CREEK FLOW MAY BE STEMMED.

Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer

State officials are proposing to stop the water flows into Piru Creek, a popular fishing spot between Los Angeles and Ventura counties, to help save the native, federally endangered southwestern arroyo toad from the invasive and prolific bullfrog.

The amount of water flow released from Pyramid Lake Dam to Piru Creek from the State Water Project is regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

Officials know that a certain flow would help maintain the trout fisheries at the creek as well as save the arroyo toad.

But more than a year ago, officials with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service noticed that the flow was causing a proliferation of bullfrogs, a predator of the arroyo toad, which was listed as endangered in 1995.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services says the arroyo toad lives best in rivers ``that have shallow, gravelly pools adjacent to sandy terraces. Breeding occurs on large streams with persistent water from late March until mid-June.''

Now officials for the state Department of Water Resources, on the recommendation from several state wildlife agencies, have proposed to stop the flow into Piru Creek from Pyramid Lake in the winter months, to let nature take its course.

``We met with other agencies, and we came to an agreement that we would go back to natural flows as soon as we completed the (California Environmental Quality Act) process and amend the FERC license,'' said Dr. Eva Begley, senior environmental scientist and project manager at the Department of Water Resources. ``They found that the increase in predator populations had decreased the amount of native habitat.''

The proposal to stop the flow has drawn criticism from California Trout Inc., a statewide anglers' conservation group that works to protect and restore the state's wild trout and steelhead.

``They need to stop,'' said Jim Edmondson, CalTrout's Southern California manager. ``The days of single-species management and easy solutions are over, and have passed several years ago.''

Edmondson said the environmental impact report is based on ``flawed assumptions,'' including that the steelhead fish cannot be found in the creek. And what about the native trout, he asked.

For decades, fly fishermen have come to Piru Creek, where water flows from Pyramid Lake, and which offers fishing holes stocked with rainbow trout by the state Fish and Game. ``Its not to say there are not issues to be done and actions taken to protect (other species), but not at the full expense of everything,'' Edmondson said. ``We have conflicting species management going on. If natural flow is to replace the natural function of the creek system, then we need to tear out the dam.''

Begley understands the concerns.

``We recognize there might be some impacts to recreational use, but we feel that with some mitigation, not much,'' she said. `` We don't want to be releasing water to harm the toads.''

Susan Abram, [phone]

susan.abram(at)dailynews.com