Aunty -
It may be I would is getting senile. My recollection maybe fuzzy - there is the split in impacts on the incidental wild steelhead, impacts on the non-target wild chinook and the allocation split on the hatchery chinook. Since I haven't followed the whole closely I could easily have things wrong.

Maybe Todd will clear it up for us.

Happy Holidays and may the New Year bring you tight lines.
S malma

OK, so if as a sport fisherman I keep 1 extra fish on a river I may be looking at a felony charge of poaching along with a hefty fine and possible loss of equipment, etc. Yet since a commercial entity does this to thousands of fish we instead have WDFW trying to change the laws so that it is OK? I ask why aren't they fined $4000 per endangered fish as outlined in RCW 77.15.420 instead?

Here's some more information regarding the upcoming WDFW Commission meetings...

January 14th and 15th the Commission will be holding a "workshop", which is a meeting that is not open to the public, where they are briefed by the Department on upcoming issues. At that meeting the Department will brief them on the Col. River gillnet fishery and the request to triple the ESA impacts on the steelhead.

On Feb. 4th and 5th, the Commission will be holding a public meeting, in Olympia, to accept public comment, and Department comment, on many different issues, including the Col. River gillnet fishery.

This is the meeting that MUST be overwhelmingly attended by the sportsmen and conservationists to speak out against the increased gillnet impacts.

It is also important that the Commission receive all of our comments prior to the Jan. 14/15 workshop, so that they have the anti-increase perspective clear and present in their minds when they are hearing the Department's justifications for it.

On a happy note, the agenda for the Feb. meeting is not yet complete, so I don't know which day the public comment is being received for this...but it will probably be on the 5th...which is a Saturday! This ought to help us out immensely in getting lots of bodies there to take up space, time, and get all of our comments heard!

I have yet to hear what day(s) the ODFW Commission will be taking this up, but I'll post it as soon as I can find out.

Fish on...

Todd

P.S. Start making plans and carpool arrangements for that meeting!

Be careful with timing Todd...The commission has a history of rearranging their schedule to thwart too much public comment. Sometimes they make it the last item on the agenda Friday

Two things to remember, the director is a X-commercial fisherman and an advocate for commercial fishing, and Will Roehl is a ASSHOLE !!!!!!!!!!!
Pretty simple
Good work Guys !!!
Peace
Superfly

I generally refrain from commenting on these issues but this one is different.

I agree that this proposal makes no sense, however, there is a bigger point. That is, by advocating a three-fold increase in the mortality of wild steelhead, both WDFW and ODFW have lost the moral authority to compel other folks (e.g., BPA) to conserve steelhead as well.

If the State agencies can advocate for a increase in steelhead mortality, why not BPA, or PacifiCorps, or the Army Corps of Engineers, etc, etc? How about a three-fold increase in mortality at the dams?

Even worse, how can WDFW/ODFW even suggest these other agencies reduce their impacts thru spill and flow augmentation? They can't since, it appears, that they're not interested in salmon recovery either. Their duplicity is their undoing. Their moral authority is lost. Their credibility is crumbling.

And for what? This issue is as baffling as it is infuriating.

I can't believe that we have to rely on the Federal bureaucrats at NOAA to protect the steelhead from our own State fish and wildlife agencies.

Excellent point.... and oh so true. These guys need only to look in the mirror to see who the real enemy is.

Here's the information on the ODFW meeting:


Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
For more information call 800-720-6339 (ODFW) or 503-947-6002
Internet: http://www.dfw.state.or.us


For immediate release
Wednesday, December 22, 2004


Fish and Wildlife Commission to hear testimony on draft wolf plan, draft sage grouse plan, 2005 spring chinook seasons


SALEM – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will hear public testimony when it meets Jan. 6-7 on a draft Oregon Wolf Conservation and Management Plan, Columbia River spring chinook season for 2005, draft Oregon Sage Grouse Conservation Plan and recommendations from a wildlife control task force.

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission is the policy-making body for fish and wildlife issues in the state. The meeting will occur in the Commission Room of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife headquarters building located at 3406 Cherry Avenue N.E. in Salem.

