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Recreation
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- Written by: Editor
At its May 31 quarterly meeting, the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) approved $29.4 million to help restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat throughout California.
The 30 funded projects will provide benefits to fish and wildlife species, including some endangered
species, and others will provide public access opportunities to important natural resources.
Several projects will also demonstrate the importance of protecting working landscapes that integrate economic, social and environmental stewardship practices beneficial to the environment, the landowner and the local community.
The funds for all of these projects come from recent bond initiatives approved by the voters to help preserve and protect California’s natural resources.
Some of the funded projects include:
- A $1.4 million grant to the Regents of the University of California to construct a new classroom/lecture hall, install underground utilities, improve existing roadway and parking areas, and replace water control structures at the Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory, approximately eight miles east of Mammoth Lakes in Mono County.
- A $234,000 grant to the East Bay Regional Park District to replace an existing vault toilet with an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible restroom, construct an ADA parking space, improve an ADA path and conduct a structural engineering inspection of the Point Pinole Fishing Pier at Point Pinole Regional Shoreline Park in Contra Costa County.
- A $552,076 grant to the Monterey County Parks Department to acquire approximately 113 acres to protect native grasslands, oak woodlands, riparian woodlands and seasonal wetlands that serve as an important wildlife corridor. The land is located west of Salinas, adjacent to the Toro County Park, along Highway 68, in Monterey County.
- Acceptance of a $10,000 grant from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Habitat Conservation Planning grant that will be passed on to the Coachella Valley Conservation Commission to acquire approximately 1,342 acres of land for the protection of Peninsular bighorn sheep habitat, and to provide future wildlife oriented public use opportunities.
- A $2 million grant to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to acquire a working forest conservation easement over approximately 4,024 acres located two miles southeast of the community of Bridgeville in Humboldt County, where the state proposes to administer federal Forest Legacy Program funds to protect forest land, important scenic, fish, wildlife, riparian and other ecological values under the California Forest Legacy Program.
- A $1.5 million grant to the California Waterfowl Association (CWA) to acquire fee title of approximately 763 acres of land south of Suisun City, north of Grizzly Bay in Solano County, for the protection of San Francisco Bay Area wetlands and associated upland areas that support migratory waterfowl and shorebirds and threatened and endangered species, including the fully-listed salt-marsh harvest mouse.
- A $2 million grant to CWA to acquire fee title of approximately 982 acres of land in Solano County, south of Suisun City and north of Grizzly Bay for the protection of San Francisco Bay Area wetlands and associated upland areas that support migratory waterfowl and shorebirds and threatened and endangered species, including the fully-listed salt-marsh harvest mouse.
- A $2.8 million grant to the Solano Land Trust for a cooperative project with the California Coastal Conservancy, Moore Foundation, city of Fairfield, Resources Legacy Fund and the Syar Foundation to acquire approximately 1,165 acres of land in the hills north of Cordelia Junction, in Solano County to protect significant natural landscapes and wildlife corridors. This land runs north to the Blueridge open space areas near Lake Berryessa and includes oak woodland, grassland, wetland and riparian habitats, and will provide access and passive recreational opportunities to the public.
- An $8 million grant to Ducks Unlimited Inc., for a cooperative project with the State Coastal Conservancy and the Department of Fish and Game to restore approximately 230 acres of coastal wetlands and to construct public access improvements at ponds E12 and E13 at DFG's Eden Landing Ecological Reserve, approximately 5.5 miles west of Union City in Alameda County.
- A $400,000 grant to the State Coastal Conservancy for a cooperative project with the Earth Island Institute to assist with the implementation of the Community Wetland Restoration Grant Program that provides funding for community-based restoration projects in coastal wetlands and watersheds in Southern California. Projects are located in the five coastal counties from Point Conception to the U.S.-Mexico border, including portions of Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties.
For more information about the WCB, please visit www.wcb.ca.gov .
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- Written by: Editor
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The weekly guided nature walks at the Rodman Preserve are switching to the summer schedule.
Walks will start at 8 a.m., instead of 9 a.m. beginning on Saturday, June 2.
The public is invited to enjoy a one- to two-hour guided walk at the Rodman Preserve, operated by the Lake County Land Trust.
Participants are asked to meet at the Rodman Preserve Nature Education Center at 6350 Westlake Road at the corner of Westlake Road and the Nice-Lucerne Cut-off. No dogs please.
