Field Reports – in written form only

Expenditure Report

Staff: Bill Herber, Acting Deputy Director for Administration

Adopt Temporary Rules

Curt Melcher, Director

Attachments: (pdf)

• Final Field Report Aug 7 2015
• Financial Report
  

1. 635-014-0090

Five Rivers Upstream to Buck Creek Closed to Angling for Fall Chinook August 1, 2015
Adopted July 17, 2015: effective August 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015.

This amended rule closes the Five Rivers upstream to Buck Creek to angling for fall Chinook salmon from August 1 thru the fall season. These modification conform fall salmon regulations to guidelines adopted in the Coastal Multi-Species Plan and a request has been submitted for these modifications to be included in permanent sport regulations for 2016-2017.

2. 635-023-0130

2015 Columbia River Fall Recreational Salmon Seasons Set
Adopted July 23, 2015: effective August 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015.

This amended rule sets the 2015 fall recreational Chinook salmon season regulations for the mainstem Columbia River, effective August 1, 2015. Modifications were based on 2015 Non-Indian Columbia River Summer/Fall Fishery Allocation Agreement (5/8/15) that was developed during the Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC) and North of Falcon (NOF) meetings. Fall fisheries in 2015 are structured to optimize the harvest of Chinook, coho and steelhead within Endangered Species Act (ESA) limits and to provide a balanced opportunity for the fishers.

3. 635-006-0210

Electronic Fish Tickets Reporting Commercial Sales of Salmon, Sturgeon, Smelt and Shad Required
Adopted July 27, 2015: effective August 4, 2015 through December 31, 2015.

This amended rule requires, by way of electronic fish receiving tickets (e-ticket), the reporting of commercial sales of salmon, sturgeon, smelt and shad landed downstream of Bonneville Dam and purchased by wholesale fish dealers, wholesale fish bait dealers, and food fish canners. Modifications also require e-tickets be submitted within 24 hours of the closure of a fishing period or within 24 hours of the landing when fishing periods are longer than 24 hours.

4. 635-041-0076

Columbia River Zone 6 Treaty Indian Summer Chinook Commercial Fishery Set
Adopted July 27, 2015: effective July 28, 2015 through July 31, 2015.

This amended rule authorizes sales of fish caught in a Treaty tribal commercial gill net fishery in the Columbia River which begins 6:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 28 and runs through 6:00 p.m. Friday, July 31, 2015 (3.5 days). Modifications are consistent with action taken July 27, 2015 by the Departments of Fish & Wildlife for the States of Oregon and Washington in cooperation with the Columbia River Treaty Tribes at a meeting of the Columbia River Compact.

5. 635-023-0134

Recreational Spring Chinook Fishery In the Snake River Below Hells Canyon Dam Closes
Adopted July 28, 2015: effective August 2, 2015 through September 30, 2015.

This amended rule closes the recreational spring Chinook salmon fishery on the Snake River in the area from the Dug Bar Boat Ramp upstream to the deadline below Hells Canyon Dam effective at 11:59 p.m. on August 2, 2015 to coincide with the state of Idaho's closure of this fishery.

6. 635-041-0045 and 635-041-0075

Sales from Columbia River Treaty Indian Fall Commercial Fisheries Authorized
Adopted July 29, 2015: effective August 1, 2015 through October 31, 2015.

These amended rules authorize the sales of fish caught in fall Treaty tribal platform commercial fisheries set for the Columbia River from Saturday, August 1 through Saturday, October 31, 2015. Modifications are consistent with action taken July 29, 2015 by the Departments of Fish & Wildlife for the States of Oregon and Washington in cooperation with the Columbia River Treaty Tribes at a meeting of the Columbia River Compact.

7. 635-042-0145

Youngs Bay Commercial Fall Fisheries Set
Adopted July 29, 2015: effective August 4, 2015 through October 31, 2015.

This amended rule sets non-Indian commercial fall salmon and shad drift gill net fisheries for the Youngs Bay Select Area of the Columbia River beginning August 4 through October 31, 2015. Modifications are consistent with action taken July 29, 2015 by the Departments of Fish & Wildlife for the States of Oregon and Washington.

8. 635-018-0090 and 635-019-0090

Sport Fishing Regulations Revised Due to Severe Drought Conditions
Adopted July 29, 2015: effective August 3, 2015 through December 31, 2015.

These amended rules lift the emergency restrictions previously set as daily closures for trout, salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon fisheries in: the Deschutes River below Mack Canyon; the Imnaha River upstream of Freezeout Creek; and the Wenaha River upstream of Crooked Creek.

