Saw-whet Owl
Photo by
Terry R. Steele
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Conservation Activities and
Accomplishments of RVAS,
2010-2011
During the 2010-11 year, Rogue Valley Audubon Society participated in
priority setting efforts of the Oregon Conservation Network and the Oregon
Audubon Council. Bill Hering, Conservation Co-chair, participated in
meetings of both organizations. The results are summarized in this Report.
RVAS also responded to requests for support from other environmental
organizations with respect to endorsement of or opposition to proposed
legislation, as well as requests to express opposition to environmentally
damaging acts. These actions are also summarized in this Report.
Oregon Audubon Council Priorities
The Oregon Audubon Council identified six Conservation priorities, and
asked for local Chapters to individually endorse each:
• Wind Power –– improperly sited or overly large wind facilities pose a
significant threat to wildlife.
• Greater Sage Grouse Protection –– like the Northern Spotted Owl, the
Greater Sage Grouse represents not only a species but an entire imperiled
ecosystem
• Raptor Protection — despite the fact that it has been illegal since 1918,
birds of prey continue to be illegally taken in Oregon
• Forest Protection — protection of old growth forests, especially as they
relate to the recovery of the Northern Spotted Owl and Marbled Murrelet,
has been a longstanding priority for OAC.
• Proposed Wild Bird Conservation Act —a 5 cent per pound fee on bird
to fund a single avian conservation coordinator at ODFW with the rest of the
funding going into on-the-ground avian related restoration and education
projects
• Important Bird Areas — of the 97 Oregon IBAs, OAC identified five
where collective resources and expertise can have a significant impact
In December 2010 RVAS endorsed all OAC priorities except the Wild Bird
Conservation Act, In April the ODFW Commission adopted the Sage Grouse
Guidelines. In May the single sited wind facility bill was tabled until the next
session. Senate Bill 924, which sets required minimum penalties for the
illegal killing of wildlife, including raptors, is awaiting the governor’s
signature .Other priorities are still in progress.
Support for a System of Oregon Marine Reserves
For the past three years RVAS has supported efforts to establish a system of
Marine Reserves, and submitted comments to ODFW Department of State
lands, Oregon Parks & Recreation during rulemaking process. This past
year legislation was introduced to increase the number of Reserves from
two to five. Bill Hering represented RVAS at public meetings with Sen.
Bates, Rep. Esquival, and Rep. Buckley. He also met privately with Rep.
Buckley and a representative of Our Ocean Coalition. House Bill 2009
designates three additional marine reserves sites at Cape Falcon, Cascade
Head and Cape Perpetua, so that the actual boundaries will be in state law.
Unfortunately, this bill diverges from the recent Ocean Policy Advisory
Committee’s unanimous recommendation of the three Marine Reserve
Community Team Processes. House Bill 2009 is in the Joint Committee on
Ways and Means Natural Resources Subcommittee (6/27).
Oregon Conservation Network Priorities
In July, 2010, the Oregon Conservation Network established six
environmental priorities. RVAS endorsed each of these:
• Modernization of the Oregon Bottle Bill, including higher deposit, more
containers and more redemption centers, and establishing a return rate goal
of 89%. This legislation has been passed and signed.
• Energy Efficiency and Jobs Creation Act, which would include such
items as time-limited property tax abatement for buildings that meet specific
standards and adaptation of an energy efficiency rating system for all
residential and non-residential buildings. No specific legislation has been
introduced; related bills are in varying states of passage.
• 2011 BPA Free Baby Bill, which would prohibit the sale or manufacture
of food or beverage containers containing BPA intended for children under
age 3. This legislation is in House Rules Committee. (6/27)
• State Forest Conservation bill which grant authority to the State Board
of Forestry to designate areas on state forest lands as natural resource
conservation areas, mandate a process to identify specific places, and
examine potential for compensating counties for foregone revenues. No
specific legislation has been introduced; related bills are in varying states of
passage. No specific legislation has been introduced; related bills are in
varying states of passage.
• Ban the Bag bill to ban all single use plastic shopping bags at all retail
checkout stands. Senate Bill 536 is in Senate Rules Committee. (6/27)
• Establishment of a phased in approach to establish an expanded
system of Marine Reserves and protected areas. (See above).
Local Environmental Issues:
In June John Bullock and Jeff Tufts reviewed efforts to “clean up” the
Ashland Pond area, an undeveloped tract owned by the city of Ashland
which includes important riparian bird habitat. This effort involved the
removal of large areas of Himalayan blackberry, a non-native species utilized
by many native birds as roosting, nesting, and feeding habitat. John
reported that the Bear Creek Watershed Council was in the scoping stage of
a large riparian restoration project between the Ashland Dog Park and the
Greenway bridge across Bear Creek, part of which affects the environs of
Ashland Pond. “After many conversations with people involved with The
Pond, it appears that the status quo is desirable. This includes further berry
vine removal and planting of native species, but Lomakatsi and the City
seem to be sensitive to the fact that an improved "park" is undesirable, and
a moderated approach to replacing invasives with natives will be taken”.
The blackberry removal that has already occurred was disturbing to some
RVAS members, and this was expressed in a strongly worded letter in the
Ashland Tidings by a chapter member on his own behalf. This led to an RVAS
internal exchange regarding the restoration efforts and the most effective
way to provide our input to city officials and the community. In April the
RVAS Board discussed the matter, but took no action, pending further
consideration.
Endorsements and Statements of Opposition or Support
• Endorsed Measure 76, to extend support of Water, Parks and Wildlife,
and listed RVAS as a supporter in the Oregon Voters Pamphlet.
• In support of position taken by American Bird Conservancy and Center
for Biological Diversity, endorsed a letter to EPA administrator Lisa Jackson
in support of removing lead from ammunition and fishing tackle.
• Added RVAS agreement with Bird Conservation Alliance on Draft
Northern Spotted Owl Recovery Plan
• Endorsed letter to Secretary Salazar from the Bird Conservation
Alliance urging the development of a Department-wide policy concerning
feral cat management, coupled with a plan of action to address existing
infestations affecting lands managed by the Department of the Interior.
• Added RVAS signature to statement sent to all members of U.S. Senate,
urging restoration of funding for the State & Tribal Wildlife Grants Program,
which has leveraged hundreds of millions of dollars in state, private and
tribal funds and is the principal source of funding needed to implement
Congressionally-required State Wildlife Action Plans.
• Sent letter of support for proposal to have Clean Water Act penalties
from the BP spill designated to Gulf restoration.
• Signed on to a “floor letter” sent to all Oregon senators supporting an
Anti Poaching Bill which would strengthen penalties for illegal take of
certain species including birds of prey.
• Endorsed a letter opposing SB 766, which would make it very difficult
to put new local environmental regulations on industrial lands and would gut
local public oversight over development on industrial lands.
• Signed on to the National Audubon Society's comments on the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service’s draft Eagle Conservation Plan Guidance
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