High Mountain Lakes Sustainable Fishery and Sensitive Resource Management Project
Summary
SCH Number
2023080132
Public Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Northern and Eureka Region 1
(CDFW)
Document Title
High Mountain Lakes Sustainable Fishery and Sensitive Resource Management Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
8/4/2023
Document Description
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is seeking to begin non-native fish (e.g. Brook Trout, Salvelinus fontinalis) removal from select high mountain lakes and ponds in the Klamath Mountain range (Trinity Alps Wilderness, Russian Wilderness, Marble Mountain Wilderness, Scott-Eddy Mountains) in order to improve the availability of drought resilient habitats for aquatic breeding amphibians such as Cascades Frog (a CESA and federal ESA candidate) and Long-toed Salamander, a California Species of Special Concern. Using numerous data sets, fish stocking records, and remote sensing, CDFW has used a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) to determine importance of trout population viability, sensitive amphibian habitats, and angler use potential to rank candidate restoration lakes. Fish removal efforts are targeted towards waterbodies with high amphibian/restoration potential and low fisheries/angling value. Fish removal techniques will include gill nets and electrofishing.
Contact Information
Name
Adam McKannay
Agency Name
Department of Fish and Wildlife
Job Title
Inland Fisheries and Wild Trout Supervisor
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Location
Counties
Siskiyou, Trinity
Regions
Northern California
Other Location Info
Selected project waterbodies are located within the boundaries of the Trinity Alps Wilderness, Russian Wilderness, Marble Mountain Wilderness and the Scott-Eddy Mountains. Within the Marble Mountains waterbodies may include: Long High Lake, Shadow Lake, Buzzard Lake, and Fisher Lake. Within the Russian Wilderness and Northern Trinity Alps waterbodies may include: Waterdog Lake, Lower Russian Lake, Upper Ruffy Lake, Lipstick Lake, Duck Lake, Eaton Lakes, Fish Lake, Twin Lakes, Virginia Lake, Middle and Boulder Pond. Within the Scott-Eddy Shasta-Trinity Mountains waterbodies may include: Upper Deadfall Lake, Rock Fence Lake, Timber Lake, Scott Lake, Bull Lake, and Parks Creek Lake Within the Trinity Alps waterbodies may include: Salmon Lake, Forbidden Lakes, and Upper Stoddard Lake.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 7; California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15307
Reasons for Exemption
Class 7 consists of actions taken by regulatory agencies as authorized by state law or local ordinance to assure the maintenance, restoration, or enhancement of a natural resource where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment. Examples include but are not limited to wildlife preservation activities of CDFW. This project includes the physical removal of non-native fish for the purpose of restoration of aquatic habitat to enhance long-term survivability of CESA/federal ESA-petitioned species/species of special concern.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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