California Trout Honors Lois Wolk For Conservation Leadership

California Trout Gives Lois Wolk ‘Golden Trout’ Award

by Dan Bacher

California Trout, a statewide fishing and conservation group, honored Assemblywoman Lois Wolk (D-Davis) on Tuesday, May 6 for her leadership as the chairwoman of the Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee on some of California's most pressing water issues, including the state's fisheries declines, flood protection, and water policy reform.

Brian Stranko, the organization’s chief executive officer, gave Wolk the “Golden Trout” plaque at a ceremony in Sacramento after the annual Fisheries Legislative Forum before a group of legislators, commercial fishermen, recreational anglers and conservationists.

California Trout (CalTrout), an organization that advocates the protection and restoration of wild trout and steelhead waters throughout California, gives the award semi-annually to the individual who makes "the most distinguished contribution to the protection of wild trout, steelhead, and their habitat"- someone whose "actions and deeds exemplify the meaning of public service." Previous recipients include two former California Governors, Congressman Mike Thompson and former Senator Alan Cranston.

"Lois Wolk is a champion for the protection of our state's declining fish populations and the failing Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, which provides critical habitat for our state's fisheries," said Brian Stranko, CalTrout's chief executive officer. "She has successfully taken on some of the most challenging and complicated issues facing the state, taking a leadership role on water policy and in efforts to strengthen flood protection and land use planning in California's Central Valley and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region. Californians are lucky to have such a strong advocate looking out for their water, recreation, and wildlife resources."

Last year, Wolk led efforts to protect threatened and endangered native trout, aquatic, and amphibian species on California rivers and streams from the effects of motorized suction dredge gold mining. Her bill, AB 1032, passed through the State and Assembly, but was vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in October. California Trout and the Karuk Indian Tribe sponsored the bill.

“The bill didn’t become law, but it got all of the way to the Governor’s desk under a lot of contention,” said Stranko. “It required a lot of patience and leadership by Wolk to get through the legislature.”

This year, she is carrying a package of bills to help protect and restore Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta fisheries.

"Resolving the crisis in the Delta must be one of the state's top priorities," said Wolk. "The recent closure of the 2008 salmon fishing season in California is an example of what we can expect if the state doesn't begin addressing some of the Delta's most urgent needs. I look forward to working with groups like CalTrout to help the state live up to its responsibility to protect this natural resource for the public's benefit."

Wolk's package includes two bills spurred by the testimony of anglers at the Prospect Island Fish Kill Legislative Hearing in Rio Vista on December 6, 2007.

Assembly Bill 1806 will help better prepare the state to prevent and respond to emergencies that place Delta fisheries at risk, as well as mitigate for the impacts on Delta fisheries arising from operation of the large water export pumping facilities of the state and federal water projects.

Assembly Bill 2502 will expand fishing and other recreational opportunities in the Delta by establishing a “Delta Ecological and Recreation Area” including three flooded islands – Prospect Island, Liberty Island and Holland Tract.

This is Wolk’s last term as an Assemblywoman under California’s term limits law and I greatly appreciate her support of fish and wildlife restoration measures backed by anglers, conservationists and California Indian Tribes. I am gratified that California Trout chose to honor her work by issuing Wolk their annual “Golden Trout” award.