Recall John Sweet on Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/RecallJohnSweet

The following is the link to RSVP on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1001454879867537/

Good news, on June 17, 2015 The Committee to Preserve the Second Amendment turned in 1895 signatures of the 1436 required to put the Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance on the ballot.  The County Clerk has until July 2, 2015 to certify the signatures for the election. 

On July 6, 2015, The Committee to Recall John Sweet will file paperwork to circulate a Recall petition for the Commissioner.

Recall Volunteers Needed:  Petition circulators
Fair booth attendants
People to write letters
Supporters on Social Media
Sign Up At the Meeting
 

Monetary Donations Needed:
To contribute, please send a check or money order to:

The Committee to Preserve the Second Amendment
PO Box 973
Bandon OR 97411-0973
Please add your name, address, and occupation.  

Everyone who supports the recall is invited  

A SAOVA message to sportsmen, farmers and pet owners concerned about protecting their traditions, avocations and livelihoods from anti-hunting, anti-breeding, animal guardianship advocates. Forwarding and cross posting, with attribution, encouraged.

News Briefs and Updates June 20, 2015

SAOVA Friends,
 Decades have gone by without evidence that mandatory spay and neuter (MSN) laws have had any success.  Sometimes that is still not enough to deter officials from proposing these failed ordinances.  Should MSN be proposed in your area, we have compiled two handouts for your use. “Mandatory Spay Neuter – A Failure Everywhere” along with a collection of national organizations position statements opposing MSN, can be downloaded from our website  http://saova.org/download.html  

Thank you for reading. Cross Posting is encouraged.

Susan Wolf
Sportsmen's and Animal Owners' Voting Alliance
Working to identify and elect supportive legislators
saova@earthlink.net 
http://saova.org    

US FISH AND WILDLIFE FINALIZES CHIMP RULE

June 2015. US Fish and Wildlife (FWS) in response to a 2010 petition by HSUS and Jane Goodall announced a final rule to classify all chimpanzees, both wild and captive, as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The final rule will go into effect on September 14, 2015. Under the new designation anyone working with captive chimps in the US must apply for a permit from FWS. Organizations that want to continue working with chimpanzees will have to document that the work enhances the survival of the species and benefits chimps in the wild. That could include research that boosts habitat restoration or contributes to improved management. If anyone is actively engaged in chimpanzee research, they must apply for a permit. According to FWS Director Dan Ashe, some biomedical research with chimps may be allowed to continue if it is critical for understanding human disease. 
 

In a press release The National Association for Biomedical Research stated, "The full impact the new FWS ruling will have on biomedical research is unclear. However, it would be unfortunate, even grave, should an infectious disease outbreak occur where human lives are at stake and a chimpanzee model could expedite development of life-saving medicines."  Read the full press release at NABR: http://tinyurl.com/phe9zya 
 

ALDF LOSES COURT BATTLE AGAINST SEAQUARIUM

The Orca Network, Animal Legal Defense Fund and others failed in their challenge against the Miami Seaquarium 's federal license renewal for the orca known as Lolita. "Only Congress, not this court, possesses the power to limit the agency's discretion and demand annual, substantive compliance with animal welfare standards," Judge Susan Black wrote for a three-judge panel for the 11th Circuit Court. 

Every year, Seaquarium must renew its Animal Welfare Act (AWA) license with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Before the expiration of its license in 2012, the ALDF sent a letter to the USDA asserting that Lolita's living conditions are inhumane, and Seaquarium's license should not be renewed. The USDA responded that it found Seaquarium in "compliance with the regulations and standards," and renewed the facility's license to keep and exhibit Lolita. It did not conduct an inspection of Lolita's living conditions based on the allegations in ALDF's letter. The ALDF sued in Miami, seeking a court order to set aside the USDA's renewal of Seaquarium's license, based on the theory that AWA animal welfare inspection laws should apply both to new licensees and license renewals.

In granting USDA summary judgment, the lower court found that the USDA complied with its license-renewal process, which requires just a certification of compliance, payment of an annual fee, and submission of an annual report detailing the number of animals exhibited in the prior year.   Full story at Courthouse News Service: http://tinyurl.com/ppaqjj2 
 

ALDF SUIT AGAINST PA DEPT OF AG MOVES FORWARD

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania allowed a lawsuit filed last summer by ALDF to move forward against the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.  According to their press release, ALDF sued the Department for passing watered down regulations that gutted Pennsylvania’s historic Dog Law. ALDF and Petitioners asserted that the Department was not authorized to exempt nursing mothers from the statutory ban on metal strand flooring and from the statutory requirement of unfettered access to exercise areas. Petitioners requested that the court enjoin the Department from enforcing above regulations currently in 7 Pa.Code 28a.8 and 28b.1, declaring these sections to be in conflict with the Dog Law and therefore unlawful, and order the Department to revise the regulations in a manner consistent with the Dog Law.  


