August 2020 BECAUSE I LIKE TO FISH TROUT UNLIMITED CENTRAL SIERRA CHAPTER 279 Sierra Nevada Meadows and CA Inland Trout Habitat Restoration Sierra Nevada meadows are a key habitat for California’s inland wild and/or native trout while also acting as a headwater source for downstream ecosystems. There’s approximately 280,000 acres of meadows in the Sierra Nevada, of which 50% is considered to be degraded or poor condition. Much of this degradation is due to past land use practices such as logging, mining, and overgrazing making impacted meadows less resilient to climate change, drought and other varying environmental conditions. The most common characteristic of a degraded meadow is a deeply incised and straightened stream channels which rapidly transport water and sediment downstream during snowmelt. This leaves less water for trout in the late summer and early fall and creates reduced and poor habitat quality. Over the past 30 years, restoring meadows has popularized with techniques ranging from simple tools such as livestock fencing and willow plantings to more intensive treatments such as “plug and ponds.” For the last 10 years TU California staff has worked in the field of meadow restoration in developing the “science” around the practice as well as on-the-ground application. Our Dry Meadow, Sequoia science team has developed a variety of planning tools to help guide staff and agency partners in prioritizing areas for restoration and predicting project benefits. In application, our staff has focused efforts on those areas either currently inhabited by or within the range of native endemic trout, including CA golden trout, Kern River rainbow trout, Eagle Lake rainbow trout and Lahontan cutthroat trout. Some of our primary areas of focus are described below. For further information on specific project areas please contact: Jessica Strickland, CA Inland Trout Program Director, [email protected] unless otherwise noted. Sequoia National Forest: 8 meadow restoration project sites that have all completed planning and currently funded for construction. Construction to initiate Fall 2020 and continue through 2023. These sites are all within Kern River rainbow trout or CA golden August 2020 trout range. Post-construction will include activities such as vegetation planting, temporary fence installation and signage, all of which can incorporate volunteers. These sites are located approximately 1-1.5 hours north of Kernville upstream of Johnsondale Bridge and include popular recreational fisheries such as Troy (Fish Creek) meadow. Sierra National Forest: 9 meadow restoration projects in the headwaters of the San Juaquin, identified by the Forest Service as in critical need of restoration. These meadows are in planning phase and TU has partnered with the Forest Service to complete planning and pre- construction monitoring. Planning phase monitoring may incorporate volunteers in field sampling and future construction phases will incorporate volunteers for activities similar to above-mentioned Sequoia meadows. These meadows are located primarily near Bass and Shaver Lakes. Inyo National Forest: 12 meadow sites totaling over 2,500 acres located within or just adjacent to Golden Trout Wilderness. These sites all have CA golden trout and have been selected by the Inyo National Forest and Trout Unlimited for planning and design in preparation for implementation. These meadows include popular recreational fisheries, including: Mulkey, Casa Vieja, Monache complex and Strawberry Meadow. This project was just funded in June 2020 so volunteer opportunities will begin in 2021 and should include assistance with field monitoring and survey work. In future implementation phase, there will be large-scale opportunity to assist with vegetation plantings, stream stabilization and other activities. These volunteer opportunities would require extensive hiking and/or mule pack in and overnight stay. Lassen National Forest: Trout Unlimited has been in Eagle Lake rainbow trout recovery for over a decade which includes several meadow restoration projects along Pine Creek, a spawning tributary. Confluence Meadow and Eagle Lake rainbow trout. Volunteer opportunities vary by year but include invasive brown trout removal, vegetation planting and assistance with field monitoring work. Project contact: Tiffanee Hutton, CA Inland Trout Restoration Project Manger, [email protected] Jessica Strickland of the Trout Unlimited California Council, Troy Meadow, Golden Trout Stream working out of Truckee California, is the California Inland Trout Program Director and an avid fly fisher . Among other initiatives she is currently working on Meadow Restoration in the Sierra Mountains and has graciously provided us with information about the program. The preceding information is informative, inspiring and the TU Central Sierra Chapter would like to thank her for her work and this write up. August 2020 Sign up for Inclusion into our Volunteer Data Base As we discuss future work projects with the These projects may range from half day various government and non- government roadside river cleanups or river samplings entities in our region, (including CA. to two-week backpacking trips into the High Department of Fish and Wildlife, Yosemite, Sierra. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, If you MIGHT be interested in helping with and the Stanislaus, Sierra and Sequoia future work projects, please contact us and National Forests, and local NGO’s and fly include your name, general location, fishing clubs) it is apparent we need to address, email, and phone number, and compile a list of possible volunteers and projects you might be interested in. their preferred contact mode. In this way as projects develop and coalesce, we Please send your information to our already have a list of potential volunteers. Chapter website link https://centralsierra-tu.org/contact. Due to Covid restrictions there may be limited opportunities for this summer and These work projects are a fun meaningful fall but most agencies expect to have field way to give a bit back to the places and programs in full swing in 2021. activities we love and an opportunity to meet other likeminded people. Andresen Mine Trail Workday February 8, 2020 Central Sierra TU along with volunteers from Tuolumne River Trust, Groveland Trailheads, Echo Adventure Cooperative, Calaveras Fly Fishers, and Merced Fly Fishers all worked alongside rangers from the USFS Groveland District to clear and repair approximately 2.3 miles of the Andresen Mine Trail along the Wild and Scenic Tuolumne River. August 2020 information is often difficult to manage. Here is our Featured Fly Club web site; https://fresnoflyfishers.org/ Does your club actively seek new members? Fresno Fly Fishers for Conservation As mentioned previously our web site offers the opportunity for members to join on-line using Paypal. with Leo Labbe We also manage a booth at the Fresno Fair each year where we hand out information and demonstrate fly tying. We usually offer a promotion along with the club application. It in a typical year will have What is the name of your Fly Cub? anywhere from 2 to 6 members who join at the fair. Fresno Fly Fishers for Conservation which was founded in 1961. We have a strong heritage that goes back to our initial founders whose initial quest was to During the season approximately how many events protect Kings River. are typically on the schedule for a month? In each month we schedule a general meeting an invited guest speakers to present. Speakers can range What is your position in the club? from guides to conservationists, government officials I currently serve as the President for the club, but have and sometimes members. had previous positions as Membership and Outings We have a regularly scheduled board meeting each Chairman. month to discuss club business. And most months we have a scheduled outing for all club members. How many total members do you have? Our yearly banquet is a major fundraiser for the year. We currently have 190 members many of which are We host a catered dinner; both a live and a silent families so the actual count is greater. auction, as well as, a raffle table. We keep the attendance at 120 dinners because of the size of the Of your total members how many would you say banquet room and typically sellout. Those who attend enjoy themselves and usually leave with an abundance are active? I would estimate that 60 to 70 members are active. of stuff! A great event! Each month, we issue our newsletter, the “Fly Dope” electronically to all of our members. This is probably What would you say is a big contributor to your our most effective communications tool where our members can find out about all activities and learn clubs success? Like most organizations, leadership is the major more about the club and activities. contributor to the club success. There’s a core group Unfortunately like all organizations the shelter at home of the dozen or so individuals who dedicate a lot of directive has changed how we handle our gatherings. ZOOM has become a way of life! free time to ensure the club’s success. Besides fishing, what are some of your important club events? Education is an important factor for the club. For the last 12 years we hosted a youth fly fishing academy were 12 to 16 youths anywhere from 10 to 15 years old are taught the basics of the sport. It includes knot tying, casting, fly tying, equipment review and an actual fishing session on a private pond. Last year we also held an adult academy that was sold out within a week. Looks like this will become a yearly event! Do you have a website? If so, do you believe it’s effective? Yes we have a web site but it is a challenge to maintain. It does provide the basic knowledge of our club, the opportunity to become a member and the schedule of all of our activities.