JUL17Written by: Article Admin Miners and prospectors have been handed a bum rap from environmental extremists for the past 40 years. Radical environmentalists tend to conjure up images of hydraulicing — an outdated and outlawed mining technique of eroding away entire mountainsides with high-powered water cannons — and strip mining, as examples of what miners have done to the environment. Why? Because it serves their purpose. But, what often well-meaning but misguided followers of these groups fail to realize is that suction dredging, which has surfaced as a center of controversy in the media lately, actually helps clean toxins, such as mercury and lead fishing weights left by anglers, from our streams and riverbeds. And, prospectors often pick up the trash dumped in water, on the trails and strewn over the riverbanks. While some radical environmentalists, such as the Center for Biological Diversity, argue smallscale suction dredging harms fish and fish habitat, there has yet to be a single credible study to substantiate such alarmist findings. To the contrary, some studies even report that suction dredging creates fish habitat. Basically, the belief that suction dredging is bad for the environment is based more on a preconceived emotional response to mining in general — a response based more on faulty assumptions than on facts and on the image of antiquated commercial mining methods. Suction dredging does not harm fish habitat! Furthermore, suction dredging is prohibited during spawning season as a precaution so that fish populations are not harmed. When it comes to turbidity issues, dredgers stir up the water far less than rainstorms, surface runoff from snowmelt and floods. In fact, those natural occurrences do much more to erode riverbanks and destroy fish habitat — by far — than small-scale prospectors. To compare mining techniques of the past — some going as far back as 150 years ago — to modern small-scale prospecting and mining is nothing less than pure propaganda that should not be taken seriously and certainly not at face value — especially by the mass media. So, now that two generations of environmental fanatics have been indoctrinating the planet with the help of the media and brainwashed soccer moms and dads feeding their children with the notion that all mining is bad, we are faced with the challenge of putting common sense back on the table. It will be an uphill battle, but it is a fight that needs to be fought For decades, the small-scale mining community has organized and funded reclamation and reforestation projects across the country and we take pride in knowing that we fill in our holes and more often clean up the mess left by others outdoors. What little is taken from the land, we put back in reclamation and reforestation projects. We do not undercut the roots of trees. We pick up trash and we pack out what we pack in. See the dozens of unique artificial fish habitat models, fish attractors and fish cover used at fishiding.com, the industry leader and only science based, man made and artificial fish habitat, proven to provide all fish with cover they prefer to prosper. Gold Prospectors Association of America encourages our members to be responsible stewards of the land. — BRAD JONES GPAA Editor / Content Director |
Category: Fish Habitat News
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New dock and boat house construction subject to provincial regulations
By Reg Clayton
Waterfront property owners planning to build a new dock or boathouse may be confused by provincial regulations and work permit requirements that may or may not apply to their intended projects. Ministry of Natural Resources staff can help by providing information and advice on how to proceed.
“The most commonly asked question is ‘what kind of boat house or dock can we build?'” commented Donna Derouin, who along with colleague Kevin Keith is a lands and waters specialist at Kenora district MNR.
“We welcome people to drop in or phone. People can contact us and we will get them the information they need,” Derouin said. “If property owners have specific questions that we can’t answer, we will direct them to the appropriate agency.”
MNR has two fact sheets available which outline what type of plans require a ministry work permit to build a dock or boat house on lakes or rivers, considered public land under provincial jurisdiction. Floating docks and single story boathouses do not require work permits, nor do docks and boathouses supported by posts, poles or stilts or any combination of floating and supports that do not exceed 15 sq. metres on the bed of the waterbody. However, docks and boat houses where the total surface area of cribs or other solid supporting structures constructed or placed on the waterbody bed exceeding 15 square metres do require a work permit.
Derouin noted the applications are site specific and subject to review by a ministry biologist, lands specialist and area supervisor. The biologist will determine if the project poses an impact on fish habitat or spawning areas.
“Solid structures have more impact on the lake bed and fish habitat compared to floating docks or post and pole supports,” Derouin said.
The lands specialist will ensure the structures front the owner’s property and do not impede on neighbours’ right of access to the lake or river. Neighbouring property owners are interviewed so no concerns arise after the structure is built.
“It’s important people know what they own and what their property boundaries are when building a dock,” Derouin said.
In certain circumstance federal regulations apply to the installation of float and pier (pile and post) docks where fish habitat and spawning areas is a concern and MNR may advise people to contact the Department of Oceans and Fisheries.
