Columbia White-Tailed Deer Translocation Proposal
The following comments were submitted in response to the open comment period described below.
Comments are numbered consecutively as they are received. Breaks in the number sequence result when comments are deleted because they
were submitted in error or have inappropriate content (such as SPAM). If you do not see your comment two business days after
you submit it, please contact (800) 622-4519.
The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is proposing to fund US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) efforts to translocate up to 50 Columbia white-tailed deer from Tenasillahe Island, Oregon to the Columbia Stock Ranch in Columbia County, Oregon between 2018 and 2020 after breeding seasons each year. The relocation efforts in 2019 and 2020 will depend on the success of the 2018 effort. The FWS would not separate fawns from their maternal parents in these translocations. Capture techniques would include corral traps, drop netting, darting, and drive netting. Deer would be transported in specially-made crates by vehicle and boat. Monitoring of translocated deer would occur at least once per week for the first 6 months, then 2-4 times per month for 6-12 months after release, and then once per month for 1-5 years after release. Predator control would be applied on Columbia Stock Ranch prior to translocations, during the fawning period, and then only as needed. This control would improve fawn survival and establishment of the new subpopulation.
BPA will prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act to understand and describe potential impacts of the proposal. The EA will also document mitigation measures to help avoid or minimize impacts.
During this process, BPA and FWS will work with landowners, tribes, federal, state and local agencies; and interested groups. All comments will be posted in their entirety on this comment site and will appear in the final EA.
For More Information:
https://www.bpa.gov/efw/Analysis/NEPADocuments/Pages/Columbian-White-Tailed-Deer-Translocation-Project.aspx
Close of comment: 9/24/2018
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RemsburgPlease see attachment.
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ChristensenPlease see attachment.
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RabinowePlease see attachment.
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- CWTDTP18 0005 -
BarsalouPlease don't close our AMA flying field, we don't bother with anyone or anything. This is a positive activity.
· We are AMA Charter Club 645 (Academy of Model Aeronautics)
· Our flying field is located near milepost 38 on the Columbia River Hwy Route 30
· Our flying field covers about 6 acres of open ground
· We have flown at this location for the last 46 years
· Our hobby and club is family oriented and open to everyone
· We have teamed with local schools to demonstrate and teach aeronautics
· We have American Veteran Pilots in our club that enjoy continuing to pilot model aircraft
· We have members that have taught the Aviation Merit Badge for the local Boy Scouts of America
· We are active with public events in our communities displaying our hobby
· We have members ranging from Castle Rock Washington to Portland Oregon
You might also include:
· We support the effort to repopulate and protect Columbian White-tailed Deer and all wildlife
· We would welcome the opportunity to help keep watch and report on the progress of the deer
· Our research has shown that Columbian White-tailed Deer and Humans Cohabitate very well
· The performance of our hobby has no adverse effect on deer
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Krotzer/Cowlitz Valley RC Flyers AMA Charter Club 645To Whom it may concern,
I am a member of Cowlitz Valley RC Flyers, AMA Charter Club 645 (Academy of Model Aeronautics). Some of the clubs accomplishments include: Teaming up with local schools to demonstrate and teach aeronautics, Some members have taught the Aviation Merit Badge for the local Boy Scouts of America, and we are active at public events in our communities displaying and promoting aeronautics.
I am making comments regarding the possible loss of our flying field for our club located near milepost 38 on the Columbia River Hwy Route 30.
I have recently moved into the area and am a new member of the club. One of the reasons for moving here was the close proximity of an RC airplane flying field. It is not a large area by most standards of flying fields but large enough for the planes I enjoy flying.
I understand that there is a possibility of the club loosing the field for the advancement of habitat for White-Tail deer. I have lived in country areas most of my life and am amazed at how many deer I see laying dead on the side of the road. This field is located next to a very busy highway 30. Relocating deer into this area would not only be hazardous to the deer but also to the travelers on the highway. As far as the planting of trees in the field this is a low laying area which floods during the winter time.
The field is about 9 acres boarded by Hwy 30 on the west side and train tracks on the east. Such a small area would have little impact on the production of trees or the habitat for deer or other wildlife. This field in its present state would in fact provide a beneficial buffer zone for the deer between the train tracks and highway 30.
This field is providing an enjoyable hobby of flying Radio Controlled airplanes for its club members (some of which are American Veteran Pilots as well as Veterans from other branches of the service) and members of the AMA. The loss of this field would cause a large disruption of these people's ability to enjoy their hobby.
