NORTHWEST
East Oregonian
Page 2A
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Oregon wolf plan moves into next phase
due to be reported at the
April ODFW Commission
meeting, is expected to top
that number.
ODFW officials have
described Oregon’s wolf
population growth as a
biological success story,
and the state commission
took wolves off the state
endangered species list in
2015. They remain protected
under the federal Endan-
gered Species Act in areas
west of U.S. highways 395,
78 and 95.
The state management
plan hinges on the number
of breeding pairs, defined
as two adult wolves that
produce at least two pups
that survive through the end
of the year.
Oregon counted nine
breeding pairs at the end of
2014, 11 in 2015 and eight at
the end of 2016.
Western Oregon remains
in the first phase of wolf
management, with protec-
tions matching those imple-
mented when wolves were
listed as endangered.
The eight packs in
eastern Oregon are known
as the Meacham and Walla
Walla packs (Umatilla
County); Catherine (Union
County); and Snake River,
Chesnimnus,
Wenaha,
Minam and a group of
unnamed wolves (Wallowa
County).
— The Associated Press
contributed to this report.
By ERIC MORTENSON
Capital Bureau
SALEM — The latest
count of Oregon wolves
shows there are eight
breeding pairs in Eastern
Oregon, meaning state
wildlife officials move into
a management plan phase
that potentially could ease
restrictions on killing them
if they decimate deer and elk
herds or chronically attack
livestock.
Under Oregon’s wolf
plan, three consecutive years
of at least seven breeding
pairs advances the state into
what’s known as Phase III
management.
The ODFW Commission
is scheduled to receive the
annual wolf report at its
April 21 meeting in Klamath
Falls.
Oregon Wild, the Port-
land-based
conservation
group that has been heavily
involved in development of
the state’s wolf plan, called
the count of breeding pairs
“heartening” but warned it
could lead to wolves being
killed by “trophy hunting” or
under the plan’s “controlled
take” provision.
“Controlled take” means
wolves can be killed if they
are causing declines in elk
and deer populations or are
involved in chronic livestock
attacks. Arran Robertson,
Oregon Wild spokesman,
said the group worries the
Courtesy of Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Snake River pack captured by a remote camera pho-
to taken Feb. 1 in Hells Canyon National Recreation
Area. Wildlife officials say the state has eight breed-
ing pair and has moved into a new phase of wolf
management.
policy will be used to kill
wolves. He said more deer
are lost to poachers than to
wolves.
ODFW spokesman Rick
Hargrave said the wolf plan
does not allow a general
hunting season on wolves.
“This policy differentiates
Oregon from other states
like Idaho and Montana
which currently allow
general season hunting of
wolves,” he said in an email.
Hargrave said ODFW
has no immediate plans
to propose controlled take
of any wolves in Oregon.
The five-year update to the
Wolf Management Plan will
provide clarity regarding
this issue.
Farmers oppose plan
for ‘show-up pay,’ citing
unpredictable weather
In a prepared statement,
ODFW wolf biologist
Russ Morgan said the state
will continue to prioritize
“non-lethal solutions to wolf
conflicts.”
“Take (killing) of wolves
can only be considered as
a management response
in very specific situations
and there are no plans for
controlled take at this time,”
Morgan said in the state-
ment.
Oregon’s wolf population
has grown steadily in the
decade since the first wolves
migrated from Idaho into
Northeast Oregon.
The state had a minimum
of 110 wolves at the end of
2015, and the 2016 count,
By MATEUSZ PERKOWSKI
Capital Bureau
SALEM — Oregon
farmers would dodge a key
requirement of two bills
aimed at improving schedule
predictability for workers but
still face a “show-up pay”
requirement for canceled
shifts.
Under House Bill 2193
and Senate Bill 828, large
employers in the retail,
food service and hospitality
industries would have to
provide workers with addi-
tional compensation if their
schedules are changed with
less than two weeks’ notice,
among other provisions.
Proponents say the bills
are
necessary
because
workers in these sectors
often contend with schedule
disruptions that prevent them
from pursuing an education,
obtaining adequate childcare
or even getting sufficient
sleep.
Critics say it’s unrealistic
for employers to plan two
weeks ahead for canceled
events, family emergencies,
unforeseen worker depar-
tures and other incidents that
can upend schedules.
