ODFW 

With recent low returns of summer steelhead in the North Umpqua basin, staff with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking public input on potential fishery management actions.

A release said in 2021, summer steelhead returns declined in much of their range from Cape Blanco to British Columbia. Just 450 wild summer steelhead returned to the North Umpqua basin last year.

The decline, along with fires and drought in the basin prompted ODFW to reassess the North Umpqua summer steelhead population and factors that may limit their abundance. Factors may include stream and ocean conditions, the hatchery program and more.

The release said as ODFW determines if fishery management changes are necessary, public input on the hatchery summer steelhead is needed.

An upcoming workshop is the first of a multi-pronged approach to understand public attitudes and concerns related to hatchery and wild summer steelhead and climate change impacts in the Umpqua Basin. It will be followed by a survey and virtual webinar.

The workshop is March 29th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Conference Hall Building at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. It is limited to 100 people and pre-registration is required. https://odfw.wufoo.com/forms/mo14yp90vw9jjn/

Those who cannot attend the event but still want to offer input can take a survey: https://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/CRP/north_umpqua_summer_steelhead_survey.asp

A virtual webinar will also be held on April 7th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. https://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/CRP/north_umpqua_summer_steelhead.asp

Public input from the workshop, survey and webinar will help craft management recommendations for the program. Staff will present this information to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission for approval at their April 22nd meeting.