PUBLIC FORUM - Any member of the public may
address and/or ask questions of the Commission
relating to the implementation of its policies
or any other matter within the jurisdiction
of the Commission. As a general rule, action
cannot be taken on issues not listed on the
agenda. Staff will normally be requested to
follow up on such items at the discretion
of the Commission.
Hal Cribbs thanked the Commission and
Department for their receptivity in considering
the request that the Commission take emergency
action to close Putah Creek to all fishing
to prevent the spread of the New Zealand mudsnail,
and that the Department formulate a plan to
eradicate the snail. He also recommended that
the Commission request a waiver from Executive
Order 2 for this regulatory action.
Gary Flanagan supported an emergency
closure of Putah Creek for 120 days. He indicated
that until now he has always felt safe in
fishing in different waters throughout the
state without the threat of transferring dangerous,
invasive species.
Ken Davis indicated that he has been
working with invasive species for 20 years
and he summarized his findings of the New
Zealand mudsnail in Putah Creek. He discussed
the actions that are currently being taken
to assess the situation and he explained the
steps that should be taken in the very near
future. He recommended an emergency closure
of 120 days.
Dr. Ed Pert reported that the Department
supported the recommendation to close this
fishery for 120 days because it has the potential
to successfully eradicate this snail.
Commissioner Kellogg praised California
Trout and the Granite Bay Flyfishers for their
aggressive actions to control this invasive
species and he urged the Department to act
quickly.
Commissioner Kellogg moved and Commissioner
Hattoy seconded to consider emergency action
to close fishing in Putah Creek, at the
December 16, 2003, Commission meeting.
Motion passed unanimously.
President Flores requested an update
from the Department at the February Commission
meeting.
Executive Director Treanor explained
that this item will be added to the
December 16, 2003, Commission meeting. He
noted that because it is a regulatory action,
it will be affected by the provisions set
forth in the Governor's Executive Order 2.
Commissioner Hattoy suggested that the
public write letters to the Governor's Office
urging an exemption from the Executive Order.
Brendan Hutchinson discussed the wild
turkey removal project in Annandale State
Park and indicated that he has been taking
pictures in Sonoma County state parks for
over 15 years. He explained that the turkeys
moved into this area naturally about 10 years
ago and in the last 3-4 years the population
has been greatly reduced by predators, thus
removal is unnecessary. He indicated that
he observed the take of several turkeys in
the State Park area by a man using a rifle
and that there was no public warning that
shooting would be taking place.
Brian Tibbetts opposed the turkey removal
projects in state parks. He stated that the
turkeys pose no threats to humans or the native
habitat. He indicated that he hikes in these
parks and enjoys seeing the wild turkeys and
that he thinks these removal projects are
just eradication plans.
Acting Director Mastrup explained that
it is very apparent that State Parks do not
want the wild turkeys. He indicated that he
had spoken with Dr. Barrett who holds the
permit to take up to 12 turkeys a month to
examine food habits and parasites. He noted
that these are legitimate questions for State
Parks to ask.
President Flores asked how a permit could
have been issued without bringing the request
before the Commission.
Acting Director Mastrup responded that
he is not sure how that happened, though it
doesn't change the Department's position.
President Flores stated that he is concerned
about the rifle activity in State Parks and
that he does not think the take of over a
hundred of turkeys is necessary to get the
answers to those questions.
Commissioner Kellogg stated that the
Commission must be informed of these activities,
as it is the governing body. He indicated
that he does not think that this removal project
is necessary.
Commissioner Hattoy stated that it is
unacceptable that the Commission was not informed
of the permit request.
Commissioner Schuchat suggested that
the Commission should to hear directly from
the California Department of Parks and Recreation.
Commissioner Hattoy inquired about the
offer made by the NWTF to relocate all of
the turkeys on state park land at no cost
to the state.
Acting Director Mastrup responded that
the Department is still very interested in
that offer.
President Flores requested that this
matter be agendized for the Commission's February
meeting.
Virginia Handley thanked the Commission
for their quick action regarding Putah Creek
and she apologized to the Commission for her
testimony from the late August meeting. She
provided handouts to the Commission regarding
turtle populations in other states and how
they are dealing with the problem. She encouraged
the Commission to request an update from the
Department on turtle populations in California.
Melvin de la Motte provided handouts
to the Commission on a collaborative fish
study of nearshore rockfish by Cal Poly in
San Luis Obispo County. He requested that
a discussion of this issue be added to the
agenda item for the next Commission meeting.
He summarized the handout and explained their
request for at least five nearshore fishery
regions with respective OYs.
Hugh Thomas supported Mr. de la Motte's
request.
Bob Strickland asked the if there was
an answer to his letter to the Department
regarding the allocation of recreational fishery
money to the commercial fishery. The Department
indicated that it had not had time to respond
to Mr. Strickland's letter.
Paul Weakland indicated that the black
abalone fishery has been closed for ten years
and that he has participated in another public
meeting and would like to have answers to
the public comments from the last three years
and to have Appendix H. He provided a handout
to the Commission from Marine Management News.
