Coquille Valley Wildlife Area reopens to public use
Coquille Valley Wildlife Area reopens to public use
Friday, October 5, 2018
​
CHARLESTON, Ore – The Coquille Valley Wildlife Area reopens in stages to public use in time for waterfowl season.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will reopen the Beaver Slough tract October 13 and the Winter Lake tract October 20. Both tracts make up the 660-acre wildlife area and have been closed since June 1 for habitat restoration activities including tidal channel construction.
“Waterfowl season begins October 13, so we’re pleased we can reopen the Beaver Slough tract for duck and goose hunters,” said Stuart Love, Charleston District Wildlife Biologist. “The Winter Lake tract opens a week later so we can make sure the new tide gate system that will start flooding that portion of the wildlife area is functioning properly.”
Hunters should be aware the new tidal channels constructed on the Winter Lake tract will have varying levels of water according to tidal influence. Steep sides and water could make it difficult to get out of the channels, and ODFW advises hunters to wear a personal flotation around the tidal channels.
Hunters should also know some aspects of the Winter Lake restoration project are continuing into the fall and can expect to see staff planting vegetation and conducting project monitoring. Other recreationists may also be on the wildlife area.
The wildlife area can be accessed from North Bank Lane off Highway 42. An access permit is required and can be obtained at no cost at the information kiosk in the wildlife area’s parking lot on North Bank Lane.
###
Contact:
Stuart Love or Dominic Rocco: 541-888-5515

Portion of the coast closes for mussel harvesting

Friday, August 31, 2018
   
SALEM, Ore.--The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) and ODFW announce a portion of the coast has closed for recreational mussel harvesting due to elevated levels of domoic acid.

Recreational mussel harvesting is closed from the south jetty of the Coquille River to the California border. Recreational mussel harvesting remains open from the Columbia River to the south jetty of the Coquille River.

Recreational razor clam harvesting is open from Tillamook Head to the south jetty of the Coquille River. Razor clamming is closed north of Tillamook Head on all Clatsop County beaches (as part of annual conservation closure July 15-Sept. 30 each year) and from the south jetty of the Coquille River to the California border.
​
Bay clams and crab are open for recreational harvesting along the entire Oregon coast
For more information call the ODA Shellfish Safety Hotline at (800) 448-2474. Closures are also noted on ODA’s Recreation Shellfish page and on ODFW’s Recreation Report - Clamming and Crabbing Report.
###
Contact:
Judy Dowell, ODA, (503) 871-2118

Free Fishing on Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day Weekend in Oregon
August 28, 2018

SALEM, Ore.—It’s free to fish, crab or clam in Oregon on Saturday, Sept. 1 and Sunday, Sept. 2.
During these two days, no fishing licenses or tags (including a Combined Angling Tag or Columbia River Basin Endorsement) are required to fish, crab or clam anywhere in Oregon for both residents and non-residents. Although no licenses or tags are required, all other fishing regulations apply including closures, bag limits and size restrictions.
“Get out and enjoy the last weekend of summer and do some fishing with family and friends,” said Mike Gauvin, ODFW recreational fisheries manager.
Look for the best fishing opportunities in ODFW’s Weekly Recreation Report, which is updated every Wednesday. Some good bets for new anglers this time of year are warmwater fishing and trout. Several waterbodies will be stocked with trout in time for the holiday weekend, see the Trout Stocking Schedule or Recreation Report for details.
Oregon will have one final weekend of free fishing on Nov. 23-24, 2018, the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving.
###
Contact:
Michelle Dennehy
Oregon Fish and Wildlife
Michelle.N.Dennehy@state.or.us
(503) 931-2748

Groups aim to boost non-lead ammo for ecosystem health Wildlife agencies and sportsmen’s groups join coalition encouraging hunters to choose non-lead ammo when hunting

July 9, 2018

The North American Non-Lead Partnership — formed late last year by the Oregon Zoo, The Peregrine Fund and the Institute for Wildlife Studies — seeks to expand the coalition of hunters, anglers and other conservationists dedicated to improving ecosystem and wildlife health by choosing non-lead options. 

“This is a long-term, multi-organization effort to help North America’s wildlife,” said Leland Brown, the Oregon Zoo’s non-lead hunting education coordinator and a lifelong outdoorsman. “Many of us are hunters ourselves, so we have a personal connection to this project. We’re proud of the contributions we’ve made to conservation, and we hope to inspire more outdoor enthusiasts and organizations to lend their support and help realize this vision in the months and years to come.”

Three state wildlife agencies — the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife — have recently joined the partnership, and at least five sports groups have pledged their support. One, the Arizona chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, even committed to an annual donation to support the efforts.

“ODFW supports a voluntary strategy to increase the use of non-lead ammunition among hunters in Oregon,” said Curt Melcher, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Director. “We’re pleased to join the North American Non-Lead Partnership so we can increase our efforts to educate and encourage hunters to voluntarily switch to non-lead ammunition.”

“We're excited about the partnership and confident that working with stakeholders — on all sides of the lead issue — is necessary to ensure the long-term health of Utah’s wildlife and their habitats," said Mike Fowlks, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Director.  "We recognize the role that stakeholder engagement has in wildlife management and look forward to working cooperatively with the program partners.”

“The Arizona Game and Fish Department is committed to conserving and protecting Arizona’s diverse wildlife, which is why we are lending our support to the North American Non-Lead Partnership,” said Jim deVos, Arizona Department of Game and Fish Assistant Director for Wildlife Management. “Our department has placed non-lead ammunition into the hands of our hunters and worked to inform the public to consider switching to non-lead ammunition to better protect our wildlife and human health.”

Since the 1980s, people have worked to remove lead from paint, gasoline and plumbing, but it still can pose a threat to wildlife. When scavenging birds and mammals eat the remains of carcasses shot with lead ammunition, tiny fragments of the heavy metal can be ingested and then absorbed into their bloodstream, often causing long-term side effects and sometimes even death. Non-lead ammunition options, such as high performance solid copper bullets, help prevent lead poisoning in scavengers like bald eagles, golden eagles and other birds of prey.

The North American Non-Lead Partnership works to engage hunters and other wildlife enthusiasts by:

• Designing and promoting voluntary measures to increase the use of non-lead ammunition
• Supporting the continued long-term viability of scientifically managed hunting and the associated conservation culture by providing programs that encourage sports-men and -women participation in conservation actions
• Supporting continued efforts to conduct scientific research into the relative risk associated with specific lead exposure pathways between use of lead ammunition and wildlife
• Using scientific evaluation to assess and improve programs

“Voluntary lead-reduction programs in Arizona and Utah have been very successful,” said Chris Parish, The Peregrine Fund’s director of conservation. “We want to see these voluntary efforts expanded across North America. We are confident that as this partnership expands, more hunters and organizations will join.” 

The three founding organizations that launched the new partnership were inspired by the success of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, recognizing a long tradition of conservation among America’s outdoor sports enthusiasts.

###
​
Media contacts:
Oregon Zoo: Hova Najarian | 503-220-5714 | hova.najarian@oregonzoo.org
Institute for Wildlife Studies: David Garcelon | 707-822-4258 | garcelon@iws.org
The Peregrine Fund: Chris Parish | 928-606-5155 | cparish@peregrinefund.org
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife: Michelle Dennehy | 503-947-6022 | michelle.n.dennehy@state.or.us
Arizona Game and Fish Department: Tom Cadden | 623-236-7392 | tcadden@azgfd.gov
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources: Mark Hadley | 801-538-4737 | markhadley@utah.gov

May 24, 2018
CHARLESTON, Ore – The Coquille Valley Wildlife Area is closed to public access June 1 for construction and restoration activities. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife expects it to reopen sometime in mid-October.

