This (and the "suspicious activity" report) is a huge step forward. I saw survey boxes on the Upper Sac in Dunsmuir, and wondered how they got there. Now Putah will have the benefit of the same information gathering. We are fortunate to have this spot so close to the Bay Area--let's take good care of it!

What is a "Wild Trout Fishery"?

(taken from DF&G web site at http://www.fgc.ca.gov/html/p2fish.html#COMMISSION

COMMISSION DESIGNATED WILD TROUT WATERS

It is the policy of the Fish and Game Commission to:

I. Designate certain state waters to be managed exclusively for wild trout. Commission designated wild trout waters should provide a quality experience by providing the angler with an opportunity to fish in aesthetically pleasing and environmentally productive waters with trout populations whose numbers or sizes are largely unaffected by the angling process.

Waters designated by the Commission for wild trout management shall meet the following criteria:

A. Angler Access:

1. Open for public angling with unrestricted access when of sufficient dimensions to accommodate anglers without over crowding.

or

2. Open for public angling with controlled access under a plan approved by the Commission setting forth the number of anglers and the method of distribution.

B. Able to support, with appropriate angling regulations, wild trout populations of sufficient magnitude to provide satisfactory trout catches in terms of number or size of fish.

II Wild trout waters shall be managed in accordance with the following stipulations:

A. Domestic strains of catchable-sized trout shall not be planted in designated wild trout waters.

B. Hatchery-produced trout of suitable wild and semi-wild strains may be planted in designated waters, but only if necessary to supplement natural trout reproduction.

C. Habitat protection is of utmost importance for maintenance of wild trout populations. All necessary actions, consistent with State law, shall be taken to prevent adverse impact by land or water development projects affecting designated wild trout waters.

III. The Department shall prepare and periodically update a management plan for each water designated as a wild trout water.

IV. Certain designated wild trout waters may be further designated by the Commission as "Heritage Trout Waters", to recognize the beauty, diversity, historical significance, and special values of California's native trout. Heritage Trout Waters shall meet the following additional criteria:

A. Only waters supporting populations that best exemplify indigenous strains of native trout within their historic drainages may qualify for designation.

B. Heritage Trout Waters shall be able to provide anglers with the opportunity to catch native trout consistent with the conservation of the native trout present.

V. Recognize the importance of native trout to California's natural heritage, the Department shall emphasize education and outreach efforts to inform the public about our native trout, their habitats, and the activities for restoration of native trout when implementing the Heritage Trout Program.

A. Implement a Heritage Trout Angler Recognition Certificate through which anglers will have the opportunity to have their catches of California native trout recognized by the Commission. The criteria for receiving the formal recognition shall be maintained by the Department's Heritage and Wild Trout Program. To receive a certificate of recognition, anglers shall submit an application with supporting materials to the Department for review.

The following waters are designated by the Commission as "wild trout waters":

1. American River, North Fork, from Palisade Creek downstream to Iowa Hill Bridge (Placer County).

2. Carson River, East Fork, upstream from confluence with Wolf Creek excluding tributaries (Alpine County).

3. Clavey River, upstream from confluence with Tuolumne River excluding tributaries (Tuolumne County).

4. Fall River, from Pit No. 1 powerhouse intake upstream to origin at Thousand Springs including Spring Creek, but excluding all other tributaries (Shasta County).

5. Feather River, Middle Fork, from Oroville Reservoir upstream to Sloat vehicle bridge, excluding tributaries (Butte and Plumas counties).

6. Hat Creek, from Lake Britton upstream to Hat No. 2 powerhouse (Shasta County).

7. Hot Creek, from Hot Springs upstream to west property line of Hot Creek Ranch (Mono County).

8. Kings River, from Pine Flat Lake upstream to confluence with South and Middle forks excluding tributaries (Fresno County).

9. Kings River, South Fork, from confluence with Middle Fork upstream to western boundary of Kings Canyon National Park excluding tributaries (Fresno County).

10. Merced River, South Fork, from confluence with mainstem Merced River upstream to western boundary of Yosemite National Park excluding tributaries (Mariposa County).

11. Nelson Creek, upstream from confluence with Middle Fork Feather River excluding tributaries (Plumas County).

12. Owens River, from Five Bridges crossing upstream to Pleasant Valley Dam excluding tributaries (Inyo County).

13. Rubicon River, from confluence with Middle Fork American River upstream to Hell Hole Dam excluding tributaries (Placer County).

