I've gotten a copy of the pre-stocking assessment sheets for Del Valle and Shadow Cliffs (attached below in PDF format). We can learn a lot from these sheets.

1. There are 13 species that require mitigation if they are present where trout are stocked in this region. We don't know what "mitigation" means yet but most likely it means NO TROUT STOCKED FOREVER. The other species do not require mitigation. I'm not sure why they are listed other than to think that this could be a hedging by the CBD in case any of these additional species become endangered (then the mitigation flag would be set for them). The list of the 13 that matter is below.

2. It looks like in DFG Region 3, any reservoir that has an outflow where steelhead trout are present will NOT be stocked EVER AGAIN. For the East Bay Regional Parks that means Lake Chabot and Lake Don Castro. Del Valle is questionable. It is unknown whether they will try to get approval for sterile trout.

3. There is still tremendous gray area in terms of how these assessments will be evaluated. For example, golden eagles require mitigation. But what does that LOOK LIKE? Godlen eagles EAT TROUT. How a trout could negatively affect a golden eagle is beyond my comprehension. Yet there they are on this list of species that require mitigation. As soon as I learn more about how these evaluations will work I will post it.

I want to lay out a scenario for you guys, and I'll use Lake Chabot as an example.

If, as appears to be the case, trout are never stocked again in Lake Chabot - what can we expect to happen?

For starters, the number of anglers who visit the lake will decline dramatically with in 1 year. By the 2nd year I would estimate a 90% reduction in the number of fishermen. The marina will fold for lack of business. The kids working the docks as a summer job will lose their jobs. The cormorants, ospreys, and herons that used to eat trout will either switch their food source, die, or fly away. The bass and catfish that ate trout will become emaciated and their population will decline precipitously in 2 to 4 years.

What will be left? They'll probably keep the gate open at Chabot because it gets a lot of joggers and picnickers. There probably won't be a boat rental, not even the sight-seeing boat. Fishing will be average for bass with few fish over 10lbs. Crappie and bluegill may do well, but then again they might get eaten up by the hungry predators.

Can you see how stocked trout form the cornerstone of recreation and angling at these lakes? Can you see what is going to happen when it's gone? We gotta do something here, big time.

http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/7974-DelValle.pdf

http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/7975-ShadowCliffs.pdf

13 species requiring mitigation:

Steelhead (Central Valley DPS)
Steelhead (central California coast DPS)
Steelhead (south/central California coast DPS)
Chinook salmon (California coastal ESU)
Chinook salmon (Central Valley fall-/late fall–run ESU)
California tiger salamander
California red-legged frog
Foothill yellow-legged frog
San Francisco garter snake
Golden eagle
Willow flycatcher (except southwestern subspecies)
Bank Swallow (nesting)
California Black Rail