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#969288 - 12/02/16 02:27 PM Columbia on the agenda
Rivrguy Offline
River Nutrients

Registered: 03/03/09
Posts: 4393
Loc: Somewhere on the planet,I hope
For those not aware a lot is a foot about the Big C.


Next Saturday, December 10 at 10:15 AM, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will convene at the Natural Resource Building in Olympia (1111 Washington Street / First Floor - Room 172) to review the bi-state Columbia River gillnet reforms and receive public comment on possible changes (Commission agenda HERE).

It is CRITICAL that we pack the room to urge the Washington Commission to honor its promises and faithfully implement the gillnet reforms – particularly since the Oregon Commission just voted this morning to block the plan’s full implementation for a year. We will post updated information that you can use for making public comments to the CCA website (www.ccawashington.org) by Wednesday, December 7.

Please do everything you can to attend the meeting in Olympia next Saturday – bring your friends and wear your CCA hat to urge the Washington Commission to implement the policy. If you haven’t already responded to our previous action alert, please take two easy steps to support the Columbia River reforms:
1. Send a personal e-mail to the WDFW Commission and WDFW Director Jim Unsworth urging them to faithfully implement the Columbia River policy. You can find talking points for your e-mail HERE. Send your e-mail to commission@dfw.wa.gov and director@dfw.wa.gov (please copy us at info@ccapnw.org).
2. CLICK HERE to send a pre-drafted email to Governor Inslee and your legislators urging them to support the plan.

It is critical that WDFW and the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission stand firm and honor the plan's promises – including ending non-selective mainstem gillnet fishing.

Thank you,
CCA Washington
________________________________________
_________________________
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#969297 - 12/02/16 05:08 PM Re: Columbia on the agenda [Re: Rivrguy]
eyeFISH Offline
Ornamental Rice Bowl

Registered: 11/24/03
Posts: 12766
Oregon just voted this morning to extend/delay the full transition for another year.

Bass turds... dirty bass turds!

Or as DW likes to say..... GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
_________________________
"Let every angler who loves to fish think what it would mean to him to find the fish were gone." (Zane Grey)

"If you don't kill them, they will spawn." (Carcassman)


The Keen Eye MD
Long Live the Kings!

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#969327 - 12/03/16 09:30 AM Re: Columbia on the agenda [Re: eyeFISH]
Rivrguy Offline
River Nutrients

Registered: 03/03/09
Posts: 4393
Loc: Somewhere on the planet,I hope

And more. You Columbia guys might want to pay attention as there is a real power play going on and it has the usual players but not out in the open. JT in our Governors office right along with our devoted FORMER Director are very active behind the scenes. Oh did I mention it is not to the RECs or fish benefit?

