Commission agenda: April 24, 2026

Friday, April 24, 2026

The Fish and Wildlife Commission conducts hybrid meetings, meaning that you have the option to attend in-person or virtually. Those who would like to provide virtual testimony on an Exhibit scheduled on this agenda must REGISTER no less than 48 hours (Wednesday April 22 at 8:00 AM) in advance to receive a testimony link to the meeting. To provide testimony on an agenda item in-person, registration will also be available at the meeting.

To provide testimony virtually during PUBLIC FORUM you must contact the Director's office no less than 48 hours (Wednesday April 22 at 8:00 AM) in advance of the meeting for approval. 

Download April 2026 Meeting Agenda

Download april 2026 Tour Agenda

Information about Accessibility and Accommodations

Photos from this meeting

DIRECTOR'S REPORT

FIELD REPORTS – in written form only

• Field Reports (pdf)

COMMISSION FINANCIAL REPORT

Ken Loffink, Chief Operating Officer

• Commission Financial Report (pdf)

CLIMATE & OCEAN CHANGE POLICY REPORT

Building Resilient Landscapes: Oregon's 20-Year Landscape Resiliency Strategy at Work

Oregon Department of Forestry

• Climate Change Report_Landscape Resiliency.pdf

ANNUAL WOLF REPORT

Roblyn Brown, Wolf Coordinator
Derek Broman, Game Program Manager
Brian Wolfer, Wildlife Division Deputy Administrator
Lt. Schwartz, Oregon State Police
Nick Myatt, East Region Manager

Invited Panels:

Panel 1 – Wolf Population Management, Wallowa County
Panel 2 – Reducing Conflict and Oregon Compensation Program

• 2025 Annual Wolf Report (pdf)
• John Williams Opening Comments (pdf)
• Wolf Panel FW Comments - 4-21-26 (pdf)
• 2025 Commission Wolf Annual Report Presentation 4-24-26  (pdf)

ADOPT TEMPORARY RULES

Commission Action: Rule Ratification

Debbie Colbert, Director

• Temp Rules Report (pdf)

1. 635-042-0145

   Modify Youngs Bay Select Area Commercial Fishery

   Adopted: 3/23/2026 Effective Dates: 3/23/2026 through 7/31/2026

   These rules expand the open area for two previously adopted fishing periods in the Youngs Bay Commercial Salmon Fishery scheduled to occur from March 23 through March 25. Modifications are consistent with actions taken by the Department of Fish and Wildlife on 3/23/26.

2. 635-042-0145

   Modify Youngs Bay Select Area Commercial Fishery

   Adopted: 3/25/2026 Effective Dates: 3/26/2026 through 7/31/2026

   These rules expand the open area for two previously adopted fishing periods in the Youngs Bay Commercial Salmon Fishery scheduled to occur from March 26 through March 30. Modifications are consistent with actions taken by the Department of Fish and Wildlife on 3/25/26.

3. 635-042-0145

   Modify Youngs Bay Select Area Commercial Fishery

   Adopted: 3/31/2026 Effective Dates: 4/1/2026 through 7/31/2026

   This rule expands the open area for previously adopted fishing periods in the Youngs Bay Commercial Salmon Fishery scheduled to occur from April 1 through April 2. Modifications are consistent with actions taken by the Department of Fish and Wildlife on 3/31/26.

4. 635-018-0090

   Lower Deschutes River Hatchery Spring Chinook Season

   Adopted: 4/2/2026 Effective Dates: 5/5/2026 through 9/28/2026

   This rule is needed to allow sport harvest opportunities for returning hatchery spring Chinook salmon in the Lower Deschutes River for an approximate two-week period beginning May 5, 2026.

5. 635-041-0020

   Modify the Annual Closure Period for Treaty Subsistence Fishing in the Fifteenmile Creek Sanctuary

   Adopted: 4/7/2026 Effective Dates: 4/16/2026 through 6/15/2026

   Under permanent rule, the closure date for treaty subsistence fishing around the mouth of Fifteenmile Creek extends from November 16 through June 15, annually. This amended rule allows subsistence fishing in this area to resume on April 16, 2026, to allow access to spring Chinook.

