INFORMATION LEAFLET

RECOVERY PROGRAM 2009

HISTORY PLANS FOR 2009 The Kern drainage is unique in that golden trout With the completion of the Schaeffer Barrier near evolved here and nowhere else. In recognition of its Monache Meadows in 2003, efforts to reduce the great beauty, the golden trout was designated the numbers of brown and rainbow trout will continue. State Fish of California in 1947. The California golden These non-native fish will be removed from the trout (GT-C) is one of two subspecies of golden trout, Strawberry Stringer area and the South Fork Kern and is currently listed as a Sensitive Species and River just downstream of the Templeton Barrier. Species of Special Concern. Past introductions of Monitoring of the rested and grazed allotments will non-native fish into the golden trout habitat have continue with data collection focusing on important resulted in crossbreeding or hybridizing with rainbow riparian (river bank) and meadow components. The trout, and predation by and competition for habitat with Forest Service will continue headcut restoration in brown trout, so that now the California golden trout Groundhog Meadow. Population monitoring of golden occupies less than 10% of its original range. Without trout will occur in Tunnel and Little Whitney meadows. the intervention of concerned agencies and fishing California Department of Fish and Game and the groups, this unique trout could face extinction. Forest Service are coordinating with volunteers from Because of this it has been petitioned for listing as various fishing and conservation groups in 2009 to Endangered. accomplish these tasks.

COOPERATIVE RECOVERY PLAN FISHING INFORMATION The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG), The South Fork and , and the drainages within the are open US Fish and Wildlife Service are working together to to fishing from the last Saturday in April to November restore California golden trout to its native habitat in 15. Only artificial lures with barbless hooks can be Golden Trout Creek and the . used. The daily bag and possession limit is 5 trout. A Since 1975, non-native trout have been removed from map of the California golden trout waters is shown on many miles of stream, and 3 artificial barriers have the back of this leaflet. Rocky Basin, Johnson and been constructed in the South Fork Kern River to Chicken Spring Lakes are currently fishless, since the prevent the upstream travel of non-native fish. In non-native trout in these lakes have been removed. addition, non-native fish in the headwater lakes of the Stocking of some of these lakes with genetically pure Golden Trout Creek watershed have been removed. California golden trout is proposed for the future. Numerous erosion control structures have been completed to restore degraded habitat, and two cattle WOULD YOU LIKE TO HELP?? grazing areas, the Whitney and Templeton allotments, Trout Unlimited, CalTrout, the Federation of Fly Fishers are being rested from grazing for at least 10 years to and many local fly fishing groups have teamed up with allow for the recovery of fragile stream banks and the California Department of Fish and Game and the meadows. Inyo National Forest to help with restoration projects aimed at protecting the California golden trout. If you SPECIAL NOTICE are interested in participating in any of these exciting Transplanting fish is illegal and subject to a maximum venues, call Howard Kern, volunteer coordinator, at fine of $50,000 and a year in jail, and can only hinder 310-772-7033, or contact him by e-mail at: the full recovery of the California golden trout. If you [email protected], and check the golden see anyone illegally moving fish, call 1-888-334-2258 trout web page at www.californiagoldentrout.org. For and provide a confidential report to the DFG. further information on California golden trout management, contact: Christy McGuire, California Department of Fish and The United states Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits Game, at 760-376-6502; [email protected], or discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, Lisa Sims, Inyo National Forest, at 760-873-2447; sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial [email protected]. status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication or program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, US Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250, or call 1-800- 245-6340 (voice) or 202-720-1127 (TDD). USDA is an equal employment opportunity employer. TR-06/97-Green.