Subcommittee approves ODFW requests to apply for federal grants to update two habitat conservation plans

The Natural Resources Subcommittee on Thursday approved requests from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to apply for two U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Section 6 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund grants to support updates to two habitat conservation plans.

The grants seek to add species coverage and respond to federal review comments for long-running habitat conservation planning efforts. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Chief Operating Officer Ken Loffink told the subcommittee the agency must act as the applicant for Section 6 planning grants and that, if awarded, the funds will be passed through to other state agencies to carry out the work.

For the Elliott State Research Forest, ODFW requested $296,250 to support an update to the forest’s habitat conservation plan that would add coverage for two additional species currently proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act: the western pond turtle and the western ridged mussel. "This funding opportunity does require that state fish and wildlife agencies act as applicant for the grant," Loffink said. He added the entire award would be passed through to the Department of State Lands, which will provide the required 25% non‑federal match in the form of in‑kind work and contracted services. Loffink said the grant "will not require any additional full time employees at DSL." The subcommittee record shows the Elliott State Research Forest plan already covers the northern spotted owl, the marbled murrelet and the Oregon Coast coho salmon.

Separately, ODFW asked to apply for $759,386 to be passed through to the Oregon Department of Forestry to support development of the Private Forest Accord aquatic habitat conservation plan. Loffink said the request would fund bridge work responding to questions from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service that were not anticipated in earlier project plans. Josh Bernard, Forest Resources Division Chief at the Oregon Department of Forestry, confirmed that the federal agencies returned notes on the plan and that the requested funding is to address those comments. The Department of Forestry will provide a 25% non‑federal match using general fund and in‑kind staff contributions, and ODFW said the grant would not require additional ODF staff.

The Chief Financial Office staff recommended approval of both requests and the Legislative Fiscal Office recommended approval as well. The subcommittee’s motions to move the Legislative Fiscal Office recommendations to approve each request passed without recorded roll-call tallies. The transcript record shows Senator Anderson agreed to carry the Elliott State Research Forest item; the second item was carried by a member of the committee whose name was not specified in the record.

The grant requests will proceed to any further required executive or legislative steps; the subcommittee vote gave ODFW permission to apply only. The grants, if awarded, are intended to provide regulatory assurances that support future operational activities while adding conservation measures for species proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act.