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Recreation
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- Written by: Editor
On June 21, the California Fish and Game Commission voted unanimously to reduce sage-grouse hunting permits to zero for the 2017 season.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife recommended this action to the commission based on spring lek, or breeding ground, surveys that showed significantly fewer sage-grouse in all four hunting zones.
Although managed hunting, in and of itself, is not considered a risk to the species, five years of drought conditions, the large-scale Rush Fire of 2012 and heavy storms in winter 2016-17 have all contributed to habit loss and degradation of the sagebrush ecosystem.
Scientists found that sage-grouse population counts have decreased between 47 percent and 62 percent in the four hunt zones over the last five years.
CDFW bases its population estimates on extensive scientific data collected in the field. However, heavy winter snow hampered biologists' access to sage-grouse leks this spring, and some sage-grouse that were present in the survey area may not have been accounted for in the survey.
CDFW thus took a precautionary approach in making its recommendation to the Commission.
Sage-grouse populations fluctuate naturally based on weather and habitat conditions. By this fall, California's sage-grouse population is projected to be 1,341 on the low end and 2,145 on the high end.
The Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies coordinates conservation efforts across the 11 western states and two Canadian provinces where sage-grouse live. Leaders from dozens of participating state and federal agencies meet quarterly to work toward achieving shared conservation goals.
In 2015, a proposal to list the sage-grouse under the federal Endangered Species Act was determined by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to be not warranted, following review of stakeholder-developed conservation plans and amendments to federal land use plans throughout the species range, including California.
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- Written by: Editor
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Westshore Pool is once again open for the summer.
The pool is located at 250 Lange St. on the grounds of the Lakeport Unified School District.
Pool season runs through Aug. 1.
The public swim takes place from noon to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
The Lake County Channel Cats will be operating a snack shack during public swim hours.
Young children must swear a swim diaper if they are not potty trained.
Please contact the Lake County Channel Cats at 707-263-3131 for information about swimming lessons.
The city is unable to accept reservations for private pool parties or other special events this year. Picnic tables are available for use but cannot be reserved.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – UC Davis rowing coach Mike Sullivan will be offering beginning rowing lessons this summer in Lakeport as part of the Clear Lake Scullers summer season.
Saturday “Learn to Row Days” are free on June 24 and July 1 from 8 a.m. to noon.
Everyone is welcome, including residents and visitors of all ages.
Kayaks will be available to try in addition to the rowing sculls.
People are also welcome to learn to row on the team boat every Saturday at 8 a.m. No experience is necessary.
In addition Sullivan will be teaching rowing for adults on July 3 and July 5 to 7 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. for $100 which includes summer membership and use of club boats. Youth and high school lessons will be taught from July 1 to 7 for a cost of $40.
Membership is open to the public and there is rowing year round, weather permitting.
The goal of Clear Lake Scullers is to provide broad access to beautiful Clear Lake and to expose people to a wide variety of aquatic sports with emphasis on safety and competence.
Sullivan is also available to teach the skills necessary for athletes to train and race.
The club is located in the city of Lakeport at the site of Natural High School on Main Street just north of Library Park. You will see the boats there in a fenced in yard.
For more information visit http://clearlakescullers.org/ or contact Sullivan at
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- Written by: Editor
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, or CDFW, encourages all Californians to give fishing a try for free on July 1 and Sept. 2.
CDFW annually offers two Free Fishing Days, typically around the Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends.
On these two days, people can fish without having to buy a sport fishing license.
Free Fishing Days also provide an easy opportunity for licensed anglers to introduce non-angling friends and children to fishing and the outdoors.
All fishing regulations, such as bag and size limits, gear restrictions, report card requirements and fishing hours and stream closures, remain in effect.
Every angler must have an appropriate report card if they are fishing for steelhead, sturgeon, spiny lobster or abalone anywhere in the state, or for salmon in the Smith and Klamath-Trinity river systems.
Anglers residing in urban areas also have opportunities to fish close to home. Some CDFW regions also offer Fishing in the City, a program that allows children to learn to fish in major metropolitan areas.
For more information on the Fishing in the City program, please visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/fishing-in-the-city .
All anglers should also check the rules and regulations at www.wildlife.ca.gov/regulations for the waters they plan to fish because wildlife officers will be on duty to enforce them.
In addition, information on fish planting is available at https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/fishplants and a fishing guide can be viewed at www.wildlife.ca.gov/fishing/guide .
For more information on Free Fishing Days, please visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/fishing/free-fishing-days .