Field Reports – in written form only

Attachments: (pdf)

• January Field Report
  
  

Staff: Erica Kleiner, Deputy Director of Administration

Attachments: (pdf)

• Financial Report
  
  

Staff:  Curt Melcher, Director

Attachments: (pdf)

• TEMPRULES Report
  
  

1. 635-067-0000
   Cancel hunting opportunity for the Burnt River Canyon 2021 bighorn sheep hunt #551
   Adopted:  December 22, 2020 – Effective Dates: December 22, 2020 through June 29, 2021
   Oregon Administrative Rules establishing tag numbers for 2021 controlled bighorn sheep hunts were adopted September 2020. Tag numbers adopted at that time did not anticipate the level of disease-related mortality and the low wildlife population levels observed through this fall-winter 2020-2021. This rule amendment is needed to reduce the number of tags that may be issued for the purpose of hunting bighorn sheep during the Burnt River Canyon 2021 controlled hunt #551.
   
   
2. 635-023-0125
   Modify Hatchery Steelhead Bag Limit for Columbia River upstream of The Dalles Dam
   Adopted December 22, 2020: effective January 1, 2021 through March 31, 2021.
   This amended rule maintains a one-hatchery steelhead bag limit in the Columbia River upstream of The Dalles Dam through March 31, 2021.
   
   
3. 635-019-0090, 635-023-0134
   Reduce Steelhead Bag Limit on Grand Ronde and Snake River and Their Tributaries
   Adopted December 22, 2020: effective January 1, 2021 through April 30, 2021.
   These amended rules reduce the daily bag limit for steelhead to two from three hatchery fish per day in the Grand Ronde and Snake Rivers and tributaries from January 1 to April 30, 2020.
   
   
4. 635-016-0090
   Prohibit Retention of Wild Spring Chinook in the Mainstem Umpqua River
   Adopted December 22, 2020: effective January 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021.
   This amended rule prohibits retention of all wild Chinook salmon on the Mainstem Umpqua River while allowing for retention of hatchery Chinook salmon from February 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021.
   
   
5. 635-023-0095
   Close White Sturgeon Recreational Retention in The Dalles Pool
   Adopted January 4, 2020: effective January 5, 2021 through June 30, 2021.
   This amended rule closes the retention of white sturgeon in The Dalles Pool of the Columbia River. Catch projections indicate retention of white sturgeon after January 4, 2021 for The Dalles Pool would further exceed the allowable quota. Catch and release sturgeon fishing remains open in these waters, except for within the sturgeon angling sanctuaries as specified in permanent rules.
   
   
6. 635-023-0095
   Close White Sturgeon Recreational Retention in Bonneville Pool
   Adopted January 7, 2020: effective January 8, 2021 through June 30, 2021.
   This amended rule closes the retention of white sturgeon in Bonneville Pool of the Columbia River. Catch projections indicate retention of white sturgeon after January 7, 2021 would further exceed the allowable quota. Catch and release sturgeon fishing remains open in these waters, except for within the sturgeon angling sanctuaries as specified in permanent rules.
   
   
7. 635-017-0095
   Allow temporary use of two-rod validation in lower Willamette River
   Adopted January 13, 2020: effective March 1, 2021 through August 15, 2021.
   This amended rule allows for the usage of the two-rod validation in the lower Willamette River. Modifications allow the use of two-rod validation while fishing for all game and non-game fish species, except sturgeon, in the Willamette River downstream of Willamette Falls (including Multnomah Channel), and that portion of the Clackamas River downstream of the Highway 99 bridge (just upstream of the confluence with the Willamette).
   
   

Note: This part of the agenda is for comments on topics not scheduled elsewhere on the agenda. Please contact the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Office of the Director before 8:00 AM January 13, 2021 (at least 48 hours prior to the meeting) to be included in the public forum.

Overlap of District Damage tags and General Season Elk Damage Tag areas
Chris Heffernan

South Coast Wither Steelhead
Leonard Krug, President of Oregon Anglers Alliance

Retention of antlers from a harvested animal
Jeff Van Winkle

Attachments: (pdf)

• South Coast Winter Steelhead_OR Anglers Alliance_1-15-21

The Commission will be asked to approve draft Commission meeting minutes from December 11, 2020.

Attachments: (pdf)

• December 2020 Minutes
  

The Commission will be asked to approve the Conservation & Recreation Advisory Committee’s recommendations for projects from the Conservation & Recreation Fund.
           

Staff:  Davia Palmeri, Conservation Strategy Coordinator
Dr. Karl Wenner, Conservation and Recreation Fund Advisory Committee Chair                                                                      

Public Testimony: 48 hour Advance Registration Required

Approval

Attachments: (pdf)

• Cover
• Attachment 1 Agenda Item Summary
• Attachment 2_OCRAC_Expenditure Recommendations'
• Attachment 3_ OCRAC_Recommendations Contingent on Future Funds Jan 2021
• Attachment 4_OCRAC All Proposals for January 2021
• Attachment 5_Public Correspondence
• Presentation_OCRF January 2021
  

The Commission will be asked to amend rules to update existing food fish species market values that will be used to access damages resulting from commercial fishing violations.

