Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2018)
12 hunting/fishing february1 2018 New Coordinating Council on Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia Meets OHA Columbia County Chapter To Auction Statewide Elk Tag at Banquet February 24 Oregon’s new Coordinating Council on Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia (OAH) held its first meeting on January 25 in Newport at the Hat- field Marine Science Center. 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 Whis- key Creek Shellfish Hatchery started in 2007. Oregon has also seen the effects of intensifying hypoxia events, defi- ciency in the amount of oxygen reach- ing tissue, 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 maricul- ture industry, and we know it is worsen- ing,” 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 meeting agenda includ- ed opening remarks from Governor Brown’s Representative and carbon policy advisor Dr. Kristen Sheeran, an analysis of SB 1039, and presentations on recent science and policy develop- ments from Council members. Follow- ing the meeting a seminar with brief presentations by Council members and An Oregon Access & Habitat statewide elk tag highlights the auction for the Oregon Hunters Association’s (OHA) Columbia County Chapter banquet February 24 at the Columbia County Fairgrounds in St. Helens. The coveted tag allows the bearer to hunt elk nearly anywhere in the state for up to three months, and has fetched as much as $50,000 at recent auctions. Proceeds from the auction pro- vide public access to private lands and enhance wildlife habitat. This year’s event will mark the first time OHA’s Columbia County Chapter has auc- tioned such a tag. Doors open at 5:00 pm and tickets for singles and couples range from $35 to $200 and include packages and a variety of raffle tickets. Banquet tickets for youths are available for $15. One OHA membership is required per couple or group. A one-year member- discussion with the audience took place. Increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is absorbed by the ocean and fuels ocean acidification. “Ocean acidification is a global problem that is having a disproportionate impact on productive West Coast ecosystems,” says Dr. Francis Chan, Oregon State University. “These changing ocean conditions threaten Oregon’s produc- tive wild ocean fisheries, rich coastal traditions, and renowned healthy eco- system.” Oregon has been an interna- tional leader in policy development re- lated to ocean acidification by promot- ing and facilitating regional and global coalition-building to develop solutions and mitigate carbon dioxide through international climate agreements. Gov- ernor Kate Brown has asked the new OAH Council to build Oregon’s Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia Action Plan, as part of Oregon’s ongoing demonstra- tion of leadership. In addition to the Co-Chairs from ODFW and Oregon State Uni- versity, the Council includes repre- sentatives from the Governor’s office, Oregon Tribes, Oregon DEQ, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Department of Land Conservation and Develop- ment, Ocean Science Trust, Oregon Sea Grant, and representatives from the fishing, shellfish, and research commu- nities. The OAH Council will make its first report to the Legislature by Sep- tember 2018. ship is $35 for individuals and $45 for families and includes a subscription to Oregon Hunter magazine and the Or- egon Hunter’s Calendar. In addition to dinner, a variety of outdoor gear, artwork, gifts, and oth- er items will be auctioned and raffled with the proceeds used to fund local wildlife habitat projects and youth edu- cation events. There will be an extra $10 charge for tickets sold at the door and there may be limited registration, so get your tickets early. For more informa- tion, call Frank Hupp at (503) 201-7495 or Francis Brownell at (503) 369-5426. OHA (oregonhunters.org) is the state’s largest Oregon-based pro-hunting orga- nization, with 10,000 members and 26 chapters statewide. Its mission is “Pro- tecting Oregon’s wildlife, habitat, and hunting heritage.” Commission Approves Continued Hunting Access on Mid-Coast, Expands Early Season Access The Fish and Wildlife Commis- sion voted to approve the Hancock For- est Management Northwest Access Area Project for funding. The funding will maintain ex- isting hunter access to a 190,000-acre area of the mid-coast, mostly in the Stott Mtn/Alsea TMAs, plus some of the Trask Unit in parts of Lincoln, Benton and Polk counties. But access will now be allowed during fire season, except when the Industrial Fire Protection Lev- el (IFPL) reaches 4, which is the high- est level. (The property was previously closed when fire season was declared, which often impacted archery and early rifle season hunters.) The new agree- ment should be in effect by the 2018 archery season. Hunters are encouraged to keep track of local fire restrictions through ODF’s webpage http://www.or- egon.gov/ODF/Fire/Pages/Restrictions. aspx. In other business, the Commis- sion also: • Set the schedule of damages for com- mercial fishing violations during 2018. • Repealed administrative rule to update the applicable public contracting rules for ODFW. • Appointed Amy Patrick of Sublim- ity as Landowner Representative and Nathan Bailey of White City as Hunter Representative on the statewide Access and Habitat Board. • Appointed Gregory Harris of Herm- iston as the new Fish Screening Task Force member representing agricul- ture. The Commission had planned to adopt a revised Wolf Plan at the Astoria meeting in April. Instead they decided to conduct some additional facilitated out- reach and postpone final plan adoption in hopes of getting more consensus from stakeholders. ODFW will announce a new meeting date once that is decided. The Commission is the policy- making body for fish and wildlife issues in the state and it usually meets monthly. Commission members and ODFW will host an open house during the Pacific Northwest Sportsmen’s Show on Thurs- day, February 8 in Portland and a regu- lar meeting on Friday, February 9 at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel. A Trusted Name in Funeral Service Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral Home & Crematory 2308 Pacific Ave., Forest Grove 503-357-2161 741 Madison Ave., Vernonia 503-429-6611 Jeff & Kathryn Hoyt Angel Memorials Headstones Granite Markers & Monuments 971-344-3110 Forest Grove Memorial Chapel 503-357-3126 Locally owned in Vernonia Serving NW Oregon All Cemeteries Accepted Order drawing at no charge online To sign the online guest book or to send a condolence to the family go to www.fuitenrosehoyt.com www.angelmemorialsheadstones.com Family Owned & Operated Formerly Prickett’s Mortuary