Call Roberta Lyons at 707-994-2024 for information.
Please note the walks take place at the Lake County Land Trust’s Rodman Preserve, not the county’s Rodman Slough Park near the bridge.
For more information go to www.lakecountylandtrust.org .
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- Written by: Editor
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The two day race at Lakeport Speedway over the 2012 Memorial Day weekend started off with cool weather on Saturday night and ended the weekend on Sunday with perfect weather for the first round of the Robinson Rancheria Resort and Casino Boat Races.
The action in the boat race was intense from the beginning.
On the first lap a large crash happened on the back straight taking down all the protective cover over the speedway sign on the wall. The action saw cars bouncing off boats and the wall all the way around the track.
After all the dust settled the action saw three drivers that were going to go to the vote of the crowd.
After the crowd voted the win went to Tim LaPoint, with Evan Smith in second and Cliff Maner in third.
Although the boat race was the last event of the weekend, it was not the only excitement of the weekend.
The action was intense on Saturday with the outlaws seeing Brian Denton taking the fast time for the night.
With all the drivers gunning for the young gun Kyle Tellstrom, veteran driver Mike Sullivan had put his Wiley Coyote setup on his outlaw trying to give the young kid a run for his money.
During the race it was Sullivan who made his way to the front first. Tellstrom worked his way through the field catching Sullivan during the last few laps. Trading paint and rubbing bumpers the two moved their way through the field of lapped cars.
In the end it was the Coyote versus the Road Runner and only one turn and a short run to the straight, the two were trading paint and tires were smoking and at the line it was Tellstrom “the Road Runner” taking the win and Sullivan “Wiley Coyote” in second spot.
The Jammers saw a couple Jr. Jammers not racing this weekend due to poor grades in school which left their cars parked and after a hard race incident that retired Roy Ingalls Jr. for the remainder of the weekend it saw only Jason Hunter left to take the main event win for both days at the race track.
On Saturday the main event win in the Pro Jammer went to Scott Strugnell and he was on his way to winning the second main event on Sunday when a late race spin coming to the checkered flag in turn four caused him to lose control of his car and quick thinking Brandi Cubbage drove past Strugnell for the victory.
The Bandoleros saw intense action between the young drivers, and the action started in the pit meeting when the whole group attacks one of the track promoters David Furia with silly string. This is sure to start a war that will continue for the rest of the season.
The racing action was intense on Saturday with the main event win going to Dylan Washburn and then the main on Sunday went to Kolby Berry.
The Bandolero drivers have been putting on some very intense racing during the 2012 season and there are sure to be more surprises as the season progresses.
The legend cars raced both days in preparation for their next event which will be on June 2.
On Saturday night it saw lots of local drivers take the track. The victory went to Scott Sabol at the end of the thirty lap main event.
On Sunday the main event win went by a large margin to Jeremy Doss after returning from running his Late Model in Roseville on Saturday where he also picked up a victory.
The Rental Solution Mini Stocks saw a good battle between James Stillman and Rich Schram Jr., where Schram was battling a broken rear end not sure if he could make it to the end of the race.
At one point he was thinking of retiring at the beginning of the show, but once on the track he gave it all he could.
The battle went for laps of side by side action of the two drivers and at the checkers it was Schram over Stillman for the win.
The Coors Light Modifieds saw the closest qualifying effort this year between the pack with everyone within one-tenth of a second of each other.
Richie Potts set the fast time and drew an inversion pill placing Kyle Tellstrom on the pole again for the second time this year. At the drop of the checkered it saw Tellstrom jump out into the lead over teammate Sean Sweeney of Kelseyville.
After the 40 lap main was complete it was Tellstrom taking home his second victory of the season in the Modified division and second victory of the weekend.
In the Taco Bell Bomber division it was a rough weekend for sophomore driver Keilgh Sullivan getting tied up in a heat race incident that sent her flying through the air down the front straight away landing going into turn number one.
She continued on to the main event where she rallied her night that was looking like a total loss to a six place finish. The win went to Darrin Snider of Kelseyville with a dominating performance on the evening.
The action with the Taco Bell Bombers continued on to Sunday where after the green flag dropped as most of the filed had passed down the back straight of the race track; Kevin Bracket came bolting on the track during live green conditions from the wrong gate.
Not being eligible to race because not being able to take the green and also because of a unsafe entry on the raceway it drew a yellow flag.
