ATTENDANCE:
Commission	Public (Continued)
Ron Ozment, Chair	Raleigh Chinn, Oroville Chamber of Commerce
Fred Shiosaki, Vice Chair	Victor Robert
Ken Chew	Robin Robert
Clyde McBrayer	Mike Meseberg
Chuck Perry	Betty S. Beatty
Shirley Solomon	Kevin Brown, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
	Harry "Butch" Wilson
Commission Staff:	Jim Creegan
Susan Yeager	Jack Bartley
Nancy Burkhart	Carl Burke, Northwest Sportfishing Industry Assn
	Mark Erickson, Resources Coalition
Department	Dick Pierce
Jeff Koenings, Director	Jeffrey P. Mayor, The News Tribune
Larry Peck, Deputy Director	Ken Pedersen, North Central Cascade Miners Assn.
Jim Lux	Larry Worley
Bruce Bjork	Ron Tingley
Dave Brittell	Robert Black
Lew Atkins	David Factie, North Central Cascade Miners Assn.
Heather Bartlett	Everett Hamilton
Andy Appleby	Gordon Miller
Jim Scott	Ken Irvine
Lisa Veneroso	Mike Thorniley
Mike Cenci	Bobbie Thorniley, WA Trappers Assn.
Annette Hoffman	Joan Frey, Klickitat County Commissioner
Morris Barker	Ray Thayer, Klickitat County Commissioner
Bill Tweit	David McClury
Mark Quinn	David Fast, Yakama Nation
Jeff Tayer	Pat Spurgin, Yakama Nation
Dan Budd	Richard George, Yakama Nation
Mick Cope	Mary Lou Peterson, Okanogan County Commissioner
Donny Martorello	Karen Thompson, Puget Sound Crab Assn.
Jerry Nelson	John Rantz, Puget Sound Crab Assn.
Scott McCorquodale	Tom Carlsen, Puget Sound Crab Assn.
Dave Ware	Tony Franulovich, Puget Sound Crab Assn.
Steve Pozzanghera	Chuck Ray
Peggy Crain	Corey Freeman, Recreational Fishing Alliance
Jo Wadsworth	Don Overby
Bill Frymire, AGO	John Thompson
Madonna Luers	Vern Herrst
Jeff Tayer	Polly Fischer, Skagit County MRC
Dennis Beich	Robin French
Chris Parsons	Allen Fisk
Leray Stream	Dean Lease
Other Department staff	Ken Sturm
	Dorothy Wildon
Public	Greg Christensen
Lyle Lewis	Candy Christensen
Jim Hamilton, WA State Bowhunters	Dave Campbell
Bob Lamb	Bill Essman, Kittitas Co. Field & Stream
Bill Ollice	Gary Clune
Rich Nall	John Robert, Robert & Sons
Tom Zimmerman, Hunter Education	John Robert, Jr., Robert & Sons
Andrew Young, Zilkha Renewable Energy	Steve Link, WA State Bowhunters
Kurt Krebs, Puget Sound Energy	Steve Williams, Puget Sound Energy
Shirley Muse, Audubon Society	Dale Sharp, WA State Bowhunters
Tony Jamerson, ECO Foundation	Dr. Robert Burdick, WA State Bowhunters
M.D. "Red" Njerstheimer, Hunter Education	David Raney, ECO Foundation
Deb Pittack, ECO Foundation	Ron Wilson
Sharon Crosby	Leonard D. Smekofske
Nina Carter, Audubon Washington	Darwin Crosby
Joseph D. Ford, Ducks Unlimited & Whitman Cty Sportsmen Assn.	Tim Cullinan, Audubon Washington
Bud Hamilton	Jack Gilbert, Bedrock Prospectors Club
Richard Carpenter	Marilyn Gilbert, Bedrock Prospectors Club
Chris Wiley, Wiley Ranches, Inc.	Tynee Hamilton
Steve Harrison	Glen Gray

FRIDAY, APRIL 8:

Chair Ozment called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Commissioner Shiosaki moved, seconded by Commissioner Chew, to approve the minutes of the following:

- February 17, 2005, Commission conference call; and
- March 4-5, 2005, Commission meeting.

