Recreation

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The Pacific Forest and Watershed Lands Stewardship Council announces the first transfer of PG&E-owned watershed land to the United States Forest Service.

The lands’ conservation values will also be monitored and protected by a conservation covenant that is now held by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy.

This land transfer, finalized on Oct. 9, 2014, is the first of several anticipated land transfers from PG&E to the USFS.

It is among the many land donations that will be made by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. to qualified public entities, nonprofit organizations, and American Indian entities in furtherance of PG&E’s Land Conservation Commitment.

The nonprofit Stewardship Council was created to implement this commitment through a stakeholder-driven Land Conservation Program designed to ensure 140,000 acres of California's pristine watershed lands – currently owned by PG&E – are permanently conserved for the public good.

The 151-acre parcel, is referred to as the “Deer Creek planning unit,” and is located in Tehama County about 25 miles north of Chico.

It is entirely surrounded by the Lassen National Forest and is adjacent to the Ishi Wilderness Area. The site reaches an elevation of approximately 2,500 feet at its highest point, and provides important outdoor recreation, cultural resources, and wildlife habitat within the canyons of Deer Creek.

These lands eventually will be incorporated into existing USFS management plans and managed and protected consistent with the federal lands surrounding them.

Deer Creek runs through the center of the property and provides important habitat for spring run Chinook salmon, western pond turtle, and foothill yellow-legged frog.

The USFS has recommended federal Wild and Scenic River designation for Deer Creek, including the segment that runs through the property.

This land also serves as a gateway to a variety of recreation activities, including backpacking, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, fishing, and whitewater boating.

“The Deer Creek transaction represents years of work by the Stewardship Council board and staff, with valuable input from a wide variety of stakeholders,” says Art Baggett, president of the Stewardship Council board of directors. “This is among the first of many important milestones that the Stewardship Council plans to achieve in carrying out its important mission of protecting and enhancing watershed lands and uses.”

“The US Forest Service is grateful to be entrusted with the stewardship of this special place,” says Dave Hays, Lassen National Forest, Forest Supervisor. “Working together with the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, and all our other partners, we’ll manage and protect this unique place—now and into the future.”

As the conservation covenant holder, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy has worked with a diverse set of landowners in the Sierra including the USFS since it was created in 2004.  “We look forward to working with the USFS to ensure that the conservation values and recreational uses at the Deer Creek property remain in perpetuity," says Sierra Nevada Conservancy Executive Officer Jim Branham.

The Stewardship Council was established in 2004 as part of a settlement agreement between PG&E and the California Public Utilities Commission.

The board of directors includes appointees from state and federal agencies, water districts, tribal and rural interests, forest and farm industry groups, conservation organizations, the California Public Utilities Commission and PG&E.

The Stewardship Council is charged with ensuring more than 140,000 acres of watershed lands located across the state are conserved and enhanced to provide a broad range of beneficial public values.

To learn more about the organization and its work, visit www.stewardshipcouncil.org .

Details

Written by: Editor

Published: 14 October 2014

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The HVL Men’s Niners Golf Club held a stroke-play tournament on Oct. 9.

The results were:

– First flight: Paul Bertlin took first with net 33. Fred Figg was second at 34 and Bill Eagleton third, 36.
– Second flight: First place was a four-way tie – John Jones, Bruce Hamilton, Bill Perry and Mike Higman each scored 34.
– Third flight: Ed Carver had the lowest net of the day, 30. Dick Kistner was second, 33. Brian Panizzera and Jay Hodges tied for third, 34.

Closest to the Par 3 pins were Rick Conrad and Bob Chesnut.

Chip-ins were scored by Jim Brown, Jim Wilson, and Mike Higman.

Sixty men participated in this event. 

Ron Hallman is publicist for the HVL Men’s Niners Golf Club.

Details

Written by: Ron Hallman

Published: 12 October 2014

Moving wing waterfowl decoys

Question: With waterfowl season approaching, I was wondering if you could clarify Regulation 507 regarding duck decoys that move?

That regulation specifies moving wings or blades are prohibited until after Nov. 30, but I cannot find a prohibition regarding motor powered decoys that simulate swimming (clamp on propeller), or water movement to simulate feeding (magnate type), or battery powered jerk string.

In short, are ONLY moving wing decoys prohibited during the first six weeks of the season? (James Scott, Oakley) 

Answer: The prohibition is only for electronically powered spinning wing, or spinning wing simulated devices.

There are no prohibitions to any other electronic devices which flap wings, allow the decoy to swim, feed, or cause movement other than the spinning of a wing or wing simulated device.

How to pay an old ticket?

Question: One of my friends received a ticket about five years ago for abalone taken from the Fort Ross area. Afterwards he moved out of state.

He recently moved back to California though and would now like to pay his ticket but he does not have any information.

How should he go about paying it? How can he find out the amount owed and where should he send payment? Thanks for any help. (James Y.)

Answer: If your friend left the state without paying the fine for the ticket he received, then the court probably issued an arrest warrant for him.

Fort Ross is in Sonoma County, so he should contact Sonoma County Superior Court as soon as possible.

If contacted by law enforcement prior to doing this and it is determined there is an active warrant, your friend will be cited or arrested for not taking care of his ticket.

Game wardens also lead-free in condor zone?

Question: Does a Fish and Wildlife officer’s pistol that he carries in the field contain lead-free ammunition?

I ask because if I'm in the woods in the lead-free zone under a carry concealed weapon permit (CCW) and just camping, I must run lead-free, correct? The law should be consistent for everyone. (Dale G.)

Answer: No, the lead ban pertains to hunters.

It is illegal to use, or possess with a firearm capable of firing, any projectile containing more than 1 percent lead by weight while taking or attempting to take big game or nongame within the condor range. This includes centerfire as well as black powder/muzzleloader and rimfire projectiles.

Since wildlife officers are not hunting while on duty, their firearms may contain lead ammunition in the condor range.

Any people who are not taking or attempting to take wildlife, including CCW holders, may use or possess lead ammunition.

Woodpeckers are driving me crazy!

Question: I’ve got a bunch of woodpeckers that keep pecking at my house and they are driving me crazy!

Can I use a pellet gun to haze them and chase them off? Thanks. (Alan H., Ukiah)

Answer: No, woodpeckers are a nongame species so you will have to find a non-lethal method to haze them away from your house.

You could try hanging shiny mylar tape like they use in orchards to scare the birds away from the fruit or try posting an owl decoy. You might also try covering the wood with metal mesh hardware cloth.

This is a USFWS question and they do have a permit process for a number of species under federal depredation provisions unless designated a fully protected bird.

For additional tips and information, please check with the University of California Integrated Pest Management Program online at www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/menu.house.html#VERT .

Deployed gear through MPAs

Question: Is it legal to travel through a State Marine Reserve (SMR) on a kayak with fish and non-deployed fishing gear on board?

Does "fishing gear deployed" mean having a hook and line in the water? Or does it go so far as to require fishing hooks be removed from any fishing line on board a kayak?

The term "deployed" is not defined in the regulations and I am wondering how it is enforced by the officers. (Brian M.)

Answer: Yes, you may travel through a state marine reserve with catch on board as long as no fishing gear is deployed in the water (per Section 632(a)(8) on pg. 52 of the current Ocean Sport Fishing regulations booklet).

Deployed means that the gear (hook and line) is in the water.

If you wish to remove all doubt, you could remove the hooks, but that is not required by law.

Just make sure your gear is out of the water and secured before transiting a state marine reserve, and you will be abiding by the law.

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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Details

Written by: Carrie Wilson

Published: 11 October 2014