While agriculture isn’t
included in the two weeks’
notice requirement, farmers
would nonetheless have to
compensate workers who
show up for a shift that’s
shortened or canceled with
less than 24 hours’ notice.
The employer would then
pay workers at their regular
wage for the missing hours,
or four hours, whichever is
less.
Farmers have objected to
this provision because foul
weather can unexpectedly
delay harvests or other oper-
After hard winter, Oregon snowpack rebounds
GILLIAN FLACCUS
Associated Press
The average statewide
snowpack for Oregon is well
above normal for March
after a harsh winter that
featured heavy snow across
much of the state.
However, hydrologists
warn that an early thaw
could quash hopes for
above-average
summer
stream flows.
Snowpack levels as of
March 1 were 138 percent
of normal, according to
numbers released Tuesday
by the U.S. Department
of Agriculture’s Natural
Resources
Conservation
Service.
The service conducts
the surveys monthly during
the water year, which runs
from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, said
Scott Oviatt, a snow survey
supervisory hydrologist for
the USDA service.
The last time Oregon’s
snowpack was well above
normal on March 1 was
in 2008, when it was 157
percent of normal. Last
year, the snowpack was 94
percent of normal at the end
of February.
The news came as a boon
for farmers, ranchers and
irrigators who have weath-
ered several years of drought
in much of Eastern Oregon.
If the weather remains
cool and the snow doesn’t
melt until late spring,
above-average stream levels
could replenish drinking
water supplies and also mean
good news for migrating
salmon, Oviatt said.
“Snow
accumulation
during February was twice
the normal amount at many
monitoring locations,” he
said.
Last year, excitement
about near-average snow-
pack levels evaporated
when unusually warm April
weather melted the snow
early, depriving farmers,
salmon and reservoir oper-
ators of late-season runoff
they needed.
All basins in the state
have received well-above-
average precipitation for the
2017 water year.
Lake County and Goose
Lake basins have gotten
the most, at 152 percent of
average, while Mt. Hood,
Sandy and the Lower
Deschutes basins have
had 111 percent of normal
precipitation, the service
said.
Lake Owyhee Reservoir,
near the Idaho border, is now
at 128 percent of average
after several years of water
levels that were well below
average. The lake is now
storing more than 500,000
acre-feet of water for the
first time since 2012, Oviatt
said.
Heavy snow has also
meant reservoirs in Malheur
and Baker counties are the
fullest they’ve been in years,
he added.
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REGIONAL CITIES
Forecast
TODAY
FRIDAY
THURSDAY
Cloudy with a
shower
Chilly with periods
of rain
48° 42°
49° 46°
A couple of
showers
SATURDAY
Cloudy
PENDLETON TEMPERATURE FORECAST
58° 37°
55° 43°
58° 42°
HERMISTON TEMPERATURE FORECAST
51° 46°
52° 42°
PENDLETON
through 3 p.m. yesterday
TEMPERATURE
HIGH
LOW
49°
53°
75° (1904)
33°
33°
19° (1931)
PRECIPITATION
24 hours ending 3 p.m.
Month to date
Normal month to date
Year to date
Last year to date
Normal year to date
Trace
0.36"
0.25"
4.28"
2.81"
2.76"
HERMISTON
through 3 p.m. yesterday
TEMPERATURE
HIGH
Yesterday
Normals
Records
LOW
51°
55°
75° (1979)
30°
32°
14° (1931)
PRECIPITATION
24 hours ending 3 p.m.
Month to date
Normal month to date
Year to date
Last year to date
Normal year to date
0.01"
0.15"
0.23"
3.61"
1.92"
2.47"
SUN AND MOON
Sunrise today
Sunset tonight
Moonrise today
Moonset today
Full
Last
Mar 12
Mar 20
55° 43°
62° 44°
Seattle
43/38
ALMANAC
Yesterday
Normals
Records
61° 35°
New
6:21 a.m.
5:52 p.m.
1:55 p.m.
4:00 a.m.