Heavy equipment operators will cut channels in the Winter Lake tract and create raised areas planted with native trees and shrubs for habitat diversity. This project is focused on conservation with wetland function and tidal flow restored to improve overwintering habitat for threatened coho salmon and migratory birds including waterfowl.

The new channels will fill with tidewater once connected to last year’s restoration activities in China Camp Creek giving coho more habitat while also benefitting waterfowl. The raised area will provide habitat for fish and wildlife, many of which are Oregon Conservation Strategy Species such as Pacific lamprey, purple martin, clouded salamander and Western pond turtle.

The Winter Lake project makes overall improvements to 420 acres. The China Camp Creek project improved natural resources and agriculture on 1,700 acres within the Beaver Slough Drainage District.
###
Contact:
Dominic Rocco, 541-888-5515
Meghan Dugan, 541-464-2179

Cascade Policy Institute recently commissioned economist Eric Fruits, Ph.D. to do a comparative analysis of nine Western states with large Common School Trust Land portfolios to determine under what circumstances it might make sense for states to sell these lands and invest the net proceeds into stocks, bonds, and other financial instruments.

Management of Oregon’s 1.5 million acre portfolio of Common School Trust Lands has long been a contentious issue. Twenty-five years ago, Oregon Attorney General Charles S. Crookham issued an opinion clarifying that Common School Trust Lands must be managed primarily for revenue maximization.

But environmental groups have repeatedly lobbied and litigated to eliminate revenue generation from the Trust Lands, claiming that commodity production is an outdated concept. They finally succeeded during 2013-15, when Oregon’s Trust Land portfolio lost $360,000/year in net operating income. Those losses had to be paid for by Oregon public school students.

In his report, A Proposal to Generate Adequate Returns from Common School Trust Lands, Dr. Fruits concluded that revenue generated for schools by the Oregon Common School Trust Lands likely would go up by 600% if the lands were sold and the net income were invested in the existing Common School Fund.

ODFW hosts series of meetings for public input on 2019-21 budget

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

SALEM, Ore.--The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is hosting a series of town hall meetings around the state in April to gather public input on the agency's proposed 2019-21 budget.

The proposed budget, which is being developed by ODFW and an external budget advisory committee, will be presented for review and comment at the meetings listed below taking place in Bend, Klamath Falls, La Grande, Medford, North Bend, Newport, Portland and Tillamook.

“This is a great opportunity for us to meet with our constituents and get their feedback,” said Curt Melcher, ODFW director. “I encourage folks to attend, meet with our staff and learn more about our funding proposals to manage Oregon’s fish and wildlife.”

No major changes to the budget or new fee increases are proposed, though ODFW is discussing the feasibility of eliminating an already planned and approved fee increase set to take effect in 2020.

Public comments will be used to help refine the budget before it is presented to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission on June 7 in Baker City. Once a proposed budget is approved by the Commission, it will be submitted to the Governor for her consideration. The budget will ultimately be determined by the 2019 Legislature.

All meetings will be held from 7-8:30 p.m.

• La Grande, Monday, April 2, Blue Mountain Conference Center, 404 12th Street.

• Bend, Tuesday, April 3, Central Oregon Community College, Boyle Education Bldg, Rm 155, 2600 NW College Way

• Klamath Falls, Wednesday, April 4, Oregon Institute of Technology, College Union Bldg, Mt Bailey Room, 3201 Campus Drive

• Medford, Thursday, April 5, Jackson County Library, Medford Branch Adams Room, 205 S Central Ave

• North Bend, Monday, April 9, North Bend Public Library, 1800 Sherman Ave

• Newport, Tuesday, April 10, Hallmark Resort, 744 SW Elizabeth St

• Tillamook, Wednesday, April 11, Tillamook County Library, 1716 3rd Street

• Portland, Thursday, April 12, Doubletree Inn (Lloyd Center), 1000 NE Multnomah Street

Comments on the agency proposed budget can also be submitted through May 1 by email to ODFW.TownHallComments@state.or.us or by mail to ODFW Director’s Office, 4034 Fairview Industrial Dr. SE, Salem, OR 7302-1142. Public testimony will also be heard at the Commission meeting June 7 in Baker City.

###
Contact:
Roger Fuhrman
(503) 947-6010
Roger.W.Fuhrman@state.or.us

Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Sunday, February 18, 2018 
CONTACT:  Shelia Megson   
Chief of Staff 
503-986-1401   
Shelia.Megson@oregonlegislature.gov                           

Click Here for the Bill                                                

SALEM – A bipartisan bicameral piece of legislation; introduced and Chief Sponsored by Senator Roblan (D-Coos Bay) and Representative David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford) looks to better track crab and other marine base food susceptible to domoic acid and other food related issues that could pose a threat to human consumption.

“We have an ever-increasing frequency of domoic acid test results that have a negative impact on our coastal industries,” said Senator Roblan. “This is evident in the delay of this year’s crab season, as well as the recent closure on Friday due to high levels of domoic acid found in Brookings,” he said. “We have been working with our industries and agencies to come up with a better solution to protect our consumers, without having such a wide impact on our producers”.

SB 1550 looks to the location of the seafood caught and if a problem is discovered in one location, product data can be tracked to check nearby locations for a similar issue. If one is not found, area closures can be isolated and much smaller rather than have larger, regional closures like the current crab harvest closure that occurred last week from Cape Blanco to the border.

“Our crab fishers are struggling and so are their families,” said Representative David Brock Smith, whose District is affected by the recent closure. “With the delay in opening of the Crab Season due to elevated levels of domoic acid, and now the regional closure off southwest Oregon, our fishers are being hit extremely hard and this bill couldn’t come soon enough for them,” said Brock Smith. “This tracking and data collection will help isolate the affected areas and allow more certainty to ODA on localized closures,” he said. “This legislation will also allow for more flexibility in evisceration orders, while keeping the public safe and helping our fishing industries continue to be successful.”
SB 1550 is expected to pass the Senate Floor on Monday and move to Representative David Brock Smith’s House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources on Wednesday to be worked on his side of the Capitol.   

Rep. David Brock Smith represents House District 1, which includes Curry, Coos, Douglas and Josephine counties. This press release and an archive of previous press releases issued by Rep. David Brock Smith’s office are available on the web at: www.oregonlegislature.gov/smithd.

Related Posts:
ODFW ~ Commercial Crab from South Coast Must be Eviscerated to Protect Public
ODFW ~ Meeting to Discuss Coos Mountain TMA Public Trails November 30, 2017
ODFW ~ Crab Harvesting Reopens on a Portion of Oregon Coast
ODFW ~ Commercial Dungeness crab season delayed
ODFW ~ Entire Oregon Coast Reopened for Mussel Harvesting
ODFW ~ "Pounder" trout stocked in Coos Bay area Lakes
ODFW ~ One Species on the Verge of Causing the Extinction of Another Species
NOAA Antibusiness Plan for Coquille River ~ Public Private Property Partnership
ODFW ~ Commercial Crabbing Closed From Coos Bay North Jetty to Heceta Head
ODFW seeks Landowner Representatives for Access & Habitat Program – by Jan. 30
OR State Land Board Public Meeting December 13, 2016 ~ Sell the Elliot Forest
ODFW ~ Deer virus confirmed in Coos County
ODFW ~ Hosts Town Hall On Proposed 2017-19 budget North Bend May 4, 2016
ODFW ~ Commission Meeting in Bandon Friday April 22, 2016
ODFW ~ Harassing Cormorant to Protect Salman but Still a Crime for the People
ODFW ~ Public Meeting Coquille Valley Wildlife Area Discussion Wed. March 2, 2016

Commercial crab from south coast must be eviscerated to protect public health
February 16, 2018

SALEM, Ore.—The Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife have announced the establishment of a biotoxin management zone from Cape Blanco to the California-Oregon border, effective immediately. To protect consumers, all crab landed from this area must have the viscera (guts) removed by a licensed processor.

