Conservation

CONSERVATION & COMMUNITY

This page will be used to convey news information to club members concerning the conservation (or lack of) OUR local aquatic resources. For those members interested in giving back to the community, this page will also be used to inform club members about upcoming events related to community involvment. Information concerning volunteer opportunities will also be discussed at monthly meetings.

BY THE WAY.....

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE LATELY FOR YOUR WATERSHED?

FALL 2009

ATTENTION!!!The AZGFD has asked for our help!!!

Andy Clark with the AZGFD would like some volunteers to assist with stocking Gila trout in the Mayer area on November 4th. Stay tuned for details as I get them from Andy. Basically, they need some folks to assist with the carrying of buckets of fish. Although this doesn't sound very glamorous, this represents a unique opportunity for our club to get involved with the AZGFD. Hopefully the club with get some exposure through the press.

If you have questions, give me call or email me at jbm92378@hotmail.com

SUMMER 2009

The Prescott Flycasters hosted a series of kid's fishing clinics this summer for the Prescott Yavapai Indian Tribe's Boy's and Girl's Club. The events went well and the younger kids definetly had a blast. Some of the older teens were too busy texting...but such is the life of a teenager. With the passing of long-time flycaster, Mendy Mendenhall, we as a club are going to be ramping up our efforts to work with local children's organizations in his name and in his honor. For this reason, I would like to give a heartfelt thanks to those of you that helped make the first annual Mendy Mendenhall Kid's Fishing Clinics a possability. In addition to these efforts the club is looking into purchasing a set of flyrods to be used during such events. If anybody has ideas for fundraising events, let me know.

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Fossil Creek Protected as Wild and Scenic River:
Omnibus Public Lands Bill Heads to President's Desk

PHOENIX, Ariz.— The House of Representatives today voted 285-140 to approve the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, which grants a federal “wild and scenic river” designation for Arizona’s restored Fossil Creek. The Senate approved the bill last week, and it now goes to President Barack Obama for his signature. The bipartisan H.R. 146 safeguards more than 1,100 miles of rivers in Arizona, Utah, California, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, and Massachusetts, and includes important protections for 350,000 acres of land along 86 new wild and scenic rivers.

Fossil Creek photo � Robin Silver.

“Fossil Creek will finally get some of the recognition it deserves as Arizona’s second congressionally designated wild and scenic river,” said Sam Frank, Central Arizona director of the Arizona Wilderness Coalition.

Fossil Creek is a major tributary of an existing wild and scenic river, the Verde, and forms the boundary to the Coconino National Forest on the north and the Tonto National Forest on the south. It also forms the boundary between Gila and Yavapai counties and flows through two congressionally designated wilderness areas — Fossil Springs Wilderness and the Mazatzal Wilderness.

“The restoration of the creek has been wildly successful since water was returned to the creek in summer 2005,” said Michelle Harrington, Center for Biological Diversity rivers conservation manager. “Several species of imperiled native fish have been reintroduced. And the travertine deposits are growing, making Fossil Creek the poster child for restoration and conservation in Arizona.”

Despite the success of restoration, management of Fossil Creek as a recreational destination has remained two steps behind, and the creek is in danger of being loved to death. Designation of Fossil Creek as wild and scenic, though, requires that the U.S. Forest Service prepare a management plan and use its authority to protect the outstanding values of the creek, something conservation groups have long sought.

“This is great news for Fossil Creek, for our native fishes, and for future generations,” said Sandy Bahr, chapter director of the Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon (Arizona) Chapter. “Fossil creek is an amazing ecological wonder; a ribbon of life in an arid land.”

A wild and scenic river designation protects riverside land along both sides of a river corridor, and blocks dams and other harmful water projects. It helps protect and improve clean water, as well as the river's unique historic, cultural, scenic, ecological, and recreational values.

FYI

THIS STREAM WILL OFFER A CATCH AND RELEASE FISHERY FOR THE RARE "VERDE TROUT" IN A VERY UNIQUE SETTING. ACTUALLY A MEMBER OF THE MINNOW FAMILY, Gila robusta OR ROUNDTAIL CHUB, IS A FUN FISH TO CATCH ON THE FLY. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS FISH OR FOSSIL CREEK, CHECK OUT THE NATIVE FISH PAGE OR VISIT THE AZGFD WEBSITE. COOL STUFF!