Additional prohibitions apply to shoreline development in designated restricted areas. Clearwater Bay is the main restricted area for development on Lake of the Woods and all construction of cabins, docks and boathouses require work permits.
The restriction was imposed following a review that determined water quality, lake trout spawning areas and habitat was affected by over-development in Clearwater Bay. As a result, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Environment imposed a minister’s order to restrict development on private property in the area. The provincial restriction is specific to unincorporated areas where municipal regulations regarding multiple habitats on a lot, inappropriate septic and grey water discharge and shoreline development do not apply.
Generally, the only type of boat house currently permitted for new shoreline construction on Ontario lakes is a single storey structure intended specifically for boat storage. Roof top decking is allowed and gazebos will be considered providing the enclosure measures 24 square metres or less and are screened on at least three sides. These types of boathouses comply with the free use policy under Ontario’s Public Lands Act.
Not covered
Two storey boathouses and boathouses with attached living accommodations were inventoried on Lake of the Woods in 2006 and their continued use is grandfathered under provincial legislation. However, the structures are not covered by the free use policy and are subject to an annual land use fee. Waterfront constructions of this kind are no longer permitted on Ontario lakes or rivers. Similar restrictions apply to floating cottages.
“The free use policy applies to single storey boat houses and no payment is required to install one,” Derouin said. “But when looking to add a second storey that’s beyond free use because that’s meant for something more than the storage of a boat.”
Therefore new construction of two storey boat houses is no longer permitted as the structures are considered to be unauthorized occupation of Crown Land. Violators are subject to removal orders issued through the courts and must bear the cost.
In certain situations MNR will work with people who have taken on such projects unaware of the new regulations in place since the Shoreline Structures Initiative of 2006. The structure can be brought into compliance through removal of the second floor or modification of the upper enclosure into an open gazebo. See the dozens of unique artificial fish habitat models, fish attractors and fish cover used at fishiding.com, the industry leader and only science based, man made and artificial fish habitat, proven to provide all fish with cover they prefer to prosper.
The regulations are in effect province wide. Lake of the Woods has the largest number of boathouses in Ontario after Muskoka cottage country, north of Toronto.
Local anglers can recycle fishing line for fish habitat
Posted: Saturday, July 16, 2011 2:30 pm | Updated: 4:25 pm, Wed Jul 13, 2011.
By Bill Allmann Times Sports Correspondent | 0 comments
NEW BRIGHTON — The fishing at New Brighton’s Fishing Park has always been exceptional.
The dam there adds oxygen to the water, which makes the environment conducive to fish and plentiful fish make it conducive to area anglers.
It’s rare that the reclaimed site of the original New Brighton water plant doesn’t have at least a handful of fishermen and on weekends even more.
The joy of fishing isn’t just the catching; it’s getting the line wet and enjoying the outdoors. One of the biggest headaches for any angler, though, is what to do with old fishing line.
Monofilament plastic line is fine enough that fish can’t see it, but it’s difficult to handle with wet hands and line has a tendency to tangle beyond the ability of most humans to untangle it.
Optimistic estimates are that monofilament fishing line takes 500 years to degrade in the environment and is dangerous to fish, birds, swimmers and boat propellers. Plus, it isn’t accepted in most household recycling bins.
Thanks to the Beaver County Conservation District, fishing line can be recycled locally. A receptacle at the New Brighton Fishing Park was installed Wednesday.
“We have a grant to do six as a start,” said Marty Warchol, district Watershed Specialist. “We’ll have two at Bradys Run (Park), one at the launch and one at the handicap area, one at Brush Creek, the one here at New Brighton and the last two sites are still waiting for final permission.
“The initial six bins are on a grant from the Boat USA Foundation and we’re looking at the possibility of getting more.”
Fishing line placed in the bins will be collected and forwarded to Berkley, a major fishing line manufacturer. Berkley Conservation will turn the used line into structures that can be used to enhance fish habitat.
There are no stated goals for the program. But if anglers pull old, tangled reels they thought were beyond value, the program could get quite a jump start.
This RAC project is stopping cars
July 15th, 2011
Lowman, ID – A portion of the popular Landmark – Stanley Road (Forest Road 579) will be temporarily closed from July 25 through approximately August 9 at Tennessee Creek in the Bear Valley area to remove and replace two culverts. This project received a $43,000 grant from the Southwest Idaho RAC and will improve fish habitat and fish passage, and should also help avoid a likely blowout of the road in the future.
