[ODFW-News] ODFW announces plans for hatchery closures

[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	Tuesday, September 17, 2002

ODFW announces plans for hatchery closures

PORTLAND - The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife today released the =
details of its plans to close the Cedar Creek, Elk River, Salmon River and =
Trask River hatcheries. All four hatcheries will cease operations Monday, =
Sept. 30, 2002.

The department is closing the hatcheries in response to the across-the-boar=
d budget cuts Gov. John Kitzhaber has directed all state agencies to make.

Closing the four hatcheries, all of which are 100 percent General Fund =
supported, is projected to save ODFW approximately $427,000. These =
closures, added to cuts being made elsewhere in the agency, will result in =
a total of $877,000 in reductions for the remainder of the 2001-2003 =
biennium, which ends June 30, 2003.

"This is a very difficult action to have to take," said Fish Division =
Administrator Ed Bowles. "Our hatchery employees are dedicated and hard =
working, and the work they do is important. Unfortunately their positions =
and the hatchery programs, which support valuable fisheries, have been =
caught in the General Fund shortfall."

Fish currently in the hatcheries will be released beginning Monday, Sept. =
23. Once the hatcheries are closed, a technician will remain on site at =
each location to maintain the facility in mothball status. Adult fish =
returning to the hatcheries will remain in the streams to spawn.

Cedar Creek Hatchery is located near Hebo, Elk River Hatchery is east of =
Port Orford, Salmon River Hatchery is near Otis, and Trask River Hatchery =
is by Tillamook.=20

The criteria for selecting the four hatcheries to be closed included the =
source of funding, the deferred maintenance costs at those facilities, the =
costs of operations, and the costs of upgrading the facilities to meet the =
new state and federal water pollution discharge permit requirements.

Earlier this year ODFW held a series of town hall meetings to discuss =
hunting and angling fees for the 2003-2005 biennium, which begins July 1, =
2003. Participants in those town hall meetings listed the key services =
they would like to see supported by hunting and angling fees. The four =
services selected by the majority of participants were hatchery production,=
 field biologist services, fish and wildlife enforcement, and landowner =
services.=20

As a result of those meetings, the department will propose fee increases =
that would take effect Jan. 1, 2004, if approved by the 2003 Legislature. =
Those fees, which are categorized as Other Funds, would make up almost =
half of the department's proposed 2003-2005 budget, but would not help =
support General Fund programs, and would not become effective in time to =
help make up the current biennium's budget shortfall.=20

More details about each hatchery and the closure process can be found at =
http://www.dfw.state.or.us by clicking on the 'New' link at the top of the =
page.=20

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