Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
June 23-25, 2022
Agenda
Natural Resource Building
1111 Washington Street SE
Olympia, WA 98501
Hybrid Meeting
Watch with TVW Friday & Saturday
Thursday, June 23, 2022 – Committee Meetings
To listen to the committee meetings please access them via Zoom here, or by phone with the following phone numbers below.
1-253-215-8782 or 1-833-548-0276 (Toll Free) and enter in Webinar ID: 856-4588-6384
8:00 AM
Wildlife Committee - Commissioners Thorburn, Smith, Anderson, Rowland
Location: Natural Resource Building - Room 172 - Watch with TVW
Agenda topics:
- Game Management Plan - finalize path forward
- May 2022 Special Wildlife committee Presentation
- Commissioner Rowland Recommendation
- General discussion – current events
10:30 AM
Habitat Committee - Commissioners Linville, Lehmkuhl, Smith, Ragen
Location: Natural Resource Building - Room 172 - Watch with TVW
Agenda topics:
-E-bike Recreation Package update
- Presentation
-Grazing permit Commission review: Proposed Process for presenting relevant recommended permits (This item has been moved to the August Commission committee meeting.)
-Grazing permits on newly acquired lands presentations: Simcoe Phase 5 grazing and (if applicable) DNR permits and/or Big Bend (This item has been moved to the September Commission committee meeting.)
-General discussion – current events
1:00 PM
Fish Committee – Commissioners McIsaac, Anderson, Linville, Ragen
Location: Natural Resource Building - Room 172 - Watch with TVW
Agenda topics:
- C-3622 Willapa Bay Salmon Management Policy
- Warheit Model 2 Figures
- Free Fishing Weekend Rulemaking
- General discussion – current events
3:00 PM
Big Tent Committee - Commissioners Baker, Thorburn, McIsaac, Lehmkuhl
Location: Natural Resource Building - Room 172 - Watch with TVW
Agenda topics:
- RAWA discussion
- Budget presentation
- Conservation Road Map process discussion continued
- Draft Conservation policy
- Agency policy
- General discussion – current events
Friday, June 24, 2022 – Regular Meeting
Location: Natural Resource Building - Room 172
Virtual Participation:
If you are interested in providing verbal public comment, please pre-register here. The following pre-registration deadlines are in effect:
- Pre-registration public comment closes at 8 am Friday for Friday’s comment periods and at 8 am on Saturday for Saturday’s comment periods.
- Open Public Input is for comments on matters not found elsewhere on the agenda with separate public comment periods.
- Registrants will be called upon and have three minutes to speak.
To listen to the meeting or provide online testimony please access it here, or by phone with the following phone numbers below.
1-253-215-8782 or 1-833-548-0276 (Toll Free) and enter in Webinar ID: 856-4588-6384
In- Person Participation:
If you want to provide testimony in- person, please complete a "Public Testimony" form (available at the meeting registration table) prior to the start of that agenda item. Submit your completed form to the Commission representative at the registration table prior to that agenda item. When registering to testify please provide your first and last name; what topic you would like to speak to; a valid email address, and a phone number.
Additional information on verbal and written comment can be found here.
8:00 AM
1. Call to Order
Commissioner’s Discussion
Meeting Minutes Approval
- April 7-9, 2022, webinar meeting minutes
- May 13, 2022, web conference meeting minutes
- May 18-19, 2022, workshop notes (tabled until August meeting)
- June 10, 2022, web conference meeting minutes
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 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.
10:15 AM
4. Lands Transaction – Briefing, Public Comment and Decision
The Commission will consider approval of a land transaction recommended by the Department for the enhancement of conservation and public recreation opportunities.
- Summary Sheet
- Presentation
Staff Report: Karen Edwards, Real Estate Manager
Public Comment – This Item Only
If you would like to provide written comment on this item please do so here.
10:55 AM
5. Staff and Community Appreciation Awards
- Presentation
11:25 AM - Break
11:40 AM
6. Free Fishing Weekend Rulemaking – Briefing, Public Hearing
Staff will provide the Commission a briefing on a rule proposal to limit the waiver of licensure requirements on free fishing weekend, only to fish species that do not require a catch record card.
- Summary Sheet
- Presentation
Staff Report: Kirt Hughes, Fish Management Division Manager
Public Hearing – This Item Only
To submit comments on this proposal, please visit the Free Fishing Weekend Public Engagement page. You may also leave comments by sending an email, either with or without an attachment, to FreeFishing102@PublicInput.com or by leaving a voicemail message at 855-925-2801 and entering project code 2906. Comments will be accepted until the close of the comment period on June 28, 2022.