6. 635-023-0125

   Set Additional Days for the Recreational Spring Salmon Fishery in the Columbia River

   Adopted: 4/10/2026 Effective Dates: 4/11/2026 through 6/15/2026

   This amended rule sets Columbia River recreational spring salmon fisheries and modifies the daily bag limit for Select Area recreational salmon fisheries from March 1 through June 15.

   Modifications are consistent with actions taken by the Departments of Fish and Wildlife for the States of Oregon and Washington on February 19 and April 9, 2026.

7. 635-023-0125

   Set an Additional Day for the Recreational Spring Salmon Fishery in the Columbia River

   Adopted: 4/15/2026 Effective Dates: 4/18/2026 through 6/15/2026

   This amended rule adds one day to the Columbia River recreational spring salmon/steelhead fishery downstream of Bonneville Dam. Modifications are consistent with actions taken by the Departments of Fish and Wildlife for the States of Oregon and Washington at a Columbia River Joint State hearing held on April 14, 2026.

8. 635-042-0145

   Modifying Young Bay Select Area Commercial Fishery

   Adopted: 4/17/2026 Effective Dates: 4/20/2026 through 7/31/2026

   This amended rule expands the open area for the previously adopted fishing period in the Youngs Bay Commercial Salmon Fishery scheduled to occur on April 20. Modifications are consistent with actions taken by the Department of Fish and Wildlife on 04/16/26.

COMMISSION UPDATES

No Commission Action: Informational Only

OTHER BUSINESS

 

PUBLIC FORUM

This part of the agenda is for comments on any topic except those related to exhibits involving rulemaking or Commission approval listed elsewhere on this agenda.

Please Register with the ODFW Director's Office before 8:00 AM, Wednesday, April 22 (at least 48 hours prior to the meeting) to be included in the public forum.

Introduction to the new Regional Director of the Mule Deer Foundation, including a brief overview of regional priorities and goals.

Candy Yow, Mule Deer Foundation

State and federal agency killing of wolves in Oregon

Amaroq Weiss, Center for Biological Diversity

Youngs Bay Closure

Travis Moncrief, Fins, Feathers, and Furs Guide Service

The annual wolf report

Story Waren, Humane World for Animals

OWC Letter on Wallowa Wolf Resolution 4.2026 (pdf)

EXHIBIT A: MEETING MINUTES

The Commission will be asked to approve draft Commission meeting minutes from March 20, 2026

Commission Action: Approval of Minutes

• Minutes under draft (pdf)

EXHIBIT B: 2026-27 GAME BIRD HUNTING REGULATIONS

The Commission will be asked to adopt the game bird season regulations for 2026-27.

Commission Action: Rulemaking

Brandon Reishus, Migratory Game Bird Coordinator
Mikal Cline, Upland Game Bird Coordinator

Submit written comments on this agenda item Here

Public Testimony: 48-hour Advance REGISTRATION required for virtual participation.

• Cover
• Attachment 1 - Agenda Item Summary
• Attachment 2 - Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
• Attachment 3 - 2026 Game Bird Program Staff Summary
• Attachment 4 - Draft Oregon Administrative Rules
• Attachment 5 - Public Correspondence
• Attachment 6 - Supplemental Public Correspondence 4-20-26
• Attachment 7 - Supplemental Public Correspondence 4-21-26
• Attachment 8 - Supplemental Public Correspondence 4-24-26
• Presentation

EXHIBIT C: 2026 SPORT AND COMMERCIAL PACIFIC HALIBUT REGULATIONS

The Commission will be asked to adopt the 2026 sport and commercial fishery regulations for Pacific halibut.

Commission Action: Rulemaking

Melanie Bukovec, Groundfish & Halibut Asst Project Leader
Christian Heath, Halibut Project Leader 
Lynn Mattes, Marine Fisheries Management Section Leader

Submit written comments on this agenda item Here

Public Testimony: 48-hour Advance REGISTRATION required for virtual participation.

