February 25-27, 2021 Meeting Agenda

Fish and Wildlife Commission

REVISED AGENDA
February 25-27, 2021

(Friday) Watch on TVW
(Saturday) Watch on TVW

PDF Agenda (PDF)

Thursday, February 25, 2021 – Committee Meetings

8:00 AM

Wildlife Committee Meeting – Commissioners Thorburn, Baker, Anderson, Linville
Location:  Zoom Link (https://zoom.us/j/96265851447)
Join by telephone: 1-253-215-8782 or 1-888-475-4499 (Toll Free) Webinar ID: 962-6585-1447

Agenda topics:
- Proposed CR-102 (PDF), and season setting 3-year package preview highlights (PDF)
- General discussion – current events

10:00 AM

Habitat Committee Meeting – Commissioner Baker
Location:  Zoom Link (https://zoom.us/j/95199008659)
Join by telephone: 1-253-215-8782 or 1-888-475-4499 (Toll Free) Webinar ID: 951-9900-8659

Agenda topics:
- Fish Passage Rulemaking update
- Mid-session update on habitat related legislation
- Preview of the shrub steppe video (~15 minutes)

3:00 PM

Big Tent Committee Meeting – Commissioners Baker, Thorburn, McIsaac
Location:  Zoom Link (https://zoom.us/j/97794037328)
Join by telephone: 1-253-215-8782 or 1-888-475-4499 (Toll Free) Webinar ID: 977-9403-7328  

Agenda topics:
- Strategic plan update
- Science/policy
- Commission conservation policy
- Mission statement 

Friday, February 26, 2021 – Regular Meeting (The Commission meeting will be held via Zoom Webinar.)
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 digital setting. You are NOT required to pre-register to give comment.

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: 951-3990-5723  

8:00 AM

1. Call to Order
Commissioner’s Discussion
Meeting Minutes Approval
- January 28-30, 2021 Draft Minutes (PDF)
- February 12, 2021 Draft Minutes (PDF)
Committee Report

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 on issues that do not already have public input time on the agenda.

9:45 AM

3. Director’s Report
The Director will brief the Commission on various items, including an update on Covid-19 matters.

10:15 AM

4. Scatter Creek Wildlife Area – Briefing
Staff will provide a briefing on the new director approved wildlife area management plan.

- Summary Sheet (PDF)
- Presentation (PDF) 
- Management Plan

Staff Report: Cynthia Wilkerson, Wildlife Program Lands Division Manager; Lauri Vigue, Wildlife Area Planner and Darric Lowery, Wildlife Area Manager

11:00 AM - Break 

11:15 AM

5. Gray and Humpback Whale PSR – Briefing, Public Hearing, Decision
(The decision has been moved to the March 12 meeting. This will be announced at the beginning of the meeting.)

Staff will brief the Commission on the Periodic Status Review of the Gray and Humpback Whale.

- Summary Sheet (PDF)
- Presentation  (PDF)
- Draft Humpback PSR (PDF)
- Draft Gray Whale PSR (PDF)

Staff Report: Chris Sato, Wildlife Biologist; Taylor Cotten, Conservation Assessment Section Manager, Wildlife Program

Public Hearing – This Item Only

12:00 PM - Lunch

12:30 PM

6. Coastal Commercial Dungeness Crab Whale Entanglement and Conservation Plan Development – Briefing, Public Comment
Staff will brief the Commission on the progress of the conservation plan development and next steps.

- Summary Sheet (PDF)
- Presentation  (PDF)

Staff Report: Heather Hall, Intergovernmental Ocean Policy Coordinator

 Public Comment – This Item Only

1:30 PM

        7. Office of the Attorney General Training

3:00 PM

8. 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.

5:00 PM - Recess

Saturday, February 27, 2021 – Regular Meeting (The Commission meeting will be held via Zoom Webinar.)
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 digital setting. You are NOT required to pre-register to give comment.

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: 951-3990-5723

8:00 AM

9. 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

10.  Willapa Bay Policy (C-3622) Review – Briefing, Public Comment
The Commission will receive an annual briefing on Willapa Bay Policy C-3622 from Department staff including performance of salmon fisheries within Willapa Bay. The Commission will consider interim policy guidance for the 2021 fisheries.

- Summary Sheet (PDF)
- Presentation (PDF) 

Staff Report: Ron Warren, Director of Fish Policy, and Marlene Wagner, South Coast Policy Lead

Public Comment – This Item Only

10:10 AM

11. 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)

10:25 AM

12. 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.

12:25 PM - Adjourn