September 15, 2004

NOAA Fisheries has extended the public comment period for their proposed revised Endangered Species Act listing determinations for salmon and steelhead in California. The proposal includes extending ESA protection to resident rainbow trout and landlocked steelhead trout in the Alameda Creek watershed.

The comment period has been extended until October 20. NOAA will also hold public hearings in California throughout September and October. Background on the significance of this proposed rule and the address to send in comments can be found on the ACA web site at http://www.alamedacreek.org/Alerts/Trout%20listing.htm

NOAA has also proposed a hatchery fish policy that will further endanger listed salmon and steelhead. For information about this issue and to get sample comments to NOAA, go to:

Columbia & Snake Rivers Campaign - http://www.wildsalmon.org/hatchery%5Fpolicy/

Trout Unlimited - http://www.tu.org/newsstand/press_release/detail.asp?pr_id=2001011943

Pacific Rivers Council - http://www.pacrivers.org/article_view.cfm?ArticleID=1193&RandSeed=74847

The dates and locations of the California public hearings:

Arcata - September 22, 2004; 6:30–9:30pm at the North Coast Inn, 4975 Valley West Blvd., Arcata, CA 95521

Rohnert Park - September 23, 2004; 6:30–9:30pm at the DoubleTree Hotel Sonoma Wine Country, One DoubleTree Drive, Rohnert Park, CA 94928

Redding - September 28, 2004; 6:30–9:30pm at the Best Western Hilltop Inn, 2300 Hilltop Drive, Redding, CA 96002

Monterey - September 28, 2004; 6:30–9:30pm at the Monterey Beach Resort, 2600 Sand Dunes Drive, Monterey, CA 93940

Sacramento - October 12, 2004; 6:30–9:30pm at the Radisson Hotel Sacramento, 500 Leisure Lane, Sacramento, CA 95815

Santa Barbara - October, 12, 2004; 6:30–9:30pm at Fess Parker’s DoubleTree Resort, 633 East Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara, CA 93103

The Federal Register notice for the comment period and hearings can be found at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-20425.pdf