Anti-stocking group won't seek injunction to stop stocking in Kern

Wyatt Johnstone, 4, of Kernville, watches eagerly as DFG's Greg Kellenborn deposits rainbow trout in the Kern River at Riverside Park Wednesday, Feb. 10.

Cathy Perfect/Kern Valley Sun

Noah Greenwald, Endangered Species Program Director of the Center for Biological Diversity, announced this morning, "We are not planning to seek an injunction to stop stocking the Kern River at this time."

He reiterated the group is challenging the California Department of Fish and Game's Environmental Impact Report over impacts on native species. However, he said, "According to Dr. Peter Moyle, the hardhead minnow, which is the only known species of concern in the Kern below Southern California Edison Fairview Dam, is apparently doing okay in the presence of extensive stocking. There is thus currently a low likelihood of harm to native species in this reach."

This comes on the heels of more than 1,000 pounds of rainbow trout being deposited in the Kern River at Riverside Park in Kernville Feb. 10 after a 15-month period of no stocking. Just in time for Whiskey Flat Days.

In 2006, Pacific Rivers Council and the Center for Biological Diversity, filed suit against DFG that alleged that DFG was in violation of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) by continuing its fish stocking program without conducting an environmental review of the effects of that program.