Bellingham area residents can find out more about the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's (WDFW) proposal to save wild salmon in a public meeting from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday at Bellingham Public Library, 210 Central Ave.

The session offers the public a chance to review and comment on the draft Wild Salmonid Policy, which calls for dramatic changes to save wild salmonids, including native salmon, trout, char, grayling and whitefish.

The draft policy, created by the WDFW at the direction of the Legislature, includes proposals for stricter fishing limits, changes in hatchery procedures to keep hatchery fish separate from wild stocks and creation of local watershed councils to protect and restore fish habitat.

After public meetings in Bellingham and nine other locations around the state, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will hold a formal public hearing before taking action to adopt a version of the policy later this year.

Text of the draft Wild Salmonid Policy and related fact sheets are available on the WDFW's Internet home page at wdfw.wa.gov.