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Wildlife News - Oct. 24, 2008 Wildlife News Oct 24, 2008 Wildlife News – Oct. 24, 2008
Salt River lakes get slot limits for 2 years starting in 2009
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission on Oct. 11 voted to create slot limits at Saguaro, Canyon and Apache lakes just like the one already in place on Roosevelt Lake in an effort to give these popular fisheries another nudge down the comeback trail after being blitzed by golden alga blooms in recent years. In addition, possession of one fish out the protected slot limit will be allowed at Roosevelt and this provision is also part of the new slot regulations at Saguaro, Canyon and Apache. The Game and Fish Commission adopts the fishing regulations for a two-year period. For 2009 through 2010, the whole Salt River chain of lakes (Roosevelt, Apache, Canyon, and Saguaro) will have a 13- to 16-inch protective slot limit, with anglers being allowed to keep one slot-sized bass. These slot limits will automatically sunset after two years (the slot limit and newly added one fish possession provision at Roosevelt Lake does not sunset). “It’s a nice added insurance policy for these lakes as they recover from the alga-caused fish die-offs these fisheries suffered several years ago,” said Fisheries Chief Kirk Young. Young added that anglers have always shown a willingness to play a role in helping fisheries when they can by either catching-and-releasing fish when necessary or by catching-and-keeping fish when called for. Young explained that in December of 2007, the Game and Fish Department launched a four-pronged effort to help the popular Salt River chain lakes (below Roosevelt Lake) on the road to recovery. The ongoing efforts include:
This project has been another example of positive things being born out of a negative event. Several anglers got together and organized the United Arizona Angler Foundation, a group that has successfully raised thousands of dollars to help pay for additional fish stockings. “We hope to both keep this momentum and expand it to other needs at these lakes such as habitat projects and additional research,” Young said. However, he said, right now it appears that natural productivity and reproduction are the primary driving forces behind the recovery being experienced at these picturesque reservoirs along the Salt River on its journey to the Valley of the Sun. “That is okay. In fact, natural recovery is what we hope for. Our biggest management challenge is better understanding the dynamics that swing fisheries in one direction or another, especially when it comes to impacts from organisms like golden alga,” Young said. Young also pointed out that Saguaro Lake has even become an angling hot spot in the last several months. “The bass and shad spawns at this lake have been phenomenal the past two years. Catch rates lately have been terrific for small bass and prolific yellow bass. That bodes well for the future,” Young said. Young cautioned that while conditions have been favorable for two years, biologists still don’t know the environmental dynamics that lead to major fish-killing golden alga blooms. “I am cautiously optimistic, but from all we know, it appears golden alga is here to stay. We are trying to learn more about the dynamics associated with golden alga, but we are still on the low end of the learning curve.”
Commission creates first-ever blue ribbon roundtail chub fishery
“This is really a landmark fishery for a native fish species,” said Young. “Plus the unique history of Fossil Creek itself makes this a classic fishing story for the ages.” When the decommissioning of the Childs Hydroelectric Power Plant and accompanying renovation of Fossil Creek was first proposed, many anglers and angling groups expressed support for the project but asked that the stream not be closed permanently to angling. With the stream recovery progressing well, the Game and Fish Department gained the Game and Fish Commission’s approval to create a catch-and-release artificial fly and lure-only (single barbless hook) fishery with a season opening the first Saturday in October and continuing through April 30 The timing of the fishing season is selected to reduce the chance of conflicts between anglers and other users during the summer months. Lots of Arizona anglers along the Verde River over the years have learned to appreciate the angling qualities of roundtail chub, and have long referred to them as Verde trout. In fact, anglers helped to salvage roundtails from Fossil Creek during the renovation process in 2004. Young added that not everyone has embraced the concept of having a blue ribbon roundtail chub fishery along Fossil Creek. “One concern being voiced is that some stretches of Fossil Creek have been loved a little too much. Some fear that increased usage could increase the amount of litter and other abuses.” Young said. “But in honesty, we expect the exact opposite.” Young explained that the dedicated anglers who will be attracted to this one-of-a-kind fishery are conscientious conservationists and stewards of the land. “These are the type of outdoor enthusiasts who will give this unique travertine stream the watchful loving attention it truly deserves and should help counter some of the abuses currently being experienced there.” Young added that unless we can successfully cultivate public stewardship including a community policing component, long-term conservation of areas like Fossil Creek is likely to be tenuous. “This type of fishery will also engender more public appreciation for all the state’s native fish populations, most of which are imperiled.”
