Thursday will be the last day to retain sturgeon in the John Day Pool of the mainstem Columbia River, from John Day Dam upstream to McNary Dam and adjacent tributaries. Fishery managers from Washington and Oregon made the decision Wednesday after determining that harvest guidelines in this reach will be met soon. The projected kept catch in John Day Pool through March 14 is 99 fish, which is 94 percent of the guideline. Sturgeon anglers should also be aware that a retention season is not planned this year in the lower river below Bonneville Dam, as surveys found low numbers of legal-size fish. Catch-and-release sturgeon fishing remains open in the mainstem, except all angling for sturgeon is prohibited from May 1 to August 31 within sanctuary areas below each of the dam tailraces.
Category: Uncategorized
Mt. Hood Forest Selects Concession Companies
Mt. Hood National Forest has selected two companies to operate and maintain 57 of its campgrounds, day use sites, and rental cabins under a special use permit beginning as early as this year. Starting this summer, Alaska Recreational Management will operate recreation sites within five of the six concession offerings, including campgrounds and day use sites near Highway 26, Highway 216, Forest Road 46, and Forest Road 48. These sites span the Clackamas River, Zigzag, and Barlow Ranger Districts. Northwest River Guides will manage recreation sites along the Clackamas River, as it follows Highway 224. They will begin operations in 2025 as campgrounds continue to be repaired and reconstructed following the devastating Riverside Fire. The 5-year permit term begins in 2024 with the option to extend an additional 5 years.
2024 Gorge Resource Guide Available
The 2024 Columbia Gorge Resource Guide is now available. The guide, put out by the Hood River County Prevention Department, provides a listing of various agencies that provide assistance in the Gorge. The resource guide is available at various public locations throughout the region, and online at https://c-gorge-resourceguide.com.
March 12 Prep Sports Roundup
Baseball
Hudson’s Bay 17, Columbia 12: Ben Borton had two hits and scored four runs for the Bruins, but it wasn’t enough as Hudson’s Bay came back from a 10-4 deficit in the second inning.
Boys Golf
Hood River Valley’s John Olsen shot a 79 and teammate Davis Kerr fired an 81 for a one-two finish as the Eagles topped Pendleton and The Dalles in a three-school tournament at Indian Creek Golf Course.
Boys Lacrosse
Hood River Valley 6, Camas 4
Hood River URA Approves Waterfront Indebtedness Increase
The Hood River Urban Renewal Agency board approved increasing the maximum authorized indebtedness of the Waterfront Urban Renewal District by $2.15 million to cover the potential costs of replacement of the aging stormwater line on the Waterfront that collapsed in 2019. Urban Renewal Administrator Will Norris noted urban renewal funds are the only locally controlled source of funds for this project without using the general or stormwater funds. Some board members were concerned about making the move after telling other taxing districts the Waterfront District was going to be closed out as the Westside Urban Renewal District is put together. But URA board member and Mayor Paul Blackburn said it was critical to get infrastructure needs taken care of. The URA board also passed a resolution stating once the stormwater project is fully funded, surplus monies will revert back to the taxing districts.
Gloria Center Construction Finished; MCCAC To Start Moving In
Mid-Columbia Community Action Council says construction of The Gloria Center on West 7th in The Dalles is complete, and Community Action will begin moving in later this week with the intention on beginning to offer services there on April 1. The Gloria Center is designed to be a one-stop resource hub for those dealing with poverty, houselessness and housing instability in the region. The six other agencies that will headquarter out of the Gloria Center plan to move in by the middle of this year. Those include Mid-Columbia Center for Living, the Oregon Human Development Corporation, Nch’I Wana Housing, the Oregon Department of Human Services, the Columbia Gorge Health Council, Bridges to Health, and One Community Health’s “La Clinica” Mobile Medical Unit. Community Action will close its current office at 312 East 4th on April 1, and open its Gloria Center location on 2505 West 7th on the same date. A grand opening event is planned for May 31.
Resolution Center To Receive State Funds; Seeks OHA Grant Transfer
The proposed Columbia Gorge Resolution Center is to receive $8 million as a result of action in the just concluded Oregon legislative session, but talks are continuing as local advocates seek to have grant monies that were designated to the original partner in the center that walked away from the project given to Wasco County. Wasco County Commissioner Steve Kramer says he has met with aides to the Governor to try to get that $9.3 million transferred by the Oregon Health Authority to the County to use toward development of the Resolution Center. The Resolution Center would be a regional facility that offers support for people who are struggling with mental and behavioral health challenges and drug and alcohol addiction.
Three Area Projects Receive Federal Dollars In Minibus Package
Three Columbia Gorge-area projects are going to be receiving funding through the Fiscal Year 2024 minibus funding package signed by President Biden. Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden say the appropriations are in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies bill. $4 million will go towards a new Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge to help cover early-phase costs of the project, including right-of-way acquisition and mitigation for impacts to tribal fishing access during construction. Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation will receive $3 million to help develop 75 units of housing and services to veterans, families, and households experiencing severe and persistent mental health challenges, to be developed on Chenowith Loop in The Dalles. And the Oregon Department of Transportation is receiving $850,000 to help fund the Perham Creek to Mitchell Creek segment of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail and create a full 7.5-mile continuous Historic Columbia Highway State Trail allowing pedestrians and cyclists to travel between Wyeth Trailhead and a reconstructed Mitchell Point Tunnel.
TD Council Asks Staff To Provide More Data On Fireworks
The Dalles City Council asked municipal staff to provide more data on fireworks-related fires in the area as it discussed whether any kind of a ban on the personal use of fireworks is in order. Most councilors seem to be leaning toward continuing doing what they do now, considering the issue on an as-needed basis in consultation with Wasco County and Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue officials and institute a ban when conditions warrant. City staff asked for direction on whether they should look into developing a ban that would take effect on an annual basis, in part after a ban adopted in late June of last year due to dry conditions led to input from non-profit agencies selling fireworks that they were hurt financially. Councilor Dan Richardson favored looking at the topic on an annual basis and noted that people need to be aware drought-related bans are a possibility. Another subject discussed: how many fireworks-related fires are caused by fireworks already banned in Oregon, and whether going further does much to improve safety.
HR Council To Change URA Board Makeup To Just Themselves
The Hood River City Council directed municipal staff to draw up an ordinance to change the makeup of the Urban Renewal Agency board to only include the six councilors and the mayor. The current URA board also includes two Port of Hood River Commissioners, primarily due to the importance of the Waterfront Urban Renewal District to that agency. There was consideration of changing the board makeup to include other taxing districts as the Westside Urban Renewal District takes shape. But the majority of the Council felt keeping the board within their membership was more expedient, with Mayor Paul Blackburn pointing out they will still want input from the other districts. Councilor Megan Saunders voted against the motion, calling for seats for other taxing districts on the URA panel.