Monterey Bay Salmon & Trout Project

By Allen Smith, Board Vice-Chairman

I begin this article with a heavy heart over the sad news of the recent loss of our dear > friend and colleague Richard (Dick) Wehner. On March 29, Dick passed on after dealing with a long illness. He was the MBS&TP Treasurer and a member of our Board of Directors for many many years, and he performed the duties of Treasurer right up until the time he left us. Larry Wolf, one of our Board members has taken over the office of MBS&TP Treasurer. For the past 5 years Larry has served outstandingly as our Salmon Derby Chairman. We thank Dick's family for all of the devoted time that he spent, and for his terrific efforts, in making the Project what it is today. We will miss you immeasurably Dick, and we wish you happy fishing in the ultimate fishery!

The year of 1998 was one of our most challenging times for the survival of our 23 year old Project. In spite of the difficult challenges, progress from last fall to-date on the restoration of our El Nino storm damaged facilities has been phenomenal. The following is a brief summary of the present status of our recovery efforts:

1. The majority of our water supply systems have been restored to full service, and with some redesign of the original system, the operation is now better than ever.
2. Temporary repairs were made to our Berry Creek upper water intake system to get us through this hatching season with the best water quality available to us. We hope to make more permanent repairs in summer and fall of 1999.
3. Reconstruction of the hatchery, office, feed, and storage buildings is nearing completion.
4. Emergency AC power generation system is completed and operational. This system has run flawlessly for significantly more than a total of 100 hours this past winter. If this system had not been available this winter we may well have had another fish mortality disaster like that of early 1998!

About 65% of the fish pool rearing and spawning areas have been restored. This has allowed us to fully proceed with our 1999 spawning activities. Substantial reconstruction of this area will continue through 1999. The fish rearing raceways are fully operational now. Replacement of damaged sun cloth and anti-bird netting around the raceways is yet to be accomplished.
Major structural damage to the fish transport trailer has been fully repaired at the factory. We hope to complete all electrical, plumbing, and mechanical repairs in 1999 so our trailer will be fully operational for year 2000 fish transport needs.
Several other reconstruction and repair tasks need to be initiated and completed in 1999 and 2000.

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, & Santa Cruz County
• The many individuals, business, schools, and community organizations who haveprovided support as well.

Without such outstanding support, restoration of our facilities would be impossible.

Although the reconstruction of our fish rearing facilities has progressed extremely well, we continue to struggle with the annual dilemma of raising enough operating funds to sustain our fish rearing and fish culture activities. In order for us to continue spawning, rearing, and planting salmon and steelhead in our local streams, your support in financial contributions and volunteer help is urgently needed. Thank you for your past and future support, and please tell family, friends, and colleagues about us. I hope to see you at one of our weigh-in stations during our 5th annual Salmon Derby on July 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.

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5TH ANNUAL MAMMOTH MONTEREY BAY SALMON DERBY

By Larry Wolf

The Monterey Bay Salmon & Trout Project again proudly announces their 5th Annual Mammoth All Monterey Bay Salmon Derby to be held July 2nd, 3rd, & 4th. With 6 weigh-in stations, all the Monterey Bay will be open to fishing.

We are again maintaining the same prize categories as last year's format. This year's first place fish by weight will win $1,000. The second place fish by weight will win $500 and the third place fish by weight will win $250. In addition, we will award a daily weight prize worth $50 in cash & prizes. There will be 27 other prizes based on weight. An additional 30 prizes not based on weight, will be awarded to any fish entered into the derby. Last, an additional 10 prizes will be awarded to entrants who did not catch a fish but entered their derby stub at a weight station. We gave away some very nice prizes to those individuals, so it pays to turn in your derby tickets stubs even if you don't catch a fish.

Once again we are giving away a boat and motor donated by West Marine as this year's grand prize raffle. We will be giving away some very nice round of golf at some of our finest local golf courses as well as gift certificates to many fine restaurants.

Derby tickets are priced at $15 per day and $25 for all three days. Each derby ticket includes a free raffle ticket. Additional raffle tickets may be purchased at $5 each. This year's hats and shirts will be on priced at $15 per shirt or hat or $25 for the pair. All proceeds go directly to the hatchery.

Last, we recognize the need to conserve our natural resources. Please keep all legal fish caught. A large portion of fish released do not survive the ordeal.

Tickets will go on sale June 10, 1999 at all Longs Drug Stores in the Monterey Bay area. In addition, tickets may be purchased at West Marine, Ernie's Casting Pond, Outdoor World, Bayside Tackle, Shamrock Charters, Tom's Sportfishing, Chris', Sam's, & Randy's Sport fishing in Monterey and Yagi's Tackle Shop in Watsonville. In San Jose, contact Mel Cotton's. Tickets may also be purchased at all Launch Points or by contacting Larry Wolf, 243 Ranchitos Del Sol, Aptos, CA 95003. We hope to see you there.

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KING SALMON ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM--1999

BY BOB MONTGOMERY, DIRECTOR

As this article is being written, MBS&TP volunteers are within four days of releasing 60,000 king salmon into the Monterey Bay at the Monterey Harbor. An earlier batch of 120,000 beautiful little salmon have already been released, with practically no loss of fish in the process.

This sounds a lot easier than it actually is. There is a great deal of planning and preparation before the actual release of the fish can occur. First comes the cooperation of the California Department Of Fish & Game under Jerry Ayers. Mr. Ayers oversees the DFG Cooperative Fish Rearing Program and is their chief coordinator. He was on hand for both deliveries of fish to insure that we received healthy, viable fish. Also in use for the first time, was the new DFG delivery truck. All 60,000 salmon were delivered on the same truck in just one delivery. This is a very safe and effective method of transporting the young fish.

Before any of our fish arrive, the City of Monterey, Harbormaster Steve Scheiblauer and his assistant, Paul Dangreau, and the employees of the harbor division, must prepare the dock space and additional help to assemble the floating pens. Their donation of dock space and work crews is much appreciated.

I want to give special recognition to Howard Thielbar, our manager, and Gary Anderson. Both of these volunteers are responsible for repairing and assembling the pens, and for the overall operation of the Monterey Enhancement Project. I cannot list all of the other volunteers because there are so many of them. This is one of the rewarding aspects of the project. These people come from everywhere, sport and commercial fishermen, interested bystanders, folks from the Monterey Bay Veterans, to name a few. I am sure that I have forgotten some of you but rest assured, your work was appreciated by all of us at MBS&TP.

Each year is a learning process. Hopefully, we can expand the enhancement program to the Santa Cruz Harbors and Moss Landing Harbor. This will enable us to do a much better job in providing more king salmon to the Monterey Bay. Everybody wins!!

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