A new Utah law that would allow sporting and environmental groups to purchase instream flows from irrigators in order to protect fish habitat has again seen the light of day.  The Instream Flow to Protect Trout Habitat bill passed in the state Senate last year but failed in the House.  New provisions which address concerns about hydropower generation and Endangered Species Act restrictions have garnered more support for the bill, and it’s expected to pass this year.  The bill is modeled after a successful existing program in Montana. 

With the passing of this law, fishing organizations could purchase water rights from irrigators, meaning that water would be left in the stream instead of being used to water crops, providing more and better habitat for trout during critical low-flow periods.  The bill is being praised by a wide audience and has the support of many conservationists, recreationists and farmers. 

Read the Salt Lake Tribune article here

If you’re an Arizona fisherman you may be in for some of the best fishing the state has seen in decades.  According to a local paper, hydrologists are predicting water levels to be off the charts this year due to the large snowpack.  And more water means better fishing in this dry state.

“This looks like an historic year in our fisheries, in large part because of the tremendous runoff in 2005 and resulting spawns, but also because of the widespread deep snowpack in the high country we haven’t experienced since at least 1993,” said Fisheries Chief Kirk Young. “The Arizona fishing outlook is the best we’ve seen in 25 years or so.”

Spawning fish from the 2005 year class, revitalized vegetation growth and newly flooded reservoir edges are all expected to make 2008 a banner year for fishing in Arizona.  Remember, it’s never too early to gear up for the upcoming season.  It looks like Arizona fishermen and other fishermen in areas throughout the arid West have a lot to look forward to this year!

Read more here

Fishermen, outfitters and biologists all expressed serious concerns about water drawdown in Lake Cumberland to repair Wolf Creek Dam last year, but surprisingly, their worst fears didn’t come to be.  Instead, the popular tailwater fishery for trout in the Cumberland River below the dam is fishing better now than anyone ever expected. 

Somehow the trout made it through extremely high water temperatures this summer, and are now providing an excellent winter fishery despite the low water.  In a recent news article, Gary Garth describes the great fishing in the Cumberland and why it has left experts surprised. 

Read the story here

Volunteers are rescuing fish from California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta after a federal agency lowered water to repair a levee.  The lower water has resulted in the death of thousands of fish, and fishermen are reported to have caught over 1,300 striped bass and released them into deeper water. 

Read more here

Michigan’s famed trout stream, the Au Sable River, is the topic of recent controversy over a proposed state Senate bill that could allow water users to withdraw large amounts of water for irrigation and other uses.

Angling and environmental groups are concerned about the potential ramifications of the bill, which they say could reduce the flows of the Au Sable and surrounding trout streams by over 20%, which might be expected to have a negative effect on trout populations.

Patty Birkholz, R-Saugatuck, states that such numbers are grossly overestimated, and the effects would be far less.

So who’s right?  Hard to know, but I’d think someone would have thought this one out and come up with some reliable estimates, considering the immense value of the Au Sable trout fishery.  While I don’t know much about the issue, I think a bill that included the recommendation of fishery managers when considering water withdrawal might be a wiser choice.

Read the story here

The state of Colorado will soon add water temperature standards to pre-existing standards of toxic pollutants.  Water temperature is very important for fish survival, and triggers the timing of fish spawning and other activities.  The state hopes that restrictions to activities that affect water temperature, including diverting water and reducing stream shading, will ultimately protect native trout species.

See the story here

Following a federal court decision intended at limiting water use to protect California’s delta smelt, four water districts are filing suit against power plants that pump water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to cool turbines.

The groups cite data indicating that tens of thousands of fish are killed by being sucked up by the pumps, and that outflow from the plants is returned to the delta at a warmer water temperature, degrading delta smelt habitat.  

In addition to suing the power plant company, the groups are planning to file suit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for authorizing the activities.  

Water from the delta is not only important for power generation, but also for the area’s agricultural landscape and residential water use.  One solution to prevent losing delta smelt through the pumps includes installing very expensive fish screens to prevent entrainment.

Read more here