Visit the Arizona Game and Fish Department at the State Fair If you’re heading out to the Arizona State Fair, don’t forget to stop by the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Wildlife Building and see an informative and entertaining array of exhibits. Whether you want to see live snakes and Gila monsters, learn about Arizona’s wildlife, or purchase your 2009 hunting/fishing license or the new 2009 wildlife calendar, there will be a wealth of information for you and your family. The Arizona Game and Fish Department is a wildlife information resource to visitors at the fair, which ends November 2. Live animals and simulated exhibits are on display, and wildlife officers and other department staff are on hand to answer questions and distribute information. The Wildlife Building, located on the north side of the fairgrounds next to the Grandstand Plaza, has exhibits about bats, bears, fish, wildlife conservation, shooting sports, off-highway vehicle and boating safety information, and more. Children of all ages have an opportunity to win a “Raptors of Arizona” poster after completing a ‘wildlife’ interactive quiz, while their parents can pick up the latest hunting and fishing regulations and information about small game hunting, the urban fishing and watchable wildlife programs, Operation Game Thief, and the Ben Avery Shooting Facility. The Arizona Wildlife Viewing Guide, the book that takes you on a magnificent journey through the state’s canyons, cliffs, deserts and plateaus, will be available for sale for $14.95. The guide offers detailed descriptions of 128 unique sites and their wildlife, tips for wildlife watching, driving directions, “must see” locations, and contact information. And just “hot off the press”, you can purchase the department’s 2009 wildlife calendar, which includes stunning wildlife photographs from annual contest winners, for only $3. You can also get information on how to subscribe to Wildlife Views magazine or sign up for free Arizona Game and Fish Department e-newsletters. Don’t forget that you can purchase your 2009 hunting and fishing licenses while you are visiting the fair. Licenses will be available for sale at the Wildlife Building between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. on weekdays except Monday, and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends. In addition, 2008 fishing licenses will be available for purchase at half price beginning November 1 and are valid until the end of the year. The Arizona Game and Fish Department accepts cash, personal checks, and Visa and Mastercard credit cards only. The Wildlife Building at the State Fair is open noon to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday through Nov. 2. The fair is closed on Monday. For more information about the Arizona Game and Fish Department, call (602) 942-3000. For more information about the Arizona State Fair, visit www.azstatefair.com.
New to Arizona? Come learn about wildlife, the outdoors and hunting The Arizona Game and Fish Department is continuing to provide new outlets for beginners interested in finding their way outside and into the field by hosting a number of introductory programs, including a wildlife/outdoor speaker series, how-to hunting clinics, and mentor-assisted hunting camps. Here are some upcoming events: Wildlife Speaker Series:
The wildlife speaker series will be held at the Arizona Game and Fish Department headquarters, Quail Room Auditorium, at 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix (1.5 miles west of the I-17). How-to Hunting Clinics:
The how-to hunting clinics will be held at the Arizona Game and Fish Department headquarters, Quail Room Auditorium, at 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix (1.5 miles west of the I-17). Hands-on Mentored Hunting Camps:
For a list of frequently asked questions about small game camps, visit www.azgfd.gov/h_f/sgc_faq.shtml.
Information needed to solve bighorn sheep poaching near Alpine The Arizona Game and Fish Department is asking for the public’s help in finding a poacher that killed a Rocky Mountain bighorn ram on Oct. 10 in the Three Forks area of Unit 1, west of Alpine, in eastern Arizona. “The poacher killed an eight-year-old ram feeding on a slope above Forest Road 249 and left it to waste,” says Bruce Sitko, public information officer for the Arizona Game and Fish Pinetop office. Sitko says this crime is further compounded by the fact that this ram was part of the Black River bighorn herd, which, although having a stable population, has not been increasing in number for the last several years. “Removing it from the breeding population obviously affects the herd’s potential to produce future offspring, as well as impairing the department’s ability to offer hunt permits for bighorns in the area, which are highly sought after by sportsmen,” notes Sitko. The department received more than 400 applications for the single permit that was authorized in this area last fall. To report information on this incident, or any Game and Fish violation, call the department’s Operation Game Thief hotline at (800) 352-0700. Caller identities may remain confidential upon request. Callers are eligible to receive a reward for information leading to the conviction of the violator in this bighorn poaching case of up to $2,000 from the department, with an additional $1,000 being provided by the Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society. Information may also be reported directly to the Arizona Game and Fish Pinetop office or by calling (928) 367-4281.
