Greg Guisti has fired a shot over my bow, so to speak, therefore he will receive my reply. Firstly, Guisti criticizes my list of fish I noted in my first guest editorial.
That”s all fine and he adds a few from the early settlement days, which no one comes here to fish for, that I termed in my article “Various other baitfish.” I was also criticized by another guest writer for being too lengthy and rambling. I tried to keep a detailed subject short. Secondly, Guisti says that criticizing the program because it is run by the county is “cynical” and “unproductive.” Simply not true. The opinion is based on the historical fact that the similar hydrilla program failed for many of the same reasons that the quagga mussel program will fail and it is productive because my editorial has done something.
It has lit a fire under the program and drawn attention to its failings and will continue to do so. Also, Guisti says that my commentary is not correct as per scientific literature concerning species migrating into the lake from surrounding streams, yet I caught a small brook trout in Copsey Creek as it was swimming less than 20 feet from the opening on Cache Creek on its way into the lake. Certainly fish can do this, though most get gobbled up by bass or catfish and if it weren”t true the pike minnow would not be a concern but it is throughout California. Thirdly, Guisti says I”m laying an unfounded accusation about biologists being paid to study whether waterfowl can transfer the mussel, yet the woman who does the accounting for the county”s program told me this herself. So the county at least looked at the possibility of that very thing. Perhaps Guisti was not informed or perhaps their accountant”s information was different at the time she told me? Either could be true but Guisti is very careful with his wording and sidesteps the very question, “Can waterfowl or other animals like otters transfer the mussel?” Point number four: Guisti does admit that surrounding lakes have no program. He says there are current discussions with congressmen and senators to address this, yet for three years nothing is happening on that front. Finally I will say that we need to take drastic steps to save Clear Lake, the continual algae blooms and low lake levels, plus the decline in shad and other fish are the mark of a dying lake. In my follow-up I listed many things that need to be done to save our lake from turning into an unhealthy swamp. The remedies that are employed to control the algae are piddly attempts. We need serious measures that start with two things the Board of Supervisors don”t want to do; drop the mussel program and close the dam.
Jerry Slonekor
Clearlake
