Recreation
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- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
This practice helps prevent the spread of New Zealand mudsnails (NZMS), tiny (3/16") aquatic snails capable of surviving out of water in the crevasses of damp gear for weeks.
The resiliency of NZMS has enabled them to spread to aquatic environments across the globe, including Europe, Australia, North America, and Asia.
To prevent further spread, anglers and others who wade or work in California waters should thoroughly clean all gear before using it in another waterbody.
"While New Zealand mudsnails have been detected in watersheds across the state, many watersheds and counties remain free of this unwanted species. Anglers and the public are key to keeping these waters free of mudsnails," said CDFW Senior Environmental Scientist George Neillands.
NZMS were first reported in California in 2000 in the Owens River (Inyo and Mono counties).
In 2003, NZMS were discovered in northern California in Putah Creek (Yolo County) and the Mokelumne River (San Joaquin River).
They have since been detected in one or more waterbodies in 27 additional counties: Alameda, Butte, Calaveras, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Los Angeles, Marin, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Orange, Sacramento, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Tehama, Ventura, and Yuba.
NZMS can survive in a variety of environments including rivers, streams, reservoirs and estuaries. They are parthenogenic live-bearers, meaning they self-reproduce. This enables a new population to begin from only one snail.
NZMS have demonstrated the potential to reach high densities of up to nearly one million snails per square meter and comprising up to 95 percent of the invertebrate biomass of a river.
When they reach high densities, NZMS outcompete native insects and invertebrates for space and algae, which reduces the forage available to steelhead trout.
As a result, steelhead populations can decline. Once NZMS are established in a body of water, it may not be possible to eradicate them.
Here's what you can do to prevent the spread of NZMS:
– After leaving a body of water, inspect all gear including waders, boots and float tubes. Also inspect boats and trailers. Remove visible debris with a stiff brush and rinse on site.
– Freeze waders and other gear overnight (for a minimum of six hours) or dry completely between use.
– Use additional waders and boots in infested waters and store them separately.
– Never transport live fish or other aquatic animals or plants from one waterbody to another.
For more information on NZMS visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/NZMS .
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Bringing an out-of-state elk head into California
Question: I'm going elk hunting in Colorado. If I get a nice bull, can I transport the head back into California?
Answer: If you do bag an elk on your out-of-state trip, here's what you need to know.
There are restrictions on importing deer and elk into California – and they are in place for a very good reason.
You've probably heard of chronic wasting disease, or CWD, the neurodegenerative disorder which is fatal to cervids. Colorado is a CWD positive state. Keeping the disease out of California is one of CDFW's top priorities.
It is incumbent upon every hunter to do his or her part to prevent inadvertently transporting the agent that causes CWD into California. We must keep our cervid populations healthy in part so that hunters like you can continue to benefit from their harvest.
While CWD has never been detected in humans, scientists haven't completely ruled out the possibility that the disease could spread between species.
To prevent the accidental importation of CWD-infected tissues into the state, California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 712 prohibits hunters from importing or possessing carcasses with a skull or backbone still attached. If you are hunting out of state, please make sure to review the regulations related to CWD for that state. Also, if hunting in a state where CWD is present, make sure to check with that state's wildlife agency for information about hunter check stations and how to get your animal tested in the state where it is harvested.
An animal that is taken in a CWD endemic zone should be processed in that area or state. Bringing back packaged meat is the best and safest approach. If a harvested animal tests positive for CWD, CDFW supports the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization to not consume the meat. The hunter should contact a CDFW office or the Wildlife Investigations Laboratory to have all remaining tissues incinerated.
So, what can you bring home? You do have options as per CCR, section 712. You can import meat with no part of the spinal column, brain or head attached. You can also bring in a clean skull plate without a single iota of brain tissue present.
Also allowed are hides and capes, antlers, finished taxidermy mounts and upper canine teeth. In all cases, the spinal column, brain tissue must be removed. (Please read the regulation carefully for specifics.)
Failure to comply with section 712 is a misdemeanor offense that will result in a citation by a California wildlife officer. But compliance is easier than you may think.
CDFW created a video to show you how to clean your elk (see above). You can also find background information, additional links and updates on California's efforts to fight CWD at www.wildlife.ca.gov/cwd.
Does a spectator need a fishing license?
Question: Do all persons on a vessel need to have fishing licenses and lobster cards? My daughter wants to go with her dad and watch (which means I'll have to go as well) but we aren't sure if she and I would need our own license/cards just to go along. We are not going to be fishing – just spectating. (Bonnie)
Answer: No, as long as you're not attempting to fish (and that includes handling lines and nets, helping bring in catch, etc.), you don't need a license on the boat.
Also, fishing licenses are only required for those age 16 and older. If your daughter is younger than that, she is welcome to help her father - no license needed, but she will still need a lobster report card!
Does a helper need a fishing license?
Question: My friend has offered to net fish that I catch. In particular, he is interested in accompanying me on a steelhead outing. Does he need to have a current license in order to net any fish that I may bring to net? (Mike F.)