Petitioners stated that the Dog Law prohibits Class C license holders (Commercial Kennels) from using metal strand wiring in the primary enclosure of adult dogs and requires unfettered access to an exercise area.  Department regulations provide for compliance if only 50% of primary enclosure flooring meets that regulation, and allow a commercial kennel owner to be in compliance if a nursing mother is provided with daily access to an exercise area.

Judge Bonnie Brigance Leadbetter overruled the Department’s preliminary objection to Petitioners’ standing. In her opinion Judge Leadbetter noted that before filing the suit Petitioners requested both the Department and the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) review the regulations. Both the Department and the IRRC declined.  Judge Leadbetter wrote, “These allegations, if proven, strongly suggest that redress through other channels is futile and thus that judicial scrutiny is required to insure that the regulations adopted by the Department conform to the law under which they were promulgated.”   Opinion by Judge Leadbetter http://tinyurl.com/phxndwg 
 

PALM BEACH COUNTY CALLS FOR END TO IMPORTING DOGS, CATS

Palm Beach County's unwanted dogs and cats are more likely to die if rescue groups keep importing animals from other counties and states, local officials warned. The county's animal shelter near West Palm Beach takes in 15,000 dogs and cats a year that are at risk of being euthanized if they aren't adopted. Finding homes for local shelter animals is made harder by well-meaning rescue groups continuing to have unwanted dogs and cats trucked and flown into Palm Beach County for adoption events, according to county officials. Some imported dogs and cats are coming from as close as Broward and Miami-Dade counties while others come from Alabama, Tennessee and even farther.

Because many rescue groups have ignored the county's request that they stop bringing in outside dogs and cats for adoption, County Mayor Shelley Vana went public with a plea to focus on helping local animals. The press conference was prompted by another local rescue group bringing in 60 dogs from outside the county for an adoption event. 

 "How does flying or busing in puppies from other regions help the dogs in this community?" Vana asked at a press conference from the county shelter. Vana continued, “What message is being sent to would-be adopters? What happens to those at-risk at animal care and control when those animals are flown in? The truth is often uncomfortable. Importing puppies and dogs into Palm Beach County while dogs in our own shelter die, means that some groups are simply stocking their shelves with dogs that are highly adoptable at a high fee.”

The county wants rescue groups to at least temporarily stop bringing in outside animals until the county shelter reaches a 90 percent “save rate”. So far this year, the county has an 80 percent "save rate" for dogs, while that drops to just a 39 percent for cats. Source: Sun-Sentinel

The message above was posted to Oregon, Washington, California, Alaska and Hawaii residents by the Sportsmen's and Animal Owners' Voting Alliance (SAOVA) on one of six regional read only elists.

SAOVA is a nonpartisan volunteer group working to protect Americans from the legislative and political threats of radical animal rightists. Visit our website at http://saova.org for this program's goals, methodology and list signup details.

To unsubscribe from this list, exercise that option at http://mailman.montana.com/mailman/listinfo/saova_west

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James Buchal Opening Arguments for Brandon Rinehart case 

Mon Oct 28, 2013 8:44 pm
James Buchal's Opening Arguments for Federal Preemption to overturn California's suction dredge moratorium
in the Third Appellate District of California for Brandon Rinehart case.
http://www.goldgold.com/wp-content/uplo ... -23-13.pdf

Brandon has court costs exceeding $15k if you can help
You can send donations for Brandon Rinehart
straight to his attorney, here is his address.
James Buchal
3425 S.E. Yamhill Street,suite 100
Portland,Oregon 97214

JOSEPHINE COUNTY BUREAUCRATS AND SECURE OUR SAFETY, INC. SPIT ON VOTERS' DECISION




By Investigative Reporter
John Taft

June 18, 2015

NewsWithViews.com

Josephine County, Oregon —In the May 19, 2015 Special Election, voters stopped the money drill before it could reach pay dirt. This was the sixth property tax to come up dry in the past ten years in Josephine County (JoCo). Now the group, Secure Our Safety (SOS), is attempting to take the decision to tax or not to tax our homes away from county residents. The measure promoted by SOS is called HJR-21, and is being processed in the Oregon Legislature at this time. If approved by a state wide vote, it changes the Oregon Constitution and places a minimum $2.00 per $1,000 tax base on homes and land within each of the 36 Oregon counties. Many counties already pay the minimum $2.00 tax, or more. The point being that 35 other Oregon counties would be able to compel JoCo residents under state law to pay a minimum $2.00 property tax, in addition to their existing property taxes. Take note of what SOS is doing on behalf of the county bureaucracy, and its utter contempt of the May 19 vote that defeated an odious property tax.

