Fish and Wildlife Commission meets in Hillsboro on Thursday, Sept. 2

SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet in Hillsboro on Thursday, Sept. 2 to consider several issues including the reintroduction of bull trout into the Clackamas River and approval of the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area Management Plan.

The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. at the Washington County Fair Complex, Cloverleaf Building, 873 N.E. 34th, Hillsboro, Oregon  97124.

The Commission will be asked to amend the Oregon Administrative Rules so ODFW staff can pursue the reintroduction of bull trout into the Clackamas River. While bull trout were once native to the river, the last documented sighting of a bull trout in the Clackamas was in 1963.

However, the presence of available habitat and a nearby population to be a “donor” source prompted ODFW to begin working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop a reintroduction plan. The bull trout is listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act and restoring populations to previously occupied habitat is a part of the 2002 Recovery Plan for the bull trout.

The Commission also will be asked to change the way in which the permits needed for bass tournament are issued. In Oregon, an ODFW permit is required for any bass fishing tournament with more than 24 boats or 49 individual anglers. The number of permitted tournaments that can be held on a single water body each year also is limited and based on the size of the river or lake.

Currently, permits are issued during an annual event organized by tournament sponsors. However, on some water bodies the number of tournament requests exceeds the number of available permits. ODFW staff is proposing revisions for submitting permit applications and a new point system and random drawing for issuing permits on these waters.  The plan also includes a “grandfather clause” that grants an automatic permit to long-standing tournaments.

The Commission will review and consider a proposed management plan for the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area near Portland. The plan describes the existing habitats on the 11,564-acre site and prioritizes the management goals and objectives for the area for the next ten years.

The Sauvie Island Wildlife Area (SIWA) was established in 1947 primarily to protect waterfowl habitat and provide a public hunting area. The wildlife area provides winter habitat for tens of thousands of duck and geese as well as year-around habitat for many other species of birds, including bald eagles, hawks, falcons, blue herons and sandhill cranes. It also receives more visitors than any wildlife area in the state. Last year more than 900,000 people visited Sauvie Island Wildlife Area.

Major challenges include managing habitat for an increasing number of birds while accommodating demand for recreational opportunities and being a good neighbor to local landowners. ODFW has been working for more than a year on the new management plan. The plan will address a wide range of issues, including a burgeoning goose population, the silting of Sturgeon Lake, increasing beach and public use, access, and aging equipment and facilities.

The Commission will consider three Access and Habitat (A&H) Program projects totaling $64,572 and 10 Restoration and Enhancement (R&E) Program projects totaling $198,645.

The Commission will be asked to modify furbearer trapping and hunting rules to make bobcat report cards consistent with the current eastern Oregon bag limit, and to provide a remedy for furtakers that miss the April 15 deadline for reporting their previous year’s harvest. Currently furtakers who miss that April 15 deadline are ineligible to purchase a license the next year.

Finally, ODFW staff is requesting authorization to represent the Department in simple contested case hearings, such as suspensions under the Landowner Preference Program, Master Hunter Program, and Hunter Education Instructor Program. The Department if currently represented by a Senior Assistant Attorney General at these hearings.

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 or by visiting this website: https://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/minutes/

Public testimony is held Thursday 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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