AGENDA*

FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION
February 1-2, 2008
Natural Resources Building
1111 Washington St. SE
First Floor, Room 172
Olympia, Washington

* Times are approximate and subject to change.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1

9:00 AM	COMMISSION'S ANNUAL MEETING WITH THE GOVERNOR: In accordance with RCW 77.04.055, the Commission will meet with Governor Gregoire to: (a) Review and prescribe basic goals and objectives related to those policies; and(b) Review the performance of the Department in implementing fish and wildlife policies. (a) The meeting will take place at the Governor’s Office.
10:30 AM	1. CALL TO ORDER Approval of Meeting Minutes Commissioners' Discussion Director's Report (Jeff Koenings & Phil Anderson) Strategic Planning and Budget Update (Joe Stohr) 2. OPEN PUBLIC INPUT The Commission is a direct link between 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: The public is encouraged to comment only on those issues not on this agenda.)
12:15 PM	LUNCH BREAK
1:30 PM	3. PROPOSED LAND TRANSACTIONS – DECISION: The Commission will consider approval of various proposed land transactions. Acquisition of a 37.94-acre property in Okanogan County. Acquisition of a .96-acre property in Klickitat County. Utility easement request in Columbia County. Right of way request in Mason County. - Greensheet - PDF format (1.4 MB) Staff Report: Dan Budd, Real Estate Manager, Wildlife Program PUBLIC INPUT (Above item only) 4. 2008-2009 SPORTFISH RULE PROPOSALS – RULE ACTION: The Commission will consider adoption of permanent amendments to the following WAC rules: WAC 220-16-320, General definitions – Fish length measurement; WAC 220-56-100, Definitions – Personal-use fishing; WAC 220-56-105, River mouth definitions; WAC 220-56-175, Catch record cards; WAC 220-56-282, Sturgeon – Areas, seasons, limits and unlawful acts; WAC 220-56-310, Shellfish – Daily limits; WAC 220-56-315, Crabs, shrimp, crawfish – Unlawful acts; WAC 220-56-320, Shellfish gear – Unlawful acts; WAC 220-56-350, Clams other than razor clams, mussels – Areas and seasons; WAC 220-56-380, Oysters – Areas and seasons; WAC 220-56-510, Game fish possession limits and size limits; WAC 232-12-168, Fishing contests; and WAC 232-28-619, Washington food fish and game fish – Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules. The Commission held a public hearing on these rule proposals at its November 2-3, 2007, meeting in Olympia. - Greensheet - PDF format (4.13 MB) Staff Report: Craig Burley, Inland/Marine Division Manager, Fish Program; and Heather Bartlett, Salmon and Steelhead Division Manager, Fish Program
	BREAK
	5. 2007 PUGET SOUND RECREATIONAL CRAB FISHERY – BRIEFING: At the request of the Commission, Department staff will brief the Commission on the 2007 Puget Sound recreational Dungeness crab fishery, including compliance/enforcement issues and data compiled from the first half of the season. - Greensheet - PDF format (332.48 KB) Staff Report: Rich Childers, Shellfish Policy Lead, Intergovernmental Resource Mgmt. (IRM); and Mike Cenci, Deputy Chief, Enforcement Program 6. STATEWIDE OPENING DAY OF STREAM FISHING – BRIEFING: At the request of the Commission, Department staff will brief the Commission on the feasibility of changing the statewide opening day of fishing season for streams from June 1 to the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend. - Greensheet - PDF format (11.20 KB) Staff Report: Craig Burley, Inland/Marine Division Manager, Fish Program 7. OPEN PUBLIC INPUT The Commission is a direct link between 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: The public is encouraged to comment only on those issues not on this agenda.)
5:45 PM	RECESS

SATURDAY, February 2

8:30 AM	8. OPEN PUBLIC INPUT The Commission is a direct link between 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: The public is encouraged to comment only on those issues not on this agenda.) 9. COLUMBIA RIVER SPRING & SUMMER CHINOOK ALLOCATION POLICIES – DECISIONS: The Commission will consider approval of proposed changes to policies C-3615 and C-3616, which expired on December 31, 2007. The Commission held a public hearing on the policy proposals at its January 11-12, 2008, Commission meeting in Vancouver. - Greensheet - PDF format (1.08 KB) Staff Report: Cindy LeFleur, Columbia River Policy Coordinator, Intergovernmental Resource Management (IRM); and Heather Bartlett, Fish Management Division Manager, Fish Program 10. STATEWIDE STEELHEAD MANAGEMENT PLAN – PUBLIC HEARING: Department staff will brief the Commission on the Statewide Steelhead Management Plan and comments received from the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) that was released to the public earlier this year, followed by the official public hearing opportunity. The Commission will consider final adoption of the Plan at its March 7-8, 2008, Commission meeting in Olympia. - Greensheet - PDF format (15.20 KB) Staff Report: Heather Bartlett, Fish Management Division Manager, Fish Program PUBLIC INPUT (Above item only)
	BREAK
	11. MINERAL PROSPECTING (a.k.a. “GOLD AND FISH”) REGULATION PROPOSALS UPDATE – BRIEFING: Department staff will brief the Commission on the status of developing proposed amendments to WAC rules regulating mineral prospecting activities while protecting fish and wildlife habitat. The amended rules, once finalized and adopted, will be published in a new “Gold and Fish pamphlet.” - Greensheet - PDF format (76.42 KB) Staff Report: Perry Harvester, Region 3 Habitat Program Manager; and Pat Chapman, Regulatory Services Coordinator, Habitat Program 12. COMMISSION COMMITTEE REPORTS: The Commissioners will discuss activities of the various Commission committees 13. SUMMARY OF COMMISSION REQUESTS: The Commissioners will review the current list of Commission requests to the Department and consider new requests. 14. OPEN PUBLIC INPUT The Commission is a direct link between 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: The public is encouraged to comment only on those issues not on this agenda.) 15. MISCELLANEOUS AND MEETING DEBRIEF: The Commission will discuss items that arise immediately before or during the meeting and after the preliminary agenda is published.
2:30 PM	ADJOURN

NEXT MEETING: March 7-8, 2008, in Olympia

* Times are approximate and subject to change.

Contact the Fish and Wildlife Commission Office for further information:
Phone (360) 902-2267
Email: commission@dfw.wa.gov