Outdoors : NOTES : Fish Conservationists Welcome Ruling on Walker River Case

Fish conservationists are celebrating a decision by a Mono County jury that found Nevada farmers guilty of illegally killing thousands of trout in the East Walker River when they drew excessive water from Bridgeport Reservoir in the fall of 1988.

The jury of three men and nine women deliberated for an hour last week before deciding that the Walker River Irrigation District had violated all three sections of the California Fish and Game Code cited by District Attorney Stan Eller.

“We’re elated,” said Rick Rockel, CalTrout stream keeper for what was one of the state’s best trophy trout waters.

Jim Edmondson, regional director for CalTrout, said: “This means they broke the law and they’re going to have to fix it or they’ll have to pay.”

The WRID owned rights to the water but, the jury found, it:

--Failed to notify the Department of Fish and Game of the substantial change in flow.

--Released so much silt into the stream bed that the first mile below the dam was ruined for years.

--Failed to account for the immediate welfare of the fish.

The violations are misdemeanors subject to fines of up to $2,000, community service time or jail up to six months. A sentencing hearing is scheduled Feb. 13 in Bridgeport.

“I’d like to see somebody locked up as an example for wanton destruction of our natural resources,” Edmondson said.

But Eller said that is sometimes difficult “when you’re suing an entity.”

DFG biologist Darrell Wong said: “I’m more interested in fixing the river and getting a long-term solution . . . (such as establishing) a minimum maintenance flow and a sediment management plan.”

In the three-day trial, Wong testified that the fish population was reduced from 3,500 to 5,000 per mile the year before, to about 200 per mile in some sections.

In addition, Rockel said, the stream bed insect population and trout spawning beds were buried by sediment, which remains. Wong noted that when a similar problem occurred in 1977, subsequent wet winters washed out the silt, but now the Eastern Sierra is in its fourth dry year.

“It probably will be three to five years before it’s back to what it was,” Rockel said.

A feature of the Southern California Boat Show opening Friday at the Los Angeles Convention Center is the new Hobie Power Skiff package. The 13- and 15-footers, designed by longtime Hobie engineer and surfing pioneer Phil Edwards, come standard with EZ Loader trailers and Yamaha outboards of 40 or 50 horsepower.

The 15s offer Center Cockpit ($12,995), Fisherman ($12,495) and Utility ($10,995) configurations. The 13s cost $8,995. Prices include motor and trailer.

About 1,100 powerboats and sailboats will be on display, along with 350 booths with equipment and services. Hours for the 10-day show are 2-10 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for children 6-12 and free for children under 6.

San Diego long-range: The big yellowfin tuna of the Revillagigedo Islands are cooperating to such an extent for those presently aboard the Royal Polaris that all fish weighing less than 150 pounds are being released.

Butch Greene of Los Angeles leads the jackpot race with his 280-pound tuna. The boat is scheduled to return on Sunday or Monday.

Meanwhile, the 18 passengers aboard the Polaris Supreme returned Monday from a 16-day trip with 333 yellowfin, 115 wahoo and 132 grouper. Top fish: a 271-pound yellowfin caught by Billy Shimizu.

The biggest tuna taken aboard the Qualifier 105, which also returned Monday after 16 days, was a 196-pound, 7-ounce yellowfin caught by Bill Blosser of Spokane, Wash.

The American Angler, out for nine days, returned Saturday from the Alijos Rocks with 372 yellowfin--25 weighing more than 100 pounds--and a few yellowtail and dorado.

Cabo San Lucas: Mostly striped marlin and dorado are being caught. Hotel boats are reporting one to three stripers a day. Dorado are coming in between eight and 25 pounds.

Roosterfish, sierra mackerel and an occasional thresher shark to 150 pounds are also included in the catches. The water temperature is averaging slightly over 70 degrees.

Briefly

The Blake Jones Trout Derby at the Eastern Sierra’s Pleasant Valley Reservoir and Owens River will be held March 3. Entry fee: $3 for adults, $2 for children. Information: (619) 873-8405. . . . Raahauge’s Shotgun Sports at Norco will play host to the U.S. Sporting Clays Association’s first FITASC tournament of the year Saturday and Sunday. FITASC is an acronym for the French name of the sport’s international governing body. Competition is held in 44 countries on five continents.

Times staff writer Pete Thomas contributed to this story.