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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPSAC 04-14-2010 Agenda Item No. 2 V CITY OF I LAKE 9 DREAM EXTREME. REPORT TO PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMISSION TO: HONORABLE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMISSION FROM: MARK DENNIS INFORMATION /COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER DATE: APRIL 14, 2010 SUBJECT: PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO PERMIT BOW FISHING FOR CARP ON LAKE ELSINORE Background The foraging activity of Carp are known to degrade water quality and can be a detriment to the successful spawning of sport fish. Over the last several years, the City and the Lake Elsinore /San Jacinto Watershed Authority (LESJWA) have expended considerable funds to control the Carp population on Lake Elsinore. From 2002 -2009, LESJWA and the City have partnered to remove 1,330,730 pounds of Carp from the Lake utilizing a 3,000 foot long seine net. The average daily Carp removal rate has decreased substantially over the last several years. For example, in 2004, 2005 and 2006 the average removal rates were 7,067, 3,267 and 2,493 pounds per day, respectively. In 2009, following three weeks of fishing, the daily removal rate was only 1,083 Ibs /day for a total of 14,080 pounds. Although the diminishing returns from the daily removal rate is an indication of success, the unit cost to remove and dispose of one pound of Carp has risen substantially over the years from a low of $0.25 per pound to a new high in 2009 of $1.16 per pound. This method of Carp removal is economically unsustainable for the City. In 2008, three different methods were used to estimate the Carp population. The results showed that Carp densities ranged from 25 to 138 Carp per surface acre, with an average of 82 Carp /acre. The goal is to have less than 20 Carp per surface acre. Bow fishing for Carp is a recreational sport that could be part of the solution to control the Carp population, with no cost to the City. Bow fishing for Carp is permitted on Lake Elsinore by the California Department of Fish & Game. The City of Lake Elsinore has not previously considered adopting an ordinance that formally permits bow fishing. Agenda Item No. 2 Page 1 of 2 s City of Lake Elsinore Public Safety Advisory Commission April 14, 2010 Page 2 The Lake Elsinore Municipal Code (LEMC) prohibits "archery" in public parks and beaches; however, it's questionable whether bow fishing, with a line attached to the arrow, falls under the definition of archery. Discussion Preserving public safety is the primary concern in considering whether the City should permit bow fishing on Lake Elsinore. Below is a list of safety measures for further discussion. • Definition of Bow Fishing (equipment specification)? • Permitted distance for bow fishing from other people? • Bow fishing by Boat versus Shoreline? • Restricted locations or times of year? A PowerPoint presentation by Mike Messina, bow fisherman, will be provided for additional information. Fiscal Impact No direct fiscal impact. Staff anticipates a modest economic benefit to the community from increased expenditures related to Lake -use from bow fishing. Staff estimates an insignificant increase in the cost of law enforcement from, bow fishing. Recommendation Staff recommends approval to amend the LEMC Ordinance 8.44.050 FISHING METHODS to include subparagraph "C" to permit bow fishing for Carp on Lake Elsinore. Attachments: • DRAFT LEMC Ordinance 8.44.050 C BOW FISHING • LEMC 8.40.040F (Archery) & 8.44.050 FISHING METHODS • Benefits of Controlling Carp & Shad Populations • Big Bear Lake — Flyer "Carp Round -up" • PowerPoint Presentation: Bow Fishing Agenda Item No. 2 Page 2 of 2 g -Ak ip i VA n k e to all ii - t_ Air P c' ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SECTION 8.44.050 OF THE LAKE ELSINORE MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING FISHING METHODS - GENERAL WHEREAS, the City of Lake Elsinore is obl' ed by the grant deed from the State of California to use, maintain and impr Lake for public park and recreation purposes in perpetuity; and WHEREAS, Lake Elsinore has a istory eing overpopulated by Carp; and WHEREAS, the foraging activity arp c 't d pair w uality and be a detriment to the successful repr duction of f WHEREAS, the City o prove wide array of recreational activities on the Lake; and WHEREAS fety is ara o e to the City; and WHEREA e City ires to reasona a conditions for bow fishing for Carp. O OF LAKE ELSINORE DOES O AS FOL S: SE N 1. ecti .44.050 is hereby amended and restated to incorporate s agraph provide as follows: C. Bow Fi is ned as tackle that must have the arrow's shaft or the point, or both, secur hed by a line to the bow or to a fishing reel (includes crossbow). 1. Bow fishing is only permitted by vessel and restricted to fishing for Carp only. 2. Bow fishing is prohibited within 100 feet of any person outside the boat of the person bow fishing. 