| Friday, March 14, 2025 |
Oregon’s Fish and Wildlife Commission will be conducting this meeting virtually on Friday, March 14, starting at 8:00 AM. Members of the public can view a livestream of the meeting via the agency’s YouTube channel or on the Commission page. Members of the public may also view a livestream of this meeting at ODFW Headquarters, 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE, Salem.
Those who would like to provide virtual testimony on an Exhibit scheduled on this agenda must REGISTERno less than 48 hours in advance to receive a testimony link to the meeting.
To provide testimony virtually during Public Forum you must contactthe Director’s office no less than 48 hours advance of the meeting for approval.
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| DIRECTOR’S REPORT |
No Commission Action: Informational Only |
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| FIELD REPORTS – in written form only |
Attachments: (pdf)
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EXPENDITURE REPORT
Ken Loffink, Chief Operating Officer
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Attachments: (pdf)
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CLIMATE & OCEAN CHANGE POLICY REPORT
An update on the ODFW Aquatic Habitat Prioritization Tool
Tom Stahl Deputy Inland Fish Administrator
Spencer Sawaske, Deputy Habitat Division Administrator and Water Program Manager
Courtney Zambory, Spatial Information Analyst Fish Research, Evaluation, Data, and Decision Support (REDD) group
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Attachments: (pdf)
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| ADOPT TEMPORARY RULES |
Commission Action: Rule ratification
Debbie Colbert, Director
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Attachments: (pdf)
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- 635-023-0101
Set Recreational Retention Fishery for Sturgeon in The Dalles Pool and Adjacent Tributaries
Adopted 2/21/2025: effective 2/22/2025 through 3/31/2025.
This amended rule establishes two retention days for the recreational white sturgeon fishery on the mainstem Columbia River in The Dalles Pool (The Dalles Dam upstream to the John Day Dam) and all adjacent tributaries. Retention will be allowed on Saturday February 22 and Thursday February 27in The Dalles Pool. Modification is consistent with actions taken by the Departments of Fish & Wildlife for the States of Oregon and Washington at a Columbia River Joint State hearing on February 19, 2025
- 635-023-0125
Set initial recreational spring salmon season in the Columbia River
Adopted 2/21/25: effective 3/1/2025 through 6/15/2025.
This amended rule sets the initial Columbia River recreational spring salmon fisheries and modifies the daily bag limit for Select Area recreational salmon fisheries from March 1 through June 15. Modifications are consistent with actions taken by the Departments of Fish and Wildlife for the States of Oregon and Washington at a Columbia River Joint State hearing held on February 19, 2025.
- 635-041-0063
Allow sale of sturgeon caught in Columbia River Treaty setline fisheries
Adopted 2/25/2025: effective 2/26/2025 through 4/30/2025.
This rule is needed to authorize sales of white sturgeon caught during the Treaty setline fishery in Bonneville Pool from February 26-27, 2025, and in The Dalles Pool from March 3-4, 2025.
- 635-023-0101
Close Recreational Sturgeon Retention in the John Day Pool and Adjacent Tributaries
Adopted 3/12/2025: effective 3/14/2025 through 3/31/2025.
This amended rule closes the recreational retention fishery for white sturgeon on the mainstem Columbia River in the John Day Pool (John Day Dam upstream to the McNary Dam) and all adjacent tributaries. Page 1 of 2 Modifications are consistent with actions taken by the Departments of Fish & Wildlife for the States of Oregon and Washington at a Columbia River Joint State hearing on March 11, 2025.
- 635-042-0130
This rule is needed to extend the non-treaty commercial gillnet fishery for smelt in the Columbia River.
Adopted 3/12/2025: effective 3/17/2025 through 3/31/2025.
This amended rule will extend the 2025 non-treaty commercial smelt fishery in Zones 1-3 of the lower Columbia River by adding six periods: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. from March 17 through March 27.
- 635-041-0072
Allow sale of warmwater species caught in Columbia River Treaty Indian Research fishery
Adopted 3/12/2025: effective 3/13/2025 through 9/07/2025.
