In this editorial by the Sacramento Bee, the apparent discounting that farm raised animals—including hatchery raised fish—can sustain a species for the future is discounting something that has been well established in the history of husbandry, and is a technology that should always be encouraged rather than discouraged.

We posted on the hatchery system previously.

And while the restoration of creeks to restore once prolific salmon runs sounds good—it does—the problem of carcasses rotting on the banks may dissuade some who live along those same banks from enticing too many spawning salmon to their neighborhood creek.

An excerpt from the editorial.

“The National Marine Fisheries Service has issued a wake-up call on the dangers facing the Central Valley’s salmon and, ultimately, the water system they depend on. It should be mulled and acted upon.

“The wake-up call came in the form of a “biological opinion” that the fisheries service filed earlier this month. Prompted by a federal court ruling on a lawsuit by environmentalists and fishermen, it found that the ways the state and federal water projects operate threaten the survival of endangered chinook salmon and steelhead, and it required that they change their policies.

“The changes the agency envisions include finding ways to get the fish around the dams and other barriers that currently stop them as they migrate upstream to spawn. With immense structures like Shasta Dam spanning the Sacramento River, and Folsom Dam the American, this will not be a simple task. It will require the construction of fish ladders, or elevators, or perhaps truck-and-haul operations. Experts aren’t sure if any are feasible. The estimated price tag starts at $1 billion.

“The price of not acting, however, will likely be steeper.

“To begin with, the winter- and spring-run chinook salmon of the Sacramento River and the steelhead of the American are almost certainly doomed if their journeys to spawning habitat continue to be blocked.

“That probably won’t take salmon off diners’ plates, although there are persistent questions about the taste, healthfulness and environmental impact of what’s produced on fish farms.”

Sacramento County Sheriff John McGinness says he will need to lay off 209 deputies because of budget cuts.

That’s nearly double the number of deputies McGinness had previously said he would lay off after the county board of supervisors adopted it’s budget. McGinness sent a memo to his staff Friday apologizing for conveying “a more promising picture that I currently believe to be valid.”

McGinness wrote that the layoffs will be a “a huge hit to public safety.” In addition to another 80 deputies, the sheriff is proposing to cut 22 non-sworn department employees. The Sacramento County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association has urged the county to restore $15 million to offset the additional cuts.

Going against what all thought, Spanish guard Ricky Rubio was available as the call came to the Sacramento Kings to make their pick at No. 4 in the first round of the NBA Draft today. Going against what all thought, the Kings didn’t take him.

Sacramento instead chose Memphis guard Tyreke Evans, the 6-foot-5-inch slasher. This has serious implications for current point guard Beno Udrih, who signed a hefty contract last year to take over the offense. His poor performance last season may have been a deciding factor in the Kings choosing Evans.

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I just started a new forum for photography in the Sacramento area. Go to:

http://sacphotoforum.com

The site just started so there is a still a lot of work to be done. It is up and running so if you enjoy photography come chat about it and share photos.

We now have the latest and greatest Facebook URL (well at least in this area). You can visit me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/sacramento

What a great opportunity to attend the California Museum for free. Saturday, April 25, 2009 10AM – 3PM. The Museum is located at 1020 O Street.

For more information see Sacramento World.

The Bee has refreshed the state worker pay database. Click here to access the latest data from the SCO.