Dan Blanton Striperfest Fund delivers another $15,000 to defend striper in suit brought on by water districts

March 5, 2009 -- As the trial date approaches, the Striperfest Fund has delivered another $15,000 to CSPA so that CSPA can continue its role as intervener in the "striper trial," a law suit brought on by a group of southland water districts calling themselves the "Coalition for a Sustainable Delta."

The donation was the second made by the ad hoc organization and brings the total of funds committed to the trial by that group to $30,000. The other major contributor to the trial is the California Striped Bass Association and its member chapters.

The funds for the trial are just part of what the Striperfest people have accomplished in the eleven year history of the annual banquet and raffle that takes place at the Sugar Barge, Bethel Island, the first Saturday each November.

The event's organizer, Dan Blanton, a noted fly fisher and author, conceived of the event knowing that the striped bass, an introduced and now 120 year resident species of the delta, is threatened by a number of factors including delta pumping, pollution, loss of habitat and a diminished food supply.

While the striper is just one of the delta species facing catastrophic declines in population, its advocates consider it a tremendous game fish, especially when caught on light tackle such as fly rods. Its supporters, those attending the eleven past Striperfests, believe the fish should continue to be listed as a California game fish and be regulated for sustained healthy populations by the Department of Fish and Game.

While the "striper trial" has been the focus of much of the money raised in the last two years, Striperfest funds have also provided support for other fishery and conservation efforts. These efforts include $6,000 to CSPA, $12,500 to other conservation organizations including EarthJustice and the National Resource Defense Council, and $5,000 to youth fly fishing organizations for recruitment of young fly fishers into the art and conservation ethic of fly fishing. As part of the efforts to preserve the striped bass fishery, the group also promoted catch and release rationale and techniques via brochures distributed throughout the fishing community.

The Striperfest committee, with Dan Blanton as chair is proud of the fact that they have done all of the above as volunteers and without spending a single cent on administrative expenses. The other members of the committee are Doug Lovell, Jay Remley, Matt Havelock, Dave Sellers, Marcus Schroers and non-voting member, Mike McKenzie.