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Guest Commentary From page 6
learned about, or were reminded about, the resources available to us to bring out concerns to the powers that be.
I believe that the people involved
at NOAA and the Coast Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers and the weather services really do want to make the right decisions. What they need from us is feedback. The current hot button is electronic navigation. It’s coming. How it evolves will depend on real communication. If we – the small-boat public – don’t say anything, those who decide can only assume that everything is OK. If we speak up about real issues in rational ways, we can help to bring the very real benefits of electronic navigation to more mariners at a pace that does- n’t overwhelm. If we don’t pay attention, make the
extra effort to go to a meeting, make comments, share experiences, we probably deserve whatever we get.
Start with these: U.S. Coast Guard Navigation
Center website:
navcen.uscg.gov There’s a lot on this page, so I suggest starting with the “News and Notices” on the right side, and the “contact us” tab to make comments, ask questions.
NOAA’s U.S. Coast Survey website:
nauticalcharts.noaa.gov These are the people who produce, and change, and correct our charts. They offer a newsletter by e-mail that can let you know things like when the San Diego buoy is finally back on sta- tion, and what charts have been updated, and where you can even get PDF versions for free. They also have a “contact us” tab. I’ve learned that when you speak up about something that’s bothering you, and thank the deciders when it gets fixed, you really can solve prob- lems. But, as I said before, if you don’t . . . .
Ann Kinner Owner of Seabreeze Books and Charts
Extreme drought conditions on Catalina Island have put the area’s herd of wild bison in danger. The Catalina Island Conservancy recently announced that it is providing food and water to the heard and seeking donations to help pay for additional supplies.
Iconic species in danger because of extreme drought conditions.
By Ambrosia Brody
AVALON — The herd of wild bison roaming Catalina Island is in danger due to the state’s extreme drought conditions. The parched grounds have resulted in a lack of food and water resources for the iconic species. To protect this species, the Catalina
Island Conservancy has announced that it is providing food and water to the herd and seeking donations to help pay for these additional supplies. “Through an innovative contracep-
tion program, the Catalina Island Conservancy has reduced the herd’s size to less than 150 to ensure the bison and the Island can thrive,” said Ann M. Muscat, Conservancy presi- dent and CEO. “But the extreme
drought conditions have created an emergency need for more food and water to keep the bison alive. We urge our supporters and all who enjoy this iconic species to help protect the bison by supporting the Conservancy’s program to provide additional food and water supplies for the herd.” The Conservancy, which protects
88 percent of Catalina Island, owns and manages the bison. Joe Kalla, the Conservancy’s chief
operating officer, said the Conservancy is shipping hay to the Island to feed the bison. Staff has also placed water troughs around the Island and is replenishing those sup- plies. Kalla said each feed shipment costs $8,000, and he’s not certain how many shipments may be needed before winter rains restore the grasses on which the bison feed. “Normally, the bison would bulk up
on grass during the rainy season so they can survive during the dry sea-
Catalina Conservancy asks public to help Island’s bison
son,” Kalla said. “But we had a scant 5 inches of rain this year, so there wasn’t enough grass for them to bulk up. Bringing hay to the Island will ensure their survival until the rainy season.” Jordahl Construction Inc., a con-
struction firm in Avalon, already vol- unteered to help with deliveries by offering to bring a trailer-load of hay on the barge it is using to ship sup- plies to the Island. The bison were brought to the
Island in 1924 for a movie that was never made. With no natural preda- tors, the herd grew to as many as 500. The Conservancy had previously con- ducted studies that found the Island could support only about 150 to 200 bison. To control the herd’s size, the Conservancy had been periodically conducting roundups and shipping bison to the mainland. But the ship- ments were costly and caused stress for the bison. The herd also grew beyond ecologically sustainable num- bers between shipments. The Conservancy launched an
innovative contraceptive program in 2009 that has proven to be a cost- effective and humane alternative for protecting the Island and preserving a herd on Catalina. Before the contra- ceptive program, more than 2/3 of the female bison delivered calves every year. After receiving the contraceptive, the calving rate dropped to 10.4 per- cent in the first year and 3.3 percent the following year. In 2013, exactly one calf was born and no calves have been born this year. Feeding the herd is permitted
under California law because the bison are not native to California and are registered as livestock, rather than wildlife. For more information, visit catali-
naconservancy.org.
The Log • August 1-14, 2014 • 21
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