Fish and Wildlife Commission

Meeting Minutes & Agendas

FRIDAY, MARCH 17:

Chairman White called the workshop to order at 9:00 a.m.

COMMISSIONERS' DISCUSSION:

Commissioners discussed recent activities and items of general interest and provided status reports on Commission committees.

DIRECTOR'S REPORT:

Deputy Director Peck reviewed significant Department issues and activities.

Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5001, currently awaiting signature by the Governor, allows the Commission to authorize hound hunts for one or more cougars in response to public safety risks. At the April 7-8, 2000 Commission meeting Department staff will provide a tentative schedule of events for the adoption of Commission rules and criteria for authorizing and managing cougar hunts. The motivation for authorizing and planning hunts will not be to provide recreational hunter opportunity. Rather, the hunts will be based on criteria related to a demonstrated human safety need. Department staff will work with the Commission's Wildlife Committee to develop the draft rules and criteria.

BUDGET UPDATE:

Jim Lux provided a status report on the Department's current biennial budget.

FY1999 STATE AUDITOR'S OFFICE REVIEW:

Steve McKerney and Michelle Wieburg from the State Auditor's Office reviewed the FY99 State Auditor's Report which included a recap of findings and/or conclusions found during the most recent audit of the Department.

PROPOSED LAND TRANSACTIONS:

Dan Budd presented the Department's request for approval of numerous proposed land transactions.

Commissioner Roehl moved, seconded by Commissioner Tuck, to approve the following land transactions:

- Acquisition of the 55.37-acre Port Townsend Paper Corporation property in Jefferson County for $530,000;

- Acquisition of the six parcels totaling 41 acres from McFarland Cascade Holdings, Inc. in Kitsap County for $220,000;

- Acquisition of the 6.96-acre Just property in Kitsap County for $32,800;

- Acquisition of a Conservation Easement on the 4.15-acre Scott property in Kitsap County for $9,700;

- Grant a .61-acre right of way at the Priest Rapids Wildlife Area to Grant County in Grant County for $183;

- Acquisition of the 8-acre Davidson property in Klickitat County for $24,000;

- Acquisition of the 1.8-acre Sage property in Clallam County for $25,000; and

- Grant a utility easement to Avista Utilities in Spokane County for $1,000.

The motion carried unanimously.

COLUMBIA AND LOWER WILLIAMETTE RIVER FEDERAL NAVIGATION
CHANNEL DEEPENING PROJECT:

Laura Hicks and Kim Larson from the Corps of Engineers, Portland District, briefed the Commission on the Corps' Columbia and Lower Williamette River Federal Navigation Channel Deepening Project and discussed the Commission's project-related concerns.

Commissioner Cahill moved, seconded by Commissioner Shiosaki, to consider the motion made at the February 4-5, 2000 Commission meeting and tabled until the March 17-18, 2000 workshop. The motion carried unanimously.

Commissioner Roehl moved, seconded by Commissioner Van Gytenbeek, to table, until the June 9-10, 2000 Commission workshop, consideration of adoption of the motion to adopt a resolution to withhold Commission support for the proposed navigation project until the Corps agrees to implement and successfully complete specific measures.

A subcommittee (Commissioners Cahill, Tuck, Roehl, and Heinicke, and Department staff) was formed to refine the proposed resolution language and to meet with DNR, DOE, and the Governor's Office to discuss the proposed project.

The motion carried unanimously.

PROTECTION/IMMUNITY FROM PROSECUTION -- BRIEFING:

Bruce Bjork briefed the Commission on what protection/immunity from prosecution for criminal trespass is available to citizens who go on private property, observe fish and wildlife violations, and report those violations to the Department.

NORTH OF FALCON STATUS UPDATE:

Phil Anderson briefed the Commission on the status of the 2000 North of Falcon process and described the management challenges the participants are confronting.

COASTAL DUNGENESS CRAB STATUS UPDATE -- BRIEFING:

Phil Anderson briefed the Commission on the status of the coastal Dungeness crab fishery and the Department's preferred alternative for even flow management.

In August 1999 the Commission adopted the management objectives for coastal Dungeness crab, including the preferred alternative outlined in the Coastal Dungeness Crab Even Flow Harvest Management Plan, which was a tiered pot limit system based on catch history with three tiers. After reviewing the current fleet composition, and the necessary steps needed to achieve a reduction in harvest, the Department has developed a modified preferred alternative. This modified alternative is still a tiered pot limit system based on catch history; however, the qualifying catch limitations for each tier and the pot limits for each tier have been modified.

Public input on and Commission consideration of approval of the modified preferred alternative will occur at the April 7-8, 2000 Commission meeting in Yakima.

INVITED INFORMAL DISCUSSION:

Bobbie Thorniley (representing the Hunters' Heritage Council) and Ed Owens (representing Coalition of Coastal Fisheries, Salmon for Washington, Citizens for Responsible Wildlife Management, and Hunters' Heritage Council) met with the Commission for an informal discussion on fish and wildlife management based on science versus social concerns.

HUNTING EQUIPMENT RESTRICTIONS -- BRIEFING:

Mik Mikitik and Dave Ware briefed the Commission on proposed amendments to bow and arrow, muzzleloading, and firearm equipment. The Department is proposing several changes to hunting equipment to accommodate new technology and new industry standards, and to simplify regulations.

Commissioners requested that the final rule proposal for bow and arrow requirements include the qualifications that must be met by the disabled hunter in order to receive special authorization by the Director to use a crossbow to hunt wildlife.

Public input on and Commission consideration of adoption of the final rule proposals will occur at the April 7-8, 2000 Commission meeting in Yakima.

