Regulations For ATV’s, UTV”s, Motorcycles Clarified in Idaho

The growing popularity of a new generation of four-wheel-drive off-highway vehicle, known as utility type vehicle - or UTV - has raised questions and concerns about off-highway vehicle use on public lands in Idaho.

The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation and Fish and Game recognize the growing popularity of motorized recreation and desire by motorized vehicle users for appropriate recreational opportunities.

Both agencies want to clarify where and when OHV use is legal and appropriate, and to inform OHV users of a new state law which has prompted some upcoming changes in OHV management.

A variety of opportunities are available on public land for OHV use, including the larger UTVs. OHV owners should consult the appropriate land management agency for travel restrictions in the area they plan to ride. Each agency has its own guidelines or regulations for travel.

Some trails on the Caribou-Targhee National Forest are open to two wheeled motorized travel, and some limit vehicles to a maximum width of 50 inches. All vehicles wider than 50 inches are limited to roads open to motorized travel and subject to licensing requirements.

In the past, many UTV owners thought they could register their vehicle with an OHV sticker and legally operate on the road. It was confusing for just about everybody, but a new law passed during the 2008 legislative session will remedy this situation.

Beginning January 1, 2009, a restricted use license plate will be available to all OHVs, including UTVs. This new plate, in combination with the OHV registration sticker, will allow all OHVs to operate on Forest Service roads unless the land manager specifically prohibits such use.

On Bureau of Land Management lands some motorized routes and areas, such as the St. Anthony sand dunes, are open to UTVs with a current OHV registration sticker. Other motorized routes are limited to 48 inches in width. Roads on BLM lands are similar to Forest Service roads and require a license plate.

After January 1, 2009, the new restricted-use license plate will allow use on roads unless specifically prohibited.

It is the operator’s responsibility to know before they go. On federal land it is important for all OHV users to check with their local land managers to identify the legal areas of operation. In most areas maps are available to assist in the identification of legal routes.

The new restricted-use license plate will also allow OHVs legal access to city and county roads. These local jurisdictions may prohibit certain roads from OHV use after a public meeting and an ordinance passed. The new law does not allow OHVs to operate on any state or federal highways.

In addition to vehicle type trail designations, some roads and trails may also be limited by seasonal restrictions. For example, some land managers may close roads or trails to any motorized travel during various times of the year to control big game vulnerability during the hunting season, to benefit wintering wildlife or to protect the trail surface during wet conditions. Most seasonal closures can be identified on the land managers travel map.

Idaho Fish and Game generally limits the use of OHVs on its wildlife management areas to established open roads - exceptions are Andrus and Craig Mountain WMAs - and also restrict the use of OHVs as an aid to hunting in certain game management units.

Parks and Recreation and Fish and Game suggest OHV recreationists not keep their OHVs parked in their driveways, but make sure they know the rules for enjoying them legally. Check with the appropriate land management agencies; acquire travel maps geared for off-road recreation, and pay attention to signage on public lands. Or contact the nearest Idaho Parks and Recreation office for information on OHV recreation in Idaho.

Permission is always necessary from a land owner for travel on private property.

Frequently Asked Questions about Idaho’s New OHV Law

Q. I am an Idaho resident and heard that license plates are going to be required on my off-highway motorcycle, ATV or UTV. Is this true?
A. Yes. Beginning on January 1, 2009, owners of off-highway motorcycles, ATVs and UTVs will be required to buy a restricted use plate for $3 if they will be operating those machines on public land or on public roads. They are not allowed on state and federal highways or federal interstates. The plate is valid for seven years. Exemptions exist for motorcycles with a displacement of 50 cubic centimeters or less and vehicles used exclusively for agricultural or snow removal purposes.

 

Q. How big is the restricted use plate?
A. The plate will be the same size and material as the current plate used on motorcycles. The plate will be white with black lettering and must be displayed on the rear of the vehicle.

 

Q. What happened to the $10 OHV sticker?
A. The OHV sticker will now be smaller and must be affixed to the restricted use plate on the rear of the vehicle. The sticker will be valid for one year.

 

Q. Do I need both a “restricted use” plate and an off-highway vehicle sticker?
A. Yes. Exemptions include motorcycles with a displacement of 50cc or less and vehicles used exclusively for agricultural or snow removal purposes.

