We are getting into the home stretch for the Portland area 50^th Anniversary Celebration. We still need to sell more tables to break even on the facilities. This is your opportunity to show your support for the Steelheaders. I am re-running Larry�s piece from last time and including an image of our event flyer.

We are still looking for Chapters to host events outside of the Portland area. We agreed in a Board of Director meeting that we should not limit the 50^th Anniversary Celebration to just one event and the Association will provide support for events in other areas.

The Sportsman�s Show and the Boat Show were very successful events for us. We sold a lot of raffle tickets, signed up some new members, and got a chance to network with our partners in the fishing industry.

Auction

How you can help-

Our 50^th Anniversary Banquet Auction – April 10^Th 2010 Location is the Holiday Inn Portland Airport

8439 NE Columbia Blvd
Portland, OR 97220
(503) 256-5000

Some simple facts about this event-

Funds from this event support the general costs of maintaining the organization to the benefit of all chapters. So let�s do it together!

What chapters can do to help

• Reserve banquet tables at the event as soon as possible so we have a better idea of our �count�. Please contact me with this information.
• Single tickets are $50
• A  regular table of 10 is $450
• A  Patron table of 10 is $550, and includes complimentary wine and one Patron series art print (retail value $250�)
• Request donations of items from chapter members (jigs, flies, spinners, or other items they can make).  These would make good additions to the Dutch auction bags; we�re always looking for good items for the bags. Other sorts of donations are welcome of course!

• Please forward contact information about likely donors to me. Guided trips and hotel accommodations are very useful, as well as items that our members� wives like as well. (Yeah I know�they really want a new salmon troll outfit�)
• Request donations of Fishing Trips with skilled members to be part of a reward drawing for event volunteers. Both Joe Domenico and I are doing this. You can too!
• Get your friends to attend! It�s April 10^th at the Holiday Inn, Portland Airport 8439 NE Columbia Blvd. Doors  open at 4:30 PM
• Ask for your chapter members to volunteer at the event. There are lots of easy jobs, and they�ll still have plenty of time to visit and bid. We can find a job that will work for them, and show them all that is required to do it. Have them contact me.
• If you have members who are used to talking to the public on the phone, I can use a couple of callers to make follow up calls to our auction donors. The donors will have already received a donation request letter, so they won�t be making �cold calls�. Have the volunteers interested in this contact me.

palmerlarryd@yahoo.com, 503-286-2093 (home), or 503 793-9225 (cell)

• This year significant items for the auction will be posted to our website, along with progress updates. Check them out at-http://www.nwsteelheaders.org/
• Send your donated items to- The Association office at-

Assn. of NW Steelheaders

6641 SE Lake Road,

Milwaukie, OR  97222

Thank you,

Larry Palmer

2010 Auction Co-chair

Legislative

Kitzhaber:

I attended a meeting (Sponsored by NSIA and NW Guides and Anglers) with Kitzhaber, representing the Steelheaders and specifically our river rights interests.  The gubernatorial candidate mentioned a previous meeting with agriculture interests that were less friendly to his response on this issue.  Basically he wants the issue resolved with a state wide solution, ending the river by river process now in place.  He also supports SAFE For Salmon as a way to establish conservation management in a way that ends the conflict.

Land Owner Liability Protection HB37:

This bill addresses a loophole in the current indemnity of landowners that permit access to the general public.  We support this bill because it addresses a primary concern of land owners with the topic of public access and should improve public access in the future.  It is expected to pass.

Citizen�s Rights to Oregon�s Waterways SB 1060:

Our bill was first rewritten by Senator Bates in an effort to put a stake in the ground with the progress made and establish a task force to finalize wording of a bill for the next session.  The opposing senators were able to change enough votes to kill the bill.  Supporting legislators are moving forward with a task force that will be hosted by the Division of State Lands.

Columbia River Salmon Spill:

The legal team is giving Washington State�s Department of Ecology another opportunity to remove the 115% Total Dissolved Gas limit at the forebay.  A new petition that other groups can sign on to is being circulated.

Estuary Protection from FEMA backed development:

FEMA responded with a redline of our counter proposal solution to the law suit to protect critical estuary habitat for ESA species.  We are proceeding with court action as further negotiations take place.

Klamath Agreement Signing Ceremony:

Bob Oleson attended the ceremony, culminating a couple years of effort between Bob, Norm Ritchie and Tom Smoot.  Bob reported that others in attendance acknowledged with appreciation the ANWS contribution to the effort.  (He also mentioned enjoying meeting California�s �Governator�.)

Attack on ESA Protections of Sacramento River Salmon:

This just in from Honorary Director, Liz Hamilton:  �West Coast ocean fisheries can breathe a temporary sigh of relief, along with fishing businesses in California, Oregon, and Washington.  Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who had proposed an amendment (or “rider”) on pending jobs legislation to waive protections for imperiled California Central Valley salmon for up to two years, was unable to proceed with her rider because the Senate opted not to allow any amendments as the jobs bill is debated this week.�

As mentioned earlier we along with other sportsman and conservation groups responded loudly to the US senate on this and all of us have a share in this success.

Liz goes on to warn. �Unfortunately, Sen. Feinstein has already indicated that she will seek to attach her rider to another bill later this spring, so this fight is not over. We’ll keep you posted as we learn more, but until then, thanks for speaking up for Central Valley salmon!�  Of course the ANWS will continue to be diligent and ready to respond to protect our coastal chinook fishery.

