Hat Creek Volunteer Opportunity

04/04/2020 06:00 AM - 04/18/2020 04:00 PM PT

Location

Description

*This event is postponed, rescheduled date TBD* Please e-mail if you have any questions. 

 

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and California Trout (CalTrout) are collaborating to obtain a wild trout population estimate via angling in the upper section of the Hat Creek Wild Trout Area (WTA). Volunteers will be tasked with catching, marking (clipping the adipose fin with scissors), measuring, and recapturing as many trout as possible from the two-day survey event. A trout population estimate will be used by fishery biologists to evaluate trends over time and help make sound management decisions.

Register Here to volunteer for one or both of the Saturday Surveys. Participation in both days encouraged. Volunteers must be proficient anglers, able to fish and collect data independently. Intermediate to advanced angling requested. *If registering for you and a friend, please register yourself first and then go back through the process to register your friend. Thank you! 

Where:            Hat Creek Wild Trout Area from State Route 299E crossing upstream to PG&E’s Hat Powerhouse 2 riffle

When:                Marking Day = April 4, 2020 (Saturday) from 6:00 am to 3:00 pm POSTPONED, rescheduled date TBD

              Recapture Day = April 18, 2020 (Saturday) from 6:00 am to 3:00 pm POSTPONED, rescheduled date TBD

 

                                    This is a RAIN OR SHINE event!

 

Other Requirements:

 

  • VOLUNTEER ONLY: non-profit event, no charge fishing, no clients or guided trips.
  • Anglers are expected to use their own decontaminated gear (waders, wading boots, fishing gear, landing net, etc.); no gear will be provided.
  • CDFW staff will be present prior to and during the survey at the Hat Creek County Park, Hat Powerhouse 2 parking lot, and Carbon Bridge parking lot to sign in anglers and distribute survey materials.
  • Anglers will catch, mark (adipose fin clip), measure (total length to the nearest half-inch), and record their own data on a datasheet.  All fish will be immediately released after data is collected.
  • Anglers are required to return their datasheets back to CDFW by 4:00 pm of each survey day.
  • Fishing gear restrictions for this survey are artificial lures only (barbed flies and barbed lures are ok for this survey only). No bait is allowed.
  • Volunteers are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED to participate in both survey days and for the full duration of time.

 

Survey materials provided by CDFW and CalTrout must be picked up on the survey day, prior to angling:

  • Datasheet (needed for both survey days- return datasheet back to CDFW after each survey day)
  • Pencil (needed for both survey days)
  • Scissors for marking caught trout (clipping the adipose fin- only needed for the April 4 survey)
  • Tape measure for measuring caught trout (only needed for the April 4 survey)

 

Anglers/Volunteers are expected to bring:

  • Waders and wading boots
  • Fishing gear (rod, flies, landing net, etc.) fly fishing or spin fishing accepted. Refer to local guides and fly shops for fly recommendations. No bait.
  • Food and water
  • Health and safety (sunscreen, bug repellent, sunglasses, first aid, etc.)

 

 

Register Here

Contact Ashley White of California Trout with any questions or for more information.

For Survey specific questions, please contact Samuel Plemons of CDFW or Michael Dege of CDFW.

Thank you for volunteering to participate in this special survey opportunity to help manage our natural resources!    

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