San Gabriel Mountains National Monument August 17, 2024August 17, 2024

Gather ’round the Poop Tree

True love is picking up used toilet paper from the infamous Poop Tree in the Monument with a bunch of other FRVC volunteers. It’s not nearly as fun as it looks, but hanging out with the other volunteers is a blast.

Last week, I logged my last Fisheries Resources Volunteer Corps mission. About a dozen of us began at 7 a.m. and completed the Total Maximum Daily Load measurements at four different spots by 2:30. We skipped lunch because we all wanted to “get ‘er done” and the temperature was hot as blazes in the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. Plenty of sunscreen couldn’t hide the true grit of this group. It’s nasty, hot, brutish work.

For a TMDL survey FVRC volunteers record all the garbage by category and by pound within a 100-foot stretch of what should be pristine water flowing from Mount Baldy into the East Fork of the San Gabriel River. A TMDL was my first patrol last year and I couldn’t believe how positive these folks were about a dire situation. After all, who can say that they actually had fun cleaning up human waste, plastic bags, dozens of straws, discarded socks, kids pool toys, cigarette butts, beer bottles galore, in other words all the leftovers from those who visit our Monument and should know better than to leave it all behind.

Each time we go out, we dutifully bag several hundred pounds of consumer society’s discards, lug them uphill from the stream, weigh each bag, then drive the bags to the dump. I joked with Craig, a dedicated volunteer, about what a good time we had doing this and he said,

“Yup, my friends ask me if I’ve done something wrong? If that’s why I’m out here collecting garbage.”

If you knew Craig and his daughter, Haley, you’d realize all they seem to do is what’s right.

Each year, FRVC forwards the survey of how many pounds of soft plastics, hard plastics, threats to human health and all the other TMDL categories to the Forest Service. I think this is the second year of of three year study, but don’t quote me. At the end of the study, the powers-that-be will be able to ascertain what anyone on one of these patrols–as well as anyone visiting the East Fork during summer– already knows: we are overrun with garbage, graffiti, illegal stream dams, fire rings, illegal parking and all the rest of it.

That’s why I was particularly heartened to hear from a Forest Service employee who also volunteered that day; there are plans by the FS to actually take action. One idea is to designate parking spaces that would be accessed by a reservation system. Your car would get a numbered parking spot for the day that was just for you and nobody else.

Sounds familiar, right? Parks and camping areas all over California use the same fee-based system. Then—very important—there would be enforcement from the Sheriff’s Department or the California Highway Patrol. In all the years I’ve fished the Sab Gabes, I’ve never seen a cop give anyone a ticket for anything.

Another idea is to create a kiosk and gate where visitors would stop and pay a fee for the day at the nearly invisible Visitors’ Center at the start of the canyon on Hwy. 39. Again, this is a system anyone who visits our state parks is familiar with: You pay a fee, get a map and speak with the rangers to get oriented.

Or both might be implemented.

The point is that even though implementation will require wading through layers and layers of bureaucracy and a public review before we all see any changes, it seems the FS is finally taking notice that the status quo can’t continue.

As a concrete example, expect to see a net stretched downslope of the bridge before the East Fork parking area in the near future. That’s a direct result of the monthly TMDL studies that FRVC carries out. Who knows if it will keep the hundreds of pounds of summer trash out of the water, but trying solutions, even when they fail, can lead to more and better remedies.

See you on the river, Jim Burns

Podcast July 24, 2024July 24, 2024

Design podcast explains history of the LA River

Steve Kuchenski, a friend of the blog (as well as my friend!), suggested this podcast.

“Your regular readers may be familiar with much of this, but (for example) I was unaware of the original Fredrick Law Olmsted plan for parks all along the river in lieu of 100% concrete channelization,” he wrote in an email.

The description of this episode follows. If you would like to listen, >>CLICK HERE.

When you hear the word “river,” you probably picture a majestic body of water flowing through a natural habitat. Well, the LA River looks nothing like that. Most people who see it probably mistake it for a giant storm drain. It’s a deep trapezoidal channel with steep concrete walls, and a flat concrete bottom. Los Angeles was founded around this river. But decades ago it was confined in concrete so that, for better or worse, the city could become the sprawling metropolis that it is today. All these years later the county is still grappling with the consequences of those actions.
Reported by Gillian Jacobs, guest hosted by 99PI producer, Vivian Le.

See you on the river, Jim Burns

San Gabriel Mountains National Monument July 20, 2024July 21, 2024

The Fork Fire closes East Fork

For fire updates, >>CLICK HERE.

Hey, fishers, the East Fork area and East Fork Road are closed today, so it’s a good idea to stay off Highway 39. Last night, although Camp Williams wasn’t evacuated, area hikers and campers were, so the situation is once again very hot and dire for our mountains, the visitors who frequent them, our firefighters, the fish we all love and hopefully, not for homes and residents. News reports, as I write, say 300 acres have burned so far, CalFire has called in air support, and containment is at zero.

Don’t we all dread these times? Biologists say that fire is natural and a good thing, but that the burn cycle is 20 years between events. Ash fertilizes the ground for seeds to grow, Giant Sequoias have a natural fire retardant in their bark and the jack pine depends on fire to release their seeds, according to the National Forest Foundation.

If an area continues to burn, say every three or four years, the habitat becomes less able to support the rich land and aquatic life we all enjoy. Wildlife die or flee in search of better habitat and food. Even worse in long term, grasses and shrubs colonize what used to be a forest of trees. Invasives can then get a leg up as well.

