Sauvie Island Wildlife AreaSeasonal Alcohol Restriction

Jeff Boechler, ODFW Watershed ManagerTrooper Joe Dezso, Oregon State Police

Salem, OregonMarch 16, 2018

∗Background

∗ Public Use Levels

∗Alcohol-related Problems

∗Other Jurisdictions Response

∗ Proposed Rule

Sauvie Island Wildlife AreaSeasonal Alcohol Restriction

∗ Goal 1 – To protect, enhance and manage wetland habitats to benefit fish and wildlife species.

∗ Goal 2 – To protect, enhance and manage upland habitats to benefit a wide variety of wildlife species.

∗ Goal 3 – To maintain waterfowl hunting programs and provide a variety of other fish and wildlife oriented recreational and educational opportunities to the public that are compatible with Goals 1 and 2.

Sauvie Island Management PlanAdopted - April 2012

∗ Goal 4 – To control other public uses to minimize impacts on fish and wildlife, their habitats, and fish and wildlife related recreation and to maintain the security of the Wildlife Area and reduce disturbance to neighboring private lands.

Sauvie Island Management Plan

YearSIWA

Total Visitor DaysMay-Sept

Visitor Days% Summer

Use2000 500,518 317,764 63%2001 489,012 267,334 55%2002 567,024 351,377 62%2003 672,529 391,299 58%2004 733,875 476,016 65%2005 717,135 407,721 57%2006 877,340 542,863 62%2007 777,778 444,120 57%2008 802,365 533,040 66%2009 989,361 682,317 69%2010 517,361 294,238 57%2011 653,915 403,856 62%2012 782,393 509,763 65%2013 842,887 498,691 59%2014 740,044 480,984 65%2015 934,392 634,238 68%2016 656,194 398,799 61%2017 604,302 429,605 71%

2000-12Average 698,508 432,439 62%

Recent5 YR AVG 755,564 488,463 65%

Sauvie Island WA Public Use

2017 Sauvie Island Wildlife Area Beach Use - Peak Activity Periods (thru 8/20/17)

Date Day Temp Closed Rd Signs Towed ODFW Patrol Car Counter Data Estimated Visitors1

27-May Sat 89 x x 11 deployed signs 3238 12,95228-May Sun 85 x x 3 deployed signs 3978 15,912

24-Jun Sat 98 x x 13 deployed signs 3344 13,37625-Jun Sun 101 x x 20 deployed signs 3698 14,792

8-Jul Sat 87 x deployed signs 2756 11,02422-Jul Sat 90 6 Saturation x 2919 11,67629-Jul Sat 86 2296 9,18430-Jul Sun 88 x 2671 10,684

1-Aug Tues 97 1601 6,4042-Aug Wed 103 x 2066 8,2643-Aug Thurs 105 x 1835 7,3404-Aug Fri 96 1478 5,9126-Aug Sun 88 x 2333 9,332

1 The average number of visitors per vehicle is four.

2017 Daily Beach Visitors - High Use Periods

Collins Beach – north portion

Collins Beach

Walton Beach

Collins Beach

∗ Driving Under the Influence / Car Accidents

∗ Increased Medical Responses

∗ Assaults / Group Fights

∗ Drownings

∗ Minors in Possession (MIP)

∗ Officer and Employee Safety a Major Concern

Alcohol-Related Problems

Oregon State Police StatisticsDuring Enhanced (OT) Patrols

July 28 – September 1, 2016

∗ 32% of all DUII Arrests by OSP in Columbia County, people travelling from SIWA beaches (April-September)

∗ 32% of all traffic stops on SIWA resulted in contacts with people using alcohol

∗ 50% of all Welfare/Medical responses were alcohol related

∗ 100% of the Disturbance/Assault contacts were alcohol related

∗ 36% of all DUII Arrests by OSP in Columbia County, people travelling from SIWA beaches

∗ 25% of all traffic stops on SIWA resulted in contacts with people using alcohol

∗ 65% of all Welfare/Medical responses were alcohol related

∗ MIP (Alcohol) – 31 Citations, 11 Warnings

Oregon State Police StatisticsApril 1 – August 3, 2017

∗ State – Oregon Parks and RecreationDabney Park (Sandy River)Lewis and Clark Park (Sandy River)Bonnie Lure Park (Clackamas River)

∗ Regional – MetroOxbow Park (Sandy River)

∗ County – Clackamas CountyAll Parks on the Clackamas River, Day Use Areas

∗ Cities -Portland – Dodge Park (Sandy River)Oregon City – Clackamette Park (Willamette/Clackamas)Gladstone – Meldrum Bar Park (Willamette/Clackamas)

Example Alcohol Restrictions by Other Jurisdictions, Portland Metro Area

Barton ParkClackamas County Parks

Carver Boat Ramp and ParkClackamas County Parks

Clackamette ParkOregon City

OAR 635-008-0147 (18):No person shall possess or use alcoholic beverages or consumable products containing alcohol from May 1 through September 30 on the Wildlife Area except ODFW employees, family members and guests of the employee may possess and use alcohol on agency owned residential property leased by the employee.

Proposed SIWA Rule

Amend OAR Chapter 635, Division 008 as proposed by staff to seasonally prohibit the use and possession of alcohol on Sauvie Island Wildlife Area.

Staff Recommendation

Questions?