SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is hosting a series of five public meetings on the recently released plan for the conservation and recovery of Oregon’s native steelhead populations in the mid-Columbia river.

The Oregon Mid-Columbia River Steelhead Conservation and Recovery Plan serves as a roadmap for the recovery of steelhead populations in the Fifteenmile, Deschutes, John Day, Umatilla and Walla Walla subbasins. Mid-Columbia River steelhead are listed as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act. The meetings are designed to present the plan to interested citizens and organizations prior to the close of the federal public comment period on Dec. 23, 2008.

All meetings will begin at 6:30 pm.  The meeting locations and dates are:

• November 6 (Thursday) - John Day, US Forest Service Conference Room, 431 Patterson Bridge Rd.
• November 12 (Wednesday) - Redmond, Juniper Golf Club Banquet Room, 1938 SE Elkhorn Ave.
• November 20 (Thursday) - Walla Walla, WA, Walla Walla Community College, 500 Tausick Way
• November 24 (Monday) - Hermiston, Stafford Hansell Government Center, 915 SE Columbia Dr.
• December 2 (Tuesday) - The Dalles, Civic Auditorium, Fireside Room, 323 E 4th St.

The Oregon conservation and recovery plan was released at the same time as, and is part of, NOAA Fisheries Service's bi-state plan for recovery of mid-Columbia River steelhead populations in both Oregon and Washington.  Each meeting will begin with a presentation of the state’s plan, followed by a summary of the NOAA bi-state plan. There also will be an opportunity for questions and comments from the public.

Both ODFW and NOAA fisheries are currently accepting written comments on the recovery plans.

The proposed Oregon Mid-Columbia River Steelhead Conservation and Recovery Plan is available at https://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/esa/mid-columbia/.  The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will be considering the Plan at its Nov. 14, 2008 meeting in Salem. Public comment will be taken at the Commission meeting. Written comments may be submitted to odfw.commission@state.or.us prior to the Commission meeting. Written comments received by ODFW prior to or at the Commission meeting will be shared with NOAA if relevant to the bi-state recovery plan.

The bi-state recovery plan can be viewed at www.nwr.noaa.gov, which also details how to submit comments to NOAA during its public comment period which ends Dec. 23, 2008.

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