Central San Joaquin Valley anglers will be among those least affected by a court order restricting fish stocking in California lakes and rivers where native species could be harmed.
On Monday, the Department of Fish and Game released a list of waters that can and cannot be stocked with hatchery-raised rainbow trout following last week's order signed by a Sacramento County Superior Court judge.
In the Central Region, which spans Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Stanislaus, Tulare and Tuolumne counties, only the Kern, Kaweah and Stanislaus (South Fork) rivers are off-limits to the stocking trucks.
Ron Samra, manager of the DFG's San Joaquin Hatchery in Friant, said the Kaweah has not been stocked for several years.
Most Eastern Sierra lakes were also spared. Only Pine Creek in Inyo County and Sotcher Lake (in Madera County but accessible via Mono County) cannot be stocked.
The list is subject to change as the DFG still must prepare an environmental impact report on its fish-stocking programs by January 2010.
Although the DFG has stocked trout for more than 100 years to support recreational fishing, studies have shown that hatchery-raised fish compete with native species for food and habitat and in some cases prey on them.
Two environmental groups sued the DFG last year to reform its hatchery operations. Judge Patrick Marlette's order covers 25 native fish and amphibians shown to be negatively impacted by stocking, including the California golden trout, Central California steelhead and mountain yellow-legged frog.
For the list of affected waters, go to www.dfg.ca.gov/news/stocking.
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