Commission meets virtually Aug. 6-7 to adopt 2021 Sport Fishing Regulations, including rules regarding Columbia River thermal angling sanctuaries, Aug. 6

SALEM, Ore.—The Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet Thursday and Friday, Aug. 6-7, via online meeting. A livestream of the meeting can be viewed at https://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/
See the full agenda online at https://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/m rtinutes/20/08_Aug/index.asp Remember to register at least 48 hours in advance to testify on an agenda item by submitting this form online, https://odfw.wufoo.com/forms/commission-meeting-witness-registration/ On Thursday afternoon beginning at 1 p.m., the Commission will be provided an informational briefing on Columbia River fisheries and hydrosystem operations and issues. No public testimony will be taken during this portion of the meeting. Friday’s meeting begins at 8 a.m. and agenda items include: 2020-21 Game Bird Regulations: While the 2020-21 game bird hunting regulations were adopted by temporary rule in May after the April Commission meeting was cancelled due to COVID-19, Commissioners are expected to permanently adopt the game bird hunting regulations on Friday. Monitoring schedule for myxobolus cerebralis (parasite that causes Whirling Disease) at fish rearing facilities: Staff propose making the required testing schedule less rigorous by moving the parasite classification from a Category 2 to a Category 3 pathogen and changing the testing schedule from 60 fish per facility annually to testing every three years at facilities in non-endemic areas. Whirling Disease has not caused fish loss in ODFW Hatcheries. Springhill pumping plant fish screening exemption: Consider a request submitted by The Joint Water Commission and the City of Hillsboro for an exemption to Fish Screening requirements at their Springhill Pumping Plant located on the Tualatin River; other mitigation that would provide a net benefit to fish in the Tualatin River Basin would occur instead. 2021 Sport Fishing Regulations: Some of the proposed changes to next year’s fishing regulation follow. Columbia River Zone: Consider rules pertaining to the implementation of Columbia River Thermal Angling Sanctuaries in cold water habitat areas to protect upriver summer steelhead. SW Zone: Allow the use of bait when fishing on the Coquille Valley Wildlife Area. Willamette Zone: Add a bonus bag limit of 5 kokanee per day to the daily trout limit in Detroit Lake. Limit the time period for when the use of bait is allowed in the Santiam River to provide additional protection for wild winter steelhead. Clarify angling sections in McKenzie River. Close the Gilbert River to sturgeon harvest for the entire year and only allow the use of artificial flies and lures from April 16-May 15 when angling for other species. SE Zone: A number of changes are being proposed to provide additional conservation protections for rainbow/redband trout. These include only allowing catch-and-release with the use of artificial flies and lures in Agency Lake and the Link River. Allowing the harvest of only one rainbow trout over 15 per inches per day in the Sprague River. Only allowing the use of one single point hook in the Williamson River from the mouth to Chiloquin Bridge. For additional information on proposed fishing regulation changes by zone see agenda item materials.