Dungeness crab internal organs (viscera) sampled from the area have biotoxins above the alert level, indicating that crab harvested from the biotoxin management zone must be eviscerated (gutted) before it is safe for consumption. Traceability measures that were put in place at the start of the season (Dec. 1, 2017) will be used to ensure that whole crab are eviscerated.

Crab meat remains safe for consumers who purchase it in retail markets or at restaurants. Domoic acid levels are elevated only in crab viscera, or the guts, of crab sampled and tested from this area of the Oregon coast.
Because of Oregon’s precautionary management of biotoxins, crab and shellfish products currently being sold in retail markets and restaurants are also safe for consumers.

ODA and ODFW will continue monitoring biotoxins in crab and shellfish to ensure that the concentrations of harvested products from all of Oregon remain below the alert level.

Domoic acid is a naturally occurring biotoxin produced by marine phytoplankton or algae that grow and bloom during certain seasons. When the algae are in high numbers, the biotoxin they produce is eaten and concentrated by crabs and other species.

Eating shellfish that is contaminated with domoic acid can cause illness in humans within minutes to hours resulting in cramping, vomiting, and diarrhea. In severe cases, consumption can result in memory problems or even death. The toxin cannot be destroyed by cooking, adding baking soda, or any other method. Anyone experiencing these symptoms after eating seafood should contact a physician immediately.

Fortunately for crab consumers, the majority of domoic acid resides in the internal organs– not the meat– and is effectively removed through “evisceration” (also known as “backing”) of the crab, to remove the internal organs. For this reason, it is recommended that crab always be eviscerated prior to cooking, which includes removal and discard of the internal organs and gills.

For more information, call ODA’s shellfish safety information hotline at (800) 448-2474 or visit the ODA shellfish closures web page at: http://ODA.direct/ShellfishClosures

For notices to the commercial crabbing industry visit ODFW commercial crabbing webpage at: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/shellfish/commercial/crab/news_publications.asp
###
Contact:
Rick Swart (971) 673-6038

Recreational crabbing closed along southern Oregon coast

February 16, 2018

SALEM, Ore.--The Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announce the immediate closure of all recreational crabbing on the southern Oregon coast from Cape Blanco to the California border due to elevated levels of domoic acid. This includes Dungeness and red rock crab harvested from the ocean as well as in bays and estuaries, and on beaches, docks, piers, and jetties.

Recreational crab harvesting from Cape Blanco north to the Columbia River remains open in the ocean, bays and estuaries, and on beaches, docks, piers, and jetties.

Meanwhile, for commercial crabbing, ODA and ODFW are requiring that all crab harvested from Cape Blanco to the California border be eviscerated (gutted) before it can be deemed safe for consumption. Domoic acid levels are elevated only in crab viscera, or the guts, of crab sampled and tested from this area of the Oregon coast.

For recreational crab harvesters, it is recommended that crab always be eviscerated prior to cooking, which includes removal and discard of the viscera, internal organs, and gills.

Because of Oregon’s precautionary management of biotoxins, crab and shellfish products currently being sold in retail markets and restaurants are safe for consumers.

Domoic acid or amnesic shellfish toxin can cause minor to severe illness and even death. Severe poisoning can result in dizziness, headaches, vomiting and diarrhea. More severe cases can result in memory loss and death. Shellfish toxins are produced by microscopic algae and originate in the ocean. Toxins cannot be removed by cooking, freezing or any other treatment. ODA will continue to test for toxins in the coming weeks. Removal of the advisory requires two consecutive tests in the safe range.

For more information, call ODA’s shellfish safety information hotline at (800) 448-2474 or visit the ODA shellfish closures webpage at http://ODA.direct/ShellfishClosures
###
Contact:
Rick Swart (971) 673-6038

Related Posts:
ODFW ~ Meeting to Discuss Coos Mountain TMA Public Trails November 30, 2017
ODFW ~ Crab Harvesting Reopens on a Portion of Oregon Coast
ODFW ~ Commercial Dungeness crab season delayed
ODFW ~ Entire Oregon Coast Reopened for Mussel Harvesting
ODFW ~ "Pounder" trout stocked in Coos Bay area Lakes
ODFW ~ One Species on the Verge of Causing the Extinction of Another Species
NOAA Antibusiness Plan for Coquille River ~ Public Private Property Partnership
ODFW ~ Commercial Crabbing Closed From Coos Bay North Jetty to Heceta Head
ODFW seeks Landowner Representatives for Access & Habitat Program – by Jan. 30
OR State Land Board Public Meeting December 13, 2016 ~ Sell the Elliot Forest
ODFW ~ Deer virus confirmed in Coos County
ODFW ~ Hosts Town Hall On Proposed 2017-19 budget North Bend May 4, 2016
ODFW ~ Commission Meeting in Bandon Friday April 22, 2016
ODFW ~ Harassing Cormorant to Protect Salman but Still a Crime for the People
ODFW ~ Public Meeting Coquille Valley Wildlife Area Discussion Wed. March 2, 2016

CENTRAL POINT, Ore.—The Southwest Region Council of the Access and Habitat program will host a public meeting Nov. 30 at 3:30 p.m. to discuss a possible new Travel Management Area to be known as the Coos Mountain TMA within the Tioga Wildlife Management unit.

The meeting will be held at
ODFW’s Central Point office,
1495 East Gregory Road. 
                                                   Attend in person or call
                                                   1-877-336-1831 and enter participant code 804246.

Commercial timberland ownership in the area has shifted in recent years. The new TMA would provide “Welcome to Hunt” access on 63,000 acres so that hunters would have access to more private and public land in the area. TMAs typically involve some motor vehicle restrictions and help regulate access so private landowners are more willing to open their property to hunters.

The A and H program funds projects that provide hunter access and/or improve wildlife habitat on private land in Oregon. It’s funded by a $4 surcharge on hunting licenses and big game auction and raffle tag sales.

For more information, please contact Jade Keehn, ODFW’s A and H SW Regional Coordinator at jade.e.keehn@state.or.us, (541) 826-8774 x232.
###
Contact:
Jade Keehn, ODFW’s A and H SW Regional Coordinator, jade.e.keehn@state.or.us, (541) 826-8774 x232

Related Posts:
ODFW ~ Crab Harvesting Reopens on a Portion of Oregon Coast
ODFW ~ Commercial Dungeness crab season delayed
ODFW ~ Entire Oregon Coast Reopened for Mussel Harvesting
ODFW ~ "Pounder" trout stocked in Coos Bay area Lakes
ODFW ~ One Species on the Verge of Causing the Extinction of Another Species
NOAA Antibusiness Plan for Coquille River ~ Public Private Property Partnership
ODFW ~ Commercial Crabbing Closed From Coos Bay North Jetty to Heceta Head
ODFW seeks Landowner Representatives for Access & Habitat Program – by Jan. 30
OR State Land Board Public Meeting December 13, 2016 ~ Sell the Elliot Forest
ODFW ~ Deer virus confirmed in Coos County
ODFW ~ Hosts Town Hall On Proposed 2017-19 budget North Bend May 4, 2016
ODFW ~ Commission Meeting in Bandon Friday April 22, 2016
ODFW ~ Harassing Cormorant to Protect Salman but Still a Crime for the People
ODFW ~ Public Meeting Coquille Valley Wildlife Area Discussion Wed. March 2, 2016

November 22, 2017

The Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announce the reopening of recreational and commercial bay crabbing from the north jetty of the Coquille River to the north jetty of Coos Bay. The reopening includes crab harvested in bays and estuaries, and on beaches, docks, piers, and jetties. Crab samples taken from the area indicate levels of domoic acid have dropped and remain below the alert level.

