AGENDA*

(Revised)

FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION
March 7-8, 2008
Natural Resources Building
1111 Washington St. SE
First Floor, Room 172
Olympia, Washington

* Times are approximate and subject to change.

FRIDAY, MARCH 7

8:30 AM	1. CALL TO ORDER Approval of Meeting Minutes November 2-3, 2007 December 7-8, 2007 January 10, 2008 January 11-12, 2008 Commissioners' Discussion Legislative Update (Tom Davis) Director's Report (Jeff Koenings) Strategic Planning,Budget, and Licensing System 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.)
	BREAK
	3. PROPOSED LAND TRANSACTIONS – DECISION: The Commission will consider approval of various proposed land transactions. Acquisition of 1037-acre property in Pend Oreille County. Acquisition of 516-acre property in Okanogan County. Surplus sale of 20.12-acre property in Chelan County. Boundary line adjustment in Chelan County. Right of way in Yakima County. Staff Report: Dan Budd, Real Estate Manager, Wildlife Program PUBLIC INPUT (Above item only) 4. WASHINGTON BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION STRATEGY – BRIEFING At the request of the Commission, Department staff – along with Lynn Helbrecht, Executive Coordinator, Washington Biodiversity Council – will brief the Commission on the Washington Biodiversity Strategy, which includes methods for defining priorities, fostering widespread landowner engagement, and measuring progress. - Greensheet - PDF format (48 KB) Staff Report: Elizabeth Rodrick, Land Conservation Section Manager, Wildlife Program 5. LANDS 20/20 ACQUISITION PROCESS – BRIEFING: Department staff will brief the Commission on the current status of land acquisition projects and present 24 potential acquisition projects that have been assessed using the Lands 20/20 process. - Greensheet - PDF format (48 KB) Staff Report: Jennifer Quan, Acting Lands Division Manager, Wildlife Program
12:15 PM	LUNCH BREAK
1:30 PM	6. CLASSIFICATION OF WILD BIRDS – RULE BRIEFING & PUBLIC HEARING: Department staff will brief the Commission on proposed amendments to WAC 232-12-004, Classification of wild birds, to manage a new and rapidly spreading exotic species (Eurasian collared dove) as a predatory bird. The Commission will consider adoption of these amendments at its April 11-12, 2008, meeting in Pasco. - Greensheet - PDF format (250 KB) Staff Report: Don Kraege, Waterfowl Section Manager, Wildlife Program PUBLIC INPUT (Above item only) 7. SMALL GAME SEASONS – RULE BRIEFING & PUBLIC HEARING: Department staff will brief the Commission on proposed amendments to WAC 232-28-342, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09 Small game seasons, which would establish more fall turkey hunting opportunity, help control expanding turkey populations, provide additional hunting opportunity for mourning doves, and provide consistent goose season regulations in Goose Management Area 3. The Commission will consider adoption of these amendments at its April 11-12, 2008, meeting in Pasco. - Greensheet - PDF format (337 KB) - Supplemental Recommended Adjustments - PDF format (13.84 KB) Staff Report: Mick Cope, Upland Game Section Manager, Wildlife Program; and Don Kraege, Waterfowl Section Manager, Wildlife Program PUBLIC INPUT (Above item only) 8. LANDOWNER HUNTING PERMITS – RULE BRIEFING & PUBLIC HEARING: Department staff will brief the Commission on proposed amendments to WAC 232-28-295, Landowner hunting permits, to address damage concerns and provide public hunting access to private lands. The Commission will consider adoption of these amendments at its April 11-12, 2008, meeting in Pasco. - Greensheet - PDF format (355 KB) Staff Report: Mick Cope, Upland Game Section Manager, Wildlife Program; Kevin Robinette, Wildlife Program Manager, Region 1 Ted Clausing, Wildlife Program Manager, Region 3 PUBLIC INPUT (Above item only) 9. HUNTING EQUIPMENT RESTRICTIONS – RULE BRIEFING & PUBLIC HEARING: Department staff will brief the Commission on proposed amendments to WAC 232-12-045, Hunting equipment restrictions, which would restrict the use of radio telemetry equipment for hunting. The Commission will consider adoption of these amendments at its April 11-12, 2008, meeting in Pasco. - Greensheet - PDF format (221 KB) - Supplemental Recommended Adjustments - PDF format (13.41 KB) - Supplemental Written Public Input - PDF format (13.73 KB) Staff Report: Don Kraege, Waterfowl Section Manager, Wildlife Program PUBLIC INPUT (Above item only) 10. MOOSE, BIGHORN SHEEP, AND MOUNTAIN GOAT SEASONS – RULE BRIEFING & PUBLIC HEARING: Department staff will brief the Commission on proposed amendments to WAC 232-28-273, 2006-2008 Moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat seasons and permit quotas, to help address increasing problems with moose, help address the expanding ewe component of the bighorn sheep population, and adjust mountain goat unit boundaries on Mount Baker. The Commission will consider adoption of these amendments at its April 11-12, 2008, meeting in Pasco. - Greensheet - PDF format (339 KB) Staff Report: Donny Martorello, Ph.D., Carnivore, Furbearer, and Special Species Section Manager, Wildlife Program PUBLIC INPUT (Above item only)
	BREAK
	11. HABITAT CONSERVATION PLANNING FOR WILDLIFE AREAS AND HYDRAULIC PROJECT APPROVALS – BRIEFING: Department staff will brief the Commission on progress made over the last year on two projects that seek to develop Habitat Conservation Plans for activities authorized under the Hydraulic Project Approval program, and for activities on state-owned and -managed Wildlife Areas. - Greensheet - PDF format (98 KB) Staff Report: Marc Daily, Technical Applications Division Manager, Habitat Program; Matt Niles, Habitat Conservation Plan Coordinator, Habitat Program; and Jennifer Quan, Acting Lands Division Manager, Wildlife Program 12. PUGET SOUND PURSE SEINE/GILLNET HARVEST ALLOCATION – BRIEFING: Department staff will brief the Commission on guidelines and process for Puget Sound Purse Seine/Gillnet Areas 10 & 11 chum salmon harvest allocation, and provide an update on the 2008 North of Falcon fisheries process. - Greensheet - PDF format (18 KB) Staff Report: Pat Pattillo, Salmon Policy Coordinator, Intergovernmental Resource Mgmt; and John Long, Statewide Salmon Manager, Fish Program 13. 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.)
5:30 PM	RECESS