 

Q. Where can I ride with my restricted use plate and OHV sticker?
A. All state or federal roads, excluding state and federal highways and interstates, will be open to off-highway motorcycles, ATVs and UTVs with a restricted use plate and current year OHV sticker unless a local ordinance is adopted to close a road to such use or otherwise determined closed by a federal land manager. Designated OHV riding areas, areas open to cross-country motorized travel and designated motorized trail systems on public land will require both the restricted use plate and the OHV sticker.

 

Q. I converted my off-highway motorcycle to a regular motorcycle and already have a red, white and blue motorcycle plate on it from ITD. Does this mean I now need two plates on my bike?
A. No. Only one plate is necessary. To ride on trails, you will still need the $10 OHV sticker and must affix it to your existing motorcycle license plate. This is in addition to the current motorcycle license plate registration sticker provided by Idaho Transportation Department with the motorcycle plate.

 

Q. How does this new law affect non-residents?
A. Nothing was changed to the non-resident registration requirements. Non-residents are not required to register in Idaho unless they have operated within the state for more than 30 days.

 

Q. Does this law allow children to ride on roads?
A. No. When traveling on roads, operators of an off-highway motorcycle, ATV or UTV must have a valid driver’s license, carry liability insurance and have a vehicle equipped with the required equipment to do so.

 

Q. What required equipment must I have on my off-highway motorcycle, ATV or UTV to travel on a road?
A. The required equipment is still being determined. Current code requires a number of items including a mirror, a working brake light, and a horn audible at 200 feet.

 

Q. Where do I get plates and stickers in 2009?
A. On January 1, 2009, you must buy the restricted use plate and OHV sticker from the Idaho Transportation Department. Specifically your county assessor’s automobile licensing office.

 

Q. What do I need to take with me to obtain both plates and stickers?
A. You will need to have your vehicle identification number with you if it is currently titled in Idaho. If your vehicle isn’t titled in Idaho, you will need to contact your county assessor’s automobile licensing office and begin the titling process with ITD.

 

Q. Where do I go to renew my OHV sticker in 2010?
A. All Idaho Parks and Recreation registration vendors, including county assessor automobile licensing offices, OHV dealers and other businesses that sell OHV registration stickers, will be able to issue the OHV renewal stickers.

 

For additional information please call your county assessor’s automobile licensing office or the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation in Boise at 208-334-4199, in Coeur d’Alene at 208-769-1511, and in Idaho Falls at 208-525-7121.

For additional information contact Troy Elmore of the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation at 208-514-2411 or Mark Gamblin of Idaho Fish and Game at 208-232-4703.

Revised Wolf Management Page on IDF&G Web Site

Idaho Fish and Game Website visitor may notice that the Wolf Management page has a new look.

At the request of the Idaho Fish and Game Commission, Fish and Game has added some wolf injunction court case documents to the wolf management page. For anyone interested in the case, the page includes the original complaint, the judge’s injunction order and several declarations by experts and plaintiffs.

To make the page easier to navigate, it has been rearranged by broadening the categories. Some bookmarks may no longer be active or may lead to dead ends.

Most of the documents found on the former page are still there, but they may be under a different heading. State laws and Fish and Game rules on wolf management on hold by the injunction, are included for reference and convenience. Wolves still are listed under the Endangered Species Act.

CA DFG Offers Upland Game Hunting Clinics in September

The Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) Advanced Hunter Education Program, in conjunction with Quail Unlimited and Wilderness Unlimited, offers two upland game hunting clinics in September. The first clinic is Sept. 13 at the Wilderness Unlimited property in Williams in Northern California, one hour north of Sacramento. The second clinic is Sept. 20 at the High Desert Hunt Club near Gorman in Southern California, one hour north of Los Angeles.

Both clinics are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the cost for each clinic is $40. Interested hunters ages 10 and up are encouraged to attend.

The clinics include information on hunting quail, chukar and pheasant. Topics covered are hunting regulations, huntable lands, proper types of firearms and ammunition, proper clothing, habits and habitats of upland game, hunting alone vs. hunting with others, hunting with or without a dog and dog demonstrations. Topics also covered in the clinics are field first-aid for hunters and dogs, hunter responsibilities and ethics, game care and cooking. These information-packed clinics will offer instruction to beginning hunters in a safe, encouraging atmosphere.

