December 13-14, 2019 meeting agenda

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FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION MEETING
December 13-14, 2019

Holiday Inn & Suites Bellingham
4260 Mitchell Way Bellingham, WA 98226 - Room Chuckanut

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

1:00 PM	Habitat Committee Meeting – Commissioners Smith, Baker, Kehoe, Linville Location: Boundary Bay Room Agenda topics: Agenda Overview (PDF) HPA civil authority rulemaking HPA Compliance Tools & Sequence (PDF) Priority Habitats and Species – Riparian volume 2 Fish passage and screening rulemaking
2:30 PM	Fish Committee Meeting – Commissioners Carpenter, Kehoe, McIsaac, Graybill Location: Boundary Bay Room Agenda topics: Willapa Bay update HB1579 options based on public feedback Puget Sound Crab
4:00 PM	Wolf Committee Meeting – Commissioners Baker, Thorburn, Anderson, Linville Location: Boundary Bay Room Agenda topics: Post recovery plan update Periodic status review update Follow up to Governor’s letter Wolf activity update General items for Commission discussion
5:30 PM	Wildlife Committee Meeting – Commissioners Thorburn, Baker, Anderson, Linville Location: Boundary Bay Room Agenda topics: Cougar CR- 102 scoping and related wildlife conflict discussion Cougar items to date (PDF) Recommendation cover (PDF) Adult-only harvest guidelines (PDF) Guideline with variable density (PDF) Guideline based on variable habitat (PDF) PMU density (PDF) Season changes (PDF) Local research options (PDF) Draft alternatives for cougar management (PDF) Overview of Washington existing non-lead program. (PDF) General items for Commission discussion

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2019

8:00 AM	1. Call to Order a. Commissioners’ Discussion b. Meeting Minutes Approval - Draft November 15, 2019 Meeting Minutes (PDF) c. Committee Reports
8:45 AM	2. Open Public Input 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
9:15 AM	3. Director’s Report The Director will brief the Commission on various items. - Summary (PDF)
9:45 AM	4. Land Transactions – Briefing, Public Comment, and Decision 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. - Summary (PDF) - Presentation (PDF) Staff Report: Eric Gardner, Wildlife Program Director Public Comment – This Item Only
9:55 AM	5. Amendment to Dealer Fee WAC for CRSSE and License Package – Briefing, Public Comment, and Decision Staff will brief the Commission and request approval on proposed edits to the dealer fee WAC to eliminate references to the Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement and to clarify the cumulative dealer fees charged to bundled license packages. - Summary (PDF) - Presentation (PDF) - CR-102 (PDF) Staff Report: Nate Pamplin, Director of Budget and Governmental Affairs Public Comment – This Item Only
10:10 AM	BREAK
10:30 AM	6. Southern Resident Killer Whales – Briefing Staff will brief the Commission on the status of Southern Resident Killer Whales, the Department’s implementation of the Governor’s Southern Resident Killer Whale Task Force Year 1 recommendations and provide an overview of the Task Force’s Year 2 recommendations. - Summary (PDF) - Presentation (PDF) - Production Handout (PDF) Staff Report: Julie Watson, Killer Whale Policy Lead
11:15 AM	7. Blue Sheet: Non–toxic Ammunition and North American Non–lead Partnership – Briefing Christopher Parish, The Peregrine Fund and Leland Brown, Oregon Zoo, both founders of North American Non-lead Partnership subject specialists will brief the Commission on non-toxic ammunition and the North American Non-lead Partnership. - Blue Sheet (PDF) - Summary (PDF) - Presentation (PDF) Staff Report: Eric Gardner, Wildlife Program Director
12:15 PM	Lunch
1:15 PM	8. Marine Fish and Shellfish Sport Fishing Rule Simplification – Decision The Commission will consider adoption of proposals to simplify and improve marine fish and shellfish recreational rules while addressing conservation objectives. - Summary (PDF) - Presentation (PDF) Staff Report: Dayv Lowry, Fish and Wildlife Research Scientist, Phill Dionne, Fish and Wildlife Research Scientist, and Chris Eardley, Puget Sound Shellfish Policy Coordinator
1:45 PM	9. Sturgeon Sport Rules Update – Decision Staff will provide the Commission an updated briefing on rule proposals for sturgeon sport fishing and ask for a decision while addressing conservation objectives. - Summary (PDF) - Presentation (PDF) Staff Report: Ryan Lothrop, Columbia River Fishery Manager, and Bill Tweit, Special Assistant
2:15 PM	10. Hatchery Reform Policy C-3619 – Briefing, Public Comment Staff will provide the Commission with a status update on the Hatchery and Fishery Reform Policy (C-3619) review project. - Summary (PDF) - Presentation (PDF) Staff Report: Laurie Peterson, Fish Science Division Manager, Ron Warren, Director of Fish Policy Public Comment – This Item Only
2:45 PM	11. Executive Session Pursuant to RCW 42.30.110, the Commission will meet in executive session. No action will be taken during executive session and the public is not permitted to attend.
4:45 PM	Recess

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2019

8:00 AM	12. Columbia River Salmon Fishery Policy Review – Briefing, Public Comment Staff and Members of the Joint State Columbia River Salmon Fishery Policy Review Committee will provide the Commission an update on the progress and discussions conducted by the PRC toward the purpose of recommending a possible revision to the Columbia River Salmon Management Policy C-3620 that can be accomplished concurrently among Oregon and Washington. No action will be taken by the Commission at this meeting. The Commission will prioritize discussion of the process to optimize public notice and opportunities for public comment leading to final Commission action at some point in the future. - Summary (PDF) - Presentation (PDF) - Review Process (PDF) Staff Report: Bill Tweit, Special Assistant and Ryan Lothrop, Columbia River Fishery Manager Public Comment – This Item Only
8:30 AM	13. Open Public Input 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.
9:00 AM	14. Baker Lake and Skagit River Sockeye Salmon Review – Briefing, Public Comment Staff will provide the Commission with an overview of Baker Lake and Skagit River sockeye fishery management and an update on this year’s fisheries. - Summary (PDF) - Presentation (PDF) Staff Report: Aaron Dufault, Anadromous Resources Policy Analyst, and Edward Eleazer, Region 4 Fish Program Manager Public Comment – This Item Only
9:45 AM	15. Implementation of House Bill 1579, and Freshwater Gamefish Rule Housekeeping – Public Comment, Decision The Commission will consider adoption of proposals for the purpose of implementing the Southern Resident Killer Whale HB1579 (Section 2) as it relates to liberalizing bag limits for walleye, bass, and channel catfish in anadromous waters in order to reduce the predation risk to salmon smolts. Other technical and housekeeping rule changes for freshwater gamefish will also be considered for adoption. - Summary (PDF) WAC Language Options A1 (PDF) & A2 (PDF) B1 (PDF) & B2 (PDF) C1 (PDF) & C2 (PDF) - Presentation (PDF) Staff Report: Steve Caromile, Inland Fish Program Manager and Craig Burley, Deputy Director Fish Program Public Comment – This Item Only
10:45 AM	16. Future Meeting Planning – Discussion Commissioners and staff will discuss upcoming meetings and conference calls. - Draft January 16-18, 2020 Agenda (PDF) - Year-at-a-Glance (PDF)
11:15 AM	17. Miscellaneous and Meeting Debrief The Commission will discuss items that arise immediately before or during the meeting and after the preliminary agenda is published.
11:30 AM	Adjourn