CFFU and Conservation

Mission Statement: To promote and support the CFFU goals of conservation, preservation and enhancement of California’s fisheries, aquatic resources and the watersheds that sustain them.

CFFU  Conservation Projects

Putah Creek Side Channels Enhancement
In 2016, the CFFU Conservation Committee authorized $2000 for the habitat enhancement of three side channels in Putah Creek. Above Lake Solano, Putah Creek is a wild rainbow trout fishery that relies on the natural reproductive capability of these native fish. Using an excavator, these channels were widened to allow more water from the main creek to flow into these protected areas, where the adults can spawn and the young fry will have a safer habitat.
Little Kern Golden Trout
In 2017, the CFFU Conservation Committee authorized $5750 to support the continuing work of the Heritage and Wild Trout section of the Department of Fish and Wildlife to protect the genetic integrity of the Little Kern River Golden Trout. The funding will be used to pay for pack animals and packer staff that are needed to transport the technical equipment and other gear into the remote study area, approximately 16 miles from the trail head. The summer of 2017 will be the final year for collecting field data. The study was initiated in 2012 to determine the current genetic “purity” of this species after many years of hybridization with planted rainbow trout. The primary goals have been to determine the distribution, abundance, size and genetic composition of the trout in all the lakes and tributaries in the Little Kern River drainage. These data will assist the regulatory agencies in developing a Genetic Management and Recovery Plan to insure the survival and genetic conservation of the Little Kern River Golden Trout.
Auburn Ravine Salmon Monitoring Project
In 2016, the CFFU Conservation Committee authorized $5000 to Friends of Auburn Ravine for video monitoring and support equipment to quantitatively document the movement of winter-run salmon, and possibly steelhead, in Auburn Ravine. The study site is located at the gauging station in the City of Lincoln. Monitoring began in October 2016 and continued until April 15, 2017. Preliminary results indicated that approximately 300 salmon, 25 to 33 inches, moved through this area to spawn upstream. This project is significant because it provides data to county resource management groups and state regulatory agencies for future upstream spawning habitat improvements.
Telemetry Study on the Little Truckee River
In 2016, CFFU provided fish telemetry equipment to the Truckee River Chapter of Trout Unlimited. The study was designed to monitor the movement of 25 native trout, implanted with electronic “tags”, in the Little Truckee River between Stampede and Boca Reservoirs. Preliminary data analysis indicated that the majority of the fish moved into the section of the river that had previous undergone a significant habitat enhancement from Trout Unlimited.

Conservation Quick Links

Conservation Director
Dave Lentz

Our Affiliations

As a leader in conservation and fly fishing, CFFU is a founding member of the Federation of Fly Fishers and the Northern California Council of the Federation. CFFU also supports,  Cal Trout, Save the American River Association (SARA) and Trout Unlimited