ODFW not proceeding with Sandy River regulation proposal, June 8

Staff were considering proposing elimination of a regulation that currently prohibits fishing from a floating device upstream of Oxbow Park. Public comments were solicited through a website portal. Over 360 comments were received from anglers who expressed widely differing opinions on whether this regulation change should occur. ODFW is opting to hold off on pursuing this regulation change for 2021. ODFW will continue to monitor the status of wild salmon and steelhead populations in the Sandy River and communicate with anglers regarding their preferences for fishing regulations on this river to assess if future changes are warranted. If and when that occurs, Department staff would hold further in person meetings with anglers interested in this topic to see if a modified regulation could be crafted that met the desires of a majority of Sandy River salmon and steelhead anglers.