|
|
|
|
|
Inside this issue |
|
| General Interest News From Around the State Special Topics From your Government Relations Committee |
| |
General Interest
|
|
| |
Win a Hobie Kayak
|
|
| |
Don't miss out! CCA Oregon and Next Adventure have partnered up, giving you the chance to win a Hobie Rev 13 Kayak that CCA Oregon is outfitting for fishing!
Tickets are only $20.00 each and you can purchase as many as you like! All money raised stays here in Oregon to help us in the fight to protect our fisheries. Tell your friends and family!
Tickets can be purchased online here
 |
|
|
Top
|
| |
Wanted: Your Skills and Talents!
|
|
| |
CCA Oregon is seeking CCA members with hidden skills and talents... Do you have what it takes to better CCA Oregon? Are you a web designer or graphic artist? Are you a writer or editor? Do you have experience in professional grant writing? Are you a "people" person and like to network with others? Do you have management or sales skills? It's the perfect time to get off bench on the sidelines and into the game!
CCA Oregon is continuing to build on the successes of 2015. We have a variety of state board committees providing support to the organization that need your help. A great example is Tualatin Valley Chapter member Jon Haas from "Hoss Off the Grid". Jon is putting together a team of individual experts to develop a plan, with our professional staff, to better our communication to the general CCA Oregon membership. Many hands make light work.
Please contact Chris Cone to discuss where your skills and talents can best be used for CCA Oregon. chris.cone@ccaoregon.org or 541-213-1464 |
|
|
Top
|
| |
News From Around the State
|
|
| |
CCA Oregon Hires Assistant Director
|
|
| |
Please join us in welcoming Adam Wilson as our new Assistant Director. Adam grew up in New Hampshire where being outdoors was always the top priority. Whether it was fishing with his brothers or skiing on the mountain, he always found a way to be outside. After graduating with a degree in Environmental Science, specializing in aquatics, he spent the better part of three years working as a fisheries observer in Alaska where he gathered data for NOAA. When he is not working he spends his time traveling, skiing, fishing, mountain biking, climbing, cooking, and finding anything that comes with the freedom of outdoor living and the happiness it brings. |
|
|
Top
|
| |
Banquet Season is upon us!
|
|
| |
Are you ready for some of the best fish parties around? The CCA Oregon banquet season is here! It's time to raise some funds for CCA to support our mission. Find the one (or ones) you want to attend below. Be sure to RSVP and bring a friend!
March 5th • Columbia County Chapter Banquet
March 19th • Corvallis Chapter Banquet
April 2nd • Willamette Falls Chapter Banquet
April 16th • Tillamook Chapter Banquet
April 23rd • Salem Chapter Banquet
April 30th • Tualatin Valley Chapter Banquet
May 6th • Mt. Hood Chapter Banquet
May 14th • Rogue Valley Chapter Banquet
July 15th • South Willamette Valley Chapter Banquet
August 27th • South Coast Chapter Banquet |
|
|
Top
|
| |
Youth Fishing Basics Class
|
|
| |
"I Don't Want This Class To End!"
by Steve Godin
This quote was recently overheard, from one of our adventurous Reedsport Community Charter School students, near the end of this year's new Fishing Basics Class Brave's Session. The South Coast Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association of Oregon (CCA) offered this well-received class, with an objective of providing students with the knowledge and equipment necessary to be successful anglers.
Using philosophies of "fishing is a conservation journey and luck favors the prepared", the class was developed by Steve Godin, South Coast CCA Chapter President, and Ron Frakes, Biology Teacher at the Reedsport Community Charter School. Funding for the class was provided by the Reedsport Education Enrichment Foundation (REEF).
Many supporters came to our aid from within and outside the Reedsport community. Steve Miller engaged Tom Rumreich, ODF&W Biologist Charleston Office who donated fishing rods and reels. Evan Leonetti and Eric Himmelreich, ODF&W Biologists Roseburg Office provided the students with a strong appreciation for salmon conservation and fish habitat restoration. Doug Buck, GRWB STEP took the students on an informative tour of the Gardiner STEP Hatchery. Michael Northrup, U.S. Department of Agriculture, presented the students with an excellent USDA Fishing Guide and detailed instructions related to local waters. Bill Taylor, a skilled local angler, shared his insight on successful boat fishing techniques for local lakes. Pete Heley, Umpqua Post Outdoors Writer and local angler, provided each student with a copy of his outstanding publication Oregon Coast Fishing Maps, as well as his experience regarding fish available in local lakes. Harold Ettelt, local angler, trained students on how to make their own spinners, and generously donated all the needed tools and materials. As a result of these many donations and supporters, the students got a deep appreciation for local conservation efforts, hatchery management, how and where to fish, and the gear needed!
