MEETING MINUTES

FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION
February 1-2, 2008
Natural Resources Building
1111 Washington Street SE, Room 172
Olympia, Washington

ATTENDANCE:
Commission	Public (continued)
Jerry Gutzwiler, Chair	Doug Gray, Bedrock Prospectors
Miranda Wecker, Vice Chair	Will Atlas, Federation of Fly Fishers
Ken Chew	Thomas Buehrens
Gary Douvia	Marty Leith
Conrad Mahnken	Bill Redman, Federation of Fly Fishers
George Orr	Leslie Schiffman
Chuck Perry	Wayne Schiffman
Will Roehl	Duane Simmons
Shirley Solomon	Glenn Simmons
	James Curtiss
Commission Staff:	Jack Collins, Bedrock Prospectors
Susan Yeager	Chester Allen, The Olympian
Nancy Burkhart	Roan Boat
	Terry Moyer, Bedrock Prospectors
	Robert Sandberg, Gold Prospectors Assn. of American
Department	James R. Hightower, Bedrock Prospectors
Jeff Koenings, Director	Barbara Kovacs, Bedrock Prospectors
Phil Anderson, Deputy Director - Resource Policy	Bela Kovacs, Bedrock Prospectors
Joe Stohr, Deputy Director - Operations	Harley Edwards, Bedrock Prospectors
Guy Norman	James Pearson, SCI
Lew Atkins	Jeff Taylor, Jr.
Mike Cenci	Wayne Dalton
Morris Barker	Bryce Divine
Greg Hueckel	Marty Whitman
Jo Wadsworth	Richard Holcomb, Bedrock Prospectors
Jim Uehara	Robert P. Christensen, Federation of Metal Detectors
Bill Tweit	Linda Ducuck, Bedrock Prospectors
Dan Budd	Duane Red Holm, Bedrock Prospectors
Pat Michael	Kurt Sherwood
Rich Childers	Kevin Newell, Gold Prospectors Assn. of America
Amilee Wilson	Rich Simms, Wild Steelhead Coalition
Heather Bartlett	Eric Doyle, Wild Steelhead Coalition
Kirt Hughes	Nate Mantua, Wild Steelhead Coalition
Craig Burley	Chris Grieve, Wild Steelhead Coalition
Bill Frymire, AGO	Steve Buckner, Wild Steelhead Coalition
Other Department staff	Ron Larson
	Jacob Martinson
Public	William Thomas
Mel Albee	Robert N. Cunningham, NW Treasure Supply
Steve O'Neill	Richard Hunt
Ron Willheidt	Liz Hamilton, NW Sport Fishing Industry
Dan Grogan, NW Sportfishing Industry	Deborah Feinstein, OFM
Peter Gayton, WA Dept. of Personnel	John Velikanje, Wild Steelhead Coalition
Jack Berryman, Wild Steelhead Coalition	Rich Struna, OFM
Jerry Schroeder, Lower Columbia Flyfishers	Steve Herman, Western Watersheds Project
Jim Tuggle, Puget Sound Anglers	Mike Mobbs
Sam Wright	Dave Croonquist
Carl Burke, NW Sport Fishing Industry	Cory Cooper, Wild Steelhead Coalition
Frank Urabeck	Marsha Schaefer
Randy Samuelson, Wild Steelhead Coalition	Jerry Brown, J&L Guided Sportfishing
Mike Schaefer	Scott Warter
Dave Herrick, J&L Guided Sportfishing	William T. Giu
Jeremy Herrick, J&L Guided Sportfishing	Clint Muns, Puget Sound Anglers
Randy Doucet, 3 Rivers Marine	Bob Young
Guido Rahr, Wild Salmon Center	Don Overby
John Farrar	John Ozga
Craig Lynch, CSF	Hans M. Mak
Todd Partain
Kent Martin	Marianne Mitchell
Randy Prengel, Vision Hooks & Tackle	Jim Wells, Salmon For All
John Barr	Bruce Brookshanks, Col. River Fish. Protective Union
Mark Spada, Yakima Bait Co.	Bruce Beatty
Harry C. Wilson	Tom Condon, Bedrock Prospectors
Betty Beatty	Erik Gray
Alyson Bussell	Vince Hawkins
Anne McGlinn

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1:

In accordance with RCW 77.04.055, the Commission met with Governor Gregoire in the Governor's Office 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.

Chair Gutzwiler called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Commissioner Wecker moved, seconded by Commissioner Mahnken, to approve the minutes of the following:

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

DIRECTOR'S REPORT:
Director Koenings and Deputy Director Anderson reviewed significant Department issues and activities.

The Department is to keep the Commission apprised of the progress on the Fir Island Snow Goose Management Plan.

STRATEGIC PLANNING AND BUDGET UPDATE:
Deputy Director Stohr updated the Commission on strategic planning and the Department's budget.

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:
The following individuals provided oral testimony on issues of concern during this portion of the meeting:

PROPOSED LAND TRANSACTIONS - DECISION:
Dan Budd presented four proposed land transactions.

No oral testimony on the proposed transactions was received during the meeting.

Commissioner Wecker moved, seconded by Commissioner Orr, to approve the following:

2008-2009 SPORTFISH RULE PROPOSALS - RULE ACTION:
Craig Burley presented proposed permanent amendments to the following WAC rules:

The Commission held a public hearing on these rule proposals at its November 2-3, 2007, Commission in Chelan.

Commissioner Roehl moved, seconded by Commissioner Orr, to adopt the permanent amendments to WAC 220-56-282, Sturgeon-Areas, seasons, limits and unlawful acts, as presented.

Commissioner Wecker moved, seconded by Commissioner Mahnken, to amend the motion to make January 1, 2009, the effective date. The motion to amend the motion carried unanimously.