9. 635-042-0031

Mainstem Columbia River Commercial Early Fall Drift Gill Net Seasons Set
Adopted July 29, 2015: effective August 9, 2015 through August 31, 2015.

This amended rule sets nine 9-hour fishing periods for the 2015 early fall commercial salmon drift gill net season in Zones 4 and 5 of the Columbia River mainstem. The first authorized fishing period begins at 9:00 p.m. Sunday, August 9 with further fishing periods scheduled through 6:00 a.m. Friday, August 28, 2015. Authorized sales include Chinook, coho, pink and sockeye salmon and shad.

Shikar Safari Award

Lynn Loacker, Shikar Safari Club

Annual Pride Awards

Curt Melcher, Director

Fish Screening and Passage Task Force Member Recognition

Greg Apke, Fish Passage Program Leader
Pete Baki, Fish Screening Program Coordinator

Annual Pride Awards

Curt Melcher, Director

Re-Bait Program/Conservation

Lonnie Johnson, Oregon Bass Nation

Wolf Delisting

Mary Anne Nash, Oregon Farm Bureau

Todd Nash, Oregon Cattlemen’s Association

Ken McCall, Oregon Hunters Association

Forage Fish

Norm Ritchie, Northwest Steelheaders

Attachments: (pdf)

• Public Forum Testimony
  

The Commission will be asked to adopt proposed amendments to Division 008, Department of Fish and Wildlife Lands.

Staff: Keith Kohl, Wildlife Area Operations Coordinator
Public Testimony
Rulemaking

Attachments: (pdf)

• Cover
• Attachment 1 Agenda Item Summary
• Attachment 2 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Hearing and FIS
• Attachment 3 Draft Oregon Administrative Rules
• Attachment 4 Public Correspondence
• Administrative Rule Amendments: Department of Fish and Wildlife Lands
• Public Testimony
  
  

The Commission will be asked to adopt the proposed 2015-16 Game Bird Season
Regulations.

Staff: Dave Budeau, Upland Game Bird Program Coordinator;
Brandon Reishus, Migratory Game Bird Program Coordinator
Public Testimony
Rulemaking

Attachments: (pdf)

• Cover
• Attachment 1 Agenda Item Summary
• Attachment 2 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Hearing and FIS
• Attachment 3 Draft 2015-16 Oregon Game Bird Regulations
• Attachment 4 Draft Oregon Administrative Rules
• Attachment 5 Public Correspondence
• Supplemental Materials: Game Bird Program Recommendations for 2015-16 Upland and Migratory Game Bird Seasons
• 2015-16 Proposed Upland Game Bird Regulations
• 2015/16 Hunting Season and Regulation Proposals for Consideration by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission
• Public Testimony
• Supplemental Public Correspondence
  
  

The Commission will be asked for approval to proceed with a land acquisition of over 10,000 acres in north central Oregon near ODFW's Lower Deschutes Wildlife Area.

Staff: Jeremy Thompson, District Wildlife Biologist/Lower Deschutes Wildlife Area
Public Testimony
Approval

Attachments: (pdf)

• Cover
• Attachment 1 Agenda Item Summary
• Attachment 2 Maps
• Lower Deschutes River Ranch Acquisition
• Public Testimony
  

The Commission will be asked appoint three R&E members to fill Troll, Seafood Processing, and Sport Fishing vacancies.

Staff: Kevin Herkamp, STEP and R&E Program Coordinator
Public Testimony
Board Appointment

Attachments: (pdf)

• Cover
• Attachment 1 Agenda Item Summary
• Attachment 2 R-E Board Applicants
• Attachment 3 R-E Board Interest Forms for Top Scoring Candidates
• Attachment 4 Current R-E Board Members
• Attachment 5 Public Correspondence
• Fish Restoration and Enhancement Program Board Appointments
  
  

The Commission will be asked to approve a pilot project to create a fish passage mitigation bank.

Staff: Dave Stewart, ODFW-ODOT Fish Passage Liaison
Public Testimony
Approval

Attachments: (pdf)

• Cover
• Attachment 1 Agenda Item Summary
• Attachment 2 Fish Passage Banking Pilot Project Agreement
• Attachment 3 Public Correspondence
• Supplemental Public Correspondence
• Fish Passage Mitigation Banking Pilot Project
• Public Testimony
  
  

The Commission will be given an informational update on the draft document for Oregon
Conservation and Oregon Nearshore

Staff: Audrey Hatch, Oregon Conservation Strategy Coordinator;
Greg Krutzikowsky, Nearshore Resources Project Leader
Public Testimony
Informational

Attachments: (pdf)

• Cover
• Attachment 1 Agenda Item Summary
• Attachment 2 Public Correspondence
• The Oregon Conservation Strategy - healthy habitats for wildlife and people
• Public Testimony
• Supplemental Correspondence
  

The Commission will be given an informational update on the status of the sport fishing
regulation simplification and streamlining process.

