CDFW Newshttps://wildlife.ca.gov/NewsCDFW Launches Immediate Efforts to Save Clear Lake Hitchhttps://wildlife.ca.gov/News/Archive/cdfw-launches-immediate-efforts-to-save-clear-lake-hitchRare SpeciesThu, 23 Mar 2023 16:27:36 GMTPrompted by urgent calls for action from Tribal leaders and community members, a coalition of Tribal, local, state and federal entities is taking immediate steps to support the long-term survival of the Clear Lake hitch.`<p class="tagline"><em>Actions include $2 million in state funding to remove barriers to hitch migration</em></p> <p>Prompted by urgent calls for action from Tribal leaders and community members, a coalition of Tribal, local, state and federal entities is taking immediate steps to support the long-term survival of the Clear Lake hitch.</p> <p>A large minnow found only in northern California’s Clear Lake and its tributaries, the hitch, known as Chi to local Tribal members, migrates into the tributaries to spawn each spring before returning to the lake. Historically numbering in the millions, Clear Lake hitch now are facing a tough fight to avoid extinction.</p> <p>Today, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced a <a href="https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=211161&inline">list of commitments</a> designed to protect spawning and rearing areas, provide appropriate stream flows, remove barriers to migration and reduce predation. CDFW expects these actions to provide a positive impact on the Clear Lake hitch population this spawning season and over the next few years.</p> <p>Clear Lake hitch require adequate stream flows during spring for spawning. In some years, flows can become intermittent or can disappear, resulting in fish strandings and even fish kills. Immediate actions are needed to ensure flows are sufficient for successful spawning conditions; Tribal, local, federal and state leaders, as well as private landowners, are actively collaborating on interim efforts to ensure successful conditions through the end of the spawning period in June. These same entities are also collaborating on long-term planning, restoration, monitoring and management actions.</p> <p>Recent reports indicate hitch are migrating up tributaries from Clear Lake into Cole, Kelsey, Manning and Adobe creeks. A recently installed fish ladder, designed by CDFW habitat specialists specifically for hitch, has allowed them to migrate up and over a barrier in Manning Creek that has prevented fish passage for several decades. CDFW has made agreements with Tribal governments for rescue of fish that may become stranded during spawning while also engaging with the local agricultural community to identify areas of fish stranding throughout the watershed. On March 16, CDFW fishery biologists, local agricultural community members and Tribal members rescued 450 adult Clear Lake hitch from a drainage canal along Cole Creek. CDFW has also taken steps to hold fish at hatchery facilities should rescued fish need a safe haven for a short time.</p> <p>In coordination with the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), CDFW is evaluating permitting options for local agricultural stakeholders to provide pumped groundwater into areas of creeks that may become dry during spawning season providing immediate relief during low water conditions. The broad coalition of partners is also gauging streams at multiple locations and reporting data to identify areas of poor spawning habitat conditions and to develop models for future use in predicting stream flow conditions.</p> <p>Simultaneously, several key longer-term projects are advancing. CDFW recently approved a California Environmental Quality Act Statutory Exemption for the Wright Wetland Preserve Restoration Project in cooperation with Lake County and the Lake County Land Trust to restore 32 acres of Clear Lake hitch wetland habitat and connect it to 120 acres of existing wetland habitat. The Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians is being supported by a <a href="https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Watersheds/Restoration-Grants/Concept-Application">CDFW grant</a> to prepare environmental review and design for removal of the fish passage barrier along Kelsey Creek at the Main Street bridge and a coalition of partners is working to identify existing barriers on all the spawning tributaries.</p> <p>Today, CDFW is also committing $2 million to implement barrier removal projects over the next three years. Working with Tribes and the Lake County Land Stewards, CDFW will accept <a href="https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Watersheds/Restoration-Grants/Concept-Application">funding proposals</a> submitted in the next 90 days to remove barriers to hitch migration.