April 6, 2022 3:50 a.m.

Staff with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will have a virtual public webinar on Thursday evening.

Dale Cranford has details:  “Dale” Q: News Radio 93-9 FM and 1240 KQEN

With recent low returns of summer steelhead to the North Umpqua basin, the agency has been 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 has prompted ODFW to reassess the North Umpqua summer steelhead population and factors that may limit their abundance.

A public workshop was held on March 29th along with an online survey where residents could share their views.

The webinar is set for 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. It will present the results from the data that has been gathered. Recommendations will be presented to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission on April 22nd.

To access the webinar, go to: https://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/CRP/north_umpqua_summer_steelhead.asp