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Inside this issue |
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| From your Government Relations Committee Breaking CCA News Special Topics News From Around the State General Interest |
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From your Government Relations Committee
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CCA Oregon Secures Legislative Wins
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The Oregon Legislature recently adjourned following a busy (and controversial) 160-day regular session. CCA Oregon was active throughout the legislative session working on critical issues for the future of our fisheries, including: 1) securing funding for Columbia River basin sea lion removals; 2) restoring the Santiam summer steelhead hatchery program; 3) saving the Leaburg hatchery from closure - despite continued attacks by anti-hatchery activists; and 4) holding ODFW accountable on the Columbia River gillnet reforms and restoring greater balance to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission.
Leaburg Hatchery: The most high-profile battle involved the effort to save the Leaburg hatchery from closure. In 2018, CCA led a successful effort to secure one-year of bridge funding ($500K) when the Army Corps of Engineers announced it planned to walk away from the valuable facility. We knew getting two years of funding in the 2019-2021 biennium would be more difficult. Governor Kate Brown did not include funding for Leaburg in ODFW's budget request and anti-hatchery activists were targeting Leaburg.
Thousands of CCA members, anglers, and other citizens sent emails, made phone calls, testified and met with legislators in support of funding Leaburg. We also spent considerable time correcting the inaccurate claims being made by anti-hatchery groups. Funding for Leaburg was in doubt until the very end of session, but we ultimately prevailed when a final budget reconciliation bill provided $1.35M for ODFW to operate Leaburg for the next two years. This will benefit fisheries across the state, including spring Chinook fishing in the Willamette River.
We would like to thank Senators Floyd Prozanski, Fred Girod and Lee Beyer, as well as Representatives Cedric Hayden, Sherrie Sprenger and Brad Witt for their tireless leadership in support of funding the Leaburg hatchery and recreational fisheries. Other fish advocacy groups and local community activists also deserve praise.
Columbia River Gillnet Reforms/ODFW Commission: Activist members of the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission have been on a mission to undo the bi-state Columbia River gillnet reforms and punish sportfishing for the past several years. In February, they joined with pro-gillnet members of the Washington Commission to recommend a return to year-round mainstem gillnetting - effectively killing the bi-state reforms. At the same time, ODFW had the audacity to request that Legislature make the Columbia River Basin Endorsement permanent.
On March 13, CCA organized a rally at the Capitol in Salem to urge the Legislature to hold ODFW accountable on the Columbia River reforms - including through its budget. Many of you attended the rally and ODFW budget hearing. Thousands of CCA members and anglers sent emails to their legislators opposing the reckless efforts of some Commissioners to undo the gillnet reforms.
CCA Oregon succeeded in blocking an extension of the Columbia River Basin Endorsement to hold ODFW accountable to implement the reforms. In fact, the Endorsement will go away in 2021 unless the legislature extends it next year - a task that will be made much more difficult if ODFW or the Commission continue attacking the reforms. Special thanks to Senators Michael Dembrow, Fred Girod and Chuck Riley for their support for Columbia River gillnet reforms.
In April, Governor Brown announced three new appointments to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission, including a replacement for pro-gillnet activist Bruce Buckmaster who Brown did not nominate for a second term. While we still need to learn more about the views of the new commissioners, we believe the new Commission should be more balanced and less adversarial towards the sportfishing community - a long overdue change!
Sea Lion Predation: Last year, CCA helped pass federal legislation to give Northwest states and tribes streamlined authority to protect Columbia River basin salmon and steelhead from sea lion predation. Sea lion removals at Willamette Falls are already making a difference to protect ESA-listed winter steelhead, but ODFW's 2019-2021 budget request did not include funding to maintain and expand removal efforts.
CCA Oregon worked closely with members of the Ways and Means Committee to secure $494K for sea lion removals in the Willamette and Columbia rivers - a big win for struggling salmon and steelhead! Ways and Means Co-Chairs Senators Betsy Johnson, Elizabeth Steiner Hayward and Rep. Dan Rayfield along with the Natural Resources subcommittee Co-Chairs Rep. Jeff Reardon and Sen. Kathleen Taylor also deserve a big thank you for their leadership on this critical issue!
