Commission agenda: March 20, 2026
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| Tour: Thursday March 19, 2026 – 8:00 AM Hampton Inn Medford 1122 Morrow Rd Medford, OR 97504 | Meeting: Friday, March 20, 2026 - 8:00 AM Roxy Ann Grange 1850 Spring St, Medford, OR 97504 |
Friday, March 20, 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 March 18 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 March 18 at 8:00 AM) in advance of the meeting for approval.
Download MARCH 2026 Meeting Agenda
Download March 2026 Tour Agenda
Information about Accessibility and Accommodations
- DIRECTOR'S REPORT
FIELD REPORTS – in written form only
- Field Reports (pdf)
COMMISSION FINANCIAL REPORT
Ken Loffink, Chief Operating Officer
CLIMATE & OCEAN CHANGE POLICY REPORT
Building Resilient Landscapes: Oregon's Native Seed Strategy at Work
Troy Abercrombie, Oregon Department of Agriculture
- ADOPT TEMPORARY RULES
Commission Action: Rule Ratification
Debbie Colbert, Director
- Temp Rules Report (pdf)
- 635-023-0101
Set Recreational Retention Fishery for Sturgeon in The Dalles Pool and Adjacent Tributaries
Adopted: 2/26/2026 Effective Dates: 3/3/2026 through 4/30/2026
This amended rule establishes a retention day for the recreational white sturgeon fishery on the mainstem Columbia River in The Dalles Pool (The Dalles Dam upstream to the John Day Dam) and all adjacent tributaries. Retention will be allowed on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Modifications are consistent with actions taken by the Departments of Fish & Wildlife for the States of Oregon and Washington at a Columbia River Joint State hearing on February 25, 2026.
- 635-042-0130
Modify Non-Treaty Columbia River Mainstem Commercial Smelt Fishery
Adopted: 2/26/2026 Effective Dates: 3/2/2026 through 3/19/2026
This amended rule will modify the previously-adopted 2026 non-treaty commercial smelt fishery in Zones 1-3 of the lower Columbia River by adding Wednesdays from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. to the existing weekly schedule from March 2 through March 19. Modifications are consistent with actions taken by the Departments of Fish and Wildlife for the States of Oregon and Washington at the Columbia River Compact/Joint State hearing held on February 25, 2026.
- 635-041-0063
Allow Sales of Sturgeon Caught in Columbia River Treaty Setline Fisheries
Adopted: 2/25/2026 Effective Dates: 3/2/2026 through 8/28/2026
This amended rule provides state authorization of sales of white sturgeon caught in the winter Treaty setline fisheries in The Dalles Pool and John Day Pool to reflect recent tribal action to adopt these fisheries.
- 635-017-0090
Set 2026 Recreational Eulachon Smelt Season for the Sandy River
Adopted: 3/9/2026 Effective Dates: 3/11/2026 through 3/12/2026
This amended rule will set a 2026 recreational fishing season for smelt in the Sandy River.
- 635-041-0063
Allow Sales of Sturgeon Caught in Columbia River Treaty Setline Fishery
Adopted: 3/10/2026 Effective Dates: 3/11/2026 through 8/28/2026
This amended rule provides state authorization of sales of white sturgeon caught in the winter Treaty setline fishery in The Dalles Pool to reflect recent tribal action to adopt this fishery.
- 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, March 18 (at least 48 hours prior to the meeting) to be included in the public forum.
Senior Fishing License Price
Maria Botterbusch
Bringing Salmon Back to Oregon Watersheds Through Ocean Fishery Reform
Adrian Tuohy, Wild Fish Conservancy
- EXHIBIT A: MEETING MINUTES
The Commission will be asked to approve draft Commission meeting minutes from February 20, 2026
Commission Action: Approval of Minutes
- EXHIBIT B: MINAM WILDLIFE AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
The Commission will be asked to adopt rules for the Minam Management Plan
Commission Action: Rulemaking
Dan Marvin, Elkhorn Wildlife Area 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_Filed 1-27-26
- Attachment 3_DRAFT Oregon Administrative Rules
- Attachment 4_MRWA Management Plan
- Attachment 4-A_MRWA Management Plan_Appendix A Habitat and Botanical
- Attachment 4-B_MRWA Management Plan_Appendix B_Fish & Wildlife Resources
- Attachment 4-C_MRWA Management Plan_Appendix C_Land Transactions
- Attachment 4-D_MRWA Management Plan_Appendix D_Rules and Regulations
- Attachment 5_Figure 1_Minam River Wildlife Area Features & Ownership Map
- Attachment 6_Public Correspondence
- Presentation
- EXHIBIT C: OPRD GRASS CARP PERMIT EXCEPTION
The Commission will be asked to approve an exception to land ownership requirements as permitted in ODFW grass carp rules to allow stocking by Oregon Parks and Recreation Department in a wastewater treatment pond at Beverly Beach State Park.
Commission Action: Approval
Chris Kern, Fish Propagation Program Manager
Submit written comments on this agenda item Here
Public Testimony: 48-hour Advance REGISTRATION required for virtual participation.
