Fish and Wildlife Commission meets Oct. 24-26 in Ellensburg

Special virtual Fish Committee meeting Oct. 21

ELLENSBURG – The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission Fish Committee will meet virtually on Monday, Oct. 21 at 9 a.m. to discuss several policies, including Grays Harbor Basin salmon management (C-3621), coastal Dungeness crab (C-3604), and Lower Columbia sturgeon management policy (C-3001), and coastal steelhead season planning.

The full Commission will meet in Ellensburg from Oct. 24-26. On Thursday, Oct. 24, the full Commission will attend tribal relations training. This training will not be live-streamed. 

On Friday, Oct. 25, the Commission meeting will begin with an open public input opportunity and a report from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Director Kelly Susewind and Regional Director Mike Livingston. 

Next, the Commission will decide on several proposed land transactions, including 25- and 212-acre acquisitions in the North Olympic Wildlife Area in Clallam County, and a 3.4-acre acquisition in Okanogan County that would become part of the Methow Wildlife Area, as well as a renewal of an agreement with Cowlitz County to manage and maintain the Silver Lake Access Area for the next 25 years. 

The Commission will then decide on a Cooperative Management Agreement with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and the Grays Harbor Basin salmon management policy (C-3621). The Commission will also hear briefings on the Coastal Dungeness crab policy (C-3604) and the black bear science and hunting framework.

On Saturday, Oct. 26, the meeting will begin with an open public input opportunity, followed by a meeting debrief and future meeting planning before moving into executive session.

The meeting will be held at the Hotel Windrow, 502 N. Main St, Ellensburg, WA 98926. On Friday and Saturday, the meeting will be live streamed online.

Those interested in providing verbal public comment during the meeting, either in-person in Ellensburg or remotely via webinar or phone, need to register in advance. 

All members of the public are invited to share their perspectives and participate in WDFW public feedback opportunities regardless of race, color, sex, age, national origin, language proficiency, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, or basis of disability.

The full meeting agenda, including information about submitting public comment and accessing the hybrid meeting online or by phone, is available on the WDFW website. The meeting will be recorded and published on the Commission webpage so the public can watch afterward at their convenience.

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is a panel appointed by the governor that sets policy for WDFW. WDFW works to preserve, protect and perpetuate fish, wildlife, and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities.