Natural Resources and Science
News articles ranging from water and energy issues, and restoration projects to science and technology are found here.
Local wine tasting events took place this year on both Friday and Saturday, November 25 and 26, 2011, from 1 to 5 p.m. The tasings were open to the public and were held at Briceland Vineyards and the Whitethorn Winery. These tastings traditionally take place during the Spring and Fall seasons on Memorial Day and Thanksgiving weekends. The owner/winemakers from Elk Prairie Vineyard, were also pouring their wines at the Whitethorn Winery location. The Whitethorn Winery tasting this year was dedicated to the Mattole Coho and a portion of the proceeds from the the Whitethorn and Elk Prairie tastings will be donated to the Mattole Coho Recovery Project (Baker Creek Pilot Project-see below for more information).
Contact information for the Wineries are listed below:
- Briceland Vineyards- Founders Maggie Carey and Joe Collins; www.bricelandvineyards.com/5959 Briceland Road, Redway, CA 95560; Telephone: 707-923-2429 ; Apprentice winemaker is Andrew Morris
- Elk Prairie Vineyard - Owners/Winemakers, Alan and Sandra Estrada; elkprairievineyard.com/ 11544 Dyerville Loop Road, Myers Flat, CA 95554; Telephone: 707-943-3498; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Whitethorn Winery- Owner/Winemaker, Tasha McKee; 545 Shelter Cove Rd., Whitethorn, CA 95589; Telephone: 707 986-1642
Community Journalist, Bob Froehlich, attended both tastings on Friday and the story aired on KMUD News on Mon., Nov. 28 - that segment can be heard or downloaded using the audio player below:
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Workshop on Mattole Headwaters Habitat Recovery for Coho - Baker Creek Pilot Project (Joint project between BLM Arcata Field Office and Sanctuary Forest)- Presented byTasha McKee On Friday Nov. 18 at the Beginnings in Briceland when the Mattole Restoration Council (MRC) held its Annual Meeting of the Membership.
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Bonus Feature: Raw Audio of Interview done by Bob Froehlich at the Whitethorn Winery Friday Nov. 25, 2011 with Michael Pollock: - Northwest Fisheries Science Center/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)-consultant on Baker Creek Pilot Project.Download (Right-click & select "save link as" or "save target as"...)
Photo/Left, taken Early on Friday at the Briceland Wine Tasting - Joe Collins Pouring - and Photo/Right shows the H'ordeuvres Table at Briceland Winery, hosted by Rae and Jim Shiraishi

Photo/Left Shows Dennis Huber (foreground) assisting in the Wine Auction at Whitethorn Winery and Photo/Right shows a display at the Whitethorn Wine Tasting, giving information about the Baker Creek Pilot Project

Mattole Restoration Council workshop series audio available
Written by Bob Froehlich
Volunteers needed for BLM Trail Building Project
Written by Bob FroehlichAccording to information received by KMUD News:
Governor Jerry Brown today signed major fisheries legislation by State Senator Noreen Evans (D- Santa Rosa) that will help ensure the economic and environmental sustainability of California’s Dungeness crab fishery. “It has been a long road getting here, but with the cooperation and close involvement of our fishermen they now have the rules they wanted to protect the future of both our fishermen and the Dungeness crab fishery,” said Senator Evans.\
- Extends the current crab trap vessel permit program, which was due to expire in January 2012 to January 2020. Without this extension, the Dungeness crab industry would be largely unregulated and wide open to anyone wanting to take crab for commercial purposes.
- Reestablishes the Dungeness Crab Task Force to review current programs and issues in the industry and make recommendations to the Legislature and the Fish and Game Commission.
According to California Department of Fish and Game News Release, dated July 6, 2011:
The 2011 fishing regulations for salmon fishing on the American, Feather, Sacramento, Klamath and Trinity rivers are effective Saturday, July 16. The Fish and Game Commission adopts yearly regulations to help ensure the success of the fish and give the state’s fishing public an opportunity to enjoy this valuable resource.
The following is a summary of seasons, daily bag and possession limits on salmon:
American River:
Daily bag and possession limit of two Chinook salmon for all open areas.
- From Nimbus Dam to Hazel Ave. bridge piers, open July 16 through Dec. 31.
- From Hazel Ave. bridge piers to United States Geological Survey (USGS) gauging station cable 300 yards downstream of Nimbus Hatchery fish rack, open July 16 through Sept. 14, only barbless hooks may be used.
- From USGS gauging station cable 300 yards downstream of Nimbus Hatchery fish rack to Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) power line crossing at the southwest boundary of Ancil Hoffman Park, open July 16 through Oct. 31, only barbless hooks may be used.
- From SMUD power line crossing at the southwest boundary of Ancil Hoffman Park to Jibboom Street bridge, open July 16 through Dec. 31.
- From Jibboom Street bridge to mouth, open July 16 through Dec. 11.
- All other dates are closed to salmon fishing.
Feather River:
Daily bag and possession limit of two Chinook salmon for all open areas.
- From 1,000 feet below the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet to the mouth, open July 16 through Dec. 11.
- All other areas and dates are closed to salmon fishing.
Sacramento River:
Daily bag and possession limit of two Chinook salmon for all open areas.
- From Deschutes Road bridge to 500 feet upstream of the Red Bluff Diversion Dam, open Aug. 1 through Dec. 18.
- From 150 feet below the Lower Red Bluff (Sycamore) Boat Ramp to Highway 113 bridge near Knights Landing, open July 16 through Dec. 18.
- From the Highway 113 bridge near Knights Landing to Carquinez Bridge (includes Suisun Bay, Grizzly Bay and all tributary sloughs), open July 16 through Dec. 11.
- All other areas and dates are closed to salmon fishing.
Klamath River:
Open to salmon fishing Jan. 1 through Aug. 14. Daily bag and possession limit of two Chinook salmon.
- The take of salmon is prohibited on the Klamath River from Iron Gate Dam downstream to Weitchpec.
- Open to salmon fishing from Aug. 15 through Dec. 31. Daily bag limit of three Chinook salmon of which no more than two may be over 22 inches.
- Possession limit of nine Chinook salmon of which no more than six may be over 22 inches. The 2011 quota is 5,293 fall-run Chinook salmon over 22 inches total length.
- A department weekly status report is available at: 1-800-564-6479. See 2011-2012 Supplement for fall-run Chinook area sub-quotas and area boundaries.
Trinity River:
Open to salmon fishing Jan. 1 through Aug 31. Daily bag and possession limit of two Chinook salmon.
- The take of salmon is prohibited from the confluence of the South Fork Trinity River downstream to the confluence with the Klamath River from Jan. 1 through Aug. 31.
- Open to salmon fishing from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31. Daily bag limit of three Chinook salmon of which no more than two may be over 22 inches.
- Possession limit is nine Chinook salmon of which no more than six may be over 22 inches. 2011 quota is 2,607 fall-run Chinook salmon over 22 inches total length.
- A department weekly status report is available at: 1-800-564-6479. See 2011-2012 Supplement for fall-run Chinook area sub-quotas and area boundaries.
Mokelumne River, San Joaquin River and their Delta sloughs are closed to salmon fishing.
Anglers must have report cards in their possession when fishing for salmon in the Trinity and Klamath rivers. All other regulations for bag and possession limits for trout, salmon and other species, as well as general information about restrictions on fishing methods and gear on the above rivers, are available on the DFG website at: www.dfg.ca.gov/regulations.


