Update on April 13 news release about Malheur Lakes Redband Trout Conservation Plan
April 27, 2018
SALEM, Ore.—ODFW is postponing the presentation of the Malheur Lakes Redband Trout Conservation Plan originally scheduled for the June 8 Commission meeting and canceling two public meetings in May to allow more time to work with key stakeholders and local partners.
“Based on early comments received on the Public Draft, we recognized that there was an opportunity to better describe the current situation with redband trout,” said Dave Banks, ODFW District Fisheries Biologist in Hines.“We decided that it made sense to hold off on bringing the conservation plan to the Commission so there would be time to improve it.”
The intent of a Commission-approved plan is to protect, conserve, and manage redband trout in the Blitzen and Silvies rivers, Silver Creek and other streams surrounding Malheur and Harney lakes in Southeast Oregon with the voluntary help of local groups and landowners.
“ODFW intends to work with key stakeholders and local partners in the Malheur Lakes area to revise the current draft in such a way that it can be broadly supported by the community,” said Kevin Goodson, ODFW Conservation Planning Coordinator. “Having broad support is critical to this plan being successful in maintaining healthy redband trout populations that can be enjoyed by Oregonians for years to come.”
The two public meetings (originally scheduled for May 8 and 9 in Salem and Burns) will be rescheduled at a future date, when a revised draft is developed.
Written comments on the version of the plan currently on the ODFW website (http://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/CRP/malheur_lakes_redband_plan.asp) can still be submitted to David.T.Banks@state.or.us or Attn: Redband Plan, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive, Salem, OR 97302. There will also be an opportunity to submit comments on the new draft once it has been released.
Contact Dave Banks (541-573-6582; David.T.Banks@state.or.us) for more information.
April 13, 2018
SALEM, Ore. – ODFW is soliciting public comment on a draft plan to protect, conserve, and manage redband trout in the Blitzen and Silvies rivers, Silver Creek and other streams surrounding Malheur and Harney lakes in southeast Oregon.
Redband trout of the Malheur Lakes area are uniquely adapted to the desert conditions of the Great Basin—able to persist through dry years, yet resilient enough to rebound and flourish during wet years, according to Kevin Goodson, ODFW conservation planning coordinator.
The draft Malheur Lakes Redband Trout Conservation Plan assesses the health of the nine separate populations within the area, and identifies those that are likely at a greater risk than others. The draft plan also proposes strategies to help counter those factors that currently limit redband populations—factors that include loss of water quantity, water quality, and habitat quality.
“Our goal will be to work with landowners and other local and federal partners to implement voluntary actions to help improve the health of redband populations,” Goodson said. Other potential partners include watershed councils, soil and water conservation districts and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
The draft plan has been under development for a number of years with the involvement of numerous stakeholders and partners. ODFW expects to present it to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission for final approval at the Commission’s June 7-8 meeting in Baker City.
In addition to being able to provide public comment at the Commission meeting, the public can provide in-person feedback about the draft plan to ODFW prior to the Commission meeting.Two public meetings to review the Redband Plan will be held:
- May 8 at 3:30 p.m. in Salem (Steelhead Conference Room at ODFW Headquarters, 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE)
- May 9 at 7 p.m. in Burns (Harney County Community Center, 478 N Broadway Ave.)
Written comments about the draft plan can also be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on May 13 to David.T.Banks@state.or.us or Attn: Redband Plan, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive, Salem, OR 97302.
Find the draft plan and other information at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/CRP/malheur_lakes_redband_plan.asp.
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Contact: |
Ron Rehn, 503-842-2741 |
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