At the drop of the yellow some cars got tangled up on the front straight away ending the weekend early for Keilgh Sullivan where her bad luck continued.
Like the true sportsman that race at Lakeport Speedway all the drivers in the other division in the pits, ran to her pit to try and get her car repaired to return to the race track. Unable to make the repairs she was retired for the evening.
At the restart is saw Saturday’s winner Darrin Snider working his way up through the field. It looked like he was going to run away and hide, when an incident in turn number one caused him to cut a left rear tire down.
He retired to the pit area unable to continue and as the race resumed it saw Travis Thorn working his way up through the pack to take the victory.
Racing action continues at Lakeport Speedway this Saturday, June 2, with the Legends of the Pacific, The Coors Light Modifieds, The Taco Bell Bombers, The Rental Solution Mini Stocks, The Lawn Mowers and Bandoleros.
For the latest racing information visit www.lakeportspeedway.com and make sure to like the speedway on Facebook for the most up to date information.
Lakeport Speedway is your community based not-for-profit speedway, the place for family entertainment.
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- Written by: Carrie Wilson
Question: I was hiking on public land and came across a dead elk carcass that had been there a while and still had a huge rack attached to the skull. I know its legal to pick up shed antlers, but what about if they are still attached to the skull of an old elk carcass? Would it be legal for me to take the antlers? (Matt, Hollister)
Answer: There is no provision in the Fish and Game Code prohibiting someone from picking up a set of antlers attached to a skull and carcass found on public land. However, this would likely appear suspicious to a game warden. Anyone who chooses to do so should be aware that pursuant to Fish and Game Code, section 2000, possession of any part of a fish or mammal in or on the fields, forests or waters of this state while returning there from with fishing or hunting equipment is prima facie evidence the possessor took that fish or mammal.
Winches for pulling sport traps and hoop nets
Question: Can sport fishermen who are fishing crab traps and/or hoop nets use winches to assist in pulling the gear?
Answer: There are no regulations prohibiting the use of manual winches by sportfishers to assist in pulling crab traps or hoop nets. Use of power-driven winches is prohibited north of Point Arguello, but there is an exception for handling crab traps or nets (see California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 28.70.)
Junior hunter deer tag
Question: If my junior hunter is only 11 years old right now but his birthday is before opening day of the junior deer tag, may he apply for it now even though he is 11? He will be 12 on the day of the hunt? (Shawn R.)
Answer: Your son must be the required age (12) by July 1 to apply for an apprentice (junior) deer tag. He will, however, be eligible to hunt in the junior hunt as a 16 year old because he will only be 15 on July 1 during his last year of eligibility.
Gaffing salmon
Question: Is it legal to gaff a keeper salmon in the ocean instead of using a net?
Answer: Anglers fishing from boats are required to carry landing nets that are a minimum of 18 inches in diameter. It would be best to always land fish with minimum size limits or special regulations with a landing net to avoid killing the fish in case it must be released. Anglers can be cited for violating CCR Title 14, section 28.65(d) if they gaff an undersized salmon.
Selling an ocelot coat?
Question: I live in Santa Barbara and am the not-so-proud owner of a Brazilian ocelot coat that I inherited about 11 years ago from my mother's estate. She purchased it in New York from Christie Bros. Fur Company in August 1973, just before the Endangered Species Act (ESA) became law in December 1973. I do have the receipt for it.
I don't want the coat and have contacted U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services. I was advised to contact the California department for local ruling on such issue. According to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, because it was purchased by my mother before the ESA, and then inherited by me at her death, I would be able to sell it within state lines. Does it mean I could also donate it to a local nonprofit organization and take a tax deduction? I would greatly benefit from either the income from the sale or the tax deduction if I could donate it.
My first thought was to donate it to the Oregon Zoo in Portland, which I understand is the foremost center promoting the care and birth of Brazilian ocelots in captivity. I read somewhere that sometimes the fur from the same species is used to promote newborn kittens comfort. Would that be an out-of-state transaction, should they be interested? Are there any other options? (Maura Lundy)
Answer: No Fish and Game Code provisions are applicable. The California Penal Code does prohibit importing and selling the pieces or parts of ocelots (and other species), or even possessing them with the intent to sell (CPC, section 653(o)). But the law does not prohibit donating the item.
Carrie Wilson is a marine biologist with the California Department of Fish and Game. While she cannot personally answer everyone's questions, she will select a few to answer each week. Please contact her at