by Ranger Jim Serpa

As I was adjusting the flow rate from the oxygen bottles, I heard the cry "Jim, get over here, quick!" I glanced up to see three of my cohorts pleading with me to move away from my "patients" and look over the railing as the elevator moved up. Now, before you get too excited, you must realize that my "patients" were actually fish and the "elevator" was a device at the San Onofre nuclear power plant called the "fish release elevator."

My cohorts consisted of volunteer extraordinare Bill Brooks, former aquarium park aide Christine Anderson, current aquarium park aide Scott Ehlert, San Clemente Ranger Brian Kummer and photographer Tom Haight. They were all screaming for me to look down the elevator to see the 50 pound Black Sea Bass that was about to be released back into the ocean via the mind-boggling fish release setup at the power plant.

But, first things first. It all started about six months ago when San Clemente interpreter Vicki Wiker passed on to me a newsletter from the power plant. In it was an article about the Aquarium of the Pacific netting fish at the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant. It seems that every so often the plant heats up the water in the intake pipes to kill fouling organisms such as barnacles and mussels. But, before they do this they must evacuate the pipes of all the fish that may have become trapped inside. After herding the fish into an area that lifts them up for a ride on the "fish elevator", they are dumped back into the wild via an elaborate system of waterways. At that point, armed with nets, the aquarium was able to scoop up any fish that might be useful in their aquariums.

After reading this I got in touch with the power plant and eventually got connected up with Environmental Specialist Bob Heckler. Bob was ever so kind to allow us to try our luck with our nets. Even though it was obviously going to be a lot of work for him he set us up with a date to "go for it."

First, we had to meet with Bob for a briefing on the Tuesday before catch day. We made plans to return the following Thursday to get security clearance. We were scanned for bombs, then metal and finally had our hands scanned before we were even allowed into the area we would be using as our catch site. Once there, we saw a large pit that Heckler told us would be the station for the fish lift. He explained that as they bring up the fish, they hold the elevator at the top for several minutes while a biologist counts each load. After the count is done the fish are shunted back into a stream of water that returns them to the open ocean unharmed. Heckler explained they are the only generating plant in the U.S. that does this and that they have as much as a 95% fish return rate. He told us that while some fish do perish, it amounts to about what a full grown Orca would eat in a year. Not bad, considering what a huge scale operation it is.

This is how "Operation Gone Fission" went down. On Wednesday prior to the fish catch, Bill Brooks and I borrowed some large trash cans to transport the fish in. Picnic Coordinator Lori Coble was able to borrow some regulators from a local hospital equipment to give the fish much needed oxygen in their temporary holding tanks. This would sustain them until we could back to Doheny.

On Saturday, the day of the catch, we got to the elevators just as the first of 12 to 15 elevator lifts started. Bill, Christine, Scott and Brian act as fish scoopers. I choose the fish to keep and monitor their health in the temporary holding tanks. Finally, Tom acts as the photographer for the Orange County Register, as well as for the Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association's (DSBIA) newsletter and website.

As the first load of fish came up, we saw schools of anchovy, salema and sargo among others. We managed to net some salema and anchovy. A few lifts later Christine netted the catch of the day so far, a beautiful cabezon. Next Bill captures some beautiful giant Kelpfish. Brian and Scott nab some more salema and tiger perch. About that time the Black Sea Bass showed up. What a sight! Many years ago this magnificent fish, which grows up to 500 pounds, was a common sight off Southern California. Due to over fishing, it almost became extinct. Because of protection, it is making a strong comeback. Several minutes later we saw the sight of the day...a second Black Sea Bass. This one was bigger yet. According to the biologist it was"at least 75 pounds!"

As quickly as the fish release started, it was winding down. We had our catch and I thought it best to get the healthy fish back to Doheny and into the holding tanks. We made it back to Doheny with all but a few of the anchovies alive and well. All in all, we caught seven different species. We were able to obtain fish we probably couldn't get otherwise.