Commission reviews Skagit elk action plan, 2020 proposed legislation

OLYMPIA – The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission heard suggestions for bear season changes and reviewed a new Skagit elk management plan during their June 14-15 meeting in Port Angeles.

The commission, a citizen panel appointed by the governor to set policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), also received public comments about Skagit elk populations, the grizzly bear status review, and fall black bear season setting.

WDFW staff, several Point Elliott Treaty Tribes, representatives from Skagit County, and the Cattleman’s Association presented about Skagit elk. WDFW staff outlined a new plan, developed with the Point Elliott Treaty Tribes, for managing elk in the Skagit valley, including targeting specific neighborhoods, elk fencing, improving the landowner permit process, and allowing landowners to charge access fees on their property.

Landowners with Damage Prevention Cooperative Agreements do not always need to provide public access, and a landowner may provide a hunter with a WDFW-issued Damage Prevention Permit (DPP). A hunter that is hunting under a valid DPP must have a valid hunting license and damage tag and hunt within the designated area indicated on the DPP.

Several Skagit County residents testified during the public comment period. Comments ranged from public safety issues to elk damage to agriculture in Skagit County.

After months of public feedback, the commission also heard a briefing on commercial fishing guide logbook requirements. The commission asked department staff to explore several options for reporting.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff gave an overview of the 2019 Legislative Session, including bills that may move through to the 2020 Legislative Session. Department staff also provided an overview of potential agency requests and 2020 operating and capital budget requests.

The commission asked department staff to review 2020 proposed legislative requests and present a recommendation at the August commission meeting.

In other business, the commission reviewed and made decisions on three Washington species. The commission voted to keep tufted puffins, Oregon spotted butterflies, and grizzly bears on the Washington endangered species list.

In addition, the commission approved three land transactions. The first acquisition is phase five of the Simcoe Klickitat County land project, approximately 5,088 acres. WDFW will acquire the land in part with a grant from the Recreation Conservation Office.

In a second transaction, WDFW, in partnership with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Forterra, granted a stewardship easement of approximately 3,555 acres of shrub-steppe, oak woodland, and over six miles of instream habitat supporting steelhead and bull trout recovery in Yakima County.

The Northwest Straits Commission reported on WDFW partnerships. In recent years, the agencies have partnered on pinto abalone, crab pot removal, and Olympia oyster restoration.

Recordings of the commission meetings can be found at https://player.invintus.com/?clientID=2836755451&eventID=2019061003 (June 14) and https://player.invintus.com/?clientID=2836755451&eventID=2019061004 (June 15). Future agendas can be found at https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/commission/meetings.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is the state agency tasked with preserving, protecting and perpetuating fish, wildlife and ecosystems, while providing sustainable fishing and hunting opportunities.