SATURDAY, MARCH 8

8:30 AM	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. STATEWIDE STEELHEAD MANAGEMENT PLAN - DECISION: The Commission will consider adoption of the Statewide Steelhead Management Plan. The Commission held a public hearing on the Plan during its February 1-2, 2008, meeting in Olympia. - Greensheet - PDF format (18 KB) - Cover letter and steelhead plan - PDF format (13.14 MB) Staff Report: Heather Bartlett, Salmon and Steelhead Division Manager, Fish Program; and Amilee Wilson, ESA Response Unit Lead, Fish Program 16. GO PLAY OUTSIDE ©, YOUTH FISHING, AND 2008 YOUTH EXPO- BRIEFING: Department staff - along with Dianne Warrant, President, Go Play Outside Alliance of Washington - will brief the Commission on the events and activities of the Go Play Outside© initiative, 2007-2008 Youth Fishing activities, and the upcoming Youth Expo planned for May 16-17, 2008, in Benton County. - Greensheet - PDF format (9 KB) Staff Report: John Kerwin, Go Play Outside© Policy Lead, Fish Program; and Terry Rudnick, Youth Sportfishing Coordinator, Fish Program
	BREAK
	17. DEER AND ELK AREA DESCRIPTIONS - RULE BRIEFING & PUBLIC HEARING: Department staff will brief the Commission proposed amendments to WAC 232-28-337, Deer and elk area descriptions, to help protect elk coming down to active feeding areas during late archery season. The Commission will consider adoption of these amendments at its April 11-12, 2008, meeting in Pasco. - Greensheet - PDF format (284 KB) - Supplemental Recommended Adjustments - PDF format (14.26 KB) Staff Report: Jerry Nelson, Deer and Elk Section Manager, Wildlife Program PUBLIC INPUT (Above item only) 18. DEER & ELK GENERAL SEASONS AND DEFINITIONS, SPECIAL HUNTING PERMITS - RULE BRIEFING & PUBLIC.HEARING: Department staff will brief the Commission on proposed rule amendments that would minor adjustments to deer and elk general seasons to address emergent issues and fine-tune hunts designed to alleviate agricultural damage. WAC 232-28-351, 2006-2008 Deer general seasons and definitions; WAC 232-28-352, 2006-2008 Elk general seasons and definitions; and WAC 232-28-291, Special hunting season permits The Commission will consider adoption of these amendments at its April 11-12, 2008, meeting in Pasco. - Greensheet - PDF format (739 KB) Staff Report: Jerry Nelson, Deer and Elk Section Manager, Wildlife Program PUBLIC INPUT (Above item only) 19. DEER AND ELK SPECIAL PERMITS - BRIEFING: Department staff will brief the Commission on the current status of developing WAC rule proposals to respond to population changes, winterkill, agricultural damage complaints, and other issues. A public hearing on proposed rule amendments is scheduled for the April 11-12, 2008, Commission meeting in Pasco. The Commission will consider adopting permanent amendments immediately following that public hearing. - Greensheet - PDF format (43 KB) Staff Report: Jerry Nelson, Deer and Elk Section Manager, Wildlife Program 20. COMMISSION COMMITTEE REPORTS: The Commissioners will discuss activities of the various Commission committees. 21. SUMMARY OF COMMISSION REQUESTS: The Commissioners will discuss activities of the various Commission committees. - Summary of requests - PDF format (62 KB) 22. 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.) 23. MISCELLANEOUS AND MEETING DEBRIEF: The Commission will discuss items that arise immediately before or during the meeting and after the preliminary agenda is published, including potential responses to correspondence received in the Commission office.
1:10 PM	ADJOURN

NEXT MEETING: April 11-12, 2008, in Pasco

* Times are approximate and subject to change.

Directions and Access to the Natural Resources Building: From I-5, take State Capitol exit (105). The exit puts you on 14th Avenue. Go through the tunnel and turn right onto Capitol Way. Turn right onto 11th Avenue. Turn right onto Washington. Turn left into the parking lot. Visitor parking is on the P-1 level of the building.

Public access to the Natural Resources Building after 5:30 p.m. and on Saturday will be available only through the rotunda doors located on the west end of the building.

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