Thursday, April 14, 2011
Independence Lake
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is welcoming public ideas and feedback about the recreation and access management plan currently underway for Independence Lake. The primary goals of protecting the Lahontan cutthroat (LCT) habitat and keeping aquatic invasive species (AIS) out of the ecosystem will guide this management plan. An online survey has been set up to collect input on specific strategies related to management issues. To ensure each person may only fill out the survey once, sign-in is required. The link is:https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ILP2011 The Nature Conservancy acquired property around Independence Lake in Spring 2010. Independence Lake is located in Northern California in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It is 2.5 miles long, 0.5 miles wide with 5.8 miles of shoreline. It is at almost 7,000 feet of elevation. Independence Lake is home to one of only two wild, self-sustaining Lake populations of LCT in the world. In addition, Independence Lake hosts populations of six other native fishes. Independence Lake also plays an important role in providing clean drinking water to western Nevada.*************Lisa WallaceExecutive DirectorTruckee River Watershed CouncilP.O. Box 8568Truckee, CA 96162(530) 550-8760 (Phone)(530) 725-4407 (fax)http://www.truckeeriverwc.org/lwallace@truckeeriverwc.org On Monday evening I attended a TU "focus group" meeting in Truckee about the Nature Conservancy's planning for recreational usage at Independence Lake north of Truckee. Although I haven't visited/fly fished it in years it is unique in that it currently has resident, original DNA strain (...in miniscule %) of the Lahontan Cutthroat. The main reason why the TNC purchased the land surrounding the lake is to preserve this remant population of the LCT. There are various interest groups involved; some primarily focused on sustaining the existing LCT population, others access to and angling rights at the Lake. I fall into the primary focus of the first group; preserve the LCT that are present, everything else is secondary. I'm a suspicious-type and I'm of the opinion that there are "foxes guarding the hen house" during these discussions.
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The preservation of this beautiful fish is first and foremost. I love to fish as much as anybody out there, but if the chances of such a rare species surviving are lessened at all for some reason, then it is just not worth it. Hopefully it will be sustained and flourish. Maybe they will be able to stock them in surrounding streams sooner or later, and therefore making the fish more accessible for the avid fisherman. Long Live the LCT!!
ReplyDeleteTM---Agreed. The current reality, to the best of my knowledge, is that the US Fish & Wildlife attempted to re-introduce the lake-strain...in California...at Martis Lake in 1979; it failed. Starting approxiamately in 1995...again in California...the stream-strain, into the Truckee river, with no re-productive success yet.
ReplyDeleteI believe there is a marginal, self-sustaining, stream-bred population in @#$%^&*(! Creek near Truckee.
If anyone can further educate us here...please chip in.
Frank
It's the publics right to access independence lake and navigate the water with a motorboat.Did you know the FEDS are using special nets to trap all species of fish which sometimes kills the one they want to protect and did you know that they also shock the upper creek to kill off the brooktrout and during the handling of the fish in the fish weir they clip of fish fins and sedate them for study intern they have kill many fish in the process. I know more about this property and what has been going on than the TNC. People are being lied to for their own hidden agenda.
ReplyDeleteKJ----What is the "hidden agenda"?
ReplyDeleteAre you talking the Public Trust Doctrine?
What about invasive species; no concern?
Do you respect private property (land surrounding the lake; ingress & egress issues)
and the rights of the property owner?
Frank
KJ---In answer to your questions in your April 14, 2011 post. No I was not aware of the "do you know" questions. If as you state this is true, yes it seems incongruous.
ReplyDeleteAs I say in my 4/14 reply, educate us. I'd still like to know whose "hidden agenda" and what the agenda is?
Frank