The Fish and Wildlife Commission has moved to hybrid meetings, meaning that you have the option to attend in-person or virtually. Those who would like to provide virtual testimony on an Exhibit scheduled on this agenda must REGISTER no less than 48 hours in advance to receive a testimony link to the meeting. To provide testimony on an agenda item in-person, registration will be available at the meeting.

To be added to January 12 agenda to provide testimony virtually or in-person during Public Forum you must contact the Director’s office no less than 48 hours advance of the meeting for approval.

This meeting will be live streamed to YouTube and can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/user/IEODFW/videos

1. Registration for all Public Forum and to provide testimony virtually at the January 12, 2024 Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting closed on Wednesday January 10 at 8:00 AM (48 hrs. advance of the meeting). To provide testimony on an agenda item in-person, registration will be available at the meeting.  Written testimony can be submitted to: ODFW.Commission@odfw.oregon.gov.

2. I would like to provide testimony during Public Forum on a topic or issue that is not already on the January 12, 2024 Fish and Wildlife Commission agenda. Email: ODFW.COMMISSION@odfw.oregon.gov.
   
   

Field Reports – in written form only

Attachments: (pdf)

• Field Report January
  
  

Shannon Hurn, Deputy Director of Administration

Attachments: (pdf)

• Commission Financial Report Jan 2024
  
  

How Ocean Hypoxia Affects Fish Behavior

Leif Rasmuson, Marine Fishery Reserve Project Leader

Attachments: (pdf)

• RasmusonCommissionAirV2_Final
  
  

Curt Melcher, Director

Attachments: (pdf)

• January 2024 Temporary Oregon Administrative Rules

1. 635-005-0465
Commercial Dungeness Crab Season Partial Opening
Adopted 12/21/2023: effective 12/27/2023 through 3/31/2024.
This amended rule sets the opening date for the Oregon 2023-2024 ocean commercial Dungeness crab fishery from Cape Foulweather northward to Cape Falcon and continues to delay the season from Cape Falcon northward to the OR/WA border until further test fishing is conducted.

2. 635-023-0101
Modify Recreational Retention Seasons for Sturgeon in Bonneville and The Dalles Pools and Adjacent Tributaries
Adopted 1/2/2024: effective 1/2/2024 through 3/31/2024.
This amended rule modifies the recreational retention season for white sturgeon on the mainstem Columbia River in the Bonneville (Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam) and The Dalles (The Dalles Dam upstream to the John Day Dam) pools and all adjacent tributaries. Retention will be allowed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays from January 1 through February 7 in the Bonneville Pool and on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays January 1 through January 29 in The Dalles Pool.

3. 635-023-0101
Close Retention of Sturgeon in Bonneville and The Dalles Pools and Adjacent Tributaries
Adopted 1/3/2024: effective 1/4/2024 through 3/31/2024.

This amended rule closes the retention season for white sturgeon on the mainstem Columbia River in the Bonneville Pool (Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam) and The Dalles Pool (The Dalles Dam upstream to the John Day Dam) and all adjacent tributaries.

Attachments: (pdf)

Attachments: (pdf)

Attachments (pdf)

• Rosapepe Public Forum 1.12.24

The Commission will be asked to approve draft Commission meeting minutes from December 15, 2023

Attachments (pdf)

• Exhibit A_Dec 2023 Minutes
  
  

The Commission will consider options for recruiting for a new agency director and may select criteria relevant to the recruitment.  

Curt Melcher, Director

Public Testimony: 48-hour Advance REGISTER required for virtual participation.

Informational

Attachments (pdf)

• Cover
• Attachment 1_Agenda Item Summary 2024 Director Recruitment
• Attachment 2_2024 Director Recruitment
• Attachment 3_ 5000001 Director Position Description Final Draft Dec 28 2023
• Attachment 4_Min Qualifications
• Attachment 5_Desired Attributes
• Attachment 6_Stakeholders
• Attachment 7_Correspondence
  
  

The Executive Session is held pursuant to ORS 192.660 (2)(e), (2)(f) and (2)(h), which allows the Commission to meet in executive session to conduct deliberations with persons designated by the governing body to negotiate real property transactions, to consider information or records that are exempt by law from public inspection, and to consult with legal counsel with respect to litigation filed against the Commission.

• 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 16, 2024 -Hillsboro

*Written public comment period will open December 15, 2023

• Oregon Listing Determination for Southern Resident Orcas- Rulemaking

March 15, 2024 -Albany

*Written public comment period will open January 15, 2024

• A&H Project Funding – Approval
• Private Forest Accord Grant Program Project Funding - Approval

April 19, 2024 -TBD

*Written public comment period will open February 15, 2024

• Oregon Game Bird Regulations -Rulemaking
• 2024 Columbia River Salmon Stock Status-Informational
• Pacific Halibut Fisheries -Rulemaking
• Ocean Salmon Fishery- Rulemaking
  

May 10, 2024 -HOLD - No meeting scheduled.

June 14, 2024 -TBD

*Written public comment period will open April 15, 2024

• A&H Project Funding – Approval
• OCRF Project Funding- Approval
• R&E Project Funding - Approval
• 2024 Auction Raffle Tag Allocations – Approval
• Furbearer Regulations -Rulemaking
• Coastal Pelagic Species -Rulemaking

July 12, 2024 -HOLD - No meeting scheduled.

August 9, 2024 -Salem

*Written public comment period will open June 15, 2024

September 13, 2024 -The Dalles

*Written public comment period will open July 15, 2024

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

October 11, 2024 -TBD

*Written public comment period will open August 15, 2024

November 15, 2024 - HOLD - No meeting scheduled.

December 13, 2024 -Salem

*Written public comment period will open October 15, 2024

• A&H Project Funding – Approval
• OCRF Project Funding- Approval
• R&E Project Funding and Board Appointment - Approval
• 2024 Groundfish Fisheries Regulations- Rulemaking
  
  

HOW TO REGISTER TO SPEAK AT THE COMMISSION MEETING

Public Comment and Public Hearing Testimony: Regular Commission meetings allow for in-person, virtual, or written public comment.

Comment and testimony are limited to three minutes or less. All parties interested in providing public comment or testifying as part of a public hearing shall participate using one of the following methods:

• In-Person Comment: Parties interested in providing in-person verbal public comment shall fill out a “Witness Registration” form available at the meeting.

• Video or Audio Conference Call: If you wish to give virtual testimony on Exhibits scheduled on the Friday, January 12 agenda, YOU MUST REGISTER BEFORE 8:00 AM WEDNESDAY January 10, 2024; a minimum of 48 hour prior to the meeting. Staff will collect contact your information and provide information on how to access the meeting to provide comment.

• Written Comment: Send to ODFW.Commission@odfw.oregon.gov or 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE, Salem, Oregon, 97302. Materials delivered to the Director’s Office sufficiently in advance of the meeting, 72 hours or more, will be distributed to the Commission prior to the meeting day. Any correspondence or materials received less than 72 hours prior to the meeting will be entered into the record and when reasonably possible, will be provided to the Commissioners the day of the meeting.

PUBLIC FORUM: If you wish to give testimony virtually or in-person on any item not listed elsewhere on the agenda, please contact the Director’s Office, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, 503.947.6044, or ODFW.Commission@odfw.oregon.gov.  YOU MUST REGISTER BEFORE 8:00AM WEDNESDAY January 10, 2024; 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 act on items brought to their attention in this forum.

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