SALEM, Ore. —Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife staff will begin three new studies this summer to assess the condition of native fish populations in southeast Oregon.
Employees with the ODFW Native Fish Investigations Project in Corvallis will Malheur River redband trout, assess the life history of stream-resident populations of Warner suckers and examine distribution of the unique fish fauna of Goose Lake.
“The goal of this work is to provide effective conservation of Oregon’s native fish populations,” said Native Fish Investigations Project leader Steve Jacobs.
“Gathering reliable biological data is very important in this process,”
Field crews will visit approximately 600 randomly selected sample sites for the three studies. Sites that consist of 100-meter long stream sections will be sampled in the Catlow Valley, Chewaucan, Goose Lake, Warner Valley, Silver Lake and Malheur River and Lake Basins. At each site, crews will use a variety of methods including traps and electrofishing to capture fish, count and measure lengths of sampled fish and, in some cases, tag fish to track migration patterns. In order to produce a representative sample, many sample sites will be located on private property.
ODFW staff will contact landowners to request access to specific stream sections. Staff biologists will also conduct public meetings to present the studies and answer any questions from landowners and the general public.
In Harney County the following meetings have been scheduled:
May 16 - 7:00 p.m. Suntex School, Riley
May 21 - 7:00 p.m. Museum Club Room, Burns
May 22 - 7:00 p.m. Diamond School Gym, Diamond
In Lake County the following meetings have been scheduled:
May 23 - 4:00 p.m. Adel School
May 24 - 10:00 a.m. US Forest Service Ranger District Office, Paisley
May 24 - 1:00 p.m. US Forest Service Ranger District Office, Silver Lake
Funding for these studies comes from a variety of sources including The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, The U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the Burns Paiute Tribe, an Oregon Conservation Strategy Implementation Grant and the ODFW Restoration and Enhancement Program.
About ODFW
The mission of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is to protect and enhance Oregon's fish and wildlife and their habitats for use and enjoyment by present and future generations. The agency consists of the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission, a commission-appointed director and a statewide staff of approximately 950 permanent employees. Headquartered in Salem, ODFW has regional offices in Clackamas, Roseburg, Bend, and La Grande with ten district offices located throughout the state. For additional information, please visit www.dfw.state.or.us.
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