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March 7, 2025
SALEM, Ore.—The Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet online Friday, March 14.
See the meeting agenda, register to testify, and watch a livestream of the meeting at this page: https://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/minutes/25/03_Mar/index.asp
The Commission will be asked to approve a list of non-land-owning state agencies that can play a role in Southern Resident Orca conservation. The Commission listed the Southern Resident orca as endangered under the Oregon Endangered Species Act (OESA) in February 2024. While an OESA listing primarily affects management decisions made on state-owned, managed, or leased lands, OESA also recognizes the important role that agencies other than state land-owning or managing agencies have in the conservation of an endangered species. The agencies identified include the Oregon State Marine Board, Department of Environmental Quality, and others.
In other business, the Commission will be asked to:
- Repeal a 1980 Agreement between ODFW and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, and to amend rules guiding the relationship between ODFW and the Tribe to conform with federal Public Law 118-33 (enrolled H.R. 2839 of the 118th Congress). The 1980 Agreement was enforced by a federal consent decree and gave the Siletz Tribe and its members very few hunting, fishing, trapping, or gathering rights in exchange for the creation of the Siletz Reservation. Oregon has since acknowledged that the 1980 Agreement was a product of its time and represents a biased and distorted position on tribal sovereignty. Congress and a federal court have taken action over the last two years to revoke the consent decree. The last remaining step to remove the restriction on the Siletz Tribe’s hunting and fishing rights is for the Commission to repeal the 1980 Agreement. This change is necessary to comply with the recent court action to revoke the consent decree. It will also advance cooperative fish and wildlife management efforts by recognizing the voluntary 2023 Memorandum of Agreement between the State and Tribe as the prevailing framework guiding the relationship between the Siletz Tribe and ODFW.
- Approve 17 grants to fund selected projects recommended by the Advisory Committee for the Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund (OCRF), a public-private partnership that supports projects to implement Oregon’s State Wildlife Action Plan (the Oregon Conservation Strategy) and connect people with the outdoors. Recommended projects include an Oregon State University project monitoring at-risk amphibians in floodplain systems and a river access project led by Adventures Without Limits.
- Approve funding for two Access & Habitat projects that will keep nearly 2 million acres of private land open to public hunting access by continuing to fund increased OSP enforcement.
The Commission will also be briefed on the State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) revision, which emphasizes proactively conserving declining species and habitats to reduce the possibility of future federal or state listings. They will also continue their discussion of best practices for governance.
To testify on an agenda item virtually, register on the agenda page at least 48 hours in advance (by Wednesday, March 12 at 8 a.m.). Comments can also be emailed to ODFW.Commission@odfw.oregon.gov
To testify during the public forum section about an issue that is not on the agenda, use the form on the agenda page, again at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting.
An Executive Session will be held pursuant to ORS 192.660 (2)(f) to consider information or records that are exempt by law from public inspection, as well as to consult with legal counsel concerning legal rights and duties of a public body with regard to current litigation or litigation likely to be filed as authorized by ORS 192.660 (2)(h). Members of the media can attend the Executive Session but may not report on anything heard during that session. Media wishing to attend should contact the Director's office at (503) 947-6044.
Reasonable accommodation, such as assistive hearing devices, sign language interpreters, and materials in large print or audiotape, will be provided as needed. To ensure availability, please contact the Director’s Office at 503.947.6044 at least 72 hours prior to the meeting to make your request. TTY users can reach ODFW by using the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service. Please dial 711 and ask to connect to 503-947-6044.
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