Santiam Hatchery Summer Steelhead: This hatchery program has been threatened by cost-cutting at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and anti-hatchery activists - despite being in full compliance with all environmental laws, including ESA protections for wild fish. Tired of the continued loss of hatchery production and resulting loss in fishing opportunities, CCA Oregon worked to secure $436K for ODFW to restart this important hatchery program. We would like to recognize the efforts of Representative Sherrie Sprenger and Senator Fred Girod who championed the effort to save this hatchery program. |
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Breaking CCA News
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CCA Oregon joins with Tillamook Estuaries Partnership (TEP) to help fund the Tillamook River Wetlands Project
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CCA Oregon, through our national habitat arm Building Conservation Trust (BCT), has joined Tillamook Estuaries Partnership (TEP) and the North Coast Land Conservancy, to help fund and fully restore 73 acres of tidal wetlands within the Tillamook Bay Estuary. Once completed, this project will represent the third largest tidal wetland recovery effort of its kind in Tillamook Bay, and CCA Oregon's entry into habitat improvements in Oregon.
Tillamook Bay and its tidal wetlands comprise a critical habitat type for fish, migratory birds, and many other species of plant and wildlife. The project is located along the Pacific Flyway and will benefit 17 federal and/or state species of wildlife, including federally threatened Oregon Coast Coho Salmon. The Tillamook River Wetlands (TRW) site is located at river mile three of the Tillamook River, one of five major tributaries to Tillamook Bay. This area represents one of the most important rearing areas for the eight salmonid species that reside within the estuary.
Historically, prior to draining and levee construction, the TRW site was known to be spruce tidal swamp, one of the rarest habitat types in the Pacific Northwest with a 92% decline. The site offers a unique opportunity to restore a matrix of tidal wetlands and multi-level species diversity in the context of a highly productive and complex estuary system. The project consists of the acquisition of 73 acres of property, scientific analysis of ecological opportunities and constraints, project design, and ultimately the restoration of 73 acres of tidal wetland habitat.
In order to accomplish our goals of reconnecting lost habitat, we will address five tide gate structures, eight culverts, and approximately 3000 feet of historic levee. We will then create and enhance the habitat within the property by creating a complex network of tidal channels, placing structural components such as large woody debris, planting a diversity of locally adapted native species, and removing competing exotic animals and plants that may exist. To date, the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board has awarded the partnership two grants to purchase the property, evaluate project feasibility, and begin design. A third grant to finalize the project design is pending with NOAA's Coastal Resiliency Fund Program. Additional funding may still be needed to complete the project design, and funds are yet to be raised for restoration implementation. Rough cost estimates for implementation range from $1-2 million; this will be refined as the project design moves forward.
For Oregon, this project represents a blend of many things that make our state a special place and are important to our livelihood -- diverse natural areas, farming & forestry, hunting & fishing, and our cultural identity. We are excited about this opportunity and are confident the project will succeed in enhancing our valued coastal wetland resources. We hope you feel the same. Thank you for your consideration of funding the Tillamook River Wetlands Project.
BCT and CCA Oregon are proud to be a part of the extremely important habitat effort and look forward to future habitat projects in Oregon. CCA is looking for members that have a passion for the habitat development. If you would like to participate in CCA Oregon's Habitat Committee, please contact Chris Cone at 541-213-1464 |
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Special Topics
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Hatchery & Wild Can Coexist- Support Abundant and Healthy Fisheries
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By Jack Smith
Hatcheries play an important role in providing harvest opportunities while conserving, sustaining and rebuilding salmon and steelhead stocks. We should continue efforts aimed at improving the efficacy of hatchery programs so that the hundreds of hatchery programs operating throughout Oregon and the Pacific Northwest, supplying a large percentage of the fish in our region, continue to support fisheries and the recovery of wild salmon and steelhead. A complete absence of hatchery fish means a complete absence of recreational angling and a loss of the economic benefits it represents, especially to rural communities.