Endorsements for Water, Parks and Wildlife Ballot Measure:

The ANWS board endorsed this measure at the February board meeting.  This measure essentially continues the old measure 66 lottery funding of salmon recovery and park funding but with better assurances of funding for fish and wildlife for the same funds.  We will be supporting this effort through signature gathering and other public outreach efforts.  We hope all chapters will participate in signature gathering efforts.

Norman E. Ritchie, P.E.

Government Affairs Director

email:  normritchie@q.com

cell:  503-807-7729

In Closing

Remember – You are members of an incredible organization. This is an organization that accomplishes some amazing things and you should be proud to be a member. If you want to do some volunteer work at the Association level please contact me to see how you can help.

Please do not hesitate to contact me directly at gun_dog@anws.org with your concerns, views, and/or suggestions on how to improve this monthly email blast to our members. Also, you can email me if you would rather not receive this e-blast newsletter in the future.

Thank you for your continuing support of the Association to protect and enhance fisheries and their habitats for today and the future.

Sincerely,

Jay Burris

President

March 6
Spaghetti Feed & Silent Auction
Rockaway Beach Civic Facility
City of Rockaway Beach
503-355-2291

March 6-7
Spring Craft Sale
Tillamook Fairgrounds
4603 Third Street
Tillamook, OR
Jerry Underwood 503-842-2272
P.O. Box 455
Tillamook, OR 97141

March 7
“OPEN HOUSE”
Noon to 4:00
Latimer Quilt & Textile Center
2105 Wilson River Loop Road
Tillamook, OR
503-842-8622
www.latimerquiltandtextile.com
latimertextile@oregoncoast.com

March 13-14
The Garibaldi Museum
“Open House”
10-4 pm
Garibaldi Museum
112 Hwy 101
Garibaldi, OR
503-322-8411

March 13-14
Garibaldi Crab Races
Old Mill Marina
Garibaldi, OR
Doris Mengel
503-322-8408

March 14
“Come Together, a Tribute to The Beatles”
Monday Musical Club
Don Whitney Auditorium
2605 12th Street
Tillamook, OR
Marianne Gienger 503-842-2078
www.MondayMusicalClub.com

March 20
Elks Installation of Officers & Inaugural Ball
Dinner 5:00 pm/Install 7:00 pm
Tillamook Elks Lodge
1907 3rd St.
Tillamook, OR
Elks Lodge #1437
503-842-6623

March 20
Great Oregon Spring Beach Cleanup
10:00 am – 1:00pm
Entire Oregon Coast
Brett with SOLV
1-800-333-Solv ext. 332
www.solv.org

March 27
Netarts-Oceanside Volunteer Firefighters Assn.
Pancake Breakfast
8:00 am – 11:00 am
Oceanside Community Club
Oceanside, OR
Jessica Pyle, 503-842-5900
jpnorfpd@oregoncoast.com

Clam Clinic Siletz Bay 2010 will meet on Tuesday evening May 18th at 18:00 pm for the lecture at the Lincoln City Library. The Lincoln City Library is located at 801 SW Hwy 101 on the west of the highway. We will meet the following morning at the gravel turnout just north of the Bay House Restaurant at 11:00 am. Meeting at the gravel turnout offers the best access to the tidal flats of Siletz Bay to dig purple varnish clams. Low tide, a -0.6 foot tide occurs on Wed May 19 at 11:52 am. There will be plenty of time for everyone to dig a limit of purple varnish clams.

Clam Clinic 2010 at Garibaldi Tillamook Bay will meet at the Tillamook County Library located at 1716 3rd St in the City of Tillamook on Saturday afternoon June 12th. The lecture will begin at 3:30 pm and end at 05:30 pm. We will meet the following morning Sunday June 13th at 06:30 am at the Pier’s End Crabbing Dock on the Garibaldi Tidal Flat to dig for gaper clams. Low tide occurs at 08:06 am PDT with a -2.05 foot low tide. Hopefully we can arrange transportation to the premier clam digging areas on the tidal flats located across the bay from Garibaldi.

We will be staying at the Harborview Inn and RV Park. The Harborview Inn is conveniently located on the Garibaldi waterfront adjacent to the Garibaldi tidal flats. The rooms at the Inn are very clean and reasonably priced. Bradley and Becca will make your stay a pleasent one. Book early to be sure you have a room or RV spot for our clam clinic event.

It has been an interesting month since your last e-blast. Our Executive Director has moved on to a new job, CCA has filed an initiative to remove the commercial gillnets from the Columbia River, and we have quite a bit of legislative activity going on.

Auction

How you can help-

Our 50^th Anniversary Banquet Auction – April 10^Th 2010 Location is the Holiday Inn Portland Airport

8439 NE Columbia Blvd
Portland, OR 97220
(503) 256-5000

Some simple facts about this event-

Funds from this event support the general costs of maintaining the organization to the benefit of all chapters. So let�s do it together!

What chapters can do to help

• Reserve banquet tables at the event as soon as possible so we have a better idea of our �count�. Please contact me with this information.
• Single tickets are $50
• A  regular table of 10 is $450
• A  Patron table of 10 is $550, and includes complimentary wine and one Patron series art print (retail value $250�)
• Request donations of items from chapter members (jigs, flies, spinners, or other items they can make).  These would make good additions to the Dutch auction bags; we�re always looking for good items for the bags. Other sorts of donations are welcome of course!