The Fishing Basics Class was held for half days, at the Reedsport Community Charter School starting on January 19th, and continued for eight days. It was composed of classroom instruction as well as three field trips. Instructions addressed knot tying, equipment rigging, safety, habitat, conservation, hatcheries, regulations, fish identification, fish anatomy, casting, netting, fish handling, cleaning, and cooking. Multimedia presentations were composed of a wide variety of displays, practice equipment, access to the Internet, printed materials, videos, and games. Sammy, ODFW's three-foot plush stuffed salmon, even volunteered as the subject for a netting demonstration! There were multiple casting practice sessions too, which took place outside at the adjacent sports field and at Lake Marie. Students also had the opportunity to compete in a casting contest, where there were enthusiastic battles for some highly prized chocolates!
At the conclusion of the class, each student received their own fishing rod, reel, appropriate tackle, and instruction specific to its use. Students also had multiple opportunities to rig these rods with depth adjustable strike indicators, split shot, and knots. We accomplished our objective of providing students with all the equipment and knowledge necessary to fish. So, it sounds like it's time to go dig some worms!
Sixteen students graduated from the Fishing Basics Class on January 28th and were encouraged to continue their pursuit of fishing and come to our South Coast Chapter meetings. Students were also invited to further develop their skills at the upcoming free-fishing day on June 5th at Lake Marie. My favorite student quote was definitely, "I don't want this class to end." And it won't. Graduates are now enrolled as New Tide members in CCA and our local chapter offers them follow-on learning, networking, and fishing opportunities. Additionally, they receive a year's subscription to the CCA newsletter publication, Rising Tide. This is a class that truly doesn't end. |
|
|
Top
|
| |
Christmas Trees for Salmon
|
|
| |
Christmas Trees for Salmon, 2016
by Steve Godin
Do you think the Reedsport Community cares about Salmon? You bet they do...
Christmas Trees for Salmon is a South Coast Chapter project of the Coastal Conservation Association, Oregon which takes a lot of cooperation and help from the local Reedsport community to make it successful. This is our second year for this project. It started with the Lions Club and the Winchester Bay Market handing out fliers and promoting the project to Christmas tree buyers before the Holidays. Christmas Trees for Salmon was further promoted by the local Umpqua Post urging people to donate their trees and posters were placed in conspicuous locations throughout Reedsport and Winchester Bay.
Reedsport City Management allowed us to collect and stage Christmas Trees on city property adjacent to the Les Schwab parking lot. This made it easier and convenient for tree donators to drop off their trees and the area was kept neat by chapter volunteers throughout January. Once ODF&W had secured required permits and the creek water was low, dates were chosen for tree placement. Ron Frakes, Reedsport Community Charter School Teacher, arranged a student field trip.
Wednesday morning at 8:00 AM on February 10th, ten South Coast Chapter members and the Reedsport High School students converged on the Christmas tree pile at the Les Swab parking lot and loaded approximately one hundred trees on five trailers. From there we headed for Buck Creek with a short detour for the student bus for donuts. Well, it IS forty five minutes to the creek!
We arrived in force at Buck Creek where ODF&W Biologists, Evan Leonetti and Eric Himmelreich were waiting for us. Evan and Eric discussed the advantages the trees provided for fish habitat with the students setting the stage for what was to come next. Everyone got busy unloading trees from the trailers and hauling them down to locations in Buck Creek. These trees were to augment work previously completed by ODF&W and other agencies. Numerous large trees had been crisscrossed in bends along the creek, and what appeared to be barriers, were no problems for fish to negotiate. However, the large trees did slow the water and enabled gravel to build-up around them.
The Christmas trees were jammed in among the larger trees in the creek to help slow the water flow. This was where the students excelled! Trees were literally flying through the air on their way to the creek. A few students in boots were gingerly stuffing trees into locations pointed-out by the biologists. There seemed to be no lack of energy as the students, South Coast Chapter volunteers and biologists went from one location to the next. Before we knew it all the trees were in the creek, no-one had fallen in and it was time for a few pictures and lunch. The Price and Pride Market had generously discounted sandwiches and chips for lunch and Joan Godin made a nice batch of healthy Oatmeal Cookies for their dessert.
Many thanks to everyone in the Reedsport community, chapter volunteers and ODF&W for supporting the South Coast Chapter of CCA, Oregon and Christmas Trees for Salmon, truly a community project. Plans are already in place for Christmas Trees for Salmon, 2017! |
|
|
Top
|
| |
New Statewide Sponsors
|
|
| |
CCA is proud to annouce that in 2016 we have partnered with the following as our statewide sponsors here in Oregon:
- Engel Coolers
- Cousin's Tackle
- Costa Del Mar Sunglasses
- Burnside Brewery
- Maxima Fishing Lines
- Pro-Cure Scents
- BYO Flashers
- Fisherman's Marine & Outdoor
It's important to support those who go above and beyond in supporting CCA Oregon. When you choose to shop, please consider our statewide sponsors first. |
|
|
Top
|
| |
From your Government Relations Committee
|
|
| |
CCA Oregon President Submits Letter of Support for Hatcheries
|
|
| |
CCA Oregon President Jack Smith submits letter of support for hatcheries.
