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Wednesday September 24, 2020
SALEM, Ore.—The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is seeking public comment on two requests to exempt from fish passage requirements two proposed culverts on an unnamed tributary to Hayden Slough in Polk County. Comments are due by Oct. 15, 2020.
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) proposes to extend two existing culverts. One is located on OR99W and the second is just under 500’ upstream on SE Monmouth Cuttoff Road (on some maps labeled Clow Corner Road). ODOT is installing a roundabout to reduce the number of accidents at this intersection and increase public safety. Given historic fish use, this action has triggered Oregon’s fish passage laws.
According to Pete Baki, ODFW-ODOT Fish Passage Liaison, ODFW may grant fish passage exemptions if there is no appreciable benefit to native migratory fish from providing passage. Because of site specific habitat conditions and the lack of current native migratory fish use due to a complete downstream barrier, ODFW has made an initial determination that even if fish passage was provided, the action would result in no appreciable benefit to native migratory fish. In the future, if conditions change from which the decision was made, exemptions can be revoked and fish passage shall be addressed.
Public comments will be accepted through Oct. 15, 2020 on the proposed exemptions. The fish passage exemption applications and the Departments benefit analysis are available at https://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/passage/index.asp
Members of the public can send written comments or request additional information from Pete Baki, ODFW-ODOT Fish Passage Liaison, 4034 Fairview Industrial Dr SE, Salem, OR 97303, email Pete.A.Baki@odfw.oregon.gov, or by calling (503) 947-6234. ### |
