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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 21, 2010)
The INDEPENDENT, October 21, 2010 Young hunters must wear orange in 2011 The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission has made wearing hunter orange manda- tory for youth 17 years of age and younger. The rule will take effect August 1, 2011. The rule will require the wearing of a hunter orange up- per garment OR hat for youth hunters while hunting game mammals and upland birds (ex- cept turkey) with any firearm. The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission also set the 2011 Oregon Big Game Regulations, which include season dates, bag limits and open areas, statewide youth hunts, and other information. There were several addi- tions to the 2011 big game reg- ulations, including allowing the use of any legal weapon during “rifle” pronghorn, deer and elk hunts; and allowing hunters who bought a Sport Pac to use the deer voucher for 600 series hunts. Changes for 2011 include: • Allowing any legal weapon during “rifle” pronghorn, deer and elk hunts (already legal for other species). • Allowing Sport Pac hunters to use the deer voucher for 600 series hunts. • Allowing limited tags sales after deadlines. • Implementing a winter range closure at Phillip W. Schneider Wildlife Area. • Extend Murderers Creek- Flagtail TMA so it begins 3 days prior to archery season (cur- rently begins 3 days prior to buck deer rifle season). • Replacing general late sea- son archery cow hunts with controlled hunts in Santiam, Stott Mt., Alsea, McKenzie and N. Indigo (due to declining elk populations and to better dis- tribute hunters). • Allow additional deer hunt- ing on William Finley National Wildlife Refuge • New “Wendling” Travel Management Area in a portion of McKenzie Unit on private timberland (north of Hwy 126, east of Marcola Road, south of Mohawk River Mainline). • Bridge Creek Wildlife Area to open for public access April 15 (not May 1) to coincide with spring turkey season and open- ing of PW Schneider WA. The Commission decided to continue current regulations and not allow archery hunters to use lighted nocks or cam- eras. It also decided not to be- gin a pilot program that would have allowed crossbows for some hunters with disabilities. ODFW seeks Salmon advisory member The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking qualified candidates to repre- sent the North Coast on the Salmon and Trout Enhance- ment Program (STEP) Advisory Committee. Oregonians who are in- volved with local fishing groups, have previous experi- ence working with volunteers and/or in community service, and are able to travel at least four times per year, are encour- aged to apply. The ideal candi- date should be a resident of the area extending from Cannon Beach north to Warrenton, and up the Columbia River to West- port including the communities of Cannon Beach, Seaside, Warrenton, Astoria and Vernon- ia. The major stream basins in this area include the Klaska- nine, Youngs, Lewis and Clark, Necanicum, and Nehalem rivers. The successful candidate will start on or before Jan. 1, 2011 and will serve a four-year term, with the possibility of re- appointment for a total term of eight years. STEP was created by the Oregon Legislature in 1981 to provide a way for volunteers to participate in the restoration of native stocks of salmon, steel- head and trout. Since then, thousands of volunteers have assisted Oregon’s fisheries through their involvement in STEP, donating money, materi- als, equipment, and countless hours of time and labor. The committee is comprised of 13 members representing all regions of Oregon. Members are appointed by the Governor and meet quarterly in various communities throughout the state to conduct STEP busi- ness and advise ODFW and the Fish and Wildlife Commis- sion on issues regarding STEP. Committee members are vol- unteers; however, business-re- lated expenses are reimbursed Candidates are encouraged to apply by October 29, though this recruitment will remain open until filled. For more application materi- als, visit the link below or go to http://governor.oregon.gov/Gov /boards.shtml and follow the link to “interest form.” Informa- tion on STEP can be found at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/STE P/index.asp or by contacting Kevin Herkamp, ODFW Salmon and Trout Enhancement Pro- gram Coordinator, at (503)947- 6232 or kevin.herkamp@state .or.us. Page 15 Power of the People By W. Marc Farmer, General Manager, West Oregon Electric Cooperative A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new WOEC headquarters facility on Oc- tober 8. With State Legislators, a County Commissioner, the City Administrator, WOEC Board and Staff, Five Star Builders, and Co-op members present, the project was officially begun. Actual construction be- gan this week. Depending on the weather conditions during construction, the project should take from eight to 10 months to complete. This facility will be using local contractors, goods, services and vendors to create and retain as much local employment as possible. The best part is that it is out of the flood plain. See picture from the groundbreaking ceremony on page 1. BLM expands use of herbicides The Bureau of Land Man- agement (BLM) announced the release of a Record of Decision for the Vegetation Treatments Using Herbicides on BLM Lands in Oregon. Weeds are currently spreading on BLM lands in Oregon at an estimat- ed 12 percent per year, or 144,000 acres per year. This decision expands herbicide use beyond noxious weed treatments to include: the treat- ment of all invasive plants; the control of pests and diseases; and the control of native vege- tation in rights-of-way, adminis- trative sites, and recreation sites. The broader array of herbicides available under the selected alternative will help slow the noxious weed spread rate by half and prevent 2.2 mil- lion acres from becoming in- fested. There is a 30-day appeal pe- riod following issuance of the Record of Decision before the decision can take effect. Addi- tional information, and a copy of the Record of Decision and Final Environmental Impact Statement, is available online a t : http://www.blm.gov/or/plans/ vegtreatmentseis/ Columbia salmon fishing reopens Chinook salmon fishing re- opened on the lower Columbia River downstream of the Lewis River on October 15 and will stay open through the end of the year. The Oregon and Washing- ton departments of fish and wildlife decided to reopen recreational chinook salmon fishing on the Columbia from Buoy 10 upstream approxi- mately 88 miles to the mouth of the Lewis River. This section had been closed for chinook since Sep- tember 12 to reduce impacts to federally-listed wild “tule”-stock chinook salmon destined for See Salmon on page 20 Save Two Dollars Off Extra Large Combo Pizza With this Coupon! 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