The recreational crabbing season in the ocean closed coast-wide on Oct. 16.

Crab harvesting remains closed from the California border to the north jetty of the Coquille River (including the Coquille estuary), and from Tahkenitch Creek (north of Winchester Bay) to Cape Foulweather (north of Newport). Crabbing north of Cape Foulweather to the Columbia River remains open in bays and estuaries, and on beaches, docks, piers, and jetties.

Today’s test results and health advisory come at a complicated time of year for Oregon’s crab fisheries. By rule, Dec. 1 is Oregon’s earliest annual start for ocean crabbing, for both commercial and recreational fisheries. However, this year, due to low crab meat yield and elevated levels of biotoxins in some areas, much of Oregon’s ocean area remains closed to crabbing after Dec. 1. Additional testing for meat yield and biotoxin levels will continue at least through the end of December.

For both recreational and commercial crab fishermen, below is a simple guide for what is currently open and closed. Before you go crabbing, please confirm the status of ODFW/ODA harvest areas relative to concerns about elevated biotoxins at the website below.

• Recreational crabbing – Currently open in all bays and estuaries that are not under the health advisory; opens after Dec. 1 in ocean areas where biotoxins are below the alert level.
• Commercial ocean crabbing – Delayed in all areas until at least December 16.
• Commercial bay crabbing – Commercial bay crabbing is re-opened in Coos Bay on Monday, Nov. 27; commercial bay crabbing remains closed from the California border to the north jetty of the Coquille River (including the Coquille estuary), and from Tahkenitch Creek to Cape Foulweather. Commercial bay crabbing remains open at this time in bays and estuaries, and on beaches, docks, piers, and jetties within the areas that are not under the health advisory.
• All commercial bay crabbing will be closed as of Dec. 1 along with the delayed season for the commercial ocean fishery, according to existing ODFW rules. This year, the commercial ocean fishery is delayed from Dec. 1 until at least Dec. 16.

Despite the closure, crab and shellfish products sold in retail markets and restaurants remain safe for consumers.

For more information, call ODA’s shellfish safety information hotline at (800) 448-2474 or visit the ODA shellfish closures web page at: http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/programs/FoodSafety/Shellfish/Pages/ShellfishClosures.aspx

###

Contact:
ODA / Alex Manderson at (503) 842-2607

Related Posts:
ODFW ~ Commercial Dungeness crab season delayed
ODFW ~ Entire Oregon Coast Reopened for Mussel Harvesting
ODFW ~ "Pounder" trout stocked in Coos Bay area Lakes
ODFW ~ One Species on the Verge of Causing the Extinction of Another Species
NOAA Antibusiness Plan for Coquille River ~ Public Private Property Partnership
ODFW ~ Commercial Crabbing Closed From Coos Bay North Jetty to Heceta Head
ODFW seeks Landowner Representatives for Access & Habitat Program – by Jan. 30
OR State Land Board Public Meeting December 13, 2016 ~ Sell the Elliot Forest
ODFW ~ Deer virus confirmed in Coos County
ODFW ~ Hosts Town Hall On Proposed 2017-19 budget North Bend May 4, 2016
ODFW ~ Commission Meeting in Bandon Friday April 22, 2016
ODFW ~ Harassing Cormorant to Protect Salman but Still a Crime for the People
ODFW ~ Public Meeting Coquille Valley Wildlife Area Discussion Wed. March 2, 2016

Nov. 16, 2017
NEWPORT, Ore. – The traditional Dec. 1 opening of the commercial Dungeness crab season will be delayed until at least Dec. 16 along the entire Oregon coast as testing shows crabs are too low in meat yield. 

The ocean commercial Dungeness crab season in Oregon is targeted to open Dec. 1, but can be delayed to ensure a high-quality product to consumers and avoid wastage of the resource. Crab quality testing in early November showed that none of the test areas met the criteria for a Dec. 1 opening. The delayed opening will allow for crabs to fill with more meat.

A second round of crab quality testing will occur in late November or early December, and the results will be used to determine if the season should open Dec. 16, be further delayed, or be split into two areas with different opening dates.

Currently there are crab closures in effect for recreationally and commercially harvested crab from bays and estuaries, and on beaches, docks, piers, and jetties due to elevated levels of domoic acid from Cape Foulweather to Tahkenitch Creek and from north jetty of Coos Bay to the California border. Crab harvesting outside of these areas remains open in bays and estuaries, and on beaches, docks, piers, and jetties.

In conjunction with the delayed ocean commercial season, commercial harvest of Dungeness crab in Oregon bays that are currently open will close at 12:01 a.m. Dec. 1, but may reopen if the ocean commercial fishery opens in December. Recreational harvest of Dungeness crab in the ocean off Oregon will open Dec. 1 as scheduled in areas where there are no Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) health advisories.

Despite the delay of the ocean fishery and because of the health closure in portions of the state, crab and shellfish products sold in retail markets and restaurants remain safe for consumers. The closure in the health advisory area ensures safety and the delay in the commercial ocean season promotes a high quality harvest. For more information on ODA health closures, call ODA’s shellfish safety information hotline at (800) 448-2474 or visit the ODA shellfish closures web page.

Commercial Dungeness crab is Oregon’s most valuable fishery. Last year’s season opening was also delayed but still brought in the highest ex-vessel value ever ($62.7 million) with 20.4 million pounds landed, about 22 percent above the 10-year average.

###

Contact:
Troy Buell (541) 867‐0300 ext. 225
Kelly Corbett (541) 867‐0300 ext. 244

Entire Oregon coast reopened for mussel harvesting

November 9, 2017

The Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announce the reopening of recreational and commercial mussel harvesting from the south jetty of the Columbia River to the north jetty of Yaquina Bay at Newport. Shellfish samples taken from the area indicate levels of the paralytic shellfish toxin (PST) have dropped below the ;alert level. The area was originally closed to mussel harvesting October 13.

As a result, all mussel harvesting is now open along the entire Oregon coast.
Meanwhile, razor clamming remains open only from Columbia River to Cascade Head, north of Lincoln City. The harvesting of razor clams remains closed from Cascade Head south to the ;California border due to elevated levels of domoic acid.

The recreational harvest of bay clams remains open along the entire Oregon coast.

