August 8-10, 2024 Meeting agenda - WDFW Fish and Wildlife Commission

Meeting location

Natural Resources Building 
1111 Washington Street SE  
Olympia WA 98501 – Room 172 

- Committee Meetings

8:00am - 10:00am – Big Tent Committee - Commissioners Lehmkuhl, Baker, Parker, & Smith

To listen, dial 253-215-8782 and enter Webinar ID# 811 9747 4181

Agenda Topics:

  • Conservation Policy Update
  • Science Policy Update
  • Brief on Current Public Input Rules
  • Critical Concepts Discussion: The Public Trust Doctrine
  • Future Meeting Planning & General Discussion

10:00am - 12:00pm – Fish Committee - Commissioners Anderson, Linville, Ragen, Parker

To listen, dial 253-215-8782 and enter Webinar ID# 881 0666 6466

Agenda Topics:

1:00pm - 5:00pm – Habitat Committee - Commissioners Linville, Lehmkuhl, Ragen, & Myers

To listen, dial 253-215-8782 and enter Webinar ID# 841 6681 0220

Agenda Topics:

1:00pm - 5:00pm – Wildlife Committee - Commissioners Smith, Anderson, Rowland, & Myers

Agenda Topics:

  • Joint Connectivity Field Trip

- Regular Meeting Hybrid/Olympia

If you are interested in providing public comments online during a hybrid meeting, please register online.

Virtual Participation:

The following virtual registration deadlines are in effect:

  • Registration for those wishing to provide virtual comments closes at 5pm the day before the meeting begins.
  • Open Public Input is intended for comments on matters not found elsewhere on the agenda.
  • Registrants will be called upon and typically have three (3) minutes to speak.
  • If you are unable to participate, you can submit your comments on the Commission contact page.

In-Person Participation:

The following in-person deadlines are in effect:

  • If you haven't pre-registered, complete a Public Testimony Form, available at the registration table.
  • The form must be submitted at least 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the agenda item you wish to testify on.

To listen to the meeting, please access it using the Zoom Link or TVW Link (AM Session) or TVW Link (PM Session)

or by phone by dialing 1-253-205-0468 and entering Webinar ID# 851 1725 1206

8:00am - 8:30am – 1. Call to Order

Commissioners Discussion

Meeting Minutes Approval

Committee Reports

8:30am - 10:00am – 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. 

Public Comment - This Item Only

10:00am - 10:15am – Break

10:15am - 11:00am – 3. Director's Report

The Region 6 Director will welcome the Commission and the Department of Fish and Wildlife Director will brief the Commission on various items. 

11:00am - 11:30am – 4. Land Transactions - Briefing, Public Comment, Decision

The Commissioner will consider approval of the land transactions for the Wenas Black Canyon, WSDOT Naches and Moss Cave Conservation Easement Properties as recommended by the Department.

Staff Report: Lisa Coffman, Lands 20/20 & Acquisition Funding Coordinator

Public Comment - This Item Only

11:30am - 11:45am – 5. 2025 Agency Request Legislation - Decision

Staff will ask the Commission for a decision on the agency's requests for the 2025 legislative session.

Staff Report: Tom McBride - Legislative Director

11:45am - 12:15pm – 6. 2025 Operating & Capital Budget Request - Decision

Staff will ask the Commission for a decision on the maintenance and performance level portions of the 2025-2027 budget for the 2025 legislative session.

Staff Report: Morgan Stinson - Chief Financial Officer & Kristin Kuykendall - CAMP Director

12:15pm - 1:15pm – Lunch

1:15pm - 2:00pm – 7. State Wildlife Action Plan Update - Briefing

Staff will brief the Commission on the statue of the State Wildlife Action Plan 

Staff Report: Wendy Connally - State Wildlife Action Plan Coordinator & Margen Carlson - Conservation Director

2:00pm - 3:00pm – 8. Diversity Program Update

Staff will brief the Commission on the Wildlife Diversity Division, emphasizing the work to conserve and recover Species of Greatest Conservation Need.

Staff Report: Hannah Anderson - Wildlife Diversity Division Manager, Taylor Cotten - Conservation Assessment Section Manager, Janet Gorrell - Landscape Conservation Section Manager, Jenna Judge - Assistant Wildlife Diversity Divsion Manager, Julia Smith - Endangered Species Recovery Section Manager, and Jessica Stocking - Marine, Coastal, and Flyway Section Manger.

3:00pm - 3:15pm – Break

3:15pm - 3:45pm – 9. Trapping Rule - Briefing, Public Comment

Staff will brief the Commission on the proposed trapping rule.

Staff Report: Stephanie Landry - Carnivore, Small Game, and Furbearer Section Manager

Public Comment - This Item Only

3:45pm - 4:15pm – 10. Beaver Relocation Rule - Briefing, Public Comment

Staff will brief the Commission on the proposed beaver relocation rule.

Staff Report: Shawn Behling - Wetland Wildlife Species Specialist

Public Comment - This Item Only

4:15pm - 5:15pm – 11. C-3621: Grays Harbor Salmon Management Policy - Briefing

Staff will brief the Commission on the recommended Grays Harbor Basin Salmon Management Policy language and revisions.

Staff Report: Marlene Wagner - Willapa Bay & Grays Harbor Fishery Lead and Mike Scharpf - District 17 Fisheries Biologist

5:15pm – Recess

- Regular Meeting Olympia/Hybrid

If you are interested in providing public comments online during a hybrid meeting, please register online.

Virtual Participation:

The following virtual registration deadlines are in effect:

  • Registration for those wishing to provide virtual comments closes at 5pm the day before the meeting begins.
  • Open Public Input is intended for comments on matters not found elsewhere on the agenda.
  • Registrants will be called upon and typically have three (3) minutes to speak.
  • If you are unable to participate, you can submit your comments on the Commission contact page.

In-Person Participation:

The following in-person deadlines are in effect:

  • If you haven't pre-registered, complete a Public Testimony Form, available at the registration table.
  • The form must be submitted at least 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the agenda item you wish to testify on.

To listen to the meeting, please access it using the Zoom Link or TVW Link

or by phone by dialing 1-253-205-0468 and entering Webinar ID# 872 1224 3937

8:00am - 9:30am – 12. 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.

Public Comment - This Item Only

9:30am - 9:45am – Break

9:45am - 10:05am – 13. Petition Delegation - Discussion

The Commission will discuss the pending petitions and consider them for delegation to the Director.

10:05-10:35 – 14. Petition Process - Discussion, Decision

The Commission will discuss the current process and decide what the process going forward will be for future petitions received.

Staff Report: Amy Windrope - Deputy Director

10:35am - 11:00am – 15. 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.

11:00am – Break

11:15am - 12:15pm – 16. Executive Session & Working Lunch

Pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(i), the Commission will meet in executive session to discuss with legal counsel representing the agency matters relating to agency enforcement actions, or to discuss with legal counsel representing the agency litigation or potential litigation to which the agency, the governing body, or a member acting in an official capacity is, or is likely to become, a party, when public knowledge regarding the discussion is likely to result in an adverse legal or financial consequence to the agency. 

12:15pm – Adjourn