Casitas Water Board Meeting FEB. 13th

[Cmarkfish]

Hi Guys,
The Lake Casitas board had a general meeting today, but they had topics to discuss from the last meeting. This was some of the concerns they had.
The board has sent a letter to the Governor declaring a state of emergency at the lake.
The lake has been doing tests on the water. They said they have found something, but they are not sure what they found until they do a DNA test. They may not get this info as soon as they want it. The board was very concern because of the upcoming meeting on the 4th.
The next topic was the calcium level at Lake Casitas, it is perfect for the mussels.
The next item was if someone puts the mussels in the lake, they said they would close it.
They also mentioned a plan in case of a terrorist attack on the water supply.
Oh yeah 5 steelhead and one rainbow trout went up the fish ladder two of them were 25 inches.
That was it as far as the meeting.They were three people total as far as the public piece. I was the only fisherman there and one of the board members knew me.
later,
CHIEF

[Lane]

What do you mean they found something? Microscopic evaluation
would determine if it is mussel larvae. DNA senquencing otherwise
termed as a polymerase chain reaction would tell what species of
larvae was found. They would know if what they found was mussel
larvae BEFORE the meeting, it takes several days for PCR testing
to be completed. Maybe someone can verify this information.

[oakview]

Well, I'm trying to stay off here cause I'm on the road friday but I couldn't avoid this one.

The board has sent a letter to the Governor declaring a state of emergency at the lake

Knee-jerk...THey want to close it...we need to fight...THey don't have them...HELLO

And if they did...make the boating community maintian them...an extra $5 or $10 for everytime you go in.

ANyway, I will get off my soap box before I piss off Doug again! LOL

Hopefully they give me my refund back and I can use it at Piru or a 7/11...

I'm done and it looks like the lake is too...Time for a lawyer!!!!

D.

[oakview]

Lane,
We are dealing 5 board members and if we are lucky maybe 2 of them understand the bass fishing history at the lake or even surpport us.

Its going to be an uphill battle...

D.

[Cmarkfish]

The could not determine what it is. They said something. Sorry that's all I got, even they were not sure what they have. I wish there was someone else there. That was all I have.
chief

[DougH]

By golly, we need to close the lake immediately because they have weapons of mass destruction. The "spin doctors" are starting to rev it up, and trying to scare the Board into a reactive decision. We knew that was coming. A letter to the Governor for a "State of Emergency"? A little extreem?

Every lake in the Western US has sufficient calcium for mussel growth...that's kind of like saying the oxygen content in the air at Casitas is perfect to support humans.

Lane answered the "something" charge, if it is something in the water, it shouldn't take too long to figure it out. Let's hope it isn't a mussel, as that really would be the end of our wonderful lake as we know it now.

Unfortunately, these developements show us all what we're dealing with, and what some people are trying to do. It's kind of like trying to prove yourelf innocent when accused of a sociall unacceptable crime. Once the stigma attached, it's hard to shake, no matter how far from the truth it is.
We will provide the truth to the Board on the 4th (provided they don't try to change that date) and we will let them make their decision. They will really need to think hard, as the amount of money that they would be throwing away will be significant, substantially significant. And they would have to answer to the public if they make the wrong decision.

[Lane]

Something is BS! Send me a sample and I will look at it under the
scope. If it is mussel larvae, I will know within minutes. PCR testing
is the only way to determine the species (Zebra or Quagga) that
takes awhile depending on the particular method or test. Can someone PLEASE get a initial report of the microscopic evaluation
of the sample? Also method of collection and who collected the sample(s)? How many organisims were found in the samples?
Thanks!

[oakview]

WHo does she need to contact?

Can someone make this happen?

D.

[Brian Linehan]

For the life of me, I don't understand why you guys keep saying that if the Quagga is found in the lake, it's closed.

Once it's in, it's too late so why prohibit boats from being on the lake. I can understand why the lake is being so strict right now becasue they don't think they have the Quagga issue yet. But if they were to find out that it's indeed present, it's business as usual and life goes on.

I would bet my life that it's already in all of our lakes and we just don't know it yet. Time to start a Quagga Muscle cleaning corporation.