• Please forward contact information about likely donors to me. Guided trips and hotel accommodations are very useful, as well as items that our members� wives like as well. (Yeah I know�they really want a new salmon troll outfit�)
• Request donations of Fishing Trips with skilled members to be part of a reward drawing for event volunteers. Both Joe Domenico and I are doing this. You can too!
• Get your friends to attend! It�s April 10^th at the Holiday Inn, Portland Airport 8439 NE Columbia Blvd. Doors  open at 4:30 PM
• Ask for your chapter members to volunteer at the event. There are lots of easy jobs, and they�ll still have plenty of time to visit and bid. We can find a job that will work for them, and show them all that is required to do it. Have them contact me.
• If you have members who are used to talking to the public on the phone, I can use a couple of callers to make follow up calls to our auction donors. The donors will have already received a donation request letter, so they won�t be making �cold calls�. Have the volunteers interested in this contact me.

palmerlarryd@yahoo.com, 503-286-2093 (home), or 503 793-9225 (cell)

• This year significant items for the auction will be posted to our website, along with progress updates. Check them out at-http://www.nwsteelheaders.org/
• Send your donated items to- The Association office at-

Assn. of NW Steelheaders

6641 SE Lake Road,

Milwaukie, OR  97222

Thank you, Larry Palmer     2010 Auction Co-chair

Legislative

We are busy getting ready for the February off year (or special) session of the Oregon Legislature. Budget issues will dominate this short session and we will carefully monitor any that affect our interests. Moreover, a number of priority or emergency bills of possible interest to us and other members of the conservation community are expected to receive attention. Approximately 200 bills could be introduced in this session and so far about half of these bills have been released for public review–complicated or controversial bills are likely to be held over for further committee work between now and the 2011 legislative session.

High on the list is our river rights proposal which is intended to codify and place in state statutes the right to use the banks o f state waterways up to the high water line. (This bill is SB 1060 and is being introduced by Senator Alan Bates of Ashland). We also expect to see measures that will change how water rights are utilized and what additional water can be extracted from rivers. Also of interest will be proposals to change or waive regulations over low impact hydro facilities and related water district cannel projects. In addition to bills intended to control harmful toxic impacts on consumers and the environment, there will also be good and bad bills involving liquid natural gas (LNG) permitting processes.

Other routine interim measures were listed in the last edition of ANWS magazine. Within a few days we will know more about the particular issues that will soon be facing our legislators in Salem in February. You are encouraged to make contact with your legislators in order to find out what conservation issues they are working on and what new items they think you should be following for both the special and regular sessions. Please let ANWS government relations consultant Bob Oleson if you have comments or questions: you can reach him through the association office or at  boboleson@hotmail.com.

FEMA Suit to protect our estuaries from development is now in the second phase of negotiations.  We are working toward a settlement that will require a biological assessment of any development on at risk species and the overall habitat and require mitigation for any adverse impact.

Senator Jeff Merkley signed on as a sponsor of the Mining Reform Act that will protect riparian habitat and in stream water quality. This was a direct result of our meeting with his staff.  Staff pointed out that the Senator was very impressed with the Steelheaders because of the extent of the membership�s volunteer effort in their own watersheds.  Strong chapters with members active in their areas make the Steelheaders unique and we are able to leverage your on the ground effort to advocate for the things that are important to you.

Our Spill � Not Kill campaign continues with a new court case.  Oregon and Federal agencies agree the science shows a higher level of maximum spill will be beneficial to out-migrating salmon & steelhead, but Washington state wants to retain the old standard (presumably to retain more water for the turbines).  We are suing Washington State to acknowledge the higher standard, so BPA will manage flows accordingly.

The Klamath Basin Agreement is moving forward thanks to our efforts in getting funding legislation passed in Oregon�s last legislative session.  Some environmental groups are complaining that the agreement does not provide enough in-stream water needs.  We would all like to see more for fish but the agreement does provide a reasonable compromise in this area and removes the dams.  Also, the agreement does not prevent future agreements to improve water management.  We will continue to support the agreement at both the State and Federal levels.

The Columbia BiOp can still be improved by the Obama Administration and we continue to push for higher fish population thresholds to initiate alternative actions and drive a faster   more decisive response should those thresholds be hit.

We are pushing the US Bureau of Reclamation to drive Bowman Dam modifications because the reintroduction of salmon and steelhead above Round Butte Dam creates a great opportunity and responsibility to make or prepare to make the project modifications part of the basin�s restoration effort.

The Clean Water Restoration act still needs our support to insure the headwaters where salmon & steelhead spawn have the same protections as the lower basins.  We need Representative De Fazio to join others in supporting this bill.

There is considerable interest in the Protect our Salmon Act being proposed for the ballot by CCA. It is important for you to know that NW Steelheaders is leading the current effort in the conservation and angling community to get answers about the specific provisions and implications of moving this expensive campaign/program forward. As always we like the concept of trying to eliminate destructive practices associated with commercial fishing and fish farming. But the devil is in the details and we need to know much more about what is behind the CCA press releases and their yet to be shared organizational strategies. It is not possible to make an informed judgment about the proposal until additional information is acquired and assessments are made by affected parties, including var ious governments, agencies and budget officials. In short, the following kinds of questions need to be fully answered:

Will this conserve wild fish?

Will this improve sport fishing opportunity or hatchery fish harvest?

Will this impact Tribal Fisheries?

What is the effect of diverting the sport angler fees?

