8/2/2019 Kings River: Enhancing the river together

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Enhancing the river together

Programs Public Advisory Group

Representatives o the angling public who review plans and activities

and bring ideas and proposals to the Fisheries Management Program

www.kingsriverfsheries.org

Kings River Conservation District

A regional resource management agency with a vision

that includes balanced environmental actions, a balanced groundwater supply,

eective and ecient food protection, and a reliable power supply

www.krcd.org

Kings River Water Association

An organization representing the 28 public districts and canal companies

with Kings River water rights and the administrator o

those entitlements and water release operations

www.kingsriverwater.org

Caliornia Department o Fish and Game

Managers o Caliornias diverse sh, wildlie, and plant resources,

and the habitats upon which they depend, or their ecological values

and or their use and enjoyment by the public

www.dg.ca.gov

There is no question that a tremendous amount o time, study,fnancial resources and just plain hard work have been devoted to the rivers fshery

through unparalleled cooperation and consensus building

between all o the rivers diverse interests. That is a signifcant accomplishment.KEVIN WREN

FORMER PUBLIC ADVISORY GROUP CHAIRMAN

The success o this program is largely due to the signifcant commitments madeby the water interests. Had this been a court imposed settlement,I do not believe we could have made this kind o progress.

The uture o the program depends on the trust and cooperation achieved

between KRWA, KRCD, DFG and the public.HANK URBACH

PUBLIC ADVISORY GROUP CHAIRMAN

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Enhancing the river together Working togetherhas proven to be a winning combination or improving the Kings Rivers shery. The Kings

River Fisheries Management Program (the Program) began May 28, 1999. Described as a model partnership,

its strategies are innovative and exciting! This unique Program has brought together Kings River water users

and their organizations, anglers, state agencies, and others who care about the river. With a working style o

collaboration rather than confict, everyone benets. Contribution by the rivers water users o some o their

storage, water relied upon to irrigate the worlds most productive armland, is a big part o the collaboration. The

Kings now has higher fows, better water temperature control, improved habitat and more unding. Success andprogress are the results.

OUR Mission

The Kings River Fisheries Management Program is dedicated

to improving and enhancing the Kings River watershed and

shery habitat while maintaining its benecial uses, recog-

nizing that a healthy river is essential to the regions well

being and uture quality o lie.

Making It Happen

From the beginning, cooperation has been the key. The

Kings River Water Association (KRWA), Kings River Con-

servation District (KRCD) and Caliornia Department o

Fish and Game (CDFG) are the Programs ormal partners,

assisted by an active Public Advisory Group (PAG).

Adaptive management utilizes the best science available.

The Program balances shery needs with other benecial

water uses. It adjusts to changing needs, opportunities and

constraints. All decisions are by consensus.

All three partnering agencies are represented on the ProgramsExecutive Policy Committee. They are aided by a technical

steering committee and other experts.

Opinions, priorities, suggestions and outreach eorts o its

Public Advisory Group are vital. Anglers and others interest-

ed in the Kings Rivers habitat are PAG members.

Enhanced Habitat

The Kings River Fisheries Management Program uses many

tools to enhance the Kings Rivers sh and wildlie habitat:

Temperature Control Pool. KRWAs 28 member agencies

provide 12 percent o their storage, all the water necessary to

maintain 100,000 acre-eet as a reservoir pool o cold water.

Higher River Flows. Year-round minimum river releases

have been doubled in most years and increased by even

more in wet years.

Better Temperature Control. Cold water releases or the

downstream shery are now managed more eectively

through nancial and operational support or a $6 million

turbine bypass system built at Pine Flat Dam by the Army

Corps o Engineers.

New Stream. The Thorburn Spawning Channel, completed

in 2000, has the natural look and unction o a small stream.

Where it meanders a hal mile, trout can spawn and grow

with shelter rom high, swit fows.

Habitat Improvements. Thousands o sheltering boulders

and tons o spawning gravel have been placed in the river.

Shoreline coves and jetties have been created and enhanced.

Better habitat equals improved sh reproduction.

Other Successes

Scientic Study

More Data

Fish Counts and Tracking

Better Fishing Conditions

Public Understanding and Knowledge

Funding by Partnering Agencies.

Sound Planning

Going Forward

Its accomplishments are many, but ther

more to do as the Program adapts to chang

tions and shery needs. More habitat enh

scientic study, and monitoring and data

are planned.

What the Program does