
Search myodfw.com
Round Butte Hatchery was constructed in 1972 to mitigate for the fishery losses caused by Pelton/Round Butte (PRB) Hydroelectric Complex. Round Butte and its satellite, Pelton Ladder, are used for adult collection, egg incubation and rearing of spring Chinook, summer steelhead, and sockeye salmon.
Updated January 2, 2025 Subscribe for updates


This 141-acre property along both sides of the Yachats River was first purchased in the early 1980s to provide forage for elk and help alleviate elk damage to surrounding agricultural land. It also provides public access to the Siuslaw National Forest along the Yachats River Highway, where there are few public access points.
Razor clam conservation closure begins July 15 on Clatsop beaches
Meghan Dugan, 541-315-6629, meghan.c.dugan@odfw.oregon.gov
Matt Hunter, 971-606-0428, matthew.v.hunter@odfw.oregon.gov

ASTORIA, Ore – The annual conservation closure of razor clamming on Clatsop beaches begins 12:01 a.m. July 15.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife encourages clammers to take advantage of the low tide series that begins July 8. However, ODFW reminds clammers that although the low tide series goes through July 15, they cannot clam that day – clamming ends at 11:59 p.m. July 14.
Since 1967, Clatsop beaches close each year July 15 through Sept. 30 for conservation. This lets young clams settle on the beaches to provide future harvest opportunities.
Know before you go:
- Call the Shellfish Safety Hotline at 800-448-2474 before heading out to harvest shellfish – biotoxin levels can change rapidly.
- You must have a shellfishing license.
- Daily limit: first 15 clams dug, regardless of size or condition.
- Each digger must have their own container, dig their own clams, and can only have one limit in possession while in the clam digging area (see exception under an Oregon Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit.)
Clam diggers can check Clatsop tide charts and go to ODFW's clamming page for more information on razor clamming. View ODFWs video on how to razor clam.
Contact ODFW for recreational license requirements, permits, rules, and limits.
Lookingglass Hatchery was constructed in 1982 as part of the Lower Snake River Compensation Program (LSRCP) – a program to mitigate for spring Chinook and summer steelhead losses caused by four federal dams constructed on the lower Snake River. Lookingglass is used to rear spring Chinook for the Grande Ronde and Imnaha rivers as part of LSRCP. Lookingglass Hatchery serves as an adult collection, egg incubation, and rearing and release site for the spring Chinook destined for the Grande Ronde River systems. The Imnaha Satellite Facility is used for the collection of spring Chinook adults returning to the Imnaha River

