Commission to consider utility easement and discuss Puget Sound steelhead restoration during May meeting

OLYMPIA – The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will consider approval of a utility easement on department-managed land in Clallam County and hear a briefing on management strategies to restore Puget Sound steelhead during its May 15 virtual commission meeting. 

The Commission will kick off with committee meetings at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, May 14, to discuss the department’s strategic plan update, cougar safety, proposed hunting contest rule changes, and fisheries management topics. 

At the Friday May 15 commission meeting, members are scheduled to make a decision on whether to allow CenturyLink to use an existing utility easement on department-managed land in Clallam County to improve internet services for the Neah Bay community.

The Puget Sound Steelhead Advisory Group (PSSAG) will provide a briefing to the Commission to summarize the results of a more than three-year process of proactive management strategies to restore Puget Sound steelhead and fisheries.

The Commission will take open public comment on Friday morning. To support COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, the meeting will be available to the public through webinar or conference call. For more information and to view an agenda, visit https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/commission/meetings. The meeting will be recorded and posted online so people can also watch the meeting afterwards at their convenience.

The Commission is a citizen panel appointed by the governor that sets policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). WDFW is the primary state agency tasked with preserving, protecting, and perpetuating fish and wildlife and ecosystems, while providing sustainable fishing and hunting opportunities.