This amended rule provides state authorization of sales of yellow perch, bass, walleye, catfish, carp, and northern pikeminnow caught in a new Treaty Indian research fishery in several backwater areas and sloughs of the Page 1 of 2 John Day Pool to reflect recent tribal action to open this fishery.
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| COMMISSION UPDATES |
No Commission Action: Informational Only
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Attachments: (pdf)
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| OTHER BUSINESS |
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Attachments: (pdf)
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| PUBLIC FORUM |
This part of the agenda is for comments of any topic except those related to exhibits involving rulemaking or Commission approval listed elsewhere on this agenda.
Please REGISTER with the ODFW Director’s Office before 8:00 AM, Wednesday, March 12 (at least 48 hours prior to the meeting) to be included in the public forum.
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| EXHIBIT A: COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES |
The Commission will be asked to approve draft Commission meeting minutes from February 14, 2025.
Commission Action: Approval of Minutes
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Attachments: (pdf)
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| EXHIBIT B: REPEAL OF SILETZ CONSENT DECREE AGREEMENT |
The Commission will be asked to repeal rules that implement the 1980 Agreement between ODFW and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and amend rules guiding the relationship between ODFW and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians to conform with federal Public Law 118-33 (enrolled H.R. 2839 of the 118th Congress).
Commission Action: Rulemaking/Repeal
Davia Palmeri, Strategic Advisor & Federal Policy Director
Public Testimony: 48-hour Advance REGISTER required for virtual participation.
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Attachments: (pdf)
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| WORK SESSION: GOVERNANCE BEST PRACTICES |
The Commission will continue discussion from the January 10, 2025, retreat related to the Commission’s roles and responsibilities and processes that support a successful statewide commission.
No Commission Action: Work Session Only
Debbie Colbert, Director
Donna Silverberg, Donna Silverberg Consulting
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Attachments: (pdf) |
| EXHIBIT C: SOUTHERN RESIDENT ORCA: LIST OF NON-LAND-OWNING STATE AGENCIES THAT CAN PLAY A ROLE IN SRO CONSERVATION |
The Commission will be asked to approve a list of non-land-owning state agencies that can play a role in Southern Resident Orca conservation.
Commission Action: Approval
Howard Takata - Southern Resident Orca Conservation Coordinator
Public Testimony: 48-hour Advance REGISTER required for virtual participation.
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Attachments: (pdf)
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| EXHIBIT D: OREGON CONSERVATION & RECREATION FUND (OCRF) PROJECT FUNDING |
The Commission will be asked to approve projects from the Fall 2024 OCRF Grant Solicitation
Commission Action: Approval
Reva Gilman, OCRF Grant Coordinator
Jessica Watson, Acting Habitat Division Administrator
Public Testimony: 48-hour Advance REGISTER required for virtual participation.
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Attachments: (pdf)
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| EXHIBIT E: ACCESS & HABITAT PROJECT FUNDING |
The Commission will be asked to approve the Access and Habitat Board recommendations for project funding.
Commission Action: Approval
Travis Schultz, Access and Habitat Program Coordinator
Public Testimony: 48-hour Advance REGISTER required for virtual participation.
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Attachments: (pdf)
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| DIRECTOR’S REPORT continued |
STATE WILDLIFE ACTION PLAN (SWAP) REVISION UPDATE
No Commission Action: Informational Only
Bernadette Graham Hudson, Wildlife Division Administrator;
Carolyn Eckrich, State Wildlife Action Plan Revision Coordinator;
Emily VanWyk Acting Conservation Strategy Coordinator
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Attachments: (pdf)
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| EXECUTIVE SESSION |
This Executive Session is held pursuant to ORS 192.660 (2)(f) to consider information or records that are exempt by law from public inspection, as well as to consult with legal counsel concerning legal rights and duties of a public body with regard to current litigation or litigation likely to be filed as authorized by ORS 192.660 (2)(h).
