Unofficial minutes from the April 24, 2007 State Access & Habitat Board meeting in Bandon, Oregon

Taken by Brian L. King

 

 

 

Board seating, left to right:

Steve McClelland

Robert Jaeger

Reinard Okeson

Duane Bernard

Ward Armstrong

Tik Moore

Tally Patton

 

 

Minutes Review (1/30/7):

Accepted as written.

 

Coordinator's Report - Greg Jackle:

 

Eric:

A&H Coordinator position:  12 applied, 5 qualified.  Narrowed to 4 (2M, 2F). 

(Greg is temporary.)

 

Coombs Canyon Project cancellation:  Steve Wolf chose to cancel his contract.  Steve resides in Wallowa.  Board member Steve McClelland will talk to him.  Wolf was offered more money by a private individual.

Jon on the intercom:  We offered to match it, but he declined (so must be more than just the money). 

 

Auction & Raffle tags:  Elk (?) went for $26,000.  Deer tag went for $36k.  One more to go at statewide convention.

 

Introduced 05-07 Biennium Report (hardcopy in hand)

 

Liability issues in other western states: 

Larry:  Bill currently in process.   Clarifies that landowner receiving state money for access would still be covered as if he weren't.  Still an issue with "access" vs. "recreation".  HB 2445.

Greg sent me this report.

 

4 completion reports in packet.  No questions by board.

 

$319,136 left for biennium.

Greg sent me budget sheet.

July 1 - starts next biennium.

 

Larry:  Funding for any project that extends beyond the legislative renewal date in 2009 is not guaranteed.  (Funding may stop abruptly if A&H is not renewed.)

 

Trying to get $3+ million for next biennium.

 

Tally asks Melissa for clarification on when board members' terms expire.  Forthcoming.

 

 

Legislative Report - Larry Cooper:

 

SB240 signed.

 

SB804:  Defines what is a "wild bird", "wild mammal".

 

SB892:  Amended to narrow age to 9-14, to ensure children must go through hunter ed at 15.

Issue raised by some that this situation could cause more accidents, but data from other states show this is the safest age group.

 

HB2295:  Allows for compensation.  Allows for landowner to take action if caught "in the act" (being defined).  Has hurdles yet to get across.  Lots of disagreement.

This is a department (ODFW) bill.

 

HB2445:  Already discussed.

 

HB2970:  24 states maintain database of violators.

Discrepancy between Oregon max terms compared to other states (sometimes life).

 

HB2971:  Allows ODFW to hire agents to hunt cougar/bear.  Includes use of dogs.

 

HB3041:  Mirrors HB2971, but with volunteers.

 

HB3165:  Same as SB892.

 

Nothing new on "Ranching for Wildlife" bill.

 

SB672 trap check.  Not moving.  Hope that it won't.

 

SB672:  Not moving.  Hope that it won't.

 

HB2547  significant revenue impact to ODFW.  Allows more people to claim disability.

ODFW requiring re-up of disability classification every 2 years.  Seems to be well received.

 

SB718:  No hearing.  Tougher row to hoe. 

 

A&H reauthorization in 2009.  Staff is trying to step up the projects.  Trying to publicize to hunters and landowners.

Want to get the number of projects greater than the dollars available.

 

Asked Larry about HB3164 ("No Net Loss"):  This is a lot smaller than some think it to be.  It only covers the 100,000 or so acres that ODFW manages directly.  Does not cover state or federally managed lands.  Representative Krieger was likely just making a statement for his constituents.  This does set a precedent, however.  For example, if a new ODFW commissioner was more "green" and was so inclined, this would limit him/her from removing hunting access.

 

 

Projects:

 

Heppner Regulated Hunt Area:  Accepted, approved.

 

Upland Habitat Initiative for Columbia Plateau:  Passed 5-2 with conditions (below).

Reinard:  Issue with Oregon funding federal position (that we can not control).

Clarification:  Position is regional (Pheasants Forever).  Federal component removed.

Position would actually be managed by the SWCD, but supervised by PF.

Tik:  Why wasn't this position through "National Pheasants"?

Steve McClelland:  He'd rather make the contract with SWCD.

**Significant discussion**

Board will add req't for close auditing.

Conditions:

National Pheasants must assure they're OK with how we're doing this.

Annual audit report of funds

Quarterly report of land and owners affected.

 

Ontario Public Recreational Access Project:  Accepted, approved 5-1.

Paying city an access fee ($5100/year).

Tik recused from voting.  He is a participant in the application.

Tik states that this is a PR opportunity for A&H.

A&H signage is critical.

 

Lane Sage Grouse Enhancement Project:  Accepted, approved.

 

Star 1 Trust Habitat Enhancement:  Accepted, approved.

Solely for disabled hunters.

 

Lincoln County Forest Protection Project:  Accepted, approved.

 

Tillamook Bay Wetlands:  Accepted, denied 3-4, then approved unanimously w/ swap (see below).

Troy Laws taking over for Rick Boatner as North Willamette Regional Coordinator.

Steve:  Issue w/ using A&H funds for "a sign" and a parking lot.  Would rather see more habitat focus.

Reinard points out that this is all access and we're "tooting our horn that we have access there."

Tik proposes swapping the $4000 kiosk cost with the $3500 for parking lot & $1000 of kiosk ("other funds" picks up another $500).

After failed vote, Tik moves to approve w/ swap.

 

Chandler Family Ranch Oak Woodland Restoration:  Accepted, approved.

 

High Desert Region (Dan Gonzalez) paying about $2.50/acre/year for access.

 

 

Bentz Access Expansion:  Accepted, approved.

 

Alvord & Kueny Ranch Access Continuation:  Accepted, approved.

 

Otley Access:  Accepted, approved.

 

Roaring Springs Access:  Accepted, approved.

 

Palomino Butte Access:  Denied.

Regional council denied unanimously.

Antelope only.

7343 acres for 10 years.

$1.50/acre/year.  Willing to drop to $1.

 

Peila Seed and Fertilizer:  Accepted, approved at full funding (6-1).

Antelope damage.

Council approved at half funding for fertilizer.

 

Robertson Seed and Fertilizer:  Accepted, approved (5-2).

 

Sandhollow Feedlot Rehab:  Tabled.  Sent back as incomplete.

 

A&H Project Assistant:  Accepted, approved for $7000 A&H funds (twice asking amount).

To help Dan.

 

A&H Program Prioritization Exercise:

 

A rollup from the councils.

 

Project idea:  Fund signs for A&H lands in our area.  (Longview Fiber, etc?)  Use OHA volunteers to post.

 

Board asks department to come back next meeting with possibilities around being able to negotiate tag auction percentages w/ hunter orgs based on them providing a project in exchange for the tag.

 

Seed banking - Jon Paustian:

 

Responding to AR from Tally in last mtg.

All native seed source for this year are gone.  (Bad fire year, etc.)

Jon has 2 growers interested.  We have room for storage.

 

Board Member Reports:

 

Next meetings:  July 24 in Salem, October 15/16 in Burns.

 

Key takeaway from today's discussions:  A&H is facing it's sunset in 2009.  NOW is the time to show how valuable the program is.  Landowners are lined up with us.  We need more visible involvement from hunters, e.g. hunter organizations bringing their own projects.   (It is recognized that hunters volunteer on projects significantly.)  It is quite possible, and we want to see more projects than we can afford, forcing us to rank projects against each other.

 

Opens:

 

Melissa will check into emailing me the legislative report.

 

 

--
Brian L. King 
    Hunter representative to the

        North Willamette Advisory Council of the

            Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife

                Access & Habitat Board

                    http://www.dfw.state.or.us/AH/