Interested individuals must submit a registration form and space is limited. For more information about the clinics and to obtain a copy of the registration form, please visit the DFG Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/advanced. Registered participants will receive a packet of information approximately two weeks prior to the clinic which includes a map to the facility, agenda and a list of items to bring.

Idaho F&G Commission To Set Seasons, Consider Disability Licensing

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission will meet at 8 a.m. Tuesday, August 12, to set waterfowl and sage grouse seasons and to consider disability licensing rules.

The commissioners will convene via telephone conference call in an open public meeting at the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, 600 S. Walnut St., Boise.

Individuals with disabilities may request meeting accommodations by contacting the Director’s office at the Idaho Department of Fish and Game directly at 208 334 5159 or through the Idaho Relay Service at 1 800 377 2529 (TDD).

N.H. Summer Youth Program Offered at Owl Brook Hunter Education Center

HOLDERNESS, N.H. — There’s still time to sign young people up for a summer youth day program being offered from August 5 - 21, 2008, at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Owl Brook Hunter Education Center in Holderness, N.H. The program offers youth age 10-15 a chance to learn about the shooting sports, bowhunting and other outdoor skills. Sessions are open to individuals, as well as recreation programs, scout troops and other youth groups.

“Research has shown that more and more youth are being removed from the outdoors way of life,” said Josh Mackay, Hunter Education Program Assistant at Owl Brook. “The Owl Brook Hunter Education Center would like to inspire young people to become involved in the outdoors, so we are offering these skill-based summer workshops to help them discover what it’s all about.”

You can sign up for 1 day or 3 days of the program. During each of the three weeks, one day is devoted to shooting sports, one day to bowhunting, and one day to general outdoor skills.  The sessions are not progressive (the same activities will be offered each week).

Program days devoted to shooting sports will be offered on selected Tuesdays — August 5, 12 and 19. Bowhunting skills will be the theme on Wednesdays — August 6, 13 and 20. Days exploring general outdoor skills will be offered on Thursdays — August 7, 14 and 21. Each of the dates for a scheduled activity covers the same material. Participants may register for one session, or additional days to experience different activities. The sessions will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; Participants must bring a bag lunch.

Pre-registration is required and will be conducted on a first-come, first-served basis.  Space is limited — enrollment is limited to 20 boys and girls per day — so please register early.  To register, call (603) 536-3954.  There is no charge for the sessions.  Each program is hands-on, and all participants will be encouraged to take part.”

The mission of the Owl Brook Hunter Education Center is to educate people about how to become safe and responsible hunters, trappers and stewards of the state’s natural resources.  The center’s facilities include shooting ranges, classroom space and interpretive trails.  To learn more about Owl Brook and find directions to the center, please visit http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Hunting/hunter_ed_center.htm.

Activities at Owl Brook are made possible by Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration funds. 

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is the guardian of the state’s fish, wildlife and marine resources and their habitats.

New Massachusetts Outdoor Recreation Map Published

On July 1, at Walden Pond, Massachusetts environmental officials displayed a new “Massachusetts Outdoor Recreation Map” packed with information for residents and visitors looking for places to enjoy outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, hunting, camping, hiking, wildlife watching, and swimming across the Bay State. The newly revised and updated Massachusetts Outdoor Recreation Map shows conservation lands managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and the Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. It also identifies all boat access, sport fishing piers, and shore fishing areas built by DFG’s Office of Fishing and Boating Access. There is additional information about outdoor safety and ethics, licensing requirements for fishing and hunting, and web links to further information regarding recreational opportunities on state properties. Officials praised the maps as a great resource for tourists and Massachusetts residents alike.

“Whether you appreciate active recreation like kayaking in the rapids of one of the state’s rivers or more sedate activities like strolling down a beautiful beach, Massachusetts has much to offer to anyone who loves the great outdoors,” Governor Patrick writes in a message to map users. “This outdoor recreation map is a fantastic resource for you to get to know all of our natural assets.”

“Summer is here. It’s time to get out and enjoy the 620,000 acres of open space managed by the Massachusetts Departments of Fish and Game and Conservation and Recreation,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles, whose office oversees both departments. “At a time when many people are concerned about travel and fuel expenses, I encourage folks to see what Massachusetts has to offer for summer vacation options and outdoor activities throughout the year.”  Mary Griffin, DFG Commissioner noted, “Massachusetts has an incredible diversity of parks, forests, reservations, and wildlife management areas that offer all kinds of recreational opportunities for adults and children.”