I am asking that you allow the club to continue to utilize this area for the enjoyment of flying Radio Controlled Airplanes as it has for the past 46 years.
Thank you for your consideration,
Kenneth Krotzer
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Bishop/Cowlitz county radio control ClubHello, I'm president of the club. We are loosing air field at mp. 38. I think we could help watch the deer and make sure no one harming them. The club has been around for over 40 years in this location, if we are asked to leave that will end the club. We have no prospects of another field at this time. So asking if you could send if you would allow us to stay. We could continue as a club. Thank you. For considering this. Mike Bishop.
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RiceThis is in reference to the loss of the Cowlitz Valley RC Flyers (CVRCF) flying field to the Columbian White-tailed Deer Translocation Project. In 2012 the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) took ownership of this land. At that point our rental agreement was transferred from the Jones family to Columbia Land Trust. We then learned that this area was to be flooded for use as wetlands. Recently we have learned that it would not be flooded. We then arranged to meet with Columbia Land Trust to discuss the continued use of the field by CVRCF. We were told that continued use of the field was not an option and we were to vacate by September 30th, 2018 per the direction of BPA.
The following points are in reference to and support our continued use of the Cowlitz Valley RC Flyers flying field:
• Cowlitz Valley RC Flyers is AMA Charter Club 645 (Academy of Model Aeronautics)
• CVRCF has been a member club of AMA for the past 48+ years
• Our flying field is located near milepost 38 on the Columbia River Hwy Route 30
• The flying field covers approximately 10 acres of open ground within the Tide Creek Land Acquisition
• CVRCF has rented this location for 46 years, first from the Jones family, then from Columbia Land Trust
• Our hobby and the CVRCF club is family oriented and membership is open to everyone
• We have teamed with local schools to demonstrate and teach aeronautics
• We have members that have taught the Aviation Merit Badge for local Boy Scouts of America
• We have American Veteran Pilots in our club that enjoy continuing to pilot model aircraft
• We are active with public events in our communities displaying our hobby
• We have members ranging from Castle Rock, Washington to Portland, Oregon
• Research has shown that deer and humans cohabitate very well
• The flying of model aircraft has no adverse effect on deer and other wildlife
With these points in mind we would ask that BPA allow us to continue to use this field to fly our model aircraft and support our communities, schools, youth, and veterans.
If you have questions or need further information please contact us.
Sincerely yours,
Lincoln Rice CVRCF Secretary
360-423-1121
Lincoln.rice@hotmail.com
Jerry Dow CVRCF Treasurer
360-423-1041
Dow160@msn.com
Mike Bishop CVRCF President
Mike Roussel CVRCF Vice-President
Brian Barsalou CVRCF Safety Officer
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Rice/Cowlitz Valley RC FlyersSee attached comments
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Kern Trustee/Deer Island Stock Ranch TrustPlease see attachment.
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RousselHello,
I’m the Vice President of Cowlitz valley rc flyers, if you take this field away from us you will be destroying our club and what we do for our community!
This club has been around for 40 years.
I don’t understand why we are loosing the field, I believe that we could live in harmony with the deer! There has been studies done proving that this could be done!
So please take this in consideration while while you are making your decision!
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Dow/Cowlitz Valley R/C FlyersI have been a member of the Cowlitz Valley R/C Flyers since 1974. The CVRCF club have been flying at the field located at mile post 38 on Hwy 30 since before that time. The club has been paying an annual rent to the past and current owners. We are a small club so renting the flying site was our only option. We have paid in excess of $25,000 to rent the field for the past 44+ years. When the ownership changed we were not given the opportunity to purchase the small area that we fly on. We were told the field would be flooded in the future but could continue to rent until that time. That was our understanding until this past summer when we found out the field would not be flooded. We contacted the Columbia Land Trust to schedule a meeting to discuss our continue use of the field. At the meeting we asked if we could continue to rent field in light of fact that the proposed flooding was not going to happen. We were told that was not an option and we would have to vacate the property by September 30th of this year. CLT said BPA was going to relocate deer to the area. The flying field is less than 4 acres surrounded by a hay field of about 6 acres. This 10 acre site is adjacent to Hwy 30. As others have stated the deer will roam onto the hwy and get killed or worse cause accidents that may injure people.Our flying site is a very small portion of the Columbia Stock Ranch and Tide Creek Land Acquisitions.Allowing the club to continue to use the field would not effect the deer.There have been many studies done that have shown model aviation is not harmful to wildlife. This is a recreation area that BPA should be supporting not destroying.
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