[ODFW-News] Science team to present methods to assess coastal coho population health

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 	
For more information call 503-947-6002	
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  	

For Immediate Release	Thursday, Dec. 9, 2004

Science team to present methods to assess coastal coho population
health

SALEM - Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife scientists will present
biological measures against which the health of Oregon coastal coho
populations will be gauged at a meeting of the Independent
Multidisciplinary Science Team next week. The IMST advises the state on
matters related to the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds.

The presentation includes an explanation of how the science team
developed the biological criteria and will apply them to assess the
status of coastal coho. The criteria include abundance, productivity,
persistence and distribution. In addition, the presentation will cover
factors limiting coastal coho populations and conservation efforts to
halt and reverse their decline.

The presentation will be made during the IMST's monthly meeting in
Richardson Hall, Room 313, at Oregon State University, on Tuesday, Dec.
14, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. See the complete agenda at
www.fsl.orst.edu/imst. Brief public comments, but not testimonies,
will be accepted in 15-minute blocks at noon and at 4:45 p.m. Written
testimonies can be submitted to the IMST at any time by sending them to
imst at fsl.orst.edu or IMST c/o Kathy Maas-Hebner, Department of Forest
Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331. 

The State of Oregon and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA
Fisheries) began a collaborative project earlier this year to address
the conservation of coastal coho. As part of that project, a number of
state agencies are contributing to the Coastal Coho Assessment. Their
objectives are to 1) assess actions under the Oregon Plan for Salmon and
Watersheds to conserve and rebuild coastal coho populations; 2) provide
information for NOAA Fisheries' federal Endangered Species Act listing
determination; 3) identify mechanisms under the ESA for legal protection
against "take" liability for landowners who voluntarily conserve or
enhance habitat; and 4) provide a blueprint for developing a recovery
plan. More information on the Coastal Coho Project can be found at 
http://www.oregon-plan.org/cohoproject/index.html. 

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 Glenda Serpa at 541-737-6551 at least 24 hours in advance of
the meeting.

Campus parking information is available at http://oregonstate.edu/ or
by calling Parking Services at 541-737-2583.

###