ODFW seeks comment on two fish passage waivers, Jan. 21

ODFW release – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking public comment on two requests to waive fish passage requirements. One waiver request is for the Bureau of Reclamation and Washington Counties Clean Water Services joint proposal to construct a new dam on Scoggins Creek in Washington County and the second request is for a culvert repair associated with the City of Newport’s Municipal Airport in Lincoln County. Fish passage waivers are permissible within the state’s fish passage policy if alternatives to providing passage are more beneficial than if passage were provided at the original location for which passage is required. For each of these passage waiver requests, the Department has provided a net benefit evaluation and analysis. These analyses, the fish passage waiver request applications and the draft fish passage waiver agreements, as required in ORS 509.585, are provided for public review and comment on the ODFW website at https://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/passage/index.asp  Members of the public have until Friday, Feb. 8, 2019 to submit written comments on the two proposed actions, for consideration by the Oregon Fish Passage Task Force. Send written comments to or request additional information from Greg Apke, ODFW Fish Passage Program Coordinator, 4034 Fairview Industrial Dr., Salem, OR 97302, email, Greg.D.Apke@state.or.us, or by calling (503) 947-6228. The Task Force will consider comments on these waiver requests at their next meeting on Feb. 15 in Salem at the ODFW Headquarters Office. Members of the public can also attend and provide testimony. Additionally, the new dam proposed on Scoggins Creek will be presented to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission for their consideration at the April 18-19 Meeting in St. Helens. There will be an opportunity for public testimony on this proposal to construct a new dam in Washington County at this meeting.