First
Mar 27
Apr 3
Today
SUNDAY
Cloudy with a
couple of showers
Spokane
Wenatchee
39/30
41/27
Tacoma
Moses
44/37
Lake
Pullman
Aberdeen Olympia
Yakima 48/32
41/34
43/35
43/36
50/31
Longview
Kennewick Walla Walla
47/41
49/43 Lewiston
53/40
Astoria
47/37
47/39
Portland
Enterprise
Hermiston
50/44
Pendleton 43/36
The Dalles 52/42
48/42
54/37
La Grande
Salem
46/39
52/48
Albany
Corvallis 51/47
53/49
John Day
52/44
Ontario
Eugene
Bend
53/39
53/49
50/40
Caldwell
Burns
57/43
44/34
Astoria
Baker City
Bend
Brookings
Burns
Enterprise
Eugene
Heppner
Hermiston
John Day
Klamath Falls
La Grande
Meacham
Medford
Newport
North Bend
Ontario
Pasco
Pendleton
Portland
Redmond
Salem
Spokane
Ukiah
Vancouver
Walla Walla
Yakima
Hi
47
48
50
53
44
43
53
47
52
52
51
46
43
56
50
55
53
54
48
50
53
52
39
43
49
49
50
Lo
39
35
40
49
34
36
49
40
42
44
40
39
37
48
46
51
39
38
42
44
37
48
30
36
44
43
31
W
r
c
sh
r
sh
c
r
c
c
c
c
c
c
sh
r
r
sh
c
c
r
sh
r
c
c
r
c
c
Hi
50
49
52
55
50
45
57
49
51
54
56
48
47
61
53
56
52
50
49
52
57
55
41
46
52
48
50
Today
Beijing
Hong Kong
Jerusalem
London
Mexico City
Moscow
Paris
Rome
Seoul
Sydney
Tokyo
Lo
32
63
49
48
50
33
51
43
26
64
38
W
s
c
s
r
pc
s
sh
s
pc
c
pc
Lo
43
38
43
47
35
40
47
43
46
48
39
44
43
46
47
49
43
45
46
46
41
48
37
41
47
45
38
W
r
r
r
r
c
r
r
r
r
r
c
r
r
r
r
r
c
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
c
Thu.
Hi
60
69
71
59
72
43
57
65
49
73
55
(in mph)
Klamath Falls
51/40
Boardman
Pendleton
Lo
30
67
51
45
50
31
47
44
27
64
41
W
s
c
s
c
pc
s
sh
s
s
pc
s
REGIONAL FORECAST
Coastal Oregon: Rain at times today into
tomorrow. Friday: cloudy with a couple of
showers.
Eastern and Central Oregon: Cloudy today.
A couple of showers; arriving during the
afternoon in the south.
Western Washington: Occasional rain
today.
Eastern Washington: Ice in the mountains today; a
shower near the Idaho border. Cloudy across the south
and Cascades. Partly sunny in north, central parts.
Cascades: Cloudy today with spotty show-
ers. Rain at times tonight. Periods of rain
tomorrow.
Northern California: Mostly cloudy today;
periods of rain; however, dry in the interior
mountains.
Today
Thursday
WSW 7-14
WSW 6-12
NNE 4-8
ENE 6-12
UV INDEX TODAY
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
0
2
2
1
0
NEWS
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COMMERCIAL PRINTING
Production Manager: Mike Jensen
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Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day.
WORLD CITIES
Hi
55
67
62
57
72
40
57
60
42
72
50
Classified & Legal Advertising
1-800-962-2819 or 541-278-2678
classifieds@eastoregonian.com or legals@eastoregonian.com
NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY
Thu.
WINDS
Medford
56/48
Corrections
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sincerely regrets any errors. If you notice a mistake in
the paper, please call 541-966-0818.
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Subscriber services:
For home delivery, vacation stops or delivery concerns: 1-800-522-0255
ations, so requiring “show-up
pay” would unreasonably
impose a heavy financial
strain.
“Weather plays a big role
and we have no control over
this,” said Anne Krahmer,
whose family raises blueber-
ries in the Willamette Valley,
during a March 6 hearing on
HB 2193.
Krahmer said she closely
watches weather forecasts
and communicates with
workers, but has nonetheless
been forced to cancel berry-
picking after only an hour or
two due to rain.
If she had to pay 150
workers an average of $15
for each of the four hours
they didn’t harvest fruit, the
cost would come to $9,000
for a single day.
“It would only take a few
days to put me out of business
at this rate,” Krahmer said.
Apart from “show-up
pay,” growers are concerned
about provisions related to
a worker’s right to request a
flexible schedule, said Jenny
Dresler, state public policy
director for the Oregon Farm
Bureau.
