February 19, 2005
A team of scientists with Oregon's Coastal Coho Project will talk about the status and future of the native salmon during a two-day meeting next week in Newport.
From 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, the Coastal Coho Stakeholder Team will meet.
From 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, officials with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will make a series of presentations.
Reports include the results of the draft assessment showing most Oregon coastal coho populations are viable, as well as an update on the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) Endangered Species Act listing decision process and a preview of the state's conservation planning effort.
The sessions are in the Mariner Conference Room at the Embarcadero Resort, left at the first light coming into Newport on Highway 20. Public comment will be taken at 4:30 p.m. Thursday and at 1:45 p.m. Friday.
The state will provide NOAA Fisheries with a final report by April 30 for consideration in the federal ESA listing decision.
The governor's office will take written public comments on the assessment through March 15.
Send them to: Coho Assessment, Governor's Natural Resources Office, 900 Court St., Salem, OR 97301-4047. Comments also may be e-mailed to teresa.trump@ state.or.us or faxed to (503) 378-3225.
The Stakeholder Team advises the state of Oregon and NOAA Fisheries on policy aspects of the Coastal Coho Project.
For more information, go online at www.oregon plan.org/cohoproject/index.html or call (503) 947-6002.