California Trout Supports New State Department of Fish and Game Director

By Brian Stranko
Chief Executive Officer
Caifornia Trout

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the appointment of Don Koch as Director of the State Department of Fish and Game (DFG). Watershed and fish conservation group California Trout is in strong support of Mr. Koch's appointment.

Don Koch has been an effective Department of Fish and Game employee for many years. His collaborative and determined work in the Department's Region One has provided substantial aid for salmon and steelhead recovery. We expect that Mr. Koch will provide renewed leadership for our beleaguered wild fish populations, making fisheries and river and stream protection and restoration a top priority for the Department.

California Trout is particularly eager to see changes in DFG priorities under Mr. Koch's leadership, including:

• Increased funds and staffing for the Wild and Heritage Trout programs;
• Greater financial support and leadership for steelhead and salmon recovery, including clear follow through on the 1996 Steelhead Recovery Plan and the recent Coho Recovery Plan;
• Vocal and determined support for beneficial in-stream uses of water under rights law;
• Firmer enforcement of environmental regulations;
• Focused implementation of the Strategic Trout and Management Plan of 2004;
• Redoubled efforts to complete and implement findings from the recent hatchery lawsuit; and
• Increased resolve for maintaining fishing license fee funds for mandated uses under Section 711 of the fish and game code.

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