Minutes and audio/video recordings
Confluence Technology Center – Methow River Room
285 Technology Center Way Wenatchee, WA 98801
- Committee Meetings
To listen to the committee meetings, please access them here or by phone at the following phone numbers below.
1-253-215-8782 or 1-669-444-9171 (Toll-Free) and enter in Webinar ID: 810-7749-8109
8:00-9:30 AM – Wildlife Committee - Commissioners Smith, Anderson, Rowland
Agenda topics:
- Game Management Plan update/Preparation of Commission presentation
- General discussion – current events and next meeting agenda
10:00-11:30 AM – Habitat Committee – Commissioners Linville, Lehmkuhl, Smith, Ragen
Agenda topics:
- Overview of Habitat Protection and Restoration Concepts
- General discussion – current events, emergent items, and next meeting agenda
1:00-2:30 PM – Fish Committee – Commissioners Anderson, Ragen, Linville
Agenda topics:
- Co-Manager Hatchery Policy Update
- North Pacific Fishery Management Council (brief and policy discussion)
- Review of past policies as referred by FWC (discussion and direction/schedule)
- General discussion – current events, emergent items, and next meeting agenda
3:00-4:40 PM – Big Tent Committee – Commissioners Baker, Lehmkuhl
Agenda topics:
- Draft Conservation Policy
- Best available science discussion
- General discussion – current events and next meeting agenda
- Regular Meeting
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 providing verbal and written comments can be found here. You can access the meeting by phone with the following phone numbers below.
1-253-215-8782 or 1-669-444-9171 (Toll-Free) and enter in Webinar ID: 810-7749-8109
8:00 AM – 1. Call to Order
- Commissioner’s Discussion
- Meeting Minutes Approval
- 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.
10:15 AM – BREAK (15 minutes)
10:30 AM – 3. Deputy Director and Regional Director’s Report
The Deputy Director will brief the Commission on various items.
11:15 AM – 4. Land Transactions - Briefing, Public Comment and Decision
The Commission will consider approval of three land transactions recommended by the Department for the enhancement of conservation and public recreation opportunities, and hatchery operations.
Staff Report: Karen Edwards, Real Estate Manager
11:45 AM – 5. Reardon FFA Agriculture Group - Washington State Predator Management Presentation (Working Lunch)
12:45 PM – 6. Advisory Committee for Americans with Disabilities Report to the Commission
The ADA Advisory Committee to the Commission will provide an update on the work they are doing within their regions.
1:45 PM – 7. Klickitat Hatchery Transfer – Briefing
Staff will brief the Commission on the proposed transfer of the Klickitat Hatchery property and facility to the Yakama Nation, who has been operating the facility under lease from the department since 2006.
Staff Report: Mike Livingston Region 3 Director, Trevor Hutton, Region 3 Fish Program Manager, Bill Sharp, Yakima-Klickitat Fisheries Project (YKFP) Klickitat River Coordinator Yakama Nation, and Phil Rigdon, Superintendent of Natural Resources Yakama Nation
2:30 PM – BREAK (15 minutes)
2:45 PM – 8. Game Management Plan Update
The Commission will continue to discuss aspects of the Game Management Plan.
4:45 PM – RECESS
- Regular Meeting
Virtual Participation:
If you are interested in providing verbal public comment, please pre-register here. The following pre-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.
In-Person Participation:
If you want to provide testimony in-person, please complete a "Public Testimony" form (available at the meeting registration table) before starting that agenda item. Submit your completed form to the Commission representative at the registration table before that agenda item. When registering to testify, please provide your first and last name, what topic you would like to speak about, a valid email address, and a phone number.
Additional information on providing verbal and written comments can be found here. You can access the meeting by phone with the following phone numbers below.
1-253-215-8782 or 1-669-444-9171 (Toll-Free) and enter in Webinar ID: 810-7749-8109
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 – BREAK (15 minutes)
9:15 AM – 10. Executive Session
Pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(i), the Commission will meet in executive session to discuss with legal counsel representing the agency litigation or potential litigation to which the agency is, or is likely to become, a party. No action will be taken in executive session, and the public will not be permitted to attend.
9:45 AM – 11. Petitions: Spring Bear and Black Bear Timber Damage – Briefing, Decision
Staff will brief the Commission and ask for a decision on three petitions that request the Commission to:
- “immediately begin Rule Making for the 2024 and future year(s) Spring Black Bear Management Hunts”.
- “immediately begin Rule Making for the 2023 Spring Black Bear Hunting on Public Lands using the same science, metrics, benchmarks and thresholds used in the Spring Black Bear Timber Damage Program (aka Spring Black Bear Hunts on Private Land)”
- “immediately begin Rule Making for the 2023 Spring Black Bear Hunts for the protection Ungulate Neonates from Black Bear Predation, Spring Black Bear Timber Damage on Public Lands and the protection of Humans, Pets and Property from Black Bear Conflict”.
Staff Report: Anis Aoude, Big Game Manager
10:15 AM – 12. Blue Sheet: Wolf Management Workshop Part 1 – Briefing
Staff and other speakers will provide the Commission with a briefing on range riding coordination and funding.
Staff Report: Julia Smith, Wolf Policy Lead; James Brown, Wildlife Conflict Section Manager; Joey McCanna, Region 1 Wildlife Conflict Supervisor; Kyla West, Human-Wildlife Conflict Analyst; and Captain Mike Sprecher, WDFW Police
12:15 PM – LUNCH/BREAK (30 minutes)
12:45 PM – 12A. Blue Sheet: Wolf Management Workshop Part 2 – Briefing
Staff will provide the Commission a briefing on the Department’s other non-lethal tools, adaptive management, and conflicts/poaching in 2021.
Staff Report: Julia Smith, Wolf Policy Lead; James Brown, Wildlife Conflict Section Manager; Joey McCanna, Region 1 Wildlife Conflict Supervisor; Kyla West, Human-Wildlife Conflict Analyst; and Captain Mike Sprecher, WDFW Police
2:45 PM – 13. 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.
- Commissioner Thorburn Farewell-Thanks
- Year-at-a-Glance
- Lehmkuhl Blue Sheet - NAMWC