Consideration on purchasing Minam River property
By Paul Hall on Tuesday, August 3rd, 2021 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
WALLOWA COUNTY – (Information provided by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife) The Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet Friday, Aug. 6 online via Zoom.
The meeting agenda is at the following link and a livestream of the meeting can also be viewed here https://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/minutes/
To testify on one of the agenda items, register here no later than 48 hours before the meeting (by Wednesday, Aug. 4 at 8:00 a.m.). Additional instructions on how to testify during the Zoom meeting are available on the last page of the meeting agenda .
Comments about agenda items can also be emailed to odfw.commission@odfw.oregon.gov
The Commission is expected to:
Decide on the purchase of property in Wallowa County as part of a new Minam River Wildlife Area, which would protect habitat and provide outdoor recreational opportunities along the Minam River. For more information see https://www.dfw.state.or.us/news/2021/07_July/070621.asp
Adopt 2022 elk archery season regulations. ODFW staff are proposing to move units in the Blue Mountains to controlled hunting, a change needed to help wildlife managers meet elk plan objectives in areas with low bull ratios and a high percentage of branch antlered bull harvest occurring within the general archery season. Remaining 2022 Big Game Regulations will be adopted at the September meeting. See the big game review page for more information, https://myodfw.com/articles/big-game-hunting-season-review
Be briefed on a 12-year assessment of the Oregon Coast Coho Conservation Plan. The plan provides a conservation framework for coho that are currently federally listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Coastal coho remain persistent and sustainable despite challenging conditions for both freshwater and ocean survival over the past several years. For more details see Exhibit C.
Set 2021 fishing regulations for wild coho in certain rivers. An increase in coho spawner abundance and 2021 forecast return of 125,000 fish (up from average of 75K from 2015-2018) allow for consideration of a conservative wild coho in-basin harvest in select areas this year.
Set 2022 Sport Fishing Regulations. See the full agenda item for all proposed changes by angling zone. Highlights of proposed changes include permanent closure of the hatchery hole below Cole Rivers Dam to protect returning broodstock (Southwest Zone); remove bag limits for walleye in the Willamette and Gilbert River to better protect native species (Willamette Zone); remove regulation exceptions and implement zone regulations (two trout per day with artificial flies and lures only) in certain rivers in the Southeast Zone; make permanent a rule that allows harvest of 3 adult spring Chinook per day from the Washington State line to Hells Canyon dam (Snake River Zone).
Commissioners will be briefed on the 2021 Multi-agency Report on Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia (OAH) program and hear updates on the Beaver Management and Trap Check Work Groups.
Commissioners will also hold a public forum for people to comment on topics not on the agenda early Friday morning following the Director’s Report. To participate in public forum, call the ODFW Director’s office at (503) 947-6044 by Wednesday, Aug. 4 at 8 a.m. (48 hours prior to the meeting).
