[ODFW-News] Fish and Wildlife Commission to hear testimony on draft wolf plan, draft sage grouse plan, 2005 spring chinook seasons

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 	
Contact: 	Information and Education 503-947-6002
Internet: 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. 

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