Answer: By definition, "take" of a fish or animal includes hunting, capturing, killing and catching. So if your friend is assisting you with the "catching" of fish, by the letter of the law, he would need a license too.
Free Fishing Days for 2020?
Question: Have you decided which 2020 days will be designated as Free Fishing Days? (Jim)
Answer: Yes! Next year, California's Free Fishing Days will be Saturday, July 4 and Saturday, Sept. 5. On those days, anyone can fish without a sport fishing license.
All fishing regulations, such as bag and size limits, gear restrictions, report card requirements, fishing hours and stream closures remain in effect, and every angler must have the appropriate report card if they are fishing for steelhead, sturgeon or salmon in the Smith and Klamath-Trinity River systems.
It's a great time to introduce a friend or family member to the sport of fishing!
If you have a question for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, email
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The wet weather off-highway vehicle, or OHV, trail closures restrict the use of OHV trails when conditions are too wet to sustain use without causing soil loss, impacts to water quality, damage to trail tread and threats to public safety.
These temporary closures will remain in place until no measurable precipitation is recorded within 48 consecutive hours.
By issuing these closures as precipitation events occur, the forest is able to protect both the trails and resources during and after the storms and to allow for drying time prior to resuming use.
The restrictions may be implemented anytime from Nov. 25, 2019 to June, 2020.
Trail users can check the precipitation data on this information source before traveling to the forest: https://tinyurl.com/vzgrvn4 .
Look at MNF02 Portable (Howard Mill) rain gauge on the Upper Lake Ranger District and MNF03 Portable (Fouts Springs) on the Grindstone Ranger District.
If Howard Mill rain gauge is inoperable, the Konocti location will be used for the Upper Lake Ranger District.
Closure information will also be posted on the forest website, Facebook and Twitter: @MendocinoNF.
The restrictions prohibit the use of motor vehicles on National Forest System trails within the Upper Lake and Grindstone ranger districts on the Mendocino National Forest pursuant to 36 CFR 261.55(b).
Mendocino National Forest offices will close for the Thanksgiving holiday Nov. 28 and will resume regular business hours at 8 a.m. Friday, Nov. 29.
- Details
- Written by: Sierra Furia
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lakeport Indoor Winter Series kicked off their first go kart race of the season on Saturday, Nov. 16.
With a total of 93 entries, it made for an exciting day of racing.
In the predator division, the division was broken up into three different stages. Nathan Thunder, #99S, won the trophy dash with #17J Jared Jensen in second, #57 Chandler Johnson in third and #44 Jacob Thomsen in fourth.
Heat race one was won by #99S Nathan Thunder with #17J Jared Jensen in second, #44 Jacob Thomson in third and #57 Chandler Johnson in fourth.
Heat race two was won by #88 Jordan Ray with #84 Ryan Skidmore in second, #3F Jax Fuchs in third and #3 Austin Comini in fourth.
Heat race three was won by #12 Karsyn Magenheimer with #3P Fisher Page in second, #3M Evin Manchester in third, #65 Alyssa Sorrels in fourth, and #15 Kai Lovell in fifth.
Thunder, #99S, won main event one with #17J Jared Jensen in second, #57 Chandler Johnson in third, and #44 Jacob Thomsen in fourth.
Main event two was won by #84 Ryan Skidmore with #88 Jordan Ray in second, #3 Austin Comini in third and #3F Jax Fuchs in fourth.
Main event three was won by #13 Karsyn Magenheimer with #8M Evin Manchester in second, #3P Fisher Page in third, #15 Kai Lovell in fourth and #65 Alyssa Sorrels in fifth.
In the beginner box stock division, #53 Carrie Osborne won the trophy dash with #29 Cole Croft in second, #21 Braxton Foster in third and #24JR Brody Reinolds in fourth.
Osborne took home heat race one, with #21 Braxton Foster in second, #21X Gage Schramm in third, #1C Colby Kurtz in fourth and #03 Nataila Tour in fifth, #24C Brantley Copeland in sixth and #66JR Tanner Prather in seventh.
Cole Croft, #29, won heat race two, with #24 Riley Fuchs in second, #08 Deakon Kamisky in third, #24JR Brody Reinolds in fourth, #0 Blake Scovel in fifth, and #18 Avery English in sixth.
Carrie Osborne, #53, won the main event with #21 Braxton Foster in second, #24JR Brody Reinolds in third, #03 Natalia Tour in fourth, #24 Riley Fuch in fifth, #08 Deakon Kamisky in
sixth, #29 Cole Croft in seventh, #24C Brantley Copeland in eighth, #1C Colby Kurtz in ninth and #0 Blake Scovel rounded out the top 10. Tanner Prather, #66JR, along with #21X Gage Schramm and #18 Avery English were 11th, 12th, and 13th, respectively.
In the box stock division, #57VS Jacob Nuxoll won the trophy dash with #45M Mason Dietz in second, #04 Braiden McKenzie in third, and #88 Sloan Selig in fourth.
