Sandy Chapter Member Doug Briggs adding nutrients to the Sandy River from the Cider Creek Hatchery. Some excess hatchery returns are good enough for the food bank. Many are used to improve stream habitat. Will changes in the hatchery system continue to provide these valuable uses of excess hatchery returns?

ODFW Uses Consultants to Improve the Resiliency and Chart a Future for Our Hatcheries

By Bob Oleson, Co-President of the Board and volunteer Policy Advocate

This is the month at the statehouse when there tends to be a break from the policy work and political campaigns. This Fall you can expect to receive updates on these fronts. However, it should be reported a few of us angler advocates recently attended the introductory meeting on the evolving project to modernize and remake our state’s hatchery system. The meeting was intended to explain the evaluation and information collection process now occurring via a group of consultants. These specialized contractors are helping the legislature and the Agency to build a blueprint plan which is meant to give our state a modern and sustainable hatchery system.

After we were convened at ODFW by deputy director Shawn Clemens, facilitators from Willamette partnership spent much of their time explaining the need for this project and emphasizing the importance of obtaining different perspectives from a wide range of stakeholders. (Some hardcore hatchery critics, often not well informed, are likely to keep loudly expressing themselves.) In addition to looking closely at funding needs and how to balance economic contributions with the conservation impacts, the Consultants will examine things from hatchery effectiveness to better dealing with climate change. There’s also an effort to collect a comprehensive list of questions. Here are some of the questions submitted by our organization:

• Will the reforms include a full range of new technologies and emerging science?
• Can the new vision be counted on to significantly reduce the risk of disease in the larger populations of hatchery fish?
• How can improved hatchery facilities do a better job of educating the public about fish and habitat?
• How will our state‘s volunteer hatcheries and the federal hatcheries fit with future plans?
• ODFW operates hatcheries owned and/or financed by the Feds. How will these be affected?
• Wild broodstock has been shown to produce a better product with less or no negative impact on wild production. Will these programs be able to become more universal under the new plan?

Initial substantive reports from the contractors who are studying the various components of the system will be presented during a series of Thursday noon meetings in August. (It is important to encourage some of our chapter activists to closely follow this work.) On Aug 1 the first third-party assessment will focus on the future need for hatcheries. The second one on Aug 8 will present an economic analysis of the state’s hatcheries. The third one on Aug 15 will deal with Hatchery infrastructure alternatives and consolidations. (Related details, additional information and recordings of the noon meetings will be available on the Agency‘s website.) A final report will then be constructed and it will assist the 2025 legislature in making its decisions. It is hoped that during the upcoming campaign season many of us will take the time to discuss this important project with local legislative candidates. Legislators know thousands of their constituents buy fishing and hunting licenses, thus they tend to listen to us. Please feel free to let me know when you have comments or feedback.

Photo courtesy of Tim Lenihan, Tualatin Valley Chapter

You Too Can Be a Salmon Lobbyist!

By Norm Ritchie, Co-President of the Board

A few of our members volunteered to take legislators fishing on the Columbia last September last year and had a great time on the river and at the hosted luncheon afterwards. The event is scheduled for this year and at this point we have more legislators than boat seats creating an opportunity for more members to get in on the fun. (An Oregon fishing license works on the Columbia River even though launching from the Washington side.)

This is an important opportunity to connect with legislators as we work to build the Sportsmen’s Caucus in Oregon and Washington legislatures.

Contact Marie Neumiller for more details and to sign up.

509-703-1462

mneumiller@congressionalsportsment.org

2024 NW Steelheaders Hall of Fame Set for Saturday, November 9th

Mark your calendars now! The Hall of Fame will be at the Gray Gables this year. The address, 3009 Chestnut St Portland, OR 97267, is just off McLaughlin Blvd (Hwy 99E) in Milwaukie. They are known for providing a great banquet.

Early bird discounted registration is now available - learn more and register here!

Fred Meyers to Donate to NW Steelheaders – The Rest is Up to You!

By Norm Ritchie, Co-President of the Board

NW Steelheaders has enjoyed a good relationship with Fred Meyers for years having received grants for specific achievements from the Meyer Memorial Trust, but that does not help cover our overhead expenses. The Fred Meyer Community Rewards Program can help with that, but it requires your help.

Fred Meyer customers with an awards card or an awards account using their phone number enjoy  fuel discounts and grocery discounts not otherwise available. Linking your awards membership to  the Steelheaders does not reduce your customer awards in any way or cost you anything. Fred Meyers will simply donate quarterly to the Steelheaders based on the spending of the awards  members linked to the Steelheaders.

Please, PLEASE, take just a few minutes one time to add Steelheaders to your account:

1. Go to https://www.fredmeyer.com/i/community/community-rewards

2. select “2. Search for your organization here.”

3. It will take you to your log in page.

4. Once logged in it will take you to the Community Awards page where you can select your awards organization.

5. Simply type “Steelheaders” and select.

If you shop at Fred Meyers, but don’t have an awards membership, you can sign up and save some money, while helping the Steelheaders:

1. Rather than signing in, select “Create Account” from the Sign In drop down menu and follow instructions.

2. Use whatever phone number you would use at the store checkout to receive your awards as your “Alt ID”.

3. Once your profile is set up select Community Rewards to type and select Steelheaders.

Thank you for your support.

Chapter Meetings

A few chapters have resumed Monthly Chapter Meetings in-person, and we hope to get everyone meeting as soon as possible! To get more detailed meeting information please visit our Events Calendar. If you're having trouble finding a meeting you can attend, please reach out to us at office@anws.org and we'll help you out. As always, Chapter Meetings are free and open to the public. If you're new to Northwest Steelheaders, attending a meeting is a great first step to getting more involved with your local fishing community. 

Upcoming Meetings

•  Columbia River Chapter - Tuesday, July 9 @ 6:30 pm

•  McLoughlin Chapter - Tuesday, July 9 @ 7 pm

•  Tualatin Valley Chapter - Thursday, July 11 @ 7 pm

•  Salem Chapter - Tuesday, July 16 @ 7 pm

•  Emerald Empire Chapter - Tuesday, July 23 @ 6:30 pm

•  Sandy River Chapter - Thursday, August 1 @ 7 pm

•  Mid-Valley Chapter - Wednesday, August 7 @ 6 pm

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