NW steelheaders lobby day TODAY!!!

[Jennie@ifish]

This just in from Norm, the president of the Northwest Steelheaders.

I know it is kind of late with the info, but hey, call in sick and go! THIS IS IMPORTANT!
Save our fish!!!
I can't go, I have to go to the docs, but Bill will be there!

Hi Jen,

Here is what we have set up for our Lobby day in Salem TOMORROW, Monday,
April 30th.

We meet at the Capitol Building front steps in Salem before 10:00 AM. ODFW
will have a display tank with Summer Steelhead and Spring Chinook on display
on the street in front of the steps.

At 10:00 we go in to a hearing room to hear presentations from Acting ODFW
Director, Lindsey Ball and other pertinent people at the capital. After
that, we meet with legislators until Lunch time. Hobart Manns will be
preparing barbecued salmon and other goodies as lunch for legislators, their
staff, and our volunteers. After lunch there would be more meetings with
legislators, review our booths in the capital lobby, and go home.

Here are the main topics we hope people will discuss with legislators they
talk to.

Discussion ideas for your conversation with legislators:

Support House Bill 2166: This legislation repeals a sunset put on license and
tag fee increases from last session, increases that the sportfishing
community supported to ensure a properly funded agency. Without biologists,
hatcheries and law enforcement, Oregon would be unable to open sportfishing
seasons where threatened fish runs are managed by the federal government...
which is most waterways in the state of Oregon!

Department of Fish & Wildlife: While many have criticized this agency for
mismanagement, it arguably has the most difficult and far-reaching duties in
state government. The men and women of this Department are committed to the
health of our outdoor environment and the people who utilize those natural
resources. With the recent leadership change, it is now time to build a
stronger ODFW, not tear the agency down and demoralize its employees.

Don't close hatcheries, modernize them: Without good hatcheries and hatchery
practices, sportfishing opportunity would be lost. We cannot afford to close
hatcheries; we need to invest in their infrastructure and the way they are
managed. Please restore funding for hatcheries the Governor's proposed
budget cut and pass the Coastal Hatchery Improvement Program (Senate Bill ).

Take a few minutes to express your concerns about any outdoor recreation
issues specific to where you live.

What you have looks good. However, we have obviously forgot or dodged the
Columbia and the issues that come with it. I suggest, at the very least, we
talk about the huge boost the opening of the springer fishery has been to
our businesses and to the "public good". Although I do not have the exact
#'s at hand, I believe in just the month of April (prior to the re-opener)
alone we clocked more than 100,000 angler trips at a direct expenditure
average of a $100 ea.. It is not a great stretch to say that a healthy
Columbia River fishery adds a $1 mil. a day to our local economies.
Regarding "public good", healthy Columbia River fisheries give back to the
public in much the same way Public Parks do. However, unlike parks, healthy
fisheries can give back big tax $ to the system. Simply stated, I would
like to use the success of this fishery as a model of what the future of a
properly managed river system could provide for the economy and public in
general. Thank you, STEVE GRUTBO


That's about all, eccept that I hope you can make it.

Norm Ritchie, President
Association of Northwest Steelheaders
2834 SE 166th Ave.
Portland, OR 97236-1861
Days: (503) 745-6388, Fax: (503) 745-8819
Evenings: (503) 760-5551
email: neritch@email.sae.org

[Bait O' Eggs]

What happened? Did any of our public servants show up and do anymore than eat salmon, and then go on there way?

An update would be appreciated.

[Jennie@ifish]

Bill went, and Jim Erickson went, and I guess they did a really good job.

Here is what I got from Norm:

Hi Jennie,

Sorry you could not make it to lobby day, but Bill & Jim did a good job
filling in for you! We wined and dined the legislators. (Well, we presented
our views and fed them and their staffs salmon and sausage.) We also had
opportunities to talk to the ODFW interim director, the Division of State
Lands Director, and the Marine Board Director. I was very pleased with the
responses we got from all fronts. As Eric Neiwert put it, "It was like
preaching to the quire." But keep in mind we only talked with our own
legislators and most of our opposition is from other districts.

I will forward Phil Donovan's legislative review to you from the last couple
of weeks. Let me know if it is what you were looking for.

IFish could in deed be a donor and a very welcome one, regardless of what can
be afforded. I had no idea of how much money it takes to run this
organization and take on the battles to keep our hatcheries open, protect
habitat, and so on until I got into this job. I am already afraid to see the
bill for providing salmon for legislators during our outdoor lobby day. But
it was well worth it in getting the legislators attention and recognition
with their staffs. Also paying for the salmon seeded the way for most of the
rest of the lunch to be donated. But while it is easy to justify the
expense, it is expense non the less and every penny that we spend comes from
membership and mostly from donation.


Thanks Jennie, and I hope you get to feeling better soon. Please thank Bill
again for me for participating in Salem today.

