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Recreation
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- Written by: Editor
U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell announced a series of meetings in Colorado, Utah and California that will focus on the development of a ski area water rights clause impacting ski facility operations on national forests.
“Skiing is an important recreational activity on our nation’s forests and greatly contributes to the economy of resort communities,” said Tidwell. “The water used by ski areas for snowmaking and other activities is essential to sustain the long-term future of the communities. The Forest Service welcomes input from the ski areas, the communities and the public as to how water rights should be managed in order to ensure long-term benefits.”
Currently, the Forest Service policy keeps water with the land and allows ski resorts to use water from nearby streams and lakes for snow-making during times when snowfall fails to provide enough cover for ski runs.
The agency has maintained that by keeping the water with the land, the ski industry will remain vibrant while mountain communities will have abundant water supplies into the future.
The announced meetings are open to the public and will seek input regarding how to best meet the needs of surrounding communities and ski areas.
The open forums are scheduled in Denver on April 16, Salt Lake City on April 17, and Lake Tahoe, Calif., on April 18.
Forest Service leaders and technical experts from Washington, D.C., as well as from local and regional offices will be on-hand to take public comments and provide additional information on the water rights issue.
The Forest Service has long enjoyed a beneficial relationship with the ski industry, which boosts state and local economies and provides healthy playgrounds for people.
In Colorado, for example, roughly $1.5 billion flow into the local and state economy from downhill skiers and snowboarders. Nearly half the downhill skiing capacity in the U.S. is on national forests with about 27 million people visiting those areas annually.
The announced public meetings are predicated on the agency’s need to update a clause on the ski area special use permits, which it did in 2011 and 2012.
The clauses were challenged in federal court, and a U.S. District Court judge determined the clauses were a legislative rather than an interpretive rule, which means that the agency is required to provide public notice and comment before issuing a final clause. The judge did not comment on the substance of the clause as written.
There will be an additional opportunity to comment later on a proposed clause.
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- Written by: Editor
During this season of rebirth and renewal, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) reminds people to leave young wildlife alone if they see them in the outdoors.
The improper handling of young wildlife is a problem in California and across the nation, especially in spring.
“Many people don’t realize that it is illegal to keep California native wildlife as pets,” said Nicole Carion, CDFW’s statewide coordinator for wildlife rehabilitation. “Never assume when see young wildlife alone that they need assistance. Possibly, their mother is simply out foraging for food. If you care, leave them there.”
Healthy fawns may lay or stand quietly by themselves in one location for hours while their mother is away feeding. Once a fawn is removed from its mother, it can lose the ability to survive in the wild. The same danger applies to most animals, including bears, coyotes, raccoons and most birds.
On average the state’s rehabilitation facilities receive an average of around 400-500 fawns per year from well-meaning members of the public. Many of these fawns were healthy and should not have been disturbed.
People can call a rehabilitator, who will determine whether there is a need for a rescue. Rehabilitators are trained to provide care for wild animals so they retain their natural fear of humans and do not become habituated or imprinted.
Nan Powers from Sierra Wildlife Rescue in Placerville gets hundreds of calls a year from concerned foothills residents.
“When people call us about a young wild animal they think is injured or abandoned, we first ask them the circumstances,” she said. “We may ask them to watch the animal from a distance for a short time and keep children and pets away. If it is clear that the mother is dead, has abandoned the baby, or it is ill or injured, we will either come get the animal ourselves or, if the rescuer is willing, provide information on the safe way to transport it to a rehabber.”
Wild animals carry ticks, fleas and lice, and they can transmit diseases to humans, including rabies and tularemia, so it is best to leave the responsibility for intervention to CDFW personnel or permitted wildlife rehabilitators.
In addition, it is illegal to keep orphaned or injured animals for more than 48 hours in California.
“It’s always best to leave young wildlife alone, unless it is confirmed that they are orphaned or injured, and never keep them as pets. Wildlife look so cute and cuddly when they are young, but when they grow up, they are difficult to handle and even dangerous,” Powers warned.
For more information on wildlife rehabilitation, visit www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/rehab/facilities.html .
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- Written by: Carrie Wilson
Question: If I want to raise a couple of turkeys from eggs that I believe came from partly or mostly wild stock, would I run afoul of California law?
They would not be used for any business purposes and would remain on my property. I would prefer to let them roam around my place, which is quite large and full of native habitat, as opposed to keeping them penned up. There are currently no wild turkeys in my area. (Tucker)
Answer: You cannot take eggs from the wild to raise. Nesting birds are given protection from “harassment” while sitting on and incubating their eggs. In addition, wild turkeys cannot be domestically reared and released for propagation or hunting purposes.
Only wild trapped turkeys trapped from the wild by the Department may be released into the wild (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 671.6(b)).
Fishing for different species with separate rods?
Question: I have a question about fishing for salmon and groundfish off the coast of San Francisco. I understand that only one rod can be used to fish each type.
