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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (April 1, 2017)
2 B SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2017 Cormorant harassment aims to protect young fish Harassment, or “hazing,” of double-crested cormorants is set to begin soon in several areas along the Oregon Coast in an effort to improve survival of juvenile salmon. Double-crested cormorants are fish-eating waterbirds that occur throughout the state. The species is an Oregon native, and is particularly prevalent on the state’s estuaries during April through October. Research indicates cor- morants can consume signifi- cant numbers of juvenile salmon during this time period. To reduce the threat to young fish, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is working with several nonprofit and local governmental organi- zations to haze cormorants on six coastal estuaries over the next two to four months. Hazing will involve driving the birds from locations where juvenile salmon are seasonally concentrated, toward areas where non-salmon fish species are more abundant. Workers will use boats and, on some estuaries, small pyrotechnics, to accomplish the task. Hazing is intended to increase the survival of both wild-spawned and hatchery salmon juveniles as they migrate to the ocean. Some of these spring migrants represent species that are experiencing conditions of conservation risk, including coho salmon, which is federal- ly threatened in Oregon under the Endangered Species Act. Hazing workers are being provided by the Clatsop County Fisheries Project, Port of Nehalem, Port of Bandon, North Coast Salmon and Steelhead Enhancement Fund and the Alsea Sportsmen’s Association. ODFW will provide a por- tion of the funding and pro- gram oversight, and will con- duct some hazing operations itself to protect hatchery releas- es on the lower Columbia River. ODFW has coordinated the cormorant hazing project for the last eight years, although cormorant hazing in some form has occurred at some Oregon estuaries intermittently since 1988. Hazing will continue through May 31 on the Nehalem, Nestucca, and Coquille river estuaries, and on Tillamook and Alsea bays. The program will continue through at least July 31 on the lower Columbia River, where hazing will occur at a variety of locations, including Young’s Bay, Blind Slough, and Tongue Point. Spring Chinook season extended on lower Columbia The spring Chinook fishing season on the lower Columbia River has been extended through April 10 under rules adopted by Oregon and Washington fishery managers. Managers cited poor fishing conditions and limited harvest to-date in making their deci- sion to extend the season. The Columbia River from Buoy 10 upstream to Beacon Rock (boat and bank) plus bank angling only from Beacon Rock upstream to the Bonneville Dam deadline will remain open for spring Chinook through Monday, April 10. The closure area near the mouth of the Lewis River remains in effect. The daily bag limit is two adult salmonids per day, but only one may be a Chinook. Only adipose fin-clipped fish may be kept; all sockeye must be released per perma- nent regulation. All other permanent regula- tions apply. Anglers are reminded that under rules previously adopt- ed, from March 16 through May 15 the mainstem Columbia River will be open for retention of adipose fin- clipped steelhead. The Florence Salmon Trout Enhancement Program (STEP) will show a video and have a talk by Mike Bones on digging clams in the Siuslaw Bay during the group’s next meeting on April 5. The video will show how and where to dig the local eastern soft shell clams. It will also show how to clean and prepare them. Bones grew up in the Florence area and worked at Honeyman State Park, where he led many campers and other visitors on clamming trips. He will explain his techniques and answer questions after the meeting. Florence STEP meetings are held in the back room of the Florence Elks Club, beginning at 7 p.m., on the first Wednesday of each month. There will be a short busi- ness meeting before the clam digging presentation. The public is welcome at all STEP meetings. acrauto.com See Jim for your auto sales needs! • Repairing all makes and models • Serving Florence for 36 years 18 Mon th Unlimi , ted Mileag e Warran ty 1736 West 15th Street • Florence 541-997-6700 joel@acrauto.com 2150 Hwy. 101 • Florence (541) 997-3475 • 1-800-348-3475 www.TheSiuslawNews.com A weekly roundup of shopping, savings and doings around town. Join us to celebrate our new location 1625 12th Street | Florence, Oregon 541-997-5926 windermere.com I WILL HEAR BETTER THIS YEAR • Full Diagnostic Hearing Testing • Hearing Aid Fitting, Repair, and Service • The Only Doctors of Audiology in Florence Call Today to Schedule Your Appointment 541.991.4475 FLORENCE Friday, April 7 1525 12th St, Ste 2 HEARING 4:00-6:00 pm Open House ASSOCIATES of Florence HearingAssociatesOfFlorence.com Stop by and say hello! Together, Wes Wells and I have served the Florence Area for the past 12 years through our family owned business, Wells Tree & Landscape. We have three children who attend Mapleton High School; Dominic Wells, Haley Wells, and Alyssa West. I recently earned my Oregon Real Estate Brokers license to further help our community. I am eager to share my knowledge of the local area with newcomers and serve local residents in the sale of their home. 1625 12th Street | Florence, Oregon 541-997-5926 Vanessa West, Broker Windermere/ Florence Real Estate 3757 Hwy 101, Suite A Florence, OR 97439 windermere.com Windermere/Florence Real Estate Cel1: (541)999-9778 • Offi ce:(541)997-5926 • Fax: (541)997-5992 vwest@windermere.com • vanessawest.withwre.com D EADLINE FOR P RESS R ELEASES I S E VERY M ONDAY AND T HURSDAY BY N OON . E MAIL P RESS R ELEASES @T HE S IUSLAW N EWS . COM . CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK STEP to feature local clam digging expert at next meeting
