Governor looks ahead..................................... PAGE 4 Police Blotter.. ................................................ PAGE 3
July 4, 2023
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Chinook, coho fishing regulations announced
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“We know these fisheries are important to coastal communities and we want to ensure anglers can continue to harvest fish over the long run. Unfortunately, we’re seeing warning signs regionwide, with many fisheries closing from California to Alaska.”
GOOD NEWS
JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.
BAD NEWS
After evaluating survey feedback and other comments, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) has announced fishing regulations for 2023 fall Chinook and coho fisheries in rivers along Oregon’s Coast, from the Necanicum River to the Winchuck River. For the full list of Chinook regulations that take effect as early as July 1 in some rivers, visit the Fishing Report for the SW Zone and NW Zone and click Regulation Updates. Proposed coho regulations are available on the fall coastal salmon webpage; they are considered tentative until final approval from the National Marine Fisheries Service, which is required because Oregon coast coho are listed under the federal Endangered Species Act. Relative to last year, ODFW is expecting a better fall salmon season on the coast this year. Another strong return of coho is expected, allowing the opening of additional rivers to wild harvest. Likewise, the outlook for wild fall Chinook fisheries is improved, though bag limits are conservative due to ongoing concerns for Chinook. “Last year we had a lot of closures because of the impact of ongoing drought and poor ocean conditions. This year, the returns to many basins are expected to be better so rivers like the Tillamook, Siuslaw, and Floras that were closed last year will be open,” ODFW Deputy Fish Division Administrator Shaun Clements said. “Similarly, last year there was very limited opportunity in the Coos basin because of a low expected return, but this year’s outlook is much better and bag limits are increased substantially in that basin.” Fisheries for wild Chinook will take place in 19 of 21 coastal systems (only the Elk and Coquille are closed in 2023), an improvement over 2022 when five rivers were closed. Earlier this month, ODFW fish biologists hosted a webinar to discuss potential regulations and the outlook for wild Chinook and wild coho runs to rivers along Oregon’s coast. After the webinar, they asked anglers and others interested to fill out a survey to provide feedback. The survey specifically asked for feedback about two different bag limits (Alternatives 1 and 2) for fall Chinook in certain rivers. Alternative 1 would have taken a consistent coastwide approach to setting reduced bag limits for each basin, in recognition of concerns about the factors impacting Chinook. Alternative 2 would allow additional harvest in several rivers based on a range of factors, including the forecast and recent trends. Over 700 people responded to the survey. Survey feedback was nearly evenly split between Alternatives 1 and 2 (49/51 percent respectively), though more respondents (56 percent) who primarily fish in Mid Coast rivers preferred Alternative 2. This area of the coast had more flexibility between the alternatives. Based on the feedback from anglers and groups, ODFW selected Alternative 2, which still provides needed protections in the basins of highest concern (including Tillamook, Nestucca, Siuslaw, Umpqua and Floras/New). In the remaining basins, regulations take a middle ground approach, allowing additional opportunity on runs that do not have the same level of concern currently but providing additional protection against error in the forecasts that have caused issues recently. Clements said ODFW is paying close attention to these runs.
Kites, fireworks, other events mean high flying profits, but they also bring traffic challenges
Jeremy C. Ruark / Country Media, Inc. The annual Lincoln City Summer Kite Festival draws thousand to the beaches. JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.
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ummer in the city means dollars and cents. Lots of dollars and cents, but also lots of traffic. The News Guard has reached out to Lincoln City Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lori Arce-Torres and Explore Lincoln City Event and Outreach Coordinator Stephanie Hull for insight into one of the largest visitor attractions, the city’s annual Summer Kite Festival, held June 24-25 at the D River Wayside. The News Guard: What was your impression about the summer kite festival? What stood out to you about this event? Lori Arce-Torres: The Kite Festival is a wonderful way to showcase our beaches, which are perfect for Kite Flying in Lincoln City. There is nothing quite like seeing the vibrant colors of the kites in the air and watching families enjoying this beach activity together. The weather was spectacular with plenty of sun and perfect wind speeds for kite flying this year. Bringing thousands of people together in a peaceful, fun way is what the Kite Festival is all about. The News Guard: So far, what have you heard from the merchants about how they did over the weekend as a result of the annu-
Shaun Clements, ODFW Deputy Fish Division Administrator
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T O U R I S M I M PA C T
al summer kite festival? Arce-Torres: The local merchants are thankful for the additional traffic that the Kite Festival brings in, however it tends to snarl traffic to the point of visitors not being able to find a parking spot to get out and shop the local businesses. The News Guard: What do you believe could be improvements for the kite festivals and what? For example, traffic along the highway into and out of the city was quite heavy. Improvements needed? And what are the merchants saying they’d like to see differently? Arce-Torres: Traffic is always a concern in Lincoln City on any given weekend during the summer months. The merchants that I’ve spoken with were surprised to see the Kite Festival, Touch a Truck and Casino Anniversary Fireworks all on the same weekend this year. These events individually bring in large crowds, and if spread out it could help the traffic congestion and keep tourists coming back multiple times. I’m hearing that hotels and restaurants had a big boost in the arm with the additional traffic in town. Explore Lincoln City The News Guard: What is Explore See TOURISM, Page 12
See SALMON, Page 12
Gorse has become an ongoing threat to coastal Oregon ELLIOT SCHWARZ Country Media, Inc.
All along the Oregon Coast, as far inland into the Deschutes National Forest, the spread of Gorse is threatening agriculture, fueling wildfire danger, and is known as among the world’s most invasive and difficult to manage
weeds. In Coos and Curry counties, this flammable plant poses a serious risk to over 80,000 residents and 30,000 structures. The plant is native to western and central Europe and northwest Africa. It was introduced intentionally to southern Oregon’s coastal
area as hedgerow. Gorse outcompetes riparian and other vegetation and destroys the habitat needed for healthy and productive wetlands, streams, and rivers. It destroys grazing lands, commercial timber replantings, and recreational areas,
Courtesy from Wild Rivers Coast Alliance
See GORSE, Page 12 Gorse plants in Bandon.
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INDEX Police Blotter ............ 3 Opinion ...................... 5
Classifieds.................. 7 Comics ...................... 11
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