Clear Lake Environmental Research Center: March 2023 |
This year we celebrate 150 years since Livingston Stone visited Clear Lake and documented the seasons of the lake, the fish species and their abundant populations. It is a rare and precious gift to have a 150 year old documented observational history of any natural feature. We are incredibly lucky to have a peek at Clear Lake's history so that we can see how our watershed has changed and not changed in the past 150 years. Despite some of the words and phrases he used being colloquial for the time, it is still a valuable snap shot into history. This year we are going to add his observations to the end of each e-newsletter!
What is abundantly clear is that the native fish of Clear Lake are disappearing faster than can be accurately documented. The Clear Lake Hitch or Chi in the native language have been of particular interest the past few years. To that end CLERC and the Chi Council created a citizen science observation tool to help the community report hitch sightings. It is important to take photos so we can definitively identify the fish being observed.
This year we are asking the community to enthusiastically go find some hitch! Especially since we have had such a wet winter and tributaries are full. It's easy to participate in the hitch observation program. Between January and June, hitch swim up streams and other tributaries around Clear Lake in order to spawn. During this time, look for schools of fish in creeks around Clear Lake and then report your findings, no findings is just as important as finding hitch! And don't forget to take pictures!
|
150 Years Since Livingston Stone |
Livingston Stone was a 19th century fisheries expert who arrived, by chance, at Clear Lake in 1873. Mr. Stone graduated from Harvard with honors in 1857, and after studying to become a church pastor didn't work out, he switched interests to fish. He founded the American Fisheries Society and was commissioned by the government to restore America's depleted rivers. In 1872 he was hired as a federal employee to open one of the first fish hatcheries in California, the Baird Hatchery.
During his stay at Clear Lake, Livingston Stone wrote down his observations of the seasonal changes of Clear Lake, local ecology and cataloged the fish. What is remarkable about his observations is that some of the characteristics of the lake then are very similar to those of today. Of course, the biggest difference in these observations is the current lack of the native fish abundance of 150 years ago. |
"this lake seems to be particularly adapted to fish, and the water teems with them. In the spring, when they run up Kelsey Creek, Cold Creek, and other tributaries, to spawn, they swarm in these streams by millions, forming an almost solid mass, so that it is even difficult to cross the fords with a horse on account of them." |
The Clear Lake Hitch have been a hot topic in Lake County for a few years. Once, part of Clear Lake's abundant fish populations they are now on the road to extinction. |
Clear Lake's once abundant fish populations. |
The hitch, an ancient fish endemic to Clear Lake, live in deep in water most of the time, but every spring the adults work their way up the tributary creeks to spawn. In the words of biologist Rick Macedo, they used to "mass by the thousands," in an annual ritual "as spectacular as any salmon run on the Pacific coast . . . The tumultuous splashing . . . and the appearance of herons, osprey, egrets, and bald eagles . . . signify that the hitch are in." In recent years the population seems to have declined precipitously, for reasons that are still poorly understood. Despite being adapted to droughts, the loss of more than 90 percent of its spawning habitat, as well as water pollution and predation by nonnative fish species introduced to boost sport fishing, have taken their toll on the hitch population. |
CLERC is making a positive impact in our community find out how you can make a difference too! Stay tuned.... |
|
|
Livingston Stone Monthly Observations |
|
|
In January, the lake rises somewhat, the tributary streams are full and high, and the trout of the lake run up the streams to spawn. A few suckers are also found in the creeks when they are roiled by the rains. It is said that black-fish are caught with the hook at this time, but I did not hear of any being taken during my stay in January. The Indians fish with a sweep-seine during this month, and catch various kinds of fish. They also catch the lake-trout with hook and line, and the perch with nets. - Livingston Stone January Observations 1873
|
|
|
In February, the shapaulle run up the streams, and are caught in considerable quantities. The lake-trout return to the lake. Black-fish are caught this month. The tributary streams are very high. - Livingston Stone February Observations 1873 |
|
|
Suckers and shapaulle abound in the creeks. The shapaulle bite somewhat in the lake. Black-fish are more abundant and more easily caught. - Livingston Stone March Observations 1873 |
|
|
Our Contact Information
Clear Lake Environmental Research Center
PO BOX 636, Lakeport, CA 95453
707-261-0008
theclerc.org
|
| |
|
|
