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County declines to adopt ODFW wildlife inventory now, keeps moratorium option under review
Summary
Community development director John Eisler told commissioners that adopting ODFW’s wildlife inventory could lock in maps covering much of the county; commissioners agreed not to adopt ODFW’s maps now and to pursue county analysis and the statutory moratorium option with public engagement ahead of potential hearings in August.
John Eisler, Crook County’s community development director, told commissioners June 24 that recent ODFW wildlife mapping results are more expansive than prior inventories and that adopting ODFW’s inventory under a Goal 5 pause could effectively freeze mapped wildlife areas for the county.
Eisler said GIS work and updated maps show elk winter range and other mapped areas that, in some cases, cover large portions of the county. He cautioned that adopting those maps without additional local analysis could “set it in stone” and urged the commissioners to be cautious about automatically accepting the ODFW inventory.
Commissioners discussed three complicating factors — recent fires, drought and changing wildlife movement (including effects from wolves) — and agreed that a rapid adoption of the ODFW maps would not allow for robust local public engagement. Staff clarified that there remain two separate procedural paths: the statutory moratorium option and the Goal 5 pause using an adopted inventory. The board left the Goal 5 inventory adoption off the table for now and signaled support for further county analysis and public outreach; the statutory moratorium option remains under active consideration and will include public hearings, likely beginning in August.
Next steps: staff will continue local mapping work, consult with stakeholders, obtain public input through advisory committees and schedule public hearings on any proposed moratorium or interim protections.