Staff: Mike Gauvin, Recreational Fisheries Program Manager
Public Testimony
Informational

Attachments: (pdf)

• Cover
• Attachment 1 Agenda Item Summary Final
• Attachment 2 Draft Regulation Proposals
• Attachment 3 Public Correspondence
• Supplemental Public Correspondence
• 2016 Sport Fishing Regulations Simplification and Update
• Public Testimony
• Supplemental Correspondence
  
  

September 3 - 4, 2015 – Seaside (Congressional District #1)

• Access and Habitat Project Approvals – Commission Approval
• Oregon Conservation and Oregon Nearshore Strategies – Commission Approval
• 2016 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations – Rulemaking
• Malheur Lakes and Catlow Valley Redband Trout Conservation Plan –Rulemaking
• Commercial Bay Clamming Rules; Dungeness Crab - Rulemaking
• Gekeler Slough/Mill Creek Fish Passage Exemption Request - Approval

October 8 - 9, 2015 – Florence (Congressional District #2)

• 2016 Big Game Regulations – Rulemaking
• Wolf De-listing –Informational
• License Fees - Rulemaking

November 2015 – TBD – Salem

• Wolf De-listing - Rulemaking

December 4, 2015 – Portland (Congressional District #3)

• Restoration and Enhancement Project Approvals – Commission Approval
• Access and Habitat Project Approvals – Commission Approval
• Wildlife Holding and Propagation– Rulemaking
• Wildlife Control Operators – Rulemaking
• Rehabilitation and Protected Wildlife - Rulemaking
  
  

PLEASE NOTE

AGENDA

The Commission meeting will begin at 8:00 AM August 7, 2015, and proceed chronologically through the agenda. If you wish to receive written materials prepared for any of the agenda items, please contact the Director’s Office in Salem at 503.947.6044 to request a packet for those items which interest you or see the agency’s website at https://www.dfw.state.or.us/Comm/schedule.htm .

A recess will be taken at 12:00 Noon, when the Commission will have lunch and may discuss matters of general interest. The public is welcome to attend, and an announcement will be made of the location of the lunch. Lunch will not be provided to the public.

PUBLIC TESTIMONY

If you wish to give testimony on any item scheduled on this agenda, please sign up on the sheets provided the day of the meeting. You will be called to testify by the Commission Chair. The Commission places great value on information received from the public, and wants to avoid arbitrary limits on the time or attention allocated to each witness. Therefore, persons desiring to testify or otherwise present information to the Commission are encouraged to:

1. Provide written summaries of information to the Commission twenty (20 sets);
2. Limit testimony to five (5) minutes, recognizing that substance, not length, determines the value of testimony or written information;
3. Endorse rather than repeat testimony of other witnesses; and
4. Groups or organizations wishing to testify should designate one spokesperson whenever possible.

PUBLIC FORUM

If you wish to give testimony on any item not scheduled elsewhere on the agenda, please contact the Director’s Office, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, 503.947.6044, at least 24 hours in prior to the meeting. You will be called by the Commission Chair immediately following the Director’s report portion of the agenda. Please provide twenty (20) sets of written summaries or other materials to the Commission Assistant prior to your testimony. The Commission is unable to take action on items brought to their attention in this forum.

Thank you for taking the time to present your views.

Materials delivered to the Director’s Office sufficiently in advance of the meeting can be copied and distributed to the Commission. If you bring written materials to the hearing, please provide twenty (20) copies. If you have questions regarding this Agenda, please contact the Director’s Office, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, 4034 Fairview Industrial Dr. SE, Salem, OR 97302, 503.947.6044.

PARKING

Parking is available to anyone who attends the Commission meeting.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION OF DISABILITIES

Reasonable accommodation, such as assistive hearing devices, sign language interpreters, and materials in large print or audiotape, will be provided as needed. In order to ensure availability, please contact the Director’s Office at 503.947.6044 at least 72 hours prior to the meeting to make your request. TTY users can reach ODFW by using the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service. Please dial 711 and ask to be connected to 503.947.6044.