The official meeting of the Commission will begin at 1 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 6, 2005 with a public hearing on the draft Wolf Conservation and Management Plan and associated technical rules. The Commission will then reconvene at 8 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 7, 2005 and proceed through the rest of the agenda items in order. The following items are scheduled:

Director’s report on regional ODFW activities, U.S. v. Oregon negotiations, Hatchery Research Center construction;
Informational briefing on regulation options for Columbia River spring chinook salmon fisheries in 2005;
Adoption of the schedule of monetary damages used in assessing commercial fishing violations in 2005;
Informational briefing on proposal to waive fish passage requirements at Scoggins Dam at Henry Hagg Lake in Washington County;
Approval of timeline for review of the permanent disabilities permits program;
Informational briefing on draft Oregon Sage Grouse Conservation Plan; and
Informational briefing on recommendations from Wildlife Control Activities Task Force.
Public testimony will be taken on each agenda item. Sign-up sheets to testify will be provided at the meeting. Most agenda items will be 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 Katie Thiel, ODFW Director’s Office, at 503-947-6044. Unscheduled testimony will occur around 1 p.m., Jan. 7, and is limited to about six speakers.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided as needed for individuals requesting assistive hearing devices, sign language interpreters or large-print materials. Individuals needing these types of accommodations may call the Director’s Office at 800-720-6339 or 503-947-6044 at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting.



Fish on...

Todd

Any Grays Harborites planning on attending the Feb meeting please contact me by PM so we can start organizing a car pool to Olympia. Please indicate where you live and whether you prefer to ride or drive.... thanks.

Heres some more info --

Early next year the States of Oregon and Washington will decide whether to allow the commercial net fleet in the Columbia mainstem to triple their steelhead mortalities while netting spring chinook. The decision will likely be made by the Commission in Oregon, but it is unclear what process Washington will be following. As of late last week, NOAA fisheries has not approved the states application for the increase, but I would be surprized if they said no. The commissioners and the Governor's offices need to hear from citizens about how ill advised this is. Please take a moment to write to the commission chairs and make a specific request to have all of the Commissioners recieve a copy. Please also send us a copy, to nsia.aaron@comcast.net, The information from the Wildsteelhead Coalation, The Association of Northwest Steelheaders and NSIA is pasted below, and attached in a formatt that can be printed front to back. After you have written to your Commission, get two of your friends and neighbors to write, and print out copies to take to work. Please call 866 315 NSIA if we can be of assistance.

Dear Friends of Steelhead where ever you may be:





Many of you are already aware that the States of Washington and Oregon have applied to NOAA Fisheries to increase the allowable impacts on ESA listed steelhead in the Columbia by the commercial fleet. The request is to raise from 2% to 6% the mortality cap on wild winter steelhead to give the commercial fleet the ability to have a higher by-catch of wild steelhead while they are netting Spring Chinook Salmon out of the mainstem.



Members of the sportfishing and conservation community are outraged. After all, there have been decades of conservation efforts and sacrifices made the sportfishing community that is paying off in healthier steelhead stocks. From leading the charge for selective fisheries, changing hatchery practices, habitat and hydro protections, sport fishers have fought for protective measures for wild steelhead. We did not do so to transfer the biological benefits of our efforts over to the commercial fleet to die in tangle nets. It's not fair.



Indeed, many of the stocks are still too fragile to be raising impacts. For example, WDF&W's own biologists suggest that the proposed increase would likely result in the extinction of the Toutle River wild winter steelhead. Furthermore, ocean conditions right now are extremely beneficial to wild steelhead. This is the time to invest the recent increase of wild ESA steelhead in recovery, not in increased mortalities!



Small communities throughout Washington and Oregon are reaping the benefits of steelhead fisheries that are selectively targeted on hatchery winter steelhead. Literally tens of thousands of angler trips are spent in pursuit of winter steelhead in the lower Columbia. ODF&W has estimated that an angler trip in the lower Columbia is valued at $138.00 per day. Sportfishing for winter steelhead occurs during an important window to help sustain year-round family wage jobs. Looking at the last several years of data, there are almost yearly examples where the commercial fleet over fished their preseason quota. This would shut down sport fisheries in the mainstem and in the tributaries, where smaller businesses depend upon winter steelhead.



You must do three things right now!

1) Write (via fax or mail) the Commission Chairs today!

2) Send the same letter to the Governor's office today

3) Pass this e-mail on to others on your list.

Remember to stay professional and polite, but be clear that this is not acceptable. You are welcome to call any of us with questions, or if you need help. We at NSIA would appreciate a copy of your letter sent to: nsia.aaron@comcast.net



Norm Ritchie, President, Association of Northwest Steelheaders

Todd Ripley, Vice President of Political and Legal Affairs, Wild Steelhead Coalition c_n_r_nates@hotmail.com 425-281-0571

Liz Hamilton, Executive Director, Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association

866.315. NSIA

Thanks for the info

Does anyone know why these commercial fishermen can't string their gill nets outside the mouth of the Columbia River where there should be far less chance of intercepting wild steelhead and yet get their target fish?

