MAC - FFF Endangered Fisheries

America's Most Endangered Fisheries

The Federation of Fly Fishers today announced its annual list of the nation's most endangered fisheries at its international conference in Livingston, Montana on August 1, 2000. With the destruction of these irreplaceable habitats, some of the United States' most threatened fish face a grave risk of extinction.

"It is shocking that in the name of progress America tolerates the continued devastation of our rivers, lakes and streams," said FFF's Endangered Fisheries Coordinator Bob Molzahn. "When a waterway can't support fish, that usually means it's too polluted for drinking and swimming as well. Considering that recreational fishing is a billion dollar a year industry, this is intolerable from any standpoint."

The appalling state of many of America's fish habitats is due to a number of preventable factors, including the reckless destruction of riverbanks, overpopulation of shorelines, industry pollution, agricultural runoff, water diversions and sedimentation.

Four U. S. fisheries determined by the FFF Conservation Committee to face the most immediate danger:

	1. Guadalupe River and Trout Fishery, South Central, Texas-		Massive water diversions.
	2. Letort Spring Run, Carlisle, Pennsylvania-		Residential and commercial development along its banks.
	3. Deep Creek, San Bernardino Mountains, California-		Water withdrawals for a ski resort.
	4. Sea-run Cutthroat Trout, Washington-		Dams, industrialization, habitat destruction and pollutants in its native spawning rivers.

The Federation is the leading voice of education and conservation through the sport of flyfishing.
These four U. S. fisheries were determined by the FFF Conservation Committee to face the most immediate danger, in the first of these annual announcements.

The Guadalupe River is a popular recreation area that contains an outstanding trout fishery. Running from the Texas hill country northwest of San Antonio and flowing to the Texas Gulf Coast, it supports a very diverse and important biological system of fresh and saltwater wildlife.

But as the surrounding population swells, the Guadalupe Blanco River Authority (GBRA) has entered into a series of contracts that could ruin the fishery. The authority is engaged in an aggressive program to divert twice as much water as normal for municipal and industrial use - at the expense of fish, wildlife and recreation.

Unless stopped, the result will be an endangered river that is starved for water and could trigger an ecological meltdown.

"Several conservation groups have joined to sue the authority, in the least asking for high enough water levels to ensure the survival of trout in summer," said Molzahn. "This has the potential to be a $100 million dollar fishery. Sacrificing recreation for unpopular urban sprawl is a costly mistake, not to mention a precious ecological loss."

The LeTort Spring Run is one of the finest limestone streams in America. It is also an internationally famous trout fishery. But proposed commercial and residential development along the riverbank, including a Home Depot and an eighty-three unit housing project, pose a serious threat. The resulting pollutants and siltation, as well as increased water temperatures would likely devastate the fishery.

"Limestone streams are unique, fragile, and extremely complex ecosystems," said Molzahn. "Excessive commercial development is a time-bomb that will most certainly cause irrevocable damage unless properly managed. Who in their right mind would sacrifice one of the finest and most fabled trout steam on the entire East Coast for one more ill-considered development?"

The San Bernardino Mountain's secret treasure is Deep Creek. Considered one of the two best trout streams in southern California, it holds an estimated trout population of over 3,000 fish per mile. It is also a popular area for other outdoor recreation, with 20 million people living within 100 miles.

But growing ski resort demands, proposed development and a lack of any detailed management plans pose serious repercussions for the ecological balance of the entire region. Contributing to the problem, 8 years ago the US Forest Service gave the Snow Valley Ski Resort permission to withdraw 172-acre feet per year from this fragile watershed. The Service is now considering allowing the Snow Valley Ski Resort to more than double its yearly intake in this arid mountain environment with no known requirement for an impact study or public hearing.

"If this is allowed to continue without a cooperative effort from all concerned parties another quality fishery will meet its demise," said Molzahn. "Ultimately, the well-being of the whole forest is dependent on the health of its streams. This one's destined for ruin."

Sea-runs are widespread along the Pacific coast of North America. They are spawned in the rivers and streams flowing into the many estuaries, bays and coves from California to British Columbia. But burgeoning development along seashores and rivers are loading these water systems with pollutants, destroying critical spawning areas. The stocks in the Columbia River in Washington in particular face severe threats due to industrialization, hydro-electric dams, and a rapidly expanding human population along the river and its tributaries.

"Fisheries give us an ecological snapshot of the entire watershed," said Molzahn. "Like a coal miner's caged canary, they represent health or hazard. We destroy them at our own peril."

The Federation of Fly Fishers is the voice of the millions of people who fly fish throughout the world. The Federation is dedicated to supporting fisheries research and restoration, improved water quality and flows, the perpetuation of wild fishery stocks, Catch-and-Release angling regulations where appropriate, and the establishment of a more adequate voice for angling interests. These four fisheries were determined by the FFF Conservation Committee to face immediate danger, in the second of these annual announcements.

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