Employers must keep
records of every conver-
sation with workers about
requested schedule changes,
creating another unrealistic
paperwork obligation, she
said.
“If those conversations
are happening out in the field,
that’s really absurd,” Dresler
said.
Under the bills, inter-
fering with a worker’s right
to request schedule changes
would be considered retali-
ation, an unlawful employ-
ment practice that’s penal-
ized by the Oregon Bureau
of Labor and Industries.
The Oregon Farm Bureau
is concerned that “inter-
fering” can be interpreted too
broadly to accuse employers
of retaliation, Dresler said.
“It sets up a ‘gotcha’ for
small business.”
Bills would require
compensation
for canceled or
shortened shifts
0
8 a.m. 10 a.m. Noon 2 p.m. 4 p.m. 6 p.m.
0-2, Low
3-5, Moderate 6-7, High;
8-10, Very High;
11+, Extreme
The higher the AccuWeather.com UV Index™ num-
ber, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.
Forecasts and graphics provided by
AccuWeather, Inc. ©2017
-10s
-0s
showers t-storms
0s
10s
rain
20s
flurries
30s
40s
snow
ice
50s
60s
cold front
70s
80s
90s
100s
warm front stationary front
110s
high
low
National Summary: Showers and thunderstorms will mark the leading edge of colder
air along the Atlantic coast today. Winds will roar over the North Central states. Rain and
mountain snow will push inland over the Northwest.
Yesterday’s National Extremes: (for the 48 contiguous states)
High 89° in McAllen, Texas
Low -4° in Bryce Canyon, Utah
NATIONAL CITIES
Today
Albuquerque
Atlanta
Atlantic City
Baltimore
Billings
Birmingham
Boise
Boston
Charleston, SC
Charleston, WV
Chicago
Cleveland
Dallas
Denver
Detroit
El Paso
Fairbanks
Fargo
Honolulu
Houston
Indianapolis
Jacksonville
Kansas City
Las Vegas
Little Rock
Los Angeles
Hi
68
69
57
64
46
69
55
56
79
62
53
56
74
66
51
80
-7
27
80
72
58
81
68
77
70
85
Lo
41
43
46
41
27
42
43
38
47
42
30
34
57
38
30
51
-27
9
67
61
37
53
38
56
44
58
W
pc
pc
pc
pc
c
s
pc
r
pc
s
s
pc
pc
s
pc
pc
s
pc
pc
pc
s
pc
s
s
s
s
Thur.
Hi
72
74
59
65
30
74
57
49
76
67
45
44
79
69
44
83
3
19
79
77
59
80
71
81
71
86
Lo
41
54
39
36
17
55
46
30
52
44
25
29
62
40
22
50
-8
-7
67
64
30
55
32
58
56
58
W
s
s
s
s
sn
s
c
s
s
s
pc
pc
pc
pc
pc
pc
pc
pc
sh
t
pc
s
pc
s
pc
s
Today
Louisville
Memphis
Miami
Milwaukee
Minneapolis
Nashville
New Orleans
New York City
Oklahoma City
Omaha
Philadelphia
Phoenix
Portland, ME
Providence
Raleigh
Rapid City
Reno
Sacramento
St. Louis
Salt Lake City
San Diego
San Francisco
Seattle
Tucson
Washington, DC
Wichita
Hi
64
71
80
48
35
68
69
61
72
62
61
85
50
57
68
51
60
68
67
56
78
64
43
87
65
71
Lo
43
46
68
27
21
43
60
43
46
32
44
57
34
38
43
28
36
46
44
40
57
51
38
53
45
41
W
s
s
pc
s
s
s
pc
pc
s
s
pc
pc
r
r
pc
pc
pc
pc
s
pc
s
s
r
pc
pc
s
Thur.
Hi
70
73
81
43
35
74
75
57
79
57
62
86
43
52
76
42
66
73
72
60
77
65
44
87
68
76
Lo
42
55
67
21
7
52
63
37
48
23
39
59
21
29
47
14
38
48
35
42
57
51
42
54
43
37
Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain,
sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice.
W
pc
pc
s
c
c
s
pc
s
pc
pc
s
s
s
s
s
c
pc
pc
t
pc
s
pc
r
s
s
pc