Wednesday, January 23, 2013

The SARSAS PLAN for Returning Salmon and Steel Head to the Pacific Marine Fishery



A New Manifest Destiny for Californians -
When Salmon Can No Longer Survive on
This Planet, Can Humanity Be Far Behind?

by Jack L. Sanchez,
President, Save Auburn Ravine Salmon and Steel Head (SARSAS, Inc.)
jlsanchez39@gmail.com


The people of California, volunteering together, can save salmon and steelhead. People must ask
themselves whether or not salmon and steelhead have any time left on the planet without the
help of the people. The Golden Age of Salmon and Steelhead is likely long past, but people
working together can ensure at least their continued existence. California salmon were thought to
be extinct as early as 1865 as a result of sediment that choked the streams from hydraulic mining
and clear-cut logging. The salmon of California are now once again in danger for many reasons:
global warming, pollution, poisons, man-made drugs, lack of fish passage and an overall
degradation of spawning beds
.
Part of the solution is not to argue for years but to open up California streams as soon as possible
for salmon spawning. The SARSAS Plan (see www.sarsas.org), formulated for the Auburn
Ravine, is the simplest way to save salmon and should be implemented on all streams within our
state immediately. If every stream were to have a volunteer group working to do what
SARSAS is doing with the Auburn Ravine, (that is, to return salmon and steelhead to its entire
length and secure fish passage, adequate water and spawning beds) then salmon could once
again thrive in significant numbers. The line from the movie Field of Dreams, “If you build it, they
will come,” can be paraphrased and applied to all salmon: “If you clear it, they will come.”
SARSAS urges the Governor Brown’s staff, both houses of California government and Interior
Secretary Ken Salazar as well as his water Czar, David Hayes, to help. Governor Brown and
legislators can provide incentives to encourage other organizations to take ownership of particular
streams and make them suitable for salmon passage. They could help streamline the 501c3
process and perhaps add small incentives to volunteer groups once they have a strong strategic
plan in place. Salmon are at considerable risk, and the governor and legislators have the ability to
connect each group to the right agencies in a quick and efficient manner to fast track volunteer
groups’ efforts toward salmon restoration.

The SARSAS Plan for the Auburn Ravine can serve as a model for other organizations to work
on other streams. It is a simple but effective plan easily adaptable by any group. Additionally,
SARSAS board members are available to assist other groups in implementing the SARSAS plan.
Imagine the impact of a thousand salmon in the Auburn Ravine and then multiply that by several
hundred streams or perhaps all 738 streams that enter the San Joaquin, Sacramento and
American River watersheds. Salmon and steelhead numbers certainly can and will thrive in this
environment. If only three percent of the smolt return to each of these streams, the result
will be tremendous. “Clear it (stream) and they will come.”  In a short period of time with many
individuals and groups on board, SARSAS will reach its goals, missions and ultimately, the
restoration of salmon and steelhead at a very low cost.

Even if the SARSAS Plan is partially
successful, salmon and steelhead will have one more river to spawn within, and new life will
abound. An alternate plan of trucking salmon above and around dams is feasible, and SARSAS
wholeheartedly supports it, but it is very expensive. Our plan costs thousands of dollars,
the alternative, billions of dollars. Both can help the salmon, but at what cost in time and real
dollars?Want to help? Contact the governor, legislators, federal officials and local entities and ask them to
grasp and support the SARSAS Plan. Then, contact Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and California
Water Czar David Hayes and ask them to work with SARSAS. Let them know that the SARSAS
Plan will provide successful outcomes for salmon and steelhead and, if adopted for a significant
number of streams in central and northern California, the PLAN can assist in the restoration of the
Pacific commercial fishery. Since many tributaries to the Sacramento/San
Joaquin Rivers are blocked by minor diversion dams, salmon cannot currently spawn in numbers
large enough to prevent a decrease in their number.