If society is unwilling or unable to engage in actions that will permit restoration of fully productive natural populations, and they are, hatchery supplementation can be biologically, socially and legally preferable to leaving remnant "wild" populations subject to the continued vagaries of human demographic growth and resource exploitation.
Long term, we should all want abundant runs of self-sustaining salmon and steelhead. Short term we need well run supplementation programs to carry us over until that day in the future when, or if our long-term vision of restoration occurs. Properly managed supplementation can make sure that any negative effects on the wild population are modest. Supplementation can increase and maintain abundance, spatial structure and diversity. In the short-term, mixing of hatchery and wild fish might slightly reduce individual reproductive fitness, but over time natural selection would correct that loss. The resulting larger population would select for greater fitness.
Policies geared at removing hatchery fish from specific river systems have not increased wild fish abundance, primarily, because the hatchery fish were not the cause of wild fish decline. However, they are a cure to the ailment when used as a tool designed to mitigate the portion of natural production we have knowingly destroyed.
We have had ESA listed salmon and steelhead since November 1991 and while we have been successful at slowing declines society is only willing to go so far. Most recovery plans allow for the continuation of all the actions that have caused decline and led to the fish being listed in the first place. It is pretty evident that continuing human population growth with its associated demand for land and water will make restoration of abundant self-sustaining wild populations difficult. While we focus on reducing or eliminating hatchery production, we have allowed society to keep practicing the very poor growth, land and water policies that got us into this situation in the first place.
If having fish to catch, with the option of either releasing or retaining, is our desired goal it is important that we plan for and develop sustainable hatchery fish production that provides abundance while doing as little harm as possible to wild fish and their possible recovery. This would mean accepting that our actions may have some negative effect on wild populations. The fact is society already made that trade when it was decided that hydro power, timber revenues, agriculture and development to provide for an ever-increasing human population was more important than fish.
Hatchery programs should be guided by the best available science so that harvest and angling opportunities are not lost without justification. Programs should be conservation oriented and judged from a risk/benefit basis.
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News From Around the State
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CCA Oregon Banquets Continue to Help Our Oregon Fisheries
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Thus far, nearly all Oregon chapters have held their banquets with amazing success. Congratulations to the committees of those chapters that put on such great events. Every member counts and every banquet dollar matters in changing and improving our Oregon fisheries.
CCA Oregon is winning the battle for our fisheries and anglers because of dedicated members across the state. The fight isn't over! Make sure you attend your local chapter meetings and the upcoming yearend CCA Volunteer Recognition Banquet. Bring some friends and come out and have a good time with CCA Oregon!
Sign-up for some banquet fun below:
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Meet CCA Oregon's New Assistant Director
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CCA Oregon would like to introduce everyone to Mr. Troy Schaffner, CCA Oregon's New Assistant Director for the Willamette Valley Chapters.
Troy was born and raised here in Oregon and is an experienced fisherman wanting to make a true difference for our Oregon fisheries. Troy brings in local chapter banquet fundraising experience as a leader for Ducks Unlimited here in Oregon, as well as some knowledge of nonprofit member recruitment. Working in the fishing retail industry, Troy also has developed a knowledge of local Oregon fisheries and their issues. We are excited for this addition to CCA Oregon and are looking forward to even more success! Welcome Troy aboard by attending your local chapter meeting. |
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CCA/Molalla River/Trout Creek Acclimation Pond Project
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THE NEED: Surveys in 2009-2010 showed the Spring Chinook Salmon population was extirpated. Only 16-26 fish were counted, with 1-2 being unclipped (possible miss clips). The Molalla River was receiving 100,000 SCS smolts a year, but they were dumped off of bridges and some years during high water events. This resulted in a very poor return and coded tagging findings showed they were straying into upper Willamette River drainages, not returning to the Molalla to provide a sport fishing opportunity. In researching a solution to the problem, we found acclimation ponds were showing success in Oregon rivers. We located a site on the Molalla River where Trout Creek enters and the highest point to have a supply of electricity. We entered into an agreement with property owners and the project was started.
