Tuesday Morning’s Fly Fishing Related Stupidities
By Tom Chandler on Apr 22, 2008 in Environment
OK gang, The Underground’s Sizable Corporate Staff made it past the always-hectic Monday, but that’s small comfort given that it was 31 degrees this morning and yes — it was snowing.
Frankly, here at the Underground we’re pretty damned tired of the damned cold and the damned snow and the damned clouds and the damned low water temperatures on the Upper Sacramento (and we don’t think much of most dams either).
When you’re in a mood like that (add sleep deprivation to the mix) and it’s a short descent into howling at the moon, which is what’s going to happen at the start of the next paragraph.
Argentina Makes Plan to Dam Last Free Flowing River, Eliminating Atlantic Steelhead
Sure we didn’t even know there’s an Atlantic-ocean-based run of steelhead (the Santa Cruz river hosts the world’s only run), but the Free Argentine Waters blog alerts us to a planned dam project that would eliminate the steelhead (probably because anything living wild and free is an affront to government).
Santa Cruz River holds two rare privileges, it is the last great river in Argentine Patagonia flowing freely and it is the only river in the world to receive wild runs of Steelhead from the Atlantic Ocean. Two distinctions soon to be challenged with the construction of Condor Cliff and La Barrancosa dams…
Well boys, taking into account that corruption and half assed decisions are a given in our every day life in Argentina, it´s a sure bet we will roast in the oven with this one.
Sounds about par for the course.
Pebble Mine Still Looms, But You Can Help
Though we haven’t heard a lot about it lately, the Pebble Mine project still looms over Bristol Bay — host to the biggest remaining (and healthy) salmon populations in the USA.
We understand they’re close to firing up an auction in an attempt to raise funds to fight this mine (the mining company is already lubricating the locals with money like it was candy, which, in a way it is), and we’ll announce that when it happens.
Until then, why not visit the Sportsmen’s Alliance for Alaska’s Web site and sign the petitions. I haven’t fished in Alaska yet, but it’d be nice if some of it was left when I do decide to go.
Oregon Thinking About Coastal Cutthroat Harvest Despite Recent Court Decision
With a court recently ruling that US Fish & Game must consider listing the Coastal Cutthroat under the Endangered Species Act, Shane at the Quiet Pool wonders why Oregon wants to allow a coastal cutthroat harvest.
He provides a few links for you to contact, so maybe — just maybe — those dolts running things will get the message.
See you out in the snow, Tom Chandler.
Eduardo Sanchez | Apr 22, 2008 | Reply
It´s true and sad what´s going on here in Argentina. Politicians don´t think very much in the population issues, they only think in money… That´s why the dams in the Santa Cruz river in a no-longer future will be built.
Patagonia Fishing | Apr 22, 2008 | Reply
Patagonia has an enviro essay on what you can do to help.
http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/patagonia.go?assetid=17500
We’re also helping create a future National Park in Patagonia.
http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/patagonia.go?assetid=27057
Here’s the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_pNqTIJF5g
Nicolas Schwint | Apr 22, 2008 | Reply
As an argentine, as a person and as a fly-fisherman this hurts. They didn’t even tell what was going on. This was another dirty, very dirty bussiness.
Tom Chandler | Apr 22, 2008 | Reply
Moldy: The threatened river in Argentina is the Santa Cruz; that’s different from the rivers mentioned in the Patagonia essay, right?
I’m all for saving them both, of course, but I’m confused.
Moldy Chum | Apr 22, 2008 | Reply
You’re right Tom.
Unfortunately multiple rivers are under threat. The essay references the Baker and the Pascua which are close to our park project.
We are also active in the Santa Cruz effort.
SEBASTIAN | Apr 23, 2008 | Reply
Unluckily for all argentinians, and specially for those who love fly fishing, our government (as many governments from around the world) is strictly preocuppied on its profits, independently of the damage they cause. This is exactly the case of the Santa Cruz River dams, there are no serious studies on this river basin and the damage on the steel head will be unrecoverable. We are not saying to stop the building of the dams (at least from my point of view i know that is impossible), but please we are urging for a proper control of these monumental structures, please help us protect the environment and all of its species, best regards.
Tom Chandler | Apr 23, 2008 | Reply
Moldy: It figures; wherever something bad’s happening in that part of the world, Patagonia’s pretty much there.
We’re not worthy…
Sebastian: So many of the battles in the Pacific Northwest surround dam/water projects that deliver so little value, they should have never been built in the first place — especially in light of the long-term environmental costs (like selenium-poisoned water and the collapse of healthy, sustainable, commercially viable salmon run).
Good luck.
Juanito | Apr 23, 2008 | Reply
As an hydraulic engineering student from Argentina, I must say that this one, as another project in the Limay River, are just a waste of money and natural resources for our country, the problem is that only 4 men and a woman say what to do with money in this country and they don’t know anything about hydraulics, between a lot of other things they don’t know anything about. The energy form the dams in the Santa Cruz River, if posible, will be hard to use because there are magnetic and electric phenomenons in the area that change the phases of the alternate electric current. To correct this, a lot of money will be necesary, if it can be corrected. There are much cheaper projects, more eficient, and with less damage to our natural resources, but that it is not what they care about, they just want to move a lot of money, as they want to do with the bullet train wich is between the most stupid things I’ve heard. Things that only can happen in Argentina…
PS: sorry for my bad English, it’s been a long time since I don’t use it.
Guillermo Magariños | Apr 23, 2008 | Reply
Moldy, what kind of work are you guys doing with the Santa Cruz? I wasn´t aware of it, if you have any ideas, please tell me what we could do, the view is overwhelming.
Thanks
German Kostoff | Apr 24, 2008 | Reply
As I read these comments, I ca’t stop thinking about investing in eolic energy, the winds are perfect for this rennovable energy resources but it’s obvious that our damn stupid government is more interested in stealing money than thinkink about wildlife and even about our lives I mean citizens.
Some many bad things are happening in Argentina and it’s all because 4 idiots (president his husband and a few other ones)
Besides this bad things, the good side to this issues is I read opinions from argentine people (Juanito, Nicolás y Guillermo los conozco del foro FFA, YO SOY BEETLEFOREVER) and people from all over the world this is the only way to change things, PUSH against our governments, let’s keep doing it!!!!!