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Excerpts from Speech by CDFG Director Walter Shannon, 1960

Stream clearance page

Excerpts from speech given by Walter Shannon, Director of the California Department of Fish and Game to the California State Assembly Committee on Fish and Game at Crescent City on October 10, 1961. From California State Archives File F3498:385.

Since 1925, salmon and steelhead fishing on larger rivers has been at saturation point with every foot occupied by anglers. Meanwhile, in spite of heavy fishing and failing productivity of streams from siltation, catches in the both the ocean and in rivers has held up surprisingly well. The runs in some rivers have declined, most notably in the Mad River.

At any time, an entire watershed can be removed from productivity or damaged irretrievably. Constant vigilance is a must if we are not to lose a valuable resource which, because of its vulnerability, may vanish almost overnight.

Right now our major concern is in rehabilitating 1700 miles of Silver Salmon streams and in restoring Silver Salmon runs that have been decimated by degradation of their habitat. Our first biggest job in this program is to correct the conditions that made many north coast streams unsuitable for Silver Salmon and Steelhead, particularly during summer months. Basically, these conditions are slower flows, higher temperatures and siltation, all the results of man's activity.

Artificial propagation can be a useful tool in salmon and steelhead management, but it is no cure-all. There is little to be gained from stocking fish in streams that are no longer suitable for them.