The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) seeks public comments on two separate requests to provide exemptions from the state’s fish passage requirements. Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) owns and manages these culverts. Comments are due by October 9, 2017.

ODOT plans to repair two culverts located on OR 34 (Alsea Highway) at mile posts 4.2 and 8.7 in Lincoln County near Waldport, Oregon. These actions have triggered Oregon’s fish passage laws.

According to Greg Apke, ODFW Fish Passage Program coordinator, ODFW may grant fish passage exemptions if there are no benefits to native migratory fish from providing passage. Because of the site specific habitat conditions and other complete artificial obstructions adjacent to the project locations, ODFW has made an initial determination that even if fish passage were provided, the actions would still result in no net benefit to native migratory fish. If in the future, conditions change from which the decisions were made, exemptions can be revoked and fish passage shall be addressed.

Therefore, unless public comment is provided that would affect the Department's determinations, these exemption requests will be approved. 

In the meantime, members of the public will have until October 9, 2017 to submit written comments on the proposed plans. The fish passage exemption applications and the Department’s benefit analyses are available at dfw.state.or.us/fish/passage/ .

Members of the public can send written comments to or request additional information from Greg Apke, ODFW Fish Passage Program leader, 4034 Fairview Industrial Dr SE, Salem, OR 97303, e-mail, Greg.D.Apke@state.or.us, or by calling (503) 947-6228.