Commission agenda: February 20, 2026

Friday, February 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 REGISTRATION no less than 48 hours (Wednesday February 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 February 18 at 8:00 AM) in advance of the meeting for approval. 

*PLEASE NOTICE: No testimony will be allowed related to Exhibit A: In re: Winchester Water Control District as no new evidence may be considered by the Commission at this time.

To assist with your planning, please note that the Commission will not begin their review of the petition related to commercial Dungeness crab fishery rules before 11:00 a.m.

Download DRAFT February 2026 Meeting Agenda

Information about Accessibility and Accommodations

DIRECTOR'S REPORT

CLIMATE & OCEAN CHANGE POLICY REPORT

Governor's Natural Resources Team Update- Brief Overview of Recent Executive Orders

Geoff Huntington, Governors Natural Resources Advisor

Chandra Ferrari, Natural Resource Policy Advisor

Anca Matica, Communications and Policy Advisor, Climate and Natural Resources

Amy Schlusser, Natural Resources Advisor

• Presentation (pdf)

Everyone Belongs Outdoors: Portland Pilot Project

The Commission will receive information on an ongoing project, "Relevant and Authentic Engagement for ODFW with Urban populations." The Commission will engage in a discussion with Mauricio Valadrian, an expert consultant, about the results of his interviews with ODFW staff and residents of Portland to measure current awareness of ODFW's mission and the degree of ODFW's personal and community impact.

Commission Action: Informational

Davia Palmeri, Strategic Advisor & Federal Policy Director

Maurico Valadrian, Valadrian Creative & Consulting

• EBO Portland Metro Pilot Summary of Findings (pdf)

Field Report – in written form only

• Field Reports (pdf)

Commission Financial Report

Ken Loffink, Chief Operating Officer

• Commission Financial Report

EXHIBIT A: WINCHESTER WATER CONTROL DISTRICT

The Commission will consider whether to approve or modify the proposed order relating to, among other determinations, a requirement to install Department approved fish passage at Winchester dam prepared by the Office of Administrative Hearings, Administrative Law Judge. No new evidence may be considered by the Commission at this time. There will be no public testimony.

Commission Action: Approve or Modify Proposed Final Order

Greg Apke, Fish Screening and Passage Program Manager

• Agenda Item Summary (AIS)
• Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Proposed Order
• Draft Final Order WWCD

 

ADOPT TEMPORARY RULES

Commission Action: Rule Ratification

Debbie Colbert, Director

• Temporary Administrative Rules Report

1. 635-005-0405, 0460, 0480

   Commercial Crab Late-Season Whale Entanglement Risk Reduction Measures Implementation Date

   Adopted 1/23/2026: effective 2/16/2026 through 8/14/2026

   These amended rules will implement commercial crab late-season whale entanglement risk reduction measures including a 20% pot limit reduction, requirement for late-season buoy tags, and prohibition on fishing deeper than 40 fathoms on April 1 instead of May 1 to reduce the risk of whales becoming entangled in commercial crab fishing gear earlier in the season.

2. 635-016-0500

   Modify Wild Spring Chinook Regulations in Umpqua District

   Adopted: 12/19/2025 Effective Dates: 2/1/2026 through 6/30/2026

   This amended rule will prohibit retention of all wild Chinook on the Mainstem Umpqua River. It will restrict harvest to one wild adult Chinook per day and ten wild adults per season on the North Umpqua River from February 1, 2026, through June 30, 2026, in accordance with the sliding scale established pursuant to the State's Coastal Multi-Species Conservation and Management Plan (CMP).

3. 635-041-0063

   Allow Sales of Sturgeon Caught in The Dalles Pool Columbia River Treaty Setline Fishery

   Adopted: 1/29/2026 Effective Dates: 2/2/2026 through 2/28/2026

   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.

4. 635-041-0063

   Allow Sales of Sturgeon Caught in The Dalles Pool Columbia River Treaty Setline Fishery

   Adopted: 2/11/2026 Effective Dates: 2/12/2026 through 3/31/2026

   This amended rule provides state authorization of sales of white sturgeon caught in the winter Treaty setline fisheries in Bonneville Pool, The Dalles Pool, and John Day Pool to reflect recent tribal action to adopt these fisheries.

