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P/SUNNY Temp: 54 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Sunday, October 5, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend November 7, 2002 Winter storm could swell Chetco River By MARK FREEMAN Mail Tribune The first winter storm of the season is expected to blow into Oregon’s southern coast today, likely bringing with it enough rain to open the Chetco River to fall chinook salmon fishing. The National Weather Service has forecast a storm that could dump 4 inches or more of rain along the coast, which biologists believe will be enough to swell the Chetco so that salmon locked in tidewater holes can migrate upstream. If they do, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is prepared to lift its Chetco angling ban, which went into effect six days ago to protect kegged- up salmon from undue harassment by legal and illegal angling. "I expect that this weekend rain probably will do it," said Russ Stauff, an ODFW fish biologist in Gold Beach. "It’ll keep the other rivers open and will allow us to re-open the Chetco." But the rain levels must be high enough that the Chetco won’t slip back into low-water conditions early next week, Stauff said. "We’ll have to exercise some judgment," he said. If the rains are heavy enough today and Friday, anglers could be back on the Chetco as early as Saturday, Stauff said. But an emergency rule must be written and filed through the Oregon Attorney General’s Office for the ban to be lifted, and the wheels of bureaucracy may drag the process out until Tuesday — in part because Monday is Veterans Day, a state holiday. "We want to re-open it as soon as possible, but we want to be sure that we won’t have to turn around and close it again right away," Stauff said. "My bet is we’re looking at Tuesday." The agency shut down the Chetco based on an agreement with Curry County fishing groups that anglers will be banned from the river upstream of the Highway 101 bridge if Nov. 1 water flows are below 80 cubic feet per second — the lowest level during which early-run Chetco chinook historically migrate throughout the lower river system. Flows were close to 60 cfs last week, prompting the closure. A similar closure is in place on the lower Yachats River. While rivers such as the Elk, Sixes and Winchuck also have low flows, there are not large enough schools of fish in those rivers to make closures necessary. Oregon State Police officers are looking for a man who illegally shot and killed a large Roosevelt cow elk in a Gold Hill vineyard Sunday, then fled without taking any of the animal’s meat. The elk was shot about 11:30 a.m. in the Del Rio Vineyards at 52 North River Road. Witnesses saw a man fleeing the scene, and police suspect he is the shooter. The fleeing man was described as tall and with a full beard, possibly Hispanic, OSP Senior Trooper Pat McNeely said. Troopers were able to salvage the cow elk’s meat and turned it over to The Gleaning Network for distribution to hungry families of the Rogue Valley, McNeely said. The Oregon Hunters Association is offering a reward of up to $500 for information that leads to the poacher’s capture and conviction. Anyone with information about the case was urged to telephone the OSP at 776-6236, or through the OHA-sponsored Turn In Poachers line at 1-800-452-7888. State police also were busy keeping an eye on poachers from the sky last weekend in the Lake Creek area. Fish and wildlife troopers flying in an airplane Friday and Saturday nights helped lead to the citing of six poachers illegally using spotlights at night in search of black-tailed deer. OSP Lt. Steve Ross said the troopers would spot the lights used by the poachers, then direct troopers on the ground to intercept them. The cases were made as early as 8:20 p.m. and as late as well after midnight, he said. The various people were cited for hunting with the aid of a light, which is a misdemeanor, Ross said. They all must appear in Jackson County Circuit Court. Ferreting out spotlighters from the air is the most effective way to curb this kind of poaching, and troopers expect more sorties over Jackson County skies. "We want to fly all the time," Ross said. "The weather dictates if we can go or not. If the weather’s good, we’ll be there." Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 776-4470, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times