STEP Rescued!
Thursday, 14 July 2011 15:09 | Author: Mathers Rowley | 
Your help has rescued the power of STEP!
The MBSTP received an impressive outpouring of support for the use of native steelhead eggs in the STEP classroom aquarium incubation and fry release educational experience!
CDFG has, after some resistance followed by focused deliberation by our Regional Director, reversed the policy against the use of native steelhead eggs in the STEP.
The policy reversal appeared to be the result of the following key factors:
- The substitution of hatchery trout for native steelhead as proposed by CDFG was rejected by the teachers as an unworkable change.
- The policy against use of steelhead would have ended the STEP Program.
- An impressive array of scientists with local knowledge of the San Lorenzo River offered their opinions that the use of some of the eggs from one female (equivalent) will pose no threat to the San Lorenzo steelhead population. Estimates of the population indicate a spawning run size of many hundreds (if not more than a thousand) fish.
- The San Lorenzo steelhead population is fairly stable. An increase to that population size is limited primarily by low summer flows limiting the availability of good rearing habitat.
- The highly motivated and inspired watershed stewards created by STEP are an essential component in the recovery of the San Lorenzo steelhead.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HELP!!!!!!!!
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If you are a teacher wanting your class to participate in the Salmon and Trout Education Program, please contact us ASAP:
E-mail to the following recipiens:
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Or send paper letter to:
STEP
PO Box 417
Davenport, CA 95017
Last Updated (Wednesday, 09 November 2011 10:12)