In Closing

Please do not hesitate to contact me directly at gun_dog@msn.com with your concerns, views, and/or suggestions on how to improve this monthly email blast to our members.  Also, you can email me if you would rather not receive this monthly e-blast newsletter in the future.

Thank you for your continuing support of the Association.

Sincerely,

Jay Burris

President

After a great deal of thought and consideration based on the experience of recreational clam diggers in Oregon, the Clam Diggers Association of Oregon (CDAO) is proud to announce the following recommendations to the regulations for taking clams in Oregon’s coastal waters and defining management objectives for geoduck clams and gaper clams.

Please take the time to consider the recommendations carefully.  Our recommendations are only the beginning.  We are looking forward to your ideas and input to improve Oregon’s recreational clam digging regulations prior to submitting them to ODFW.  Our recommendations are listed under the following titles: General Regulations, Razor Clams, Piddocks Clams, Bay Clams, Other Clams Category and Defining Management Objectives for Geoduck Clams and Gaper clams.

General Regulations

1.  It has come to our attention that there are a number of organizations sponsoring field trips for school aged children to the intertidal areas of Oregon’s Bays to collect shellfish or other invertebrates.  Some of the school aged children are over the age of 14 and a high percentage of those children do not have shellfish licenses.   Even though it is desirable for children over 14 years old to be licensed, it is impractical to require the sponsors or the children engaged in field trips for educational purposes to purchase shellfish licenses.  We should not prohibit a child from experiencing the joy of participating in organized field trips to collect shellfish or other invertebrates because they are unable to obtain a shellfish license.

2.  The number one complaint the CDAO receives comes from parents and grandparents who object to not being able to help their children and grandchildren dig bay clams.  The complaints showcase the experiences the CDAO have encountered instructing new clam diggers attending our Clam Clinic Events.  Clam diggers need the ability to be able to instruct and assist those diggers new to digging bay clams on how to dig bay clams without actually digging the clams for them.  That means the ability to show the novice digger the proper method of digging clams by getting down on one’s hands and knees to determine the location of the clam and instruct the novice digger how to dig and remove the clam without breaking shells and cutting fingers, etc.

There is a noticeable difference between instructing someone to dig clams and the digger who is digging multiple limits of clams on another digger’s license or digging limits of clams for children who are too young to be able to dig them.  The current regulation of prohibiting clam diggers from being proactive by demonstrating the proper methods for digging bay clams contributes to broken clam shells, cut fingers abandoned clams (wastage) and the overall dissatisfaction experienced by those new to digging bay clams.

3.  Digging clams from the tidal flats of Oregon’s bays can require the movement of a significant amount of substrate, usually comprised of sand, sandy mud, mud and at times clay, gravel, cobble and rocks.  When the material is left where it was side cast, the piles of material can obstruct the ability of the clams and other marine organisms located in the substrate beneath the piles of material to access the surface to breathe.  The result is the suffocation for both juvenile and adult clams and other marine organisms trapped beneath the side cast material.  Simply pushing the material back into and refilling the hole allows the clams access to the surface water in order to breathe.  The effect of the mounded hills of side cast material left by numerous clam diggers is long lasting and leaves the surface of the tidal flats looking like a moonscape complete with craters.

Potential Solutions

1.  We recommend amending the shellfish licensing protocol to issue a permit to the organizations that sponsor educational field trips, exempting children over 14 from the requirement to purchase a shellfish license and exempting the children from the clam digging regulations while taking shellfish for educational purposes.

2.  We recommend the addition of an instructional permit component to the shellfish license in the form of a check box activated at the time the license is purchased.  By acknowledging the check box, the clam digger agrees to the provisions and limitations of the instructional permit.  Addition of an instructional component to clam licensing protocol will place recreational clam digging in step with other recreational activities that allow consumption of wildlife by allowing an authorized person to instruct another, using the preferred method to dig bay clams with a specific set of actions which include: (A) Using a bamboo stick or dowel as a probe to determine the location of the clam to be dug, (B) and allow the permit holder access to the clam in the hole to determine the location of the clam being dug and instruct the novice digger how to dig and remove the clam without breaking shells and cutting fingers, etc.

There is an enormous difference between digging clams for another person and instructing those new to digging clams how to dig clams.  Learning to dig clams from another person using the proper methods will reduce wastage and result with an increased appreciation of clam digging ethics.

3.  We recommend the implementation of a regulation requiring clam diggers to return rocks they have rolled over to their original position and refill the holes they have dug while digging clams from the tidal flats of Oregon’s bays.

Razor Clams (Siliqua patula),

The conservation closure for razor clams on Clatsop Spit beaches extends from July 15^th to September 30^th to protect juvenile razor clams.

The timing of conservation closure during the 2008 to 2009 season proved to be inadequate because the clams had set later than usual in 2008.  The result of the late set was mirrored in the disappointment of diggers who had to be content digging limits of small clams.  At the time there was some discussion among the ODFW staff to delay the opening of the razor clam digging season to provide additional time for the razor clams to grow to an acceptable harvest size.  The CDAO received numerous complaints from the members of the clam digging community objecting to opening the season because of the small size of the juvenile clams.   The CDAO supported ODFW’s decision to leave the season open, but we would have also supported closing the season until the clams grew to the desired size.

Potential Solution

The CDAO supports the seasonal opening and closing dates of the razor clam conservation closure on Clatsop Spit beaches, however, we recommend providing ODFW staff the option of varying the timing of the 78 day conservation closure to coincide with the growth of juvenile razor clams as necessary with approval of the ODFW Commission.

