ODFW News: ODF Comm'n Mtg - Jan. 9

[Pete]

Fish and Wildlife Commission to give direction Friday on 2004 Columbia River spring chinook seasons

For Immediate Release Friday, January 02, 2004

Fish and Wildlife Commission to give direction Friday on 2004 Columbia River spring chinook seasons

Briefing on oversize sturgeon regulations also on agenda

SALEM - The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet Friday, Jan. 9, to give policy direction on the 2004-2005 Columbia River spring chinook fisheries and to hear an informational briefing on the status of the oversize sturgeon fishery in the Columbia River gorge.

The Commission also will meet in executive session during the day-long meeting pursuant to ORS 192.660(1)(g) to confer with legal counsel concerning confidential attorney-client advice.

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission is the policymaking body for fish and wildlife issues in the state. The seven-member panel meets monthly. The meeting will occur in the first floor Commission Room at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife headquarters building, 3406 Cherry Avenue N.E., Salem.

The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. and proceed through the agenda in order. The following items are on the agenda:

· Director's report on regional ODFW activities and temporary rules approved in December;
· Revenue and expenditure report;
· Informational briefing on Access and Habitat program monitoring;
· Rulemaking to establish the average market value of food fish for determining damages for commercial fish violations;
· Establish policy guidance for the 2004-05 Columbia River spring chinook fisheries allocation;
· Informational briefing on Columbia River gorge oversize sturgeon sport fishery;
· Adoption of Wolf Management Plan framework; and
· Other business where the Access and Habitat auction will be discussed.

Public testimony will be taken on each agenda item. For all agenda items, sign-up sheets to testify will be provided at the meeting. Agenda item exhibits may be requested by calling the ODFW Director's Office at 503-947-6044. Many agenda items are posted to ODFW's Web site at: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/Comm/schedule.htm

Persons seeking to testify for up to five minutes on other issues not on the formal agenda may do so by making arrangements at least 24 hours in advance. "Unscheduled testimony" must be arranged by calling Cristy Mosset, ODFW Director's Office, at 503-947-6044. Unscheduled testimony will occur around 1 p.m. and is limited to about six speakers.

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Information and Education Division
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 947-6002

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Contact: Anne Pressentin Young (503) 947-6020
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us Fax: (503) 947-6009

[ 01-02-2004, 11:28 AM: Message edited by: Pete ]

[love2fish]

Pete, thanks for keeping us up to date on these meetings. I have Friday off, so I will try to make it. Are they going to want to hear from somebody from Washington? If not, I will try to go anyway, just so I can see how these meetings work.

love2fish

[Pete]

HAVE YOU expressed your opinion?
There is less than one week for you to have an impact in Oregon. (Washington will make a determination in two weeks.) Tell the Commission what you think! Stay accurate, polite and professional!

Address your comments to
Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission
C/O John Esler
3406 Cherry Ave. NE
Salem, Oregon 97303

Call: (503) 872-5272

Fax: (503) 947-6009

Do it today!

Ask the Commission to support an option that keeps the sportfishery open west of Bonneville 7 days/week through April and West of McNary through May. Oregon just initiated an advertising campaign to the world to come and visit. We need stable sportfisheries. Canceling world-class fisheries to catch Columbia River Spring Chinook will leave a bad impression. Sportfishing trips support our tourism economy and will bring back visitors. Springers not only support economies up and down the river, they support businesses from all around the region! Only the 70/30 or 65/35 options will accomplish that goal.

Commercial mortalities are nearly twice the sport mortalities for released wild steelhead and spring chinook. Not only does sportfishing spread out and maximize the economic benefits of these fish, we optimize the use of hatchery fish. In order to maximize the catch of hatchery spring chinook, it is important to maximize the sportfishery.

Call or Fax today and let ODF&W know there is a world of support out there for this sport fishery!!!

[ 01-04-2004, 11:24 AM: Message edited by: Pete ]

[crabbait]

NOW is the time to make your voice heard. There were many posts highly critical of ODFW and WDFW after last year's early springer closure. You can make a difference this year by giving testimony or at least sending and email NOW.

Don't wait until the fishing opportunity is gone to strongly express your opinion. Let's show what ifish can do!

[GutshotApe]

At this late date sending a letter or email to the chairman...the commission as a whole...or individual commissioners via the ODFW HQ address for the January 9 meeting, while possibly better than sitting back and complaining, will have limited impact on decision making. The commissioners are inundated with letters & emails...and all that arrive at ODFW HQ prior to a meeting on a particular issue are distributed to all commissioners...but not necessarily in time for them to be read & considered. Those that come in to HQ in the next few days will likely be copied and each commissioner will be handed a pile of 'em on friday morning when the meeting starts. Naturally, many or most of these will not be read in time...if ever...

The most effective way to communicate with the commissioners is to send a personal letter to their home or work address a week or two ahead of the meeting (there may still be time to do it for this friday's meeting). There are ways to obtain those addresses... When you send a letter, be respectful (commissioners are unpaid volunteers)...stick to one topic...state your position or opinion clearly & concisely...provide justification or a rationale...clearly state what you want done or changed...sign your name above your printed name which should be spelled out along with your return address & phone number. For added effect and to make your letter stand out among all the rest, do something to make it unique...I don't mean to include a $20 bill, either...although that would probably do the trick ! Maybe a photo of you with a fish...or special envelope decoration...something...anything to get the attention of the commissioner and make him/her remember your letter.

To sum up:

Do: Send a legible, respectful handwritten letter(doesn't have to be typed or on expensive letterhead paper)...stick to one point...be clear & concise...aim for a one-page letter, never more than two pages...sign it and provide return info, and if possible, do something to grab the commissioner's attention.

Do not send a form letter;
Do not send an anonymous letter;
Do not cover more than one topic;
Do not send a lengthy multi-page screed that won't be read;
Do not threaten or insult the commissioner;
Do not threaten to go to Idaho next year, etc.;

[Pete]

Excellent advice, GSA! Thank you!

[Laserman]

Thank you for the info. It is greatly appreciated.

[Pete]

ODFW Press Release - 1/7/04

The Oregon and Washington departments of fish and wildlife will brief of the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission this Friday, Jan. 9, on the Columbia River oversize sturgeon fishery. Public testimony will be heard at that time. The same presentation on current research data that was to be presented tonight will be presented Friday.

Friday's Commission meeting is currently expected to be held in the headquarters office of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, 3406 Cherry Ave. N.E. in Salem. The meeting begins at 8 a.m.

[Pete]

As of 2:45, the Commission meeting is still scheduled to go as planned. However, if you have been out on the roads in the Portland area, you may be reconsidering attending. If you have any concerns about attending, CALL the ODFW Director's office to let them know you would appreciate having the meeting rescheduled. There are many people who would like to give testimony on the important issues scheduled for the meeting. It would be a shame if people couldn't provide that important testimony.

[Laserman]

I will be going to the meeting on friday. I would be more than happy to take another person down with me if they wish not to drive themselves. E-mail me at northwesttackleresearch@comcast.com


P:S I just called and the meeting is definetly on for Friday.