12:25 PM
7. Crewmember License Rulemaking – Briefing, Public Hearing
Staff will provide the Commission a briefing on a rule proposal to increase the number of unspecified commercial crewmember licenses allowed as to provide better flexibility with commercial license holders rotating crewmembers on larger vessels during the season.
- Summary Sheet
- Presentation
Staff Report: Captain Dan Chadwick, Enforcement, and Kirt Hughes, Fish Management Division Manager
Public Hearing – This Item Only
To submit comments on this preproposal, please visit the Crewmember Licenses public engagement page. You may also leave comments by sending an email, either with or without an attachment, to CrewmemberLicenses102@PublicInput.com or by leaving a voicemail message at 855-925-2801 and entering project code 2263. Public comments will be accepted until the close of the comment period at June 28, 2022.
1:10 PM - Lunch
1:40 PM
8. WA-Tix Commercial Electronic Catch Reporting App – Briefing, Public Hearing
Staff will provide the Commission a briefing on the proposed rule to add dealer geolocation to the required information provided on an electronic fish receiving ticket. This rule change is needed to support a fishery enforcement feature of the new WA-Tix electronic catch reporting application under development by WDFW.
- Summary Sheet
- Presentation
Staff Report: Aaron Dufault, Puget Sound Shellfish Manager
Public Hearing – This Item Only
To submit comments on this proposal, please visit the Electronic Fish Receiving Ticket public engagement page. You may also leave comments by sending an email, either with or without an attachment, to fishticketCR102@PublicInput.com or by leaving a voicemail message at 855-925-2801 and entering project code 2908.
2:40 PM
9. Wolf Livestock Conflict Deterrence Rulemaking Discussion
The Commission and staff will continue to discuss the rule making information and process regarding the wolf livestock conflict deterrence rules.
- Commissioner Smith recommendation
Staff Report: Julia Smith, Wolf Policy Lead
If you would like to provide written comment on this item please do so here.
3:40 PM
10. Spring Bear Policy Discussion
The Commission will discuss making changes to the spring bear policy as described in the current Game Management Plan. Note: this is not a discussion on rulemaking for the 2023 spring bear season. However, the outcome of policy discussions may ultimately inform future spring bear rulemaking.
- Motion language from January 21, 2022 meeting
- Commissioner McIsaac process recommendation
Staff Report: Anis Aoude, Game Division Manager
If you would like to provide written comment on this item please do so here.
5:10 PM Recess
Saturday, June 25, 2022 – Regular Meeting
Location: Natural Resource Building - Room 172
Virtual Participation:
If you are interested in providing verbal public comment, please pre-register here. The following pre-registration deadlines are in effect:
- Pre-registration public comment closes at 8 am Friday for Friday’s comment periods and at 8 am on Saturday for Saturday’s comment periods.
- Open Public Input is for comments on matters not found elsewhere on the agenda with separate public comment periods.
- Registrants will be called upon and have three minutes to speak.
To listen to the meeting or provide online testimony please access it here, or by phone with the following phone numbers below.
1-253-215-8782 or 1-833-548-0276 (Toll Free) and enter in Webinar ID: 856-4588-6384
In- Person Participation:
If you want to provide testimony in- person, please complete a "Public Testimony" form (available at the meeting registration table) prior to the start of that agenda item. Submit your completed form to the Commission representative at the registration table prior to that agenda item. When registering to testify please provide your first and last name; what topic you would like to speak to; a valid email address, and a phone number.
Additional information on verbal and written comment can be found here.
8:00 AM
11. 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
12. Cougar Rulemaking – Briefing, Public Hearing
Staff will brief the Commission on the rule amendment to adjust the annual hunting season regulation for the future hunting season.
- Summary Sheet
- Presentation
Staff Report: Anis Aoude, Game Division Manager
Public Hearing – This Item Only
To submit comments on this proposal, please visit the Annual Cougar Season Setting engagement page. You may also leave comments by sending an email, either with or without an attachment, to 2022CougarSeasonCR102@PublicInput.com, or by leaving a voicemail message at 855-925-2801 and entering project code 2297 .
10:30 AM
13. Game Management Plan – Briefing, Public Comment
Staff will provide an update to the Commission on the proposed 2022-2028 Game Management Plan.
Staff Report: Anis Aoude, Game Division Manager
Public Comment – This Item Only
If you would like to provide written comment on this item please do so here.
11:00 AM - Break
11:10 AM
14. Meeting Debrief and Future Meeting Planning
The Commission will discuss items that arise immediately before, during, or after the meeting and consider future agenda planning.
11:55 AM
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.
1:55 PM - Adjourn