NEWS RELEASE
Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/
December 2, 2016
Contact: Commission Office, (360) 902-2267
Commission invites public comments at hearing
on Columbia salmon policy
OLYMPIA – The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will invite public comments on proposed options for implementing the state's reform policy on Columbia River salmon management during a meeting scheduled Dec. 9-10 in Olympia.
In addition, the commission is scheduled to take action on a variety of new saltwater fishing rules as well as proposed changes in the protective status of five state wildlife species, including bald eagles, peregrine falcons, American white pelicans, marbled murrelets, and lynx.
The commission, a citizen panel appointed by the governor to set policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), will convene in Room 172 of the Natural Resources Building at 1111 Washington St. S.E. in Olympia. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. both days.
A complete agenda is available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/meetings.html.
The Columbia River reform policy, adopted by the commission in 2013, outlines a joint strategy by Washington and Oregon to restructure recreational and commercial salmon fisheries below Bonneville Dam. With the next phase of that plan set to take effect in 2017, state fishery managers will outline possible options for shaping the course of the reform effort in the years ahead.
Options currently under review by the commission are posted at http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/fisheries/lower_columbia/options.html. The public can comment on those options online and during a public comment period at the upcoming meeting at 10:15 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 10.
The commission will not take action on the Columbia River reform policy at that meeting, but will decide on 11 saltwater sportfishing rules proposed for adoption for the 2017 season.
One proposal would require that vessels fishing for bottomfish or halibut in Puget Sound carry a descending device allowing anglers to safely return rockfish to deep water. Another would make it unlawful to possess another person's shellfish or food fish in the field or in transit without written permission. To review all 11 proposals online, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/rule_proposals/2017-2018/recommend.php
In other action, the commission will consider removing bald eagles and peregrine falcons from Washington's sensitive species list, and reducing the protective status of white pelicans from "endangered" to "threatened." Surveys show that all three species have rebounded in Washington state, due to the federal ban on the pesticide DDT and other factors.
At the same time, the commission will consider elevating the protective status of marbled murrelets and lynx to "endangered" from "threatened" status in response to declining populations of those species. More information is available on the department's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/endangered/status_review/.
The commission will also:
• Discuss plans to seek additional funding and partnerships to better connect people with nature and to implement the State Wildlife Action Plan to conserve Washington's diverse fish and wildlife and their habitats.
• Receive a staff briefing on the North of Falcon season-setting process for state salmon fisheries.
• Receive a staff briefing on scientific research projects currently underway at the department.
Persons with disabilities who need to receive this information in an alternative format or who need reasonable accommodations to participate in WDFW-sponsored public meetings or other activities may contact Dolores Noyes by phone (360-902-2349), TTY (360-902-2207), or email (dolores.noyes@dfw.wa.gov). For more information, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/reasonable_request.html.
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Visit the WDFW News Release Archive at: http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/
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#969347 - 12/03/16 04:55 PM Re: Columbia on the agenda [Re: Rivrguy]
eyeFISH Offline
Ornamental Rice Bowl

Registered: 11/24/03
Posts: 12766
Same place as usual, with the typical suspects in attendance, I'm sure.

If'n ya can't make it...

"NOTE: This meeting will be broadcast via webcast through TVW at tvw.org"
_________________________
"Let every angler who loves to fish think what it would mean to him to find the fish were gone." (Zane Grey)

"If you don't kill them, they will spawn." (Carcassman)


The Keen Eye MD
Long Live the Kings!

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#969458 - 12/07/16 08:02 AM Re: Columbia on the agenda [Re: eyeFISH]
Rivrguy Offline
River Nutrients

Registered: 03/03/09
Posts: 4393
Loc: Somewhere on the planet,I hope

Well this is not so hot!

COLUMBIA RIVER FALL CHINOOK
2016 PRELIMINARY RETURNS AND
OUTLOOK FOR 2017

2016 Preliminary Returns
• Adult fall Chinook returns were predicted to be 960,000 fish.
• Preliminary returns are about two-thirds of the forecast.
• Bright stock jack returns are about half of the recent 10 year average.

2017 Outlook
• Bright stocks should be similar to years prior to 2013.
• Tule stocks should be similar to the recent 10 year average.
• Poor ocean conditions along the Oregon and Washington coasts could potentially have negative impacts on tule fall Chinook and Coho returns.

Columbia River Coho
• 2016 preliminary return is much less than predicted.
• Jack returns to the Columbia River are up some from last year, but lower than the previous two years.


Tule Stocks
LRH – Lower River Hatchery stock
BPH – Bonneville Pool Hatchery stock
Bright Stocks
URB – Upriver Bright stock
PUB – Pool Upriver Bright stock
BUB – Bonneville Bright stock
LRW – Lower River Wild stock
SAB – Select Area Bright stock

December 5, 2016
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
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#969465 - 12/07/16 09:13 AM Re: Columbia on the agenda [Re: Rivrguy]
slabhunter Offline
River Nutrients

Registered: 01/17/04
Posts: 3742
Loc: Sheltona Beach
Interesting, there is no mention of the ESA listed, Snake River Wild stock in the Bright stocks.
This was the "constraining" stock to allow a sport priority? Yet the gill nets went in and harvested above the mouth of the Lewis River as planned with the 50% allowable impacts rather than 30% under policy

I hope the Commission will update and reaffirm the policy.
Staff at Harvest Management squandered a conservation benefit of the B run Steelhead. The gill nets do not distinguish between stocks or species, only the size of the fishes encountered. Thus the most fit steelhead and ability of those to produce offspring were removed.
_________________________
When we are forgotten, we cease to exist .
Share your outdoor skills.

