Monterey Bay Salmon & Trout Project

By Allen Smith, Board Vice-Chairman

As we begin the Autumn season we can be pleased with the progress that we have made this year in reconstructing and restoring our fish rearing facilities from the 1998 storm damage. This summer we were able to make substantial progress in completing our water delivery systems and our pool rearing and spawning areas. The following is a summary of the status of our recovery efforts:

1. The Big Creek water intake and delivery system reconstruction has been completed.
2. Permanent repairs were made to the upper Berry Creek water intake system in late September. This water system reconstruction is now completed and is ready for full operation to support our hatchery operations this coming winter.
3. Reconstruction of the hatchery, office, restroom, and storage buildings is continuing, and at present, is about 70% completed.
4. About 75% of the fiberglass pools in the fish rearing and the spawning areas have been restored, with completion of these facilities targeted for the end of 1999.
5. The fish rearing raceways are in operation, but substantial work on the replacement of the shade cloth, anti-bird netting, and the associated support structures will continue well into year 2000.
6. Reconstruction and repair of our fish transport trailer is expected to be completed by end of January of 2000, to support our spring fish transporting and planting activities.

We continue to be deeply grateful to the following organizations and groups for their financial support of the restoration of our fish rearing facilities:

•  David & Lucile Packard Foundation
• National Fish & Wildlife Foundation
• The Fish & Game Commissions of Monterey County, Santa Clara County, and Santa Cruz County
• The many individuals, businesses, schools, and community organizations that have provided support as well.

Early this past summer the MBS&TP Board decided to establish a permanent memorial at our hatchery to honor our dear friend and colleague Dick Wehner, who passed away in March 1999. The purpose of the memorial is to show our perpetual gratitude for the outstanding service and dedication that he gave to our Project. A beautiful bench will be located near the fiberglass pools, overlooking the resting hole in Big Creek where Dick loved to watch for steelhead and salmon on the move. Our special thanks to our colleagues Jack Harrell, Morrow Whitcomb, and Don Hoga for their efforts in preparing this memorial. We invite you to stop by and see it sometime.

In cooperation with the Department of Fish & Game, we are in the process of revising our Five-Year Plan for steelhead, coho salmon, and chinook salmon. This revision effort is necessary to insure that the Plan will be consistent with the DFG's Southern Coho Salmon Restoration Plan and the Steelhead Restoration & Management Plan. A problem with our current Five-Year Plans is that they have different end-dates for each species. The revision will address this problem and bring the plan timelines for all three species into alignment.

Our reconstruction activities have progressed extremely well this year, however we continue to struggle with the annual dilemma of raising enough operating funds to sustain our fish rearing and fish culture activities. Many people don't realize that we can't continue our very successful Salmon & Trout Education Program (STEP) in the schools, if we don't have sufficient funds to raise the fish to provide for the STEP in-class activities. In order for us to continue spawning, rearing, and planting salmon and steelhead in our local streams, we urgently need your financial support and your volunteer help. Thank you for your past and future support, and please tell family, friends, and colleagues about us.

This year we are planning to have our fin-clipping party on Saturday, December 4, 1999. See the Volunteers' Activities Corner article in this Newsletter for more details. I hope to see you at our annual Albacore Feed fund-raiser on November 13.

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