The motion to approve the minutes carried unanimously.

COMMISSIONERS' DISCUSSION:
Commissioners discussed recent activities and items of general interest and provided status reports on Commission committees.

DIRECTOR'S REPORT:
Director Koenings reviewed significant Department issues and activities.

Kevin Brown of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation presented a $100,000 check to the Department for support of the Cowiche-Tieton acquisition project. This project provides long-term habitat protection for the Yakima elk herd in Region 3.

BUDGET UPDATE:
Jim Lux provided a status report on the Department's budget.

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:
Four individuals provided oral testimony on issues of concern during this portion of the workshop.

HATCHERY REFORM / ALL-H ANALYZER MODEL -- BRIEFING:
Heather Bartlett and Andy Appleby briefed the Commission on a tool for developing strategies that integrate habitat, harvest, and hatchery information for implementing the hatchery reform initiative.

STEELHEAD SCIENCE WHITE PAPER UPDATE -- BRIEFING:
Jim Scott provided the Commission with an overview of the Steelhead Science White Paper structure and process for completing the science-driven document.

SALE OF WILD SHELLFISH-- RULE ACTION:
Bruce Bjork and Lisa Veneroso presented proposed permanent rule proposals that would establish a trial commercial fishery license and trial fishery permit for aquatic farmers that harvest wild embedded shellfish on private property, and to provide harvest accountability for purposes of better understanding wild shellfish populations:

- Amendments to WAC 220-52-018, Clams--Gear;
- Amendments to WAC 220-52-020, Clams--Commercial harvest;
- WAC 220-88D-010, Emerging commercial fishery--Commercial wild clams, mussels, and oyster shellfish fishery on nonstate tidelands and bedlands;
- WAC 220-88D-020, Designation of the commercial wild clams, mussels, and oyster harvest on nonstate lands as an emerging commercial fishery;
- WAC 220-88D-030, Eligibility to participate in the nonstate lands commercial wild clams, mussels, and oyster shellfish fishery; and
- WAC 220-88D-040, Nonstate lands commercial wild clams, mussels, and oysters--Application requirements--Survey and notification requirements--Incidental take prohibited.

Briefings were presented at the January 14-15, 2005, Commission workshop, and the February 4-5, 2005, and March 4-5, 2005, Commission meetings. The Commission continued the public hearing and rule action to this meeting to allow more time for responding to stakeholder concerns.

The Department requested that rule adoption be continued to a future Commission meeting.

No oral testimony on the proposed rule proposals was received during the meeting.

Commissioner Shiosaki moved, seconded by Commissioner McBrayer, to continue the public hearing and rule adoption to the May 5, 2005, Commission conference call. The motion carried unanimously.

NORTH OF FALCON SELECTIVE FISHERY PATROLS -- BRIEFING:
Mike Cenci and Bruce Bjork provided an overview of the dedicated enforcement operations related to selective fishery and present regulation compliance data collected since 1999.

VALIDATION STUDY / PUGET SOUND RECREATEIONAL CRAB HARVEST ESTIMATION -- BRIEFING:
At the request of the Commission, Lisa Veneroso, Annette Hoffman, and Morris Barker briefed the Commission on the development of field-based methods to verify information collected from telephone surveys of crab catch record cardholders.

KLICKITAT HATCHERY TRANSFER -- DECISION:
Bill Tweit and Richard George (Yakama Nation) briefed the Commission on the status of negotiations for the transfer of real title for the Klickitat Hatchery and relinquishment of the Castile Falls easement to the Yakama Nation. The Commission received briefings at its June 6-7, 2003; October 1-2, 2004; and February 4-5, 2005, meetings.

Due to continuing negotiations, it was recommended that the Commission delay action to its June 17-18, 2005, meeting in Yakima. The Commission concurred with the recommendation.

Two individuals provided oral testimony during the meeting.

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:
Ten individuals provided oral testimony on issues of concern during this portion of the meeting.

Chair Ozment recessed the meeting at 5:45 p.m.

SATURDAY, APRIL 9:

Chair Ozment called the meeting back to order at 8:35 a.m.

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:
Five individuals provided oral testimony on issues of concern during this portion of the meeting.

