April 4-6, 2019 meeting transcript

Meeting Transcript

FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION- SPECIAL MEETING
April 4-6, 2019

Watch meeting via live steam video:

8:30am: https://www.tvw.org/watch/?eventID=2019041020

1pm: https://www.tvw.org/watch/?eventID=2019041021

2:45pm: https://www.tvw.org/watch/?eventID=2019041022

Natural Resource Building – 1111 Washington Street SE Olympia, WA 98501

THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2019 - SPECIAL MEETING

(No audio available)

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2019

8:30 A.M.

1. Call to Order

 

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- Commissioners’ Discussion
- Meeting Minute Approval
- Committee Reports if available
- PRC March 14, 2019 meeting notes

8:45 A.M. 2. Open Public Input

 

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The Commission is a direct link between the 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: During this portion of the meeting, the public is encouraged to comment on issues that do not already have public input time on the agenda.

9:45 A.M.

3. Director’s Report

 

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The Director will brief the Commission on various items.

 

- Presentation

10:15 A.M.

4. Land Transactions – Briefing, Public Hearing and Decision

 

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The Commission will consider approval of land transactions recommended by the Department for the protection of critical fish and wildlife habitat and for the enhancement of public recreation opportunities.

Staff Report: Julie Sandberg, Real Estate Section Manager

 

- Summary
- Presentation

 

PUBLIC INPUT (This item only)

10:35 A.M. 5. Cougar Update

 

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Director Susewind will provide an update on existing cougar management policy and provide an analysis of options for addressing potential changes to cougar management.

 

- Summary

10:50 A.M. 6. Small Game – Decision

 

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Department staff will request approval from the Commission on proposed rules for small game and furbearers.

- Summary
- Presentation

Staff Report:  Anis Aoude, Game Division Manager

11:05 A.M.

7. Migratory Waterfowl Seasons and Regulations – Decision

 

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- Summary
- Presentation
Department staff will request approval from the Commission on migratory waterfowl seasons and regulations.

Staff Report: Kyle Spragens, Waterfowl Section Manager

11:15 A.M. 8. Landowner Hunting Permits – Decision

 

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Department staff will request approval from Commission on landowner hunting permits.

 

- Summary
- Presentation

Staff Report:  Ciera Strickland, Private Lands Access Program Manager

11:20 A.M. 9. Hunter Orange – Decision

 

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Department staff will request approval from the Commission on hunter orange requirements

 

- Summary
- Presentation

Staff Report: Anis Aoude, Game Division Manager

11:25 A.M. 10. Deer General Seasons and Special Permits – Decision

 

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Department staff will request approval from the Commission on deer general seasons and special permits.

 

- Summary
- Presentation

Staff Report:   Brock Hoenes, Deer and Elk Section Manager

11:45 A.M. 11. Hunting Boundaries and Equipment – Decision

 

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Department staff will request approval from the Commission on hunting boundaries and equipment.

 

- Summary
- Presentation

Staff Report:  Brock Hoenes, Deer and Elk Section Manager

11:50 A.M. 12. Reducing the Spread of Hoof Disease – Decision

 

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Department staff will request approval from the Commission on elk game management unit changes.

 

- Summary
- Presentation 

Staff Report: Brock Hoenes, Deer and Elk Section Manager

1:00 P.M. 13. Elk General Seasons and Special Permits – Decision

 

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Department staff will request approval from the Commission on elk general seasons and special permits.

 

- Summary
- Presentation (revised)

Staff Report: Brock Hoenes, Deer and Elk Section Manager

1:15 P.M. 14. Bighorn Sheep Seasons and Auction, Raffle, and Special Permits – Decision

 

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Department staff will request approval from the Commission on bighorn sheep seasons and on new auction, raffle, and special permit opportunities.

- Summary

- Presentation (revised)

Staff Report: Richard Harris, Ph.D., Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat, and Moose Section Manager

1:25 P.M. 15. Mountain Goat Seasons – Decision

 

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Department staff will request approval from the Commission on mountain goat seasons.

 

- Summary
- Presentation

Staff Report: Richard Harris, Ph.D., Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat, and Moose Section Manager

1:30 P.M. 16. Moose Seasons – Decision

 

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Department staff will request approval from the Commission on moose seasons.