Information sought in poaching of bighorn sheep near Havasu The Arizona Game and Fish Department is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of the individual or individuals responsible for the illegal killing of a bighorn sheep ram near Lake Havasu City. Department biologists believe the poaching occurred sometime during the last week of August. The bighorn was found dead in Craggy Wash, a popular camping location just north of Lake Havasu City. The location of the carcass suggests human involvement. “If you were in the area recently, try to remember anything out of the ordinary you may have seen or heard that can help us find the person or persons responsible for this illegal act,” said Curtis Herbert, wildlife manager for the department. “Poachers who commit these acts not only take the life of one of Arizona’s premier wildlife species, they steal from the residents of Arizona.” Information provided by the public in 2006 led to the arrest of three individuals in a bighorn sheep poaching incident outside of Kingman. “The system can work,” Herbert said. “However, someone has to be willing to step forward with information.” To report information on this case or any Game and Fish violation, call the department’s Operation Game Thief hotline at (800) 352-0700 or make a report online at www.azgfd.gov/ogt.shtml. Caller identities will remain confidential upon request and you could be eligible to receive a reward of up to $1,000 upon the arrest of the violator(s). In addition, the Arizona Desert Bighorn Society is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone poaching bighorn sheep in Arizona.
Payson welcomes back the trout to Green Valley Lakes
Mayor Evans, who has fished around the world and held various line-class records for large billfish using a fly rod, tucked the tie into his bright orange-colored shirt and expertly dipped the net into the clear lake water to release the feisty 4-pound rainbow trout into one of the three adjoining lakes for this large municipal park along Main Street in Payson. The Green Valley Lakes operated by the Town of Payson are actually part of the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Urban Fishing Program, so to fish here you will need a special urban fishing license (you can visit www.azgfd.gov/fishing for license information and an interactive map of the location). The Urban Fishing Program is self-supporting and the revenue generated from urban fishing license sales is used to defray the costs of the annual stockings and other program costs. Limits on trout are four per day for licensed anglers and two trout for unlicensed youth under age 14. Game and Fish stocked more than 700 rainbow trout in the readily accessible, kid-friendly 13 acres of urban fishing lakes last week, and will stock this fishery in Payson bi-weekly throughout the winter-spring fishing season. If you visit soon, you will also be treated to the changing colors of the deciduous trees mixed with the tall pines of the Mogollon Rim Country. “Fall is a wonderful time to visit the Rim Country, see the colors, and relax and fish for trout along the grassy shorelines of this popular urban fishery,” said Eric Swanson, who heads up the Urban Fishing Program. Swanson explained that the fish program at Green Valley is different from all other Urban Fishing Program waters. “Rainbow trout are the only species stocked here by the Game and Fish Department during an eight-month season that starts in mid October and continues every other week through early May.” One of the attractions of Green Valley Lake is the fact that it does not ice up like most of the high country trout lakes during winter. “So your urban fishing license is really a passport to some fun trout fishing in the pine-scented air of Payson this winter,” Swanson said. Swanson added that winter trout stockings will commence at other urban program lakes in the Valley of the Sun and the Tucson area during the second week of November. “For those looking to economize yet still enjoy the great outdoors, the urban lakes are made to order, “Swanson said, adding, “Get the family out to experience the excitement of catching a colorful rainbow trout close to home.” Don’t forget, if you don’t already have a 2008 urban fishing license, they go on sale for half price starting Nov. 1.
Quagga mussels found at CAP-SRP connection
SRP employees recently found 11 quagga mussels on concrete blocks placed in the CAP-SRP Interconnect channel that delivers water from the CAP canal into the SRP water-delivery system. The blocks were placed in the concrete-lined channel by SRP as a reliable and quick way to monitor for settlement of microscopic veligers (fertilized eggs). Adult quagga mussels have not been found in the SRP canals, but those canals are being carefully monitored. Water in portions of the SRP canals will be drawn down this fall and winter as a part of routine maintenance, which will give SRP an opportunity to examine the canal and underwater structures to look for evidence of adult mussels. The SRP dry-ups are scheduled for Nov. 21-Dec. 21 for canals south of the Salt River and Jan. 9-Feb. 8 for canals north of the Salt River. “It’s not a surprise, just an indication of the downstream movement that we suspected would happen,” said Larry Riley, a biologist with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, adding that quagga mussels do not pose a known health threat to humans. Quagga mussels were first detected in Lake Mead on the Colorado River in January of 2007, followed almost immediately with detections in Lake Havasu and Lake Mohave. Officials had detected veligers (the juvenile, free-floating stage of the mussel) in the Central Arizona Project Aqueduct during the spring and summer of 2007. An adult mussel was discovered in the aqueduct in late August of 