Thursday, 28 March 2024

Recreation

leatherbackturtle

In an effort to bring awareness and protect the population for generations to come, California has designated Oct. 15 as Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle Conservation Day.

As one of largest migratory sea turtles, the Pacific leatherback sea turtle (leatherback) mark an incredible journey each year, traveling more than 6,000 miles from nesting beaches in Indonesia to feed on California jellyfish during summer and fall months.

Listed as threatened on both federal and state lists, the species faces threats from capture in fishing gear, harvesting of eggs on nesting beaches, plastic pollution and climate change.

“Despite being listed as an endangered or threatened species since 1970, the leatherback population has decreased by approximately 90 percent over the last 20 years,” said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham. “Our hope with this celebration is to bring awareness to the plight of the leatherback to preserve it for years to come.”

Passed by the Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Brown in September 2012, Assembly Bill 1776 established leatherbacks as the official state marine reptile.

The bill encourages public schools to include leatherbacks in their curriculum and urges state and federal agencies to take proactive conservation measures to prevent further threats.

Scientists and government representatives from California and Indonesia will also convene in Monterey, California Oct. 14-16, 2013, for an historic summit on leatherbacks.

The conference will host more than a dozen Indonesian delegates, providing the opportunity to reaffirm each country’s commitments and forge new partnerships to prevent the extinction of this magnificent species that call both regions home.

Leatherbacks are the deepest-diving, longest-living and largest sea turtle.

An adult can weigh up to 2,000 pounds and measure more than 6.5 feet in length and can easily be differentiated from other turtle species by its lack of a bony shell.

According to National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) scientists, there are less than 5,000 leatherback breeding females left in the world today.

BOGGS MOUNTAIN, Calif. – Love to hike or ride? Then join the Friends of Boggs Mountain at a “Wag, Walk and Wride at Boggs” event.

Set for Sunday, Oct. 13, from 10 a.m. to noon, the event will include equestrians, mountain bikers, hikers and dog walkers at the Boggs Mountain Horse Camp.

The Lake-Mendo Unit of the Backcountry Horsemen of California (BCHC) will kick off the event by demonstrating how to pack stock animals for the back country, and talk about some of the work they do in wilderness areas.

They’ll also discuss the responsibilities of equestrians, and why horses and other stock animals like mules need special consideration on shared trails.

Youth from the Clear Lake and Kelseyville High School Bike Team will then discuss and demonstrate proper trail etiquette, and will involve equestrians, hikers, and dog walkers in their presentation.

The objectives of the event are to develop an empathic understanding of user groups, and begin a series of trail user interactions that foster a collaborative trail culture.

Lastly, special guest Sarah Reid, State Trails Chair of the California State Horseman's Association, will discuss multiuser trail successes in Annadel State Park and elsewhere in Sonoma County.

Prizes for participation will be awarded to humans and animals, thanks to sponsorship from the Friends of Boggs Mountain, and Specialized Bicycles through Main St. Bicycles in Lakeport. Refreshments will also be available.

Please dress appropriately for the weather and wear sturdy shoes for the hike. Leashed, socialized dogs are welcome, as are horses and their riders who have some multiuse trail experience. However, this event may not be appropriate for “green” or young horses.

Please contact Gigi Stahl, FOBM volunteer, at 707-809-5299 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for any questions.

In case of inclement weather, please check the Boggs Web site at http://boggsmountain.org for any cancellation notices.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has released a draft environmental impact report (DEIR) for a conservation fish hatchery to assist with the restoration of salmon runs in the San Joaquin River.

The proposed site of the new Salmon Conservation and Research Facility (SCARF) is located in Friant in Fresno County and adjacent to the San Joaquin River approximately 1.1 miles downstream of Friant Dam.

The project, which is part of the San Joaquin River Restoration Project (SJRRP), proposes to release juvenile salmon from the facilities starting in 2015.

The DEIR describes how salmon would be collected and bred, using modern genetic management techniques to ensure genetic diversity that will produce traits that are beneficial in the wild, while minimizing impacts to the donor salmon populations.

It also contains information on planned fisheries management within the plan area, among other information on environmental impacts.

An interim conservation facility is located at the site of the future SCARF and would be incorporated into the SCARF.

The DEIR can be found at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/regions/4/SanJoaquinRiver and is in circulation for a 45-day comment period that will end Nov. 21, 2013.

Public meetings will be scheduled during that time in Fresno and Sacramento, as follows:

  • Fresno, Nov. 4, 6-8 p.m., at the California Retired Teachers Association Building, 3930 E. Saginaw Way, Fresno.
  • Sacramento, Nov. 6, 6-8 p.m., at the Department of Health Care Services and Department of Public Health Building, 1500 Capitol Avenue, Sacramento.

Comments may be made during the public meetings or by submitting them to CDFW, Attn: Gerald Hatler, SCARF Draft EIR Comments, 1234 E. Shaw Ave., Fresno, CA 93710 or by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The San Joaquin River Restoration Program arose from a settlement in 2006 among the federal government, environmental groups and water users.

CDFW and other state entities agreed to assist in implementation of the settlement agreement pursuant to a memorandum of understanding between the state agencies and the settling parties.

The San Joaquin River, California’s second longest tributary, was the site of one of the state’s most populous salmon fisheries.

Historically, over a half million spring run Chinook salmon may have migrated up the San Joaquin River. The spring and fall runs of returning Chinook salmon were eliminated after the construction of the Friant Dam in 1942.