Public Safety Lost $500,000

In SOS's letter to the House Revenue Committee, its heading reads: "HJR-21 and Public Safety Fiscal Emergency in Josephine County"; a rather melodramatic statement here. County voters have certainly made clear their position that the property tax is the wrong way to fund public safety. It is also questionable if a fiscal public safety emergency exists as described by SOS. County commissioners' actions regarding the alleged public safety fiscal emergency indicate they do not believe there is a fiscal emergency. Here's why. A majority of the county commissioners, in conjunction with the county budget committee, voted not to move $500,000 to public safety from county road department funds. This could have been done legally. These funds could have been transferred without a serious problem to the road department, and would show the public that the commissioners had real concerns about public safety. This may be considered a breach of trust. County commissioners taking turns, clearly waved the safety lantern from a courthouse window, indicating that all is well. Thus signaling that there is no public safety fiscal emergency, as declared by SOS.

Agenda for Commissioners

Here are three things your county commissioners should be doing for the residents of this county, and are not at this time. For county commissioners to pursue any other course could be considered dereliction of duty.

1. Rather than going after a dirty property tax, the county commissioners should be lobbying state officials and the legislature to be able to use dedicated funds for public safety.

2. The commissioners need to acknowledge that public employees have priced themselves out of the job market through the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS), then act on this fact by reducing the number of public employees in Josephine County government.

3. The county commissioners need to acknowledge that public employee unions are a major political problem in this county, and work to decertify the county public employee unions. At the very least, these three issues need to be brought up for public discussion, rather than being ignored. However, the commissions appear to be scared spineless of the public employee unions.

Dedicated Funds

Here is an example of dedicated funds in reference to the above point 1: "A resolution for an economic development $50,000 grant for Rogue Coffee Roasters expansion was approved on a 2 to 0 vote, with Commissioner Hare abstaining. KAJO Radio, 6-3-15." This is money sent to Josephine County from state lottery funds. The county commissioners had two choices in distributing this money, to give the grant to Rogue Coffee Roasters, or loan the money to them. Commissioner's Walker and Heck chose to give the money rather than loan it to Rogue Coffee Roasters. Finance Director Arthur O'Hare testified before commissioner that a loan would create more administrative work for his department. State rules need to allow lottery dollars to be used for public safety, rather than going to a private business. This is part of the reason Josephine County has a poorly funded sheriff's department, not that the county voters turned down a dirty property tax. It's all about corrupt politics, bureaucrats, and agenda driven elected officials.

This is how state and federal agencies are able to manipulate counties into carrying out their political agendas. There are a lot of dedicated funds that should be allowed to pay for public safety. Commissioners must step up to the plate and make a home run for county residents, by having the rules of the game changed for dedicated funding. Are the commissioners up to the job they were elected to do? If not, don't reelect them to office, and hold them individually accountable for their decisions.

County Employees vs. The Voters

Keep in mind that SOS is stuffed with Josephine County department heads, such as the sheriff, district attorney and county commissioners all seeing that their best interests are served. As I see these people, they are self-serving rather than public-serving. With them it's all about salary, benefits, retirement, authority and fulfilling a self-serving agenda. This is why they are promoting HJR-21, the $2.00 base county tax on all homes and land in Josephine County.

If the May property tax had passed, a portion of those funds would have gone to pay for the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) expenses. Refer to points 2 and 3 above. All public employees have a definite conflict of interest with the pubic they are supposed to serve. "What's good for public employees financially is not good for the public, and what's good for the public is not good for public employees," This is why the size of county government needs to be reduced at every opportunity.

Economic Disadvantaged

In conclusion, here are a few facts to think about. It is of little or no concern to those promoting the property tax HJR-21 that 30% of Josephine County residents are on food stamps. That 20% of the children live below the poverty level. That nationally 30% of the people have no retirement investments or savings, and in JoCo this number would be higher. Josephine County is reported as one of the five most food insecure counties in Oregon. JoCo Food Assessment, Jill Tucker.