The Tennessee Creek culvert is located approximately 30 miles north of Lowman, ID within the Bear Valley Watershed. Tennessee Creek combines with Elk Creek, then flows approximately 0.9 miles before its confluence with Bear Valley Creek. In its current condition, the Tennessee Creek culvert requires annual maintenance to repair holes in the road, resulting from the crushing/failure of the culvert that is currently installed. Eventually, the culvert is expected to fail, likely during high flows in the spring runoff period, and complete failure of the road prism is likely to result. Replacing the culvert would eliminate the risk of the road prism failure at the site and the subsequent delivery of associated road bed materials into Tennessee, Elk, and Bear Valley Creeks.
The road will be closed approximately 0.1 mile west of the Bear Valley Campground to approximately 0.5 mile east of the Elk Creek Guard Station. The Bear Valley Campground and the Elk Creek Guard Station will be accessible during project implementation. The Deadwood Reservoir area can be accessed via the Bear Valley Road (Forest Road 582) and the Bearskin Road (Forest Road 563) or the Scott Mountain Road (Forest Road 555).
The road will be closed to all motorized access to provide for public safety and protection during construction. The two fish blocking culverts are being replaced with a concrete box culvert, which will restore fish passage further up the creek. Restoration of unimpeded fish passage will allow Chinook salmon, bull trout, steelhead, and other fish and aquatic organisms to access habitat in the upper reaches of Tennessee Creek.
Tennessee Creek just upstream of the road crossingThe new, open bottom concrete box culvert will allow fish passage to all age classes of fish species and also repair the hydrologic function of the stream at the crossing. This structure accommodates bankfull channel width and the design incorporates stream simulation with respect to channel alignment, gradient, and substrates. The replacement structure would also accommodate 100 year flood events and related debris flows.
The lower reaches of Tennessee Creek have the potential to serve as rearing habitat for ESA listed Spring/Summer Chinook salmon and steelhead. Bull trout, which are also a listed species, are present in the watershed. Tennessee Creek, along with all other streams in the Bear Valley Watershed are designated Critical Habitat for both Spring/Summer Chinook salmon and steelhead.
Forest Road 579 is under the jurisdiction of Valley County. The culvert replacement and the temporary road closure is a cooperative effort between the US Forest Service, Lowman Ranger District, the Valley County Roads Department and the Southwest Idaho RAC.
For more information contact the Lowman Ranger Station at 259-3361 or Jerry Robinson with the Valley County Roads department at 382-7195.
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Local fishermen disagree over water quality
BY CONRAD SWANSON | JULY 15, 2011 7:20 AM
The Iowa City summer is filled with kids going to various camps, groups of incoming university students, and groups of people both young and old relaxing outside in the sticky heat.
One group says it’s even more relaxed than the rest, though. Anglers can be found casting their lines at the Coralville Reservoir, along the Iowa River, and in all sorts of creeks, streams, and ponds.
Lloyd Bender, a salesman in the fishing department at Fin & Feather, 125 Highway 1 W., said he sees a diverse range of people who fish.
“I see people fishing, from little kids on up,” he said. “It’s fun for everybody.”
Bender is primarily a lake fisherman, and he recently returned a fishing trip in Minnesota. While in Iowa City, he fishes at Lake Macbride and a few other locations, but he tends to avoid the Iowa River because of concerns about the water’s cleanliness.
He said his reason is that harmful elements in a fish’s habitat can be stored in the animal’s fat. He said it might be OK to eat walleyes caught in the Iowa River because the species isn’t particularly fatty, but an Iowa River catfish may not be the healthiest thing to consume on a regular basis.
Bender may have a valid point. Iowa has ranked as low as 47th out of the 50 states in per capita spending on soil conservation and water quality, Iowa’s Water & Land Conservancy Executive Director Mark Langgin told The Daily Iowan in 2010.
Not everyone is as concerned about the Iowa River’s water quality, though.
One popular fishing spot can be found where Highway 6 crosses the Iowa River, the site of a small inlet that water from the river can enter. Also located there is an outlet pipe from the Iowa City Wastewater Division, and some people sit on the concrete above the pipe while fishing.
Paul Stewart, who has fished that area for 52 years, said he isn’t concerned about the water quality. Stewart — who, despite that outlook, usually doesn’t keep the fish he catches — said that as long as there’s moving water, there shouldn’t be a problem because of potentially harmful substances from the wastewater pipe. See the dozens of unique artificial fish habitat models, fish attractors and fish cover used at fishiding.com, the industry leader and only science based, man made and artificial fish habitat, proven to provide all fish with cover they prefer to prosper.
