[ODFW-News] Commission approves $232 million agency budget request

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 	
Contact: Information and Education Division, 503-947-6002	
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  Fax: 503-947-6009
	

For Immediate Release	Friday, July 9, 2004

Commission approves $232 million agency budget request for next two year budget
Harvest seasons adopted for furbearing and unprotected mammals

SALEM - The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission unanimously approved Friday a $232 million budget request for the 2005-2007 biennium that will maintain all existing programs and services delivered by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The request will be submitted to the Governor's Office by Sept.1, 2004 and will be considered by the 2005 Legislature.  

Before the request was developed, ODFW met with a citizen advisory committee on budget priorities and received input from members of the public during a series of town hall meetings last May. Priorities identified by the public and incorporated into the budget proposal include field biologists, enforcement, landowner assistance and hatchery operations. No new programs are included in the budget proposal approved Friday.

The Commission is the policy-making body for fish and wildlife issues in the state. The seven-member panel meets monthly. ODFW implements the policies of the Commission. 

Increased intergovernmental service charges, which are levied against all state agencies, eliminated a portion of ODFW's expected ending balance that were hoped to defer increases in license and tag fees after the 2005-2007 biennium. 

Information related to the approved 2005-2007 budget request is available on ODFW's Web site at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/Comm/04/jul/sch.htm under Exhibit B.


*2004-06 Furbearing and unprotected mammal regulations adopted

The Commission Friday amended Oregon Administrative Rules on furbearing and unprotected mammal regulations for the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 seasons that are similar to those currently in place. The rules set season dates, open areas and bag limits for the upcoming furbearer harvest and pursuit seasons. 

Based on public testimony, the Commission considered an earlier opening date of Nov. 15 for the bobcat season, but decided to adopt the staff recommendation of Dec. 1. 

The Commission took the following actions for the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 seasons:
·	Bobcat: Maintained the Dec. 1 - Feb. 28 season. Increased bag limit to seven from five in eastern Oregon. In Western Oregon, there is no bag limit. 
·	Gray Fox: Maintained the Nov. 15 - Feb. 28 season.
·	Red Fox: Maintained year-round season in Umatilla, Malheur, Baker, Harney, Morrow, Gilliam, Wallowa and Wheeler counties. Maintained Oct. 15 - Jan. 15 season elsewhere in the state.  
·	Beaver: Maintained current season of Nov. 15 - Mar. 15. Opened portions of Harney County within the Ochoco National Forest to trapping. Opened private lands inside Wallowa-Whitman National Forest in Union County.
·	River Otter: Maintained Nov. 15 - Mar.15 season. Opened Harney County to otter harvest.  
·	Marten: Established concurrent seasons across state to Nov. 1 - Jan. 31.
·	Muskrat: Maintained current season of Nov. 15 - Mar. 31.
·	Mink: Maintained current season of Nov. 15 - Mar. 31.
·	Raccoon: Increased the season by 15 days to Nov. 15 - Mar. 15.  
·	Pursuit Seasons: Maintained Sept. 1 - Feb. 28 seasons statewide for bobcat and fox. Established 15 day longer season, Nov. 15 - Mar. 15, for raccoons.

In 2003, 2,102 people purchased licenses to hunt or trap furbearing mammals in Oregon. This number represents a slight increase over past years. Furbearer regulations are adopted on a two-year basis with significant public input. This year's process included communications with numerous stakeholders at 22 public meetings held between April and May.


*Commission hears information on draft wild turkey plan

State wildlife biologists Friday briefed the Commission on a draft wild turkey management plan that responds to expanding populations, increased hunter interest and a concern for a potential impact on native plants and animals.  

The final plan, expected to be adopted in August, will guide wild turkey management in Oregon for the next 10 years. The plan will include information on life history, habitat requirements, population dynamics, hunter harvest and management strategies. 

Eight major issues have been identified within the plan, which include potential impacts to native wildlife and plants, nuisance and depredation, public hunting access and hunter education, supplemental feeding, illegal releases, diseases and parasites, population monitoring and research. 

ODFW biologists recommended the Commission approve a "measured" approach to turkey trap and transplant operations with three components: 1) The priority for trapping will be to reduce depredation and nuisance, but other flocks could be trapped with ODFW's approval; 2) releases could augment existing populations that have had documented reproduction in two of three years; and 3) site analysis would be required for all releases into unoccupied suitable habitat.

In developing a preferred alternative, ODFW staff considered three other options: 1) maintaining interim guidelines as permanent, 2) allowing releases to suitable habitat, and 3) prohibiting all trap and transplant operations. 

Currently, public comment is sought on the draft plan. Comments will be incorporated into a revised draft to be presented for Commission review this August. The draft plan is available on the ODFW Web site at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/Comm/04/jul/J_2_plan.pdf. 


*Commission accepts land donation for Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area 

The Commission Friday accepted a land donation of 136-acres near Hot Lake, just outside LaGrande, from the Nature Conservancy.  

Approval to accept this land parcel provides significant benefits to the Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area. Once an intensively grazed area, the land now offers nesting grounds and habitat for migrating waterfowl and other birds.  The land was created by geothermal activity and contains a unique warm-water wetland, which provides valuable habitat in the winter.

The donation is a result of a larger community-based partnership. The Commission recognized the outstanding participation of Ducks Unlimited and the Nature Conservancy to facilitate the donation.


In other action, the Commission: 

·	Authorized the Access and Habitat Board to auction 10 tags for deer and elk hunts and raffle 10 tags for deer and elk hunts to raise revenue to help fund grants to individual and corporate landowners, conservation organizations and others for cooperative wildlife habitat improvement and hunter access projects throughout the state;
·	Approved holding a lottery to award 23 vacant permits for the salmon troll limited entry fishery to bring the number of permits issued to the allowable 1,200;
·	Received a briefing on the annual activities of the Salmon Trout Enhancement Program which included improving 599 miles of waterways for fish, releasing 6 million juvenile salmon and trout, marking 1.7 million fish before release, collecting 4,400 adults salmonids for broodstock, and facilitating the involvement of 13,566 people in the STEP program;
·	Received a briefing on ODFW's ongoing review of the Salmon Trout Enhancement Program and actions to ensure consistency of the program with the Native Fish Conservation Policy as required by legislation adopted by the 2003 Legislature; and 
·	Agreed with a hearings officer and denied an appeal by Chris Cameron to renew is permit under the Developmental Fisheries Program for sardines because he did not meet the required landings.


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