December 14-15, 2018 meeting transcript

Audio Transcripts

FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION MEETING
December 14-15, 2018

Natural Resource Building
1111 Washington Street SE Olympia, WA 98501

TVW will be webcasting this meeting. Link to live webcast will be provided at a later date.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2018

8:30 A.M. 1. Call to Order

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- Commissioners' Discussion
- Meeting Minute Approval (PDF)
- Committee Reports if available

8:45 A.M. 2. Open Public Input

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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.

9:15 A.M. 3. Director's Report

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The Director will brief the Commission on various items

- Director's Report (PDF) - PDF Format (737 Kb)

9:45 A.M. 4. Land Transactions - Briefing, Public Hearing and Decision

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The Commission will consider approval of land transactions recommended by the Department for the protection of critical fish and wildlife habitat and for the enhancement of public recreation opportunities.

- Summary (PDF) - PDF Format (4 Mb)
- Presentation (PDF) - PF Format (3 Mb)

Staff Report: Julie Sandberg, Real Estate Section Manager

PUBLIC INPUT (This item only)

10:00 A.M. 5. Landowner Hunting Permits - Briefing

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Department staff will brief the Commission on the Landowner Hunting Permit Program and provide an overview of the current benefits, challenges and public perception

- Summary (PDF)- PDF Format (112 Kb)
- Presentation (PDF) - PDF Format (701 Kb)

Staff Report: Ciera Strickland, Program Specialist and Anis Aoude, Game Division Manager

10:45 A.M. 6. Pinnipeds -  Briefing

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Department staff will brief the Commission on recent analyses examining pinniped consumption of salmonids in Puget Sound and the Outer Coast. In addition, Department staff will brief the Commission regarding management options within the Marine Mammal Protection Act and associated pros and cons.

- Summary (PDF) - PDF Format (121 Kb)
- Presentation (PDF) - PDF Format (4 Mb)

Staff Report:  Nate Pamplin, Policy Director; Dr. Joe Anderson, Fish Program Senior Research Scientist, and Dr. Scott Pearson, Wildlife Program Senior Research Scientist

1:00 P.M. 7. Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups (RFEGs) - Briefing

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Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group staff members will present an informational overview of the Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group (RFEG) Program.

- Presentation (PDF) - PDF Format (8 Mb)

Presenters:  Rachel Vasak, Executive Director Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association and Jason Lundgren, Executive Director, Cascade Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group

1:30 P.M. 8. Priority Habitats and Species - Briefing

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Department staff will brief the Commission on the Priority Habitats and Species Program and the status of the new management guidelines for riparian ecosystems.

- Summary (PDF) - PDF Format (185 Kb)
- Presentation (PDF) - PDF Format (2 Mb)

Staff Report: Terra Rentz, Ecosystem Services Division Manager

2:15 P.M. 9. Abalone Status Review and Listing Recommendation - Briefing

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Department staff will provide a briefing to the Commission reviewing the status of abalone population and propose a preliminary listing recommendation.

- Summary (PDF) - PDF Format (2 Mb)
- Presentation (PDF) - PDF Format (3 Mb)

Staff Report: Hank Carson, Fish and Wildlife Research Scientist and Chris Eardley, Puget Sound Policy Coordinator

  10. Item Removed
3:05 P.M. 11. 2019-20 North of Falcon Policy C-3608 - Briefing and Public Hearing

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Department staff will provide a briefing on the Commission's North of Falcon Policy C-3608 (currently in effect through December 31, 2018), discuss emerging issues related to the policy, and propose modifications for the Commission's consideration when adopting a renewed policy in 2019.

- Summary (PDF) - PDF Format (925 Kb)
- Presentation (PDF) - PDF Format (925 Kb)

Staff Report: Kyle Adicks, Intergovernmental Salmon Manager

PUBLIC INPUT (This item only)

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2018

8:00 A.M. 13. Future Meeting Planning - Discussion

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Commissioners and staff will discuss upcoming meetings and conference calls.

- Year at a Glance (PDF) - PDF Format (522 Kb)
- DRAFT January 11-12, 2018 Agenda (PDF) - PDF Format (362 Kb)

8:30 A.M. 14. Open Public Input

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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.

9:00 A.M. 15. Columbia River Basin Salmon Management Policy Review - Discussion, Public Input and Guidance

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Department staff will receive direction from the Commission on issues identified in the review of Policy C-3620 that the Commission wants analyzed further, and a description of the priority of addressing each issue.  The direction may include a request to staff to provide a range of alternatives for modification of the policy, including no changes.

- Policy C-3620 table of potential actions and alternatives (PDF) - PDF Format (387 Kb)
- Staff Suggestions for OR/WA Commission Subgroup on Concurrency during 2019 (PDF) - PDF Format (542 Kb)

Staff Report: Bill Tweit, Special Assistant and Ryan Lothrop, Columbia River Fishery Manager

PUBLIC INPUT (This item only)

10:30 A.M. 16. Lower Columbia River Sturgeon Management Policy C-3001- Briefing and Public Hearing

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Department staff will provide a briefing of the Commission's Lower Columbia Sturgeon Management Policy C-3001 (currently in effect through December 31, 2018) setting guidelines for management of the Lower Columbia River white sturgeon population and fisheries, and propose modifications for the Commission's consideration.

- Summary (PDF) - PDF Format (914 Kb)
- Presentation (PDF) - PDF Format (4 Mb)

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

PUBLIC INPUT (This item only)

11:30 A.M. 17. Miscellaneous and Meeting Debrief

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The Commission will discuss items that arise immediately before or during the meeting and after the preliminary agenda is published.
12:00 P.M. Adjourn

Contact the Fish and Wildlife Commission Office for further information:
Phone 360-902-2267
Email: commission@dfw.wa.gov