ABSTRACT
Lake Davis is located in Plumas County (population 19,739), California, near the town of Portola (population, 2200; Rand, 2000). The lake and its tributaries are popular areas for boating and trout fishing, and also supply drinking water to Portola. In 1994, the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) discovered illegally planted northern pike in the lake. DFG had successfully used rotenone to eliminate a 1991 infestation of Frenchman’s reservoir, 15 miles to the east (Lee, 2001). DFG planned a similar treatment to eradicate the pike from Lake Davis, but quickly became involved in a community controversy that involved both legal challenges and a lengthy environmental assessment process (Roberts, 1996). Threats to DFG employees were even reported (Lee, 2001).
