CalTrout Gives Lois Wolk Golden Trout Award
by Dan Bacher
May 9, 2008. California Trout, a statewide fishing and
conservation group, honored Assemblywoman Lois Wolk
(D-Davis) on Tuesday, May 6 for her leadership as the
chairwoman of the Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife
Committee on some of California's most pressing water
issues, including the state's fisheries declines, flood
protection, and water policy reform.
Brian Stranko, the organization's chief executive
officer, gave Wolk the Golden Trout plaque at a
ceremony in Sacramento after the annual Fisheries
Legislative Forum before a group of legislators,
commercial fishermen, recreational anglers and
conservationists.
California Trout (CalTrout), an organization that
advocates the protection and restoration of wild trout
and steelhead waters throughout California, gives the
award semi-annually to the individual who makes
"the most distinguished contribution to the
protection of wild trout, steelhead, and their
habitat"- someone whose "actions and deeds
exemplify the meaning of public service."
Previous recipients include two former California
Governors, Congressman Mike Thompson and former
Senator Alan Cranston.
"Lois Wolk is a champion for the protection of
our state's declining fish populations and the failing
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, which provides critical
habitat for our state's fisheries," said Brian
Stranko, CalTrout's chief executive officer. "She
has successfully taken on some of the most challenging
and complicated issues facing the state, taking a
leadership role on water policy and in efforts to
strengthen flood protection and land use planning in
California's Central Valley and Sacramento-San Joaquin
Delta region. Californians are lucky to have such a
strong advocate looking out for their water,
recreation, and wildlife resources."
Last year, Wolk led efforts to protect threatened and
endangered native trout, aquatic, and amphibian
species on California rivers and streams from the
effects of motorized suction dredge gold mining. Her
bill, AB 1032, passed through the State and Assembly,
but was vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in
October. California Trout and the Karuk Indian Tribe
sponsored the bill.
"The bill didn't become law, but it got all of
the way to the Governor's desk under a lot of
contention,' said Stranko. "It required a lot of
patience and leadership by Wolk to get through the
legislature."
This year, she is carrying a package of bills to help
protect and restore Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
fisheries.
"Resolving the crisis in the Delta must be one of
the state's top priorities," said Wolk. "The
recent closure of the 2008 salmon fishing season in
California is an example of what we can expect if the
state doesn't begin addressing some of the Delta's
most urgent needs. I look forward to working with
groups like CalTrout to help the state live up to its
responsibility to protect this natural resource for
the public's benefit."
Wolk's package includes two bills spurred by the
testimony of anglers at the Prospect Island Fish Kill
Legislative Hearing in Rio Vista on December 6, 2007.
Assembly Bill 1806 will help better prepare the state
to prevent and respond to emergencies that place Delta
fisheries at risk, as well as mitigate for the impacts
on Delta fisheries arising from operation of the large
water export pumping facilities of the state and
federal water projects.
Assembly Bill 2502 will expand fishing, hunting and
other recreational opportunities in the Delta by
establishing a Delta Ecological and Recreation Area,
including three flooded islands, Prospect Island,
Liberty Island and Holland Tract.
This is Wolk's last term as an Assemblywoman under
California�s term limits law and I greatly
appreciate her support of fish and wildlife
restoration measures backed by anglers,
conservationists and California Indian Tribes. I am
gratified that California Trout chose to honor her
work by issuing Wolk their annual Golden Trout Award.
