February 6-8, 2020 meeting agenda

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FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION MEETING
February 6-8, 2020

Natural Resource Building
1111 Washington Street SE Olympia, WA 98501, Room 172

Thursday, February 6, 2020

8:00 AM

Hatchery Policy Review Emerging Science Report Workshop – Briefing, Public Comment

Location: Room 172

Staff will brief the Commission on the key findings of the recently completed science report titled, "A review of hatchery reform science in Washington State."  

Staff Report: Joe Anderson, Research Scientist and Ken Warheit, Supervisor of Genetic and Fish Health Laboratories

Public Comment – This Item Only

12:00 PM - Recess

Committee Meetings

1:00 PM

Wolf Committee Meeting – Commissioners Baker, Thorburn, Anderson, Linville

Location:  Room 172

Agenda topics:

  • Recovery plan sideboards – initial discussion
  • PSR post doc update
  • General discussion – current events
  • Wolf agenda setting

2:30 PM

Fish Committee Meeting – Commissioners Carpenter, Kehoe, McIsaac, Graybill

Location:  Room 172

Agenda topics: 

Friday, February 7, 2020 - Regular Meeting

7:00 AM

Wildlife Committee Meeting – Commissioners Thorburn, Baker, Anderson, Linville

Location:  Room 172

Agenda topics:

  • Hunting Contest options discussion
  • Wildlife agenda setting
  • Traditional weapon philosophy - weapon modernization discussion
  • General discussion – current events

8:30 AM

1. Call to Order

9:00 AM

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.

9:45 AM

3.  Director's Report

The Director will orally brief the Commission on various items. 

10:15 AM

4. Land 20/20 – Briefing, Public Comment, and Decision

Staff will provide a briefing on the Lands 20/20 process and seek funding for projects approved through this process.

Staff Report: Cynthia Wilkerson, Lands Division Manager

Public Comment – This Item Only

10:55 AM - Break

11:10 AM

5. 2020 Forest Restoration Project Approval Requests

Staff will seek approval from the Commission on forest management projects that involve harvesting volumes exceeding one million board feet.

Staff Report:  Richard Tveten, Forest Management Team Lead

11:20 AM

6. Columbia River Policy Review Next Steps - Briefing

Director Susewind will report on 2020 Columbia River fisheries policy and negotiations with Oregon Director Curt Melcher and the Commission will discuss potential next steps for Policy C-3620.

12:40 PM - Lunch

1:40 PM

7. Grays Harbor Salmon Management Policy – Briefing, Public Comment

Staff will provide the Commission an annual review briefing on Grays Harbor salmon management as stipulated within Policy C-3621, providing guidance for Grays Harbor salmon fisheries.

Staff Report: Chad Herring, South Coast Fishery Policy Analyst, and Mike Scharpf, District Biologist

Public Comment – This Item Only

2:40 PM

8. Willapa Bay Salmon Management Policy C-3622- Briefing, Public Comment, Decision

Staff will provide a briefing on the performance of policy implementation and seek guidance from the Commission on implementing the Willapa Bay Salmon Management Policy (C-3622) for 2019 brood year fall chinook hatchery releases and 2020 fishery management objectives and measures.

Staff Report: Chad Herring, South Coast Fishery Policy Analyst and Kirt Hughes, Fish Management Division Manager

Public Comment – This Item Only

4:10 PM - Break

4:25 PM

9. Lower Columbia Sturgeon Stock Status – Briefing, Public Comment

Staff will provide the Commission an annual review on lower Columbia River sturgeon population status, as stipulated within Policy C-3001.  The Commission will discuss 2020 fisheries and provide guidance on the delegation to set 2020 fisheries.

Staff Report: Laura Heironimus, CRMU Sturgeon/Smelt/Lamprey Unit Lead, and Bill Tweit, Special Assistant

Public Comment – This Item Only

5:10 PM - Recess

Saturday, February 8, 2020

7:00 AM

Big Tent Committee Meeting – Commissioners Baker, Thorburn, Smith, McIsaac

Location:  Room 172

Agenda topics: 

  • Strategic planning
  • Public Affairs update
  • Recreation on WDFW lands
  • Boy Scouts proposal

8:30 AM

10. 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.

9:30 AM

11.  Hunting Contests – Briefing, Public Comment

Staff will brief the Commission on the Washington laws and regulations that apply to hunting and fishing contests and provide an update on recent changes to hunting contests in other States. 

Staff Report: Anis Aoude, Game Division Manager

Public Comment – This Item Only

10:30 AM

12. Blue Sheet: Pollinator Projects and Backyard Sanctuaries – Briefing

Staff will brief the commission on best practices related to small scale habitat projects specifically related to pollinators and backyard sanctuaries.

Staff Report: Taylor Cotten, Conservation Assessment Section Manager

11:15 AM

13. Hatchery Policy C-3619 Review– Briefing, Public Comment

Staff will provide the Commission with the remaining schedule and process in the hatchery policy review.  The Commission will discuss next steps subsequent to the workshop on February 6.

Staff Report: Laurie Peterson, Fish Program Science Division Manager

Public Comment – This Item Only

12:00 PM

14. Future Meeting Planning – Discussion

Commissioners and staff will discuss upcoming meetings and conference calls and adopt a tentative draft agenda for the March Commission meeting in Tri-Cities.

12:30 PM

15. Miscellaneous and Meeting Debrief

The Commission will discuss items that arise immediately before or during the meeting and after the preliminary agenda is published.

12:45 PM - Adjourn