Hatchery Deaths Hamper Efforts

14 February 2014

Coast Radio News
Local News

Hatchery Loss Hampers Volunteer Efforts

For volunteers with the local Salmon-Trout-Enhancement-Program it was devastating news.  The discovery of about ten-thousand recently hatched Coho Salmon from the group’s small hatchery facility on Munsel Creek… all dead.

Oregon Fish and Wildlife Biologist John Spangler, who works closely with the group, said the cause of death was likely water-borne.

John Spangler – “Really we don’t know what came down the creek.  It was some form of pollutant that caused the entire loss of the Coho production in the STEP facility there.”

Spangler said the timing of the kill-off is leading some to believe the pollutant was possibly something that somebody upstream put on their driveway or sidewalk.

John Spangler – “It happened right after the thaw, so, you know, there’s a lot of speculation out there about things that probably ran off of some location and entered the stream.”

The hatchlings were still quite small.  If they had reached the two-to-three inch stage, they would have been released to eventually make their way back as fully grown fish in about three years.

Volunteers say the loss is small compared to the rest of the Coho fishery on the Siuslaw… but it is “significant” to them.

Rain to Fall and the Rivers to Rise

Flood and high wind watches remain in place for the central Oregon Coast today and through tomorrow as forecasters say another set of Pacific storms will bring plenty of rain and wind.

The Siuslaw River has already crested at flood stage Wednesday and will likely do so again later tonight.

The National Weather Service says areas of special concern include Curry County; Central Douglas County; the mid-Willamette Valley and the Siuslaw River.

Meanwhile, the high wind watch will actually go into effect early tomorrow as south winds gusting to 65 or 70 miles an hour could begin coming ashore around day break on the central coast… areas along the south coast could see gusts to 90-miles-an-hour.

The Oregon Legislature is advancing a couple of different pot proposals this week.

First up, a bill that would clarify controls local communities have over medical marijuana dispensaries.  Lawmakers approved them last year and permits will be issued beginning next month. However, several communities, including Florence, have expressed concerns about whether or not they can limit the dispensaries and their locations.

Others have taken outright moves to ban them.

The Senate Judiciary Committee endorsed a bill this week that would allow for regulation but prohibit bans.

The Judiciary Committee also advanced a bill this week that some “high-minded” Oregonians may look forward to.  The committee approved the wording of a ballot measure that would ask voters to either approve or deny recreational use of Pot.

State Senator Arnie Roblan says lawmakers are doing so because of a pair of initiative petition efforts that would do the same thing,

Arnie Roblan – “The concern, I think from a lot of people is, we’ve got two ballot measures out there that are on their way and appear to be in the possibility of getting on the ballot.”

Roblan says the initiative versions don’t have enough details and would make it very difficult… and contentious… to implement them.

Arnie Roblan – “Neither of them really puts any guidance or restrictions in the way that the one in the Legislature would require the legislature to then make rules and do some of the things to help people implement things.  We think that’s important.”

The recreational Pot bill will also have to clear the Senate Rules Committee, then the full Senate.

The House would also have to approve it.

Lawmakers have until March 9th to wrap up this year’s session.