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State Water project impact on Windsurfing at Sherman Island
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Riptide



Joined: 15 Jan 2011
Posts: 411

PostPosted: Sat May 31, 2014 11:03 am    Post subject: State Water project impact on Windsurfing at Sherman Island Reply with quote

Attention fellow Kiters & Windsurfers! Yes it’s true the State Water Project is shutting down kiting and windsurfing launches on Sherman Island for at least two years starting next season.
Apparently, fat and happy sea lions, seals, and other predator fish have been munching away on the steady supply of fish that are “salvaged” from the State Water Project’s pumps. As silly as it may sound, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) has been tasked to build 2 more fish release sites on Sherman Island to help increase the survival rate of Delta Smelt, an endangered species. The fish will be dumped in random sequence at 6 total structures to “fake out” the sea lions, seals and other lazy feasters. The DWR has put out a draft Initial Study (IS) on the structures and levee work and is requesting your comments before June 10, 2014.
RVWA-SIKO has already voiced an initial concern regarding these structures and is preparing a more in depth letter that will be posted shortly. Any posts/comments on this site will be taken into consideration for the final official letter. However, the DWR project manager has stated that she would like to hear from any individual who has a comment or concern regarding the IS. Let your voice be heard!
These two new release structures will be built near “Little Baja”; in addition, the levee from the Sign to the Access will get a face lift and a new AC paved road on top - only to be used by the fish dump trucks. Estimated Cost ~$10 million. The “Little Baja” launch will definitely be shut down for the 2 years. The current plan also will shut down the area right before the county park called the “Access”. Shutting down two key sites and the only safe kiting launch and emergency exit point outsite the park will surely be felt. The County Park will remain open but will no doubt have significant impacts from shutting these two sites down.
RVWA-SIKO’s initial concerns include:
1) Keeping the “Access” open for wind surfing and kiting at all times from April 1 to October 1 by building the planned temporary road parallel to the levee near the power pole foundation and “Tee”ing into Sherman Lake Marina road. The current plan is a complete shut down so the Contractor can stage their vehicles.
2) Rebuilding “Little Baja’s” parking and ramps immediately after the levee work is completed. This is not a sure thing.
3) Maintaining pedestrian/bike access on the top of the closed Levee road (crown road). Currently they are planning on putting two large automatic gates with lights on each end of the closed levee road. There was no mention of pedestrian access only security fencing.
There are lots of other concerns that you might have regarding the fencing, barb wire, parking, visuals, fishing, swimming and what the area might look like in the future for kiting and windsurfing. Take a moment and read the Initial Study or not - but send your comments to the DWR Project Manager,
Kathleen.Buchnoff@water.ca.gov ask for a return receipt. Click here for the link to the IS http://baydeltaoffice.water.ca.gov/announcement/LBMR%20IS_MND_Public%20Review%20DRAFT.pdf
Safe Sailing!
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coachg



Joined: 10 Sep 2000
Posts: 3549

PostPosted: Sat May 31, 2014 12:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Done

Coachg
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beallmd



Joined: 10 May 1998
Posts: 1154

PostPosted: Sat May 31, 2014 12:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Slogged through the IS; doesn't look too bad at first glance anyway. My concerns; How big are the trucks and other vehicles that would be using this narrow and fragile levee road? Would they require that roads be closed to move to the sites? If so how long and often? Could they lead to breakdown of the levee road and damage to the shoulders leading to required work stoppages and impacts to the levee road that require mitigation/reconstruction/repair? Would we be able to pass these vehicles or to drive by them on the opposing lane, or will they block the road? That's all so far.
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SwellRipper



Joined: 21 Apr 2009
Posts: 193
Location: Channel Marker 11

PostPosted: Sat May 31, 2014 1:56 pm    Post subject: "Structures"? Reply with quote

Wonder why build "structures" for dumping fish? Could they not do operation by boat? Then they could have almost unlimited release sites.
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Carve the face!
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MalibuGuru



Joined: 11 Nov 1993
Posts: 9293

PostPosted: Sat May 31, 2014 7:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A rather heinous option would be to shoot the seals. It would cost so little but save so many Delta Smelt. No trucks, no pollution, only a few thousand dollars, and a few days.

This is nature. Hunters are only allowed to hunt for animals that are over populated. Deer for example are way over populated in parts of the west. So over populated that they die for lack of food. So, hunters are issued deer tags. Problem solved, and a healthier deer population.

It is not barbaric to cull 50 seals to save an endangered species. I am not advocating for this, but see it as an option. There should be simpler and more economical ways to solve environmental issues IMO.

Thanks to those who are trying to preserve sailing on the island!
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Jorionw96



Joined: 18 Mar 2001
Posts: 33

PostPosted: Sat May 31, 2014 9:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes shoot all the seals to save little baja! Brilliant, your a genuis. Why didn't someone else think of that.
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coachg



Joined: 10 Sep 2000
Posts: 3549

PostPosted: Sun Jun 01, 2014 2:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I must have misread Steven's post. I could have sworn he said shooting seals to save the smelt, not Baja.

Coachg
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jp5



Joined: 19 May 1998
Posts: 3394
Location: OnUr6

PostPosted: Mon Jun 02, 2014 1:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

"The project does not include recreation facilities, however public access and recreation on navigable waters is protected under the Public Trust. Boating, wind surfing, kite boarding and fishing do occur near the project site along the Sacramento River. The project will not extend far enough into the river to require alternate access points for boaters and will only temporarily
(during construction) result in restricted access within the project site for recreation. Improvements to the county road will require a county approved detour but will not result in loss of access."

So according to this wind/kite surfing would not be prohibited during construction? Not sure what your issue is with this.
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mac



Joined: 07 Mar 1999
Posts: 17743
Location: Berkeley, California

PostPosted: Mon Jun 02, 2014 2:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I just got off the phone with Kathleen Buchnoff. Their project will stabilize the road in the section where it now swings off the levee, but will do only limited work on the waterside of the levee. They will construct a temporary road, which will maintain access to the county park. However, it does appear that they will allow the contractor to close the little Baja launch. She argued that this is not a recreational impact because it is a temporary impact, and that permits from the reclamation district allow disruption of access if needed for construction. She was not, however, willing to send me a copy of that permit.

As written, the initial study does not acknowledge the presence of oiur recreational use that launch from, and park, at the areas they will close. Their discussion of recreation is cursory, and they have made no attempt to mitigate the impact or guarantee the re-opening. The San Francisco Boardsailing Association will be preparing comments on the initial study, due by June 11. I would appreciate PM's from local sailors who use the spot who can explain the impact of closure.

SFBA is meeting on Wednesday at the Saint Francis in San Francisco. Sailors with knowledge are encouraged to attend to help us frame our response.

Jim McGrath
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geohaye



Joined: 03 Apr 2000
Posts: 1437

PostPosted: Mon Jun 02, 2014 4:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thank you for doing this, Jim.
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