AGENDA*

(Revised)

FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION MEETING
November 7-8, 2008
Natural Resource Building, Room 172
1111 Washington St SE
Olympia, Washington 98501

* Revised 11/5/08
Times and agenda items are approximate and subject to change.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7

8:30 AM	1. CALL TO ORDER Approval of Meeting Minutes Commissioners' Discussion Director's Report (Jeff Koenings, Phil Anderson) Operations 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 for a decision.)
	BREAK
	3. PROPOSED LAND TRANSACTIONS - DECISION: The Commission will consider approval of the following proposed land transactions: Acquisition of a 186.2-acre property in Columbia and Garfield Counties; Acquisition of a 896.19-acre property in Okanogan County; *Staff has withdrawn this from consideration at this time. Donation of a 21-.5-acre property in Grays Harbor County; Proposed surplus in Snohomish County; Acceptance of a Conservation Easement in Kittitas County; and Acceptance of a proposal to allow underground pipeline in Kittitas County. - Greensheet - PDF format (2 MB) Staff Report: Dan Budd, Real Estate Manager, Wildlife Program PUBLIC INPUT (This item only) 4. WILDLIFE REHABILITATION PERMITS - RULE BRIEFING & PUBLIC HEARING: Department staff will brief the Commission on proposed amendments to WAC 232-12-275, Wildlife rehabilitation permits, which would update facility requirements for oiled-bird rehabilitation activities to current standards. The Commission will consider final adoption of rule amendments at its December 12-13, 2008, meeting in Olympia. - Greensheet - PDF format (769 KB) Staff Report: Brian Edie, Oil Spill Team Manager, Habitat Program PUBLIC INPUT (This item only)
11:50 A.M.	LUNCH BREAK
1:30 P.M.	5. THE DEPARTMENT AND TOURISM EXPANSION - BRIEFING: At the request of the Commission, Department staff - along with representatives from the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development - will brief the Commission on the status of the agency's tourism expansion efforts relating to both consumptive and non-consumptive uses of fish and wildlife resources. - Greensheet - PDF format (382 KB) Staff Report: Mike O'Malley, Watchable Wildlife Coordinator, Wildlife Program 6. WIND POWER GUIDELINES UPDATE - BRIEFING: Department staff will brief the Commission on the ongoing process to update the Department's Wind Power Guidelines, which were first completed in August 2003. After holding public stakeholder meetings and additional gathering of input, the Department plans to complete the update by December 2008. - Greensheet - PDF format (51 KB) Staff Report: Travis Nelson, Wind and Water Energy Section Manager, Habitat Program
	BREAK
	7. COLUMBIA RIVER RECREATIONAL FISHING GEAR RESTRICTIONS - BRIEFING: At the request of the Commission, Department staff will brief the Commission on the feasibility of implementing barbless hook rules for sport fisheries on the Columbia River to reduce hook and release impacts on ESA-listed salmonids. - Greensheet - PDF format (235 KB) Staff Report: Bill Tweit, Columbia River/Distant Waters Policy Lead, Intergovernmental Resource Management (IRM); and Steve Thiesfeld, Puget Sound Salmon Manager, Fish Program 8. LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER STURGEON MANAGEMENT POLICY - BRIEFING AND PUBLIC HEARING: Department staff will brief the Commission on the current status of Commission Policy C3001 (which expires December 31, 2008) and present recommendations for updating the Policy. - Greensheet - PDF format (1.07 KB) Staff Report: Bill Tweit, Columbia River/Distant Waters Policy Lead, IRM; Pat Frazier, Region 5 Manager, Fish Program; and Brad James, Sturgeon Biologist, Fish Program PUBLIC INPUT (This item only) 9. 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 for decision.)
5:40 PM	RECESS

