[ODFW-News] Commission amends rules for habitat protection programs

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 	
Contact: 	Anne Pressentin Young (503) 657-2000, Ext. 285	
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  Fax: (503) 657-2050
	

For Immediate Release	Friday, Nov. 12, 2004

Commission amends rules for habitat protection programs
Coquille River and Big Creek projects receive funding

SALEM - The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission today amended rules relating to habitat conservation program administration and approved funding for two fishery enhancement projects.

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. 

The following summarizes the action taken by the Commission:

*	The Commission amended rules for the Wildlife Habitat Conservation and Management Program to make them consistent with statute changes made by the Oregon Legislature. The amendments allow cities and counties to request the Fish and Wildlife Commission designate or remove certain lands as eligible for the wildlife habitat special assessment, and to allow lands zoned for forestry to participate in the program. The Wildlife Habitat Conservation and Management Program was established in 1993 to provide landowners with a tax incentive to protect wildlife habitat on private lands. Such lands with an approved wildlife plan are assessed for property tax purposes as if the land was used for farming or forestry. Currently, 34,809 acres in 14 counties are enrolled in the program.
*	The Commission amended rules for the Riparian Lands Tax Incentive Program to make them consistent with statute changes made by the Oregon Legislature. The amendments allow cities to participate regardless of zoning provided both the affected city and county adopt implementing ordinances. Previous rules required the lands be zoned for farming or forestry and be outside of urban growth boundaries. The Riparian Lands Tax Incentive Program was established in 1981 to provide landowners with a tax incentive to protect, conserve or restore healthy riparian habitat on private lands. Such lands with an approved management plan receive a tax exempt status. Currently, 69 miles of stream are enrolled in the program. 
*	The Commission approved two projects for funding under the fish Restoration and Enhancement Program. The Big Creek Monitoring and Assessment project will receive $50,000 toward a $171,516 project to monitor stream habitat and fish abundance and install a smolt monitoring trap on Big Creek, a tributary to the lower Columbia River. The monitoring results will be used to improve fishery management and develop a restoration plan for the basin with the goal of enhancing natural spawning of coho and steelhead above ODFW's Big Creek Hatchery. The Coquille Net Pens Project will receive $11,000 toward a $33,000 project to construct two floating net pens to rear fall Chinook salmon and possibly acclimate winter steelhead smolts in the Coquille River with the goal of enhancing local sport fisheries.
*	The Commission amended fish passage rules to eliminate a requirement that an owner of a stream artificial obstruction who objects to a determination by ODFW enter into negotiations with ODFW before submitting a written protest to the Commission. The new rule allows an owner to submit a written protest without any negotiations. No protests have ever been filed. 
*	The Commission appointed Reed Steward of LaGrande to represent agricultural interests and Frank Bird of Burns to represent fish and fish conservation interests on the Fish Screening Task Force. The Fish Screening Task Force is a seven-member committee to advise ODFW on fish screening program development, technology and funding. 

In other action, the Commission heard an informational briefing on issues related to Oregon's successful dungeness crab fishery, including the upcoming winter season, a proposal to extend state regulatory authority to 200 miles, the increasing number of permit transfer requests, and enforcement.

The Commission also held an executive session. 
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Information and Education Division
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 947-6002