FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION MEETING
February 6-8, 2020
Natural Resource Building
1111 Washington Street SE Olympia, WA 98501, Room 172
Thursday, February 6, 2020
8:00 AM
Hatchery Policy Review Emerging Science Report Workshop – Briefing, Public Comment
Location: Room 172
Staff will brief the Commission on the key findings of the recently completed science report titled, "A review of hatchery reform science in Washington State."
Staff Report: Joe Anderson, Research Scientist and Ken Warheit, Supervisor of Genetic and Fish Health Laboratories
Public Comment – This Item Only
12:00 PM - Recess
Committee Meetings
1:00 PM
Wolf Committee Meeting – Commissioners Baker, Thorburn, Anderson, Linville
Location: Room 172
Agenda topics:
- Recovery plan sideboards – initial discussion
- PSR post doc update
- General discussion – current events
- Wolf agenda setting
2:30 PM
Fish Committee Meeting – Commissioners Carpenter, Kehoe, McIsaac, Graybill
Location: Room 172
Agenda topics:
- Willapa Bay Comprehensive Review update
- Willapa Bay 2020 guidance (agenda item preview)
- Columbia River Policy Review next steps
Friday, February 7, 2020 - Regular Meeting
7:00 AM
Wildlife Committee Meeting – Commissioners Thorburn, Baker, Anderson, Linville
Location: Room 172
Agenda topics:
- Hunting Contest options discussion
- Wildlife agenda setting
- Traditional weapon philosophy - weapon modernization discussion
- General discussion – current events
8:30 AM
1. Call to Order
- Commissioners' Discussion
- December 13-14, 2019, Meeting Minutes Approval (PDF)
- Committee Reports
9:00 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.
9:45 AM
3. Director's Report
The Director will orally brief the Commission on various items.
10:15 AM
4. Land 20/20 – Briefing, Public Comment, and Decision
Staff will provide a briefing on the Lands 20/20 process and seek funding for projects approved through this process.
Staff Report: Cynthia Wilkerson, Lands Division Manager
Public Comment – This Item Only
10:55 AM - Break
11:10 AM
5. 2020 Forest Restoration Project Approval Requests
Staff will seek approval from the Commission on forest management projects that involve harvesting volumes exceeding one million board feet.
Staff Report: Richard Tveten, Forest Management Team Lead
11:20 AM
6. Columbia River Policy Review Next Steps - Briefing
Director Susewind will report on 2020 Columbia River fisheries policy and negotiations with Oregon Director Curt Melcher and the Commission will discuss potential next steps for Policy C-3620.
- Draft letter from Commissioner Kehoe for discussion (PDF)
- FINAL letter to Oregon chair (PDF)
- Commissioner Graybill's motion verbiage (PDF)
- Draft Columbia River Policy process review timeline (PDF)
12:40 PM - Lunch
1:40 PM
7. Grays Harbor Salmon Management Policy – Briefing, Public Comment
Staff will provide the Commission an annual review briefing on Grays Harbor salmon management as stipulated within Policy C-3621, providing guidance for Grays Harbor salmon fisheries.
Staff Report: Chad Herring, South Coast Fishery Policy Analyst, and Mike Scharpf, District Biologist
Public Comment – This Item Only
2:40 PM
8. Willapa Bay Salmon Management Policy C-3622- Briefing, Public Comment, Decision
Staff will provide a briefing on the performance of policy implementation and seek guidance from the Commission on implementing the Willapa Bay Salmon Management Policy (C-3622) for 2019 brood year fall chinook hatchery releases and 2020 fishery management objectives and measures.
Staff Report: Chad Herring, South Coast Fishery Policy Analyst and Kirt Hughes, Fish Management Division Manager
Public Comment – This Item Only
4:10 PM - Break
4:25 PM
9. Lower Columbia Sturgeon Stock Status – Briefing, Public Comment
Staff will provide the Commission an annual review on lower Columbia River sturgeon population status, as stipulated within Policy C-3001. The Commission will discuss 2020 fisheries and provide guidance on the delegation to set 2020 fisheries.
Staff Report: Laura Heironimus, CRMU Sturgeon/Smelt/Lamprey Unit Lead, and Bill Tweit, Special Assistant
Public Comment – This Item Only
5:10 PM - Recess
Saturday, February 8, 2020
7:00 AM
Big Tent Committee Meeting – Commissioners Baker, Thorburn, Smith, McIsaac
Location: Room 172
Agenda topics:
- Strategic planning
- Public Affairs update
- Recreation on WDFW lands
- Boy Scouts proposal
8:30 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.
9:30 AM
11. Hunting Contests – Briefing, Public Comment
Staff will brief the Commission on the Washington laws and regulations that apply to hunting and fishing contests and provide an update on recent changes to hunting contests in other States.
Staff Report: Anis Aoude, Game Division Manager
Public Comment – This Item Only
10:30 AM
12. Blue Sheet: Pollinator Projects and Backyard Sanctuaries – Briefing
Staff will brief the commission on best practices related to small scale habitat projects specifically related to pollinators and backyard sanctuaries.
Staff Report: Taylor Cotten, Conservation Assessment Section Manager
11:15 AM
13. Hatchery Policy C-3619 Review– Briefing, Public Comment
Staff will provide the Commission with the remaining schedule and process in the hatchery policy review. The Commission will discuss next steps subsequent to the workshop on February 6.
Staff Report: Laurie Peterson, Fish Program Science Division Manager
Public Comment – This Item Only
12:00 PM
14. Future Meeting Planning – Discussion
Commissioners and staff will discuss upcoming meetings and conference calls and adopt a tentative draft agenda for the March Commission meeting in Tri-Cities.
- Year-at-a-Glance (PDF)
- Draft March 12-14, 2020 agenda (PDF)
- Draft February 21 conference call agenda (PDF)
12:30 PM
15. Miscellaneous and Meeting Debrief
The Commission will discuss items that arise immediately before or during the meeting and after the preliminary agenda is published.
12:45 PM - Adjourn