Archive for the Community News Category 
Huge coho run will help feed Oregon’s hungry
Friday, October 23rd, 2009Bend Bugle News Reports
CLACKAMAS, OREGON – Oregon’s hungry will fare a little better this year, thanks to an extraordinary run of coho salmon.
Thousands of surplus coho are being processed at Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife fish hatcheries along the North Coast and Columbia River in preparation for distribution to the hungry through food banks around the state.
A coho salmon makes its way up Cedar Creek on the way to ODFW’s Sandy fish hatchery. (Photo by Rick Swart/ODFW)
“These huge runs of coho couldn’t have come at a better time, with a down economy and Oregon facing historically high unemployment rates,” said Bill Otto, manager of ODFW’s North Fish Hatchery Group.
For the past two weeks, ODFW staff, American Canadian Fisheries employees and volunteers at six hatcheries have been putting up to 2,000 fish a day on ice in plastic containers known as totes and turning them over to the Oregon Food Bank.
“This is a lot of fish, and there are a lot more on the way,” said Ken Bourne, manager of ODFW’s Sandy fish hatchery. “What would we do with these surplus fish if we didn’t have the Oregon Food Bank?”
The totes are taken from the hatcheries by semi-truck to American Canadian Fisheries’ processing plant in Bellingham, Wash., where the fish are filleted and flash frozen for free in preparation for distribution to 20 regional food banks around the state next March
“It’s not often that we have the opportunity to get this kind of premium protein for the families we serve,” said Dan Crunican, food resource developer for the Oregon Food Bank.
No one knows for sure how much salmon will be processed this year – that depends on the coho, but everyone agrees it will be considerably more than the 22,000 pounds of fillets that were donated and distributed last year.
This year’s coho run is on track to be one of the largest salmon returns in the Columbia basin over the past decade, with 703,000 coho forecast to enter the Columbia at Astoria. That compares to an actual run size of 472,000 coho last year. This year’s run was large enough that fishery managers increased the bag limit to three fish a day and extended the season in many areas. Despite these measures, several ODFW hatcheries have been inundated with fish.
“We’ve expanded opportunities for sport fishermen, achieved our hatchery production goals and met our tribal obligations,” said Otto, who oversees 11 hatcheries in ODFW’s Northwest Region. “We are fortunate that we are able to help feed a lot of people who are hurting right now.”
The Oregon Food Bank Network is seeing a substantial increase in the number of people needing help, according to Jean Kempe-Ware, Oregon Food Bank public relations manager.
“The number of people seeking emergency food through the OFB Network is unprecedented,” she said.
The food bank and its affiliates across the state are currently feeding about 240,000 people a month, up from approximately 200,000 last year. More than a third of the recipients are children, according to Kempe-Ware.
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- A coho salmon makes its way up Cedar Creek on the way to ODFW’s Sandy fish hatchery. (Photo by Rick Swart/ODFW)
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- ODFW staff and volunteers process surplus coho at the Sandy fish hatchery before turning the fish over to the Oregon Food Bank to help feed Oregon’s hungry. (Photo by Rick Swart/ODFW)
Ochoco National Forest Controlled Burn Update
Saturday, October 10th, 2009Bend Bugle News Reports
PRINEVILLE, OREGON – Forest Service Fuels Specialists from the Ochoco National Forest, with assistance from the Prineville Bureau of Land Management, are continuing with controlled burn projects through the weekend. With wet weather predicted starting as early as Tuesday, fuels specialists are taking full advantage of the current “weather window” and burning while the conditions are favorable.
Mill Creek
The “Rocky,” a 1,500-acre controlled burn, will take several weeks to complete. Fuels specialists have completed approximately 100 acres to date and plan to burn an additional 200 acres over the holiday weekend. The project area is located 14 miles east of Prineville and approximately 3 miles east/northeast of Mill Creek.
Mill Creek residents can expect smoke from the controlled fire to impact nearby Forest Service Roads, particular in the late evening and early morning hours when cool air causes the smoke to settle.
Maury Mountains
The “West Maurys Naturals,” a 1,700-acre controlled burn, is expected to take numerous days to complete. The burn will be completed in multiple blocks, as weather and conditions permit. The project area includes the Newsome, Florida, Sherwood and Friday Creek areas. Fuels specialists have competed 80 acres to date and plan to complete an additional 400 acres in the Sherwood and Newsome Creek areas over the holiday weekend
This weekend, fuels specialists will also work towards completing 50 acres of “Spears,” a 1,700-acre controlled burn near Rocky Butte, and 400 acres of “Zane,” a 1,000-acre controlled burn project located between Big and Little Summit Prairies.
Hunters and other forest visitors are advised to either avoid or use caution if traveling through recently burned areas, as there is potential risk of being hit by fire-weakened timber, rolling debris, or receiving burns from stepping into smoldering stump holes.
The Forest Service adheres to the guidelines of the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Smoke Management Plan prior to conducting controlled burns. To view maps that show the fuels treatments planned on public lands in Central Oregon for fall 2009, visit our website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/fires/index.shtml
Tour the Greenest Homes in Central Oregon
Friday, October 2nd, 2009Bend Bugle News Reports
The 2009 Oregon Green and Solar Tour will showcase homes that incorporate all aspects of sustainability. From solar features and reclaimed building materials to low energy consumption and water conservation technologies, this tour is an excellent way to see the current state of green building. The tour will kick off with a keynote speech by renowned Northwest architect Nathan Good and will end with a People’s Choice Award and celebration.
As a way to learn about how to shrink their carbon footprints, tour visitors can park their vehicles and ride a bus to all 6 homes. Buses run continuously and stop at each home for drop-off and pick-up. A $5 bus pass holder can get on or off at any scheduled bus stop throughout the day. Parking will be available at the Bend Senior Center.
The tour will be held on Saturday, October 3. The cost is $10 for Cascadia members and $15 for nonmembers. More details and registration details can be found at here.
