The Fight To Save Lake Davis

by Amy & Deb

On October 14, residents from Portola, California came together to stop the poisoning of Lake Davis, the source of their drinking water. People from all walks of life in this small, rural community just north of Lake Tahoe, quickly mobilized to stand up to the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) as it dumped 16,000 gallons and 65,000 pounds of the toxic fish poison "Nusyn-Noxfish" into Lake Davis to eradicate the non-native northern pike. The pike is a predatory fish and the DFG was concerned that it would eat the native salmon of the Sacramento Delta to the point of extinction unless it was exterminated. Apparently, the DFG doesn't believe that the numerous dams, diversion of water to Southern California and extensive logging and roadbuilding in the watershed are more detrimental to the salmon population than the pike. The DFG disregarded several non-toxic options in favor of Nusyn-Noxfish which contains Tri-Chloro-Ethelyne, a known carcinogen.

The DFG focused solely on the eradication of the pike, paying little attention to the ramifications of the poisons on the other creatures of the bioregion. As a result, the lake's population of native trout was massacred. The DFG plans to replace the native fish with hatchery fish that are more susceptible to disease and less genetically diverse. The rare yellow-legged frog, which is especially sensitive to toxins, inhabits the tributaries of Lake Davis, which were also poisoned. The lake provides habitat to golden eagles, osprey, black bear, chipmunk and deer as well, all of which will be effected by the poisons.

Residents also fear that the poisons will seep into the nearby wells that supply the communities drinking water. One official was rumored to have said that there was nothing to worry about because, statistically, only one person in the town would get cancer as a result of the poisoning!

Portola is a conservative, economically challenged community that is struggling to rise out of the logging boom and bust syndrome. The entire community was united in opposition against the poisoning of the lake and highly appreciative of non-resident activist support. The mayor, city council, timber workers, Women in Timber, local NRA rednecks, Portola stores and businesses, the sheriff and even the district attorney were all against the dumping of the poison into the lake. What's more, the community unanimously opposed the poisoning of the lake every step of the way. Appeals were made, legislators lobbied and petitions filed, all to no avail. When an 11th-hour meeting with Governor Pete Wilson failed to stop the poisoning, the town decided to pull out the stops and take direct action.

The poisoning was scheduled to begin at dawn on October 15. Following a candlelight vigil on October 14, four brave souls slipped into the water by the light of the moon. A few days before, these people would never have considered taking direct action and thought Earth First! was a terrorist organization. But they had no alternative and were not going to stand by and watch the lake that they depended on for their drinking water be poisoned. Inspired by the tactics that several Earth First!ers suggested might be effective, they armed themselves with steel motorcycle chains and combination locks, wet suits and inner tubes, and they swam out into the 52 degree water and shackled themselves to a buoy on the lake. This defiant act bewildered the DFG and effectively impeded the dumping of the poison!

As dawn broke, three other enraged locals got in the water and destroyed some orange grid markers. They were cheered on by a crowd of 100 supporters, who promised them a lawyer and warm blankets. Initially, DFG informed them that they were under arrest, but noticing the chains, and lacking bolt cutters, they decided to wait them out.

In the end, all the aquatic blockaders were helped to shore, suffering from various stages of hypothermia, and the poison was dumped into the lake. The community learned the valuable lesson that day of why it is important to be prepared for the worst. The water was cold, but the seven people's commitment to this place was strong and will live on forever in the community. Maybe next time everyone will take the plunge.