Commission meets April 23-24 in Lincoln City to adopt ocean salmon seasons, Sauvie Island limited entry parking program

SALEM, Ore.—Oregon's Fish and Wildlife Commission meets April 23-24 in Lincoln City. View the agenda online.

Commissioners will visit coastal coho habitat restoration and monitoring projects in the Siletz River Basin during a field tour on Thursday. To join the tour, meet at the Shearwater Inn, 120 Inlet Court at 8 a.m. Members of the public must provide their own transportation and lunch on the tour.

Friday's business meeting starts at 8 am and will be livestreamed on the meeting agenda page and at ODFW's YouTube channel.

Sign up at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting to testify online for an agenda item or in public forum. Use the forms found on the agenda page to sign up. Written comments can also be submitted using the links provided with each agenda item. To testify in person, sign up using the paper forms provided at the meeting.

During the Director's Report at the beginning of the meeting, ODFW staff will present the 2025 Annual Wolf Report which will include information on the latest known wolf count in Oregon and trends in livestock depredations. The presentation will be followed by two panel discussions.

The following topics are also on the agenda for Friday:

2026-27 Game Bird Hunting Regulations: Most seasons and regulations will be unchanged from last year except for calendar shifts. The only changes proposed would open Oregon's two duck hunting zones on different weekends rather than the same weekend. In accordance with Pacific Flyway Council's white-fronted goose management plan, the statewide white-fronted goose daily bag limit would be reduced from 10 to 6. The September Canada goose season in the Northwest Permit Zone would be reduced to nine days (opening on traditional date of the Saturday after Labor Day until federal framework ending date of Sept. 20).

2026 Sport and Commercial Pacific Halibut Fishery Regulations: The International Pacific Halibut Commission set this year's fishery catch limit slightly higher than last year. Changes to the federal catch sharing plan for 2026 will provide management flexibility to harvest more of the quota and improve opportunity this year. For a look at the proposed recreational season visit this map. The Commission will be asked to adopt matching permanent regulations.

Ocean salmon seasons: The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) adopted ocean salmon fishing regulations for federal-jurisdiction waters from three to 200 nautical miles offshore on April 12, see news release for more information. The Commission will be asked to adopt matching regulations.

Sauvie Island beaches summer weekends parking pass: The Commission will be asked to adopt permanent rules to require a "Sauvie Island Beaches Parking Permit" ($10 daily/$30 season) to park at Sauvie Island's Walton, Collins, and North Unit beaches from June 15 through Labor Day. The number of vehicles often exceeds parking spots during hot summer weekends which has led to safety issues (double parking, extensive traffic backups, and limited emergency vehicle access). ODFW implemented a pilot limited entry parking program in 2025 and visitor surveys found overall high satisfaction with the program. Many community members and organizations support a limited entry program. A checkpoint on Reeder Road will continue to control entry on weekends and holidays and the number of daily permits will be limited to prevent overcrowding. The annual Wildlife Area Parking Permit will remain valid for the rest of the wildlife area and for beach access outside the summer season.

Sale of Don Lindly property on Alsea River: ODFW originally purchased the Don Lindly property with federal grant funds for the purpose of installing a motorized public boat ramp. While the boat ramp project initially had support, local public opinion shifted and the county opted not to build a motorized boat ramp. ODFW is seeking to sell the property to Lincoln County to be maintained as a park and to continue to provide public access; federal grant funds will be returned.

Private Forest Accord (PFA) grant approval: The Commission will consider approval of grant projects recommended by the PFA Grant Program Advisory Committee. The proposed projects will provide conservation benefits for species covered by the anticipated PFA Habitat Conservation Plan.

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. Media wishing to attend should contact the Director's office at (503) 947-6044.

Reasonable accommodations, such as assistive hearing devices, sign language interpreters, and materials in large print or audiotape, will be provided as needed. To ensure availability, please contact the Director's Office at 503.947.6044 at least 72 hours prior to the meeting to make your request. TTY users can reach ODFW by using the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service. Please dial 711 and ask to connect to 503-947-6044.

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