Public comment sought on proposed priority fish passage list
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, February 11th, 2025 in Columbia Basin News Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
SALEM – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking public comment on the draft 2025 Statewide Priority Fish Passage Barrier List. Oregon law requires the list be revised every five years.
The list identifies the most critical artificial barriers to fish passage in Oregon. Numerous such barriers on the list are in the Umatilla, La Grande, and Southeast ODFW fishing districts. The lists and more information on how to comment can be found at https://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/passage/inventories.asp.
The barriers are ranked on the amount and quality of habitat that is blocked, the current level of passage, the number of species impacted, and other factors including the predicted effects of climate change.
The public comment period is open until 11:59 p.m., Feb. 28. Comments may be submitted by email to Fish.Passage@ODFW.oregon.gov; or by mail to ODFW Fish Passage Program, 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE, Salem, OR 97302.
ODFW encourages water users, infrastructure owners, land use managers, conservationists, and other interested groups or individuals to provide their expertise and insight. Public comments and the final draft priority list will be presented to the Fish Passage Task Force on March 7. The final list will be submitted to the Fish and Wildlife Commission for consideration on April 18.