Using the SARSAS Plan as a model for saving salmon in the Auburn Ravine may be enough to
begin the restoration of the Pacific Coast Salmon Fishery and put thousands of unemployed
fisherman back into their boats, free sport fisherman to follow their passion and help Californians
feel good about themselves because they did something to help themselves, their children,
and the fishes. Volunteers, concentrating and uniting their efforts, can work quickly enough to
revive our salmon population toward health and well-being.  SARSAS needs your help, political
will and public support to finish its work on the Auburn Ravine and to provide assistance to others
who may wish to develop their streams.

In the final analysis, “All things merge into one and a river runs through it. We are all haunted by
water” (and the salmon in it). The SARSAS Plan allows people to do something about the destiny
of salmon, and thereby do something about their own destinies. Again, when salmon can’t make
it in our world, neither can people.

SARSAS Newsletter, January 23, 2013


News from Save Auburn Ravine Salmon and Steelhead Inc. (SARSAS) http://conta.cc/10kYZjf

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Donations to Save Auburn Ravine Salmon and Steelhead (SARSAS)


SARSAS accepts donations of cash, or in-kind donations of personal time and professional expertise and will work outside the usual channels of large financial grants. SARSAS has the ability to accept grant money as well as apply for grants for general support and to work on several of the barriers described in Auburn Ravine/Coon Creek Eco-System Restoration Plan.
SARSAS is an all-volunteer organization with all funds going to our mission of returning salmon and steelhead to the entire thirty-three mile length of Auburn Ravine.

If you would like to donate or have a question about donating, PLEASE contact Jack Sanchez at jlsanchez39@gmail.com or call 530.888.0281
You can also send donations to the following address:

SARSAS, INC.
PO BOX 4269
Auburn, CA 95604

All donations are TAX DEDUCTIBLE.
SARSAS, Inc Tax ID # EIN 80-0291680
501 (c) 3 Public Benefit Non-profit Corp
You will receive a letter of thanks with our tax number for all donations.

Volunteer Needed to Setup and Manage a SARSAS Website


 Contact Jack for further details at jlsanchez39@gmail.com

SARSAS is an all-volunteer 501 C 3, non-profit, public benefit corporation.  SARSAS is seeking a volunteer to set up a website and manage it.  The website is for salmon videos/salmon pictures which will be available to the media and the public.   Here are the details for the Web Manager:

Scope of work:
Design stage would be pretty easy.  SARSAS doesn't need a high powered, highly dynamic site.  Just a basic site with good production values, that can handle new textual content on a monthly basis;

Implementation stage:   Site would need to be hosted on a place with good bandwidth and good storage capabilities.  We're hoping for a lot of traffic, as momentum builds;

Maintenance stage:   Post Monthly meeting agendas.  Occasional press releases.   Media from SARSAS Photographers such as Steve Hubbard and Phil Robertson to be posted in galleries;

Funds:  SARSAS has limited funds available to pay for some hard costs, but on a very limited basis.  That's why we're looking for a pro bono solution from an interested professional.

Donations to Save Auburn Ravine Salmon and Steelhead ( SARSAS)



SARSAS accepts donations of cash, or in-kind donations of personal time and professional expertise and will work outside the usual channels of large financial grants. SARSAS has the ability to accept grant money as well as apply for grants for general support and to work on several of the barriers to fish passage described in Auburn Ravine/Coon Creek Eco-System Restoration Plan.

SARSAS is an all-volunteer organization with all funds going to our mission of returning salmon and steelhead to the entire thirty-three mile length of Auburn Ravine.

If you would like to donate or have a question about donating, please contact Jack Sanchez at jlsanchez39@gmail.com or call 530.888.0281.

You can also send donations to the following address:

SARSAS, INC.
PO BOX 4269
Auburn, CA 95604

All donations are TAX DEDUCTIBLE.
SARSAS, Inc Tax ID # EIN 80-0291680
501 (c) 3 Public Benefit Non-profit Corp
You will receive a letter of thanks with our tax number for all donations.
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Saturday, January 5, 2013

Salmon in Auburn Ravine Video Showing

SARSAS will be showing a video of salmon returning to Auburn Ravine at the Meddlers meeting, 7 a.m. at Auburn City Hall on Tuesday, January 8. 