Publication of this map is the latest example of environmental agencies collaborating on a common goal of promoting outdoor recreation, welcoming tourism and helping to boost the state’s economy. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, recreational anglers in Massachusetts (both residents and non-residents) spent more than $769 million in 2006, while hunters spent more than $70 million and people who enjoy wildlife watching spent about $755 million. The USFWS estimates that 1.9 million people participated in wildlife watching in Massachusetts in 2006, about 500,000 people enjoyed fishing, and 73,000 hunted. According to the DCR, more than 14 million people visit Massachusetts state forests and parks annually. The DCR reports that reservations at state campgrounds are up nearly 14 percent from last year.

The Massachusetts Outdoor Recreation Map will be available for free at the DFG and Office of Fishing and Boating offices in Boston, all MassWildlife offices and hatcheries, DCR properties across the state, and selected highway information centers. To obtain a map by postal mail, send a self-addressed 59 cent stamped business sized envelope to: Outdoor Recreation Map, MassWildlife Field Headquarters, 1 Rabbit Hill Rd, Westboro MA 01581. The map is also available online at http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/recreation/publications/recreation_map.pdf.

K-9 Graduation Ceremony Scheduled for Thursday, July 3

Five dogs will graduate from the Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) K-9 Academy Thursday at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area in Davis. This is the third group of K-9 teams to graduate and dogs will be staged throughout California to help wardens in stopping criminal activities and searching vessels for Quagga mussels.

“The K-9 units already in the field have proven themselves very useful,” said Chief Nancy Foley, DFG Law Enforcement Division. “We’ve made several abalone, fish, turkey and deer poaching cases with the dogs’ help and this graduating class will only aid DFG enforcement efforts.”

At the ceremony, previous and current K-9 graduates will demonstrate detection and apprehension abilities starting at 10:30 a.m. Each of the dogs will also receive a K-9 game warden badge.

In addition to standard patrol support, the dogs will assist with searches for missing persons and suspects, and in locating evidence such as spent ammunition and hidden firearms. The dogs have also been trained in apprehending suspects, making them especially useful to wardens in rural patrol areas where backup can be more than an hour away.

“With these graduates, we now have 17 dogs deployed statewide,” said Lt. Lynette Shimek, K-9 handler and program coordinator. “With the small number of wardens currently working in the state, these 17 dogs will be a tremendous help to their handlers in the fight to protect our natural resources.”

Depending upon the team’s patrol area each will specialize in detecting a variety of scents including bear, deer, fish, elk, abalone and waterfowl. All of the DFG dogs have been trained in detecting ammunitions as well as Quagga and Zebra mussels, the small invasive freshwater invasive mussels that seriously threaten California’s economy and environment. The training in ammunition and associated odor detection provides evidence search support and an additional level of homeland security for California.

The new teams add coverage to Siskiyou and Plumas counties in addition to the other 33 counties that have K-9 support, including: Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Madera, Marin, Mendocino, Modoc, Mono, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, San Benito, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Shasta, Sierra, Solano, Sonoma, Tehama, Tulare and Yolo counties.

Each team will have a specific patrol area, but will be available to travel to other areas if necessary. DFG plans to train up to 24 police service dogs to be staged around the state within the next seven months.

DFG’s K-9 Program is funded largely through private donations. Donated funds are received and administered by a not-for-profit organization that works hand-in-hand with DFG and its secret witness reporting program “CalTIP” (Californians Turn in Poachers and Polluters). The organization, CalTIP Inc., is a charitable organization designated under section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Organizations, agencies and individuals can sponsor or donate funds to support a K-9 unit and all donations are tax deductible. For more information, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/enforcement/K9

Directions:

• From Sacramento, take I-80 toward San Francisco and exit County Road 32a. Go right at the stop sign, under the freeway. Follow Chiles Road to Wildlife Area headquarters (left).
• From San Francisco, take the Chiles Road exit. Go right and make a left at the first stop sign onto Chiles Road. Follow Chiles Road to Wildlife Area headquarters (right).