[Lance]

I think their true intent is to just close the lake, and the Quagga issue is just going to make their argument easyer. After all we arnt (Bass fisherman) viewed in a favorable light by the left wing, Ojai, PETA crowd.

If the above is incorrect then as Brian said why close it? But if Casitas has been infected why are they going to close it anyway......re-read the above paragraph.

Hell they even said "The Chamber wants to close the lake" Since when do businesses vote to turn customers away in a bad economy, does that make any sence?

If you read the Ojai Post there seems to be a long history of failed rate hikes for water.....hhhmmm, ya think they have a case for a rate hike now?

The guy at the front gate told the wife that there is a list of 75 boats just to get a slip at the lake if it were to close. I dont know about you but rent on 75 slips will bring is some cash.

[DougH]

I'll call as soon as their office opens up, and get to the bottom of this. None of this was on the agenda for the meeting. I'm beginning to think this board doesn't think they need to follow the normal rules of a public agency.

[DougH]

Initial calls to the lake, Randy has heard nothing, and Brent, (head Ranger) said he hasn't heard anything along these lines either. The office will open in just a few minutes.

[DougH]

Hi Guys,
The Lake Casitas board had a general meeting today, but they had topics to discuss from the last meeting. This was some of the concerns they had.
The board has sent a letter to the Governor declaring a state of emergency at the lake.
The lake has been doing tests on the water. They said they have found something, but they are not sure what they found until they do a DNA test. They may not get this info as soon as they want it. The board was very concern because of the upcoming meeting on the 4th.
The next topic was the calcium level at Lake Casitas, it is perfect for the mussels.
The next item was if someone puts the mussels in the lake, they said they would close it.
They also mentioned a plan in case of a terrorist attack on the water supply.
Oh yeah 5 steelhead and one rainbow trout went up the fish ladder two of them were 25 inches.
That was it as far as the meeting.They were three people total as far as the public piece. I was the only fisherman there and one of the board members knew me.
later,
CHIEF

Thanks Mark,
Let me clear a few of these topics up. I just got off the phone with Brian Roney to discuss these issues.

1) They did NOT send a letter to the Gov, they asked their atty about it and they were told that it would probably be quite useless, that the Gov has already turned the Quagga over to the DFG dept. It was a legitimate and responsible question to be asked, as infestation would create a different scenario for the lake to be sure.
2) Lake testing has been going on at the lake for the last 3 years. They use a variety of testing methodes, from suspending pipes to straining water at a planktonic level. This plankton is then sent to a lab for microscopic analysis. Nothing was found, but the wording of the report stated that it was inconclusive, the board asked for better wording. perhaps a word like "positive" or "negative". Inconclusive means negative.
3) The report of optimum living conditions which include calcium content, Ph levels, water temp, etc are nothing new and the lake has been aware of this for years. FYI, most every lake in the Western US is in this catagory.
4) The "domestic terrorist" and intentional contamination is the same thing. If the lake were to become infected, it could be closed to protect OTHER lakes. The DFG has the authority to do so, and that is something we wish they were doing at other lakes that are infected, but they arent doing so. Or at least doing some form of control.

Again guys, the lake doesn't want to close, it will really hurt them financially, but they also have to be responsible in protecting their resource, so they are in a tough spot. We need to help them make this decision by doing our part to be "Clean and Dry".
I know we're all sick of hearing about this, but slightly inaccurate and slightly inflammatory posts tend to get our fishing community a bit fired up to say the least, and really don't do any good for the cause. The Board needs to see a supportive community that is offering solutions, not an angry lynch mob that wants to shoot first.

We have a solid base of DFG staff and independant scientists working on our behalf right now, and we will present a solid case on the 4th with scientific FACTS and data. Please guys, keep the flame throwers down. Spend your time searching the internet and bring me solutions. The clock is ticking and we just don't have time to waste cooling off the hotheads.

Doug

If any of you have any questions about any of this, please call Brian at 805-649-2233 x 111
Or PM me, I'll find out the answer to your questions.

[vancej]

Thanks Doug for calling them and clearing some things up. I agree that we need to work with them and do our part to keep this lake and all others open.

Vance

[Hugh_M]

Thanks, Doug_H. Very responsible and informative post.
Hugh