14. Yellow Creek, from Big Springs downstream to confluence with the North Fork of the Feather River (Plumas County).

15. Cottonwood Creek, upstream from confluence with Little Cottonwood Creek, including tributaries (Inyo County).

16. Klamath River, from Copco Lake to the Oregon border (Siskiyou County).

17. Martis Creek Reservoir (Placer and Nevada counties).

18. McCloud River, from Lake McCloud Dam downstream to the southern boundary of Section 36, T38N, R3W, M.D.B. & M. (Shasta County).

19. Deep Creek, from confluence with Green Valley Creek downstream to confluence with Willow Creek (San Bernardino County).

20. Middle Fork Stanislaus River, from Beardsley Afterbay Dam to Sand Bar Diversion Dam (Tuolumne County).

21. Truckee River, from confluence with Trout Creek downstream (excluding the property owned by the San Francisco Fly Casters Club) to confluence with Gray Creek (Nevada County).

22. Sespe Creek, a 25-mile section between the Lion Campground and the boundary of the U.S. Forest Service, Los Padres National Forest (Ventura County).

23. Merced River, from Yosemite National Park boundary downstream to Foresta Bridge (Mariposa County).

24. East Fork Carson River, from Hangman's Bridge near Markleeville downstream to the Nevada state line (Alpine County).

25. Bear Creek, Bear Valley Dam (impounding Big Bear Lake) downstream to the confluence with the Santa Ana River (San Bernardino County).

26. Lavezolla Creek (Sierra County).

27. Laurel Lake #1 and Laurel Lake #2 (Mono County).

28. Middle Fork San Joaquin River - Northern boundary of the Devils Postpile National Monument downstream to the Lower Falls (3.6 miles); and footbridge just above the confluence with Shadow Creek downstream to the footbridge just above upper Soda Springs Campground (4 miles).

29. South Fork Kern River watershed from its headwaters downstream to the southern boundary of the South Sierra Wilderness (Tulare County).

30. Golden Trout Creek drainage, including tributaries, from confluence with the Kern River upstream to the headwaters (Tulare County).

31. Eagle Lake, north of Susanville, (Lassen County).

32. Upper Kern River, from the Forks of the Kern, upstream to Tyndall Creek in Sequoia National Park (Tulare County).

33. Heenan Lake, near Markleeville and Monitor Pass, (Alpine County).

34. Upper Truckee River, including tributaries, upstream from the confluence with Showers Creek (El Dorado and Alpine counties).

35. Sacramento River, including tributaries, from Box Canyon Dam downstream to Scarlett Way in Dunsmuir (Siskiyou County) and from the county bridge at Sweetbriar downstream to Lake Shasta (Shasta County).

The following "wild trout waters" are further designated by the Commission as "heritage trout waters".

1. Clavey River, upstream from confluence with Tuolumne River, excluding tributaries (Tuolumne County).

2. Golden Trout Creek drainage, including tributaries, from confluence with the Kern River upstream to the headwaters (Tulare County).

3. Eagle Lake, north of Susanville, (Lassen County).

4. Upper Kern River, from the Forks of the Kern, upstream to Tyndall Creek in Sequoia National Park (Tulare County).

5. Heenan Lake, near Markleeville and Monitor Pass, (Alpine County).

6. Upper Truckee River, including tributaries, upstream from the confluence with Showers Creek (El Dorado and Alpine counties).

(Amended: 06/22/95; 11/06/98; 03/06/97; 04/02/99; 12/08/00; 04/03/03)

On the DFG website you can find info. on all those rivers and streams that are listed above, Just go to the heritage trout section. I've used that info to plan some great trips, I hope to fish them all eventually. It would be great to see putah creek added to the list.

I don't believe Putah Creek will be part of the Heritage Trout waters.  It might become part of the Wild Trout waters, though.  The Heritage Trout waters form a special subset of the Wild Trout waters.  The Heritage Trout waters are those that historically held (and currently hold) California's native trout species.  The Wild Trout waters are those that currently hold wild trout (not necessarily native trout).

Yes I saw that box last weekend. Good job guys !

-- Edited by thecaptain at 19:43, 2008-01-04

I hope that everyone who's out fishing is remembering to fill out the Putah Creek Angler Surveys.  It's very important that we gather this information and forward it to the DFG.

Thanks



http://www.putahcreekflyfishing.com/putahcreeksurvey.html

Has anyone else had any problems with the online survey?? I have tried yesterday and today to put in my form through the site for my last explorations on the creek and keep on getting a "Page not found 404" message. Don't now if it is me or something with the site??

Thanks Keith.