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#969504 - 12/07/16 07:17 PM Re: Columbia on the agenda [Re: Rivrguy]
Carcassman Offline
River Nutrients

Registered: 11/21/07
Posts: 7411
Loc: Olema,California,Planet Earth
Had a friend who was a Columbia River gill netter ages ago. Way pre-merger. He fished a Springer opening and brought back 20 steelhead that were dead in the net. He refused to waste them; distributed to needy. Cumulative weight was over 400 pounds................

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#969540 - 12/08/16 03:46 PM Re: Columbia on the agenda [Re: Rivrguy]
slabhunter Offline
River Nutrients

Registered: 01/17/04
Posts: 3742
Loc: Sheltona Beach
I'll be interested to see if Staff talks about this failure to comply with the Commission's guidance for prior years take, during the NoF update.
_________________________
When we are forgotten, we cease to exist .
Share your outdoor skills.

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#969734 - 12/13/16 07:11 AM Re: Columbia on the agenda [Re: slabhunter]
Rivrguy Offline
River Nutrients

Registered: 03/03/09
Posts: 4393
Loc: Somewhere on the planet,I hope

This post and the next are about the Commission meeting and a bunch of stuff but here it is the Columbia. Read through them as your policy is about to take a ride. A lot is a foot in getting the Commercials back on the water and to be honest folks despite a lot of verbal effort creating nothing but hot air those supposedly representing Rec interest are pretty much MIA. Guys if your a Big C guy you better jump in.

NEWS RELEASE
Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/

December 12, 2016

Contact: Commission Office, (360) 902-2267
Commission delists bald eagles, falcons, airs options on Columbia salmon policy

OLYMPIA – The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission removed bald eagles and peregrine falcons from the state list of "sensitive species," and received public comments on future options for the Columbia River reform policy at a meeting here Dec. 9-10.
The commission, a citizen panel appointed by the governor to set policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), also adopted nine new saltwater fishing rules that will take effect July 1, 2017.
The commission's action to reduce the state's protective status of bald eagles and peregrine falcons reflects the species' steady recovery since the 1970s, when the pesticide DDT was banned under federal law.

"This has been a long time coming," Becker said. "Both of these species are success stories in Washington as well as in other states."
In addition to delisting bald eagles and peregrine falcons, the commission also approved the reclassification of three other wildlife species. White pelicans were reduced from "endangered" to "threatened" status, while marbled murrelets and lynx were reclassified as "endangered" due primarily to the continuing loss of essential habitat.
More information is available on all of these species on the department's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/endangered/status_review/.
The second day of the meeting was largely dedicated to a public discussion about the next phase of the commission's Columbia River reform policy, adopted in 2013 to restructure salmon fisheries below Bonneville Dam.

Developed in conjunction with Oregon, the policy is designed to promote conservation of salmon and steelhead, prioritize recreational salmon fishing in the lower Columbia River, and transition gillnet fisheries into off-channel areas. The policy also calls for increasing hatchery releases in these areas, while expanding commercial fishing opportunities through the use of alternative fishing gear.

With the transition period of the reform policy set to end this year, the commission heard comments from more than two-dozen recreational and commercial fishers on options for implementing the next phase of that plan. Initial options under consideration by the commission would:
• Extend the transition period of current plan.
• Adopt the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife staff proposal for "rebalancing" commercial and recreational benefits for spring and summer chinook salmon.
• Follow the current policy, which would end the transition period Dec. 31, 2016.
Following public testimony, the commission asked WDFW staff to provide an economic analysis of each option and to analyze an additional option that would explicitly allow a gillnet fishery for upriver bright fall chinook upstream from the Lewis River in 2017 and 2018.