Pastors Wanna Lien on Your Home

Even some of the prominent churches and pastors in Grants Pass supported the May property tax on family homes. There is nothing Christian about a property tax, as it steals from the most vulnerable groups in society. This includes the sick, hungry, children, elderly, unemployed, low income families and retired. Ask Pastor Mark Goens, Rev. Jim Brumbach and Pastor Dennis Webber why they want to put a lien and tax on your home. These church pastors take a tax exemption on their churches, and get a free ride.


Pastors Spread Dissension

Grants Pass pastors must realize that a property tax is divisive, and pits neighbor against neighbor. It does not promote love, establish trust or engender community spirit and good will. HJR-21 will be counterproductive if passed, as it will create division, conflict and an animosity within Josephine County. This is an unethical and immoral means to achieve SOS's goals. A property tax is considered a form of theft, coercion and intimidation, supported by pastors, Grants Pass businesses, unions, Sheriff Dave Daniel, District attorney Ryan Mulkins, and public employees.

If you're looking for help in keeping the wolves away from your door you won't find them in this pack, because they are the wolves.

[Dear Jo-Co Readers. If you like what you read, please foreward this article to others from this county and encourage them to sign up for Jo-Co E-mail alerts. Only an enlightened person can make a difference. God bless and thank you.]

© 2015 John Taft - All Rights Reserved

Related Article:

1 - Why Josephine County is Broke
2 - Elections, Consequences, Public Sector Unions and the Daily Couruer
3 - City of Grants Pass, Pastor Dennis Webber and Corruption, 5-7-2012
4 - Can Pastor Dennis Webber Serve two Masters, 8-14-12
5 - Commissioners Heck and Walker Ignore Voters, Conduct Illegal Meeting, 6-5-15
6 - Why the Levy Keeps Failing, 5-21-15
7 - Proponents of $50 Million Tax Levy Have Withheld True Cost From Voters, 3-18-15

John Taft former president of Josephine County, OR. Taxpayers Association is presently an investigative reporter for the US-Observer and NewsWithViews.com. He has had many years of broadcasting, news writing and reporting experience. He also has written a popular conservative newsletter for a taxpayers organization to inform the public on taxing issues.

E-Mail: jocofocus@gmail.com

OWEB is announcing a new GIS Resources web page. Local organizations can now find web maps, GIS tools, and links to other spatial data resources. We hope that this data will help restoration practitioners in their day to day activities by providing them with up-to-date location-based data such as restoration and conservation priorities in Oregon and OWEBs Focused Investment Priority areas. 

Included on the OWEB GIS resources page is a new analysis produced by the Oregon Department of Agriculture designed to help prioritize 6th field hydrologic units throughout the state. The analysis calculated the amount of streams within each unit flowing through agricultural lands and the amount of those agricultural streams that were affected by temperature, bacteria, nutrients, sediment, and aquatic species of concern.  Each watershed was rated as a high, medium, or low priority for potential future Strategic Implementation Areas.  A web map with the data from this analysis can be found here: http://arcg.is/1GcS9Fh. If you have questions regarding Oregon Department of Agriculture’s Prioritization contact Kevin Fenn at (503) 986-6486.

OWEB’s GIS resources page can be found at: http://www.oregon.gov/OWEB/Pages/GIS.aspx

Please contact Troy Wirth by email:   troy.wirth@state.or.us or by phone:  503-986-0037 if you have any difficulties accessing the information noted above.

Coos Bay Sewer Plant replacement has a new wrinkle and the cost is gong up again.

Truly, to continue to throw, good money into a conceived plan to reinvent the constant dumping of “Treated Sewer” materials into the Bay, that time for change has truly arrived. The current plan no longer pencils out. 

This is the time to build the new Plant # 2 on the North Spit and have the outflow go into the Ocean. 

Because the current outfall for Plan # 2 is failing, and was not included in the cost to rebuild Plant #2 In Empire, which was to use the current outfall, it will be necessary to repair, more than likely to completely rebuild the outfall line. 

Starting with am estimated interim repair of $70,000 coming right out of the waste water improvement funds. Your sewer fee will take care of this payment. 

Then another $100,000 for design and construction, just for the repair, not the final solution, just the bandaid. Your sewer fees will take care of this also. Then, probably a complete new outflow for Plant #2, if it were to be built in Empire, instead of the North Spit. 