5. 635-041-0072

   Allow Sales of Warmwater Species Caught in the Columbia River Treaty Indian Research Fishery

   Adopted: 2/11/2026 Effective Dates: 2/13/2026 through 3/31/2026

   This amended rule provides state authorization of sales of yellow perch, bass, walleye, catfish, carp, and northern pikeminnow caught in a Treaty Indian research fishery in several backwater areas and sloughs of the John Day Pool to reflect recent tribal action to open this fishery.

6. 635-042-0145, 635-042-0160, 635-042-0170, 635-042-0180

   Adopt Select Area Commercial Fisheries

   Adopted: 2/12/2026 Effective Dates: 2/15/2026 through 7/31/2026

   These rules implement the 2026 winter, spring, and summer Select Area commercial fisheries from February 15 through July 30. The following fisheries are addressed by these rules:

   • Blind/Knappa sloughs,
   • Tongue Point/South Channel,
   • Youngs Bay, and
   • Deep River

   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 hearing on 2/11/26.

7. 635-023-0101

   Set Recreational Retention Fisheries for Sturgeon in Bonneville and The Dalles Pools and Adjacent Tributaries

   Adopted: 2/12/2026 Effective Dates: 2/16/2026 through 4/30/2026

   This amended rule modifies the recreational retention fishery regulations for white sturgeon on the mainstem Columbia River in the Bonneville Pool (Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam) and The Dalles Pool (The Dalles Dam upstream to the John Day Dam) and all adjacent tributaries. Retention will be allowed only on Monday, February 16, 2026, in these areas. 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 11, 2026.

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 Registration with the ODFW Director's Office before 8:00 AM, Wednesday, February 18 (at least 48 hours prior to the meeting) to be included in the public forum.

Joe Moll, Executive Director, McKenzie River Trust

EXHIBIT B: COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES

The Commission will be asked to approve draft Commission meeting minutes from January 16, 2026

Commission Action: Approval of Minutes

• January 2026 Minutes DRAFT

EXHIBIT C: REVIEW OF PETITION RELATED TO COMMERCIAL DUNGENESS CRAB FISHERY RULES

THE CRAB PETITION AGENDA ITEM WILL NOT BEGIN EARLIER THAN 11 AM ON FRIDAY. ANYONE TRAVELING TO THE MEETING TO TESTIFY ON THIS ITEM DOES NOT NEED TO ARRIVE BEFORE 11 AM.

The Commission will consider an Administrative Procedure Act (APA) petition requesting modification to commercial Dungeness crab fishery rules. The Commission will be asked to either deny the petition or accept the petition and initiate rulemaking proceedings. Per ORS 183.390(2), the agency shall invite public comment upon the rules and shall specifically request public comments on whether options exist for achieving the rules' substantive goals in a way that reduces the negative economic impact on businesses.

To assist with your planning, please note that the Commission will not begin their review of the petition related to commercial Dungeness crab fishery rules before 11:00 a.m.

Commission Action: Accept Petition and Initiate Rulemaking/Deny Petition

Justin Ainsworth, Marine Resources Manager
Mike Harrington, Fish Division Administrator

Submit written comments on this agenda item Here
Public Testimony: 48-hour Advance REGISTRATION required for virtual participation.

• Exhibit C_Cover
• Exhibit C_Attachment 1_Agenda Item Summary
• Exhibit C_Attachment 2_Petition
• Exhibit C_Attachment 3_Public Correspondence
• Exhibit C_Attachment 3a_Public Correspondence
• Exhibit C_Attachment 3b_Public Correspondence
• Exhibit C_Attachment 3c_Supplemental Public Correspondence
• Exhibit C_Attachment 3d_Supplemental Public Correspondence
• Exhibit C_Attachment 3e_Supplemental Public Correspondence
• Exhibit C_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