Hope you can attend to see Steve Hubbard's fabulous video of salmon spawning and Phil Robertson' s photographs of salmon fighting to get over the barriers.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

SARSAS Meeting Agenda General MONDAY, January 28, 2013 175 Fulweiler Avenue (the Domes), Auburn, CA 95603 at 10am


SARSAS Meeting Agenda General
MONDAY, January 28, 2013
175 Fulweiler Avenue (the Domes), Auburn, CA 95603 
Contact: Jack Sanchez at 530-888-0281
Meetings are Fourth Monday of each month at 10-11 a.m.

I.      Self- introductions and sign-ins.     

II.    SARSAS Philosophy – We believe by working together with many individuals and agencies at the same table, we can achieve the mission of SARSAS, which is to return salmon and  steelhead to the entire 33 mile length of the Auburn Ravine
.
III. Featured Speakers:  January 28, 2013, Richard Rivas, Natural Resources Conservation Services, Wildlife Biologist, “Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) and Auburn Ravine Fish Passage”: the program will be of interest to landowners on Auburn Ravine who are conservation-minded.
 https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&ved=0CEIQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nrcs.usda.gov%2Fwps%2Fportal%2Fnrcs%2Fdetail%2Fnational%2Fprograms%2Ffinancial%2Fwhip%2F%3Fcid%3Dnrcs143_008423&ei=dLXhULbCDKnBiwLbvYGQCg&usg=AFQjCNFyK8-G-uEt2thgzMMnviNjmCjzgg&sig2=6lk-4limZqHu-ub0Blk8Ig&bvm=bv.1355534169,d.cGE

IV. Jack Sanchez, President of SARSAS, “For the Good of the Order”

Scheduled speakers:

February 25, 2013, Ron Ott, SARSAS Fish Passage Specialist, “Fish Screens on Area Streams and Rivers”

March 25, 2013, Placer County Sheriff Edward N. Bonner, “Fishing Stories of a Boy Growing Up in Loomis”

April 22, 2013, SARSAS Photographer Steve Hubbard and Owner of Gold Country Images, “History of Hydroelectricity/Powerhouses in Our Area”

May 28, TUESDAY, 2013, Rocko Brown, ESA PWA, “Restoring Salmon Ecosystems”

June 24. 2013, Jack Sales, International Dark-Sky Association, “Salmon and Light Pollution”

July 22, 2013, Julie Leimbach, Coordinator of Foothill Water Network, “Mission and Activities of FWN”

August 26, 2013, Beaver Specialist Mary Tappel, “Beaver Management in the Age of Salmonid Restoration with Focus on Beavers in Auburn Ravine"

September 23, 2013, Randy Hansen, SARSAS Fish Friendly Farming Coordinator, “Fish Friendly Farming Update”

October 28, 2013, Einar Maisch, PCWA Director of Strategic Affairs, “Middle Fork Authority Update”

November 25, 2013 Placer County Supervisor Jim Holmes, “Placer County Water and the Auburn Ravine”

December 23, 2013 TBA

Happy New Year and Thanks to the Countless Number of People Who Have Helped SARSAS and Other Organizations Return Salmon to the Auburn Ravine

Happy New Year and Thanks to the Countless Number of People Who Have Helped SARSAS and Other Organizations Return Salmon to the Auburn Ravine 

What you all have done is almost miraculous with 273 salmon and 43 redds counted below Hemphill Dam, and even with no retrofitting for fish passage of NID's Hemphill Dam,, 30 salmon and 4 redds were measured and counted by CaDF&G, one of many underfunded and understaffed state agencies that goes far beyond what appears possible, and a special heartfelt thank to NOAA's Special Agent Don Tanner who have made an immeasurable contribution to salmon returning.

And a very special thanks to the Board of Directors of SARSAS who have doggedly persisted with its mission of returning salmon and steelhead to the entire thirty-three mile length of the Auburn Ravine.

May the new year bring even more focus and determination to help the fishes.