This condition possibly has existed since 2009, DEQ, knows there is no adverse impacts on the bay's health. Their belief is that point source treated sewer discharge does not effect the bay. Only non-source discharges in the bay is problematic. So no hurry to discharge money down the rat hole when a change is in the wind.

Denny Powell

Denny's white paper on Coos Bay sewer user fee collection system.

This viewpoint is based upon sewer fees collected are those of the Coos Bay water board account holders and sewer users of Coos Bay, and that any current calculation by the city or CB/NB water board is not combining any of the Bunker Hill or Charleston fee structure to establish the Coos Bay rates.

The sewer user fee collection system, used in Coos Bay is the most simple, confusing, complex, method as can be imaginable a labyrinth.

The purpose, to collect sewer fees to be used to pay off debt. In addition the collected money is used for current operations and maintenance. The debt is for future planned capital improvements, upgrades of sewer plants, two of them, sewer collection system, and the storm collection system.

The sewer fee collection has six identifying characteristics.

First, establish a household, base use through a rate study average use, which is 560 cubic feet. Agenda Staff Report, Agenda Item #7, May 7, 2013, Resolution 13-04 Attached there in: Sewer Rate Resolution with Rate Increase, Average Family. *Change in the average sewer rate per family was based upon the 2006 Yost Rate Study……………..770 cf to 560 cf.

Second, classification, establishing a rate fee structure in a uniform way effecting all users of the system.

Third, establish an annual rate increase for the continued increasing cost associated with regulatory requirements, treating sewage, and plant upgrades within a closed system of dumping into the bay.

Fourth, user fee collection, using the CB/NB Waterboard.

Fifth, regulatory body to oversee the system, in principle for fairness, and equitable. To promote conservation, affordable and finically sustainable. Be justifiable. Simple to understand. (from May 29, 2015 City of Coos Bay – Issue Paper)

Six, spend the money.

First, Average Family, the average sewer rate per family, which is 560 cubic feet

Second, Classification. This is held close to the chest of the City. Information about how a property is assigned, or what property by address, is assigned a classification is not easily available, if at all. A classification is pertinent to the cost of operation and function of the property. The classification is also paramount to the shared cost of the property related to purpose of collection of sewer fees for the sewer system. multi-family building, each unit is looked at as one base rate. This does not mitigate for a vacancy, or a unit not used at all but may be necessary for storage for the building.

The number of fixtures, such as sinks, toilets, tub/showers, are they part of the discussion in the Calculation assignments, as well as who choose to assign what classification to what property? That is simply not on the table, and appears is not wanted to be put on the table. Where is that discussion now?

The question is, do motels rooms which have one bathroom, just like a multi-family one bedroom apartment have a multi-family classification, or a commercial, where they only have one base rate? Is the College Dorms a multi-family or government class? Are the Hud, and Low Income Housing, multi-family, or are they commercial or governmental paying only one base rate?

This question cannot be answered until this is put on the table. Is the Council going to put it on the table? Something is not equitable, if a property owner is paying two base rates for a multi-family duplex, with two bathroom for one building, when other building with a commercial or governmental classification who may have a his and hers bathroom, and separate bathroom for staff or the boss, are only paying one base rate. What is the argument for “per unit” in a mult-family, if it truly does not apply to all users who are muli-family.

Third, annual rate increases are accomplished by establishing the funds needed, or increased need for a five year or 20 year plan, and annually updating it on the required funds to collect. A Resolution is created for the process current one is 15-06 May 5, 2015, and a correction for words left out (clerical error) since 2011, May 19, 2015, and Jun 16, 2015, council meeting relating to an issue paper and rounding-up issue.

Unfortunately the Resolutions do not stand alone, even though they are recreated each year and are the legal document. A cover letter is provide, with statements in the cover letter, not in the resolution. Such as the percentage of increase, 6.5%. The average use of 560 cubic feet per household, and the billing cycle. Also the amount of current debt is not stated in the Resolution.

Fourth, average rate payer deals with high rate of confusion and non-understanding. CB/NB Waterboard used as the collection agency. Look at the bill. The amount of Cubic feet you use, (Cons). Is that persons who just got out of jail, or those you seeing working along the roadside? 
Did you know that Cons, stands for consumption? Me being as dump as a box of rocks, had to ask someone. Did you know you cannot do the math correctly unless you know that your dealing with 100 cubic feet of water consumption, in the Resolution, where the billing is not showing the fraction, $6.35 / 100. The bill, Cons is in just cubic feet, not 100s of cubic feet. The billing does not show a rounding up, but shows charges for more than consumed, that is the rounding up.

