Pit crew puts river on track

AFTER three years of intense negotiations, conservation groups, the state’s largest utility and wildlife officials have reached an agreement that should improve the habitat for trout and other fish species in the Pit River in northeastern California.

The negotiations center on a Pacific Gas & Electric project on the Pit that would control its flow.

The Pit is home to one of California’s most storied wild trout fisheries, and it is also a hub for

fly fishermen across the West.

The agreement came after years of meetings, technical studies and heated negotiations, and the consensus agreement has been sent to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission together

with a request for approval.

“It’s amazing what parties can accomplish when they focus on mutual gains,” said Curtis Knight of California Trout, one of the groups involved in the negotiations.

-- J. Michael Kennedy