William W. Stelle, Jr.
Regional Administrator NMFS West Coast Region
7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle, WA 98115
Dear Mr. Stelle We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to comment on preparation of the Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) necessary for the proposed approval of Hatchery Genetic Management Plans (HGMPs) for hatchery programs along the Oregon coast. We would urge National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to complete the EIS and subsequent Endangered Species Act (ESA) approvals for these hatchery programs in a timely fashion. These important, well-run programs are essential to coastal fisheries and must not be left vulnerable to lawsuits, which target the lack of procedural approvals under the ESA regulatory process. We anticipate extremist groups will attempt to exploit any delay in development and approval of the EIS for Oregon's coastal hatchery programs. These lawsuits, as you know have become quite common (e.g. McKenzie River, Sandy River, and more recently, Mitchell Act funded programs throughout the Columbia Basin) and waste valuable resources that could be better spent in a positive manner to benefit fish populations in our region.
CCA Oregon members participated on every stakeholder group in every stratum of the Coastal Multispecies Plan (CMP) and remain supportive of the process and outcome of this historical, collaborative effort. This effort brought together a variety of stake holders intent on ensuring the proper management of these well-run, scientifically sound hatchery programs on the Oregon Coast. These programs provide great benefit to rural coastal communities while protecting and enhancing wild populations including listed Coho, non-listed Chinook, Chum and Steelhead.
CCA Oregon recognizes the important role hatcheries have to play in providing sustainable harvest opportunities while conserving and rebuilding salmon and steelhead stocks. It is our belief that hatcheries will be an important part of our region's future and that we should continuously strive to improve the operation and efficacy of hatchery programs to reflect current science while maximizing the socioeconomic benefit hatcheries provide. As NMFS prepares the EIS we urge you to give full consideration to these factors as well as the significant changes that have been made to these hatcheries in recent years.
As you know, many rural coastal communities located along the entire length of the Oregon coast depend on these Oregon coastal hatcheries and the fisheries they provide. Nearly all coastal fisheries are supported to some degree by the coastal hatcheries with many of the selective, consumptive fisheries being totally dependent on these carefully run programs.
Sincerely,
Jack Smith
CCA Oregon, President Chair,
Hatchery Sub-Committee Stake Holder,
North Coast Stratum CMP |
|
|
Top
|
|
February 24, 2016
| |
|
|
Visit us on Facebook
Have you liked the CCA Oregon facebook page yet? We have give aways and great information for sharing on Facebook.
CCA Oregon Facebook page
|
|
| |
|
|
Key Dates for Oregon Members
March 5th • Columbia County Chapter Banquet
March 19th • Corvallis Chapter Banquet
April 2nd • Willamette Falls Chapter Banquet
April 16th • Tillamook Chapter Banquet
April 23rd • Salem Chapter Banquet
April 30th • Tualatin Valley Chapter Banquet
May 6th • Mt. Hood Chapter Banquet
May 14th • Rogue Valley Chapter Banquet
July 15th • South Willamette Valley Chapter Banquet
August 27th • South Coast Chapter Banquet
Stay Up to Speed
The best way to keep up with what CCA Oregon is doing is to be an active member. That's why we encourage you to be a regular attendee at your local chapter meetings and events.
|
|
| |
|
|
Your Local CCA Chapter Meetings
The latest info about local chapter meetings can be found on their chapter page on our website.
|
|
| |
|
|
CCA Oregon Leadership
CCA Oregon state officers, local chapter officers, and committee chairs are all volunteers. As such they are juggling day jobs, families, personal commitments, and trying to get in a little fishing now and then - just like you. Your primary line of contact is your local chapter president. For a list of State Officers and Committee Chairs visit our website.
CCA Oregon Headquarters 877-255-8772
|
|
| |
|
|
About News Bites
News Bites is produced by the CCA Oregon Communications Committee. It is distributed electronically for the convenience of our members. While we do our utmost to ensure that all electronic components and attachments are virus free, we cannot guarantee that the links to other locations are safe. It is therefore the responsibility of individual subscribers to make sure that their own computers are protected from viruses, adware, and other malicious software that may be capable of infecting their computers, regardless of the source.
The News Bites welcomes comments and suggestions that will help us to improve the publication. To get in touch, please email us at info@ccaoregon.org
|
|
|