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8

8:30 AM	10. 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 for decision.) 11. 2009 COMMISSION MEETING CALENDAR - DECISION: The Commission will consider adoption of a 2009 Commission meeting calendar. The Commission held a public hearing on this topic during its September 5-6, 2008, meeting in Olympia. - Greensheet - PDF format (35 KB) 12. MINERAL PROSPECTING RULES - RULE ACTION: The Commission will consider adoption of permanent amendments to WAC rules for hydraulic project approval rules related to small-scale mineral prospecting (a.k.a.,"Gold and Fish Pamphlet") to protect fish life and habitat from prospecting impacts. AMENDMENTS TO: WAC 220-110-020, Definitions; WAC 220-110-030, Hydraulic project approvals - Procedures; WAC 220-110-031, Pamphlet hydraulic project approvals - Procedures; WAC 220-110-200, Mineral prospecting ((technical provisions)); WAC 220-110-201, ((Common)) mineral prospecting ((technical provisions)) without timing restrictions; WAC 220-110-202, ((Use of Class 0 mineral prospecting equipment.)) Mineral prospecting with timing restrictions; WAC 220-110-206, Authorized work times and ((watercourses)) mineral prospecting equipment restrictions by specific state waters for mineral prospecting and placer mining projects; WAC 220-110-340, Informal appeal of adverse administrative decisions; WAC 220-110-350, Formal appeal of administrative decisions; and WAC 220-110-360, Penalties. And REPEAL of: WACs 220-110-203, -204, -205, -207, -208, and -209 - Greensheet and proposed rules - PDF format (999 KB) The Commission held a public hearing on the above rule proposals at its October 3-4, 2008, meeting in Olympia. Staff Report: Greg Hueckel, Assistant Director, Habitat Program; and Perry Harvester, Regional Habitat Program Manager, Habitat Program
	BREAK
	13. 2009-2010 SPORTFISH PROPOSALS - RULE BRIEFING & PUBLIC HEARING Department staff will brief the Commission on sportfish rule proposals for the 2009-2010 season. The Commission will consider adoption of the 2009-2010 sportfish regulations at its February 2009 meeting. WAC 220-16-880, Saltwater State Park Marine Preserve; WAC 220-20-100, General provisions-Marine Protected Areas; WAC 220-56-100, Definitions-Personal-use fishing; WAC 220-56-105, River mouth definitions; WAC 220-56-122, Statewide bait rules; WAC 220-56-350, Clams other than razor clams, mussels - Areas and seasons; WAC 220-56-380, Oysters - Areas and seasons; WAC 220-56-500, Game fish seasons; WAC 232-12-168, Fishing contests; and WAC 220-28-619, Washington food fish and game fish - Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules. - Greensheet - PDF format (1.9 MB) - Sportfishing Rule Change Proposals The Commission will consider final adoption of rule amendments at its February 2009 meeting. Staff Report: Craig Burley, Inland and Marine Resources Division Manager, Fish Program; and Heather Bartlett, Salmon and Steelhead Division Manager, Fish Program PUBLIC INPUT (This item only)
12:00 P.M.	LUNCH BREAK
12:30 P.M.	14. SPECIES DELISTING PROCESS - BRIEFING: At the request of the Commission, Department staff will brief the Commission on its legal authority and discretion within the species delisting process, specifically as it relates to the status of the gray wolf in Washington state. - Greensheet - PDF format (1.6 MB) Staff Report: Harriet Allen, Endangered and Threatened Species Section Manager, Wildlife Program 15. COLUMBIA RIVER FISH WORKING GROUP (CRFWG) UPDATE: Commissioners and Department staff will discuss recent meetings and topics related to the CRFWG bi-state committee. 16. COMMISSION COMMITTEE REPORTS: The Commissioners will discuss activities of the various Commission committees. 17. OPEN PUBLIC INPUT: The Commission is a direct link between citizens of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. The public is encouraged to share views of Department programs and topics of concern during this portion of the meeting. 18. MISCELLANEOUS AND MEETING DEBRIEF: The Commission will discuss items that arise immediately before or during the meeting and after the preliminary agenda is published.
3:05 PM	ADJOURN

NEXT MEETINGS:
December 11, 2008, in Portland Oregon for joint meeting with Oregon's Fish and Wildlife Commission
December 12-13, 2008, in Olympia, Washington

* Revised 11/5/08
Times and agenda items 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