The drought of the past two years was in many respects the most severe on record in California. However, although runoff in the Central Valley and Sierra Nevada areas were near record lows, many North Coast streams were well above record lows, and runoff in south coastal basins was near normal. The positive effects of the drought included greatly increased efforts at conservation of water and energy by both municipal and agricultural users. Hopefully, both sectors acquired lasting waster-conservation habits. Anadromous fish, and fish living in middle elevation streams and some reservoirs, were hard hit by the drought. Fish and wildlife species are generally expected to recover quickly from the effects of the drought if suitable habitat is available. Recreation at major North State reservoirs was greatly reduced, although a few smaller reservoirs and natural lakes escaped serious impact. White water boating was greatly restricted last spring. The Spring Creek pollution problem on the Sacramento River near Redding received much greater attention this year than in the past and a major fish kill was apparently averted. Understanding of the problem has increased substantially and may lead to a permanent solution. The political implications of the drought are important. SB345, which would have repealed the State's Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and AB 1653, which would have weakened the Act, are examples of proposed legislation threatening fish and wildlife which resulted from the drought. The recent proposal to construct three major dams on the Eel River as an alternative to SB 346 will be important legislation to watch.
|