- EXHIBIT D: DENMAN WILDLIFE AREA ACQUISITION
The Commission will be asked to approve the acquisition of land within the current Denman Wildlife Area boundary.
Commission Action: Approval
Tawny Slaven – Denman Wildlife Area Manger (Acting)
Submit written comments on this agenda item Here
Public Testimony: 48-hour Advance REGISTRATION required for virtual participation.
- EXHIBIT E: ACCESS & HABITAT PROJECT FUNDING APPROVAL
The Commission will be asked to approve the Access and Habitat Board recommendations for project funding.
Commission Action: Approval
Travis Schultz, Access & Habitat Program Coordinator
Submit written comments on this agenda item Here
Public Testimony: 48-hour Advance REGISTRATION required for virtual participation.
- EXHIBIT F: FISH SCREENING TASK FORCE APPOINTMENTS
The Commission will be asked to appoint two new members to the Fish Screening Task Force.
Commission Action: Appointment
Katherine Nordholm, Fish Screens and Passage Coordinator
Submit written comments on this agenda item Here
Public Testimony: 48-hour Advance REGISTRATION required for virtual participation.
- EXHIBIT G: LAMPREY CONSERVATION PLANS UPDATE
The Commission will be provided with an informational update on implementation of the Miller Lake Conservation Plan (2005) and the statewide Conservation Plan for Lampreys (2019).
No Commission Action: Informational Only
Ben Clemens, Statewide Lamprey Coordinator
No Public Testimony
- 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
Accessibility and Accommodations
ODFW provides reasonable accommodation upon request, including assistive listening devices, sign language interpreters, and materials in large print or audiotape. To request accommodation, please contact the Director’s Office at (503) 947-6044 (voice) or (503) 947-6042 (fax) at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.
Future Commission Meetings & Proposed Rulemaking – 2026
You can learn more about upcoming rulemaking and submit written public comments from the
ODFW Rulemaking Webpage by clicking the Public Comment link for each rulemaking item.
| Date | Location | Rulemaking Webpage | |
| April 24, 2026 | Lincoln City | Rulemaking | |
| May 15, 2026 | No meeting scheduled | ||
| June 26, 2026 | Redmond | Rulemaking | |
| July 17, 2026 | No meeting scheduled | ||
| August 14, 2026 | Salem | Rulemaking | |
| September 18, 2026 | La Grande | Rulemaking | |
| October 16, 2026 | Virtual | Rulemaking | |
| November 13, 2026 | No meeting scheduled | ||
| December 11, 2026 | Salem | Rulemaking |
OREGON FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION HYBRID HEARINGS AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission conducts hybrid public meetings, allowing for testimony either in person or virtually. Meetings begin at 8:00 a.m. and proceed chronologically through the published agenda.
Meetings are livestreamed on the Commission's YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/IEODFW. Any changes to the meeting format—including shifts to virtual-only in case of emergency—will be announced on the Commission's website at https://myodfw.com/commission-meeting-schedule-agendas-and-minutes.
MEETING AGENDAS AND MATERIALS
Agendas and instructions for how to register to testify are posted for each meeting on the Commission website. If you wish to receive materials related to specific agenda items, please contact the Director's Office at
(503) 947-6044 or email ODFW.Commission@odfw.oregon.gov to request a packet.
Meetings are scheduled a year in advance, including one held annually in each Congressional District per ORS 496.108(5). Additional meetings are held at ODFW Headquarters in Salem. While some topics are scheduled annually (e.g., ocean salmon regulations in April), others may arise unexpectedly.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND PUBLIC FORUM
To provide verbal testimony, you must register at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. This applies to virtual testimony on agenda items, and virtual or in person Public Forum comments.
Ways to Register to Testify:
- In-Person Testimony: Fill out a "Witness Registration" form available at the meeting site.
- Virtual Testimony (Video or Audio): Register at least 48 hours in advance via the link provided in the meeting agenda.
- By Email: Send your name, topic, email, and phone number to ODFW.Commission@odfw.oregon.gov .
PUBLIC FORUM:
This portion of the agenda is designated for comments not related to topics already scheduled for the agenda. To participate in Public Forum (virtually or in-person), you must register by 8:00 a.m. two days (48 hours) before the meeting. Provide your name, topic, and contact information to the Director's Office for approval.
WRITTEN COMMENTS
Submit written comments in advance via the links provided in the meeting agenda.
You may also submit written comments for Public Forum or agenda items:
SEND TO:
ODFW.Commission@odfw.oregon.gov
or mail to:
ODFW Director's Office
4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE
Salem, Oregon 97302
Written materials received 72 hours in advance will be shared with Commissioners prior to the meeting. Later submissions will be included in the record and distributed to the Commission as time allows.
Later submissions will be included in the record and distributed to the Commission as time allows.
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Current conditions and opportunities to fish, hunt and see wildlife. Updated weekly by fish and wildlife biologists throughout the state.