For Immediate Release: April 24th, 2014

Siskiyou County-CA
Shasta County-CA

What is unique about the Pit River? Come hear about some of the flow, fishing, fish and ecology studies done on the Pit River as part of the FERC relicensing process.

California Trout invites the public to an educational Water Talks presentation, “Pit River Aquatic Ecology” on Wednesday May 14th 2014 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Burney Lions Club located at 37006 Main Street, in Burney. The program is free and open to all.

Matt Myers

“Pit River Aquatic Ecology” will feature presentations from:

• Tristan Leong, Hydroelectric Coordinator for Shasta Trinity and Lassen National Forest on “Pit River Watershed & Ecology”,
• Koen Breedveld, Aquatic Ecologist, Spring Rivers Ecological Sciences on “Foothill Yellow-legged Frog Studies,”
• Matt Myers, Environmental Scientist, California Department of Fish and Wildlife on “Fish Studies”, and
• Art Teter, Art Teter Guide Service on “Fishing Surveys.”

The program will conclude with a short video on the Pit River introduced by California Trout’s Mt. Shasta Conservation Manager Andrew Braugh.

“The Pit River has undergone significant modifications in the last century, and while it is now highly regulated, it sustains a remarkably diverse aquatic ecosystem. I will discuss some of the efforts by the hydroelectric community, including the Forest Service, to restore and maintain its unique aquatic and wildlife resources,” said Tristan Leong, the Hydroelectric Coordinator for Shasta Trinity and Lassen National Forests.

Koen Breedveld

Koen Breedveld, an aquatic ecologist with Spring Rivers Ecological Sciences has completed studies on the foothill yellow-legged frog. “The foothill yellow-legged frog is unique because, unlike most other amphibians, it requires a river or creek for breeding,” he said.

“I will discuss the methods and results of PG&E’s fishing surveys including electrofishing, and CDFW angler survey box results,” said Matt Myers, Environmental Scientist, California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Attendees can expect to come away with a better understanding of the myriad of studies performed on the Pit River as part of the FERC relicensing and what information is now known about the unique Pit River.

Water Talks are an ongoing series of informational and educational presentations with local and regional experts sharing their knowledge with the public on a range of water related topics. The purpose of Water Talks is to provide a place to learn about water related topics. Water Talks is a project of California Trout. California Trout is a nonprofit organization dedicated to seeking workable solutions for fisheries restoration throughout California.” For more information contact Meadow Fitton, California Trout Outreach Consultant at 530-859-1411 or mfitton@caltrout.org.