Providing ODFW the option to vary the timing of the razor clam conservation closure on Clatsop Spit beaches will provide ODFW staff with a valuable tool for managing Oregon’s razor clams.

Piddocks Clams

Piddocks Clams – Rough piddock (Zirfaea pilsbryi) and Flat tipped piddock (Penitella penita) are commonly referred to as Rock Oysters. The Rough piddock is most common in the high salinity areas of clay, mud or sandstone of bays. The flat tipped piddock is found in nearshore rocky areas.  Under current regulations, the daily limit for Piddocks clams is 36 clams. The CDAO has no recommendations to change the current regulation for managing Piddocks Clams.

Bay Clams

ODFW management of “Bay Clams” allows for the retention of 20 clams, which includes an aggregate of cockles, littleneck, butter, gaper and geoduck clams. But, of the 20 clam daily limit, the number of gaper or geoduck clams is limited to an aggregate of 12 clams.  Independent and in addition to the 20 bay clams allowed, the ODFW allows the retention of 36 “Other Clams” in aggregate comprised of softshell, macoma, purple varnish, and other miscellaneous clams in any combination.

Other Clams Category

The “Other Clams” category has led to confusion, especially to novice diggers who misidentify clam species or unknowingly commit regulatory infractions because the regulations as written are unenforceable because current regulations require clam diggers to retain all clams regardless of size or condition, thereby compelling clam diggers to exceed the daily limit of clams allowed.

Current regulations are out of step with the ethical values the State or Oregon expects from recreational clam diggers.  The issue is in conflict for parents demonstrating proper clam digging ethics while teaching their children how to dig clams while nearby diggers are in violation of the clam digging regulations. The conflict arises when clam diggers have to choose between leaving clams they are required to keep and exceeding the daily limit.

Current clam digging regulations require that clams must be retained regardless of size or condition, which leads to tiny (1/8”) clams and hopelessly broken juvenile clams being retained as they are uncovered while digging for larger clams of the same species or other clam species. The result of lumping clam species in the “Other Clams” category is the failure of regulations to function as intended.  The failure of the current regulation is the source of the high number of complaints the CDAO receives from clam diggers compelled to retain tiny (1/8”) clams encountered when digging clams forcing them to retain a number of clams over the daily limit because current regulations require clam diggers to retain all clams regardless of size or condition..

Potential Solutions

1.  We urge the elimination of the “Other Clams” category for regulating the taking of clam species.  We recommend listing the clams species currently identified as Other Clams as individual clam species regulated as Bay Clams.  We recommend establishing an individual daily limit for the clam species formally classified as Other Clams and establishing an aggregate daily limit of 48 clams for the clam species formally classified as Other Clams.  Doing so will reduce the confusion associated by lumping clam species together, resulting with fewer violations of clam digging regulations.

2.  We recommend eliminating the California softshell clams (Cryptomya californica) and other clam species of this type from consideration as part of the clam catch.  California softshell clams range from 0.5”-1” in size. The regulation should require clam diggers to rebury California softshell clams in the hole from which they were dug.  California softshell clams have no value to recreational clam diggers.  Removing them will simplify enforcement of the clam digging regulations.  We recommend regulating the take of California softshell clams and other unique clam species that have no consumptive value to recreational clam diggers under the regulations governing Other Marine Invertebrates

3.  We recommend increasing the aggregate daily limit of clams for the clam species now categorized as Other Clams under current regulations to 48 clams.  Under the proposed regulation the daily limit for softshell clams, purple varnish and Macoma clams would be increased to 48 while the daily limit for Northwest ugly clams, Pacific falsejingle and jackknife clams would remain at 36.

The retention of the aggregate daily limit of 48 clams under the new regulations, listed under Bay Clams, would be allowed in combination with the other aggregate daily limits of clam species allowed under current regulations, which allows for retention of a daily limit of 15 razor clams, a daily aggregate limit of 20 bay clams and a daily limit of 36 Piddocks clams in any combination

Purple Varnish Clams (Nuttallia obscurata) are an invasive clam species that have rapidly colonized Oregon’s Bays.  Purple varnish clams are the easiest of Oregon’s bay clams to dig.  Digging purple varnish clams is an ideal way to introduce people of all ages to the rewards of recreational clam digging.  Purple varnish clams have many desirable attributes. The clams are easy to dig because they are located in sand, sandy mud and muddy substrate at shallow depths ranging from several inches to 12 plus inches deep.  They are so numerous it is common to dig limits of adult sized clams from a single hole in less than 20 minutes.  They are easily cleaned.  They are a soft bodied clam that is favored by many members of the clam digging community.

NOAA Clam Biologist, John Chapman, reported clam densities exceeding 50 clams per square meter while much higher clam densities per square meter have been documented in Washington State.  Purple varnish clams are a prolific species and it is common to encounter up to 10 or more juvenile clams of mixed species along with numerous California softshell clams while digging for adult clams from a single hole.  Purple varnish clams have the ability to rebury themselves and move vertically through the substrate.  Purple varnish are located at greater depths in sandy substrate and mixed substrate of sandy mud from late fall through early spring and at shallower depths from early spring through early fall.  We recommend allowing clam diggers to return unwanted and undamaged purple varnish clams to the hole from which they were dug.