For more information, call ODA’s shellfish safety information hotline at (800) 448-2474 or visit the ODA shellfish closures web page at http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/programs/FoodSafety/Shellfish/Pages/ShellfishClosures.aspx
###
Contact:
Alex Manderson at (503) 842-2607

Related Posts:
ODFW ~ "Pounder" trout stocked in Coos Bay area Lakes
ODFW ~ One Species on the Verge of Causing the Extinction of Another Species
NOAA Antibusiness Plan for Coquille River ~ Public Private Property Partnership
ODFW ~ Commercial Crabbing Closed From Coos Bay North Jetty to Heceta Head
ODFW seeks Landowner Representatives for Access & Habitat Program – by Jan. 30
OR State Land Board Public Meeting December 13, 2016 ~ Sell the Elliot Forest
ODFW ~ Deer virus confirmed in Coos County
ODFW ~ Hosts Town Hall On Proposed 2017-19 budget North Bend May 4, 2016
ODFW ~ Commission Meeting in Bandon Friday April 22, 2016
ODFW ~ Harassing Cormorant to Protect Salman but Still a Crime for the People
ODFW ~ Public Meeting Coquille Valley Wildlife Area Discussion Wed. March 2, 2016
OFRI ~ Fish Passage & Habitat Workshop Wednesday, March 9, 2016
NOAA Proposed Recovery Plan for Coho Salmon September 2015
Fish and Wildlife Commission delists wolves statewide in split vote (4-2) ‏
Coos Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Meeting w/ODFW October 16, 2015
Coos County Approves Nature Conservancy's Tide Gate for China Camp Creek
ODFW ~ Conservation Opportunity Areas for Stealing Private Property

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

ROSEBURG, Ore – This week, ODFW is stocking “pounders,” rainbow trout averaging just over a pound each, into Coos Bay area lakes for a great fall trout fishing opportunity. The weather is cooling, but the trout are still biting.

Within the city limits of Coos Bay, Upper Empire Lake is getting 3,500 trout. Lower Empire is choked with weeds and has a low water level with water temperatures too high to safely stock rainbows. Those fish instead will be split between Saunders and Butterfield lakes which will each receive 1,200 trout.

Saunders Lake is about five miles north of North Bend and is an easily accessed, pleasant place to take the family fishing. Next to the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, Butterfield Lake is accessed through Riley Ranch County Park. Anglers at Butterfield Lake might also hook into a warmouth, an unusual fish that looks like a crappie with a bass head

Bradley Lake, just three miles south of Bandon and Powers Pond are also being stocked this week with these pounders.

The rainbow trout harvest limit in most lakes is five fish per day, two daily limits in possession.
Check myodfw.com for fishing tips and the latest Recreation Report.
###
Contact:
Mike Gray, 541-888-5515
Meghan Dugan, 541-464-2179

Monday, August 7, 2017

SALEM, Ore. – One of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest’s iconic fish, native steelhead trout, have been migrating over Willamette Falls in Portland to spawn in Cascade Mountain rivers for millennia. They are now at high risk of going extinct, based on a new analysis by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Listed for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1999 due primarily to the impacts of federal dams and habitat loss, wild native Willamette steelhead have now slipped to high risk of extinction. Willamette steelhead now face a new and growing threat from male sea lions that have learned to exploit the fish as they congregate below Willamette Falls before navigating upriver to spawn.

Continuing a decade-long downward trend, the number of wild steelhead returning to the upper Willamette this year was the lowest on record, with only 512 fish passing above the Willamette Falls. ODFW scientists found that sea lions consumed at least one quarter of the wild steelhead run and warned that if sea lion predation continues at these levels, there is an up to 90 percent probability that at least one wild steelhead population will go extinct as a direct result of the predation. The near-term risk of wild steelhead extinction can be significantly reduced or avoided by limiting sea lion access to Willamette Falls.

“We know what the problem is and have seen this coming for about a decade, we just couldn’t take action to prevent it,” said Dr. Shaun Clements from ODFW.

California sea lions have expanded along the West Coast over the past four decades to a population of nearly 300,000 animals coast-wide today. As numbers increased, a small proportion of sea lions – all males – have expanded their range into freshwater areas where migrating salmon and steelhead are especially vulnerable, including in places such as Ballard Locks in Washington, Bonneville Dam, and at the Willamette Falls, where fish tend to congregate before moving upstream. At these locations, predation by sea lions is especially high and adversely impacts salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon. In the 1980s, sea lion predation on winter steelhead at Ballard Locks in Seattle effectively destroyed the Lake Washington stock.

“Removal of a few problem individuals will have no impact on the overall sea lion population but can significantly benefit ESA-listed fish,” said Robin Brown, lead scientist for ODFW’s marine mammal program.

Any solution to address the threats to wild fish populations will have to strike a balance between the recovery of imperiled salmon and steelhead populations and the ongoing conservation of sea lions. Also at stake are significant regional investments in recovery efforts, such as improvements in fish passage at dams, restoration of fish habitat, and implementation of fishing regulations that prohibit anglers from harvesting wild fish. ODFW scientists have determined that curtailing the immediate impact created by sea lion predation is essential to saving the steelhead from extinction to support the success of long-term recovery efforts.

Sea lions are protected under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The MMPA, unlike the ESA, has fewer tools for managers to use to balance the conservation of predators and prey and prevent these situations in locations where fish are most vulnerable. Sections of the MMPA were revised in 1994 to allow limited management ofsea lions for the purpose of protecting ESA-listed salmon and steelhead. Unfortunately, the revisions do not allow for proactive management and cannot address emergencies like that occurring at Willamette Falls.

“We are in on-going discussions with state and tribal fishery managers and several stakeholder groups,” said Dr. Clements, “Given the situation at Willamette Falls, everyone is united in their call for swift action, and ODFW stands ready to provide expertise to the Northwest congressional delegation on a bipartisan, compromise bill to revise the MMPA to address these emergency situations without undermining the strength and importance of this law.” Bills in the House and Senate; H.R. 2083, sponsored by Rep. Jamie Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.) and Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.), and S 1702, sponsored by Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho), represent the first steps toward that goal.

“We are at a point where any more delays in the Willamette may condemn this run to extinction,” Clements said. “We need to act now or extinction may be our legacy.”

Upper Willamette wild steelhead have been listed as “threatened” under the federal ESA since March 1999. ODFW has not allowed harvest of these fish for more than 20 years. California sea lion populations are robust, and the animals are not listed under the Endangered Species Act, but are protected under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act.

###
Contact:
Dr. Shaun Clements, (541) 223-8437
Rick Swart, (971) 673-6038

Related Posts:
NOAA Antibusiness Plan for Coquille River ~ Public Private Property Partnership
ODFW ~ Commercial Crabbing Closed From Coos Bay North Jetty to Heceta Head
ODFW seeks Landowner Representatives for Access & Habitat Program – by Jan. 30
OR State Land Board Public Meeting December 13, 2016 ~ Sell the Elliot Forest
ODFW ~ Deer virus confirmed in Coos County
ODFW ~ Hosts Town Hall On Proposed 2017-19 budget North Bend May 4, 2016
ODFW ~ Commission Meeting in Bandon Friday April 22, 2016
ODFW ~ Harassing Cormorant to Protect Salman but Still a Crime for the People
ODFW ~ Public Meeting Coquille Valley Wildlife Area Discussion Wed. March 2, 2016
OFRI ~ Fish Passage & Habitat Workshop Wednesday, March 9, 2016
NOAA Proposed Recovery Plan for Coho Salmon September 2015
Fish and Wildlife Commission delists wolves statewide in split vote (4-2) ‏
Coos Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Meeting w/ODFW October 16, 2015
Coos County Approves Nature Conservancy's Tide Gate for China Camp Creek
ODFW ~ Conservation Opportunity Areas for Stealing Private Property

Commercial crabbing closed from Coos Bay north jetty to Heceta Head due to domoic acid

Tweet

February 2, 2017
The Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announce the closure of the commercial crab fishery from the north jetty of Coos Bay to Heceta Head, north of Florence, due to elevated levels of domoic acid in crab viscera. The area is also closed to recreational harvest.

Crab meat remains safe for consumption. Domoic acid levels are elevated only in crab viscera, or the guts, of crab sampled and tested from this area of the Oregon coast. The closure is limited to that portion of the central coast. Areas south of Coos Bay and north of Heceta Head remain open to commercial crabbing.