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| ADJOURN |
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| FUTURE PROPOSED COMMISSION TOPICS |
*Written public comments for future Commission Topics can be submitted in writing prior to the meeting date at ODFW.Commission@odfw.oregon.gov or mailed to 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE Salem, OR 97302.
April 18, 2025 -Winchester Bay
*Written public comment period will open February 15, 2025
Oregon Game Bird Regulations- Rulemaking
Wolf Annual Report- Informational
2025 Sport and Commercial Pacific Halibut Regulations- Rulemaking
2025 Ocean Salmon Fisheries and Ocean Terminal Fisheries-Rulemaking
Private Forest Accord Project Funding- Approval
2025 Statewide Priority Fish Passage Barrier List- Approval
May 9, 2025 -No meeting scheduled
*Written public comment period will open March 15, 2025
June 13, 2025 -Pendleton
*Written public comment period will open April 15, 2025
Access & Habitat Project Funding- Approval
2025 Auction Raffle Tag Allocations - Approval
2025 Oregon Coastal fall salmon seasons and smallmouth bass in Coos Coquille Regulations -Rulemaking
R&E Project Approval- Approval
Commercial Coastal Pelagic Species Fisheries Rule Amendments -Rulemaking
July 11, 2025 -No meeting scheduled
*Written public comment period will open May 15, 2025
August 15 , 2025 -Salem
*Written public comment period will open June 15, 2025
2025-26 Sport Fish Regulations – Rulemaking
September 12, 2025 -Ontario
*Written public comment period will open July 15, 2025
Big Game Regulations - Rulemaking
Access and Habitat Project Funding – Approval
OCRF Project Funding - Approval
October 10, 2025 -Virtual
*Written public comment period will open August 15, 2025
November 14 , 2025 - No meeting Scheduled
*Written public comment period will open September 15, 2025
December 12, 2025 -Salem
*Written public comment period will open October 15, 2025
Access and Habitat Project Funding – Approval
OCRF Project Funding – Approval
2026 Groundfish Fishery Regs and Nearshore Logbook Report- Rulemaking
R&E Board Appointment and Program Update- Appointment
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| PLEASE NOTE |
HOW TO REGISTER TO SPEAK AT THE COMMISSION MEETING
Public Comment and Public Hearing Testimony: Regular Commission meetings allow for in-person, virtual, or written public comment.
Comment and testimony are limited to three minutes or less. All parties interested in providing public comment or testifying as part of a public hearing shall participate using one of the following methods:
- Video or Audio Conference Call: If you wish to give virtual testimony on Exhibits scheduled on the Friday, March 14, 2025, you must REGISTER a minimum of 48 hour prior to the meeting. Staff will collect contact your information and provide information on how to access the meeting to provide comment.
- Written Comment: Send to ODFW.Commission@odfw.oregon.gov or 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE, Salem, Oregon, 97302. Materials delivered to the Director’s Office sufficiently in advance of the meeting, 72 hours or more, will be distributed to the Commission prior to the meeting day. Any correspondence or materials received less than 72 hours prior to the meeting will be entered into the record and when reasonably possible, will be provided to the Commissioners the day of the meeting.
PUBLIC FORUM: If you wish to give testimony virtually on any item not listed elsewhere on the agenda, PLEASE REGISTER BEFORE 8:00AM WEDNESDAY March 12, 2025; a minimum of 48 hour prior to the meeting. Please provide written summaries or other materials to the Commission Assistant prior to your testimony. The Commission is unable to act on items brought to their attention in this forum. Send to ODFW.Commission@odfw.oregon.gov or 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE, Salem, Oregon, 97302.
If you have questions regarding this agenda, please contact Michelle Tate, Director's Office,
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE, Salem, Oregon, 97302, or call 503- 947-6033.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION OF DISABILITIES
Reasonable accommodation, such as assistive hearing devices, sign language interpreters, and materials in large print or audiotape, will be provided as needed. To ensure availability, please contact the Director's Office at 503.947.6044 at least 72 hours prior to the meeting to make your request. TTY users can reach ODFW by using the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service. Please dial 711 and ask to connect to 503-947-6044. |