Options currently under consideration are posted on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/fisheries/lower_columbia/options.html. The commission will accept written comments on those and other proposals through Jan. 6, and will also invite public testimony at a public meeting Jan. 13-14 in Vancouver, Wash., before considering any updates to the policy.

Other issues addressed by the commission during its two-day meeting include:

• Saltwater sportfishing rules: The commission approved nine saltwater sportfishing rules for the 2017 season, including one that requires vessels fishing for bottomfish or halibut in Puget Sound to carry a descending device to enable anglers to safely return rockfish to deep water. All new fishing rules are posted on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/rule_proposals/2017-2018/recommend.php.

• Land transactions: The commission approved two land transactions by WDFW, one of which would add 40 acres in Cowlitz County west of Merrill Lake to the Mount St. Helens Wildlife area. The commission also approved a right-of-way exchange with Clallam County to support an estuarine restoration project near the mouth of Dungeness Bay.

• Conservation initiative: The commission also discussed a draft policy that supports state and national efforts to find additional funding sources for fish and wildlife species that are typically not fished or hunted. The funding could be used to support the state's Wildlife Action Plan, designed to conserve Washington's diverse fish and wildlife and their habitats.

Persons with disabilities who need to receive this information in an alternative format or who need reasonable accommodations to participate in WDFW-sponsored public meetings or other activities may contact Dolores Noyes by phone (360-902-2349), TTY (360-902-2207), or email (dolores.noyes@dfw.wa.gov). For more information, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/reasonable_request.html.
________________________________________
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Visit the WDFW News Release Archive at: http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/
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Edited by Rivrguy (12/13/16 07:18 AM)
_________________________
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#969735 - 12/13/16 07:13 AM Re: Columbia on the agenda [Re: Rivrguy]
Rivrguy Offline
River Nutrients

Registered: 03/03/09
Posts: 4393
Loc: Somewhere on the planet,I hope


Fisheries Management

Lower Columbia River Fisheries Reform Process

Commission invites comments on options for Columbia River salmon fishing policy

Audio
Commission briefing on policy options.
Teleconference call, Dec. 1, 2016.

Listen to audio Stream MP3 Audio | Download MP3 File

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is inviting public comments on proposed options for updating the state's Columbia River Basin Salmon Management policy, adopted in 2013 to conserve wild salmon and support the economic benefits generated by area fisheries. Developed in conjunction with Oregon fishery managers and stakeholders from both states, the policy calls for a progress assessment before the next phase of the plan takes effect in 2017.

General comments are welcome, but the Commission is especially interested in those addressing the options shown here.

Comments can be submitted in two ways:

Via email: Comments can be sent to the Commission at commission@dfw.wa.gov.through Jan. 6.
Testify in person: The Commission will hear public comments on Columbia River reform issues Jan. 13-14 in Vancouver, Wash. Details of the meeting – including the time of the public comment period – will be posted on the Commission's website about a week ahead of time.
The Commission is tentatively scheduled to take action on any updates to the policy at the Vancouver meeting following the public comment period.

Key goals of the reform policy

The policy adopted in 2013 provides the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife a set of guiding principles and series of actions to achieve the stated goals. Key strategies include:

Promoting the recovery of species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the conservation of wild stocks of salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River.
Prioritizing recreational fisheries in the mainstem Columbia River and commercial fisheries in off-channel areas.
Transitioning commercial fisheries remaining in the mainstem to alternative gear, such as beach and purse seines.
Shifting a greater portion of current hatchery salmon releases to off-channel areas, and exploring options for expanding those areas for commercial fisheries.
Gradually increasing the allocation ESA impacts of upriver spring chinook salmon for the sport fishery in the Columbia River to 80 percent by 2017, while increasing spring chinook opportunity for the commercial fishery in the off-channel areas.
Per the "adaptive management" provision of the policy, the Commission will consider progress toward these and other objectives to determine whether changes are necessary after the transition period ends in 2016.