Third Academy Graduates:

• Handler: Chad Elliott
  K-9: Jonah, 19-month-old yellow Labrador retriever
  Assignment: Mono and Inyo counties
• Handler: Erick Elliott
  K-9: Rusty, 20-month-old yellow Labrador retriever
  Assignment: Alpine, Amador and El Dorado counties
• Handler: Bob Pera
  K-9: Ruger, 2-year-old German shepherd
  Assignment: Butte and Glenn counties
• Handler: Joe Powell
  K-9: Katie, 3-year-old black Labrador retriever
  Assignment: Siskiyou and Shasta counties
• Handler: Lisa Stone
  K-9: Donna, 3-year-old German shepherd
  Assignment: Lassen, Plumas and Butte counties

Additional K-9 Teams

• Handler: Warden Loren Freeman
  K-9: Leo, 2-year-old German shepherd
  Assignment: Lake and Mendocino counties
• Handler: Warden Kyle Kroll
  K-9: Buck, 4-year-old German shepherd
  Assignment: Santa Clara, San Benito and Monterey counties
• Handler: Warden Gene Weckman
  K-9: Nash, 16-month-old Belgian shepherd
  Assignment: Butte and Glenn counties
• Handler: Warden Brian Gallaher
  K-9: Tres, 14-month-old German shepherd
  Assignment: Modoc and Lassen counties
• Handler: Warden Brian Boyd
  K-9: Phebe, 16-month-old Malinois
  Assignment: Shasta and Tehama counties
• Handler: Lt. Lynette Shimek, Program Coordinator
  K-9: Ellen, 5-year-old German shepherd
  Assignment: Statewide training
• Handler: Warden Robert Pelzman
  K-9: Nigel, 15-month-old Labrador retriever
  Assignment: Placer County
• Handler: Warden Christy Wurster
  K-9: Wrigley, 2-year-old German Shorthair- Labrador-golden retriever mix
  Assignment: Amador, Alpine and El Dorado counties
• Handler: Warden Lorraine Doyle
  K-9: Iris, 2-year-old Labrador retriever
  Assignment: Fresno County
• Handler: Warden Lori Oldfather
  K-9: Louie, 2-year-old, Labrador retriever
  Assignment: City of Stockton
• Handler: Warden Roxanne Bowers
  K-9: Cooper, 2-year-old Hound mix
  Assignment: Alameda County
• Handler: Warden Laurie Knowles
  K-9: Iggy, 5-year-old, Labrador retriever
  Assignment: Amador County

Successful San Francisco Bay Halibut Catch Triggers DFG Survey to Ensure Sustainable Fishery

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) will monitor the San Francisco Bay halibut fishery to ensure that current regulations are protecting the species from overfishing. Recreational anglers and commercial hook-and-line fishermen are harvesting a higher than normal number of halibut from the bay for this time of year.

“This successful harvest is likely due to a strong class of halibut that were born in 2004 and such reproduction is historically infrequent,” said DFG Director Donald Koch. “Although there is no indication that the halibut fishery is not sustainable, additional scientific data will allow us to better assess how the species should be managed, particularly in booming population years.”

A minimum legal size is a commonly-used management tool intended to allow the fish to reach reproductive size before being subjected to fishing pressure. Recreational and commercial halibut fisheries require fish to be at least 22 inches in total length. The length and weight of the fish are routinely collected for the fisheries; when possible, otoliths (ear bones) are taken for age determination. To evaluate the impact of various gear types on the survival of released halibut, DFG will also conduct a hooking mortality study within San Francisco Bay this summer. The study will help demonstrate the effectiveness of the size limit regulation.

The California halibut fishery is known to exhibit geographic fluctuations and anglers should be aware that the fish tend to migrate inshore in the spring and summer to forage and spawn. After spawning, the adults generally move offshore in the fall and winter.

During El Niño events, halibut larvae may be transported into northern California and after these fish grow to the minimum legal size of 22-inches in length they provide significant fishing opportunities in some years. In addition, juveniles and adults may move northward during these events.

In addition to monitoring halibut in San Francisco Bay, DFG is also observing halibut fisheries at various locations within California and a formal stock assessment is expected to begin later this year. The assessment will be the first statewide evaluation of the halibut resource and is designed to provide an accurate estimate of the population size, as well as the amount of fishing pressure that the fishery can safely sustain.

