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Golden State Salmon Association

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Golden State Salmon Association
AbbreviationGSSA
Formation2010
Founded atSan Francisco, California, United States
TypeNonprofit
EIN 27-4187163
Legal statusCharitable organization
PurposeRestore California salmon for their economic, recreational, commercial, environmental, cultural and health values.
Location
Area served
California
Official language
English
Executive Director
Scott Artis
board of directors
Websitewww.goldenstatesalmon.org
Formerly called
Golden Gate Salmon Association

Golden State Salmon Association (GSSA) is a US non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and restoration of California's salmon, primarily Chinook salmon, and their freshwater streams, rivers, and coastal habitats for their economic, recreational, commercial, environmental, cultural and health benefits.[1] The organization began in 2010 in San Francisco, California, as the Golden Gate Salmon Association.[2]

History

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Golden State Salmon Association was established in 2010 by a coalition of commercial and recreational salmon fishermen and women who were interested in accelerating the recovery of California's Central Valley fall-run Chinook salmon.[2] The organization operated as Golden Gate Salmon Association before changing its name to Golden State Salmon Association in September 2019.[3]

Golden State Salmon Association is a non-voting, member-based regional organization that works with state and federal elected and non-elected officials, regulatory agencies, conservation organizations, commercial and recreational fishing businesses, fishing clubs, Tribes, and legal organizations. The current president and executive director is Scott Artis,[4][5] who has been with Golden State Salmon Association since March 2023.[6]

The organization has developed various programs to help prioritize the restoration and conservation of salmon and their river and coastal habitats. These programs include a focus on water policy, hatchery improvement, habitat restoration, and experiential learning.

Areas of focus

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  • Improving Water Flows and Providing Adequate Water Temperatures for Salmon: The organization develops and implements strategies for restoring California salmon and advocates for strong State and U.S. federal fish and water policies.[4][7][8] They do this by mobilizing individuals to take action against water mismanagement, uses strategic litigation to defend salmon and the salmon industry, and works with agencies, nonprofit organizations, elected officials, policymakers, and businesses.[9][10]
  • Hatchery Improvement: The organization works to achieve state and federal fish hatchery improvements by advocating for and procuring funding to increase overall fish hatchery production goals, and working with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and United States Fish and Wildlife Service to find suitable release locations,[11] and influence when, where and how hatchery salmon fry and smolts are released into rivers or the San Francisco Bay to increase survival and salmon returns.[12][13]
  • Restoring Spawning and Rearing Habitat for Salmon: The organization advocates and facilitates floodplain and side channel restoration to improve spawning and rearing habitat for salmon.[14] Tactics can include adding gravel to riverbeds, improving water depth and flow, and removing barriers that block fish passage.[15]
  • Experiential Education: The organization provides inner city and disadvantaged students with hands-on fisheries learning experiences including opportunities to participate in California Department of Fish and Wildlife hatchery salmon smolt releases and charter boat ocean fishing trips in the San Francisco Bay.[16][17][18]

Political action

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On July 5, 2023, Tribes, and California fishing, conservation, and environmental justice organizations held a rally at the California State Capitol[19][20][21][22] in response to the declining Central Valley fall-run Chinook salmon populations, which resulted in the closure of the 2023 California salmon fishing season,[23] and diminishing water quality that has caused harmful algal blooms in the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary.[24]   Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, Winnemem Wintu Tribe, Hoopa Valley Tribe, Karuk Tribe, Round Valley Indian Tribes, Pit River Tribe, Mechoopda Indian Tribe, Sogorea Te Land Trust, Restore the Delta, Save California Salmon, Golden State Salmon Association, Sacred Places Institute, California Indian Environmental Alliance, Little Manila Rising, Indigenous Justice, San Francisco Baykeeper, North Coast Native Protectors, Sierra Club California, Friends of the River, and Tuolumne River Trust.[25][26]  

Litigation

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On January 23, 2024, Golden State Salmon Association, The Bay Institute, California Indian Environmental Alliance, Restore the Delta, San Francisco Baykeeper, and the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians filed a lawsuit against the California Department of Water Resources for violating the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).[27][28] The groups asserted that when the agency finalized approval for the state's Delta Conveyance Project (also known as the Delta Tunnel) in December 2023, it failed to consider, avoid, or mitigate the wide range of negative effects the project would have on Tribal and other historically marginalized communities, as well as on endangered fish populations and other wildlife.[29]

References

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  1. ^ "Wild weather, wild salmon fishing on GSSA's 'Fish Like a Girl' trip". The Stockton Record. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Fishing Report for 1-19-2011". Long Range Sportfishing. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Nor Cal Fish Report for 9-30-2019". Nor Cal Fish Reports. 30 September 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Debate over options for California's ailing Delta region reflects deep divisions over water". Los Angeles Times. 8 October 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Proposed Shasta Dam Raise is bad for salmon, tribes and CA". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  6. ^ "Nor Cal Fish Report for 3-13-2023". Nor Cal Fish Reports. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  7. ^ "FIVE QUESTIONS: John McManus, Golden State Salmon Association". Maven's Notebook. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  8. ^ "Golden State Salmon Association On Water Allocation Deliveries: Water Diversions…Killing Salmon". California Sportsman Magazine. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Golden State Salmon Association calls on Feds to make 2023 a year of protecting salmon populations". Red Green and Blue. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  10. ^ "California Gov. Gavin Newsom advances water tunnel project amid opposition from environmental groups". Associated Press. 8 December 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Thousands of baby salmon get a big lift on trip to S.F. Bay". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  12. ^ "Hatchery salmon releases scheduled in San Francisco Bay due to poor river conditions". Red Green and Blue. 2 May 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  13. ^ "In a tough year for salmon, a record number of fish have returned to California's Mokelumne River". Daily Kos. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  14. ^ "California pledges to build channel for threatened fish to bypass Gold Rush-era dam". Associated Press. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  15. ^ "American River project aims to restore salmon habitat amid dwindling populations". CBS News. 20 September 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  16. ^ "Local Children to Witness Salmon Release in Richmond Marina". The Contra Costa Pulse. 19 June 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  17. ^ "Richmond kids get rare opportunity to watch release of tiny salmon into San Francisco Bay". Local news Matters. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  18. ^ "California Fish and Wildlife trucking millions of juvenile salmon to saltwater again this year". The Stockton Record. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  19. ^ "Tribes and Conservation Organizations Host Rally at California State Capitol". Yahoo News. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  20. ^ "Tribes and conservation groups rally at State Capitol for water justice and to save imperiled salmon". Daily Kos. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  21. ^ "California Gov. Gavin Newsom's climate agenda highlights tensions with environmental groups". Associated Press. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  22. ^ "Native American tribes rally for water justice and salmon survival at the state capitol". ABC 7 KRCR. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  23. ^ Bland, Alastair (15 March 2023). "No California salmon: Fishery to be shut down this year". Calmatters. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  24. ^ Commentary, Guest (17 March 2023). "Waiving California environmental rules for Delta water equates to a civil rights issue". Calmatters. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  25. ^ "Organizations Descend on Capitol to Demand Critical Salmon Restoration and Water Justice". Golden State Salmon Association. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  26. ^ "Day of Action for Water and Salmon at the State Capitol July 5th 2023". Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  27. ^ "Delta water tunnel project faces another lawsuit". ABC 10. 23 January 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  28. ^ "Environmentalists, local agencies file lawsuits against California Delta tunnel project". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  29. ^ "Environmental Groups, Tribal Organizations File Lawsuit Against Delta Tunnel Project". Daily Kos. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
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