[ODFW-News] Commission hears public testimony on draft wolf plan and Access and Habitat projects approved

[ODFW News]

For Immediate Release	Friday, December 10, 2004

Commission hears public testimony on draft wolf plan
Access and Habitat projects approved

SALEM - The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission Friday heard public
testimony from more than 40 people on the draft Oregon Wolf Conservation
and Management Plan now out for public review. The Commission made no
decision on the draft plan Friday. 

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission is the policy-making body for
fish and wildlife issues in the state. The seven-member panel meets
monthly.

Staff from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife provided the
Commission a summary of public outreach activities since October and
reported on changes to the draft plan recommended by the
Commission-appointed Wolf Advisory Committee. 

Friday's public hearing was the second of four on the draft wolf plan
before the Commission is scheduled to make a final decision. A final
decision is expected Feb. 11, 2005. The Commission also is receiving
written public comment through close of business Feb. 10, 2005. 

The next two public hearings will occur 1-5 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 6,
2005, at the ODFW Headquarters, 3406 Cherry Ave. N.E. in Salem, and on
Thursday, Feb. 10, 2005, at the Sam Cox Annex Building, 1106 E. Columbia
River Highway in Troutdale. Written public comments on the draft plan
will be accepted at the following locations:
* E-mail: Odfw.Comments at state.or.us,
* Fax: 503-947-6009, and
* Mail: ODFW Information and Education Division, 3406 Cherry Ave. NE,
Salem, OR 97303-4924.

Members of the public may read the draft plan, draft rule language and
other information related to the rulemaking via the ODFW Web site at
www.dfw.state.or.us/wolves/main.html.

In other action related to wildlife management, the Commission:
* Heard a briefing on management of the goose population in northwest
Oregon. The Commission supported initiating a planning process to
examine options for expanding the Northwest Oregon Goose Permit Zone and
to pursue changes in the cackling Canada geese population objectives. 
* Approved spending $94,000 on six wildlife habitat and hunter access
projects in Wheeler, Jackson, Klamath, Baker and Grant counties. The
projects will be completed as part of the Access and Habitat program,
which is funded through a surcharge on hunting licenses. 
* Tally Patton, a landowner representative, and Reinard Okeson, a
hunter representative, were reappointed to the Access and Habitat
Board.


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