Steelhead Dispute

Re “United Water District Out of Touch on Steelhead,” Ventura County Perspective, April 18.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man in the arena.” This passage from Theodore Roosevelt’s famous speech may have been written for critics such as Alasdair Coyne, who complains about the Freeman fish passage facility and twists the words of the people who are working to help reestablish the steelhead trout in the watershed.

Mr. Coyne sits on the sidelines and takes potshots from his comfortable vantage point. Although his participation has been solicited and would be welcome, he has never made an effort to work with United Water Conservation District to improve the efficiency of the fish ladder. He has never had to balance meeting the water supply needs of 300,000 people against the needs of the environment. In short, Mr. Coyne may claim to speak on behalf of the fish but all he offers are words. He is not interested in seeking a solution.

A little research would have revealed that the fisheries agencies--California Department of Fish and Game, National Marine Fisheries Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service--provided the design and operating criteria for the fish ladder. Throughout the year, they check on its operation and make recommendations to United for design and operating enhancements.

United has always operated under criteria set by the experts. United commissioned a five-year fish study that began in 1991, when the facility first went on line, which provided information that contributed to more effective operation of the facility. While United does not have a fisheries biologist on staff, the fisheries agencies themselves provide biological consulting; during the spawning and migration season, United hires a biologist to evaluate the fish ladder performance.

United is proud to have the only operating fish-passage facility south of Stockton. Mr. Coyne seems to have deliberately twisted comments made by United staff members. United is an enthusiastic supporter of the fish ladder and committed to helping the fisheries agencies reestablish the steelhead population. If a certain amount of frustration was detected in comments by United staff, it is probably the same frustration shared by Mr. Coyne: In spite of all the effort, time and money, reestablishing the steelhead population is slow work.

Yes, we want to see more fish, and yes, we are committed to operating the fish ladder until that population has come back or until the experts tell us that there is no chance of reestablishing the steelhead in this watershed. We agree with Mark Capelli, executive director of Friends of the Ventura River, who stated, “It’s taken 50 to 60 years to put the steelhead into the condition they are in, and it’s going to take a little while to restore them.”

So, Mr. Coyne, if you want to be part of the solution, get off the sidelines and join us in the arena.

DANA L. WISEHART

Deputy general manager,

United Water Conservation District

Santa Paula