Big Bear Today Magazine September 2020

Page 2—September 2020
From the Publisher
Bacteria makes 2020
lousy for trout too;
3.2 million put down
As if 2020 couldn’t get any worse,
California trout fishing has taken
a severe hit by disease. But not the
one you’re probably thinking about.
This time it’s a bacteria instead of virus
and the state had to euthanize 3.2 million
trout at three Southern California and
Eastern Sierra hatcheries because of it.
Lactococcus garvieae has become fishing’s
equivalent of the virus and it’s already resulted
in the cancellation of Fish and Wildlife
plants on Southland lakes plus those
in Inyo and Mono counties.
The contagious, potentially fatal bacteria
was discovered in three state-run fisheries,
Mojave River Hatchery in Victorville
plus Black Rock and Fish Springs in the
Owens Valley. Hot Creek Hatchery was
originally quarantined out of precaution,
since lifted after testing showed none of
its trout had the typical symptoms of bulging
eyes, lethargic swimming and premature
death.
The bacteria is new to California and
as with our virus, biologists are still determining
how to deal with it. Treatment at
the hatcheries included keeping water temperatures
low, reducing stress on fish due
to crowding and other factors, introducing
antibiotics and even special diets to help
trout fight off infection.
But nothing helped, which led the state
to put down over three million distressed
trout that had been scheduled for delivery
to lakes and streams. The fish were
euthanized by CO2 pumped into their water,
putting them into permanent sleep.
That’s the easy part; the hard part is
disposing of all those dead fish. The bacteria
means they can’t be used at food
banks or even as animal feed or fertilizer.
So they have to be hauled to landfills by
truck, requiring permits galore that range
from environmental to transportation.
“Euthanizing our hatchery stocks was
not a decision we came to lightly, but it
had to be done,” said Jay Rowan, program
manager for the Department of Fish and
Wildlife hatcheries. “This bacterium is resistant
to all the treatment options we have
available for fish. The fish losses were getting
worse despite our treatments. The best
option we have available that will get us
back to planting fish from these hatcheries
in the shortest timeline is to start over.”
It all began earlier this year when
coronavirus arrived as spring approached.
DFW trout plants were halted so as to not
encourage anglers to gather on shorelines,
the idea being that lousy fishing would
keep crowds down and cut down on social
distance issues. Not that fisherman are
prone to standing less than six feet apart;
most seek their own favored spots and keep
those closely guarded secrets.
“All the fish that couldn’t be released
caused hatcheries to exceed carrying capacities,”
said Big Bear Municipal Water
District general manager Mike Stephenson.
“Overcrowding led the fish to become
stressed, kind of like the bark beetles
stressed pine trees, making them more vulnerable
to the bacteria. The state lost $15-
$17 million and it will cost that much again
to get back where it was.”
Pathologists aren’t sure how the bacteria,
previously found only at a handful
of aquaculture facilities, reached the affected
hatcheries but the best guess is bird
transmission. What is certain is that hatcheries,
after they’re thoroughly disinfected,
won’t be producing catchable six-inch
trout for the better part of a couple years,
the time is takes to raise fish from scratch.
Which means for the next couple years
plantable trout will be a hot commodity.
A load of DFW fish arrived in early
August, perhaps the last state fish Big Bear
Lake may see for awhile, Stephenson said.
Fortunately, two stockings with fish from
private sources purchased in advance for
now-cancelled “Fishing for $50K” and
Western Outdoor News October Troutfest
tournaments are still happening.
“That’s about $100,000 in fish we had
already committed to,” Stephenson said.
“Fishing is going to be really good this fall
with the extra trout going in and the events
not happening.”
MWD annually purchases trout from
private facilities above and beyond whatever
the state provides. “Private hatcheries
didn’t have the (bacteria) issues,”
Stephenson said. “We’ll continue to get
fish from them. From Fish and Wildlife, it
will be a year or more before we see any.”
In the meantime MWD continues to
move forward on its fish hatchery project.
Assorted delays have set the process back
but there’s still momentum for MWD to
build its own hatchery. This bacteria isn’t
the first time DFW has had trouble delivering
fish—remember trout sterilization?
All of which underscores that the lake
needs to have reliable and sustainable trout.
“We’re ready to go to prequalification
and months away from maybe getting a
yes,” Stephenson said of the project, expected
to cost $8-$10 million.
Have a good one.
Marcus
ON THE COVER: Elite athletes come to Big Bear for the Kodiak 100 where they’ll run
courses up to 100 miles, at elevation, in 20+ hours —Photo courtesy Howie Stern
Volume 32, Number 3 September 2020
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6
8
9
16
Publisher
Marcus G. Dietz
Associate Publisher
Sandra L. Dietz
Publishing Consultant
Bret Colson
Technical Consultant
Charles Dietz
Photography/Distribution
Steve Dietz
John Daskam
Mark Gauger
In This Issue...
Big Bear Today
100K Bike, 100-Mile Run in Epic Events
Endurance events come to Big Bear big time this month with
Kodiak 100 run and Grizzly 100 mountain bike Grand Fondo.
Runners can choose from five distances while for mountain
bikers there’s three. All are lengthy and challenging at
elevation! Yes there’s 2020 modifications but these two
worldclass competitions are back again—hurray!
You Control Speed on Mineshaft Coaster
Ride carts you control around a mile-long track with two 100-
foot tunnels, three 360° corkscrews, 200-foot bridges and
steep drops on Alpine Slide’s new attraction. Hit speeds up to
27 mph or go as slow as you want. It’s the first ride of its kind
in California so be one of the first to experience it!
Amazing Views on Wilderness-Worthy Trail
The ridge immediately north of the San Gorgonio Wilderness
doesn’t require a hiking permit but offers much of the charms
of the Wilderness. There’s panoramic views, steep climbs and
a cool trail camp three-plus miles in for overnight adventures.
Just keep your eyes out for a rattlesnake about a mile up the
trail that doesn’t rattle when you approach...
Ribs, Pot Pies, Now Live Music at Thelma’s
Thelma’s didn’t have to mess with its outdoor patio one bit
during the virus—it’s had one of Big Bear’s nicest outdoor
spaces for nearly three decades. Still live music was added
weekends with Brad from Silver Moon. Football-sized chicken
pot pies, Saturday all-you-can-eat ribs, that hasn’t changed.
Fast Times at Big Bear Speedway, Ropes too
Get a taste of real racing on a fifth-mile long grand prix-style
track at Big Bear Speedway driving state-of-the-art Sodi karts.
You’ll hit speeds up to 30 mph while leaning into hairpin turns
and pounding straightaways. Then climb up to Big Bear’s only
ropes course, where 37 challenges await.
Beat the heat by renting a waverunner
from the marinas. Pages 5, 9, 11, 13!
DEPARTMENTS
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3
13
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From the Publisher
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Area Map/
Calendar of Events
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