Saturday, January 15, agenda at the workshop in Olympia:
18. COLUMBIA RIVER WILD WINTER STEELHEAD IMPACT RATE –
BRIEFING:
Department staff will brief the Commission on a request to NOAA for modification to the current impact rate allowed under the Endangered Species Act. In February, Department staff will request the Commission for policy guidance regarding wild winter steelhead management in the Columbia River.

Staff Report: Cindy LeFleur, Columbia River Policy Coordinator, IRM
Guy Norman, Region 5 Director

SlabHunter, is that Jan 15 meeting the forum for hearing public comment/testimony as well? Earlier in the thread, Todd mentioned something about Feb 5.

The January meeting is a workshop where the department makes their case to the Commission without the benefit of (or annoyance of) public input...

The February meeting is where the Commission will make their decision, and the public is invited to that meeting to make their wishes, concerns, and ideas known before the Commission makes their decision.

That is why it is important to get the letters in NOW, so that the Commission has a chance to see them before the workshop...we don't want the only opinion they have to be the one that the Department tells them they should have.

Fish on...

Todd

fishNphysician,

At the meetings I have attended in the past, they usually have a public input time scheduled at the start of the day(8:30?)
I'll call to be sure on Monday.(Phone: 360-902-2267 )
Like Todd stated above: they run a pretty tight ship during the workshop.

fishNphysician,

I was told there will be an opportunity for public input at the start and end of each day of the workshop.

According to the preliminary agenda (12-29-04) there will be opportunity for open public input at shortly after 9:00 am on the 14th, 8:30 am on the 15th, and late in the afternoon on both days. The staff report on raising allowable steelhead impacts in the lower Columbia will be late in the afternoon on the 15th.

They apparently encourage people to comment in the afternoon, unless they can only be present in the morning. I would take that to mean that you could comment on the steelhead issue on the 14th if you can't make it on the 15th. It cannot hurt to give commissioners some notes to digest overnight before they are briefed by WDFW staff. Sticking around till the end would be worth it too, in case you wanted to rebut an aspect of the staff report.

A good showing by this community at the workshop -- and then the Feb hearing -- will make an impression on the Commission and the Dept. Coming on the heels of the wild-steelhead release fight, it will demonstrate that recreational fishers are not only still serious and paying attention on a range of steelhead-conservation issues, but that they are ready to pick themselves up and mobilize on behalf of the resource whenever they think it's necessary.

Ramon Vanden Brulle
Washington Trout

Please remember to send your letters into the Commissions requesting that they not adopt NOAA-Fisheries' triple ESA impact on ESA listed wild steelhead in the lower Columbia River. This would set a dangerous precedent, one where "recovery" (which would allow for sport fisheries) is no longer the goal and "keeping them from going extinct" (which would allow for no fisheries) would become the goal.

******Columbia River Action Alert******************************

NOAA-F has cleared the way for the Oregon and Washington Departments of Fish and Wildlife to allow the commercial fishing fleet on the Columbia to TRIPLE their allowable mortality impacts on ESA-listed wild steelhead in the lower Columbia River. Please take the time to submit written comments and attend the Commission meetings to show the sportfishermen’s outrage at this proposal, and to ask the Commissions to stop it in its tracks!



ODFW Commission Meetings:



Jan. 6&7 (already past)

Feb. 11 Troutdale, Oregon; They will take public testimony and make their decision at this meeting. For the agenda and information, go to http://www.dfw.state.or.us/Comm/schedule.htm



WDFW Commission Meetings:



January 14&15 Olympia, WA; This is a Commission workshop meeting, where they will cover a wide range of issues, including the Columbia River tangle net fishery and the increased mortality proposal. There will be opportunity for public comment both days, in the morning and in the afternoon.

Feb. 4&5 Olympia, WA; This is a Commission meeting, where they will take public testimony and make the decision on using or not using the additional increased mortality.



