The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will be soliciting public comment and ideas on the statewide management of trout at a series of public meetings.

“We are seeking stakeholder feedback on the development of three important elements of our statewide trout management efforts,” said Roger Bloom, CDFW Inland Fisheries Program Manager. “Our overall goal is make positive programmatic changes that will help ensure we’re getting the right fish in the right place at the right time.”

The three key areas for which CDFW are seeking input are:

The revision of CDFW’s Strategic Plan for Trout Management, last published in 2003; the creation of a new Strategic Plan for Trout Hatcheries; and simplification of inland trout angling regulations.

Each meeting will include a brief presentation covering each area. CDFW personnel will be available at information stations to answer questions and listen to stakeholder interests, needs and ideas.

All stakeholder input will be taken into consideration as draft plans and a regulation simplification package are developed for formal public review. Stakeholders can fill out a short questionnaire online or at the scheduled meetings.

For the Central Valley area, the session is scheduled in Sacramento at the Arcade Library Meeting Room, 2443 Marconi Ave., on Wednesday, May 2 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

More information is available at www.wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland/Trout-Plan.