Wins for Wild Fish in Oregon's 2024 Short Legislative Session

The 2024 short legislative session brought positive news for wild fish and rivers in Oregon, with a key victory for Klamath River fish reintroduction efforts and the defeat of a measure that would have loosened regulations on large wake-producing boats. While the major headlines focused on housing and drug policy, Native Fish Society and our conservation allies were busy behind the scenes advocating for policies that will make Oregon a cleaner and greener home for people, fish & wildlife, and the state’s waters. Here are a handful of the top bills Native Fish Society advocated for or defended against.

Klamath River Reintroduction Efforts Get a Boost

Thanks to the leadership of our partners at Trout Unlimited, we secured an important win for the Klamath River. The legislation allocated $282,735 for Klamath River fish reintroduction in the current 2023-2025 biennium. These funds will translate into critical staffing increases, including a new full-time biologist position and several seasonal fisheries technician roles. This investment was left out of ODFW’s budget last year, but is vital in ensuring the agency has the resources it needs to monitor and implement reintroduction plans as the first wild anadromous fish return to the upper Klamath River basin for the first time in over 100 years!

Defeating Wake Boat Deregulation

Thanks to a diverse groundswell of conservation and recreation voices, we defeated Senate Bill 1590, which aimed to repeal the state's towed watersports program regulations. These regulations, which NFS and our allies worked to establish in previous legislative sessions, limit the size of wake-producing boats used on the Willamette River. These regulations are necessary to reduce the harmful impacts of large wakes on fish and the ecosystem. Their continuation ensures responsible use of Oregon's waterways, protecting both ecological health and public safety.

One to Watch for Commercial Gillnet Fisheries

Senate Bill 1509, concerning the Columbia River commercial gillnet permit program, passed with amendments. The bill establishes a workgroup to develop recommendations for a voluntary commercial gillnet permit buyback program. The ultimate impact on wild fish populations remains to be seen, and Native Fish Society will continue to monitor the outcomes of the workgroup.

Unsuccessful Timber Harvest Push

A bill (House Bill 4106) mandating that the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) prioritize timber harvest over other values like clean water, wildlife habitat, and recreation in state forests did not pass. We expect to see similar efforts in future sessions seeking to undo the conservation gains obtained in the recently adopted Western Oregon State Forests Habitat Conservation Plan.

Native Fish Society would like to thank our conservation allies and supporters who spoke out on behalf of native fish, wild rivers, and a healthy Oregon. 2024 was another legislative session that showed us the power we have when a groundswell of public support engages in the legislative process. Thank you to all those who signed action alerts, contacted their legislators, or provided testimony–your efforts made a difference!