-JASON

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Sunday, May 17, 2009

AZGFD FIRST FISH FISHING CLINIC AT GOLDWATER LAKE

Teach a man to fish, and he'll eat for a lifetime - or at least learn a lifelong hobby.

Many children from throughout the region will remember Goldwater Lake as where they caught their first fish after Sunday's First Fish Fishing Clinic.

Arizona Game and Fish sponsored the second annual event, with help from Walmart and the City of Prescott, providing free poles, bait and beverages to the public from 8 a.m. to noon.

Teach a man to fish, and he'll eat for a lifetime - or at least learn a lifelong hobby.

Many children from throughout the region will remember Goldwater Lake as where they caught their first fish after Sunday's First Fish Fishing Clinic.

Arizona Game and Fish sponsored the second annual event, with help from Walmart and the City of Prescott, providing free poles, bait and beverages to the public from 8 a.m. to noon.
Teach a man to fish, and he'll eat for a lifetime - or at least learn a lifelong hobby.

Many children from throughout the region will remember Goldwater Lake as where they caught their first fish after Sunday's First Fish Fishing Clinic.

Arizona Game and Fish sponsored the second annual event, with help from Walmart and the City of Prescott, providing free poles, bait and beverages to the public from 8 a.m. to noon.

Game and Fish personnel stocked the lake with 600 rainbow trout before the event and offered tips on technique to people who showed up from throughout the state, said Scott Poppenberger, wildlife manager with Arizona Game and Fish.

"We try to create an enhanced opportunity that will hopefully give them a lasting experience that they will remember for a lifetime," Poppenberger said of the family-oriented event, intended for individuals who have never caught a fish.

The crowd numbered up to about 130, Poppenberger estimated, adding that some people traveled from outside the quad-city area for the clinic.

Game and Fish provided hundreds of rods on loan from the Phoenix Aquatic Education program, and a viewing tank for children to get a good look at what they were fishing for.

"We happened to come upon this. We didn't event know this was going on," said Karen Troyan from Tucson, who was visiting family with her husband, John.

The two brought their grandchildren, Hannah, 6, and Hayden, 5, to the clinic.

"I've been fishing before. My dad wanted to fish, but he lost his fishing license," Hayden said.

"This is a fantastic partnership between Game and Fish and the City of Prescott to get people to come to Prescott and get to the outdoors," Poppenberger said.

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2008

I would like to thank all of the club members that took part in the the various "Conservation and Community" events during the 2008 season. The Yavapai Indian Tribe's Boys and Girls Club was very grateful for our participation in the fishing clinics last year at Granite Basin Lake and the kids are anxious for this years' events. The Granite Creek Stream Clean Up (organized by Prescott Creeks) will likely be coming up in April and is usually followed by an Earth Day festival. These events and several others that are still at the ground-level planning stages are a great way to give back to our local community, to promote the sport/art of fly fishing, to introduce younger generations to fishing, and to gain new membership. I encourage you to participate in the upcoming events for 2009.

Sincerely,

-Jason

Webmaster, Community & Conservation Chair

CHECK OUT THE EVENTS FROM LAST YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

posted 6/23/08

The Prescott Flycasters took part in an event with the Yavapai Tribe's Boys and Girls Club at Granite Creek Park on 6/17/08. Special thanks to all you who helped out with the event. The kids all had an incredible time catching fish. More events with the local B&G clubs are scheduled for this month and next month [AND IN THE FUTURE]. For more information contact Jason Meszaros at (928) 273 9445 or jbm92378@hotmail.com.

"WE (the kids) NEED YOUR HELP!"

Click on the link below to check out the article that ran in the Prescott Courier. Congratulations, Craig, you are a celebrity!

http://www.courieraz.com//xta-asp/pageview1.asp?tpl=iframe_main

posted 5/1/08

THE GRANITE CREEK CLEANUP WAS A HUGE SUCCESS!!

On behaf of the Prescott Fly Casters I would like to extend thanks to all those that participated in the clean up, I would also especially like to extend thanks to the folks over at Prescott Creeks for planning, organizing, and executing the event. A huge round of applause is definetly in order. Special thanks to Brad DeVries for coming to the April meeting and giving his talk about the clean up event. An article is available on the Prescott Daily Courier website about the event, complete with quotes from our fellow fly casters that took part. Click the link below to check it out.

http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&subsectionID=1&articleID=54511

Send comments to: webmaster@prescottflycasters.com