My question is over whether it’s OK to fish for both types of fish at the same time? By this I mean one rod set up for salmon using the "mooching" style of fishing at around 10 feet of water with frozen bait. The other rod would be set up for groundfish using shrimp flies at the bottom of the ocean floor around 85 ft. Your help is much appreciated. (Jason)
Answer: Nice try! But no, you may use only one rod when targeting salmon or groundfish. You may not use one rod for salmon and one rod for groundfish at the same time.
You are also restricted to using only barbless hooks if you have a salmon on your boat, even if you are targeting rockfish at the time (see CCR Title 14, section 27.80.)
Orange hunter vests
Question: I recently completed my hunter safety education course, got my license and went hunting with a small group on private land. None of us wore hunter safety orange vests as we were all together at all times and in each other’s line of sights. I see hunting shows where they sometimes don't wear the orange hunter vests either.
When do you wear the vests? Is it acceptable to not wear them while on private land when you’re with a small group and know where everyone is? Or, do you have to wear orange all the time while hunting? (Joseph L., OIF Vet)
Answer: Though some states require hunters (especially when hunting upland game) to wear blaze orange all the time while in the field for safety reasons, in California we do not require it.
It is a good idea to wear this distinctive color whenever possible for your safety as it does help you to stand out, but there is no law requiring it. You’ll find that orange is being incorporated more and more into hunting camouflage patterns to provide greater safety.
One thing to note for deer hunting, deer cannot detect the color orange. To deer, orange looks gray.
Where can bluegill be used for bait?
Question: Many times I have seen people on the docks in the Delta catching bluegill for striper bait. Is this permitted for black bass bait in Lake Don Pedro if the bluegill are caught there and not transported from another place? (John and Diane H.)
Answer: Bluegill may not be used as bait at Lake Don Pedro. California sportfishing regulations for freshwater generally prohibit using live or dead finfish for bait.
Although certain species of finfish may be used in the waters where taken, bluegill may only be used in the Colorado River District (see CCR, Title 14, section 4.15(a)) and portions of the Valley and South Central Districts (see CCR, Title 14, section 4.20(d)). While Lake Don Pedro is inside the Valley District (see CCR, Title 14, section 6.36), it is not included as a location where bluegill may be used as bait.
Carrie Wilson is a marine environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. While she cannot personally answer everyone’s questions, she will select a few to answer each week in this column. Please contact her at
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- Written by: Editor
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Lake County Milers Walking and Running Club, a 501(c)(3) non-profit running club that is dedicated to promoting physical fitness in Lake County through running and walking, has announced that they will be supporting youth fitness again this year through proceeds netted from their 11th annual Spring Has Sprung 5K/10K and Kids Run.
The event will take place beginning at 8 a.m. Sunday, May 5.
The Milers have chosen again to support both Middletown and Upper Lake High School Cross Country Teams, who in turn help by volunteering on the event course on race day.
In an effort to help Coyote Valley Elementary School replace their outdated and unsafe playground equipment, the Milers will also donate a large portion of the net proceeds to Coyote Valley School’s playground equipment fund.
The popular Spring Has Sprung annual event – which last year hosted a record 220 participants – features a flat 5K (3.1 mile) run and walk, as well as a challenging 10K (6.2 mile) run with hills and panoramic views of Hidden Valley Lake and the valley below.
Children ages 5 to 10 can participate in their own 1/2K to 1K run with medals awarded 3-deep in each age division and a free frozen yogurt donated by the Big Chill Yogurt Shop.
Start and finish will be at Coyote Valley Elementary School, 18950 Coyote Valley Road (take the Hartman Road exit off Highway 29 and turn at the first left).
The kids races are set for 8 a.m., followed by the 5K/10K with age-divisions spanning 10 and under through 70 and above in the 5k at 8:30 a.m.
The scenic and challenging 10k event has age divisions starting at 19 and under, and 10 year age divisions 20 through 60+.
Event-day registration is from 7:15 a.m. to 7:50 a.m., but for the best price and an event shirt guarantee, participants are encouraged to register by April 27, by going to https://runsignup.com/shs2013 , to register online or to print mail-in registration form and mail in.
To have a brochure mailed to you call 707-987-3229 or email
Fees range from $30 for adults, $20 for youths ages 19 and under (5K or 10K). The entry fee for the kids races (ages 4 through 10) is $12 and includes an event t-shirt.
The Milers also are offering a $10 discount for families with four or more entries into the 5K or 10K (must include one adult entry).
The Milers running and walking group meets every Saturday at 8:30 a.m. in two locations: Mountain High Coffee and Books in the parking lot of Hardester’s Hidden Valley Lake shopping center (Hartmann Road exit off Highway 29) and in Kelseyville in front of Kelseyville Lumber at 3555 N Main St., Kelseyville.
The public is warmly invited to come out and join the Milers for weekly exercise.