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


Published on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 10:18 PM PST

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."

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.

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. 

Copyright © 2012 Kern Valley Sun

Comments

8 comment(s)

    Gary wrote on Feb 16, 2010 3:26 PM:

    " Great point, Jack. That is why I always say, keep government out of things that the locals know more about. "

    jack mackey wrote on Feb 15, 2010 9:41 PM:

    " One other thing. They said it was ok to stock native trout in these waters. There is only one problem with that - there isn't a native trout at this elevation of the Kern River and there never has been. They have always been introduced. "

    Gary wrote on Feb 15, 2010 9:33 AM:

    " This is a big duh as far as I'm concerned. Stocking has been going on for years but it took some environmentalist group to muddy up the waters. Any lay person without a degree behind their name knew the minnow was not in danger since it was still around after years and years of stocking trout. Why is it always that some outside governmental agency knows better than the locals who live in the area? "

    FYI wrote on Feb 13, 2010 7:29 AM:

    " Actually they are not out of state, they have offices in San Francisco and Los Angeles. And when did it become unacceptable to question the government (ie CEQA)? Isn't that the crux of our great democracy? "

    Editor wrote on Feb 12, 2010 8:24 PM:

    " Richard, note the first sentence of the second paragraph: 'He reiterated the group is challenging the California Department of Fish and Game's Environmental Impact Report over impacts on native species.' "

    Need to Change CEQA wrote on Feb 12, 2010 6:51 PM:

    " No out of state entity should be able to FUND or CONTEST any CEQA activity. And CA Dept of F&G should be EXEMPT. This is BS, plain and simple. "

    Richard Rowe wrote on Feb 12, 2010 6:09 PM:

    " I am glad the Center for Biological Diversity is being reasonable about the stocking of the Kern River.

    Their lawsuit challenges the adequacy of DFG's EIR/EIS, NOT the stocking the Kern River (as the Bakersfield Californian erroneously stated).

    The Sun left out the 1st sentence of Noah's statement: "We are challenging the EIR/EIS over impacts to Native Species."

    In the 2-10-2010 lawsuit press release, Noah stated: "DFG has utterly failed to mitigate for the devastating impacts of stocking hatchery fish on native fish and wildlife like chinook salmon, mountain yellow--legged frogs, and long-toed salamanders." "

    Duane Robinson wrote on Feb 12, 2010 6:04 PM:

    " Great news, now let's hope they do not come up with some other obscure species to protect so they can continue to screw up the economy end recreation in the area.
    Anybody want to make any bets on that possibility?
    Remember ,these same people are most likely in the group that voted for "CHANGE" in the last election and by God their going to get it or bust.
    They could care less about the economy because they think the goverment can take care of us all! "

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