The recreational halibut fishery is monitored through the California Recreational Fisheries Survey. Commercial and charter boat halibut catch is monitored by DFG though landing receipts and logbooks.

The primary distribution of California’s halibut stock is from central California to northern Baja California. All fishery regulation changes are under the jurisdiction of the Fish and Game Commission. Legislation would be required to change the commercial minimum size limit for halibut.

Still Time to Register for New Hampshire Fall “Becoming an Outdoors-Woman” Workshop

CONCORD, N.H. - If you’ve been thinking about signing up for the fall Becoming an Outdoors-Woman workshop, but haven’t gotten around to it yet - there’s good news!  You still can, so sign up today and get in on this enjoyable chance to learn outdoor skills in the company of other women.  A brochure and mail-in registration form are available to download at www.nhbow.com, or call (603) 271-3212 or email aquatic-ed@wildlife.nh.gov to request an application by mail. 

The 2008 B.O.W. fall workshop will take place Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 5-7, at Rockywold/Deephaven Camps on Squam Lake in Holderness, N.H.  You must be 18 years of age or older.  The workshop fee of $295 includes lodging, meals, instruction and equipment use.  Some scholarships are available; download a scholarship application form at www.nhbow.com, or call (603) 271-3212 for information.

B.O.W. is co-sponsored by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department; and the New Hampshire Wildlife Federation, www.nhwf.org.

DFG Sets Record With 20.2 Million Young Salmon Raised, Trucked, Acclimated and Released into San Pablo Bay

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has completed a record-breaking year by placing 20.2 million young salmon in acclimation pens for release. The number released is the most ever by any state agency on the West Coast for a single stock of salmon in one year. The young salmon were released this spring into San Pablo Bay and are expected to return to the Sacramento river system in two to four years.

“Ramping up the effort to raise, transport and acclimate 20.2 million smolts was an all-hands effort involving three major hatcheries and acclimation pens operated by the Fishery Foundation of California,” said Neil Manji, DFG Fisheries Branch Chief. “We put in nearly twice the normal amount of smolts into the acclimation pens with the goal of increasing both their survival and the return of adult salmon.”

On June 17, the last tanker load of 250,000 tiny Fall Run Central Valley Chinook salmon - called smolts - were released into the Foundation’s acclimation pens in San Pablo Bay and towed out into the bay and released in the out-going tide.

DFG’s increased effort is in response to the collapse of the Fall Run of Central Valley Chinook salmon stocks. The collapse resulted in the unprecedented closure of all commercial and recreational ocean salmon seasons and the closure of most river salmon seasons.

Biologist Kari Burr, Project Manager for The Fishery Foundation of California, said, “An exceptional coordination effort combined with improved net pen design enabled us to successfully receive 100 percent of the fish in acclimation pens this season. We hope for excellent survival rates this year.”

The acclimation pens provide safe haven for the 3 to 5-inch long salmon when they are flushed out of the tanker trucks into the bay waters. The salmon will adjust to their new surroundings inside the safety of the net pens as they are towed out into the bay for final release.

The acclimation net penning is paid for out of the Bay Delta Sports Fishing Enhancement Stamp purchased by sports anglers fishing Bay-Delta waters. The acclimation is done by The Fishery Foundation of California at a cost of $98,000 this year. A new net pen was donated by Bodega Bay Fisherman’s Marketing Association and modified by the Fishery Foundation.

The salmon smolts were raised in hatcheries managed by DFG on major rivers in the Central Valley of California. The hatcheries were constructed to replace the loss of salmon due to dams. Key hatcheries rearing the salmon smolts were the Nimbus Salmon Hatchery on the American River, the Mokelumne River Hatchery and the Feather River Hatchery.

“Rearing and moving fish is expensive and intensive,” said Bob Burks, Nimbus Salmon Hatchery Manager in Rancho Cordova. “Gas costs alone nearly doubled. We rent tanker trucks at $500 a week and filling those big gas tanks cost over $500 each. It costs $1,250 a week just for pallets of ice to cool the waters inside the transport tanks when the fish are transported from Nimbus.”

The careful planning and coordination between the hatcheries, The Fishery Foundation of California and the utilization of two release sites combined to make this year’s releases successful. In previous years only one site was used for release of 8-12 million smolts. The addition of a second site made additional releases possible on different tides and decreased potential losses to predatory fish and birds.

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