Nuxoll went on to win heat race one with #04 Braiden McKenzie in second, #51 Justin Sabol in third, #11 Deegan Kuecker in fourth and #75 Jaxon Hall rounded out the top five.
In heat race two, #45M Mason Dietz won with #12 Grant Proctor in second, #2K Landyn Snider in 3rd, #88 Sloan Selig in fourth and #21 Dylan Combest in rounded out the top 5. Jacob Nuxoll drove his #57VS to win the main event with #45M Mason Dietz in second, #2K Landyn Snider in third, #04 Braiden McKenzie in fourth and #12 Grant Proctor rounded out the top five.
In the sportsman division, #77KC Kasey Horat won the trophy dash with #61 Johnny Reeves in second, #66 Nick Prather in third, and #53 Jordan Micletter in fourth.
Kasey Horat, #77KC, won heat race one with #22 Brandon Coates in second, #17DB Richard DeFranisci in third, #61M Mallorie McGahan in fourth.
Nick Prather, #66, won the heat race two, with #61 Johnny Reeves in second, #56S Rick Schamber in third, and #11H Koen Shaw in fourth.
Mallorie McGahan, #61M, won the main event with #61 Johnny Reeves in second, #66 Nick
Prather in third, #11H Koen Shaw in fourth, #56S Rick Schamber rounded out the top 5. Brandon Coates, #22, and #53 Jordan Miclette were sixth and seventh, respectively.
In the 250 division, #7DJ Dryver Dothage won the trophy dash with #3T Tater Reich in second, #4R Gavin Rested in third, and #9L Luke Hayes in fourth.
In heat race one, #7DJ Dryver Dothage took home the win with #9L Luke Hayes in second, #3 Trey Daniels in third, #7J Jack Kegg in fourth, and #10 Jennifer Osborne rounded out the top five.
In heat race two, #4R Gavin Restad won with #10V Elliott Vannucci in second, #08H Samuel
Harper in third, #11J Jackson O’Ferrall in fourth and #3T Tater Reich rounded out the top five.
Tater Reich, #3T, won the main event with #10V Elliott Vannucci in second, #08H Samuel Harper in third, #9L Luke Hayes in fourth and #10 Jennifer Osborne rounded out the top five.
In the caged clone division, #24C Dan Camacho won the trophy dash with #45B Mark Burch in second, #88 Koen Shaw in third, and #10H Hailey Glass in fourth.
Dan Camacho won the heat race with Burch in second, #10H Hailey Glass in third, #88 Koen Shaw in fourth and #33 Joe Duran in fifth.
Burch won the trophy dash with Camacho in second, #88 Koen Shaw in third, #10H Hailey
Glass in fourth and #33 Joe Duran in fifth.
In the clone division, #28 Scott Morgan won the trophy dash with #52 Pete Miclette in second and #11 August Chemotti in third.
Morgan won the heat race with Chemotti in second, #19K Kris Robertson in third, #14 Jered Hinton in fourth, #4 Eddie Poli in fifth, #52 Pete Miclette in sixth and #69 Jake Acevedo in seventh.
Morgan went on to win the main event with Chemotti in second, Robertson in third, Miclette in fourth and Hinton rounded out the top five. Jake Azevedo, #69, and #4 Eddie Poli were sixth and seventh, respectively.
In the open division, #35 Casey Schmitz won the trophy dash with #56C Carson Hammes in second, #81X Jayden Bartlett in third, #2 Garrett Brown in fourth, #81K Keagan Medeiros in fifth and #54 Carson Hall in sixth.
Schmitz went on to win heat race one with #54 Carson Hall in second, #22K Kaiden Butler in third, #7 Dylan Holmes in fourth, #15 Mikey Lovell in fifth and #22M Tess Mellor in sixth.
Carson Hammes, #56C, won heat race two, #81K Keagan Medeiros in second, #8JR Brian McGahan Jr. in third, #81 Cameron Bartlett in fourth and #18P Jack Phillips in fifth.
Jayden Bartlett, #81X, won heat race three with #2 Garrett Brown in second, #7K Kylie
Daniels in third, #7D Daniel Dekeyser in fourth, #17 Tyler Shipley in fifth and #55D Dawson Hammes in 6th.
Casey Schmitz, #35, won the main event with #56C Carson Hammes in second, #81X Jayden Bartlett in 3rd, #2 Garrett Brown in fourth and #8JR Brian McGahan Jr rounded out the top five.
Daniel Dekeyser, #7D, was in sixth, #18P Jack Phillips in seventh, #55D Dawson Hammes in eighth, #7K Kylie Daniels in ninth and #15 Mikey Lovell in 10th.
Tess Mellor, #22m, along with #7 Dylan Holmes, #81K Keagan Medeiros, #54 Carson Hall, #22K Kaiden Butler, #81 Cameron Bartlett and #17 Tyler Shipley finished out the field.
The next go kart race is Dec. 7.
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