THE PROJECT: In the spring of 2012 we applied and received an ODFW Recreation & Enhancement (R&E) grant for the project, but not without opposition. The Native Fish Society wanted only Wild Salmon in the Molalla River, however the biologist input provided indicated that wasn't a viable option without using hatchery fish. We went through three R&E meetings and a Commission Meeting to get our project approved. With R&E funds and donated equipment, materials, and many hours of volunteer help we completed the project in March of 2013. We received 50,000 smolts and fed them 21+ days before releasing them. We received a second batch of 50,000 smolts, fed 21+ days and released them on a good water level event. This is our 7th year and 700,000 acclimated Spring Chinook Salmon have been released into the Molalla River system. This project was accomplished through the use of CCA resources and volunteers, with the fish and feed being supplied by ODFW.
RESULTS: CCA has successfully provided an improved return for a sport fishery to the lower Willamette and Molalla River. For the first time in 15 years fishermen are catching Spring Chinook Salmon in the Molalla River. Of each 50,000 smolts, 25,000 are coded wire tagged to identify the release. First and second releases have different numbers for data research. ODFW has been doing survey work and CCA is doing fisherman catch collection on the river. Our first returns in 2015 were the best with 53,000 going over Willamette Falls, but those numbers are forecast as dropping to roughly 19,000 in 2019. These numbers also reflect on our return to the Molalla River. With that said, we have a lot of work to do. We have CCA and all of the hard-working volunteers to thank! |
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General Interest
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Remember the good old days?
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Well, all things considered, fishing on the Willamette River is starting to feel like the good old days again. I was lucky enough to get out on the Willamette River this June, below the Oregon City Falls, for the first time in a long time. Historically, this has been some of the most productive waters in Oregon for Salmon and steelhead fishing. I gave up fishing it a few years back because, more often than not - over 100 miles from the ocean, a sea lion would take your hooked fish before you had a chance to land it. In 2017 California sea lions took an estimated 25% of our native upper Willamette ESA listed steelhead and they were in imminent danger of going extinct (per ODFW), with only 512 fish making it past the sea lions at the falls that year. Sea Lion presence went from basically zero, to 2-4 in the 90s and 2000's, to 41 in 2017. Section 120 of Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) allows states to take actions for Sea Lion management and in December of 2018 Oregon took a big step forward.
To avoid experiencing the same effect that a small group of California Sea Lions at Ballard Locks in Seattle had in a similar situation (they wiped out the native steelhead run for Lake Washington in the 1980s), ODFW started lethal removal of Sea Lions below the Falls in Oregon City. The effect was that in 2019 3200 winter steelhead made it past the falls, four times the low returns of 822 fish in 2017 and just 512 in 2018. Also, in May we saw one of the highest daily total of spring chinook passage of 1235 counted. But this was June and I was hearing that good numbers of Spring Chinook were still present, so I decided I'd gave it a shot and see if the sea lions were still there.
Trolling a small spinner and a 360 flasher my rod buckled over and it was fish on! Eventually, a nice fish in the teens, and bright as a nickel materialized and I settled in for a long fight. As the fish started to get tired, it took one last long run away from the boat and I wondered, "is this another fish for the sea lions?" But that day I didn't see any sea lions. I didn't have a sea lion take the fish in the fight or almost pull me in the water as it grabbed it out of the net or see it take a single bite out of the fish and let the rest float away. None of that happened. The fish made it into the net, and I got to hold up a nice chrome bright Willamette Spring Chinook that was fin clipped (hatchery) and now headed for the BBQ. In that moment I couldn't help but appreciate the fact that there was not a single sea lion in sight and likely few if any around. ODFW had removed 33 California sea lions since December and it had made a huge difference to the fishery. The Willamette River ESA listed runs of winter steelhead and spring chinook, as well as one CCA member fishing on the Willamette, were benefiting greatly from it. Only time will tell what the long-term effect of this new action by ODFW will be, but in my mind it can only have a positive affect for the fish, and those who fish for them. |
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CCA Oregon and Social Media
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Did you see the new CCA Oregon website yet? If not, check it out! We have an online store with local merchandise. Also, have you liked our CCA Oregon Facebook page? If not, click here! Every CCA Oregon Chapter has their own CCA Facebook group to share important information with their members, pictures of their fish and create positive discussion opportunities. Check them out!
