ODFW release – SALEM, Ore.—The Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet Friday, Jan. 13 in Salem. See a meeting agenda and watch a livestream of the meeting at https://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/minutes/23/01_Jan/index.asp The meeting will be a hybrid format allowing both remote and in-person testimony. To testify remotely, register at least 48 hours in advance (by Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 8 a.m.) at this link https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_lY4G2MJoTvCNQDItFV7yxw To testify in person, sign up on the day of the meeting on forms provided in the ODFW lobby. A public forum for people to comment on topics not on the agenda is scheduled for Friday morning after the Director’s report. To participate in the public forum, contact ODFW Director’s office at (503) 947-6044 or email ODFW.Commission@odfw.oregon.gov by Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 8 a.m. (48 hours prior to the meeting). The following items are on the Commission’s agenda for Jan. 13: Hearing updates on offshore wind energy development and forecasted impacts on fish and wildlife. Commissioners will also be briefed on the department’s pursuit of funding from recent federal infrastructure legislation which has supported habitat restoration, fish passage and wildlife connectivity projects to be completed by the department and a variety of partners across the state. Following up on a commitment made in May of 2022, the Commission will meet with interested federally recognized Tribes from western Oregon to hear additional information regarding the Commission’s April 2022 decision to terminate the North Umpqua summer steelhead hatchery program. Due to a court order after the decision, hatchery summer steelhead smolts were volitionally released in the North Umpqua River in May 2022 . The Commission’s decision remains enjoined until the Oregon Court of Appeals rules on the case. Adopting a schedule of damages for commercial fishing violations per ORS 506.720. The average market value of each species of food fish is established annually by the Commission and used for the purpose of filing lawsuits for damages associated with unlawful taking of food fish. Considering extending hunting opportunity into the 2023 season for Rocky Mountain goat tag holders that were unable to hunt last year due to wildfire. Rocky Mountain goat tags can only be drawn once-in-a-lifetime but 2022 wildfires kept some hunters from being able to access hunting areas. The Commission may also meet in Executive Session, held pursuant to ORS 192.660 (2)(e) and (2)(f) which allows the Commission to meet in executive session to conduct deliberations with persons designated by the governing body to negotiate real property transactions and to consider information or records that are exempt by law from public inspection, such as real estate appraisal information. The Commission will also meet in Executive Session for consultation with legal counsel concerning current litigation or litigation likely to be filed pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(h).