 

- Summary
- Presentation

Staff Report: Richard Harris, Ph.D., Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat, and Moose Section Manager

1:35 P.M. 17. Annual Wolf Report – Briefing

 

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Department staff will provide the annual wolf update.

 

- Summary
- Presentation
- 2018 Annual Report

 

Staff Report: Benjamin Maletzke, PhD, Statewide Wolf Specialist and Dan Brinson, Conflict Section Manager, Wildlife Program

2:50 P.M. 18. Requirements for Testing Commercial Fishing Gear – Briefing, Public Hearing and Decision

 

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Department staff will brief the Commission and request approval on changes needed to amend rules to clarify the requirements for testing commercial fishing gear.

Staff Report: Scott Bird, Agency Rules Coordinator

- Summary

 

PUBLIC INPUT (This item only)

3:05 P.M.

19. Abalone Status Review and Preliminary Listing – Briefing and Public Hearing

 

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Department staff will summarize the public comment received during the review period and peer review of the preliminary status review document.

- Summary
- Presentation

 

Staff Report: Hank Carson, Fish and Wildlife Research Scientist and Chris Eardley, Puget Sound Policy Coordinator

PUBLIC INPUT (This item only)

3:35 P.M.

20. Pass Lake Sport Fishing Rules – Briefing and Public Hearing

 

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Department staff will brief the Commission on proposals to allow harvest of all game fish except trout at Pass Lake in Skagit County.

- Summary
- Presentation

 

Staff Report: Edward Eleazer, Region 4 Fish Program Manager and Justin Spinelli, Fish and Wildlife Biologist

PUBLIC INPUT (This item only)

4:05 P.M. 21. HPA Suction Dredging Rules – Briefing and Public Hearing

 

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Department staff will brief the Commission on the proposed amendments to the hydraulic code rules for suction dredging.

Staff Report: Randi Thurston, Protection Division Manager, Pat Chapman, Regulatory Services Coordinator and Teresa Scott, Special Projects Coordinator, Habitat Program

- Summary
- Presentation

 

PUBLIC INPUT (This item only)

5:05 P.M. Recess

 

SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2019

8:00 A.M.

22. Future Meeting Planning – Discussion

POSTPONED


Commissioners and staff will discuss upcoming meetings and conference calls.

- Year at a glance

8:30 A.M. 23. Open Public Input

 

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The Commission is a direct link between the 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: During this portion of the meeting, the public is encouraged to comment on issues that do not already have public input time on the agenda.

9:30 A.M.

24. Willapa Bay Salmon Management Policy C-3622 – Briefing, Public Comment and Policy Direction

 

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Department staff will brief the Commission on progress of the comprehensive review for the Willapa Bay Basin Salmon Management Policy C-3622, and provide options for Commission direction for fishery planning.

- Summary
- Presentation

 

Staff Report: Chad Herring, South Coast Fishery Policy Analyst and Kirt Hughes, Statewide Salmon and Steelhead Manager

PUBLIC INPUT (This item only)

10:30 A.M.

25. Grays Harbor Salmon Management Policy C-3621 Review – Briefing and Public Comment

 

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Department staff will provide the Commission an annual review on Grays Harbor salmon management as stipulated in Policy C-3621, providing guidance for Grays Harbor salmon fisheries.

- Summary
- Presentation

 

Staff Report:  Chad Herring, South Coast Fishery Policy Analyst and Mike Scharpf, District Biologist

PUBLIC INPUT (This item only)

11:30 A.M.

26. Commercial Fishing Guide Logbook Requirements – Briefing and Public Comment

POSTPONED


Department staff will brief the Commission on a proposal establishing logbook requirements for gamefish guides, food fish guides, and combination game fish and food fish guides.


- Summary
- Presentation

 

Staff Report: Kelly Cunningham, Fish Program Deputy Assistant Director and Chris Donley, Region 1 Fish Program Manager

PUBLIC INPUT (This item only)

12:30 P.M. 27. Miscellaneous and Meeting Debrief

 

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The Commission will discuss items that arise immediately before or during the meeting and after the preliminary agenda is published.
12:45 P.M. Adjourn

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