Professional angler Alton Jones describes how joining Friends of Reservoirs, a national non-profit organization, can benefit local groups wishing to improve fishing and water quality in reservoirs in their area.
[you tube]http://youtu.be/cj5EbqwFQNg[/youtube]
Friends of Reservoirs
Re: Friends of Reservoirs
Most anglers are familiar with the “Boom and Bust” characteristic of reservoir fisheries. Typically reservoir anglers enjoy unprecedented success for the first 10 years following impoundment. Thereafter the quality of the fishery declines to a lower, more stable state. This “bust” portion of the life of the fishery is due largely to declines in productivity and in the overall quality of the habitat. The heyday of reservoir construction was in the 1950’s through 1970’s, making most of the reservoirs in this country approaching or exceeding 50 years old and mired in the “bust” portion of their life cycle. Relatively few reservoirs have been built since 2000 and that is unlikely to change due to environmental and fiscal considerations. To sustain the quality of angling currently enjoyed, the decline in habitat quality needs to be reversed or future generations of anglers will not enjoy the same quality of angling that we and those that taught and inspired us to fish have enjoyed.
The challenge for fisheries managers is how to maintain quality angling in the face of declining habitat quality. The challenge for anglers is to adjust expectations downward or assist management agencies in efforts to restore/enhance fisheries habitat. Management agencies and anglers alike have known that adding brush attracts fish and increases angler catch rates. Historically, the objectives of brush projects have been to concentrate fish, not to produce more fish. In order for our lakes and reservoirs to maintain the fish population levels that anglers have come to expect, major habitat issues such as sedimentation, nutrient enrichment, shoreline development, lack of aquatic vegetation and competition for limited amounts of water need to be addressed. The solutions to these issues lies outside of the jurisdiction of fisheries management agencies making cooperation among various government agencies, industry, agriculture, landowners, and anglers critical to finding the solutions needed to preserve angling quality. Government agencies have been strapped for funds during current economic times with little relief in sight at the same time that aquatic habitat issues are reaching critical levels.
The National Fish Habitat Partnership (http://www.fishhabitat.org) was formed in 2007 to bring together aquatic resource users to address habitat issues across the country. The Reservoir Fisheries Habitat Partnership (http://www.waterhabitatlife.org) is charged with the task of forming partnerships among reservoir users to address declining habitat and water quality in our nation’s reservoirs. The challenges are many and need to be addressed on a large scale and by a multitude of agencies, municipalities, industries, anglers and the general public if future generations are to have the same access to clean water and quality outdoor experiences as we have enjoyed. The Reservoir Fisheries Habitat Partnership (RFHP) has developed the infrastructure to help bring reservoir users together to restore/enhance the quality of aquatic habitat in reservoirs to the benefit of society. Through the Friends of Reservoirs (FOR), a 501 (c) (3) tax-deductible foundation, RFHP is creating a network of concerned agencies, organizations and individuals to work cooperatively in restoring reservoir fisheries habitat.
RFHP encourages anglers to contact their local state agency fisheries biologist about how to get involved in reservoir habitat restoration efforts and go to http://www.waterhabitalife.org; click on “Join” and become a member of Friends of Reservoirs.
The challenge for fisheries managers is how to maintain quality angling in the face of declining habitat quality. The challenge for anglers is to adjust expectations downward or assist management agencies in efforts to restore/enhance fisheries habitat. Management agencies and anglers alike have known that adding brush attracts fish and increases angler catch rates. Historically, the objectives of brush projects have been to concentrate fish, not to produce more fish. In order for our lakes and reservoirs to maintain the fish population levels that anglers have come to expect, major habitat issues such as sedimentation, nutrient enrichment, shoreline development, lack of aquatic vegetation and competition for limited amounts of water need to be addressed. The solutions to these issues lies outside of the jurisdiction of fisheries management agencies making cooperation among various government agencies, industry, agriculture, landowners, and anglers critical to finding the solutions needed to preserve angling quality. Government agencies have been strapped for funds during current economic times with little relief in sight at the same time that aquatic habitat issues are reaching critical levels.
The National Fish Habitat Partnership (http://www.fishhabitat.org) was formed in 2007 to bring together aquatic resource users to address habitat issues across the country. The Reservoir Fisheries Habitat Partnership (http://www.waterhabitatlife.org) is charged with the task of forming partnerships among reservoir users to address declining habitat and water quality in our nation’s reservoirs. The challenges are many and need to be addressed on a large scale and by a multitude of agencies, municipalities, industries, anglers and the general public if future generations are to have the same access to clean water and quality outdoor experiences as we have enjoyed. The Reservoir Fisheries Habitat Partnership (RFHP) has developed the infrastructure to help bring reservoir users together to restore/enhance the quality of aquatic habitat in reservoirs to the benefit of society. Through the Friends of Reservoirs (FOR), a 501 (c) (3) tax-deductible foundation, RFHP is creating a network of concerned agencies, organizations and individuals to work cooperatively in restoring reservoir fisheries habitat.
RFHP encourages anglers to contact their local state agency fisheries biologist about how to get involved in reservoir habitat restoration efforts and go to http://www.waterhabitalife.org; click on “Join” and become a member of Friends of Reservoirs.
Re: Friends of Reservoirs
I was hoping to see some response to this post. Is anyone interested in creating a Friends of Reservoirs chapter at their favorite lake? If so or if you have questions, please call Rebecca Krogman, statewide CDFW Reservoir Specialist at (916) 327-8849 or email at Rebecca.Krogman@wildlife.ca.gov for more information.
Many thanks to Wayne for posting the video.
Terry Foreman
Fisheries Program Manager
Fisheries Branch
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Sacramento
Many thanks to Wayne for posting the video.
Terry Foreman
Fisheries Program Manager
Fisheries Branch
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Sacramento
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