To protect consumers, all crab that has been landed from the closed area since January 25th and currently in the harvest process will have the viscera removed by ODA-licensed processors to eliminate the biotoxin before crab goes to market.

Crab fishermen will be allowed in the closed area over the next week to clear out their fishing operations, after which a full fishing prohibition goes into place in the closed area.

ODA and ODFW will continue working closely with the Oregon commercial Dungeness crab industry to monitor the entire coast for domoic acid by testing crab and other shellfish. Additional samples will be tested and restrictions on Dungeness crab harvesting in the closed area will be lifted as domoic acid decreases to safe levels.

Domoic acid is a naturally occurring biotoxin produced by marine phytoplankton or algae that grow and bloom during certain seasons. When the algae are in high numbers, the biotoxin they produce is eaten and concentrated by crabs and other species.

Eating shellfish that is contaminated with domoic acid can cause illness in humans within minutes to hours resulting in cramping, vomiting, and diarrhea. In severe cases, consumption can result in memory problems or even death. The toxin cannot be destroyed by cooking, adding baking soda, or any other method. Anyone experiencing these symptoms after eating seafood should contact a physician immediately.

Fortunately for crab consumers, the majority of domoic acid resides in the internal organs– not the meat– and is effectively removed through “evisceration” (also known as “backing”) of the crab, to remove the internal organs.

Despite the closure, all crab meat and shellfish products sold in retail markets and restaurants remain safe for consumers; whole cook crab are safe, once they have been eviscerated. For more information, call ODA’s shellfish safety information hotline at (800) 448-2474 or visit the ODA shellfish closures web page at http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/programs/FoodSafety/Shellfish/Pages/ShellfishClosures.

###
Contact:
ODA– Bruce Pokarney at (503) 986-4559
ODFW– Kelly Corbett at (541) 867-0300 ext. 244 or Troy Buell at (541) 867-0300 ext. 22

ODFW seeks Landowner Representatives for Access and Habitat Program – Apply by Jan. 30, 2017

December 19, 2016

SALEM, Ore. – ODFW is currently accepting applications for several positions on the statewide board and regional councils for the Access and Habitat Program. Apply by Monday, Jan. 30, 2017 to be considered.
The positions being recruited are:

• Landowner Representative, Statewide A&H Board
• Landowner Representative, North Willamette Regional Council
• Landowner Representative, Deschutes Klamath Regional Council
• Landowner Representative, South Willamette Regional Council

To apply, use either the Board Application or Regional Council Application on the Access and Habitat Get Involved webpage and follow the instructions.

All positions are volunteer. People with an interest and experience in forestry, agriculture or ranching, and hunting and wildlife conservation are encouraged to apply. Applicants should be willing and able to work collaboratively with landowners, sportsmen’s groups, ODFW staff and other government agencies to facilitate the A&H Program.

Regional council applicants should live or work in the region they want to represent (see map). Duties of the position including participation in up to four public meetings each year in various communities in their region to review A&H project proposals and conduct other council business.

Statewide board members are appointed to four-year terms by the Fish and Wildlife Commission. They meet four times each year in various communities throughout the state to review project funding applications, hear public testimony and act as liaisons between the program and the public. The Board is made up of seven volunteers — three landowner representatives, three hunter representatives, and the Chair — who review and recommend wildlife habitat improvement and hunting access projects to the Commission.

The Access and Habitat Program is funded by a $4 surcharge on hunting licenses.  Funds are distributed through grants to individual and corporate landowners, conservation organizations, and others for wildlife habitat improvement and projects to provide hunter access throughout the state.

Please contact Isaac Sanders at (503) 947-6087 or visit http://www.dfw.state.or.us/lands/AH/get_involved.asp for application forms and more information.
###

Contact:
Michelle Dennehy (503) 947-6022
Michelle.N.Dennehy@state.or.us
Fax: (503) 947-6009

Related Posts:
OR State Land Board Public Meeting December 13, 2016 ~ Sell the Elliot Forest
ODFW ~ Deer virus confirmed in Coos County
ODFW ~ Hosts Town Hall On Proposed 2017-19 budget North Bend May 4, 2016
ODFW ~ Commission Meeting in Bandon Friday April 22, 2016
ODFW ~ Harassing Cormorant to Protect Salman but Still a Crime for the People
ODFW ~ Public Meeting Coquille Valley Wildlife Area Discussion Wed. March 2, 2016
OFRI ~ Fish Passage & Habitat Workshop Wednesday, March 9, 2016
NOAA Proposed Recovery Plan for Coho Salmon September 2015
Fish and Wildlife Commission delists wolves statewide in split vote (4-2) ‏
Coos Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Meeting w/ODFW October 16, 2015
Coos County Approves Nature Conservancy's Tide Gate for China Camp Creek
ODFW ~ Conservation Opportunity Areas for Stealing Private Property

Hey Folks,

The only way to save the Elliot Forest is to sell the Elliot Forest. 

The feds own 53% of Oregon, which is entirely too much land to be in the hands of bureaucracies in DC.   The state retains less than 3% ownership of state land, which translates to about 1.7 million acres.   The Elliot forest makes up about 93,000 acres of that total, which means there is plenty of public/government property for outdoor recreation.
 
Some of the groups who are opposed to the sale are hunters, hikers, anglers and other outdoorsman and they are under the impression that someone, in this case the government, should provide them the land for those activities. 
 
Even though, they have a right to pursue the hunt, the hike, and the fish, unfortunately the US government has no Constitutional authority to use the might of its force to keep property off the market to provide the natural resources for those endeavors.  The state constitution does allow for land conservation, but does not specify how much of.the land except in Article VII.  The state has to be limited to what it can own or there is no private property rights.   

Oregon´s Constitution, Article VIII, Section 5(2), specifies that the Board
…shall manage lands under its jurisdiction with the object of obtaining the greatest benefit for the people of this state, consistent with the conservation of this resource under sound techniques of land management.
 
The "greatest" way for the individual or group of individuals to attain the means of their pursuit is to buy the land outright for their own desires and pay the same taxes as the rest of us, which is too much. 

The way to lower those property taxes is to get more property in the market by selling government property to the public.  Then it is time to close down the Oregon Department of State Lands for even more savings.  
 
The proof of my claim is in the following statement from a local environmentalist group trying to rile up hunters, anglers and others….Rob T.   

Newsroom
Article Content
​Dec. 6, 2016
 
For immediate release                                                       16-16
 
Contact: Julie Curtis - 503-986-5298; julie.curtis@state.or.us
 
 
Department of State Lands to report on Elliott State Forest
Ownership Transfer Opportunity on Dec. 13
 
Salem - The Department of State Lands (DSL) will be providing information about the one ownership transfer plan received for the 82,500 acres of Common School lands within the Elliott State Forest at the State Land Board's Dec. 13 public meeting.
 
The meeting will be held in a different location to accommodate the public:
 
Dec. 13, 2016
10:00 a.m. -- 1:00 p.m.
Keizer Community Center
930 Chemawa Road NE
Keizer, OR
 
In the spring of 2014, after more than a decade of trying to resolve declining Common School Fund revenues from the Elliott, and confronted with a projection of ongoing deficits, DSL began a broad outreach effort to solicit public input into resolving the dilemma.
 
The results of this outreach and related technical analyses were presented to the Land Board, and in August 2015 the Board approved moving forward with an approach -- the Elliott State Forest Ownership Transfer Opportunity Protocol -- to identify a new owner for the Elliott property.
 