Staff: Dr. Allen Molina, Senior Economist

Public Testimony: 48 hour Advance Registration Required

Rulemaking

Attachments: (pdf)

• Cover
• Attachment 1_Agenda Item Summary
• Attachment 2_Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and FIS
• Attachment 3_Draft Oregon Administrative Rules
• Attachment 4_Public Correspondence Cover
• 2021 Schedule of Damages Presentation
  

The Commission will be asked to approve rulemaking for the Non-Native Gamefish Management Policy.

Staff: Michael Gauvin, Recreational Fisheries Program Manager
Gary Galovich, Western Oregon Warm Water Fish Biologist

Public Testimony: 48 hour Advance Registration Required

Rulemaking

Attachments: (pdf)

• Cover
• Attachment 1_Agenda Item Summary
• Attachment 2_Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and FIS
• Attachment 3_Draft Oregon Administrative Rules
• Attachment 4_Non-Native Game Fish Policy
• Attachment 4 Addendum_Revised Non Native Gamefish Policy
• Attachment 5_Public Correspondence Cover
• Exhibit D_Supplemental 2_Public Correspondence
• Exhibit D_Presentation
• Exhibit D_Supplemental 3_Public Correspondence

This Executive Session is held pursuant to ORS 192.660 (2)(f) to consider information or records that are exempt by law from public inspection, as well as to consult with legal counsel concerning legal rights and duties regarding current litigation likely to be filed as authorized by ORS 192.660 (2)(h).

*Written public comments for future Commission Topics can be submitted in writing prior to the meeting date at ODFW.Commission@odfw.oregon.gov or mailed to 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE Salem, OR 97302.

February 12, 2021 – Salem

*Written public comment period will open December 15, 2020

• 2020 Lower Columbia River White Sturgeon Population and Fisheries Update- Informational
• Removal of Borax Chub from T&E List – Rulemaking
• Recreational Abalone Fishery Suspension - Rulemaking

March 19, 2021 – Salem

*Written public comment period will open January 15, 2021

• A&H Project Funding- Approval
• 2020 Ocean Salmon Fisheries Informational Briefing- Informational
• Regional Dry Maintenance Time Periods and Timing of In-Water Work to Protect Fish and Wildlife Resources - Rulemaking
• Review of Salmon Forecast and Stock Status – Director’s Report

April 23, 2021 – Salem

*Written public comment period will open February 15, 2021

• 2021-2022 Oregon Game Bird Regulations- Rulemaking
• 2021 Pacific Halibut Fisheries Regulations - Rulemaking
• 2021 Ocean Salmon Fisheries and Ocean Terminal Fisheries - Rulemaking

May 14, 2021 - HOLD

*Written public comment period will open March 15, 2021
No Meeting Scheduled

June 18, 2021 – Salem

*Written public comment period will open April 15, 2021

• A&H Project Funding – Approval
• 2022 Big Game Auction and Raffle Tag Allocations – Approval
• R&E Board's recommendations for project funding – Approval

July 9, 2021 – HOLD

*Written public comment period will open May 15, 2021
No Meeting Scheduled

August 6, 2021 – Salem

*Written public comment period will open June 15, 2021

• 2022 Sport Fish Regulations - Rulemaking

September 17, 2021 – Salem

*Written public comment period will open July 15, 2021

• Big Game Regulations – Rulemaking
• A&H Project Funding - Approval

October 15, 2021 – Salem

*Written public comment period will open August 15, 2021

November 19, 2021 – HOLD

*Written public comment period will open September 15, 2021
No Meeting Scheduled

December 17, 2021 – Salem

*Written public comment period will open October 15, 2021

• A&H Project Funding – Approval
• Ground Fisheries and Nearshore Logbook Report – Rulemaking
• R&E Project Approval, Appointments, STEP Annual Report –Approval
  
  

AGENDA

The Commission meeting will begin at 8:00 a.m. January 15, 2021 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 or see the agency’s website at https://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/minutes/.

The Commission will take a lunch recess as close to 12:00 p.m. as the agenda will accommodate.  

PUBLIC TESTIMONY REGISTRATION

If you wish to give verbal testimony on any Exhibit item scheduled on the January 15 agenda, you must register before 8:00AM Wednesday January 13, 2021; a minimum of 48 hour prior to the meeting.

HOW TO REGISTER TO SPEAK AT THE JANUARY 15, 2021 COMMISSION MEETING
When registering to testify please provide first and last name, topic, a valid email address, and  phone number.
Listed below are three way that you can register:

1. Click on the link provided on the agenda: fill out the registration form; and click submit.
2. Send an email the ODFW.Commission@odfw.oregon.gov ; in your email, the information listed above must be provided.
3. Call the Department at 503-947-6044 or 503-507-5546.

PUBLIC TESTIMONY
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. Limit testimony to three (3) minutes, recognizing that substance, not length, determines the value of testimony or written information;
2. Endorse rather than repeat testimony of other witnesses; and
3. 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, you must register before 8:00AM Wednesday January 13, 2021; a minimum of 48 hour prior to the meeting.
Please provide 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 will be distributed to the Commission prior of the meeting day; any correspondence or materials received less than 72 hours prior to the meeting will be provided to the Commissioners the day of the meeting. If you have questions regarding this Agenda, please contact Michelle Tate, Director’s Office, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE, Salem, Oregon, 97302, or call 503- 947-6033.

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 connect to 503-947-6044.