“I haven’t got four arms and three eyes yet, so I think it’s OK,” he said.
Steve Julius, the senior operator at the Iowa City Wastewater Division, said he knows anglers are common up and down the Iowa River. He said anything coming from the outlet pipe is perfectly safe and that none of the fluid exiting the pipe — a substance called effluent in the wastewater business — poses a threat to the fish or fishermen near the Highway 6 spot.
“The treated effluent is meeting all the permit requirements for that flow,” Julius said. “When compared [with the river], it’s probably cleaner than the actual river itself.”
Concerns about the quality of the water aside, many of the fishing fans said they agree it’s a great activity that’s easy to learn and hard to master. Several people said the skills they use while fishing transfer to other aspects of their lives.
“Patience, attitude — there’s a lot that goes into fishing, for food or for sport,” Stewart said. “It’s a great stress reliever.”
Bender agreed, noting that a good amount of the enjoyment for him comes from its difficulty.
“There’s a little thing with a pea-sized brain, and it fools you half the time,” he said. “It’s a challenge.”
Lake Mitchell committee proposes shoreline stabilization program
Published July 14, 2011, 12:49 AM
The Lake Mitchell Advisory Committee is recommending a shoreline stabilization program along Indian Village Road.
By: Tom Lawrence, The Daily Republic
The Lake Mitchell Advisory Committee is recommending a shoreline stabilization program along Indian Village Road.
The committee proposes installing riprap along the lake between the Sportsman’s Club and the Lake Mitchell Day Camp and planting trees on the lake side of the road. Trees help stabilize the soil and would also be more attractive, committee members said.
“It’s partially about aesthetics,” said Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department Director Dusty Rodiek.
The plan was discussed during a Lake Mitchell Advisory Committee meeting Tuesday at the Rec Center. The committee passed a pair of motions to move the plan ahead. It will go to the Mitchell City Council for final approval.
SolarBee update
The SolarBee installed in the lake last summer is back on the job.
The solar-power device is intended to increase oxygen, promote fish growth and reduce algae in the lake. It was purchased and installed last year but because of the heavy and steady rains last year, its effectiveness was reduced.
Algae thrives in stagnant water, Rodiek said, and is less of a concern with high, fast-moving water.
This year, the SolarBee didn’t work when it was placed in the lake this spring. It was finally determined that the battery was dead, he said.
The battery was replaced, Rodiek said, and the SolarBee has been working for a month.
If a heavy algae bloom occurs this summer, the SolarBee is expected to help reduce it.
“That’ll be a good test to see how it’s working,” said Mark Puetz, who was presiding over his first meeting as chairman of the committee.
Potential state park
The committee briefly discussed the possibility of a state park near Mitchell.
The concept was discussed with Gov. Dennis Daugaard when he was in Mitchell last month for the Capital for a Day event.
Discussions with the governor’s staffers were also helpful, Puetz said.
“There was a lot of good feedback from the community as well,” he said.
Adopt an Access area
The committee is moving ahead on a final design for Adopt an Access signs. It’s a program introduced by Greg McCurry when he was the committee chairman, a post he resigned after being elected to the Mitchell City Council.
The committee wants to spend $50 or less per sign, Puetz said. So far, more than 12 groups or individuals have agreed to “adopt” a public access area along the lake and ensure it is well maintained.
Teen help hired
A group of young people has been hired by the city to clean up access areas and do other jobs, according to Rodiek.
The city hired 15- and 16-year-olds to perform those tasks. Rodiek said there are morning and afternoon crews, both made up of about five teens,
They work about 14 hours a week in four, four-hour shifts, and are paid minimum wage.
“That’s a tough age for kids to find employment. It’s a good opportunity for them to develop some job skills,” he said.
“The plus for us, we get them started in the system and they learn some of the expectations we have and it’ll be a good feeder system for our own seasonal staff,” Rodiek said. “It’s a good source for us to hire good staff. The ones that work out, we can hire them in the future.”
Fish habitat
The committee wants to continue to place rocks and other material in the lake to improve fish habitat.
Committee members discussed the difference between round rocks and rocks of other shapes. Some members said round rocks seem to work best, although Rodiek said there is no scientific evidence that is true.
The committee said farmers have long been a source of rocks for the lake and for other purposes, but more farmers are using the rocks themselves and are less likely to give them away.
Puetz’s parents donated a large pile of rocks stored near the lake that were used for building a trail project, and some are left over.