Options under review

The Commission is currently considering a series of options for managing spring, summer and fall chinook fisheries on the lower Columbia River beginning in 2017. These options include 1) extending the transition period, 2) current proposals under consideration by the Oregon Commission, and 3) maintaining the current guidelines in the state's reform plan.

The commission has also asked staff to provide an economic analysis of each option and analyze an additional option that would explicitly allow a gillnet fishery for upriver bright fall chinook upstream from the Lewis River in 2017 and 2018.

Public comments on these options should clearly identify the species involved and the number (one through three) identified with each options. General comments about efforts to reform Columbia River salmon management are also welcome.



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Dazed and confused.............the fog is closing in

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#969746 - 12/13/16 11:10 AM Re: Columbia on the agenda [Re: Rivrguy]
Carcassman Offline
River Nutrients

Registered: 11/21/07
Posts: 7411
Loc: Olema,California,Planet Earth
Way back, like late 70s/early 80s the lower reaches of many of the Columbia Tribs were open to GN. The Leg closed those areas, probably in response to complaints from sporties.

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#969829 - 12/15/16 04:06 AM Re: Columbia on the agenda [Re: Rivrguy]
slabhunter Offline
River Nutrients

Registered: 01/17/04
Posts: 3742
Loc: Sheltona Beach
The North of Falcon policy is also up for review.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/policies/draft_c-3608_north_of_falcon_2017-18.pdf

Quote:
Columbia River
 The Fish and Wildlife Commission's policy on Columbia River Salmon Management (POL- C3620)
shall guide pre-season and in-season planning of Columbia River salmon fisheries. Columbia
River harvest management regimes shall be developed in cooperation with Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife representatives.


Here is some data from Table 1 of the handout at the November ODFW Commission meeting for years 2013, 2014, 2015,and 2016.
Quote:
SRW Fall
Chinook
ESA Impact Recreational 44% 38% 55% 50%
Commercial .............. 56% 62% 45% 50%
_________________________
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Share your outdoor skills.

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#969835 - 12/15/16 11:08 AM Re: Columbia on the agenda [Re: slabhunter]
Larry B Offline
River Nutrients

Registered: 10/22/09
Posts: 3020
Loc: University Place and Whidbey I...
Interesting word in the CR Policy - "SHALL guide." That is not permissive - it is directive.

As for the NOF Draft Revision it retains strong wording for stakeholder participation but with general caveats allowing the Department to decide where and when. That is not true transparency. And it is particularly true with any in-season adjustments. Haven't they learned?
_________________________
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#969836 - 12/15/16 11:21 AM Re: Columbia on the agenda [Re: Rivrguy]
Carcassman Offline
River Nutrients

Registered: 11/21/07
Posts: 7411
Loc: Olema,California,Planet Earth
The short answer is "No". While I am not sure if they incapable of learning I think that the political climate which favors the needs of the Tribes (or at least ensures continued political donations) means they won't change unless forced. Even then, I am not so sure.

Wonder if they made a proposal to NOAA for approval of recreational fisheries independent of the tribes or are we still in the box that we were last year.

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#969887 - 12/16/16 11:34 AM Re: Columbia on the agenda [Re: Carcassman]
rojoband Offline
Returning Adult

Registered: 05/31/08
Posts: 264
Speaking of the Columbia....
here's the original: http://www.cbbulletin.com/438098.aspx

NOAA Releases Proposed Changes To Columbia Basin Mitchell Act Hatchery Programs
Posted on Friday, December 16, 2016 on CBB

NOAA Fisheries this week described a proposed slate of changes at hatcheries that it says will reduce the impact of Mitchell Act hatchery fish on wild fish in the Columbia River basin.

Those changes, among other things, are designed to reduce the number of hatchery fish that stray and spawn in the wild, thus protecting naturally spawning fish.

“We’re interested in the competition between hatchery and wild fish,” said Rob Jones, head of hatcheries at NOAA’s West Coast Region. “In addition, to hatchery effectiveness, we’re looking at hatchery release levels to reduce straying in the Columbia River basin.”