Over the past 16 months, DSL has been implementing the Protocol, engaging the public and about 50 entities that expressed interest, and completing extensive due diligence on the property. By the deadline of Nov. 15, 2016, DSL had received one ownership plan for the Elliott.
 
The plan was submitted by Lone Rock Timber Management Company, in cooperation with two federally recognized Indian tribes: The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians and The Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians, and with support and advice from additional organizations and tribes.
 
The plan was reviewed by the Department of State Lands and Department of Justice, and deemed responsive to the criteria outlined in the Protocol:

• The plan demonstrates adequate equity investment and financing to acquire the Elliott Property at the established fair market value price of $220.8 million, in cash at closing.
• The plan proposes enhanced public benefits as required by the Protocol that exceed those which are already provided under applicable law.
• The plan recites enforceable mechanisms required for providing the enhanced public benefits in perpetuity.

While deemed responsive, the plan includes some gaps, uncertainties and ambiguities that will need to be addressed during negotiations with the potential ownership transferee and possible additional partners. The general areas needing further clarification include details regarding:

• Public access rights, and compliance and means of public enforcement.
• Expectations related to Harvest Protection Areas.
• Allowable activities in Riparian Management Areas.
• Enforceable mechanisms, including third-party enforcement rights in the conservation easement.

At the Dec. 13 meeting, DSL Director Jim Paul will provide the Land Board a summary of the background on the Elliott State Forest and an update on the status of the Protocol. He will present a summary of the proposed acquisition plan received, DSL's rationale for deeming the plan responsive, and additional details on concerns to be addressed through development of an offer of direct sale.
 
The Land Board will be asked to provide input and direction on proceeding with the development of an offer of direct sale, and on exploring options with the potential new owner and additional partners.
 
Public testimony will be accepted at the meeting. All speakers will need to sign in when they arrive. The Department anticipates a maximum of two minutes will be allotted to each speaker. It is possible that the time will be shorter if needed to accommodate the public requesting to speak.
 
People are encouraged to bring written copies of their comments in case time constraints prevent everyone from speaking. All oral and written comments will be made part of the official record.
 
The meeting will be held in a facility that is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you need assistance to participate in this meeting due to a disability, please notify Lorna Stafford at (503) 986-5224 or lorna.stafford@state.or.us at least two working days prior to the meeting.
 
Elliott agenda item: http://www.oregon.gov/dsl/SLB/docs/2016_docs/slb_dec2016_item2.pdf
 
The State Land Board consists of Governor Kate Brown, Secretary of State Jeanne P. Atkins and State Treasurer Ted Wheeler. The Department of State Lands administers diverse natural and fiscal resources. Many of the resources generate revenue for the Common School Fund, such as state-owned rangelands and timberlands, waterway leases, estates for which no will or heirs exist, and unclaimed property. Twice a year, the agency distributes fund investment earnings to support K-12 public schools. The agency also administers Oregon's Removal-Fill Law, which requires people removing or filling certain amounts of material in waters of the state to obtain a permit.
 
####
www.oregonstatelands.us

State Land Board
Since statehood in 1859, the Land Board has been composed of the Governor (chair), Secretary of State and State Treasurer. Governor Kate Brown was sworn in as Oregon's 38th Governor on February 18, 2015. Brown was elected Oregon's Secretary of State in 2008, and previously served in the Oregon Legislature for 17 years (1991-2008), where she became Oregon's first woman to serve as the Senate Majority Leader. Gov. Brown appointed Secretary of State Jeanne P. Atkins​ in March 2015. Atkins served for six years as state director for U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (2009-2015), and held a variety of top-level positions with the Oregon Legislature and Department of Human Services. State Treasurer Ted Wheeler began his service in 2010. Wheeler served as Multnomah County chair from November 2006-March 2010, and worked previously in the financial industry with Bank of America and the Copper Mountain Trust.

Oregon's Constitution directs the Land Board to manage lands under its jurisdiction to obtain the greatest benefit for the people of Oregon, consistent with resource conservation and sound land management. The board oversees the Common School Fund and state lands dedicated to providing revenue for the fund.
 
More

Beginning with Ohio in 1802, the U.S. Congress awarded specific sections of land to states when they entered the Union with the stipulation that the proceeds from these lands be used for educational purposes.  
In Oregon, the lands originally granted by Congress under the Oregon Admission Act included roughly 6% of the new state´s land for the use of schools.
 
The state also received all of the submerged and submersible lands underlying navigable waterways.
 
These lands and their mineral, timber and other resources, along with the income from the lands, were dedicated to Oregon´s Common School Fund, a trust for the benefit of the state´s public K-12 schools. 
 
The State Land Board, composed of the Governor, Secretary of State and State Treasurer, was established under the Oregon Constitution to manage these lands and serve as trustee of the Fund.
 
Oregon´s Constitution, Article VIII, Section 5(2), specifies that the Board
…shall manage lands under its jurisdiction with the object of obtaining the greatest benefit for the people of this state, consistent with the conservation of this resource under sound techniques of land management.

Over the years, many of the original school land sections were sold or traded to private individuals and other agencies. Today, the Board´s land base includes nearly 1.6 million acres of state land and resource assets, including agricultural and range land in eastern Oregon, forest land in western Oregon, numerous small tracts, and the submerged and submersible lands beneath the state´s tidally-influenced and navigable waterways. The Board also holds title to mineral rights on all these lands and manages the mineral rights on other state agency lands (about 2 million acres total).
 
The Board leases state lands and other resources to public and private interests for a variety of business activities. Rangeland is leased to ranchers for grazing, timber is sold, and waterway areas are leased for uses such as sand and gravel removal, houseboat moorages, marinas and log storage.
 
The Department of State Lands, as the administrative agency of the Land Board, manages these activities with the exception of forest land management, which is performed by the Oregon Dept. of Forestry under a contract with the Land Board. The rents and royalties received from these activities are deposited in the Common School Fund.

Deer virus confirmed in Coos County
October 17, 2016

ROSEBURG, Ore – Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists confirmed one Coos County black-tailed deer died from a viral infection and suspect several others succumbed to the same disease this past summer.

Adenovirus Hemorrhagic Disease (AHD) is a virus transmitted by direct contact between deer, making it easier to spread in areas of high deer concentrations. This is particularly a concern where people feed and water deer since it unnaturally concentrates them in a small area.

Deer with AHD can have clinical signs common to other diseases and include: rapid or open mouth breathing, foaming or drooling at the mouth, diarrhea (possibly bloody), weakness and emaciation.
ODFW asks the public to report sightings of deer with these symptoms in Coos County and coastal Douglas County to 541-888-5515.

District Wildlife Biologist Stuart Love said his office received several reports of deer dying in yards in the past month that he suspects had AHD.

“If these deer died from AHD, then feeding them will potentially spread this disease to other deer rapidly. It’s very important people don’t provide water sources or feed for deer for this reason. Their bodies are built for browse and grass, not grain.”

Love said this is the first confirmed case of AHD in Coos County. In 2001, it was confirmed in deer from southwest Oregon, then spread to the central part of the state.

There are no known cases of humans getting sick from AHD or getting the disease from consuming the meat of a deer infected by AHD. With hunting season here, Love said it’s a good idea to wear rubber gloves when handling the carcass of harvested deer and to thoroughly cook the meat.