WIND POWER LEASE / WHISKEY DICK WILDLIFE AREA -- DECISION:
Mark Quinn, Jeff Tayer, Dan Budd, and Chris Taylor (Zilkha Renewable Energy), presented for Commission approval a 25-year lease for the operation of nine wind turbines located on WDFW's Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area in Kittitas County, subject to final permitting by the Energy Facilities and Site Evaluation Council.

Five individuals provided oral testimony during the meeting.

Commissioner Shiosaki moved, seconded by Commissioner Chew, to authorize the Director to enter into a long-term lease with Wind Ridge Power Partners to operate 7-12 wind turbines on WDFW property located in Section 35, T-18 N, R-21 E.

Commissioner Perry moved, seconded by Commissioner McBrayer, to amend the motion by adding: "The intent of the additional funding from the Wildhorse Windpower Project is to enhance the Operations and Maintenance revenue for Department lands in Region 3 rather than supplant existing Operations and Maintenance funds." The motion to amend the motion carried unanimously.

The motion, as amended, carried unanimously.

PROPOSED LAND TRANSACTIONS -- DECISION:
Dan Budd presented numerous land transactions for the Commission's consideration and approval.

Commissioner Shiosaki moved, seconded by Commissioner McBrayer, to approve the following land transactions:

- Acquisition of the 80-acre Green Diamond Resources Company property in Thurston County for $195,000;
- Acquisition of the 128.46-acre City of Aberdeen property in Grays Harbor County for $214,500;
- Acquisition of the 3,307-Nature Conservancy property in Yakima County for $2,840,185; and
- Acquisition of the 32-acre Clark property in Klickitat County for $220,000, and authorized the Department to deed back the 24-foot strip subject to an access and utility easement.

The motion to approve the land transactions carried unanimously.

SMALL GAME SEASONS -- RULE ACTION:
Mick Cope presented proposed permanent amendments to WAC 232-28-341, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06 Small game seasons, which would provide additional days of pheasant hunting, increase the number of GMUs open to spring turkey hunting for youth, increase the length of the fall wild turkey general season, and provide two incentive turkey permits to hunter education instructors.

Three individuals provided oral testimony on the proposed amendments during the meeting.

Commissioner Solomon moved, seconded by Commissioner Shiosaki, to adopt the permanent amendments to WAC 232-28-341, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06 Small game seasons, as filed with the Code Reviser's Office and amended by staff.

Commissioner Shiosaki moved, seconded by Commissioner McBrayer, to amend the motion by not providing an additional 16 days of pheasant hunting at this time, but wait until the major cycle in 2006. The motion failed.

The motion to adopt the permanent amendments carried unanimously.

MOOSE, BIGHORN SHEEP, AND MOUNTAIN GOAT SEASONS AND PERMIT QUOTAS -- RULE ACTION:
Donny Martorello presented proposed permanent amendments to WAC 232-28-273, 2004 Moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat seasons and permit quotas, which would slightly increase statewide permit levels for the 2005 season.

No oral testimony on the proposed amendments was received during the meeting.

Commissioner Shiosaki moved, seconded by Commissioner McBrayer, to adopt the permanent amendments to WAC 232-28-273, 2005 Moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat seasons and permit quotas, as filed with the Code Reviser's Office and amended by staff. The motion to adopt the permanent amendments carried unanimously.

BIG GAME AND WILD TURKEY AUCTION AND RAFFLE RULES -- RULE ACTION:
Donny Martorello and Jerry Nelson presented proposed permanent amendments to WAC 232-28-282, Big game and wild turkey auction, raffle, and special incentive permits, which would close Lincoln Cliffs for bighorn sheep auction and raffle hunters, and close GMU 485 to elk auction and raffle hunters.

No oral testimony on the proposed amendments was received during the meeting.

Commissioner Shiosaki moved, seconded by Commissioner McBrayer, to adopt the permanent amendments to WAC 232-28-282, Big game and wild turkey auction, raffle, and special incentive permits. The motion to adopt the permanent amendments carried unanimously.