In the Agenda Staff Report, June 16, 2015, The Finance Department staff examined the potential impact to wastewater revenues should the Council decide to revise the practice of "rounding up". The absolute maximum impact to revenue is an annual decrease of $485,000 based on current rates. The most likely impact to annual wastewater revenues is a decrease of around $120,000.

In the Staff report Agenda Staff Report, May 5, 2015, for Resolution 15-06, it was stated “BUDGET: the adjustment in projected to provide $322,790 in additional sewer fee revenue over the budgeted sewer fee revenue for FYE 15”.

If the increase was to bring in an additional $322,790, but eliminating “Rounding Up” creates a maximum impact of revenue decrease of $485,000. Curious about this one.

Does anyone know what the June billing cycle means. What is a billing cycle. If my meter is read in May 15 to June 15. Is my billing cycle for June, with the rate increase beginning on Jun 16, or is it prorated back to June first?

Fifth and Six, regulatory body to oversee the system. The City Council. Looks like they are not paying attention. Beginning back in February 2009, when after the rate study presentation, there was not one question. The Mayor made a statement that it was his belief the system is set up so current payers to not have to incur a large current cost, and it balances out over the years, and the new people into the system would pay their fair share as they come in.

Then in March, 2009 the Council passed the first rate increase based upon the 20 year Capital improvements plan, to be effective 2 months early. Establishing a windfall of $13,000 kick off, before the normal June billing cycle. Two of the council said it first needs to go to the Budget committee for a hearing and approval before coming back to the council in May for approval for the June billing cycle.

They were overruled. And the precedence for an automatic rate increase began. I say that because even though the cover letter for Resolution 15-06 May5, 2015, said the “Coos Bay Budget Committee concluded the FY 2015-2016 budget hearings in April which included a 6.5% increase in sewer user rates”. They may have concluded, but not in public and not through conversation or a vote.

There are two councilors currently on the council from that March 2009, decision process. Even then one felt the process beginning then, 20 year plan, would just be repeated in another 20 years. Never able to look outside the box then, to get on the North Spit, or an Ocean outflow. Now a lost 6 years of expense and plans toward the wrong solution.

Council likes spending money, ask few questions, short on foresight for the best solution and the best bang for the buck and wants to continue the 20 year plan of upgrades and dumping treated sewage into the bay.

Denny Powell

June 8, 2015

ROSEBURG, Ore – Anyone interested in the Coquille Valley Wildlife Area (CVWA) is encouraged to attend a public meeting June 18 in the Owens Building, Coos County Annex, 225 N. Adams, Coquille from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is presenting a draft management plan, answering questions and taking public comments.

The draft plan describes issues facing CVWA and actions to address them. These include restoration projects to increase historic Coho and Chinook salmon habitats; re-establishing a forested wetland habitat to benefit salmon, cutthroat trout and lamprey; managing the landscape to provide food and rest for migrating birds; and providing access and quality waterfowl hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities.

Comments received by July 2 will be incorporated into a final draft presented to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission for review and adoption at its August 7 meeting in Salem. The public can also testify at the Commission meeting. Comments can be emailed to Jeffrey.b.jackson@state.or.us or mailed to Jeff Jackson, ODFW, PO Box 5003, Charleston OR 97420.

Once finalized, the adaptive CVWA Management Plan will be reviewed within five years and at least every 10 years thereafter to make any necessary changes.

In 2013, ODFW exchanged its land on the east side of Eel Lake for nearly 584 acres in the lower Coquille River drainage belonging to Bandon Biota LLC. The Nature Conservancy assisted in the exchange and the CVWA now encompasses 584 acres in two parcels, the Winter Lake and Beaver Slough tracts.

ODFW created a stakeholder committee that met over the course of two years to include the surrounding community’s interests in creation of the CVWA. The stakeholders included Oregon Hunter’s Association, South Slough National Estuarine Reserve, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Beaver Slough and Coaledo Drainage Districts, China Camp Creek Duck Club, adjacent landowners, representatives from local hunters, commercial and recreational fishing interests, and ODFW.

###

Contact:
Jeff Jackson or Stuart Love, 541-888-5515
Tim Walters, 541-440-3353