The agency proposes to do this by reducing the overall number of tule chinook juveniles produced at both Mitchell Act and non-Mitchell Act hatcheries by about 4 million fish – about 12 percent – and actually increasing the overall number of coho salmon juveniles by over 1 million fish – 6.8 percent.

No production changes are proposed for steelhead.

The federal agency is racing to meet a federal court deadline to complete hatchery biological opinions and incidental take statements. Without the BiOps and incidental take statements, NOAA is prohibited by a court stipulation with the Wild Fish Conservancy to make payments to operators of 10 Mitchell Act hatcheries.

The August court stipulation that has put a stop to Mitchell Act payments was reached August 2 in Oregon U.S. District Court in the Wild Fish Conservancy vs National Marine Fisheries Service court case that began March 31, 2016.

The original March 31 filing can be found at: http://wildfishconservancy.org/copy_of_news/in-the-news/001.0.complaintMitchellActColumbia33116.pdf

In the court case, the conservancy contends Mitchell Act funds were intended to support hatchery operations that help rather than harm wild fish populations. In its court filing, the Conservancy said:

“High proportions of hatchery fish straying onto spawning grounds pose severe genetic risks to the productivity of wild fish. The best available science confirms that stray rates—measured as the proportion of hatchery-origin spawners within a naturally spawning population, or pHOS”—in excess of 5 percent or 10 percent seriously harm the fitness of wild fish, making hatcheries a primary limiting factor to recovery. Hatchery fish suppress the productivity of wild populations, prey on wild fish, compete with them for resources, and introduce disease and pathogens.”

The proposed hatchery changes outlined Thursday by NOAA in a webinar for stakeholders by Jones, Jeromy Jording, James Dixon and Larrie Lavoy, all of NOAA, are modifications that will be evaluated and included in the BiOp when it is released January 15.

In addition, NOAA is proposing to take steps to ensure broodstock for hatcheries match with major population groups where young fish are released. “Hatchery effectiveness begins with broodstock,” Jones said. “One thing we’re doing is analyzing where broodstock originates and calling for improvements in hatchery broodstock management.”

That could mean that some hatcheries will discontinue the use of certain broodstock and others could pick up that broodstock.

In addition, hatchery release levels are proposed to reduce straying in the Columbia River basin, Jones said. Lower river (downstream of Bonneville Dam) Mitchell Act hatchery production of tule chinook will decline by 24 percent from 18,128,044 to 13,775,000, but that will occur over the course of five years, Jones said. Non-Mitchell Act hatchery production of the tules will rise by 2 percent for a final reduction of lower river tules of 20 percent.

Adding in a 4 percent increase of tule production at the Spring Creek Hatchery, the final decrease in overall lower Columbia River tules is 12 percent.

For recreational fishing, that would likely drop Buoy 10 catch of tules by 6 percent, catch from Tongue Point to the Lewis River about 4 percent and from the Lewis River to Bonneville about 1 percent. The further up the river, the smaller the catch impact, Jording said.

The tributaries are likely to see the biggest reductions as a result of the tule programs, he added. The changes will also have a modest impact on off-shore treaty and non-treaty fishing.

Coho salmon production downstream of Bonneville Dam will see an overall increase, but the formula is complicated. Production at Mitchell Act hatcheries for early coho will drop 15 percent. Coho from non-Mitchell Act hatcheries will rise by 4 percent and, overall, production of early coho will drop 1 percent. Total production of early coho will drop from 6,669,861 to 6,570,128. The majority of the reduction in the lower river coho will be in the Washington tributaries of Kalama, North Fork Toutle and Washougal rivers, Dixon said. There could be an increase at the Big Creek Hatchery in Oregon and the introduction of a new program on the Elochomon River in Washington.

Again, that will be phased-in, likely over the same five years that tule production will drop. The increase in coho production will cause a modest increase in landed catch offshore, Lavoy said.