Commission adopts limited Umpqua River fall Chinook season
Adam Baylor, adam.c.baylor@odfw.oregon.gov, (503) 930-7116
Michelle Dennehy, michelle.n.dennehy@odfw.oregon.gov, (503) 931-2748
PENDLETON, Ore. ‐ The Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted a limited fall Chinook fishing and retention season on the mainstem Umpqua, Smith, and North Fork Smith rivers after receiving many public comments and hearing testimony from a Douglas County Commissioner, business owners and local anglers concerned about a proposed closure.
The season will be open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays starting July 1 until a quota of 500 wild Chinook is reached. The bag limit will be one Chinook (either hatchery or wild) per day and per season. Boundaries for the three rivers remain as in permanent regulations.
The days-per-week approach should extend the fishery later into the season and allow ODFW to better evaluate when the quota is reached.
This is the first time the Umpqua River has dropped below the Critical Abundance Threshold (CAT) since the Coastal Multi-Species Conservation and Management Plan (CMP) was adopted in 2014. Last year's return of fall Chinook to the Umpqua was the lowest on record since 1980. The CMP calls for discontinuing wild harvest when populations fall below CAT, but allows for adaptive management such as the approach in the Umpqua River this year.
"We have talked for a couple years now about how conditions in the Umpqua River are very concerning for salmon and steelhead due to impacts from wildfire, drought, warming streams and non-native predators," said Tom Stahl, ODFW Deputy Fish Administrator for Inland Fisheries. "The outcomes from these conditions are now being felt with last year's extremely low return and discussions over how this affects the fishery are difficult for everyone."
"It's very hard to realize such an iconic river as the Umpqua is struggling," said Commissioner Becky Hatfield-Hyde. "I am very thankful ODFW staff have come up with some options, and we ask the public to hang in there with us and help us figure out how to look toward the future."
This quota system will be a new approach for inland coastal Chinook salmon, and maintains fishing opportunity on the Umpqua River while still meeting the management direction of the CMP.
All other fall Chinook seasons were adopted as originally proposed by staff. Except for a few other locations, most other river basins will have the same regulations as last year. For more information about coastal fall Chinook seasons, visit the coastal fall salmon webpage.
The Commission also took the following actions today:
Commercial coastal pelagic species: Adopted rule amendments to ensure that state regulations are consistent with the Federal Register publication of federally adopted limits and management measures for Pacific sardine. The federal regulations will maintain the primary directed fishery closure and continue to limit other harvest to very low levels to ensure that fishing mortality is not interfering with the stock's potential to rebuild when environmental conditions become favorable.
Preference Point Appeals: Reviewed appeals of requests to reinstate preference points from several hunters that have been denied reinstatement by the department. Appeal was denied.
Auction and raffle tags: Allocated special hunting tags for auction and raffle in 2026. Host organizations receive 10 percent of the sales price for the tag sold at auction, which they can use to fund their own grant programs benefiting wildlife.
Access & Habitat project funding: Approved the A&H Board recommendations for project funding.
Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund (OCRF) funding: Approved OCRF Advisory Committee's recommendations for wildlife passage project funding.
Recreation and Enhancement (R&E) Program: Approved the R&E Board funding recommendations for Cycle 25-1 Projects and the 2025-27 R&E Administration and Operations Budget. R&E funds help improve fisheries and access throughout the state.
The Commission also heard a staff presentation and public testimony on proposed rules to help protect Oregon's fish and wildlife from invasive species by adding to the prohibited species list (so no import, sale, purchase, exchange or transport allowed) the following: golden mussels, non-native abalone, sea turtles Cheloniidae and Dermochelyidae, the entire family of Viviparidae mystery snails and Muricidae oyster drills. Public comment for this rulemaking closes June 20, and the Commission will be asked to approve the rule amendments at their Aug. 15, 2025 meeting. Submit comments via the rulemaking page.
The next Commission meeting is July 11 in The Dalles.
###

May 29, 2025 Baker County Bighorn sheep can be seen in the Burnt River Canyon west of Durkee or along the Snake River Road south of Richland. The best viewing is in the early morning and late in the evening. Take the Snake River Road between Richland and Huntington to see bald and golden eagles along the Snake River. There are deer throughout the valley. Early in the morning and late in the afternoon are good times to view wildlife. A drive through the foothills of the Baker valley and through the Keating valley can turn up good numbers of


For hunters, spring marks the beginning of the “turkey year” so let’s trace turkey activity through the year beginning in the spring. Spring nesting season The peak of the breeding season has already passed by the time the spring turkey hunting season opens April 15. Toms will breed with multiple hens throughout the spring and early summer. As the eggs develop, the hen will build a ground nest in a place with good cover and close to good brood habitat, which is normally an opening in the forest cover. Once she starts laying eggs, a hen will lay one egg




If this is a new activity for you, our friends at the Audubon Society have tips on how to start birding and how to connect with other birders. This is a great resource that also includes tips on choosing binoculars, reviews and recommendations on the best birding apps and field guides, and an easy seven-point guide on how to identify birds. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has an extensive website that includes the world's largest archive of wildlife sounds and videos, bird cams, eBird citizen science opportunities, scientific publications, bird guides, bird nesting box plans and more.