2007, and adult quagga mussels were confirmed at Lake Pleasant in December 2007. “All these quagga discoveries were unwanted but expected,” said Riley, “because CAP water is drawn from Lake Havasu on the Colorado River and stored in Lake Pleasant.” While quagga mussels do not pose a human health risk, they have cost utility operators and lake managers millions of dollars in other parts of the country, particularly in the Great Lakes region. These mussels can settle in massive colonies that block water intakes and affect municipal water supply, agricultural irrigation and power plant operation. Congressional researchers estimated that mussels cost the power industry $3.1 billion in the 1993-1999 period, with their impact on industries, businesses and communities costing more than $5 billion. The primary method of overland dispersal of these mussels is through human-related activities. Given their ability to attach to hard surfaces and survive out of water, many infestations have occurred by adult mussels hitching rides on watercraft. The microscopic larvae also can be transported in bilges, ballast water, live wells, or any other equipment that holds water. “We’re all concerned about the effects that they could have here on our water-delivery systems and on our aquatic wildlife resources. We’re working together to figure out how to control these unwanted invaders and minimize the damage that they may cause or the costs that they will generate,” Riley said. Riley added that all water recreationists, marinas, and commercial watercraft transportation companies have a crucial role to play in reducing opportunities for quagga mussels to hop-scotch to other lakes and waterways. Game and Fish Department officials are asking all boaters and anglers throughout the state to help fight the continuing spread of these and other invaders by routinely taking simple precautionary steps each time they visit a waterway anywhere in the state. Before leaving a lake or other waterway, always:
Day users are encouraged to wait five days before launching a boat someplace else. This five-day waiting period will aid in killing hidden hitchhikers on boats. Also, wash the hull of boats with high-pressure water, either at the lake or after leaving the waterway. Self-help car washes that have high-pressure soapy water can be used to thoroughly wash a boat and keep it looking like new. Or, wash the boat at home with hot soapy water. Ensure the boat dries completely. Bleach solutions or household vinegar can be used to clean bilge spaces, live wells, anchor wells, rope lockers and areas where water does not completely drain from. These invaders will attach themselves to boats and can cause damage to boat motors if they block the flow of cooling water through the engine. For more information, visit www.azgfd.gov/mussels or www.100thmeridian.org.
New OHV laws go into effect Jan. 1 Off-highway vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts should be aware that new regulations affecting OHV use will go into effect Jan. 1, 2009. Some of the new requirements include:
The new regulations were passed thanks in large part to a joint effort between Arizona sportsmen, conservation groups, off-highway vehicle (OHV) user groups, elected officials, and other members of the public. The goal of the new regulations is to provide better OHV management and protection of natural resources while maintaining access. Further information on the new regulations will be posted at www.azgfd.gov/ohv when it becomes available.
Hunters can help monitor for CWD The Arizona Game and Fish Department is asking deer and elk hunters for assistance in monitoring for chronic wasting disease (CWD) this season. CWD is a wildlife disease that is fatal to deer and elk. It has not yet been found in Arizona, but has been detected in three bordering states—Utah, New Mexico and Colorado. Currently, there is no evidence that CWD poses a risk to humans. Hunters can help the monitoring effort by bringing in the head of their recently harvested deer or elk to any Game and Fish Department office between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Place the head in a heavy plastic garbage bag for delivery, and keep it cool and out of the sun. If the weather is warm, it is best to either bring in the head within a day of harvest or keep it on ice in a cooler before delivery. To better assist the surveillance efforts, you’ll be asked to fill out a form with your drop-off. Please include the following information: county, game management unit in which the animal was harvested, hunt and permit number, and a contact address and phone number. If this information is not provided, the department will be unable to test the head. The department is increasing its sampling in certain parts of the state that border Utah and New Mexico. “In particular, we’re looking for assistance from deer and elk hunters in Game Management Unit 12B, which borders Utah, as well as from hunters in Units 1 and 27, which border New Mexico,” says Clint Luedtke, department research specialist on CWD. A check station at Jacob Lake on the Kaibab Plateau will be operational from Oct.31-Nov.9, Nov.14-17 and Nov. 21-30. The department will conduct sampling on the weekends of Oct. 31-Nov. 3, Nov. 8-10, and Nov.14-17. Additional sampling will be available throughout the week. A voluntary check station will be in place in Alpine in Unit 27 from 8 a.m. through 5 p.m. on Nov.7-9. However, Luedtke added, samples from all regions of the state are still needed. Test results to those providing samples will be sent by postcard within six to eight weeks. There is no charge for the testing and notification. Here are some guidelines for hunters when out in the field:
For more information about chronic wasting disease, visit www.azgfd.gov/cwd or www.cwd-info.org.