</p> <p>CDFW has also committed to ongoing coordination with a coalition of Clear Lake Tribes; state, local and federal resource agencies; landowners and others to help facilitate projects to protect and increase streamflow during Clear Lake hitch migration and spawning. The coalition includes Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians, Robinson Rancheria Pomo Indians of California, Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians, Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians California, Elem Indian Colony, Lake County Farm Bureau, Lake County agricultural community, Lake County Land Trust, Lake County, California Fish and Game Commission, State and Regional Water Boards, California Department of Water Resources, Blue Ribbon Committee on the Rehabilitation of Clear Lake, the California Natural Resources Agency, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. CDFW thanks all the partners in this coalition for the increased commitment and momentum to save Clear Lake hitch.</p> <p># # #</p> <p><em><strong>Media Contact:</strong><br /> <a href="mailto:Jordan.Traverso@wildlife.ca.gov">Jordan Traverso</a>, CDFW Communications, (916) 212-7352</em></p> CDFW, Robinson Rancheria Partner on Pilot Program to Remove Invasive Carp, Goldfish to Help Clear Lake Hitchhttps://wildlife.ca.gov/News/Archive/cdfw-robinson-rancheria-partner-on-pilot-program-to-remove-invasive-carp-goldfish-to-help-clear-lake-hitchScientific StudyTue, 14 Feb 2023 16:51:07 GMTCDFW and the Robinson Rancheria Pomo Indians of California (Robinson Rancheria) have initiated a pilot program on Clear Lake to remove invasive carp and goldfish to benefit the Clear Lake hitch, also known as “Chi.”<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>*** A Joint News Release with the Robinson Rancheria Pomo Indians of California ***</strong></p> <p>The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the Robinson Rancheria Pomo Indians of California (Robinson Rancheria) have initiated a pilot program on Clear Lake to remove invasive carp and goldfish to benefit the Clear Lake hitch, also known as “Chi.”</p> <p>The Clear Lake hitch or Chi is a large, native minnow found only in Clear Lake and its tributaries within Lake County. Since 2014, the fish has been listed as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act. An important cultural resource for Native American tribes within Lake County, Clear Lake hitch populations used to be seen in runs numbering in the tens of thousands.</p> <p>Through permitting and $177,872 in grant funding from CDFW, the Robinson Rancheria is leading the pilot research effort to study the effectiveness and benefits of removing nonnative carp and goldfish from Clear Lake.</p> <p>The Robinson Rancheria contracted with the Minneapolis-based WSB engineering and environmental consulting firm to seine sections of Clear Lake from Feb. 3 through Feb. 11, 2023, to catch carp and goldfish. Some of the carp and goldfish were kept for biological testing but most of the fish -- including all nontarget sport fish -- were returned to the lake unharmed as part of the feasibility study.</p> <p>The timing of the project was chosen to coincide with the period when carp and goldfish form large aggregations in preparation for spawning for more efficient collection of target species and to minimize bycatch of other fishes. CDFW was on the water monitoring the effort. Other partners include the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians and the Lake County Water Resources Department.</p> <p>Carp and goldfish are detrimental to Clear Lake hitch and their habitat in several ways, including predating on Clear Lake hitch eggs; disturbing and circulating nutrients in the lake that can reduce water clarity and foster harmful algal blooms in the summer; and inhibiting tule growth. Tule provide important rearing habitat for juvenile Clear Lake hitch.</p> <p><em><strong>CDFW Photo:</strong> Clear Lake hitch by Richard Macedo.</em></p> <p><em>###</em></p> <p><em><strong>Media Contacts:</strong><br /> <a href="mailto:Sarah.Mussulman@wildlife.ca.gov">Sarah Mussulman</a>, CDFW Fisheries Branch, (916) 591-1152<br /> <a href="mailto:watermgr@rrcbc-nsn.gov">Karola Kennedy</a>, Robinson Rancheria, (707) 530-5320<br /> <a href="mailto:Peter.Tira@wildlife.ca.gov">Peter Tira</a>, CDFW Communications, (916) 215-3858</em></p>