They are available for a variety of purposes, he said.
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Come and have brunch for a good cause July 20
The Andrew Daniels Fish Stewardship Program is having its first ever Fish Stock Brunch in Lake of Bays on Weds., July 20.
The gathering takes place from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Port Cunnington Lodge.
The stewardship program started in 2006. Daniels was an avid fisherman in the Lake of Bays area prior to his death. See the dozens of unique artificial fish habitat models, fish attractors and fish cover used at fishiding.com, the industry leader and only science based, man made and artificial fish habitat, proven to provide all fish with cover they prefer to prosper.
“Bob Ransom and Bruce Montgomery, two guys on the lake here, decided to do something in Andrew’s memory,” said David Macdonald, the program’s director of special projects. “Since he was a big fisher guy, they decided to start the program.”
The root of the program goes a little further back. In 2002, the township of Lake of Bays settled out-of-court for $25,000 with the developer of Bigwin Island, Alan Peters. It was alleged that one of the contractors working on the redevelopment of the iconic Bigwin property had allowed silt to seep into the lake, potentially negatively affecting water quality.
Using funds from that settlement, the stewardship program launched with a mandate to protect the Lake of Bays fish habitat, improve regeneration and the general water quality in the area.
“Everyone involved in this effort has a love of Lake of Bays, and to participate in an effort to preserve and restore this lake is meaningful and our goal,” Macdonald said.
At the brunch, guests will be treated to a beef or fish meal, salads and dessert. There will be music by Darryl Hollingsworth & Co., karaoke, a raffle, a silent auction.
The program has undertaken a variety of projects since launching, according to Macdonald.
“They’ve done different things,” he said. “They’ve had students go around the lake and map out the wetland areas and where’s the best fishing, and what needs to do be done to make sure there’s no shoreline erosion.”
The program has also been involved in habitat and stock rehabilitation, culvert replacement projects and the study of spawning patterns.
“It saddens me to see the abuse of some of our streams where people have thrown in things such as diapers and old tires,” said Jacquie Goddard, the secretary of the stewardship program. “I cannot say enough good things about the excellent results of our stream rehab program and hard working team members.”
You can help out by attending the brunch. Tickets cost $25 and can be obtained by emailing adfsp@live.com or at the Dwight Garden Centre, 705-635-1696.
Don’t Forget StructureSpot When Adding Artificial PVC Fish Attractors in Your Pond
Check out this story on placing fish attractoors with precise placement. http://www.bradwiegmann.com/pond-fishing/pond-management/601-dont-forget-structurespot-when-adding-artificial-pvc-fish-attractors-in-your-pond-.html
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Fish Habitat Study Underway at Table Rock Lake
Missouri Conservation Department hopes to have useful information to share with anglers when the study is complete
ARTICLE | JULY 12, 2011 – 11:05AM | BY MICHELE SKALICKY
About four years ago, the Missouri Department of Conservation, along with a few other organizations began the Table Rock Lake National Fish Habitat Initiative, a project designed to maintain and improve fish habitat in Table Rock.
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Since then, as part of that initiative, more than 1500 fish habitat structures have been created in the lake. Now, biologists are in the middle of a radio-telemetry study that’s expected to provide information about behavior and habitat use of largemouth bass.
Shane Bush, fisheries management biologist for the Conservation Department, says the main reason for the study is to evaluate the large-scale habitat project…
“Because it’s a project of this calibur, we really want to evaluate whether this habitat’s working or whether it’s not, you know, and just kind of help us to learn what works and what doesn’t work as well so that, when the project’s completed and other state agencies want to use this data, we can give them a good paper and say that, you know, ‘this is what worked well and this is what didn’t work well,’ because this study is designed to be a pilot project in a more broad national project focused on habitat restoration in large reservoirs throughout the country.”
Earlier this year, 60 legal-sized largemouth bass were collected from the Kings River Arm of Table Rock Lake and surgically implanted with radio tags. They were then released back into the lake.
Bush says, besides habitat use, they hope to learn some more things about the fish…
“Those fish will also be studied to track their daily and seasonal movements around the lake to give biologists a better understanding of just overall movements of bass to help answer public inquiries and just learn more overall about the bass’s behavior in the lake.”
Each fish is located once per month during daylight hours. Every three months, a smaller number of the tagged fish will be tracked for a full 24-hour period to monitor daytime and nighttime movements.
Scuba surveys are also being conducted—divers go down to view the habitat structures to record what kinds of fish are using them.