Late coho production downstream of Bonneville at Mitchell Act hatcheries will drop 11 percent and in non-Mitchell Act hatcheries there will be a 17 percent gain, for an overall gain of 11 percent. Overall, coho production (early and late) below Bonneville will gain 3 percent. Upstream of Bonneville Dam, early coho production at Mitchell Act hatcheries will not change, but will rise 7 percent at non-Mitchell Act hatcheries, with an overall gain for early coho production of 5 percent.

Production of late coho upstream at Mitchell Act hatcheries will rise 20 percent. There is no non-Mitchell Act funded late coho hatchery production upstream of Bonneville. The total change for above Bonneville coho – early and late – is a rise of 12 percent. Overall, both early/late and downstream/upstream, coho production will increase 6.8 percent from 18,476,504 to 19,738,929.
There will be no change to the production of winter and summer steelhead, according to Dixon. However, there will be a particular effort to keep hatchery fish out of Washington’s Wild Steelhead Bank rivers – Grays, N.F. Toutle, East Fork of the Lewis and Wind rivers. The Kalama River will see a drop from four hatchery stocks to two, maintaining only broodstock that originated from the river.

As for fisheries implications, Dixon said during the webinar, there may be a moderate change in timing of the run, but there will be no change in total production, and no significant change to harvest opportunities.

NOAA Fisheries heard some complaints from participants in the webinar that it is moving too fast, but Jones defended the speed at which the agency is moving, saying that it is because of the urgency of the court case. He also said that NOAA would be working on these changes regardless of a court case, but it may have taken more time.

Once the BiOp and incidental take are complete, the Wild Fish Conservancy will have 14 days to either file a motion “to supplement and/or amend its complaint or provide the Court and Federal Defendants notice that Plaintiff does not seek to supplement and/or amend the complaint at that time,” the stipulation said.
Since 1938, Mitchell Act Hatcheries have been the mainstay of commercial, recreational and treaty-tribal fisheries in the Columbia River Basin. The hatcheries produce roughly 50 percent of the salmon and steelhead released annually into the Columbia River.

Fish produced by these hatcheries are intended to partially compensate for fish and habitat losses caused by the construction of dams within the Federal Columbia River Power System.
They also provide a contribution to fulfilling tribal treaties.

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#969917 - 12/16/16 06:57 PM Re: Columbia on the agenda [Re: rojoband]
RUNnGUN Offline
Repeat Spawner

Registered: 12/06/07
Posts: 1382
Whoa! Interesting, but way too many numbers with a Friday night buzz on. Seems losers....tules, and gainers...coho are forthcoming on the big "C". Or almost a wash ? with a little less, like everything else that's going on. How about an overall review/opinion, on what this all really means? Thanks.
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#969950 - 12/17/16 08:42 PM Re: Columbia on the agenda [Re: Rivrguy]
Lucky Louie Offline
Carcass

Registered: 11/30/09
Posts: 2286
It is time for the Washington & Oregon commissioners to follow through and honor their earlier agreement when they meet again, considering that the courts have essentially backed them by denying various court challenges by the commercial industry regarding gill net reform.
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#969979 - 12/19/16 11:56 AM Re: Columbia on the agenda [Re: Lucky Louie]
Rivrguy Offline
River Nutrients

Registered: 03/03/09
Posts: 4393
Loc: Somewhere on the planet,I hope
On the Columbia bit underway there is something to watch and I highlighted it below. This bit is the key from my seat in the bleachers. [/quote]Following public testimony, the commission asked WDFW staff to provide an economic analysis of each option and to analyze an additional option that would explicitly allow a gillnet fishery for upriver bright fall chinook upstream from the Lewis River in 2017 and 2018 [quote] Now guys if folks do not dig in and track this and challenge any wrong reading of the tea leaves then it does not take a genius to figure out what will happen.



