Fish and Wildlife Commission
September 10 - 12, 2020
*Via Zoom Webinar
Watch live via live TVW stream (with no public comment opportunity).
Thursday, September 10, 2020 - Committee Meetings
9:00 AM
Big Tent Committee Meeting – Commissioners Baker, McIsaac, Thorburn, Smith
Location: Zoom Link (https://zoom.us/j/93315621199)
Join by telephone: 1-253-215-8782 or 1-888-475-4499 (Toll Free) Webinar ID: 933-1562-1199
Agenda topics:
- Strategic plan
11:00 AM
Habitat Committee Meeting – Commissioners Smith, Kehoe, Baker, Linville
Location: Zoom Link (https://zoom.us/j/93414395539)
Join by telephone: 1-253-215-8782 or 1-888-475-4499 (Toll Free) Webinar ID: 934-1439-5539
Agenda topics (presentation overview (PDF)):
- Riparian habitat
- Shrub Steppe habitat
- Puget Sound nearshore habitat
- Co-Manager Habitat Workplan
1:00 PM
Fish Committee Meeting – Commissioners Carpenter, Kehoe, McIsaac, Graybill
Location: Zoom Link (https://zoom.us/j/94241537037)
Join by telephone: 1-253-215-8782 or 1-888-475-4499 (Toll Free) Webinar ID: 942-4153-7037
Agenda topics:
- Policy C-3619 (Hatcheries) update
- Policy C-3622 (Willapa) update
- Pinniped Blue Sheet
3:00 PM
Wildlife Committee Meeting – Commissioners Thorburn, Baker, Anderson, Linville
Location: Zoom Link (https://zoom.us/j/99780828982)
Join by telephone: 1-253-215-8782 or 1-888-475-4499 (Toll Free) Webinar ID: 997-8082-8982
Agenda topics:
- Porcupine and rattlesnake dog aversion training
- General discussion - current events
Friday, September 11, 2020 (The Commission meeting will be held via Zoom Webinar.)
Watch a livestream of Friday's meeting on TVW
If you are interested in providing public comment, please pre-register here. Pre-registering will help the facilitators ensure public comment goes more smoothly in this new digital setting. Please note that you can join the webinar and still provide comment during the meeting even if you don’t pre-register or indicate that you wanted to comment on your registration.
To join the Commission meeting by phone please choose a phone number:
1-253-215-8782 or 1-888-475-4499 (Toll Free)
Then you’ll be prompted to enter the Webinar ID: 978-5988-0598
8:00 AM
1. Call to Order
- Commissioner’s Discussion
- Meeting Minutes Approval
- July 31- August 1, 2020 Draft Meeting Minutes (PDF)
- August 21, 2020 Draft Meeting Minutes (PDF)
- Committee Report
8:30 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 on issues that do not already have public input time on the agenda.
9:30 AM
3. Director’s Report
The Director will brief the Commission on various items, including an update on Covid-19 matters.
10:00 AM - This item has been struck from the agenda.
4. Land Transactions – Briefing, Decision
The Commission will consider approval of land transactions recommended by the Department.
Staff Report: Julie Sandberg, Real Estate Section Manager
10:00 AM - 10:15 AM - Break
10:15 AM
4. Hunting Contests – Decision
Staff will ask the Commission for a decision on hunting contests.
- Summary Sheet (PDF)
- Presentation (PDF)
Staff Report: Anis Aoude, Wildlife Game Division Manager
10:30 AM
5. Climate Change – Briefing
Staff will brief the Commission on the agency efforts to combat climate change.
- Summary Sheet (PDF)
- Presentation (PDF)
- DFW Climate Policy 5408 (PDF)
Staff Report: Lynn Helbrecht, Climate Change Coordinator and Jeff Davis, Conservation Director
11:30 AM
6. Strategic Plan – Briefing, Public Hearing
Staff will brief the Commission on the current status of the strategic plan.
