[ODFW-News] Mid-Columbia steelhead group meets in The Dalles

[ODFW News]

For Immediate Release Monday, March 13, 2006

Mid-Columbia steelhead group meets in The Dalles 
 
THE DALLES - The mid-Columbia steelhead sounding board, a stakeholder
group providing input on recovery planning for mid-Columbia steelhead
listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, will meet March
20 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at The Dalles Screen Shop/Hood River
Research building, 3561 Klindt Drive. 
 
The sounding board will discuss the gap between current status and
viability of the species, limiting factors for steelhead, and next steps
in the recovery planning process. Members of the team represent fish
conservation, fishing, private land, timber, agricultural, tribal, local
governments, and other interests. 
 
The mid-Columbia recovery plan is one of four plans being developed in
Oregon to address the threatened status of coho, steelhead, chum and
chinook. Other plans are being produced for the lower Columbia, upper
Willamette and Snake River. 
 
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife representatives are working with
NOAA Fisheries technical recovery teams to finalize assessment of the
current status of listed species, define the gap between current status
and de-listing criteria and set recovery goals. Rich Carmichael, Program
Director of Fish Research at Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, is
leading the recovery plan effort for mid-Columbia steelhead.  A progress
report for the mid-Columbia steelhead recovery planning effort is posted
on the NOAA website (http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/Salmon-Recovery-planning)
and a draft recovery plan will be available for public review in early
June.
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