Do you have an Instagram account? Want to share pictures of your fish while supporting CCA Oregon? Follow us on Instagram by clicking here and use #ccaoregon to tag your photos! |
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CCA Clothing by AFTCO
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American Fishing Tackle Company (AFTCO) and the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) are committed to marine conservation and angler rights. Through the leadership of CCA and the participation of local community chapters, the positive impact to protect the state's marine resources and interests of anglers will ensure a sustainable fishery for generations to come.
AFTCO and CCA are proud to announce the launch of a new CCA by AFTCO line of performance fishing clothing. The limited run of CCA by AFTCO clothing includes the CCA Samurai performance sun shirt, "Bill Me" Samurai performance sun shirt, CCA low crown trucker hat, and CCA Patch logo low crown trucker hat. Through AFTCO's 10% pledge to protect and conserve, $5 from the sale of each CCA by AFTCO product will be donated to help fund CCA angler rights and marine conservation efforts nationwide. To learn more about AFTCO's marine conservation history visit www.aftco.com/conservation. To shop the CCA by AFTCO line visit www.aftco.com/cca. To learn more about CCA visit www.joincca.org.
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Are you Skilled or Talented?
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CCA Oregon is seeking members with hidden skills and talents... Do you have what it takes to better CCA Oregon? I bet you do!
Are you a web designer or graphic artist? Are you a writer or editor? Do you have experience in professional grant writing? Do you have a passion for putting on parties or networking? If so... Now is the perfect time to get off the bench and into the game!
CCA Oregon is continuing to build on the successes of the past few years. We have a variety of state board committees providing support to the organization that need your help. Don't be "THAT GUY or GAL" that points out what "COULD" be better, but not be part of the solution... Get involved! The fight continues!
Many hands make light work. Please contact Chris Cone at (541)213-1464 or chris.cone@ccaoregon.org to discuss where your skills and talents can best be used for CCA Oregon.
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September 11, 2019
Visit us on Facebook
Have you liked the CCA Oregon Facebook page yet? We have giveaways and great information. Like us at www.facebook.com/ccaoregon
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Key Dates for Oregon Members
2019
November 16th • CCA Oregon Volunteer Recognition Banquet - Clackamas, Oregon
2020
February • Ladies Conservation Night Out - Portland, Oregon *tentative*
February 29th • Linn-Benton Chapter Banquet - Albany, Oregon
March 14th • Columbia County Chapter Banquet - St. Helens, Oregon
March 28th • Columbia River Gorge Chapter Banquet - The Dalles, Oregon
April • Willamette Falls Chapter Springer Derby - Clackamas, Oregon *tentative*
April 4th • Willamette Falls Chapter Banquet - Clackamas, Oregon
April 18th • Salem Chapter Banquet - Salem, Oregon
May 1st • Mt. Hood Chapter Banquet - Gresham, Oregon
May 2nd • Tillamook Chapter Banquet - Tillamook, Oregon
May 9th • Tualatin Valley Chapter Banquet - Wilsonville, Oregon
May 15th • South Willamette Valley Chapter Banquet - Eugene, Oregon
September 12th • Portland Chapter Banquet - Portland, Oregon *tentative*
October • CCA Oregon Shooting Clays - Brooks, Oregon *tentative*
November 7th • CCA Oregon Volunteer Recognition Banquet - Clackamas, Oregon *tentative*
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.
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Your Local CCA Chapter Meetings
The latest info about local chapter meetings can be found on their chapter page on our website.
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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
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About Ripple Effect News
The Ripple Effect 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 Ripple Effect welcomes comments and suggestions that will help us to improve the publication. To get in touch, please email us at info@ccaoregon.org
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CCA Supporting Sponsors
Please support our CCA donors and sponsors first when you make tackle and fishing purchases. These donors and companies believe in CCA!
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