Photos by Mike Wier
7th Annual Casting Call on the Capitol Lawn
CalTrout and Trout Unlimted's Casting Call is a great way for legislators to meet with our organization and members of the public, raising awareness for, and celebrating, California’s native cold-water fish populations. Through our work, and by developing positive relationships in Sacramento, CalTrout has become the go-to organization for legislators for guidance on issues pertaining to fish, water, and people.
The highlight of Casting Call is the casting competition. Out on the Capitol lawn, Assemblymembers, Senators, and natural resource agency members braved the Sacramento heat and joined us for casting lessons and a friendly competition. The winner of this year’s casting competition was the Department of Fish and Wildlife squad with an assist from Senator Dodd (photo at left).
CalTrout Executive Director Curtis Knight and Trout Unlimited's Brian Johnson also met with legislators throughout the day to discuss issues our organizations support such as: securing funds for Central Valley multi-benefit projects in Senate Bill 5 (in which CalTrout was wildly successful!); securing funding for wetland and mountain meadows in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund budget process; Senator Mike McGuire’s Senate Joint Resolution 7 which supports California’s commitment to establish salmon and steelhead support from the federal government; as well as many other water conservation initiatives.