The ongoing federal government shutdown is impacting some waterfowl hunting opportunities in California due to the resulting closure of National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs).

State Wildlife Areas are unaffected and will be open for hunting during the regular waterfowl seasons.

All NWRs will be closed until a federal budget is passed, including those designated as Type A areas for which the state draws reservations and operates the check stations.

Once the federal budget is passed, hunters should verify that the refuge they wish to visit will be open by contacting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or calling the refuge they wish to visit.

• Colusa NWR, 530-934-2801
• Delevan NWR, 530-934-2801
• Kern NWR, 661-725-6504
• Merced NWR, 209-826-3508
• Sacramento NWR, 530-934-2801
• San Luis NWR, (including Kesterson, Bear Creek, Freitas North or Freitas South), 209-826-3508
• Sutter NWR, 530-934-2801
• Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR, 760-348-5278
• Lower Klamath NWR, 530-667-2231
• Tule Lake NWR, 530-667-2231
• Modoc NWR, 530-233-3572
• Stone Lakes NWR, 916-775-4421

The below Type A and B State Wildlife Areas (and all Type C wildlife areas that permit waterfowl hunting) will be open for waterfowl hunting regardless of the federal budget status.

A few of the wildlife areas below are located in waterfowl hunting zones which opened on Oct. 5.

Most are scheduled to open on Oct. 19 when the rest of the state opens for waterfowl hunting.

• Gray Lodge Wildlife Area (Type A)
• Grizzly Island Wildlife Area (Type A and Type B Units)
• Los Banos Wildlife Area (Type A)
• Mendota Wildlife Area (Type A)
• North Grasslands Wildlife Area (Including China Island, Salt Slough and Gadwall Units) (Type A)
• San Jacinto Wildlife Area (Type A)
• Upper Butte Basin Wildlife Area (Including Little Dry Creek, Howard Slough and Llano Seco Units) (Type A)
• Volta Wildlife Area (Type A)
• Wister Unit of Imperial Wildlife Area (Type A)
• Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area (Type A)
• Ash Creek Wildlife Area (Type B)
• Butte Valley Wildlife Area (Type B)
• Honey Lake Wildlife Area (Fleming and Dakin Units) (Type B)
• Shasta Valley Wildlife Area (Type B)
• Willow Creek Wildlife Area (Type B)

Reservation drawings will be performed for Type A NWRs that are subject to the federal shutdown.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has been accepting reservation applications since Sept. 1.

The federal budget situation could be resolved at any time and the NWRs are expected to be open for hunting soon after. CDFW is conducting reservation drawings in the event the areas will open.

CDFW has posted a frequently asked questions page on its Web site at https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=73964&;inline=1 .

For further information, please visit CDFW’s Web site at http://www.wildlife.ca.gov .

FORT BRAGG, Calif. – California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Mendocino Unit is closing the “Trestle Trail” between Camp 8 and JDSF Road 1070 on Jackson Demonstration State Forest (JDSF) to mushroom picking and other recreational activities, effective immediately.

This trail will be closed until the end of the rainy season, as a precautionary measure in an attempt to slow the spread of Phytophthora ramorum, the invasive pathogen that causes Sudden Oak Death.

Additionally, all JDSF campgrounds have closed for the season and seasonal roads will be closed to vehicular traffic by Oct. 14. Seasonal roads are closed to protect them from damage during wet weather.

Information regarding Sudden Oak Death on JDSF or the closures is available at the Cal Fire Fort Bragg office located at 802 N. Main St., Fort Bragg, telephone 707-964-5674 during the following hours: Monday from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Tuesday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to noon.

Information also is available online http://calfire.ca.gov/resource_mgt/resource_mgt_stateforests_jackson.php .

Multiple uses of JDSF for a wide variety of activities that benefit the public, the economy and natural resources are what our demonstration forests are all about.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Advanced Hunter Education Program is sponsoring a Wilderness First Aid clinic Nov. 16 at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area in Yolo County.

Alex Van, a 30-year veteran firefighter/paramedic, will instruct this exciting clinic that will provide hands-on training designed to meet the needs of outdoor enthusiasts and individuals who plan to hunt in remote locations.

Topics will include the treatment of cuts, broken bones, burns and gunshot wounds, as well as first aid kits and basic survival equipment to have on hand.

The clinic will provide the knowledge, skills and ability to make sound decisions in wilderness emergency situations.

The clinic will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 16. The cost is $65 for adults. Youths 16 years and younger are free, but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Space is limited and advance registration is required. Registration forms are available online at www.dfg.ca.gov/huntered/advanced/index.aspx .

After registering, participants will receive an email with a map to the facility and a list of items to bring. CDFW’s Advanced Hunter Education Program will provide all necessary class equipment.

Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area is located three miles east of Davis and three miles west of West Sacramento, directly off Interstate 80.

Upcoming Calendar

30Mar
03.30.2024 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Lakeport Community Cleanup Day
30Mar
03.30.2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Second annual Bunny Brunch
30Mar
03.30.2024 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Lake County poet laureate inauguration
31Mar
03.31.2024
Easter Sunday
31Mar
03.31.2024 1:15 pm - 1:45 pm
Lakeport Rotary Club Easter Egg Hunt
1Apr
04.01.2024
Easter Monday
1Apr
10Apr
15Apr
04.15.2024
Tax Day

Mini Calendar

loader

LCNews

Award winning journalism on the shores of Clear Lake. 

 

Newsletter

Enter your email here to make sure you get the daily headlines.

You'll receive one daily headline email and breaking news alerts.
No spam.