ODFW Commission meeting, August 1

The Fish and Wildlife Commission will consider the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s 2015-2017 proposed budget request for approval when it meets Aug. 1 at ODFW Headquarters.  The meeting begins at 8 am and the Commission will work through several agenda items including the 2015 Sport Fishing Regulations and the 2014-2015 Game Bird Regulations.  The 2015-17 budget proposal includes a fee increase for recreational and commercial licenses that if approved, would take effect in 2016. It also makes program cuts and shifts costs for some programs on to the State’s general fund revenues. The package that will be presented to the Commission will include changes to the original budget proposal in response to public comments. Upon Commission approval, the proposed budget must be submitted to the Governor for his consideration. Final determination of the ODFW budget would come from the 2015 Oregon State Legislature.  Other Commission business:  2015 Sport Fishing Regulations/2014 Coastal Salmon Seasons – The Commission will be asked to adopt the 2015 Sport Fishing Regulations. Most of the changes for 2015 are housekeeping actions related to corrections, formatting changes and simplification.  Some additional regulation proposals include:  Permanent extension of the spring Chinook season in Three Rivers (NW Zone).  • More restrictive bag limits and gear restrictions on the Chetco and Winchuck rivers (SW Zone) to protect wild fall Chinook.  • An increase in the steelhead daily bag limit to four in the Santiam Basin (Willamette Zone).  • A permanent fall Chinook fishery on the lower Deschutes (Central Zone).  • Changing the smallmouth bass regulations on the John Day River (NE Zone), back to the zone regulations.  The Commission also will consider the 2014 coastal Chinook and coho salmon seasons. In general, the proposed 2014 season will be very similar to the 2013 seasons. For Chinook, ODFW staff has proposed more liberal seasonal bag limits on the Siletz and Yaquina rivers, and slightly more restrictive bags on the Chetco. The staff is also recommending closing the Winchuck River to fishing in 2014 based on 2013 and projected 2014 returns.  For coho, the proposed daily and seasonal bag limits and open fishing periods will be identical to the 2013 season, except for a reduced quota on the Umpqua River and minor date changes.  The proposed 2014 coastal fall salmon seasons are available on the ODFW web page.  Changes to wildlife management areas – The Commission will be asked to consolidate wildlife management area and public river access rules into one OAR Division 008 (from four different places in rule and regulation) and add some ODFW managed lands not called out in current regulations into the rules. Another topic will be adjusting wildlife area parking permit language to clarify that anyone who drives a motor vehicle to the area must display a parking permit, which will address concerns from area users.  In other actions, the Commission also will be asked to:  • Approve $773,819.50 for five restoration and 15 enhancement projects approved by the Fish Restoration and Enhancement Board.  • Consider changes to the commercial Dungeness crab fishery, including regulations to implement a post-season gear recovery program and changes to the season opening process recommended by the Tri-State Dungeness Crab Committee.  • Appoint several members to the Commercial Fishery Permit Board.