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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (May 21, 1997)
The INDEPENDENT, May 21,1997 Pag© 17 Changes in Northcoast fishing regulations, both good and bad Oregon’s coastal and low er Columbia River streams open for trout fishing on Sat urday, May 24. That is part of the good news. The bad news is that for the first time ever this fishery is limited to catch and release only. This drastic regulation change is in response to a very significant drop in sea- run cutthroat populations throughout the Pacific North west. This species is listed as a State Sensitive Species, is Federally listed as an Endan gered Species in the Umpqua River basin and all popula tions are presently subject to a Federal Status Review to determine whether they too will be listed. This review is scheduled to be completed by January 1, 1998. Coastal cutthroat trout have developed a complicat ed array of life history pat terns but it is the anadro- mous, or sea-run, form that has shown the steepest de cline. This is primarily related to the recent, prolonged and apparently continuing period of warm ocean conditions, ac cording to biologists Walt We ber and Joe Sheahan of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Other contribut ing factors include a decline in freshwater spawning and rearing habitat and sport fish ery harvest. Stocking of hatchery cutthroat trout as well as salmon and steelhead may be a contributing factor also. The sport fishery targets both returning adults and presmolts, which spend two to four years in freshwater be fore migrating to the sea at a size of seven to 11 inches. Current angling regulations hopefully will protect both adult and presmolt fish, allow the opportunity to fish for both sea-run and resident forms (which are indistinguishable) and still maintain a simple trout fishing regulation. The current regulation is definitely a compromise between con servation, fishing opportunity and simplicity. Anglers can choose between barbed or barbless hooks and the use of bait or artificial lures. We en courage not using bait as there is a high mortality (around 50%) of bait-caught trout even if carefully re leased. The other bit of good news is that local lakes will again be stocked with legal sized (8 inches-plus) rainbow trout the week prior to May 24. Coffen- bury, Sunset, Vernonia, Tro jan Recreation and Lost Lakes will be stocked. An glers may keep five trout per day/10 in possession when fishing in lakes. Boat anglers will do well trolling a small Flatfish or spoon such as a Triple Teezer. Bank anglers can cast small spinners or fish bait under a bobber. From page 3 change in attitude among some of our local timber land managers, concerning sal mon problems. I have been closely follow ing litigation in the high courts on the issue of the right to sue for economic damages caused by the Endangered Species Act. So far I have agreed with their decisions. I know that sounds kind o f shocking, but I feel people need to understand exactly what has been ruled. The U.S. Supreme Court said that if you are damaged economi cally because of the E.S.A, you can sue to recover dam ages if the rules to protect the species listed went be yond what was necessary to recover the species. This is the part that has been missing in most of the news paper articles. I believe everybody should have the right to sue, if they are forced to participate in any action that goes beyond the scope of the law. That’s why I find it kind of a paradox, that the timber industry was a main petitioner for this ruling. Yet, they were also the same peo ple that supported the Sal vage Rider that prohibited le gal challenges. hard to believe that a Judge may consider himself more knowledgeable than the pan el of wildlife scientists that for mulated the recovery plan. Also, can Boise Cascade claim actual economic dam age? Look at the price of ex port logs before the listing of the Spotted Owl and compare that to prices in the last few years. Clearly, the listing of the Spotted Owl put money in the pockets of private timber owners. Export prices have gained about 100-percent be cause of the listing. What’s better is that the Japanese are paying this bill, not us, ex cept for the increase in price for domestic lumber. Now Boise Cascade