Purple varnish clams are a hard shelled soft bodied clam that ranges up to a diameter of 3 inches in size, but clams averaging 1-1/2 inches in diameter are most common.  The amount of clam meat harvested from the average sized purple varnish clams is not great enough to satisfy the requirements of most recipes. We recommend increasing the daily limit to 48. Increasing the daily limit will have no effect on the total population of purple varnish clams in Oregon’s bays.  Increasing the daily limit to 48 clams will attract clam diggers to the attributes associated with digging purple varnish clams while relieving digging pressure on other clam species.

Softshell Clams (Mya arenaria), also called Eastern softshell clams, are an invasive species that were introduced to Oregon in the 19^th century. Softshell clams are one of the most numerous and desirable clam species common to Oregon’s bays, but paradoxically they are also the most underutilized. Referred to as “mud clams,” softshell clams are common to the tidal flats located in the mid reach of Oregon’s bays.  They are so numerous; a limit of clams is easily dug from a single hole.  The current daily limit for softshell clams is 36 clams.  The amount of clam meat harvested from a limit of average sized softshell clams is not great enough to satisfy the requirements of most recipes.  We recommend increasing the daily limit to 48.  Increasing the daily limit to 48 will attract clam diggers to the attributes associated with digging softshell clams while relieving digging pressure on other clam species.  Increasing the daily limit to 48 clams will have no effect on the total population of softshell clams in Oregon’s bays.

Macoma Clams -  Bent-nose macoma (Macoma nasuta), White sand macoma (Macoma secta), Baltic macoma (Macoma balthica), Bodega telling (Tellina bodegensis) represent a number of similar clam species ranging from 1 to 4 inches in size. Macoma clams are usually taken as an incidental catch while digging for other clam species, but there are some clam diggers that target them.  We recommend increasing the daily limit to 48. The amount of clam meat harvested from a limit of Macoma clams is not great enough to satisfy the requirements of most recipes.  Increasing the daily limit will have no effect on the total population of Macoma clams in Oregon’s bays.  Increasing the daily limit will attract clam diggers to the attributes associated with digging Macoma clams while relieving digging pressure on other clam species.

Northwest ugly clams (Entodesma saxicola) are commonly referred to as Rock Entodesma. The Northwest ugly clam is most common on rocky substrate and dock structure in areas of high salinity areas in the lower portions of the bays.   Under current regulations the daily limit is 36 clams.

Pacific falsejingle (Pododesmus cepio) are commonly referred to as Abalone jingle, rock oyster, pacific jingle, green false jingle.  The Pacific false jingle is most common to the dock structure in areas of the bays with high salinity. Under current regulations the daily limit is 36 clams.

Jackknife clams (Solen sicarius) are commonly referred to as the blunt razor clam, sickle razor clam, sickle jackknife clam, and fast jackknife clam. The jackknife clam is found in the tidal flats in the lower portion of bays in areas with high salinity.  Under current regulations the daily limit is 36 clams.

Defining Management Objectives for Geoduck Clams and Gaper Clams

Geoduck clams (Panopea abrupta) are a native clam species to Oregon’s coastal waters.  Currently Coos Bay is the only bay in Oregon with a confirmed population of geoduck clams. We urge the development of a geoduck planting and harvest program in several of Oregon’s bays.  Tillamook Bay and Coos Bay are prime candidates.  A geoduck program would generate enormous excitement within the tourism and clam digging community, attract new participants to recreational clam digging and boost the local economy of Coos Bay and Tillamook Bay significantly.

Gaper Clams (Tresus nuttallii and Tresus. capax) the CDAO has received a number of requests from clam diggers to reduce the daily limit for gaper clams because of over digging in some of the more popular areas of Oregon’s bays.  Those areas include the Garibaldi tidal flats, the tidal flats associated with the parking area at the intersection of Whisky Creek Rd. and Netarts Bay Rd. at Netarts Bay, the tidal area in Coos Bay referred to as the Charleston Triangle, the tidal area associated with the Idaho Point Marina and the tidal flats east of the Marine Science Center in Yaquina Bay, and the tidal flats located adjacent to the old town section of Waldport  west of the Hwy 101 over Alsea Bay.

The gaper clam population in the these areas varies from high to low densities, accompanied by a decline in the average size of the clams that persist through time or the disappearance of the clams altogether.  1. The average size of the gaper clams dug from the Garibaldi tidal flat and from the Charleston Triangle has remained small over extended periods of time. It is the consensus of the local diggers that the small size of the gaper clams is attributable to over digging. 2. The population of gaper clams in the area of the tidal flats previously identified in Netarts Bay have declined or disappeared altogether.  It is the consensus of opinion of local diggers that over digging is responsible for the decline.  3. The decline or disappearance of the gaper clams from Yaquina Bay in the tidal flats associated with the Idaho Point Marina and east of the Marine Science Center is direct result of the deposit of sediment carried downstream from the upper reaches of the Yaquina Basin.  The amount of sediment discharged into the Yaquina Basin increased dramatically after the Forest Practices Act was amended narrowing the buffer width requirements along Oregon’s streams.  We have observed and commented to various state agencies on the enormous amount of sediment deposited on the tidal flats in the mid reach of Yaquina Bay year after year. 4. Alsea Bay is the only bay where the decline of gaper clams can be attributed to over digging.  The CDAO concern in Alsea Bay was the exploitation of the immature gaper clams by irresponsible clam diggers targeting limits of immature gaper clams and misidentifying juvenile gaper clams as softshell clams.  Groups of clam diggers were placing the juvenile gaper clams into a common 5 gallon bucket.  We recommended closing the tidal flats that encompassed the areas where the gaper clams had set.  We took it upon ourselves to advise and caution clam diggers about the consequences of digging immature gaper clams after observing numerous clam digging violations.  The reaction from clam diggers ranged from polite thanks to outright hostility.  Today the harvest opportunity for digging gaper clams in that area of Alsea Bay is limited as the direct result of over digging.

