COMMISSIONERS' DISCUSSION:

Commissioners will discuss recent activities and items of general interest and provide status reports on Commission committees.

DIRECTOR'S REPORT:

Director Koenings will review significant Department issues and activities.

1. PROPOSED LAND TRANSACTIONS:

The Commission will consider approval of numerous proposed land transactions.

Staff Report: Dan Budd

2. SPECIAL TRAPPING PERMITS---USE OF BODY-GRIPPING TRAPS -- BRIEFING:

Department staff will brief the Commission on number of permits, types of animal problems, human health and safety, and nuisance wildlife control.

Staff Report: Steve Dauma

3. BIG GAME DAMAGE ACTIVITIES AND CLAIMS -- BRIEFING:

Department staff will brief the Commission on damage permits, distribution, and success; damage claims and trends; evolving rangeland damage issues; and success of landowner damage-access permits.

Staff Report: Steve Dauma

THE ENTANGLED BANK: THOUGHTS ON CLIMATE CHANGE IN SUSTAINING SALMON IN THE NORTHWEST:

Professor Robert C. Francis, University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences; and Dr. Nate J. Mantua, University of Washington, Center for the Study of the Earth System, will discuss climate change in sustaining salmon in the Northwest.

4. GRAZING ON DEPARTMENT-OWNED LANDS:

Department staff will provide a status report on the Department's review of livestock grazing on Department lands. The Commission will consider approval of a proposed grazing lease on the Texas Creek Wildlife Area in Okanogan County.

Staff Report: Mark Quinn

5. DNR LEASES -- BRIEFING:

Department staff will brief the Commission on the history, status of payments, and location of lands leased by the Department from the Department of Natural Resources.

Staff Report: Mark Quinn

6. BUDGET UPDATE:

Department staff will provide a status report on the Department's current biennial budget.

Staff Report: Jim Lux

7. AMENDMENTS TO PUGET SOUND COMMERCIAL MARINE FISH RULES:

The Commission will consider adoption of permanent amendments to the following Puget Sound commercial marine fish rules:

- WAC 220-48-005, Puget Sound Bottomfish -- General Provisions;
- WAC 220-48-015, Beam Trawl and Bottom Trawl -- Seasons;
- WAC 220-48-029, Set Net -- Dogfish --Seasons;
- WAC 220-49-013, Herring, Anchovy and Smelt Fishing -- Dip Bag Net; and
- WAC 220-49-056, Smelt Fishing -- Seasons.

(Note: At the February 8-9, 2002 Commission meeting, public input on these rule proposals was accepted and the Commission continued consideration of adoption of the rule proposals to this March 25 meeting. No additional public input will be accepted at this meeting.)

Staff Report: Greg Bargmann

8. ADOPTION OF CONSERVATION AREAS AND MARINE PRESERVES RULES:

A. The Commission will consider adoption of the following conservation areas and marine preserves rule proposals:

- Permanent amendment to WAC 220-16-480, Sund Rock Conservation Area;
- WAC 220-16-760, Keystone Conservation Area;
- WAC 220-16-770, Scatchet Head Marine Preserve;
- WAC 220-16-780, Admiralty Head Conservation Area;
- WAC 220-16-790, Zee's Reef Marine Preserve;
- WAC 220-16-800, Rosario Beach Conservation Area;
- Permanent amendment to WAC 220-20-010, General Provisions--Lawful and Unlawful Acts--Salmon, Other Food Fish and Shellfish;
- WAC 220-20-100, General Provisions--Marine Protected Areas;
- Permanent amendment to WAC 220-56-128, Food Fish Fishing--Closed Areas; and
- Permanent amendment to WAC 232-12-011, Wildlife Classified as Protected Shall Not be Hunted or Fished.

B. The Commission will consider repeal of WAC 220-56-307, Shellfish--Closed Areas.

(Note: At the February 8-9, 2002 Commission meeting, public input on these rule proposals was accepted and the Commission continued consideration of adoption of the rule proposals to this March 25 meeting. No additional public input will be accepted at this meeting.)

Staff Report: Mary Lou Mills

9. ALLOCATION OF STATE SHARE OF REGION 4 DUNGENESS CRAB FISHERY -- BRIEFING:

Department staff will brief the Commission on the status of the proposed Region 4 crab abundance study to evaluate the feasibility of a commercial crab fishery.

Staff Report: Michele Robinson and Lisa Veneroso

10. 2002 SARDINE FISHERY -- BRIEFING:

Department staff will brief the Commission on the status of the proposed limited entry program for the Washington sardine fishery and will present draft permit conditions for the 2002 sardine fishery.

Staff Report: Phil Anderson and Brian Culver

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

MISCELLANEOUS AND MEETING DEBRIEF: