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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (May 30, 2020)
B2 THE ASTORIAN • SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2020 Trump pushes expanded hunting, fi shing in wildlife refuges Wildlife refuge could see goose hunting By MONICA SAMAYOA Oregon Public Broadcasting A proposed rule to open or expand millions of acres of hunting and fi shing opportunities in national wildlife refuges and national fi sh hatcheries is open for public comment. The U.S. Fish and Wild- life Service has proposed to open or expand more than 2.3 million acres to hunting and fi shing opportunities in 97 national wildlife refuges throughout the nation — eight which have never been opened before. The rule would intro- duce or expand hunting in three national wildlife ref- uges in Oregon. It would also open and expand fi shing and hunting opportunities on the lands and rivers associ- ated with nine fi sh hatcher- ies, fi ve which are in Wash- ington state. This proposed rule would result in the service’s larg- est expansion of hunting and fi shing in history, creat- ing what the Trump adminis- tration is calling nearly 900 “distinct new hunting and fi shing opportunities.” Last year, the administra- tion expanded hunting and fi shing in 77 national wild- life refuges across more than 1.4 million acres nationwide. “America’s hunters and anglers now have some- thing signifi cant to look for- ward to in the fall as we plan to open and expand hunt- ing and fi shing opportunities across more acreage nation- wide than the entire state of Delaware,” U.S. Secretary of Interior David L. Bern- hardt said in a press release in April. Steve Pedery, conser- vation director of Oregon Wild, a conservation organi- zation, said he worries about how land managers will be able to manage and ensure Brent Lawrence/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Hunters at the Ridgefi eld National Wildlife Refuge last November. THIS PROPOSED RULE WOULD RESULT IN THE SERVICE’S LARGEST EXPANSION OF HUNTING AND FISHING IN HISTORY, CREATING WHAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS CALLING NEARLY 900 ‘DISTINCT NEW HUNTING AND FISHING OPPORTUNITIES.’ the public are following the new rules. He said he has not seen a management plan from any wildlife refuge outlining how the agency went through and analyzed these lands. Pedery said without a management plan, increased human activity could have devastating results in West- ern locations where wildfi re is a big problem. “If you are being a responsible land manager, you don’t just do this on the spur of the moment, you should have a plan for how you’re going to roll it out and then how you’re going to ensure that people use these lands responsibly,” he said. In Oregon the rule would propose to open the Wapato Lake National Wildlife Ref- uge 32 miles southwest of Portland to hunting for the fi rst time. Waterfowl hunt- ing would open on approx- Seaside Golf Course and Lounge imately 275 acres in align- ment with state regulations. In southeast Oregon, Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge would add migra- tory bird hunting of duck, goose and coot for the fi rst time on the refuge. The rule would propose to expand upland game hunting of chu- kar and California quail as well as big game hunting of deer, antelope and bighorn sheep in designated areas. Sport fi shing would also be allowed. On the Oregon Coast, Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge would pro- pose to open the refuge to goose hunting for the fi rst time on 137 acres that are currently open to waterfowl hunting. It would also add an additional 32 hunting days. In Washington state, land and waters associated with three national fi sh hatcher- ies located in the Colum- bia River Gorge’s Skama- nia County — Spring Creek, Willard and Little White Salmon — would open for sport fi shing or game hunt- ing for the fi rst time. The Willapa National Wildlife Refuge on Wash- ington state’s south coast would propose to open and expand deer and elk hunt- ing on new designated areas. The Abernathy Fish Tech- nology Center in the lower Columbia River town of Longview, Washington, would offer sport fi shing for the fi rst time. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, specifi c management plans have been developed for each specifi c refuge prior to opening it to hunting or sport fi shing. The agency ensures continued compli- ance by the development of comprehensive conserva- tion plans, step-down man- agement plans and bian- nual review of hunting and sport fi shing programs and regulations. Public comment for the proposed rule is opened through June 8. The agency will review and consider all information and comments as they move forward with developing a fi nal rule. The Astorian wants to hear from you, Students NOW OPEN The Astorian is partnering with the Astoria Public Library to publish weekly audio stories of how residents in Clatsop County are experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic. Share your story with us. Here’s how: OUTDOOR PATIO Open for Food & Drinks FULL SERVICE BAR & LIMITED BAR MENU 11am - 7pm GOLF COURSE 8am - 8pm OR E G ON LOT T E RY & K E N O BEER & WINE AVAILABLE TO-GO FOR GOLF COURSE PATRONS 1. Call 503-325-5590 2. Tell us your first and last name, age, which school you attend and the best way to reach you. 3. Then tell us your story in 1-2 minutes on the recording Your story will be included in a weekly audio digest published on The Astorian’s website. The Astoria library will preserve the audio file in a local history archive accessible to library users. We want to hear from students. Elementary, middle school, high school, home school and college students--what do you have to say about the end of the school year under COVID-19 restrictions? The Astorian and Astoria Library may follow up with some voicemails for news stories and extended interviews. WATCH FOR RESTAURANT TO REOPEN IN THE NEAR FUTURE. 503.738.5261 • 451 AVENUE U • SEASIDE, OR Questions? E-mail Jonathan Williams at jwilliams@dailyastorian.com