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| Salmon license plate information now faster, easier to find | ||
| 12/06/2006 | ||
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27-06
For immediate release
News media contact: Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board Monte Turner, 503-986-0195 Salem Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Contact: Chris Havel 503-986-0722 Salem Cell: 503-931-2590 Visit: www.salmonplate.org A new Web address makes it faster and easier to find information about Oregon’s salmon license plates--www.salmonplate.org. The page contains detailed information about purchase options for the plate along with examples of how the funds are used to support abundant salmon populations, clean water and state park salmon projects. "Many people don't realize that they can switch to a salmon plate when they renew their registration or that they can transfer their salmon plate when they purchase another vehicle by paying a small processing fee," said Tom Byler, executive director of the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board. "In addition, you can switch to a salmon plate at any time by paying a one-time $15 plate and replacement fee," he added. The Web page outlines the various scenarios for purchasing a plate and spells out the fees charged by the Oregon DMV for the different transactions, Byler said. Salmon plate purchasers pay an extra $30 every two years above regular passenger vehicle registration fees. Half the fee goes directly to fix road-related impacts to salmon and trout streams by improving water quality, fish habitat and fish passage through OWEB grants. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department invests the other half in salmon habitat and related projects in state parks. The Web page provides a list from OPRD showing 20 projects throughout the state where salmon plate funds will be used during the current two-year budget. A summary describes some of the completed projects. Links to news releases and a map of Oregon provide information about OWEB-funded projects using salmon plate revenues. If you don't have Web access, call OWEB at 503-986-0178 and ask for a brochure that provides basic information about salmon license plates. Salmon plate sales increased slightly during the past fiscal year providing $648,000 for water quality and stream improvements along roadsides and in state parks to support healthy salmon populations. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, plate sales increased nearly three percent from the prior year. Since the beginning of the salmon license plate program in 1997, OWEB and OPRD each have invested more than $2.5 million from salmon plate sales in projects and activities benefiting clean water and fish. #######
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