• Cover
• Attachment 1 - Agenda Item Summary
• Attachment 2 - Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
• Attachment 3 - Draft Oregon Administrative Rules
• Attachment 4 - IPHC Media Release 2026
• Attachment 5 - 2026 Halibut Map Staff Recommendation
• Attachment 6 - FR 91-14464 CSP Final Rule
• Attachment 7 - FR 91-14511 CSP Proposed Rule
• Attachment 8 - FR 91-14516 CSP Proposed Rule
• Attachment 9 - ODWF Memo to NMFS
• Attachment 10 - Public Correspondence
• Attachment 11 - Supplemental Public Correspondence
• Presentation

EXHIBIT D: 2026 OCEAN SALMON FISHERIES REGULATIONS

The Commission will be asked to adopt rules establishing regulations for recreational and commercial salmon fishing seasons in state-managed waters of the Pacific Ocean

Commission Action: Rulemaking

Christine Mallette, Ocean Salmon Technical Services Manager

Submit written comments on this agenda item Here

Public Testimony: 48-hour Advance REGISTRATION required for virtual participation.

• Cover
• Attachment 1 - Agenda Item Summary
• Attachment 2 - Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
• Attachment 3 - Draft Oregon Administrative Rules
• Attachment 4 - Public Correspondence
• Presentation

EXHIBIT E: SAUVIE ISLAND BEACHES PARKING PERMIT

The Commission will be asked to adopt rules creating a new Sauvie Island Beaches Parking Permit

Action: Rulemaking

Steve Niemala, North Willamette Watershed District Manager

Submit written comments on this agenda item Here

Public Testimony: 48-hour Advance REGISTRATION required for virtual participation.

• Cover
• Attachment 1 - Agenda Item Summary
• Attachment 2 - Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and FIS_Sauvie Island_Filed 2-26-26
• Attachment 3 - DRAFT Oregon Administrative Rules
• Attachment 4 - Sauvie Island Beach Parking Pilot_Summary
• Attachment 5 - SIWA Traffic and Parking Study
• Attachment 6 - Temporary Traffic Control Plan
• Attachment 7 - Columbia County BOC Order
• Attachment 8 - Public Correspondence
• Attachment 9 - Supplemental Public Correspondence 4-20-26
• Attachment 10 - Supplemental Public Correspondence 4-21-26
• Attachment 11 - Supplemental Public Correspondence 4-24-26
• Presentation

EXHIBIT F: PROPERTY SALE ON ALSEA RIVER

The Commission will be asked to approve the sale of property on the Alsea River.

Commission Action: Approval

Holly Huchko, Sport Fish Restoration Coordinator
Dick Duncan, Realty Specialist
Mike Gauvin, West Region Manager

Submit written comments on this agenda item Here

Public Testimony: 48-hour Advance REGISTRATION required for virtual participation.

• Cover
• Attachment 1 - Agenda Item Summary
• Attachment 2 - Public Correspondence
• Attachment 3 - Supplemental Public Correspondence
• Presentation

EXHIBIT G: PRIVATE FOREST ACCORD PROJECT APPROVAL ROUND 3

The Commission will be asked to approve funding of board recommended projects

Commission Action: Approval

Andy Spyrka, Private Forest Accord Grant Coordinator
Sarah Reif, Habitat Division Administrator

Submit written comments on this agenda item Here

Public Testimony: 48-hour Advance REGISTRATION required for virtual participation.

• Cover
• Attachment 1 - Agenda Item Summary
• Attachment 2 - Fall 2025 Solicitation Submission Overview
• Attachment 3 - Evaluation Criteria
• Attachment 4 - Project Applications Submitted by Region
• Attachment 5 - Projects Recommended for Funding
• Attachment 6 - Public Correspondence
• Presentation

EXECUTIVE SESSION

An Executive Session will be held pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(f) to consider information or records that are exempt by law from public inspection, as well as to consult with legal counsel concerning legal rights and duties of a public body with regard to current litigation or litigation likely to be filed as authorized by ORS 192.660(2)(h). The executive session is closed to the public. Members of the press should contact ODFW's Director's Office for instructions on how to join the session.

ADJOURN