WDFW Fish and Wildlife Commission - April 7-9, 2022 Meeting Agenda

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission
April 7-9, 2022
Agenda
PDF Agenda
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Watch via TVW

Thursday, April 7, 2022 – Committee Meetings

10:30 AM

Big Tent Committee - Commissioners Thorburn, Baker, McIsaac
Location: Watch with TVW
Join by telephone: 1-253-215-8782 or 1-877-853-5257 (Toll Free) Webinar ID:  851-8102-4017

Agenda topics:
Update on the Communications and Public Engagement Assessment
Conservation Roadmap
   - Briefing highlights 
- General discussion – current events 

1:00 PM

Fish Committee – Commissioners McIsaac, Anderson, Baker
Location: Watch with TVW
Join by telephone: 1-253-215-8782 or 1-877-853-5257 (Toll Free) Webinar ID: 840-9235-2992

Agenda topics:
Pound Net (Blue sheet) overview
- Policy C-3624 implementation
- Pinto Abalone Recovery Plan
- General discussion – current events 
 - Grays Harbor Coho impact rate change

Friday, April 8, 2022 – Regular Meeting (The Commission meeting will be held via Zoom Webinar.)

If you are interested in providing verbal public comment, please register here. The following registration deadlines are in effect:

- Registration for public comment begins at 8am on the Thursday prior to the meeting and closes at 8am on Friday, prior to the meeting beginning. Open Public Input (OPI) is for comments on matters that are not found elsewhere on the agenda with identified specific public comment periods.

- Registrants will be called upon (no more “raised hands” will be recognized) and have three minutes to speak, unless the Chair sets a lesser time at the onset of the agenda item.

- All information entered on the form is subject to public disclosure.

Additional information on verbal and written comment can be found here. To listen to the meeting please access it here, or by phone with the following phone numbers below.

1-253-215-8782 or 1-877-853-5257 (Toll Free)
Then you will be prompted to enter the Webinar ID: 845-1194-0177

8:00 AM

1. Call to Order

Commissioner’s Discussion

Meeting Minutes Approval
March 17-19, 2022, webinar meeting minutes
April 1, 2022, special Commission, 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. Land Transactions – Briefing, Public Comment and Decision
The Commission will consider approval of a land transactions recommended by the Department for the enhancement of conservation and public recreation opportunities.

- Summary Sheet
- Presentation
- Lands 20/20 process
     - Lands 20/20 Standard Operating Procedure
     - Policy 6010

Staff Report:  Karen Edwards, Real Estate Manager

Public Comment – This Item Only

10:35 AM - Break

10:50 AM - Struck from agenda

5. Chelan River Rulemaking Delegation – Briefing, Decision
Staff will brief the Commission and ask for a decision on the rulemaking process for the Chelan River.  

- Summary Sheet

Staff Report: Craig Burley, Deputy Director, Fish Program

11:05 AM

6. Pinto Abalone Recovery Plan – Briefing
Staff will provide the Commission a briefing on the recovery plan for pinto abalone.

- Summary Sheet
- Presentation

Staff Report: Hank Carson, Fish and Wildlife Research Scientist, Katie Sowul, Abalone Biologist, Chris Eardley Puget Sound Shellfish Policy Coordinator, and Aaron Dufault, Puget Sound Shellfish Manager

11:35 AM

7. Landowner Hunting Permits – Decision
Staff will ask the Commission for a decision on proposed changes to WAC 220-412-100 Landowner hunting permits. 

- Summary Sheet
- Presentation

Staff Report:  Ciera Strickland, Private Lands Access Program Manager

11:55 AM - Lunch

12:40 PM 

8. Wolf Livestock Conflict Deterrence Rulemaking – Briefing and Public Hearing
Staff will brief the Commission on the status of the CR-102 Wolf rulemaking process.

- Summary Sheet
- Presentation

Staff Report: Julia Smith, Wolf Policy Lead 

Public Hearing – This Item Only

1:40 PM

9.  Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Prioritization Plan – Briefing
Staff will provide the Commission with a briefing on the CWD prioritization plan.

- Summary Sheet
- Presentation

Staff Report: Melia Devivo, Ungulate Research Scientist 

2:40 PM

10.  Deer General Seasons and Special Permits – Decision
Staff will ask the Commission for a decision on deer general seasons and special permits. 
WAC 220-415-020 2021-2023 Deer general seasons and definitions. 
WAC 220-415-030 2022 Deer special permits.

- Summary Sheet
- Presentation

Staff Report: Kyle Garrison, Acting Ungulate Section Manager 

3:10 PM

11.  Elk General Seasons and Special Permits – Decision
Staff will ask the Commission for a decision on elk general seasons and special permits.

