SALEM, Ore.— The Oregon and Washington Fish and Wildlife Commissions will hold a joint meeting in Vancouver, Wash., Jan. 10 to discuss management of Columbia River salmon fisheries, predation by California sea lions, and other issues of common interest.

The meeting is scheduled to run from 1:00 p.m. through 4:00 p.m. at the Red Lion Hotel, 100 Columbia Street, Vancouver.  No public testimony will be taken during the meeting. Members of the public are invited to attend a reception with commissioners scheduled from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the hotel.

On Jan. 11, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet to consider adoption of rules to manage special department-appointed agents who could pursue bears or cougars with dogs.  The meeting will be held at the Oxford Suites, Town Meeting Room 1 & 2, 12226 N. Jantzen Dr., Portland. It starts at 8 a.m. and proceeds chronologically through an agenda available at: January Commission Agenda

The sport-hunting of cougars and bears with dogs is not legal in the state of Oregon under Measure 18, which Oregon voters passed in 1994. Measure 18 explicitly allowed ODFW and its agents to use hounds when implementing bear and cougar management but did not clearly grant the department authority to designate agents. To clarify the law, the 2007 Oregon Legislative Assembly enacted HB 2971.

Agents could only use dogs when working in an official capacity to implement the state’s wildlife management plans or responding to damage or public safety complaints involving bears or cougars. Among the rules the commission will consider are that agents be required to undergo background checks; attend a training session where a code of conduct, specific area boundaries and timing of activities is reviewed; and sign an agreement with the agency indicating rules are understood and will be followed.

Also scheduled for the Jan. 11 meeting is approval of recommended Restoration and Enhancement grants for projects that improve recreational fisheries; review of the developmental fishery program list and approval of species on the list; and approval of proposed rules for amending the limited entry sardine permit renewal date. The commission will consider approval of the annual update to the Schedule of Damages for Commercial Fishing Violations. In addition, ODFW staff will brief the commission on draft management plans for the Klamath and Ladd Marsh wildlife areas.

The Commission is the policy-making body for fish and wildlife issues in the state. The seven-member panel meets monthly. Agenda item exhibits may be requested by calling the ODFW Director’s Office at 800-720-6339 or 503-947-6044.

Agenda items also can be found at: 2008 January Commission

Public testimony will be held Friday morning immediately following the expenditure report. Persons seeking to testify on issues not on the formal agenda may do so by making arrangements with the ODFW Director’s Office, at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, by calling 800-720-6339 or 503-947-6044.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided as needed for individuals requesting assistive hearing devices, sign language interpreters or large-print materials. Individuals needing these types of accommodations may call the ODFW Director’s Office at 800-720-6339 or 503-947-6044 at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting.

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