DanBlanton.Com Striperfest
The Top Fundraiser For West Coast Striped Bass Conservation
For the great striped bass
fishery of the Sacramento - San Joaquin Bay-Delta Estuary, Striperfest is hands
down the largest fundraiser. Since its inception in 1997, Striperfest has
raised $147,190 and has granted $24,470. Striperfest has been routinely
recognized in national and local fly fishing publications, as well as local
news media. Striperfest 2010 was the most successful event ever, raising $28,575 for Bay/Delta conservation and other worthwhile grants.
Grants from Striperfest have included youth fly-fishing programs, totaling $6,000. The youth grants have emphasized putting young fly fishers on the water by paying access fees and buying equipment. Striperfest has put more than 300 budding fly fishers into fish under the supervision of local high school and fly-fishing clubs.
One of our more effective grants has been to Earthjustice, supporting their lawsuit against the National Marine Fisheries Service for failing to protect salmon and steelhead from the Delta water pumps. Striperfest donated $7,061 to Earthjustice for this effort. As a result of the lawsuit, the NMFS was directed to revise its salmon and steelhead protections, resulting in a new plan, presented in 2009, supporting a decrease of about 25% in water exports. Striperfest continues to support this lawsuit during appeal by the water exporters. Since inception of Striperfest, Earthjustice has received $14,846 in donations, supporting Earthjustice’s overall efforts on behalf of the Bay-Delta ecosystem.
The majority of Striperfest grants have been used to oppose the lawsuit filed in January 2008 by the Coalition for a Sustainable Delta (a mis-named organization); the purpose of the lawsuit is to remove gamefish status for striped bass. Striperfest has so far spent $84,180 on attorney’s fees, with another $5,339 for supporting activities such as pubic opposition and public relations (total expenditures regarding the lawsuit have been $89,519).
Most recently, the Coalition for a Sustainable Delta petitioned the court for summary judgment in this case and in July 2010 the judge denied the motion, sending the lawsuit to trial.
This lawsuit has
become very expensive and Striperfest, now more than ever, needs funds to help
preserve gamefish status for this important recreational fishery - a source of fly-fishing
pleasure since the early 1900s. In addition to Striperfest, the California
Striped Bass Association has donated approximately $12,500 toward the lawsuit, but
it is apparent that Striperfest and its fly fishers will be carrying the weight
of this legal burden.
The primary recipient of Striperfest grants has been the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA). The CSPA has provided the attorney for the Coalition for a Sustainable Delta lawsuit at a cost of $84,180. Striperfest has additionally granted $6,000 to CSPA for its conservation efforts - in total CSPA has received $90,180.
To provide tax-exempt status for Striperfest, the Northern California Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers (NCCFFF) is the recipient and dispenser of Striperfest funds. The NCCFFF is a 501(c) 3 organization. The NCCFFF dispenses grants at the direction of the Striperfest committee. The NCCFFF has not charged any administrative fees - 100% of Striperfest donations are dispersed for conservation, legal, and youth grants.
Striperfest grants have been a powerful force for the preservation and restoration of Bay-Delta fish, particularly striped bass. The Striperfest raffle is renowned for its cache of quality gear. The fly fishers of the Dan Blanton Bulletin Board who attend Striperfest and participate in the raffle, along with the contributors and vendors, who donate the raffle prizes, make this possible. Now more than ever, we need generous donations. We must save our California Striped Bass!
Every year we look to make Striperfest the most prosperous fundraiser ever and look for growing support from concerned individuals from all over the world.
Lastly, a big thanks to all of the previous and ongoing supporters of this profoundly important event.
Sincerely,
Dan Blanton