WAC 220-415-040 Elk area descriptions. 
WAC 220-415-050 2021-2023 Elk general seasons and definitions. 
WAC 220-415-060 2022 Elk special permits. 

- Summary Sheet
- Presentation

Staff Report:  Kyle Garrison, Acting Ungulate Section Manager

3:40 PM - Break

3:50 PM

12. Moose, Bighorn Sheep, and Mountain Goat Seasons – Decision
Staff will ask the Commission for a decision on moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat seasons.
WAC 220-415-070 2022 Moose seasons, permit quotas, and areas. 
WAC 220-415-120 2022 Bighorn sheep seasons, permit quotas, and areas. 
WAC 220-415-130 2022 Mountain goat seasons, permit quotas, and areas. 

- Summary Sheet
- Presentation

Staff Report:  Kyle Garrison, Acting Ungulate Section Manager

4:20 PM

13. Migratory Waterfowl Seasons and Regulations – Decision 
Staff will ask the Commission for a decision on amendments to the migratory waterfowl and gamebird seasons and regulations.  
WAC 220-416-060 2021-2022 Migratory gamebird seasons and regulations.  
WAC 220-414-040 Nontoxic shot requirements.  
WAC 220-414-050 Shotgun shell restriction areas.  
WAC 220-414-090 Use of decoys and calls. 

- Summary Sheet
- Presentation

Staff Report: Kyle Spragens, Waterfowl Section Manager 

4:40 PM

14.  Weapons and Other Restrictions – Decision 
Staff will ask the Commission for a decision on rule changes and updates regarding:

WAC 220-413-090 Field identification of wildlife –Evidence of sex-Definitions. 
WAC 220-414-020 Unlawful methods for hunting –Firearms. 
WAC 220-413-060 Hunting restrictions. 
WAC 220-414-010 Hunting equipment restrictions. 
WAC 220-414-060 Muzzleloading firearms. 
WAC 220-414-070 Archery requirements. 
WAC 220-414-100 Crossbow requirements. 

- Summary Sheet
- Presentation

Staff Report: Stephanie Simek, Carnivore Section Manager and Kyle Garrison, Acting Ungulate Section Manager

5:10 PM

15.  Chronic Wasting Disease – Decision
Staff will ask the Commission for a decision on changes to WAC 220-413-030 Importation and retention of dead nonresident wildlife. 

- Summary Sheet
- Presentation

Staff Report: Kyle Garrison, Acting Ungulate Section Manager 

5:25 PM - Recess

Saturday, April 9, 2022 – Regular Meeting
(The Commission meeting will be held via Zoom Webinar.)

If you are interested in providing verbal public comment, please register here. The following registration deadlines are in effect:

- Registration for public comment begins at 8am on the Thursday prior to the meeting and closes at 8am on Friday, prior to the meeting beginning. Open Public Input (OPI) is for comments on matters that are not found elsewhere on the agenda with identified specific public comment periods.

- Registrants will be called upon (no more “raised hands” will be recognized) and have three minutes to speak, unless the Chair sets a lesser time at the onset of the agenda item.

- All information entered on the form is subject to public disclosure.

Additional information on verbal and written comment can be found here. To listen to the meeting please access it here, or by phone with the following phone numbers below.

1-253-215-8782 or 1-877-853-5257 (Toll Free)
Then you will be prompted to enter the Webinar ID: 845-1194-0177

8:00 AM

16. 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

17.  Pound Net (Blue Sheet) – Briefing
Staff will provide the Commission a briefing on pound nets in the Columbia River.

- Blue Sheet
- Presentation (long)
- Presentation (abridged)
- Presentation - Wild Fish Conservancy 

Staff Report: Kelly Cunningham, Director of Fish Program, and Charlene Hurst, Columbia River Management Unit Lead

10:15 AM - Break

10:30 AM

18. Wolf Annual Report – Briefing
Staff will provide the Commission with an annual wolf update.

- Summary Sheet
- Presentation
- Report

Staff Report: Benjamin Maletzke, Statewide Wolf Specialist

11:30 AM

19. Anadromous Salmon and Steelhead Hatchery Policy C- 3624 Implementation Update
Staff will provide the Commission a progress report on the implementation of the policy, as stipulated in the policy. 

- Summary Sheet
- Presentation

Staff Report: Ken Warheit, Supervisor, Fish Health, and Molecular Genetics

12:00 PM

19. 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.

- Year-at-a-Glance

12:45 PM - Adjourn