- Norm Ritchie

and the attachment:

Oregon Outdoors Legislative Report
(April 29, 2001)

Guide Derby Legislation Passes Senate Committee
House Bill 3486, introduced by Oregon Guides & Packers and sponsored by Rep. Wayne Krieger (R-Gold Beach), seeks to bring clarity for law enforcement and the Oregon Marine Board about guides working in bi-state fishing derbies. The bill was passed out of committee with unanimous support and now awaits a Senate floor vote and eventually the Governor’s signature.

Governor Signs Hatchery Harvest Tag
This past Monday, BG Eilertson of GI Joes, Eric Linde of Pabst Blue Ribbon, John Kunzman of Southriver Marine, Liz Hamilton of NW Sportfishing Industry and Norm Ritchie of the NW Steelheaders for a House Bill 2601 signing ceremony with Governor John Kitzhaber and Senator Ryan Deckert. The Governor signed this legislation creating a “Hatchery Harvest Tag” to keep anglers on the water catching robust returns of hatchery salmon and steelhead. Photos were taken and a few ideas were shared before we left the Governor’s Ceremonial Office on the second floor of the State Capitol Building.

House Bill Creates Salmon Recovery Task Force
House Bill 3002 set out to define “recovery” of salmon runs. The bill originally established that a run was “recovered” once it reached 50% of historical run levels. Part of the problem is that recovery needs to be defined for our federal Endangered Species Act and cannot effectively be established by the state. However, the federal government will accept input from the State of Oregon and so the bill has been amended to create a Salmon Recovery Task Force with twelve representatives (including one representative from the angling and fishing community). The task force shall define “recovery” for purposes of salmon recovery; develop and coordinate a scientific workshop with the IMST; establish criteria for evaluation of salmon recovery; develop recommendations to the 72nd Legislative Assembly.

Commission Omnibus Bill Trudges Forward
House Bill 3637, introduced by Rep. Wayne Krieger on behalf of the Oregon Guides & Packers, has become a clearinghouse of ideas for bringing about a more responsive Fish & Wildlife Commission. Amendments have been drafted that would limit the Commission to only seven members and put those Commissioners serving at the pleasure of the Governor. Currently a Commissioner may only be removed for cause and this change would make the Commission more accountable to the Governor and the Governor more accountable for the actions of the Commission. Another amendment being considered is stakeholder representation on the Commission of sportfishing, commercial fishing, hunting and an agriculture/forestry seat. To balance stakeholder representation and maintain the credibility of the Commission, language would direct that Commissioners shall represent the public interest of the state and for the sustainable use of natural resources by all user groups. A third amendment is the Governor appointing the Commission Chairperson for better communication between that office and the Commission. The final significant amendment under consideration is requiring the Commission to appoint the ODFW Director with Senate confirmation that would sunset January 1, 2004.

One LOP Tag Bill Removes Sunset, Second Changes Program... both are moving
House Bill 3730 renews the Land Owner Preference (LOP) Tag Program for 10 more years. It leaves the current program intact allowing the Fish & Wildlife Commission to adopt rules for the management of the program. This legislation was widely supported and has passed the House floor vote (unanimous) and through Senate Natural Resources (also unanimous). The bill is expected to sail through a Senate floor vote and to the Governor’s desk.

House Bill 3181 renews Land Owner Preference (LOP) Tag Program with some statutory changes. The Oregon Farm Bureau has proposed language that would extend where an LOP hunt may take place for landowners only with verification of crop, forage crop or pasture damage. An additional change would allow one transferable tag for take of an antlered animal if the population were estimated to exceed population management objectives. The bill passed the House Water & Environment Committee and his headed to the floor.

Testimony Offered on House Bill 3854

Dear Chair Jenson and members of the committee:

I am pleased to have been involved with the work group, convened by Representative Jeff Merkley, on behalf of the NW Sportfishing Industry Association and the NW Steelheaders. While we were unable to support House Bill 3854 in its original form, we can support an amended version removing a tax on carbureted two-stroke motors and implementing an increase in motorized boat registration fee.

There is broad support for the work of the Oregon Marine Board. To enjoy our waterways in the State of Oregon, boaters need to make investments in the infrastructure that supports a quality experience. This includes access, facilities, and law enforcement.

We have had some disagreements. But our disagreements centered around the best course of action to reduce pollutants in our waterways and in our air. Clearly boaters and the industry that supports them have a responsibility to make use of cleaner outboard technologies. We are doing so in an aggressive manner as outlined in the EPA 2006 standards and the amended House Bill 3854 is another aggressive step towards the utilization of four-stroke and direct-injected two-stroke outboards in Oregon. Far more draconian actions could be taken and this is a reasonable effort to attempt.

Beyond the obvious benefit of raising money for needed facilities, law enforcement and an additional incentive to purchase newer technology outboards, this proposal would also greatly reduce administrative costs for the Marine Board. Thank you for the opportunity to present our thoughts on House Bill 3854.

Sincerely,


Phil Donovan