Friends,

The California Rivers Restoration Fund (CRRF) has just received
confirmation from NOAA Fisheries (the short version for the National
Marine Fisheries Service), of their intentions to propose changing the
listing of Central Valley Steelhead (CVS) under the Endangered Species
Act from Threatened to Endangered. They also intend to list the
critical habitat for steelhead.

From what we have been told, this proposal will be released to the
public for a 30-day public review period in early April. This is
something that we have heard rumors about for some time now and it
appears NOAA is serious and that this proposal will be released. After
the review period, the rule could become final and the effects would
take place in about 18 months.

If this proposed rule becomes law, it will have serious repercussions
for the sport fishing community, local businesses, farmers, irrigation
districts, California DFG, and other stakeholders. First, all river
habitat that is accessible from the ocean will probably be closed to
fishing indefinitely. These waters will include, but are not limited to
the lower Sacramento, American, Feather, Yuba, Battle Creek, Putah
Creek, Calaveras, Mokelumne, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, and
Merced rivers and any of their tributaries from the dams, to the Delta.
This will effect every sport fisherman currently who fish these waters
for not only steelhead, but native trout, salmon, stripers, bass,
catfish, and shad. Basically all angling would on these rivers would
become illegal.

The other concern is that an Endangered species listing would greatly
hamper scientific studies and restoration projects needed to enhance and
protect salmon and steelhead and their habitats. The permits for
scientific studies can take years to obtain if they are granted at all,
and restoration projects would undergo a much greater level of scrutiny
which increases their costs. CRRF has been working to start steelhead
studies and restoration projects in the San Joaquin basin and an
Endangered species listing could halt many of our efforts.

We were surprised by this proposed action, because no studies have
been conducted to determine whether the steelhead populations in the
Central Valley are in jeopardy. In fact, NOAA Fisheries is having a
tough time defending the current listing as Threatened, because of the
lack of evidence. We do know that the number of adult steelhead
returning to spawn has greatly increased throughout the Central Valley
in response to the wet climate during the last 9 years. So they don’t
seem to be on the verge of extinction. In fact, the opposite is true.

CRRF is setting up a legal defense fund on behalf of our members and
the sport anglers of California, that will go directly to fighting the
battle necessary to defeat this proposal. This is a real threat to our
way of life and for many of us, our livelihood. This will effect
guides, flyshops, tackle stores, restaurants, lodges, and many other
business, all over the state as well as all anglers that fish these
waters. It is a real problem and if we don't unite together to fight
this now, our beloved Central Valley rivers will be closed to us for a
very long time. The economic impact alone could also seriously add to
the huge problems our state is facing. We feel confident that with the
right legal pressure applied, this proposal will be defeated.

For more information on joining our fight, or to find out more about
this proposed action, contact CRRF at (209) 532-7146. You can also
e-mail us at or by mail at P.O. Box 236 Soulsbyville Ca.
95372. If you have any statements, questions, comments or e-mails you
would like to have entered into the official record once the proposal is
issued, feel free to send them to CRRF and we will make sure they are
included with ours. Please make sure that you act before mid April
2004, when comments will be due.

You may also direct any questions you may have for NOAA Fisheries to
Madelyn Martinez (The San Joaquin Basin Biologist) at (916) 930-3605 or
by e-mail at .

There are many battles to fight, but this one is worthy of all of our
support.