NEWS RELEASE
Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/
[Correction: The fourth paragraph in the following news release was missing from the version sent Dec. 16. Here is the full text.]
December 12, 2016
Contact: Commission Office, (360) 902-2267
Commission delists bald eagles, falcons,
airs options on Columbia salmon policy
OLYMPIA – The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission removed bald eagles and peregrine falcons from the state list of "sensitive species," and received public comments on future options for the Columbia River reform policy at a meeting here Dec. 9-10.
The commission, a citizen panel appointed by the governor to set policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), also adopted nine new saltwater fishing rules that will take effect July 1, 2017.
The commission's action to reduce the state's protective status of bald eagles and peregrine falcons reflects the species' steady recovery since the 1970s, when the pesticide DDT was banned under federal law.
State wildlife managers recommended delisting both birds because they no longer meet the state's definition of "sensitive species," said Penny Becker, WDFW Wildlife Diversity manager. Although both species are still protected under federal law, the state will no longer designate them for special attention in local land-use planning.
"This has been a long time coming," Becker said. "Both of these species are success stories in Washington as well as in other states."
In addition to delisting bald eagles and peregrine falcons, the commission also approved the reclassification of three other wildlife species. White pelicans were reduced from "endangered" to "threatened" status, while marbled murrelets and lynx were reclassified as "endangered" due primarily to the continuing loss of essential habitat.
More information is available on all of these species on the department's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/endangered/status_review/
The second day of the meeting was largely dedicated to a public discussion about the next phase of the commission's Columbia River reform policy, adopted in 2013 to restructure salmon fisheries below Bonneville Dam.
Developed in conjunction with Oregon, the policy is designed to promote conservation of salmon and steelhead, prioritize recreational salmon fishing in the lower Columbia River, and transition gillnet fisheries into off-channel areas. The policy also calls for increasing hatchery releases in these areas, while expanding commercial fishing opportunities through the use of alternative fishing gear.
With the transition period of the reform policy set to end this year, the commission heard comments from more than two-dozen recreational and commercial fishers on options for implementing the next phase of that plan. Initial options under consideration by the commission would:
• Extend the transition period of current plan.
• Adopt the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife staff proposal for "rebalancing" commercial and recreational benefits for spring and summer chinook salmon.
• Follow the current policy, which would end the transition period Dec. 31, 2016.
Following public testimony, the commission asked WDFW staff to provide an economic analysis of each option and to analyze an additional option that would explicitly allow a gillnet fishery for upriver bright fall chinook upstream from the Lewis River in 2017 and 2018.
Options currently under consideration are posted on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/fisheries/lower_columbia/options.html. The commission will accept written comments on those and other proposals through Jan. 6, and will also invite public testimony at a public meeting Jan. 13-14 in Vancouver, Wash., before considering any updates to the policy.

Other issues addressed by the commission during its two-day meeting include:
• Saltwater sportfishing rules: The commission approved nine saltwater sportfishing rules for the 2017 season, including one that requires vessels fishing for bottomfish or halibut in Puget Sound to carry a descending device to enable anglers to safely return rockfish to deep water. All of the rules adopted by the commission will be posted on WDFW's website Dec. 12.
• Land transactions: The commission approved two land transactions by WDFW, one of which would add 40 acres in Cowlitz County west of Merrill Lake to the Mount St. Helens Wildlife area. The commission also approved a right-of-way exchange with Clallam County to support an estuarine restoration project near the mouth of Dungeness Bay.
• Conservation initiative: The commission also discussed a draft policy that supports state and national efforts to find additional funding sources for fish and wildlife species that are typically not fished or hunted. The funding could be used to support the state's Wildlife Action Plan, designed to conserve Washington's diverse fish and wildlife and their habitats.
Persons with disabilities who need to receive this information in an alternative format or who need reasonable accommodations to participate in WDFW-sponsored public meetings or other activities may contact Dolores Noyes by phone (360-902-2349), TTY (360-902-2207), or email (dolores.noyes@dfw.wa.gov). For more information, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/reasonable_request.html.
________________________________________
This message has been sent to the WDFW News Releases & Weekender mailing list.
Visit the WDFW News Release Archive at: http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/
To UNSUBSCRIBE from this mailing list: http://wdfw.wa.gov/lists/unsubscribe.html


Edited by Rivrguy (12/19/16 11:58 AM)
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