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I know some of you have fished and will fish this blue ribbon stream.
This appeared in the Farminton, NM daily. Even with the pressure, this is a fantastic fishery!
Gov. loves San Juan River: Will introduce fishing improvement projects to LegislatureBy Steve Gill For The Daily Times
Posted: 01/14/2009 10:58:22 PM MST
During his press conference at San Juan College on Wednesday, Governor Bill Richardson spoke briefly about his administration's plans to help restore the San Juan River. Richardson visited the famous fishery in October, and told the press conference crowd that he had a wonderful day on the water with his "buddies," the guides.
Farmington was the first stop on the governor's sweep of the state as he outlines his initiatives for the upcoming legislative session. Nearly a dozen San Juan River fishing guides attended the conference, and listened as the governor described the San Juan as "one of the crown jewels of the Four Corners, and the state," and promised a $400,000 allocation for river restoration and river habitat improvements.
The state of New Mexico already has spent $400,000 on habitat improvement projects in the San Juan, including placing of boulders and log jams. New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Deputy Director, Robert Jenks, highlighted the fact that the San Juan is a "premier fly fishing destination" that attracts anglers from all over the world. He stated that the San Juan sees an estimated "300,000 hours of angling per year or 45,000 angler-days for an economic benefit of $40 million per year."
Jenks believes the governor's initiative will help the river by ensuring it is managed for the true value of its resources. He said future projects will be, in a broad sense, similar to previous projects and will include in-stream work, habitat enhancement and a plan for strategic water flows to help control siltation.
The San Juan is one of the most famous trout rivers in the world and often ranked among the top ten fisheries by anglers and outdoor writers. In years past, the river was regarded by many to be the best trout stream in the world, based upon the concentration of fish and above average size of San Juan rainbows. However, beginning in the mid 90s, anglers and guides began reporting a decrease in both the numbers and size of trout caught in the river, a disturbing trend that has raised concerns about habitat degradation and siltation.
Recent habitat projects and stocking programs have helped the San Juan fishery, but according to Concerned Citizens for The San Juan River Quality Trout Waters, the river is only a shadow of its former self. Andreas Novak, known as "DryFly" on various fishing message boards and online chat rooms, has spearheaded letter writing projects and meetings hoping to find support for changes in the management of the fishery. He often has cited low water flows and erosion as the main reasons for the decline of the San Juan. The Concerned Citizens and the San Juan River Guide Association are hoping Governor Richardson's involvement will help restore the river to it's glory days condition.
San Juan River guides will aid the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish in stocking 500 16-inch trout into the Quality Waters today. This stocking of fish, which are much larger than typical stockers, is the first step in the governor's program for the river.
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