Draft Ecosystem Restoration Program Conservation Strategy Now Available for Public Comment

Media Contacts:
Chad Dibble, Senior Environmental Scientist, (916) 445-1202
Jordan Traverso, DFG Communications, (916) 654-9937

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has released a draft conservation strategy related to the Sacramento Valley, San Joaquin Valley and Delta. The draft report, entitled “Conservation Strategy for Restoration of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Ecological Management Zone and the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valley Regions,” will be available for public review and comment from July 22 until August 22, 2011.

The document identifies biologically promising ecosystem restoration opportunities in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Ecological Management Zone and the Sacramento Valley and San Joaquin Valley regions, and it provides the rationale for restoration actions specific to each of these regions. It provides the conceptual framework and process that will guide the refinement, evaluation, prioritization, implementation, monitoring and review of Ecosystem Restoration Program (ERP) actions. ERP performance measures can be found in Appendix D.

The draft report is available on the DFG website at www.dfg.ca.gov/erp/reports_docs.asp.

All comments must be received by DFG no later than noon on August 22, 2011. Comments can be emailed to cdibble@dfg.ca.gov. Comments may also be mailed or hand-delivered to:

Chad Dibble
Department of Fish and Game
830 S St.
Sacramento, CA 95811

All comments submitted by the due date will be considered as the report is finalized.

Questions about the report should be directed to Chad Dibble, Senior Environmental Scientist, at (916) 445-1202 or cdibble@dfg.ca.gov.

DFG Opens Chimineas Unit of Carrizo Plain Ecological Reserve for Apprentice Deer Hunters

 

Media Contacts:
Robert Stafford, DFG Associate Wildlife Biologist, (805) 528-8670
Rocky Thompson, DFG Senior Wildlife Biologist, (805) 594-6175
Kyle Orr, DFG Communications, (916) 322-8958

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is offering a draw for an apprentice deer hunt on the Chimineas Unit of the Carrizo Plain Ecological Reserve. The two-day hunt, which is being offered in cooperation with the California Deer Association (CDA), will be held Sept. 17-18 on the 30,000-acre reserve in San Luis Obispo County.

Three apprentice hunters will be chosen by lottery. Selected apprentice hunters must be accompanied by an adult. Participants will receive classroom, range and field training in gun handling techniques and safety, deer hunting and game care. Hunts will be led by CDA volunteers. Overnight lodging is available at the main ranch house on the ecological reserve. CDA will provide breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday, as well as breakfast and lunch on Sunday.

Applicants must submit a postcard with the hunter’s name, address, telephone number and 2011-2012 junior hunting license number to: Chimineas Apprentice Deer Hunt, Department of Fish and Game, 20 Lower Ragsdale Road, Monterey, CA 93940.

Applications must be received in the office by 5 p.m. on July 29. Late or incomplete applications will not be entered in the draw. Successful applicants will be notified by phone and will receive additional information, including maps and special regulations, prior to the hunt.

DFG offers hunting opportunities on Chimineas Units of Carrizo Plain Ecological Reserve

Media Contacts:
Robert Stafford, DFG Associate Wildlife Biologist, (831) 649-2870
Rocky Thompson, DFG Senior Wildlife Biologist, (831) 649-2870
Kyle Orr, DFG Communications, (916) 322-8958

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) will provide hunting opportunities on the Chimineas Units of the Carrizo Plain Ecological Reserve in 2011 and 2012. This will include additional opportunities for mobility impaired hunters.

During the appropriate seasons, walk-on hunting for dove, rabbit, quail and wild pigs will be limited to Wednesdays and Saturdays during the first half of September and throughout the months of December and January. All access will be closed in October and November during the elk hunting seasons and the Chimineas Units will be closed to hunting between February and September. Walk-on access is only available from Highway 166. The North Chimineas Unit will not be open for walk-on hunting. Free access permits will be available at the Hwy 166 parking lot at mile marker 45 east of Santa Maria and at the Caliente Peak trailhead.

Vehicle access for hunting will occur on two weekends. Twenty-five permits will be drawn for each of these one-day hunts and each permit is good for two hunters.  To apply for one of these hunts, applicants need to submit a self-addressed envelope and a letter or postcard with the hunter’s name, address, telephone number and hunting license number to: DFG, 20 Lower Ragsdale Road, Suite 100, Monterey, CA 93940.

DFG will also offer five additional permits for each hunt to mobility impaired hunters to allow them to gain access to the property. The application process is the same as for the regular drawing above. Applicants should add the words “Special Draw” to the attention line when addressing their envelope. Successful applicants will need to show either a Mobility Impaired Disabled Persons Motor Vehicle Hunting License or a standard handicap vehicle placard or license plate on the day of the hunt. If more than five applicants apply, there will be a drawing among the mobility impaired applicants.

Applicants may submit only one application for each hunt and applications need to be received by 5 p.m.on the due date. Applications received late, incomplete or without a self-addressed envelope will not be considered in the draw. Successful applicants will receive additional information, including maps and special regulations, prior to the hunt.

The first drive-on hunt will be Sept. 10, 2011 for dove, pig and rabbit. Applications must be received by Aug. 12. Include “Attention: September Chimineas Hunt” when addressing an envelope to DFG. This hunt will be held on the North Chimineas Unit.

The second drive-on hunt will be Dec. 10, 2011 for dove, quail, pig and rabbit. Applications must be received by Nov. 10. Include “Attention: December Chimineas Hunt” when addressing an envelope to DFG. This hunt will be held on the South Chimineas Unit.