Compass: Susitna dam is a threat to salmon and fishermen
By STEVE HARRISON Published: October 25, 2013 If you are one of the 30,993 sportfisherman that fished in the Susitna river drainage in 2012, as reported by ADF& G in their annual sport fish survey, then your way of life, like mine has been backed into a corner....Turbidity study on Kenai River ‘languishes’ at state level
Original Article Source: Peninsula Clarion By Rashah McChesney A 2011 study linking boat traffic to violations of state standards for drinking water, recreational use and health of fish and wildlife on the lower Kenai River has yet to make it through a review process...Shame on the Kenai River Sportfishing Association
I’m no stranger to fish and wildlife politics, but the Kenai River Sportfishing Association’s (KRSA) recent successful efforts to oust Board of Fish (BOF) member Vince Webster by preventing his reappointment has to take the cake in terms of smear campaigns.
From the start, KRSA’s “action alert” letter to members and legislators was a complete fabrication. They based the crux of their opposition to Mr. Webster based on the outcome of a proposal put forward by the Alaska Department of Fish & Game. In their action alert, KRSA claimed that Mr. Webster “participated in precariously and unnecessarily lowering the escapement goal of Kenai River king salmon during a time of record low abundance and uncertain future production.”
KRSA cause conflict in our community
A recent opinion piece in the Clarion by Ricky Gease, Executive Director for Kenai River Sportfishing Association (KRSA), claimed to enlighten us on two different issues in a “fact based and truthful” manner when in fact they were neither. Instead, he chose the route of misinformation intended to mislead our community into believing their recent lobbying efforts to oust Board of Fisheries (BOF) member, Vince Webster of Naknek, were justified. KRSA’s actions in this regard were sleazy at best and further illustrate how far this organization will go to maintain control over all aspects of fisheries management on the Kenai River and Upper Cook Inlet.
Kenai River group should focus on river, not Cook Inlet setnetters
The executive director of Kenai River Sportfishing Association (KSRA), 501(c)3 nonprofit “dedicated to ensuring the sustainability of the world's premier sportfishing river, “recently wrote an editorial in which he appropriately gave his organization credit for leading the successful charge to block the legislative confirmation of Vince Webster to the Alaska Board of Fisheries. In a swift and organized character assassination, KSRA spread false and misleading information vilifying Mr. Webster.