The observations by the clam diggers proposing to reduce the daily limit of gaper clams have been exacerbated by the actions of irresponsible clam diggers whose actions can only be described as blatant violations of the clam digging regulations.  On face value, their recommendations seem to have merit until you consider the cyclical ecology of the marine organism common to the tidal flats in relation to environmental factors.  It is incumbent on shellfish biologists to determine the reason for the decline of gaper clams from these areas of Oregon’s bays.

The baseline information developed by SEACOR clam studies in Coos Bay is a great starting point.  We recommend grid studies in specific areas of the tidal flats associated with the Charleston Triangle to conduct a comparative analysis against the findings of the SEACOR study to monitor population densities through time and analysis of all the biological and environmental factors that affect the life cycle of gaper clams..

A gaper clam mortality study of damaged gaper clams was conducted by the SEACOR biologist..  The results of the SEACOR study are list below for your information.  A major finding of the SEACOR study was that 62 percent of the damaged gaper clams survived.

Current regulations allow for undamaged cockles, butter and littleneck/Manila clams to be returned to the area from which they were dug.   We recommend ODFW develop the methodology that will allow clam diggers to rebury cockles, butter and littleneck/Manila clams successfully.

We recommend allowing clam diggers to rebury undamaged juvenile gaper clams, cockles, butter and littleneck/Manila clams using a method to be developed by ODFW clam biologists.  We suggest initiating and monitoring the program to develop the methodology to rebury juvenile gaper clams, cockles, butter and littleneck/Manila clams as part of the grid analysis gaper clam study in the Charleston Triangle.  The high survival rate of the damaged gaper clams in the SEACOR Study offers compelling justification for allowing clam diggers to rebury juvenile gaper clams, plus the current practice of returning cockles, butter and littleneck/Manila clams is inadequate because it subjects the clams to loss. The practice of side casting clams is objectionable because the clams have been removed from their environment and should be returned to their environment to increase their chances for survival.

Thank You, Bill Lackner for the Clam Diggers Association of Oregon.

January 4 – March 1
Alma de la Melena Cox & Jean Wells Keenan
Latimer Quilt & Textile Center
2105 Wilson River Loop Road
Tillamook, OR
503-842-8622
www.latimerquiltandtextile.com
latimertextile@oregoncoast.com

January 9
Elks Hoop Shoot
(local competition)
11:00 am
Tillamook Jr. High
3906 Alder Lane
Tillamook, OR
Contact Gary Beyer
503-842-2661

January 10
Reception for Ruth Jensen
Auction of Wayne Jensen Pewter
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Tillamook Co. Pioneer Museum
2106 2nd Street
Tillamook, OR
503-842-4553

January 10 to March 7
Rockaway Beach Park & Rec. Bingo
Rockaway Beach Community Center
City of Rockaway Recreation Dept.
503-355-2291

January 10
Latimer Quilt & Textile Center
“Open House”
Noon to 4:00 pm
Latimer Quilt & Textile Center
2105 Wilson River Loop Road
Contact: Linda Machuta, Manager
503-842-8622
www.latimerquiltandtextile.com
latimertextile@oregoncoast.com

January 10
Tillamook County Family YMCA
“Open House”
1:00pm – 3:00pm
Tillamook County Family YMCA
610 Stillwell Avenue
Tillamook, OR
Don Schmidt 503-842-9622
Tours, Program Demonstrations, refreshments
Everyone is welcome

January 16
Tillamook Area Chamber Annual Dinner & Awards of the Year Presentation
Tillamook County Fairgrounds
4603 Third Street
Tillamook, OR
503- 842-7525
tillchamber@oregoncoast.com
www.GoTillamook.com

January 16
“Seeding A Sense of Place”
Chautauqua Conversation Project
Sponsored by Tillamook Co. Pioneer Museum
1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Tillamook Main Library
1716 3rd St.
Tillamook, OR
503-842-4553

January 16
Rockaway Beach Park & Rec. Rummage Sale
Rockaway Beach Civic Facility
City of Rockaway Recreation Dept.
503-355-2291

January 17
Monday Musical presents “Boyz Nite Out”
Don Whitney Auditorium
2605 12th Street
Tillamook, OR
503-842-2078
www.MondayMusicalClub.com

January 21
59th Annual Lions Club Roast Beef Dinner
4:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Tillamook High School
2605 12th Street
Tillamook, OR
Melody 503-815-2302

January 23
Elks Hoop Shoot
(District competition)
1:00 pm
Tillamook Jr. High
3906 Alder Lane
Tillamook, OR
Gary Beyer, 503-842-2661

January 30
Women of Joy Ministry Friendship Social
3:00-4:30
Tillamook County Fairgrounds
4603 Third Street
Tillamook, OR
Margy Jordan, 503-842-2177
P.O. Box 3504
Bay City, OR 97107

December 5
Christmas Tree Lighting in Tillamook
Tillamook City Hall
Doug Hensen 503-842-5378

December 5
St. Alban’s Annual Christmas Bazaar
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
St. Alban’s Episcopal Church
2102 Sixth Street
Father Ray Ferguson
503-842-6192

