I was going to mention the stories that I used to hear about steelhead and salmon running into the San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz, but you covered it. That always amazed me.
In the 80's there was still abolone off Los Osos. I think the law required you to free dive for it.
Growing up in CA, I miss the unpopulated, cheaper days!!
Posted by bbtb at October 30, 2005 08:11 AMNext time you're in a decent library, look for:
ISBN 0-930588-66-5
Thelander, C.G., and M. Crabtree. 1994. Life on the edge: a guide to California's endangered natural resources: wildlife.
It's a pretty solid scientific book disguised as a big coffee-table book. Its chock-full of information on the biology of endangered fauna of California including many fishes & fish runs, but also pages about the tule marshes and what different areas once were. Lots of historic photos, but lots of solid text too.
Rainbow trout / steelhead were native down to San Diego county, and a few remain in S.D. or Orange county. The last I heard out of the Carlsbad office of USF&WS is that they're not going to give any legal protection to any sea-run trout south of LA or Pt. Conception or somewhere in there.
Yes bbtb, I can't imagine what I would do growing up in CA today: the open spaces are all condos, the $2.50/car drivein disappeared in the mid-80s. I didn't have money in my pocket as a kid, and I didn't need it.
But, there are a few places you can still go camping without crowds. Even on August weekends Mountain Home State Forest (not park) south of Kings Canyon / Sequoia NP has empty spaces in old-school campgrounds: overbuilt tables & fire rings, pit toilets, and water every 10 sites. It also has really weird forests (sequoias not in groves, but in mixed-species forests with huge cedars & 2 pines 2-3m dbh). The last time I was there (pre-Arnold) camping was free except in the campground with showers. If you can, take your kids there with a tent and a stove, not a motorhome & generator & satellite dish.
I'm currently in exile in Miami (sans power due ot Wilma), so I can share some of my less-known places that I won't get back to very often.
Posted by tom at October 30, 2005 11:09 AMparadox, I agree - it would have been wonderful to see the California rivers and streams teeming with life. However, it is possible with some concerted effort to recreate the river habitat that allows the salmon to come back. Today in Portland, salmon and steelhead are once more breeding in the streams and rivers because the people cared enough to restore the health of the waterways. They are not nearly done yet, but it is starting.
Posted by Mary at October 30, 2005 12:47 PM