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<P><FONT face="Courier New">Governor’s Budget Cuts Threaten California Fish and Wildlife <BR><BR>by Dan Bacher <BR><BR>On July 1, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proudly proclaimed July to be “California Wild King Salmon” month. <BR><BR>“During July, we celebrate California Wild King Salmon Month to raise awareness about this locally caught fish,” said the Governor. “It is also a time to consider the valuable role of the salmon industry in fortifying the health and economic prosperity of California.” <BR><BR>Yet ironically, just 10 days later, the Governor slashed the budget for salmon and steelhead conservation and restoration grants by half - $ 4 million out of $8 million, according to Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez. <BR><BR>The impact of the cut is much worse than just the state money lost because the funds would have matched anticipated federal funding. About $13 million in federal
funds have been provided annually over the last several years for this program. <BR><BR>In order to leverage federal funds, the State is required to provide at least a 25 percent match. Failure to provide matching funds would result in a loss of federal funds for fisheries restoration grants. The cuts will dramatically hurt education projects, on-the-ground restoration work, and field surveys conducted by the department. <BR><BR>The $4 million cut in salmon and steelhead restoration funds was just part of the $14,000,000 from the DFG budget that Schwarzenegger cut through a line item veto on July 11, according to Zeke Grader, executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, in a press conference of outdoor enthusiasts convened by Nunez at Discovery Park in Sacramento. <BR><BR>“The Governor’s ocean plan and plans for the Klamath River are encouraging,” said
Grader. “However, in declaring July salmon month and then cutting the DFG budget, the Governor is talking the talk but not walking the walk!” <BR><BR>As anglers trolled for salmon at the junction of the Sacramento and American Rivers on July 25, recreational anglers, commercial fishermen, hunters and environmentalists gathered to disclose the hardships that the Governor’s budget cuts would cause to Fish and Game programs in California. They asked him to reconsider the cuts to DFG in the 2005-06 California State Budget in light of the tremendous environmental harm that they would cause. <BR><BR>Besides threatening salmon and steelhead restoration, the Governor axed $3 million for new fish and game wardens. This will cut fish and game wardens to per-1960 levels, putting the state’s fish and wildlife in jeopardy. <BR><BR>“My dad was a game warden,” said Bob Orange of the California Game
Wardens Association. “California had more game wardens in 1953 than it does now. <BR><BR>The budget cuts also included a $1 million cut from the Department’s native trout program. This will keep the program at 1980 levels, endangering the state’s native and heritage trout legacies, including the golden trout, California’s state fish. <BR><BR>In addition, the Governor cut $3 million from the already beleaguered state fish hatchery system. <BR><BR>“The DFG has been cut to the bone after many years of neglect,” said Brad Willis, the representative of SEIU Local 100 and Friends of California Hatcheries, “The Department is now talking of closing hatcheries and making cuts to programs that cannot afford to be cut. These cuts will devastate many small businesses in the rural parts of our state, who rely on fishing tourism for their economic base.” <BR><BR>Jim Martin, West Coast Regional
Director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance, emphasized that recreational anglers provide over $50 million in license fees and contribute $5 billion to the state’s economy each year. <BR><BR>“Without fishermen, California loses most of its funding for habitat and biodiversity,” said Martin. “The Governor is playing with fire when he cuts support for hatcheries and wardens while he funds gimmicks like no-fishing zones in the ocean.” <BR><BR>Bob Strickland, president of United Anglers of California, pointed out that budget cuts don’t affect just hunters and fishermen – they impact the natural resources of everybody who lives in California. <BR><BR>“There is only 1 warden for every half million acres in California– this is ridiculous,” said Strickland. “If we don’t do anything about stopping poaching and habitat destruction, nothing will be left for our children and grandchildren. We need
to tell the Governor that he needs to protect our national resources by not cutting the DFG budget!” <BR><BR>The cuts couldn’t come at a worse time – when a team of state and federal scientists is documenting the collapse of the Delta food chain. Meanwhile, the state and federal governments are pushing for a massive increase in water exports from the Delta to the west side of the San Joaquin Valley and southern California. <BR><BR>“Over the past several decades, we have been witness to massive declines of salmon, steelhead, striped bass and many other species,” stated Jim Crenshaw, president of the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance. “Given the cuts made by the Governor, I can’t imagine how the DFG can turn this around, much less restore our endangered species and the collapsing Delta ecosystem. <BR><BR>Other groups opposing the Governor’s budget cuts include the California
Striped Bass Association, Trout Unlimited, Federation of Fly Fishers, Defenders of Wildlife, California Mule-Deer Association and California Quail Hunters Association </FONT><BR><BR><BR><BR> </P></DIV></div></html>