If you’ve been to the WF recently, you’ve noticed that the flow is way down because of construction efforts to control the Bobcat Fire debris in Cogswell Dam. The water clarity is not great, and it is way hot.

We are in the fourth year of a five-year emergency debris clean-up project, and because of the turbidity, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s surveys on the West Fork in the last two years haven’t been completed.

“CDFW has just recently completed a 2024 annual survey of the WFSGR and results are still pending,” CDFW Environmental Scientist Joseph Stanovich said in an email. “There has been internal discussion regarding the status of the wild trout populations and plans to help it rebound, but with the current conditions and keeping the wildlife resources in mind, it doesn’t seem to be feasible right now.”

I know we’re all anxious to take a look at that report when it is released.

You can keep an eye on local flows >>HERE. I’m not sure if the West Fork gauge is broken or what, but taking a look at the flow, it ain’t good.

I’ve been hearing much better things about fishing the EF, so let’s all hope that firefighters get the Fork Fire out soon and that these precious habitat treasures for wild trout and all our animals come out of this all right.

See you on the river, Jim Burns

San Gabriel Mountains National Monument July 5, 2024July 5, 2024

It’s hot, give our trout a break!

When a good fisher friend texts you that the water temperature is 68 degrees at 7 a.m., you know it’s July in the San Gabes. Dawn Patrol is a great way to get into lots of our beautiful, wild trout before the summer hordes descend. But, remember the limit for safe fish handling is 70 degrees.

I broke my water thermometer and need to buy a new one. For those who care about our local waters’ health in summer, it’s as important a piece of equipment as a leader billfold or a hemostat.

Many of you savvy anglers already know what “hoot owl” restrictions are. I first heard about them on Montana’s Big Hole River, a waterway that struggles each summer with allocating enough water for ranchers, fishers and trout. They’ve done an amazing job over the years, sharing their watershed and keeping it alive and healthy.

Hoot Owl restrictions recommendations, according to CDFW, mean being active as an angler during times of day when owls can still be heard hooting. These times are typically earlier in the day when weather conditions are cooler.

Keep Fish Wet goes farther with its “No Fish Dry July” campaign .

“No Fish Dry July encourages anglers to rethink their interactions with fish during hot summer months and challenges everyone to make a month-long commitment to “do better”. Whether it is by not taking a single photo of fish for July, using best practices for each fish we catch, or by only targeting warm water species each angler can find a way to participate.”

Whatever you decide to do, remember that once the water hits 70 degrees, it’s better to hang up the rod for a bit, grab a cold one and wait to hear that hoot owl. The trout will thank you and so will your fellow conservation-minded fishers.

See you on the river, Jim Burns

News June 26, 2024

FRVC President passes away

It is with much sadness and a heavy heart that I share with you all that Dave Baumgartner has passed away. He had been battling cancer since December 2021. His goal was to stay as active in our forests as long as possible, which he did without complaining. Dave was trail building in April and was out on patrols in May! He lost his battle on June 1.

Dave had a wonderful life that he lived to the fullest, filling it with adventures and good people! He spent every day possible volunteering, working or recreating in the Angeles and San Bernardino mountains these past 13-14 years. He never tired of exploring our mountains, being on patrol with fellow volunteers, or telling his stories and sharing Dave’s Fun Facts!

He appreciated all of our FRVC volunteers! Whether you were regulars on his patrols, worked with him occasionally in the field, at an event or on administrative items, were trained by him or didn’t have the opportunity to meet him, he knew that you all are the life of FRVC.

Dave’s request is that we all work together keep FRVC growing strong. I did promise Dave that I’d remain active in FRVC to not only continue to do the things I loved in our organization, but also to honor him and the work he has put into FRVC.

The Forest Service has offered to hold a Celebration of Life later this year. I will provide details when we have a firm plan. In lieu of flowers please donate to your favorite charity or add a photo or memory >>to Dave’s History.

Thank you all for your support!

Jane Baumgartner

San Gabriel Mountains National Monument June 15, 2024

An actual Santa Ana Sucker!

I’d never seen a Santa Ana Sucker until today when I found this one downriver of this ruined fishing platform. (Jim Burns)

San Gabriel Mountains National Monument June 13, 2024

The source makes a difference

This is where the forks flow into the main San Gabriel River, behind the earthen San Gabriel Dam, which is currently dry. Note the difference in color between the East Fork, on the left, that flows from Mount Baldy, at 10 ,000 feet, and the West Fork that flows from Cogswell Dam. (Credit: Jim Burns)

News June 10, 2024

Bummer, dude, Chantry to remain closed till later summer

Local high school students Tommy, left, and Charles fly fish for the first time in Santa Anita Canyon in 2011. ( Credit Jim Burns).

From the Forest Service:

Big Santa Anita Canyon (which includes the Chantry Flats Picnic Area) adjacent to Sierra Madre/Arcadia remains temporarily closed until mid- to late-summer.

More work is being done to repair roads and resurface the picnic area parking lot after the Bobcat Fire and subsequent flooding. In addition, volunteers have been working hard on trail repairs.

It can take three to five-plus years or more for an area to recover from a wildfire, especially with excessive post-fire flooding. When plants’ root systems are burned out, there is little to nothing to hold soil in place until more regrowth.