Minutes and audio/video recordings
- Committee Meetings
8 a.m. – Wildlife Committee - Commissioners Thorburn, Smith, Anderson, Rowland
Location: Watch with TVW
Join by telephone: (253) 215-8782 or (360) 209-5623 Webinar ID: 842-5065-4820
Agenda topics:
- Game Management Plan development
- General discussion – current events and next meeting agenda
10 a.m. – Big Tent Committee – Commissioners Baker, Lehmkuhl, Thorburn
Location: Watch with TVW
Join by telephone: (253) 215-8782 or (360) 209-5623 Webinar ID: 820-6080-2307
Agenda topics:
- Legislative report update (PDF)
- FWC Policy update (PDF)
- Directors' delegation
- 2018 Directors Delegation (PDF)
- Season setting delegation passed December 2022 (PDF) (page 2, under Wildlife committee report out)
- Draft Conservation Policy process discussion
- General discussion – current events and next meeting agenda
1 p.m. – Fish Committee – Commissioners Anderson, Ragen, Linville
Location: Watch with TVW
Join by telephone: (253) 215-8782 or (360) 209-5623 Webinar ID: 847-9842-4517
Agenda topics:
- North Pacific Commission Policy C-3002 (PDF)(Review and Recommend)
- Eulachon Management Plan (PDF) (Staff Briefing)
- Tribal-State Co-Manager Hatchery Policy (Briefing, Q and A)
- Willapa Bay Alternative 4 (Briefing, Q and A, Staff Direction)
- General discussion – current events, emergent items and next meeting agenda
- Regular Meeting
The Commission meeting will be held via Zoom Webinar.
If you are interested in providing verbal public comment, please register on the Public Testimony page. The following registration deadlines are in effect:
- Registration for public comment begins at 8 am on the Thursday before the meeting and closes at 8 am on Friday before the meeting begins. 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 comments can be found on the Commission meetings page. To listen to the meeting, please access it online via Zoom or by phone at the following phone numbers below.
1-253-205-0468 or 1-360-209-5623
Then you will be prompted to enter the Webinar ID: 882-6211-1264
8 a.m. – 1. Call to Order
Commissioner's Discussion
Meeting Minutes Approval
- December 8-10, 2022, Hybrid Meeting Minutes (PDF)
- December 30, 2022, Special Web Conference Minutes (PDF)
- January 13, 2023, Web Conference Minutes (PDF)
Committee Reports
9 a.m. – 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 meeting portion. 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 a.m. – 3. Director's Report
The Director will brief the Commission on various items.
10:45 a.m. – Break
11 a.m. – 4. Land Transactions - Briefing, Public Comment and Decision
The Commission will consider approval of two land transactions recommended by the Department for the enhancement of conservation and public recreation opportunities.
Staff Report: Thom Woodruff, Property Acquisition Supervisor, Wildlife Program, Lands Division and Cynthia Wilkerson, Manager, Wildlife Program, Lands Division
11:30 a.m. – 5. Draft Co-Manager Hatchery Policy – Briefing, Public Comment
Staff will brief the Commission on the draft Co-Manager Hatchery Policy completed in November 2023, and request that the draft policy be available for public review and be submitted to SEPA evaluation. Staff will also present a revised schedule to consider adoption of the policy.
Staff Report: Ron Warren and Ken Warheit, Fish Health and Molecular Genetics Lab Manager
12:30 p.m. – Lunch
1 p.m. – 6. Petition: Spring Black Bear Management Hunts – Briefing, Decision
Staff will brief Commission and ask for a decision on a petition requesting that WDFW “immediately begin Rule Making for the 2023 and future year(s) Spring Black Bear Management Hunts”.
Staff Report: Anis Aoude, Big Game Manager
1:30 p.m. – 7. Eulachon Management Plan – Briefing
Staff will brief the Commission on the adoption of an updated joint-state Washington and Oregon Eulachon Management Plan.
Staff Report: Laura Heironimus, CRMU Sturgeon/Smelt/Lamprey Unit Lead, and Dr. Charlene Hurst, Columbia River Management Unit Lead
2:15 p.m. – 8. Commercial Eulachon Rule Proposal – Briefing, Public Hearing
Staff will brief the Commission on proposed rule revisions for eulachon commercial fisheries, revisions are intended to align permanent rules with current management strategies.
Staff Report: Laura Heironimus, CRMU Sturgeon/Smelt/Lamprey Unit Lead, and Dr. Charlene Hurst, Columbia River Management Unit Lead
2:45 p.m. – 9. Guide Logbook Rule Proposal – Briefing, Public Hearing
Staff will present an amendment to rules regarding reporting requirements for freshwater game fish guides, food fish guides and combination game fish and food fish guides.
Staff Report: Raquel Crosier, Special Assistant to the Director of Fish Program, Chris Donley, Region 1 Fish Program Manager, and Lieutenant Rosenberger, Enforcement
3:15 p.m. – 10. Columbia River White Tail Deer & Red Fox Periodic Status Review – Briefing, Public Hearing, Decision
Staff will brief the Commission and ask for a decision on the recommendation to downlist the status of the Columbian river white-tailed deer. Also, staff will reaffirm the Commission’s decision to list Cascade red fox as endangered.
Staff Report: Taylor Cotten, Conservation Assessment Section Manager, and Jeffery Azerrad, Environmental Planner
4:15 p.m. – Recess
- Regular Meeting
The Commission meeting will be held via Zoom Webinar.
If you are interested in providing verbal public comment, please register on the Public Testimony page. The following registration deadlines are in effect:
- Registration for public comment begins at 8 am on the Thursday before the meeting and closes at 8 am on Friday before the meeting begins. 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 comments can be found on the Commission meetings page. To listen to the meeting, please access it online via Zoom or by phone at the following phone numbers below.
1-253-205-0468 or 1-360-209-5623
Then you will be prompted to enter the Webinar ID: 882-6211-1264
8 a.m. – 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 meeting portion. 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 a.m. – ADDITION: Draft Co-Manager Hatchery Policy – Briefing (Continued)
Staff will brief the Commission on the draft Co-Manager Hatchery Policy completed in November 2023, and request that the draft policy be available for public review and be submitted to SEPA evaluation. Staff will also present a revised schedule to consider adoption of the policy.
- Summary Sheet (PDF)
- Presentation (PDF)
- Co-manager Hatchery Policy Schedule Gantt (PDF)
- Revised Co-manager Hatchery Policy Schedule (PDF)
Staff Report: Ron Warren and Ken Warheit, Fish Health and Molecular Genetics Lab Manager
10 a.m. – 12. Blue Sheet: Statewide Population Status, Trend, and Limiting Factors of Deer and Elk – Briefing
Staff will provide the Commission a briefing on the statewide population status, trend, and limiting factors of deer and elk blue sheet.
- Blue Sheet (PDF)
- Elk Status and Trend Summary (PDF)
- Deer status and Trend Summary (PDF)
- Presentation (PDF)
Staff Report: Anis Aoude, Big Game Manager, and Kyle Garrison, Ungulate Section Manager , Wildlife Program
11:30 a.m. – 13. Meeting Debrief and Future Meeting Planning
The Commission will discuss items immediately before, during, or after the meeting and consider future agenda planning.
- Terms of reference planning discussion
- Year-at-a-Glance
11:30 a.m. – 14. Executive Session (this has been struck from the agenda)
Pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) and RCW 42.30.110 (1)(g), the Commission will meet in an executive session. Accordingly, no action will be taken during the executive session, and the public is not permitted to attend.