The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is extending the current angling closure on the Chetco River upstream of Highway 101 until further notice. The season was expected to reopen today, but will remain closed to protect spawning fall Chinook.

Parks and Rec asks for state bikeway nominations

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department currently is taking nominations for bike routes for consideration as State Scenic Bikeways.

Such designated bikeways would follow roads and bicycle paths that connect riders with outstanding scenic, historic and natural settings. The OPRD will be accepting nominations through Jan. 31, 2010, and annually from Nov. 1 to Jan. 31 thereafter.

For more information, www.oregonscenicbikeways.org to receive instructions and forms for nominations.

Teleconference passes grant to reseed land

The Access and Habitat Board held an emergency teleconference on Nov. 4, and passed a $6,283 grant proposal to buy about 3,000 pounds of forage and grass seed to replant deer winter range burned by wildfire in Jackson County.

The Deer Ridge and Siskiyou wildfires destroyed 287 acres of private land, and the Access and Habitat Board looks to rebuild that area. Deer, bear, upland birds and other wildlife species call the area home, and the grant will ensure that they have food. The reseeding of the area will also guard against non-native noxious plants.

Oregon’s Fish Passage Task Force meeting Nov. 4: What was accomplished?

Met to conside current statewide fish passage issues, including task force member updates, review of fish passage approvals and waivers, recent dam removal updates, fish passage program issues related to funding and other task force business, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call Lisa Kingsley, Fish Screening and Passage Program Assistant, 503-947-6224.

*Leave out if no room*

ODFW seeks board member candidates

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking qualified candidates to fill two open positions on the Fish Restoration and Enhancement Program Board. Available positions include one sport fishing representative and one public-at-large representative.

Board members, who are appointed to four-year terms by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission, meet three or four times each year in various communities throughout the state to review project funding applications, hear public testimony, act as liaisons between the program and the public and to conduct other program business. Board members are volunteers; however, board-related business expenses are reimbursed.

The application deadline is Nov. 20. Final appointments will be made by the Fish and Wildlife Commission in January 2010.

For more information or to obtain an application, contact Fish Restoration and Enhancement Program coordinator Laura Tesler at (503) 947-6259 or by e-mail at laura.tesler@state.or.us.