The motion, as amended, carried unanimously.

Commissioner Wecker moved, seconded by Commissioner Mahnken, to adopt the permanent amendments to the following as proposed:

2007 PUGET SOUND RECREATIONAL CRAB FISHERY - BRIEFING:
At the request of the Commission, Rich Childers and Deputy Chief Mike Cenci briefed 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.

Staff will provide a follow-up briefing to include full-season data at either the April 2008 or May 2008 Commission meeting.

STATEWIDE OPENING DAY OF STREAM FISHING - BRIEFING:
At the request of the Commission, Craig burley briefed 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.

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:
No oral testimony on issues of concern was received during this portion of the meeting.

The following were added after the preliminary agenda was published:

- Director's Goals and Objectives: The Commission made minor changes to Objective 1-J, and added that the Governor will provide a list of her expectations to be built into the Director's performance agreement for review annually.

Chair Gutzwiler recessed the meeting at 5:20 p.m.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2:

Chair Gutzwiler called the meeting back to order at 8:30 a.m.

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:
The following individuals provided oral testimony on issues of concern during this portion of the meeting:

COLUMBIA RIVER SPRING AND SUMMER CHINOOK ALLOCATION POLICIES - DECISIONS:
Guy Norman, Cindy LeFleur, Bill Tweit, and Heather Bartlett presented proposed changes to Commission Policy C-3615, Mainstem Columbia River Spring Chinook Management and Allocation for Non-Indian Fisheries, 2008; and Commission Policy C-3616, Mainstem Columbia River Summer Chinook Management and Allocation for Non-Indian Fisheries, 2008. The policies 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.

Spring chinook:

Commissioner Mahnken moved, seconded by Commissioner Chew, to adopt Commission Policy C-3617, Mainstem Columbia River Spring Chinook Management and Allocation for Non-Indian Fisheries, 2008, as proposed by Commissioner Mahnken. The motion failed. (Commissioner Perry absent during discussion and vote on the motion.)

Commissioner Roehl moved, seconded by Commissioner Solomon, to adopt Commission Policy C-3617, Mainstem Columbia River Spring Chinook Management and Allocation for Non-Indian Fisheries, 2008, as proposed by Commissioner Mahnken, but with the 2005-2007 allocation levels by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The motion failed. (Commissioner Perry absent during discussion and vote on the motion.)

Commissioner Douvia moved, seconded by Commissioner Chew, to continue the discussion, review, and revote on Commission Policy C-3617, Mainstem Columbia River Spring Chinook Management and Allocation for Non-Indian Fisheries, 2008, to a Special Meeting via Conference Call on February 8, 2008. The public may listen to the call via speakerphones at the Vancouver, Montesano and Mill Creek Region Offices, and the Olympia office. No public input will be accepted. The motion carried. (Commissioner Perry was absent during discussion and vote on the motion.)

Summer chinook:

Commissioner Solomon moved, seconded by Commissioner Chew, to adopt the following policy guidance relative to the mainstem Columbia River summer chinook fishery as presented by staff:

- The recreational fishery allocation shall be 50% of the allowable impact rate with the remainder to the commercial fishery; and

- The Director shall work with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to achieve implementation of this Commission action in a manner that results in concurrent regulations between the two states. The Director shall consult with the Commission Chair if it becomes necessary to deviate from the Commission's policy to achieve concurrent regulations with Oregon.

STATEWIDE STEELHEAD MANAGEMENT PLAN - PUBLIC HEARING:
Heather Bartlett and Amilee Wlson briefed the Commission on the Statewide Steelhead Management Plan and comments received from the Draft Environmental Impact State 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.

The following provided oral testimony on the proposed Plan during the meeting:

MINERAL PROSPECTING (a.k.a. "GOLD AND FISH") REGULATION PROPOSALS UPDATE - BRIEFING:
Greg Hueckel briefed the Commission on the status of developing proposed amendments to WAC rules regulating mineral prospecting activities while protecting fish and wildlife habitat. The rule proposals were postponed to allow more time for working with stakeholders. Staff will present proposed rule amendments later this year. The amended rules, once finalized and adopted, will be published in a new "Gold and Fish Pamphlet".

COMMISSION COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Commissioners will discuss Committee reports during the February 15, 2008, Commission Conference Call.

SUMMARY OF COMMISSION REQUESTS:
The Commissioners will discuss the Summary of Commission Requests at the March 7-8, 2008, meeting in Olympia.

Commissioner Douvia moved, seconded by Commissioner Roehl, to request the Department develop a communication plan to educate and advise the public through appropriate information/communication to all news media on the current weather impact and managed plans for winter-feeding of wildlife. The motion carried unanimously.

Commissioner Douvia moved, seconded by Commissioner Orr, to raise the approval level from Director to Commission for the Department's Wolf Plan for Washington State.

To allow the Commissioners and Department more time to discuss, Commissioner Roehl moved, seconded by Commissioner Orr, to table until Saturday, February 2, 2008. The motion failed.

The motion carried.

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:
The following individual provided oral testimony on issues of concern during this portion of the meeting:

Chair Gutzwiler adjourned the meeting at 4:52 p.m..

MEMOS AND AUTHORITIES FROM THE FEBRUARY 1-2, 2008
FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION MEETING, OLYMPIA

* Commissioners Chew, Perry, and Solomon were absent during discussion and vote on the motion.
* Commissioner Perry was absent during discussion and vote on the motion

Commissioners in Attendance:
Jerry Gutzwiler, Chair
Miranda Wecker, Vice Chair
Ken Chew
Gary Douvia
Conrad Mahnken
George Orr
Chuck Perry
Will Roehl
Shirley Solomon