wants us to pay the bill again. I think if a company benefits economi cally from a listing, then that should offset the damages. This will be an interesting case, with much potential to Our State Supreme Court ruled recently that Boise Cas cade can sue the State for economic damages because they had to set aside a tract of land due to a pair of nesting Spotted Owls. This will be the test case here in Oregon. Personally I don’t think they have a case. First they will have to prove that the State instituted rules that went be yond the scope of what it will take to recover the owls. In fact, the State standard is far less than the Federal stan dard of protection and I find it Beside trout, many of the lakes and sloughs in Clatsop and Columbia Counties pro vide good angling for bass, catfish and panfish. Some of the better areas for these fish are Cullaby, Sunset, Vernon ia, Smith, West Lakes and sloughs in the Brownsmead, Westport and Clatsop Plains areas. Recent warm weather should have these fish active and hungry. affect our lives. Now I know some of you loggers feel that I’m beating up on you, but I’m not. I be lieve that logging and a healthy environment can co exist. I have found that most loggers care about the envi ronment far more than the av erage Joe. I do feel, though, that the big corporations play on loggers’ fears of unem ployment to turn loggers against other environmental ists. Next time the corporation asks you to protest, ask them for your cut of the pie that they have been receiving the last ten years or so. Just tell them “Money talks and *&# walks.” Isaak Walton League meet ings are on the third Thurs day of each month, 7:00 p.m. The public is welcome. For meeting location, call 429-7193. Forest Resources Directory M I K E P IH L L O G G I N G C O ., IN C . Holce Logging Co., Inc. Contract Logging & Road Building We Buy & Sell Timber 4 2 9 -6 7 8 3 17633 Keasey Road Vernonia, OR 97064 T e e v in B ros. Land & T im b e r C o ., In c . Long Term Forest Management Teevin Bros. Land & Umber Co., Inc. is interested in land and timber, or timber only. With or without dwellings is acceptable. Office No. (503)458-6671 ‘ Ask for Shawn or Troy Rt. 6, Box 270-B, Astoria, OR 97103 B ft H TIMBER GBNTRAGTBRS, INC. SPECIALIZING IN PRIVATE TIMBER FREE ESTIMATES LOOQINQ CORPORATION 503-429-1470 SINCE 1 9 8 1 WE BUY TIMBER - (503)324-2422 __________ VERNONIA, OREGON________ TAYLOR LUM BER & T R E A T IN G , I N C . TURNER LOGGING, INC. SPECIALIZING IN THINNING OPERATIONS W e B u y P o le s fr o m 4 0 ’ t o 9 5 ’ C A LL U S FO R C U R R E N T P R IC E S : Ed Reed Dick Castor Dennis Duke i Mobile (503) 936-1852 Mobile (503) 320-3283 Mobile (503) 434-0655 - _ S BRUCE McNAIR 225 "C" STREET VERNONIA. OR 97064 VERNONIA TRANSPORT INC. LAND CLEARING WEEDING A FABRICATION Structural Fab Burning Forming Shearing Welding Repairs Cast Iron Hard Facing Heliarc Welding Sheet Metal Fabrication Cable S & L LOGGING CORP. OFFICE: (503) 324-9004 (503) 429-1471 Mobile: (503) 430-3829 We take time to take care o f small details. Mike Pihl • Roy Cary (360) 578-9269 DAN STONE (503) 324-4830 P.O. Box 284, Vernonia, OR 97064 MARK TURNER: 429-5622 A.K. WOLFF: 324-4512 RIGGING DAVID C. SCHMIDT REG. #475498-86 202 S. MAIN • BANKS, OR 97106 Heavy Hauling • Lowboy Service ‘ LEE’S FOREST GROVE INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY « (503| 359-9128 • (503] 429-4893 BILL NEUMAN 5375 SW SPRINGHILL RD. GASTON, OR 97119 ~ ~ 43995 NW Caldwell Ln. Banks, OR 97106 O U A U TY U GOING SPECIALIST " No job too big No job too small We log ’em all GREG TURNER: 324-7410 T im ber, S a w lo g s , P o le s , a n d P u lp lo g s jr lIM B É R Private Timber Large or Small • Poles - Exports - Domestic MAXIMUM RETURN FOR LAND OWNERS Mobile: 503-250-1268 Fax: 503-429-0252 1010 Bridge Street • P.O. Box 321 Vernonia, OR 97064 ROAD BUILDING • RIGHT OF WAYS CUTTING, LOGGING & HAULING IN OREGON & WASHINGTON RUSS LENDE (503) 429-3300 LICENSED • INSURED • MEMBER AOL Chain Hooks Shackles Cable Accessories & Swedging POWER TRANSMISSION EQUIPMENT Sprockets Roller Chain V-Belts Sheaves Shaft Couplers W H l i m i m i l S * BKAMMS ’ TMLS • W W SIIIA L SAS • AMASIVB HA M WAM • C lT lW TOOLS • S H il SIPPUKS • ■ H M lU t W H .lW 'n i PHONE: (503) 359-3544 • FAX: (503) 357-4696 2617 23RD AVENUE • FOREST GROVE
