ODFW release – CHILOQUIN, Ore.—The Commission Friday adopted rules to implement HB 3464 passed by the 2023 Oregon State Legislature, aka the “Beaver Bill,” which remove the complicated dual classification of beavers so they are now solely managed as furbearers (rather than predatory animals in some situations). The new approach encourages coexistence (and less lethal take) of beaver and provides tools to more effectively manage and prevent damage caused by beaver. The rules establish a permitting process for take of beaver that are causing damage, require reporting of all beaver take and provide an opportunity for ODFW to give guidance to landowners on non-lethal methods for reducing conflict. They will help close data gaps by collecting more information on damage, complementing the agency’s Beaver Action Plan. Data collected will help determine beaver distribution, identify conflict hot spots, quantify when take does occur and reasons why. The Commission also took the following actions: ODFW’s 2025-27 Agency Requested Budget (ARB): The Commission adopted the ARB as proposed by staff. The proposed budget includes recreational and commercial fee adjustments set to take effect as early as 2026. It now goes to the Governor who will present her recommended budget to the 2025 Oregon State Legislature which has the final authority to adopt ODFW’s budget. ODFW last requested a fee adjustment on recreational hunting and commercial and recreational fishing licenses in 2015. This latest proposal would stagger fee increases over several years. The popular Youth Combo license will remain $10 to make it easier for families to hunt and fish together, and a new proposed $7 Ocean Endorsement (required for all ocean fishing including salmon, but not for shellfish) would help fund survey and monitoring work critical for continuing fisheries for popular marine species like black rockfish. Even with the proposed fee adjustments, the agency budget proposal would necessitate several program reductions as it faces rising costs associated with inflation in recent years. These rising costs include a 20 percent per biennium increase in hatchery costs (fish food and utilities) and other costs beyond its control such as Department of Justice costs and state government services charges. The need for these reductions, even in the face of increases to license and permit fees, underscores the long-term need to diversify and stabilize funding for the agency, which is anticipated to be a discussion during the 2025 legislative session. Conservation and management of fish, wildlife and their habitats are increasing in complexity and urgency in the face of a changing climate, meeting ESA listed species requirements, increasing land development and water use demands, renewable energy needs, and other landscape-scale impacts. “This is a difficult process, but we have to plan a budget based on what we know,” said ODFW Director Debbie Colbert after the Commission unanimously approved the Department’s while expressing concerns about some of the proposals. “It is one of my highest proprieties to work with partners to secure additional dedicated revenues for our department.” Commissioners intend to include a note with the ARB expressing their concerns about raising fees for certain tags, the potential closure of operations at two hatcheries during the biennium, and fees for commercial fishermen. Mule Deer Plan Revision: Commissioners adopted the Plan as proposed by staff, updating a management plan last revised in 2003 with the latest research and data about mule deer in the state. In the past decade, ODFW has conducted extensive research on this species to better understand the reasons behind declining populations, a trend that’s happening across the West. Through the updated goal and associated objectives, this plan provides direction to the department, and communicates that direction to partners and the public, for navigating through the complicated interactions of all the biological, environmental, and social factors affecting mule deer. 2024 Coastal Fall Salmon Seasons/Smallmouth Bass in Coquille River: Seasons were adopted as proposed by staff except for some modifications adding harvest days for wild coho on the Alsea and Coquille Rivers. Seasons for wild Chinook are similar to last year, while opportunities for wild coho are somewhat increased. The 2024 forecasted ocean abundance of Oregon coast natural coho is 233,000, up from 185,000 last year, while forecasts for wild Chinook are similar to last year. More details on coastal fall salmon regulations will be available before the end of June or see the Coastal fall salmon webpage for staff proposals. The Commission also liberalized the take of smallmouth bass from the Coquille River by adopting a rule to allow the use of bait while angling and the use of spears or spear guns for harvesting smallmouth bass. State agencies that can play a role in Southern Resident Orca conservation: Southern Resident orcas (SROs) were listed as endangered under Oregon’s Endangered Species Act (OESA) in February 2024. An OESA listing decision affects management decisions made on state-owned, managed, or leased lands, including lands where state agencies hold recorded easements. As required by OESA, the Commission determined the state agencies that own or manage lands/waters where SROs or their habitat are found and that can play a role in conservation of the species. ODFW, the Oregon Department of State Lands (ODSL) and Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) were determined to have a role in SRO conservation and these agencies will be required to each develop a management plan for SROs.