- Summary Sheet (PDF)
- Presentation (PDF)
- Draft Strategic Plan (PDF)
- Strategic Plan Overview (PDF)
Staff Report: Jeff Davis, Conservation Director and Rob Geddis, Lean Performance Manager
Public Hearing – This Item Only
12:30 PM - Lunch
1:30 PM
7. Columbia River Salmon Fishery Policy (C-3620) – Decision
Staff will ask the Commission for a decision on the final revised draft language within Policy C-3620.
- Summary Sheet (PDF)
- Wkshp Lang Chngs to 3620 PubRev Draft 9-1-20_Graybill (PDF)
- Wkshp Lang Chngs to 3620 PubRev Draft 9-1-20_McIsaac (PDF)
- Climate Change Lang Chngs to 3620 PubRev Draft 9-1-20 (PDF)
Staff Report: Bill Tweit, Special Assistant and Ryan Lothrop, Columbia River Fisheries Manager
3:00 PM
8. North Cascade Elk – Briefing, Public Comment
Staff will brief the Commission on the current status of the North Cascades Elk Herd.
- Summary Sheet (PDF)
- Presentation (PDF)
- Action Plan for the North Cascades Elk Herd (PDF)
Staff Report: Brendan Brokes, Region 4, Director and Fenner Yarborough, Region 4, Wildlife Manager
Public Comment – This Item Only
4:00 PM
9. Evaluation of Selective Harvest Experimental Salmon Trap in the Lower Columbia River – Briefing
Adrian Tuohy from the Wildlife Fish Conservancy will brief the Commission on the 2017-2020 alternative gear research in the lower Columbia River.
- Presentation (PDF)
Staff Report: Adrian Tuohy, Project Manager, Wild Fish Conservancy
4:45 PM - Recess
Saturday, September 12, 2020 - Regular Meeting (The Commission meeting will be held via Zoom Webinar.)
Watch a livestream of Saturday's meeting on TVW
If you are interested in providing public comment, please pre-register here. Pre-registering will help the facilitators ensure public comment goes more smoothly in this new digital setting. Please note that you can join the webinar and still provide comment during the meeting even if you don’t pre-register or indicate that you wanted to comment on your registration.
To join the Commission meeting by phone please choose a phone number:
1-253-215-8782 or 1-888-475-4499 (Toll Free)
Then you’ll be prompted to enter the Webinar ID: 978-5988-0598
8:00 AM
10. 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
11. Hatchery Policy (C-3619) Review – Briefing, Public Comment
Staff will brief the Commission on the public comment received during the public review of the proposed draft policy language within Policy C-3619.
- Summary Sheet (PDF)
- Presentation (PDF)
- WDFW HGMP status 9-11-2020 (PDF)
Staff Report: Ron Warren, Director of Fish Policy
Public Comment – This Item Only
10:30 AM - Break
10:45 AM
12. Commercial Whale Watching – Briefing
Staff will brief the Commission on the agency’s work to develop a licensing program for commercial whale watching and rules regarding commercial viewing of Southern Resident Killer Whales.
- Summary Sheet (PDF)
- Presentation (PDF)
Staff Report: Dr. Julie Watson, Killer Whale Policy Lead
11:45 AM
13. Willapa Bay Salmon Management Policy (C-3622) Comprehensive Review – Briefing, Public Comment
Staff will brief the Commission on the draft comprehensive review for Policy C-3622.
- Summary Sheet (PDF)
- Presentation (PDF)
Staff Report: Chad Herring, South Coast Fishery Policy Analyst
Public Comment – This Item Only
1:45 PM
14. Miscellaneous and Meeting Debrief
The Commission will discuss items that arise immediately before, during, or after the meeting and after the preliminary agenda is published and consider future agenda planning.
- Year at a Glance (PDF)
- 2021-22 Draft Meeting Schedule (PDF)
2:00 PM
15. 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.
3:00 PM - Adjourn