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DFG MEDIA ADVISORY REGARDING CAPLES LAKE FISH RESCUE EFFORTS.  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Aug. 25, 2008

Contacts: Troy Swauger, DFG Communications (916) 322-8932, Harry Morse, (916) 838-4410

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) will commence a fish rescue and relocation operation at Caples Lake on Tuesday, Aug. 26. The operation aims to reduce the loss of fish expected when El Dorado Irrigation District (EID) lowers the lake level in order to repair Caples Lake Dam. EID operates Caples Lake and is funding the fish rescue.

Mackinaw, brown, rainbow and brook trout are the primary species that will be captured and relocated to Silver Lake seven miles away. DFG will have 50 workers onsite and 85 volunteers will work during the 72-hour effort.

A media briefing will take place at the auxiliary dam parking lot of the Caples Lake/Emigrant Lake Trailhead just west of Caples Lake Dam, next to Hwy 88, at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 26. The address is 1111 Hwy 88, which is one mile east of Kirkwood. The meeting location is shown in the lower left corner of the map at http://www.capleslakeresort.com/assets/clr_lake_map.jpg.

The media briefing will include an explanation of the equipment that will be used for the operation. Biologists and volunteers will be available for interviews. EID officials will also be onsite for interviews regarding the repairs and water management questions relating to their operation.

After the briefing, media vehicles will be lead (via an escort vehicle) from the dam parking area to the location of the operation. Due to potential traffic hazards, media vehicles will be escorted to the operation site. Media arriving late will have to wait for an escort to access the work site. The first group of vehicles will leave no later than 11:30 a.m. for the work site.

Events Schedule

11:00 a.m. - Media briefing at circular parking lot at base of Caples Lake Dam.

11:30 a.m. - First group of up to 10 vehicles will be taken to work site.

11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. - Press availability of biologists and volunteers. Fish electroshocking boats and nets will be available for photo opportunities. There may be a boat available for on-water photo opportunities depending on how the rescue operation is proceeding. For information on boat availability, please call Troy Swauger at (916) 322-8932 Monday after 2:00 p.m.

1:30 to 2:00 p.m. - Fish moved from net pen to trucks and transported to Silver Lake boat launch at east end of lake, seven miles west of Hwy 88, for release into lake.

Cell phone coverage is extremely limited in this area. Field staff may not get media calls or be able to call out to media. Please arrive on time. Hwy 88 has limited pull-offs. Media vehicles should be very careful while parking or getting photos or interviews. The work site is down a narrow lane behind a locked gate so an escort is required.