3. Bow fishing is prohibited within any City designated wading area. CITY COUNCIL ORDINANCE NO. Page 2 of 3 4. All fish taken by bow fishing shall be removed from Lake Elsinore and disposed of in a proper manner. SECTION 2. If any provision, clause, sentence or paragraph of this Ordinance or the application thereof to any person or circumstance shall be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions of this Ordinance and are hereby declared to be severable. SECTION 3. This Ordinance shall take effect on the later of thirty (30) days after the date of its final passage or June 1, 2010. The City Clerk shall certify as to adoption of this Ordinance and cause this Ordinance to be published and posted in the manner required by law. INTRODUCED AND APPROVED UPON FIRST READING this day of , 2010, upon the following roll call vote: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED UPON SECOND READING this _ day of , 2010, upon the following roll call vote: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: Melissa A. Melendez, Mayor City of Lake Elsinore 6 CITY COUNCIL ORDINANCE NO. Page 3 of 3 ATTEST: •.. Carol Cowley, City Clerk City of Lake Elsinore APPROVED AS TO FORM: Barbara Zeid Leibold, City Attorney City of Lake Elsinore LEMC 8.40.040 Rules and regulations. F. Firearms of any kind and are prohibited in public parks and beaches. 8.44.050 ,JM methods — General. A. No person shallM with a net without the expressed written approval of the City Manager. B. No person shall }. with more than one pole unless they have purchased the additional sticker as authorized by the State Department of and Game. Anglers in possession of a valid two -rod stamp and anglers under 16 years of age may use up to two rods in the waters of Lake Elsinore. [Ord. 1053 § II, 1999]. CDF &G Regulations: CHAPTER 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS AND DEFINITION 1.23. Bow and Arrow Fishing Tackle. Such tackle must have the arrow shaft or the paint, or both, attached by a line to the bow or to a fishing reel (includes crossbow). 2.25. Bow and Arrow Fishing. Bow and arrow fishing is permitted only for the taping of carp, goldfish, western sucker, Sacramento blackfish, hardhead, Sacramento pikeminnaw and lamprey, all year, except in: (a) Designated salmon spawning areas. (b) The Colorado River District where only carp, tilapia, goldfish and mullet may be taken. (c ) See bullfrogs (section 5.05). (d) The East Fork Walker River between Bridgeport Dam and the Nevada State line where carp only may be taken during trout season. ,-1 C BENEFITS of CONTROLLING CARP & SHAD POPULATIONS 1. Reduce algae by increasing the number of large beneficial zooplankton that filter -feed on phytoplankton through the reduction of Carp - offspring and Threadfin Shad. 2. Reduce algae by reducing the nutrient recycling from the sediment caused by the foraging activity of adult Carp. 3. Increase reproductive success of Sportfish by reducing disturbance of nest by adult Carp. 4. Increase survival of Sportfish fry and fingerlings by reducing competition for forage from Shad and Carp offspring. 5. Increase water clarity by reducing resuspension of the sediment by adult Carp. 6. Increase the likelihood of establishing aquatic plants by reducing uprooting by adult Carp. .KW 7. Reduce cleanup of massive numbers of Carp & Shad during periodic dieoffs. 8. Reduce the chance of severe surface algae blooms by maintaining the phytoplankton in a constant growth mode through continual grazing by zooplankton. 9. Bio- convert Carp- offspring and Shad into valued Sportfish, such as Striped Bass and Largemouth Bass. 10. Increase revenue through improved Sportfishing to assist with ongoing fishery maintenance program. N..r+ Big Bear Lake's 6th Annual "Carp Round -up" Sponsored by: Big Bear Municipal Water District « SAME FORMAT! TWO AWARD CATEGORIES: SHORELINE TEAMS & BOATING TEAMS TWO DAY EVENT - TWO -MAN TEAMS DATE: June 6th & 7th, 2009 HUNTING TIME: Sat 7am - 4pm / Sun lam - 2pm AWARDS: 2pm - 5pm Sunday REGISTRATION: mail or at check -in (if mailed, must be received by June 2nd) CHECK- IN/WEIGH STATION /AWARDS; Big Bear Municipal Water District - 40524 Lakeview Dr. Big Bear Lake, CA 92315 (corner of Lakeview Dr. & Paine Rd.) Entry fee - $40.00 per person Includes entry, T-shirt, raffle ticket, mesh fish bag, and hot dog lunch at awards ceremony GRAND RAFFLE PRIZES - 2 CUSTOM BOWS RAFFLE TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT EVENT Team Prizes awarded on total weight of all fish weighed for two days! Prizes are as follows: Team prizes Shoreline Team Boating Team 1 st PlaceTeam $1,000 $1,000 2nd PlaceTeam $ 500 $ 500 3rd Place Team $ 300 $ 300 Biggest fish (by weight) each day - $200.00 Contact Information - Mike Stephenson (909) 866 -5796 Registration forms available on line at www.bbmwd.org Forms are to be mailed to BBMWD, P.O. Box 2863, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315 4/8/2010 • Bowfishing is a legal method of fishing for "rough" fish in California k'- • The California Department of Fish and Game Defines bowfishing as: • 1.23. Bow and Arrow Fishing Tackle. Such tackle must have the arrow shaft or the point, or both, attached by a line to the bow or to a fishing reel (includes crossbow). • 2.25. Bow and Arrow Fishing. Bow and arrow fishing is permitted only for the taking of carp, goldfish, western sucker, Sacramento blackfish, hardhead, Sacramento pike minnow and lamprey. 1