For the Washington meetings, go to http://www.wdfw.wa.gov/com/meetings.htm



Whether sportfishermen can make the meetings or not, everyone also needs to write up comments regarding NOT using the additional mortality allowed by NOAA-F, and get them to both the ODFW and WDFW F&W Commissions, and to both Governors' Offices. Here are the addresses and/or e-mails:



WDFW Commission: commission@dfw.wa.gov , 600 Capital Way, Olympia, WA 98501



ODFW Commission: ODFW.info@state.or.us , 3406 Cherry Ave. N.E., Salem, OR 97303-4924



WA Governor's Office: Bob Nichols, Governor's Natural Resource Advisor bob.nichols@ofm.wa.gov



OR Governor's Office: Jim Myron, Governor's Natural Resource Advisor jim.myron@state.or.us



This issue should be one that every sportsman in both states should be able to get on the same side of...that taking the last 20 years of recovery efforts by sportsmen, and the current, but temporary, better marine conditions, and sending the fish from those into gillnets as incidental bycatch is totally unacceptable.



The Wild Steelhead Coalition has hosted the Steelhead Summit Alliance several times over the past two years, which is an alliance of 40 sporting and conservation groups from the entire West Coast, including B.C., who are working on common goals in steelhead management, and how to implement those goals. It is also an information clearinghouse where information like the above meeting information is disseminated to thousands of sportfishermen throughout the region.



Get your groups involved so that they can not only get current information about steelhead issues coming up in the various states, but can also join in to help form the policies that sportsmen think should govern steelhead management. All groups are welcome to participate, to offer whatever expertise or perspectives they may have, and to take advantage of not only the great amount of expertise and knowledge among the other groups, but to network cohesive policies together for a region wide emphasis on steelhead management.



Please contact Todd Ripley at c_n_r_nates@hotmail.com for information about the upcoming Commission meetings, or other information, questions, or comments regarding the Columbia River incidental impact proposals.



Please contact Dave Bailey at captain@olypen.com for information about the Steelhead Summit Alliance, and how to get involved with this region wide effort.



Go to http://www.wildsteelheadcoalition.com for further information.



Thanks, and please take the time to make your voice, and that of the greater steelhead angler, heard in both Oregon and Wasington very clearly; tripling the allowable mortality of ESA listed wild steelhead in the Columbia River to help prop up a commercial net fishery that is not capable of fishing selectively and conservatively for the benefit of wild fish is UNACCEPTABLE.

Agenda for Saturday!

SATURDAY, JANUARY 15
8:30 AM

13. OPEN PUBLIC INPUT
The Commission is a direct link between citizens of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. The public is encouraged to share views of Department programs and topics of concern during this portion of the workshop.
NOTE: This time is set-aside for those who cannot be present later in the day. If workable, please provide your comments during the Open Public Input session later in the day.

14. HYDRAULIC PERMIT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (H.P.M.S.) - BRIEFING:
Department staff will provide an overview and brief demonstration of the HPMS web application.
Staff Report:
Gayle Kreitman, Regulatory Services Section Manager, Habitat Program
Jim Eby, Program Manager, Information Technology Services

15. WASHINGTON INTERACTIVE LICENSING DATABASE (W.I.L.D.) - BRIEFING:
Department staff will provide an update for the Commission on the WILD Project and the status of plans to develop the next generation of the recreational license sales system.
Staff Report:
Jim Eby, Program Manager, Information Technology Services

16. MARINE PROTECTED AREAS UPDATE - RULE BRIEFING:
Department staff, along with Mark Plunkett of the Seattle Aquarium, will brief the Commission on proposed rule amendments and new WAC sections that would create Marine Protected Areas on beaches in six parks owned by the City of Seattle. The rule amendments will be proposed in approximately March 2005 through the expedited rule making process.
Staff Report:
Mary Lou Mills, Marine Ecosystems Manager, Fish Program

17. NORTH OF FALCON POLICY - BRIEFING:
Department staff will present a briefing on key elements of the Commission's current North of Falcon Policy (C-3608), which has a termination date of Dec. 31, 2004. The Commission will consider adoption of a renewed or revised North of Falcon Policy at its February 4-5, 2005,
Commission meeting in Olympia.
Staff Report:
Phil Anderson, Special Assistant, IRM
Patrick Pattillo, Salmon Policy Coordinator, IRM

18. COLUMBIA RIVER WILD WINTER STEELHEAD IMPACT RATE - BRIEFING:

Department staff will brief the Commission on a request to NOAA for modification to the current impact rate allowed under the Endangered Species Act. In February, Department staff will request the Commission for policy guidance regarding wild winter steelhead management in the Columbia River
Staff Report:
Cindy LeFleur, Columbia River Policy Coordinator, IRM
Guy Norman, Region 5 Director