December 5
Annual Habitat Holiday Auction
TCCA Visitor’s Center
Kathleen Tyler
Habitat for Humanity
2610 Third Street,
To Donate items call, 503-842-7472

Oregon Coast Dance Center
“The Nutcracker”
December 11 @ 7:00 pm
December 12 @ 2:00 pm
Admission $5.00
Tillamook High School Auditorium

December 11
Santa & Sing-a-long
Rockaway Beach Fire Hall
Rockaway Beach Chamber
503-355-8108
www.rockawaybeach.net

December 31
New Year’s Eve Bingo
Rockaway Lion’s Club
Rockaway Beach Lion’s Club
503-355-3075
503-355-8210

I met with Dan Avery the ODFW Estuarine and Freshwater Habitat Biologist to express our concern about the development of the NOAA port facility in Yaquina Bay. Dan explained ODFW’s role in the decision making process to evaluate and protect the essential habitat in Yaquina Bay.  I am confidant that ODFW has and will continue to meet their responsibility to maintain the integrity of the essential habitat in Yaquina Bay.  The Clam Diggers Association of Oregon applauds the ODFW’s commitment to protect the essential habitat in Yaquina Bay.

However the most contentious issues remain unresolved: Mitigation and Recreational opportunity.

NOAA, the State of Oregon and the Port of Newport have the opportunity to enhance and restore the functional values associated with the ecological productivity of Yaquina Bay through their choice of mitigation sites.  Considering the ecological value of the marine habitat at the proposed NOAA site the selection of the mitigation sites should require site selection with equal or greater functional values as well as a provision to at least double the size of the tidal area displaced by the NOAA port facility.

It is my understanding the State must mitigate the loss of recreational opportunity.  The Natural Resources Policy Director for the Governor, the Director and staff for the Oregon Division of State Lands and the Director, ODFW Commissioners and staff of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife as well as the NOAA contact representative will receive a copy of our request for mitigation via this email.

The Clam Diggers Association of Oregon requests the Oregon Division of State Lands and NOAA to add a recreational component to their plans to develop a port facility at Yaquina Bay.

Clam diggers will experience the greatest loss of recreational opportunity in the area encompassed by the NOAA port site.  Ninety nine percent of the recreational activity in the NOAA site area is related to digging clams.  Ninety nine percent of the recreational enthusiasts fishing and crabbing in the NOAA site tidal area are in boats.  There are at times visitors to the tidal flats at the NOAA site but negotiating the riprap discourages most from entering the tidal flats and those that do are usually ill equipped to deal with the mixed substrate they encounter and they quickly leave the area.

If for some reason adding a recreational component to NOAA’s port site fails would it be possible for NOAA to mitigate the loss of recreational opportunity at the NOAA port facility site and the loss of public access to the exclusion zone by funding a geoduck supplemental planting program through the ODFW in Tillamook Bay and Coos Bay?

Tillamook Bay and Coos Bay, Oregon’s largest bays are ideal candidates for the planting of geoduck clams. Funding the geoduck planting program would satisfy the loss of recreational opportunity by clam diggers in Yaquina Bay; plus there is overwhelming enthusiasm and support by the members of the clam digging community for the geoduck supplemental planting program.  A successful geoduck supplement program would translate into jobs and provide a terrific boost to the local economy.

It will take three to five years for the ecological values attributed to marine plant and animal communities to achieve maturity in the shallow water habitat of the mitigation sites.  It may take even longer before the mitigation sites are available for recreation.  Even then the bay clams generally associated within the mitigation areas may need help in colonizing the mitigation sites.  These observations should provide you with some insight to the value of mitigating the loss of recreational opportunity and subsequent value of mitigating the loss with the geoduck supplement planting program.

The CDAO extends our collective thanks to the Newport News Times for printing our letter to the Editor and to the World Newspaper in Coos Bay for reporting on our issues of concern.

As always good digging, Bill Lackner, President CDAO

Event #1

What – Smoked Fish Recipe Contest

Do you have a “killer” recipe for smoked fish? Enter this contest! Prizes for best recipes! Talk fishing, help judge the best recipe, enjoy craft beer and snacks, participate in the door prize drawing for a ClackaCraft fishbox and other items.  The Oregonian newspaper’s outdoor writer, Bill Monroe will be the guest speaker.  Must be 21 years of age or older to attend.

When – Thursday, November 19, 7:00 pm

Where – Four Seasons Neighborhood Clubhouse, SW Village Lane, Beaverton (near Murray and Allen Blvd.)

Cost – $20 members, $30 non-members (incl. membership).

RSVP – Send your registration and recipe to:

Joyce Sherman

3808 SW Huber, Portland, OR 97219

If your recipe and registration are received by November 16, your recipe will be included in a booklet available at the event. You’ll be sent a receipt and map to confirm that your recipe and registration have been received.

More Info – Call Joyce at 503-319-5325  or email  at rivergraphics@spiritone.com

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Event #2

What – Steelhead Fishing Clinic (topics covered include where to go, tying knots, bobber and jig fishing, selecting the right rod and reel, making your own spinners, spinner fishing and hatchery and Native fish identification and regulations).

Where – Glen Otto Park, Troutdale, Oregon

When – Saturday December 12th, 10 am to 2 pm

Cost – Free

More Info – Call Art Israelson, Sandy River Chapter at 503-666-2599 or email at artisraelson@comcast.net

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