[ODFW-News] ODFW Announces Budget Cuts

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife =09
Contact: 	Ann Snyder (503) 872-5264 x5363=09
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  Fax: (503) 872-5700
=09
For Immediate Release	Thursday, Sept. 3, 2002

ODFW Announces Budget Cuts=20

PORTLAND - The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife today released its =
proposed budget cuts in response to a directive from Gov. John Kitzhaber =
to all state agencies to prepare for across-the-board cuts to help =
eliminate the state's $482 million shortfall. The cuts to ODFW, which =
amount to 5.8 percent of the agency's General Fund appropriation, total =
$877,000.

ODFW's reduction will result in the closure of four hatcheries, cutbacks =
to several other agency programs, and the elimination of 18 positions, 14 =
of which currently are filled.

"Because most of our General Fund appropriation supports our Fish Division =
hatchery program, we have no choice but to close hatcheries if we are =
going to achieve the mandated savings," said ODFW Director Lindsay =
Ball.=20

The hatcheries targeted for closure are Cedar Creek Hatchery near Hebo, =
Elk River Hatchery east of Port Orford, Salmon River Hatchery near Otis, =
and Trask Hatchery at Tillamook. All hatcheries would close Sept. 30, =
2002. Ten hatchery positions would be eliminated.

"We will keep one person on site at each hatchery to protect the property =
and equipment," said Ball, "but we will close all operations at those =
hatcheries."

Cedar Creek and Elk River hatcheries produce trout, chinook and steelhead. =
Salmon River and Trask hatcheries produce coho and chinook. The fish =
released at these four hatcheries provide salmon and steelhead angling =
opportunities on Oregon's coast.=20

The criteria for selecting the four hatcheries to be closed included the =
source of funding (all are 100 percent General Funded), the deferred =
maintenance costs at those facilities, the cost of operations, and the =
costs of upgrading the facilities to meet the new state and federal water =
pollution discharge permit requirements.

Additional reductions to Fish Division programs include elimination of a =
position that provides landowner assistance and maintenance on fish =
screens, and elimination of two positions that assist with research on =
near-shore groundfish, shrimp and sardine studies.

Budget reductions also will eliminate three positions in the Wildlife =
Division, which will reduce oversight of the agency's wildlife rehabilitati=
on programs, landowner assistance programs and habitat improvement =
projects, and will eliminate field operations dealing the state's =
threatened and endangered species.

Two positions are being cut from the Habitat Division, which will =
eliminate staff support for restoration activities in the Klamath Basin =
and on various watershed councils throughout Oregon.

Employee layoffs will take effect beginning Sept. 30, 2002.

"This is a difficult time in Oregon, and we are left with only difficult =
choices in how to make up the shortfall," said Ball. "All of these =
positions and programs perform important services for Oregonians. It is =
very unfortunate that we are having to make these cuts."

The department plans to work with the laid-off employees to mitigate the =
impact of the position cuts as much as possible. Displaced employees will =
be provided with information on vacant positions within the department for =
which they qualify, and will be given priority in the hiring process as =
the department fills those vacancies.

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