Washington state grizzly bears may get boost
Federal officials want to restore a population of grizzly bears in northern Washington State. On Jan. 16, they released a draft plan with four options, ranging from taking no action to varying efforts to capture bears from other locations and transplant them to 9,800 square miles of mostly public land in and around North Cascades National Park.
The target is to restore a population of about 200 bears.
In Washington State the grizzly plan has stoked intense debate as federal officials sought input in 2015 as it developed the draft environmental impact statement released recently.
Supporters say the shy, massive creatures — a symbol of true wilderness — should be brought back. They say the population won’t recover without help and their return would increase the biodiversity of the ecosystem.
Others say the animals should recover naturally, while some worry about potential increased dangers to recreationists and livestock and opposed the move over potential impacts to communities, ranchers, farmers and others.
In the North Cascades the population is estimated to be fewer than 20 bears, according to Fish and Wildlife Service. (Outdoor News)
Compact/Joint state hearing set for Jan. 30
A Compact/Joint State hearing is scheduled for 10:00 AM January 30, 2018 via teleconference to consider the following fisheries:
• Eulachon smelt fisheries
• Bonneville Pool recreational sturgeon fisheries
Sturgeon retention fishery closed Saturday, Jan 20, in The Dalles Pool
The recreational sturgeon season in The Dalles Pool – extending from The Dalles Dam upstream to John Day Dam – closed effectively Saturday, Jan. 20 at 12:01 a.m., under rules announced by fishery managers from Oregon and Washington.
Each state independently decided to close the sturgeon sport fishery based on catch projections which indicate the current 100 fish guideline will likely be achieved by Friday, Jan 19. Catch rates have been high since the season opened Jan. 1, with an estimated 69 fish kept through Jan. 14.
Sturgeon fishing remains open in the Bonneville and John Day pools, where the guidelines are 325 and 105 fish, respectively.
Retention sturgeon fishing is closed below Bonneville Dam and below Willamette Falls under permanent sport fishing regulations.
Except for specific sanctuaries, catch-and-release sturgeon fishing remains open in all of these waters, even when retention seasons are closed.(WDFW)
First meeting of new Coordinating Council on Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia is Jan. 25 in Newport
Oregon’s new Coordinating Council on Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia (OAH) will host its first meeting on Thursday, Jan. 25 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in Newport at the Hatfield Marine Science Center’s Guin Library, 2030 Marine Science Drive. A full agenda for the meeting is available online, along with supporting materials.
Oregon lawmakers created the OAH Council through the passage of Senate Bill 1039 last year to look for ways to better understand, adapt to and mitigate the effects of changing ocean conditions. The state has already seen the effects of ocean acidification on its prized shellfish industry after annual die-offs of juvenile oysters at the Whiskey Creek Shellfish Hatchery started in 2007.
Oregon has also seen the effects of intensifying hypoxia events, which have been implicated in die-offs of crabs and other marine life over the past two decades.
“Ocean acidification already has affected Oregon’s shellfish mariculture industry, and we know it is worsening,” says Senator Arnie Roblan. “It’s time to start finding ways to adapt to these new conditions and mitigate them, while we still have time. Our children and businesses depend on it.”
The public is welcome at the meeting. Attend in person, or by WebEx (use phone number 415-655-0002). (ODFW)
