City Hall, 35 Third Ave., Portola

With the release of the Draft EIR/EIS on Sept. 1, 2006, a 45-day comment period will begin, ending at 5 p.m. on Oct. 16, 2006. Comments must be postmarked or received by Oct. 16. Please mail, FAX, or hand deliver written comments to DFG and PNF at:

Lake Davis Pike Eradication Project?ĮDepartment of Fish and Game?Į1812 9th St., Attention: Ed Pert?ĮSacramento, CA?? 95814

?ĮFAX:?? (916) 445-4044 Lake Davis, the only body of water in California where pike are known to exist, is a State Water Project reservoir located within Plumas County and the PNF, approximately six miles upstream of the confluence of Big Grizzly Creek with the Middle Fork Feather River, and five miles north of the town of Portola on State Highway 70. Lake Davis drains into the Middle Fork Feather River, which ends at Lake Oroville. From Lake Oroville, water flows into the Feather River, then into the Sacramento River, and then into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The project area comprises the area directly affected by the project alternatives, including treatment and neutralization activities.

The DFG proposes to eradicate pike from Lake Davis and its tributaries to re-establish the trout fishery at Lake Davis and to prevent the pike from escaping from the reservoir and causing ecological impacts in other parts of the state. The primary goal of the project is complete eradication of pike from Lake Davis and its tributaries. The project would be approved and implemented by the DFG. The PNF action for the project is the issuance of a special use permit to the DFG and potentially two forest closure orders.

Seven project alternatives are evaluated in the Draft EIR/EIS, including the Proposed Project/Proposed Action, which involves the draw down of Lake Davis to approximately 15,000 acre-feet and the application of liquid rotenone to the reservoir and its tributaries. One alternative would use powdered rotenone only to treat the reservoir at this same volume. Three other alternatives also involve liquid rotenone treatment of Lake Davis and its tributaries, utilizing varying degrees of a lake drawdown?? One alternative is a non-chemical alternative, involving the complete dewatering of the reservoir and its tributaries, and there is also a No Project/No Action alternative. In addition, the document analyzes four options for neutralization of treated water in Lake Davis, which could be discharged into Big Grizzly Creek.

The document evaluates the impact all the alternatives could have on physical, biological, human and environmental resources. DFG hopes to decide on whether or not to implement a project in January 2007.