ADA COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES -- BRIEFING:

Brenda Kane and Rory Calhoun briefed the Commission on the accomplishments of the Department's newly-formed Americans with Disabilities Act Committee and the Citizens Task Force for the Disabled. The most pressing issue for the Task Force is the Department's proposal to allow disabled hunters to use crossbows.

2000-2002 DEER GENERAL SEASONS AND 2000 PERMIT QUOTAS -- BRIEFING:

Dave Ware and Rolf Johnson briefed the Commission on the proposed deer seasons for 2000-2002 and permit quotas for 2000.

Public input on and Commission consideration of adoption of the final rule proposal will occur at the April 7-8, 2000 Commission meeting in Yakima.

Department staff will provide Commissioners with copies of the poaching study.

2000-2002 ELK GENERAL SEASONS AND 2000-2001 PERMIT QUOTAS -- BRIEFING:

Dave Ware and Rolf Johnson briefed the Commission on the proposed elk seasons for 2000-2002 and permit quotas for 2000-2001.

Public input on and Commission consideration of adoption of the final rule proposal will occur at the April 7-8, 2000 Commission meeting in Yakima.

MOUNTAIN QUAIL STATUS UPDATE:

Dave Ware briefed the Commission on the status of mountain quail in Washington. The Department will address mountain quail in the game strategic planning process that will begin this summer to determine future management actions.

Chairman White recessed the workshop at 6:00 p.m.

SATURDAY, MARCH 18:

(The Commission met in Executive Session to discuss current and/or potential litigation.)

Chairman White called the workshop back to order at 9:00 a.m.

GRAVEL MINING IN FLOOD PLAIN AREAS -- BRIEFING:

Ken Bates briefed the Commission on the environmental impacts of gravel mining in flood plain areas.

Commissioner Tuck moved, seconded by Commissioner Cahill, to adopt the following resolution: "WHEREAS, The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission believes that best available science indicates that gravel mining in riverine flood plains is destructive to fish and wildlife populations and to the habitats on which they depend; WHEREAS, The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission understands that the legitimate demand for gravel to meet the needs of the people of Washington is increasing; and, WHEREAS, The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission believes that gravel resources should and can be provided from sites located outside riverine flood plains. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission believes that gravel mining should not occur in riverine flood plains." The motion carried unanimously.

Commissioners requested that Director Koenings contact the Attorney General's Office for an interpretation of the definition of a "water course" as it applies to authority for the HPA.

WASHINGTON WILDLIFE AND RECREATION PROGRAM ACQUISITION ACTIVITIES -- BRIEFING:

Elyse Kane briefed the Commission on the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program and the funding competition in August.

MONTANA'S YOUTH FISHING PROGRAM -- BRIEFING:

Patrick Graham, Director of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, briefed the Commission on Montana's Youth Fishing Program.

REDUCED RATE COMBINATION TEMPORARY FISHING AND SHELLFISH LICENSE -- BRIEFING:

Bruce Crawford briefed the Commission on a proposal to set by permanent rule the fee for a combination temporary fishing and shellfish license.

Public input on and Commission consideration of adoption of the final rule proposal will occur at the April 7-8, 2000 Commission meeting in Yakima.

LICENSE RULE PROPOSALS TO IMPLEMENT AUTOMATED LICENSE SYSTEM -- BRIEFING:

Bruce Crawford briefed the Commission on rule proposals for issuing licenses and tags and for dealers to remit payments to the Department using the automated license system.

Commissioner Cahill requested at the April 7-8, 2000 meeting the Commission be provided with information on the expected loss in license sales revenues due to the requirement that a social security number be provided to purchase a license.

Public input on and Commission consideration of adoption of the final rule proposals will occur at the April 7-8, 2000 Commission meeting in Yakima.

REDUCING THE RECREATIONAL LICENSE TRANSACTION FEE -- BRIEFING:

Bruce Crawford briefed the Commission on a rule proposal to reduce the recreational license transaction fee.

Public input on and Commission consideration of adoption of the final rule proposal will occur at the April 7-8, 2000 Commission meeting in Yakima.

MARINE FISH RESTORATION UPDATE:

Jack Tagart provided the Commission with an update on a draft marine fish restoration policy.

Commission consideration of adoption of the draft policy was originally scheduled to occur at the April 7-8, 2000 Commission meeting. It was agreed that Department staff will work with the Fish Committee to refine the draft policy and remove language more appropriately included in a Department procedure. Commission consideration of adoption of the final draft policy will occur at a later date.

MINUTES:

Commissioner Cahill moved, seconded by Commissioner Heinicke, to approve the Minutes of the following, as amended:

- November 12-13, 1999 Commission workshop
- December 10-11, 1999 Commission meeting
- January 13, 2000 Commission conference call
- January 14, 2000 Commission workshop
- January 21, 2000 Commission conference call
- January 27, 2000 Commission conference call
- January 28, 2000 Commission conference call
- February 10, 2000 Commission conference call
- February 11, 2000 Commission conference call
- February 18, 2000 Commission conference call
- February 24, 2000 Commission conference call
- February 25, 2000 Commission conference call
- March 3, 2000 Commission conference call
- March 9, 2000 Commission conference call.
The motion carried unanimously.

MISCELLANEOUS AND WORKSHOP DEBRIEF:

Commissioner Shiosaki moved, seconded by Commissioner Roehl, to request that the Department discuss with the USFWS the possibility of limited-entry controlled elk hunting on the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge. The motion carried unanimously.

Debbie Nelson will investigate the purchase of a sound system to be used at Commission meetings and workshops.

Chairman White adjourned the workshop at 2:45 p.m.

MEMOS AND AUTHORITIES FROM THE MARCH 17-18, 2000
FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION WORKSHOP, OLYMPIA

Commissioners in Attendance: