Statewide temporary shooting ban added
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) added a temporary statewide restriction on firearm use on Saturday to fire-prevention rules already in place on WDFW-managed lands.
The department’s action follows Gov. Jay Inslee’s proclamation earlier this week of a state of emergency for wildfire threats across the state and is consistent with shooting restrictions imposed by other state and federal land management agencies.
Under WDFW’s temporary rule, target shooting and other gun use will be prohibited, but discharge of a firearm for legal hunting will still be permitted.
In western Washington, the WDFW shooting ban will be in effect until further notice at department-managed wildlife areas, boat launches, and other water access sites.
All temporary restrictions will remain in effect until the risk of wildfire decreases, State law already prohibits the discharge of fireworks and the disposal of a lit cigarette or other burning material from a vehicle on a state highway.
Any changes will be posted on the department’s website at https://wdfw.wa.gov/.
Columbia fishing at Deschutes River closed
The Columbia River around the mouth of the Deschutes River closed to all fishing, including catch-and-release, effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday in order to protect summer steelhead that may be utilizing the cooler water provided by this tributary.
At their Aug. 3 meeting, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission directed ODFW staff to amend fishing regulations for the Columbia River near the Deschutes and in the lower Deschutes from the mouth upstream to Moody Rapids. The direction included closing this area to all fishing until river temperatures have stabilized below 68 degrees. ODFW staff will continue to monitor river temperatures and run sizes throughout the fall to determine when the area can be reopened. This is unlikely to occur prior to late-September.
The closed areas will be:
• All waters south of a straight line projecting from the flashing red USCG light No. 2 upstream to the lower South Channel Range B marker located approximately 3/4-mile upstream of the mouth of the Deschutes;
• The lower Deschutes River from the mouth upstream to markers placed on the downstream end of Moody Rapids.
Concerns about the vulnerability of fish to fishing pressure in the mouths of some tributaries of the Columbia River were sparked by the historically low returns of Snake River-bound summer steelhead in 2017. At that time the states of Oregon and Washington adopted unprecedented restrictions to several fisheries to reduce mortality on these fish.
Fish and Wildlife Commission to meet
The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will review budget and policy proposals for the 2019 legislative session when it meets Thursday through Saturday in Olympia.
The commission will meet in the Capitol Room of the Doubletree Hotel, 415 Capitol Way, Olympia. Commissioners also will hear a brief report from WDFW Director Kelly Susewind, who assumed the department’s top position on Aug. 1.
The public can provide input on WDFW’s budget and legislative proposals during the meeting Thursday. The commission will convene at 12:30 p.m. Commissioners could take action on the proposals during their Friday session, which begins at 8:30 a.m. The Saturday meeting is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m.
WDFW staff will provide commissioners with an overview of the department’s proposed capital and operating budget requests for 2019-21 and discuss a long-term funding plan developed with the help of a broad-based advisory group to stabilize funding in the future.
For the two-year budget cycle that begins in July 2019, WDFW is preparing proposals to the governor and Legislature to address an estimated shortfall of $30 million and make additional targeted investments. About two-thirds of the department’s proposed budget request would come from the state general fund, while recreational license fees would comprise the remaining third.
More information about WDFW’s budget shortfall and proposed solutions can be found online at https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/budget/development/.
Sea lion predation addressed
On Saturday, WDFW will present an overview on seals and sea lions in Washington and the conservation of those species under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Staff will also discuss management actions to address sea lion predation of salmon and other fish in the Columbia River and recent federal legislation around the MMPA. The commission will invite public input on the issue following the staff report.
Registration open for Salmon Challenge
The Buoy 10 Salmon Challenge will be held Aug. 16 and 17 in Astoria, Ore. Registration is still open with a cost of $110 per angler.
Participants can join the NSIA on Aug. 16 at the Clatsop County Fairgrounds for the pre-tournament Team Reception from 5-7 p.m. The reception is an opportunity to review the rules and participate in a Tule ID training.
The derby takes place on Aug. 17, with weigh-in between 3-5 p.m. and an awards dinner at 6 p.m.
To register contact NSIA at 503-631-8859 or email events@nsiafishing.org.