Meet renowned waterfowl artist at Game and Fish for open house The public is invited to meet Sherrie Russell Meline, the winning artist of the 2006-07 Federal Duck Stamp contest, at an open house on Friday, Nov. 7 from 1-5 p.m. at the Arizona Game and Fish Department headquarters at 5000 W. Carefree Highway in Phoenix. Meline won the prestigious federal contest with her painting of the Ross’ goose. Throughout the years, Russell-Meline’s artwork has graced the faces of over 30 state duck stamps, many of them for Arizona, including the current stamp for the 2008-09 season featuring a majestic pair of swimming canvasbacks. Meline will be signing autographs, displaying samples of her artwork, and will have signed collector prints available for sale. Also on display will be the artistic expressions created by some of Arizona’s dynamic young artists, ages 6-18. Their waterfowl artwork was created for the annual Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program. Margot Bissell, from the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge and state coordinator for the junior program, will be available to talk to educators interested in getting this interactive science/art-based program integrated into their curriculum. Department wildlife biologists will be on hand to teach visitors about Arizona’s waterfowl, geese and cranes, discuss where they can be found in the state, and offer tips for identifying them in the field. They will also discuss how the sale of duck stamps provides funding locally, nationally and internationally, and how those dollars are used to conserve wetland habitats. Stamp collecting is very popular and this is a great opportunity to meet the artist behind the art. The 2008 Arizona Waterfowl Stamp is available for purchase at all Game and Fish offices for $8.75. If you have never purchased a duck stamp but support wildlife, buying a duck stamp is a very easy and effective way to give your support. Every dollar raised from the sale of Arizona’s Waterfowl Stamp is used to improve habitat for waterfowl. Additionally, for those interested in learning about duck hunting in Arizona, there will be a ‘Waterfowl 101 Clinic’ from 7-9 p.m. in the auditorium following the open house. The clinic is free and no registration is required. This informative clinic will include a slide show and a presentation about hunting waterfowl in Arizona.
Mount Graham red squirrel fall 2008 count announced The Arizona Game and Fish Department and the USDA Forest Service announced the results of the Fall 2008 Mount Graham red squirrel survey. Biologists estimate that a range of 263 (plus or minus 11) Mount Graham red squirrels currently occupy the Pinaleno Mountain range, also known as Mount Graham. These results are lower than the fall 2007 estimate of 299 (plus or minus 11) squirrels. The red squirrel survey is conducted by visiting a random number of known middens (areas where red squirrels store or cache their cones). The activity rate is then extrapolated across the total number of known middens to determine the population estimate. While spring surveys provide us with a look at recruitment numbers, activity is often difficult to detect during the spring. This can result in fluctuating (variable) estimates. Because cached cones are easier to detect during a fall survey, fall population estimates may be easier to compare from year to year. Although none of the population estimates statistically indicate a trend in the population, our estimates show two groups of figures with a spike during 1998-2000. It is apparent that Mount Graham red squirrels had a population of around 350 individuals from 1991-1997, and over the last eight years (2001-2008) the number has fallen to somewhere around 250 individuals. A combination of drought, poor cone crops, fires, and insects may have caused reductions to the population.
Archery 3-D fun shoot A 3-D archery fun shoot will be held at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility’s archery range Saturday, Nov. 1 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. This fun shoot is a 20-target course designed to be fun, exciting and challenging. All ages and skill levels are welcome. No registration is required. The cost is $12 for shooters 18 and older and only $5 for those 17 and younger. The Ben Avery Shooting Facility is located on the northwest corner of I-17 and Carefree Highway. Archers can enter the range at Archery Drive, which is the first light on Carefree Highway about 1.25 miles west of I-17. -30- This Wildlife News e-newsletter is issued every other week and contains detailed and comprehensive information on the activities of the Arizona Game and Fish Department. To sign up for this newsletter or other Arizona Game and Fish Department electronic information products, go to www.azgfd.gov/signup. |
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Anglers enjoying the popular Salt River chain of lakes may want to keep a ruler handy starting in January 2009 when Arizona’s new fishing regulations go into effect.
The Game and Fish Commission approved creating the country’s first-ever blue ribbon catch-and-release-only seasonal roundtail chub fishery along Fossil Creek in the Verde Valley starting in October of 2009.
The thrashing rainbow was so large it almost filled the large stocking net as Payson Mayor Kenny Evans released the first trout of the season on Oct. 17 to welcome back the trout to the Green Valley Lakes here.
Invasive quagga mussels have been discovered near the Granite Reef Diversion Dam in the Central Arizona Project (CAP) delivery canal that supplies water to Salt River Project’s (SRP) canal system.
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