The next desert fish conservation trip will be on May 16-17, 2008.

The location is just south of Bishop to work on a spring system there that has a small population of pupfish.

There will be several tasks including cutting cattails (lots of cattails), trapping and dip netting mosquitofish and crayfish.

We will be working on land owned by LA power and water and at least one of their staff will be working with us. We will need to be sensitive to their wishes while working there as we need to ensure good relations, otherwise future work there may not be possible.

There will be more details to come.

Please visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DesertFish/messages
or post to DesertFish@yahoogroups.com

to request information

This year's second conservation field trip will be on October 5 , 2007 at Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.

We will meet at the refuge office at 9:00 am on Oct. 5. The work will be finished on Oct. 6.

We will be camping on the refuge (except for those who
prefer to "camp out" at nearby Longstreet Hotel and
Casino). On Friday evening there will be our traditional
barbecue dinner.

For more details contact Douglas Habersaat at
crenichthys@yahoo.com

The next desert fish conservation trip will be on June 8-10, 2007.

Here are all of the details as we know them:

The work involves building a fish barrier in Wall Canyon (Nevada) for native fish protection. We will probably all be camping.

Some of the work will involve a bit more heavy duty than usual, but there will be jobs for everyone irrespective of ability. The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), will supply all food. Bring your own snacks and beverages as needed.

You will need to register as a volunteer.

Go to the NDOW website, http://www.ndow.org/learn/vol/recruiter/index.shtm and select "Register to Volunteer".

This page only seems to work in Explorer, it didn't work with Firefox. Scroll down and hit enter. You will need to allow pop ups or it won't work (check under the menu bar). Work through the various steps. You can ignore various amounts of what you are asked.

Once registered go to Search for Opportunities, scroll down to Wall Canyon Barrier Project.

Click on sign up and you will be done at that point.

Bring the usual stuff for working outdoors like gloves, boots, long pants, hats, sunscreen. Jim will drag us out for a half a day to catch a few fish and do an introduction of the Wall Canyon system.

Here is a link to a map of the area:

http://ndow.org/about/pubs/pdf/fishregs/p20_23_26_27.pdf

The site is #36, a little northwest of Gerlach.

The road to the area is very good until maybe the last couple of miles. We will find out the details later.

For more details, as they become available, sign up for the desert fish conservation email list:

http://www.pupfish.net/dsac/

The next field trip will be on March 17 & 18, 2006.

More details to follow as they become available.

For more information on our conservation efforts, which started in 1992, see http://www.pupfish.net/dsac/

Desert Springs Action Committee Autumn Fieldtrip to Ash Meadows, Nevada.

October 14th and 15th, 2005

Yearly we travel to Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge to perform hands-on restoration and recovery work for native fish species there. This work benefits three threatened and endangered killifish species as well as one dace species. Education is also a primary focus of our outings so all ages are welcome (and non-aquarists too).

Projects chosen to enhance native fish habitats on the refuge are overseen by US Fish and Wildlife Service personnel and by our science advisor Peter Unmack. Work difficulty ranges from strenuous to negligible depending on your inclination.

This happening is always a good time, and a chance to socialize with other killikeepers around the campfire after a day of work and sightseeing in the refuge. Attendance of about a dozen people is typical, but past trips have attracted nearly 30 individuals. Typically, we camp on the refuge or you can stay in luxury at the Longstreet Casino a few miles away (discounts are available).

I cannot stress enough how gratifying it is to know I have made a difference toward these species’ survival. For more information, please visit the DSAC website:

http://www.pupfish.net/dsac/

See you in the desert!

Bruce Bernard