[ODFW-News] ODFW seeks public comment on Deschutes Basin fish plan

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 	
Contact: 	Anne Pressentin Young (503) 947-6020	
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  Fax: (503) 947-6009
	
For Immediate Release	Wednesday, November 5, 2003

ODFW seeks public comment on Deschutes River fish management plan
Public meeting to be held Nov. 17 in Bend

BEND - The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking public comment on draft alternatives to guide anadromous fish management in portions of the upper Deschutes, Crooked and Metolius river basins above the Pelton-Round Butte hydroelectric dams.

The alternative adopted will direct fish management in the upper basin for the next five to 10 years. When finalized, the plan will define ODFW's core management programs, policies and objectives, and describe the fundamental direction that will be pursued for each species included in the plan. Fish management plans aim to provide a logical systematic approach to conserve aquatic resources, establish management priorities, and direct ODFW staff and funds to the most critical problems affecting fisheries.

ODFW will hold a public meeting Monday, Nov. 17, to present the plan and accept public comments. The meeting will occur 7-9 p.m. at Hitchcock Auditorium, Central Oregon Community College, 2600 NW College Way, Bend.

The draft plan will amend the four existing basin plans developed for the Crooked River, Metolius River and upper Deschutes River subbasins. Each of the existing plans called for feasibility studies to determine if anadromous fish could be reintroduced into these subbasins. Initial studies have been completed to identify critical uncertainties and develop conceptual measures to correct or mitigate deficiencies. The new draft document would modify the existing basin plans by listing specific management policies, objectives and actions for managing anadromous summer steelhead, spring chinook, sockeye salmon and pacific lamprey, and resident bull trout upstream from the Pelton-Round Butte Hydroelectric Project. Currently, only bull trout are present upstream of the project.

ODFW staff will present the draft plan to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission at a Nov. 7 meeting in Salem. Adoption of the draft plan into Oregon Administrative Rule is scheduled for Dec. 12 also in Salem. Public testimony will be taken at both meetings. 

A complete copy of the document is posted on the ODFW Web site at: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/ODFWhtml/InfoCntrFish/InfoCntrFish.html .
Written comments should be sent by Nov. 17 to Steven Marx, District Fisheries Biologist, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, 61374 Parrell Road, Bend, Oregon 97702, or Steven.D.Marx at state.or.us.


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