Click here for more information on AHD and read about the dangers of feeding deer.
###
Contact:
Stuart Love or John McLaughlin, 541-888-5515
Meghan Dugan, 541-440-3353

Related Posts:
ODFW ~ Hosts Town Hall On Proposed 2017-19 budget North Bend May 4, 2016
ODFW ~ Commission Meeting in Bandon Friday April 22, 2016
ODFW ~ Harassing Cormorant to Protect Salman but Still a Crime for the People
ODFW ~ Public Meeting Coquille Valley Wildlife Area Discussion Wed. March 2, 2016
OFRI ~ Fish Passage & Habitat Workshop Wednesday, March 9, 2016
NOAA Proposed Recovery Plan for Coho Salmon September 2015
Fish and Wildlife Commission delists wolves statewide in split vote (4-2) ‏
Coos Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Meeting w/ODFW October 16, 2015
Coos County Approves Nature Conservancy's Tide Gate for China Camp Creek
ODFW ~ Conservation Opportunity Areas for Stealing Private Property

FODFW hosts town hall meetings on proposed 2017-19 budget
April 18, 2016

SALEM, Ore.--The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is hosting a series of town hall meetings around the state this month to gather public input on the agency's proposed 2017-2019 budget.

The proposed budget, which is being developed by ODFW and an external budget advisory committee, will be presented for review and comment at the meetings listed below. All meetings will be held from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

“This is a great opportunity for us to meet with our customers and get their feedback,” said Curt Melcher, ODFW director. “I encourage folks to attend, meet with our staff and learn more about our funding proposals to manage Oregon’s fish and wildlife.”

No major changes to the budget are being proposed. The goal of the budget proposal is to align the agency’s activities with funding sources. The proposed 2017-19 budget does not include any new increases in fees for recreational and commercial licenses.

Public comments will be used to help refine the budget before it is presented to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission on June 9. Once a proposed budget is approved by the Commission, it will be submitted to the Governor for her consideration. The budget will ultimately be determined by the 2017 Legislature.

Clackamas: Wednesday, April 27, Monarch Hotel and Conference Center, 12566 SE 93rd Avenue, Clackamas

Tillamook: Thursday, April 28, Tillamook County Library, 1716 3rd Street, Tillamook

Roseburg: Tuesday, May 3, ODFW Roseburg District Office, 4192 North Umpqua Highway, Roseburg

Coos Bay/North Bend: Wednesday, May 4, North Bend Public Library, 1800 Sherman Avenue, North Bend

Newport: Thursday, May 5, Hallmark Resort 744 SW Elizabeth Street, Newport

Klamath Falls: Tuesday, May 10, Oregon Institute of Technology, College Union Bldg., Mt. Bailey Room 3201 Campus Drive, Klamath Falls

Bend: Wednesday, May 11, Central Oregon Community College, Boyle Education Center, Room 155, 2600 NW College Way, Bend

La Grande: Tuesday, May 12, Island City Hall, Community Room, 1605 Island Ave (Island City, adjacent to La Grande)


Additional ODFW budget information can be found on the ODFW website, http://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/budget/
Comments on the agency proposed budget are welcome and can be submitted through June 1, 2016, by email to ODFW.Comments@state.or.us or by mail to ODFW Director’s Office, 4034 Fairview Industrial Dr. SE, Salem, OR 7302-1142. Public testimony will also be heard at the Commission meeting on June 9 in Salem.
###
Contact:
Richard Hargrave
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Richard.J.Hargrave@state.or.us
(503) 947-6020

Cormorant harassment aims to protect young fish

March 28, 2016

TILLAMOOK, Ore. – Harassment, or “hazing”, of double-crested cormorants is set to begin soon in several areas along the Oregon Coast to improve survival of juvenile salmon.

Double-crested cormorants are fish-eating waterbirds that occur throughout the state. The species is an Oregon native, and is particularly prevalent on the state’s estuaries during April through October. Research indicates cormorants can consume significant numbers of juvenile salmon during this time period.

To reduce the threat to young fish, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is working with several nonprofit and local governmental organizations to haze cormorants on six coastal estuaries over the next two to four months.

Hazing will involve driving the birds from locations where juvenile salmon are seasonally concentrated, toward areas where non-salmon fish species are more abundant. Workers will use boats and, on some estuaries, small pyrotechnics, to accomplish the task.

Hazing is intended to increase the survival of both wild-spawned and hatchery salmon juveniles as they migrate to the ocean. Some of these spring migrants represent species that are experiencing conditions of conservation risk, including coho salmon, which is federally threatened in Oregon under the Endangered Species Act.

Hazing workers are being provided by the Clatsop County Fisheries Project, Port of Nehalem, Port of Bandon, North Coast Salmon and Steelhead Enhancement Fund, and Alsea Sportsmen’s Association. ODFW will provide a portion of the funding and program oversight, and will conduct some hazing operations itself to protect hatchery releases on the lower Columbia River.

Hazing will take place as early as April 1 and continue through May 31 on the Nehalem, Nestucca, and Coquille river estuaries, and on Tillamook and Alsea bays. The program will continue through at least July 31 on the lower Columbia River, where hazing will occur at a variety of locations, including Young’s Bay, Blind Slough, and Tongue Point.

###

Contact:
James Lawonn
(503) 842-2741, Ext. 251 / (503) 812-8171

Related Posts:
ODFW ~ Public Meeting Coquille Valley Wildlife Area Discussion Wed. March 2, 2016
OFRI ~ Fish Passage & Habitat Workshop Wednesday, March 9, 2016
NOAA Proposed Recovery Plan for Coho Salmon September 2015
Fish and Wildlife Commission delists wolves statewide in split vote (4-2) ‏
Coos Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Meeting w/ODFW October 16, 2015
Coos County Approves Nature Conservancy's Tide Gate for China Camp Creek
ODFW ~ Conservation Opportunity Areas for Stealing Private Property
USACE ~ Comment on Permit Application Process Wednesday November 18, 2015
USFWS ~ Treating Private Property off the Bandon Marsh
The Mosquitoes Return to the Coquille Valley
Sweet Recall Meeting 7:00pm Friday July 31, 2015
Two Bills on Wetlands in Oregon Legislature SB544 Protects Landowners
ACTION ALERT ~ Bandon City Council Meeting Jan. 5, 2015 ~ Real Mosquito Report
Fred Messerle Bankrupting Beaver Slough Drainage District to Harass Neighbor  
ODFW ~ Permit for the Winter Lake/China Creek Project,  Messerle Named Manager  
ODFW ~ Purchases Private Property for Wetland Restoration "Mosquito Preserve"

Meeting to discuss Coquille Valley Wildlife Area draft management plan

February 23, 2016

ROSEBURG, Ore – Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife staff will share a draft management plan for the new Coquille Valley Wildlife Area on Wednesday, March 2 at the Owens Building, 201 N Adams Street, Coquille from 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.

After a short presentation, staff will answer questions and take public comments on the proposed plan. Read the draft plan.
The five-year plan will guide management actions on the 580-acre wildlife area. The draft plan calls for ODFW to:

• Protect, enhance and restore tidally influenced wetlands, riparian lands, aquatic habitats, and uplands to benefit fish and wildlife.
• Build, maintain and enhance CVWA facilities.
• Provide a variety of quality fish and wildlife oriented recreational and educational opportunities.
• Maintain the CVWA to provide habitat benefits to fish and wildlife consistent with ODFW’s mission and neighboring land use.

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission heard the draft plan proposal at its February 12 meeting and will decide whether to adopt the final plan at their April 22 meeting in Bandon.
The majority of lands that compose the CVWA were acquired by ODFW beginning in 2013 with additional lands purchased from willing landowners in 2014 and 2015.
The CVWA is made up of the Winter Lake Tract and the Beaver Slough Tract located between Coquille and Bandon along Highway 42 and North Bank Lane.

###

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