If an angler catches a tagged largemouth bass, Bush hopes they’ll release it back into the lake so it can be studied further. The fish are easily recognizable since they have an antenna protruding from their abdomen. They also are marked with an orange tag near their dorsal fin…
“That orange tag actually has a number on it, and if anglers would just call our office and give us that number and tell us where they caught the fish, how big the fish was or whether it was release or kept and where it was released, that would just provide us with a lot of information.”
You can call the Conservation Department office in Branson at 334-4859.
Bush says they’ll add more habitat structures to Table Rock Lake starting in October–the Table Rock Lake National Fish Habitat Initiative runs thru 2012.
He says they don’t have much information from the radio-telemetry study to share yet, but he expects to have useful information for anglers when the study’s finished in about a year.
concern runs deep for fish habitat
Colorado sportsmen’s concern runs deep for fish habitat in wake of Yellowstone River oil spill
By David O. Williams
Real Aspen – July 6, 2011
Real Aspen – July 6, 2011
Sportsmen’s groups as far away as Colorado are deeply concerned about the potential degradation of fish and wildlife habitat resulting from Friday’s ExxonMobil oil spill in the pristine Yellowstone River 20 miles upstream from Billings, Mont.
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“One of the things we always look at is the economic impact of hunting and fishing to the state economy,” said Gaspar Perricone, co-founder and co-director of the Denver-based Bull Moose Sportsmen’s Alliance. “In Montana, wildlife-related activity generates $1.1 billion annually, and of that, $759 million comes specifically from hunting and angling.
“Any time there’s a threat to the habitat, you obviously run the risk of impairing some of the tourism to a place like Yellowstone as well as the opportunity for quality hunting and fishing.”
Friday’s pipeline break, which the company now admits spilled more than 1,000 barrels of oil (or at least 42,000 gallons) is more than 100 miles downstream from Yellowstone National Park. But the river near the town of Laurel, where the rupture occurred, is known for world-class fishing.Wildlife officials told MSNBC they don’t expect to see short-term impacts such as dead fish floating on the surface, but they are worried about long-term effects on small forms of aquatic life that fish eat. That would adversely impact the fish habitat on the nation’s longest undammed river.
As of Wednesday, more than 440 people were working to soak up the oil, according to a press release from Region 8 of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which includes Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.
“[Wednesday] EPA issued an order to ExxonMobil, pursuant to the Clean Water Act, directing the company to take a number of clean-up and restoration activities as a result of an oil spill into the Yellowstone River,” the release reads. “EPA will continue in its role in directing and overseeing the cleanup and restoration of the river and ensuring the protection of human health and the environment.
“EPA is coordinating its response actions with the Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service and state and local agencies and will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure ExxonMobil, as the responsible party, addresses any and all potential impacts of this spill.”
Environmental groups have already begun questioning Exxon’s estimates of the size and scope of the spill.
Alexis Bonogofsky, whose family farm is in Laurel, told CNN oil has polluted the edge of her farmland to the point that she can’t let her animals graze. “You go down to where the oil is,” she said, “and you don’t hear anything anymore. No birds, no toads, no crickets, nothing. It’s just silent.”
Bonogofsky is the daughter of Debra Bonogofsky, a moderate Republican businesswoman who last year told the Colorado Independent she was the victim of a “smear campaign” orchestrated by Western Tradition Partnership – a pro-oil-and-gas political advocacy group originally registered in Colorado.
Bonogofsky filed a formal complaint against the group with the Montana Commissioner of Political Practices, whodetermined WTP violated Montana campaign finance and disclosure laws in a 2008 legislative race. WTP, now American Tradition Partnership, describes itself as a “no-compromise grassroots organization dedicated to fighting the radical environmentalist agenda.”
WTP and ATP have been very active in Colorado political races in recent years, targeting Democrats who favor more renewable energy and challenging the state’s aggressive renewable energy standard.
While Colorado in recent years has not seen a high-profile spill along the lines of the Montana pipeline break or recent ruptures in Michigan and Illinois, Perricone’s Bull Moose group in May released a report detailing more than 1,000 small spills of more than 5.6 million gallons of oil, wastewater and other drilling fluids in three western Colorado counties over the past decade.
“If we develop our natural resources in an appropriate manner, then wildlife-related activity is a well than can be tapped in perpetuity,” Perricone said. “However, if we get to the point where the extraction of our natural resources damages wildlife and wildlife habitat to the degree that it can’t recover, then that certainly is not a place that we’d like to find ourselves.”