March 14-16, 2024 Meeting agenda - WDFW Fish and Wildlife Commission

Meeting location

Natural Resources Building 
1111 Washington Street SE  
Olympia WA 98501 – Room 172 

- Committee Meetings

8:00am - 10:00am – Big Tent Committee - Commissioners Lehmkuhl, Baker, Parker, Smith

To listen, dial: 253-215-8782 and enter ID# 838 1391 5324

Agenda Topics:

10:00am - 12:00pm – Habitat Committee - Commissioners Linville, Lehmkuhl, Ragen, Myers

To listen, dial: 253-215-8782 and enter ID# 826 5642 4115

Agenda Topics:

  • Habitat Program: Growth Management Act Update (Land Use Conservation & Policy - How we engage in supporting/influencing local governments)
  • Future Meeting Planning & General Discussion

1:00pm - 3:00pm – Fish Committee - Commissioners Anderson, Linville, Ragen, Parker

To listen, dial: 253-215-8782 and enter ID# 883 6243 6853

Agenda Topics:

3:00pm - 5:00pm – Wildlife Committee - Commissioners Smith, Anderson, Rowland, Myers

To listen, dial: 253-215-8782 and enter ID# 852 6623 7597

Agenda Topics:

  • Cougar Management Framework Discussion
  • Future Meeting Planning & General Discussion

- Regular Meeting Hybrid/Olympia

If you are interested in providing comments online during a hybrid meeting, please register online.

The following virtual registration deadlines are in effect: 

  •  Registration for those wishing to provide virtual comments closes at 5pm the day before the meeting begins.  
  •  Open Public Input is intended for comments on matters not found elsewhere on the agenda. 
  •  Registrants will be called upon and typically have three minutes to speak.  
  •  If you are unable to participate you can submit your comments on the Commission contact page.

In-Person Participation:

The following in-person deadlines are in effect:

  •  If you haven’t pre-registered, complete a Public Testimony form, available at the registration table.
  • The form must be submitted 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the agenda item you wish to testify on.

To listen to the meeting please access it using the Zoom Link or TVW Link

Or by phone by dialing 1-253-205-0468 and entering webinar ID# 881 7581 5830

8:00am - 8:30am – 1. Call to Order

Commissioners Discussion

Meeting Minutes Approval

Committee Reports

8:30am - 10:00am – 2. Open Public Input

The Commission is a direct link between the citizens of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Comments on Department programs and topics of concern are welcome during this portion of the meeting. NOTE: During this portion of the meeting, the public is encouraged to comment on issues that do not already have public input time on the agenda.

Public Comment - This Item Only

10:00am - 10:15am – Break

10:15am - 10:45am – 3. Director's Report

The Director will brief the Commission on various items.

10:45am - 11:15am – 4. Land Transaction - Briefing, Public Comment, Decision

The Commission will consider approval of a land transaction for Violet Prairie Phase 3, recommended by the department.

Staff Report: Karen Edwards, Real Estate Manager

Public Comment - This Item Only

11:15am - 12:00pm – 5. L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Plan - Briefing

Staff will brief the Commission on the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area Plan

Staff Report: Holly English, Lands & Recreation Planner and Hannah Bate, Region 3 Lands Operations Manager/Assistant Wildlife Program Manager

12:00pm - 1:00pm – Lunch

1:00pm - 1:30pm – 6. Petition: Steelhead Bait Ban & Date Changes - Briefing, Decision

Staff will brief the Commission and ask for a decision on the request to change regulations that will ban the use of bait in all rivers and tributaries in the Puget Sound and delay the opening of fishing season until mid-June in Puget Sound Rivers.

Staff Report: Kirt Hughes, Fish Management Division Manager

1:30pm - 2:00pm – 7. Petition: Change to the Yellow Perch Limit on Fish Lake in Chelan County - Briefing, Decision

Staff will brief the Commission and ask for a decision on the request that the limit for Yellow Perch on Fish Lake in Chelan County to be changed from 25, to no limit.

Staff Report: Chad Jackson, Region 2 Fish Program Manager

2:00pm - 2:40pm – 8. Petition: Wildlife Control Operators - Briefing, Decision

Petition withdrawn - Item struck from the agenda

Staff will brief the Commission on requested changes to Wildlife Control Operators (WCO) Training and expanding authority to operate. The proposal will allow WCOs to respond to wildlife conflicts involving ungulates and apex predators.

Staff Report: Fenner Yarborough, Landowner Services Division Manager

2:40pm - 3:00pm – 9. Petition: Creation of Eastside & Westside Deer Tags - Briefing, Decision

Staff will brief the Commission and ask for a decision on the request to begin rulemaking to create Eastside and Westside deer tags, requiring deer hunters to choose between the Eastside and Westside of the state.

Staff Report: Kyle Garrison, Ungulate Section Manager

3:00pm - 3:30pm – 10. Orca Whale Periodic Status Review - Briefing, Public Comment, Decision

Staff will brief the Commission on the status of Orca Whales.

Staff Report: Taylor Cotten, Conservation Assessment Section Manager & Jessica Stocking, Marine-Coastal-Flyway Section Manager

Public Comment - This Item Only

3:30pm - 5:00pm – 11. Science & Policy Discussion Regarding Cougar Rulemaking

Pursuant to the Commission vote in December, the Commission and staff will discuss policy considerations of rulemaking.

Staff Report: Dr. Donny Martorello, Wildlife Program Science Division Manager, Eric Gardner, Wildlife Director & Anis Aoude, Game Division Manager

- Regular Meeting Olympia/Hybrid

 If you are interested in providing comments online during a hybrid meeting, please register online.

Virtual Participation:

The following virtual registration deadlines are in effect: 

  •  Registration for those wishing to provide comments closes at 5pm the day before the meeting begins.  
  •  Open Public Input is intended for comments on matters not found elsewhere on the agenda. 
  •  Registrants will be called upon and typically have three minutes to speak.  
  •  If you are unable to participate you can submit your comments on the Commission contact page.

In-Person Participation:

The following in-person deadlines are in effect: 

  • If you haven’t pre-registered, complete a Public Testimony form, available at the registration table.
  • The form must be submitted 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the agenda item you wish to testify on.

To listen to the meeting please access it using the Zoom Link or TVW Link

Or by phone by dialing 1-253-205-0468 and enter Webinar ID# 858 6048 8509

8:00am - 9:30am – 12. Open Public Input

The Commission is a direct link between the citizens of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Comments on Department programs and topics of concern are welcome during this portion of the meeting. NOTE: During this portion of the meeting, the public is encouraged to comment on issues that do not already have public input time on the agenda.

Public Comment - This Item Only

9:30am - 9:45am – Break

9:45am - 11:15am – 13. Wolf Periodic Status Review - Briefing, Public Comment

Staff will brief the Commission on the status of wolves.

Staff Report: Julia Smith, Endangered Species Recovery Section Manager

Public Comment - This Item Only

11:15am - 12:00pm – 14. Meeting Debriefing and Future Meeting Planning

The Commission will discuss items that arise immediately before, during, or after the meeting and consider future agenda planning

12:00pm - 1:00pm – Executive Session

Item struck from the agenda

Pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(i), the Commission will meet in executive session to discuss with legal counsel representing the agency matters relating to agency enforcement actions, or to discuss with legal counsel representing the agency litigation or potential litigation to which the agency, the governing body, or a member acting in an official capacity is, or is likely to become, a party, when public knowledge regarding the discussion is likely to result in an adverse legal or financial consequence to the agency. 

1:00pm – Adjourn