YAKIMA ELK HERD STUDY -- BRIEFING:
Jerry Nelson, Scott McCorquodale, and Bill Gaines (Forest Wildlife Biologist, Okanogan/Wenatchee National Forest) briefed the Commission on the status of an ongoing project in response to concerns about potential impacts to habitat and forage on private and public lands. Goals of the study include determining the number of elk that the habitat can support, and linking elk habitat selection with elk body condition and available forage. Partners include the U.S. Forest Service and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

LANDOWNER DAMAGE HUNTS -- RULE ACTION:
Dave Ware and Bruce Bjork presented proposed permanent amendments to WAC 232-28-266, Landowner damage hunts, which would establish damage permit types and levels that promote cooperation between the local landowners and the Department while helping achieve elk harvest objectives in the Hanford area. Landowners would be allowed to sell access associated with these permits.

Seven individuals provided oral testimony on the proposed amendments during the meeting.

Commissioner Shiosaki moved, seconded by Commissioner McBrayer, to adopt the permanent amendments to WAC 232-28-266, Landowner damage hunts, as filed with the Code Reviser's Office and amendment by staff, with a special finding that the rule take effect May 15, 2005, because of imminent peril to public welfare due to crop damage. The motion to adopt the permanent amendments with an effective May 15, 2005, date carried unanimously.

GAME MANAGEMENT UNIT BOUNDARY DESCRIPTIONS -- RULE ACTION:
Jerry Nelson presented proposed permanent amendments to the following rules:

- WAC 232-28-333, Game management units (GMUs) boundary descriptions--Region three;
- WAC 232-28-335, Game management units (GMUs) boundary descriptions--Region five;
- WAC 232-28-337, Deer and elk area descriptions; and
- WAC 232-28-248 Special closures and firearm restriction areas.

The proposed amendments would divide GMU 372 into two, correct a transposition of road numbers, create new elk areas to better address wildlife damage issues, and maintain limited elk hunting opportunity adjacent to expanding human development.

One individual provided oral testimony on the proposed amendments during the meeting.

Commissioner Solomon moved, seconded by Commissioner Shiosaki, to adopt the permanent amendments to WAC 232-28-335, Game management units (GMUs) boundary descriptions--Region Five, and WAC 232-28-248, Special closures and firearm restrictions, as filed with the Code Reviser's Office and amended by staff. In order to allow for additional dialogue with the Yakama Nation regarding hunting in the "Tract C" portion of GMU 368, the motion also included: The public hearing is to continue via telephone conference call on April 12, 2005, for WAC 232-28-333, Game management units (GMUs) boundary descriptions--Region three, and WAC 232-28-337, Deer and elk area descriptions. The motion carried unanimously. (Commissioner Chew was absent during discussion and vote on the motion.)

2005 ELK SEASONS AND PERMITS -- RULE ACTION:
Jerry Nelson presented proposed permanent amendments to WAC 232-28-352, 2003-2005 Elk seasons and special permits, which would make adjustments in response to population changes and damage complaints.

Six individuals provided oral testimony on the proposed amendments during the meeting.

In order to allow for additional dialogue with the Yakama Nation regarding hunting in the "Tract C" portion of GMU 368, Commissioner Shiosaki moved, seconded by Commissioner McBrayer, to continue the public hearing via telephone conference call on April 12, 2005. The motion carried unanimously. (Commissioner Chew was absent during discussion and vote on the motion.)

DEER SEASONS AND SPECIAL PERMITS -- RULE ACTION:
Jerry Nelson presented proposed permanent amendments to WAC 232-28-351, 2003-2005 Deer seasons and special permits, which would make adjustments to deer special permits in response to population changes and damage complaints.

Six individuals provided oral testimony on the proposed amendments during the meeting.

Commissioner Shiosaki moved, seconded by Commissioner McBrayer, to adopt the permanent amendments to WAC 232-28-351, 2003-2005 Deer seasons and special permits, as filed with the Code Reviser's Office and amended by staff. The motion to adopt the permanent amendments carried unanimously. (Commissioner Chew was absent during discussion and vote on the motion.)

MISCELLANEOUS AND MEETING DEBRIEF:
The Commission discussed items that arose immediately before or during the meeting and after the preliminary agenda was published.

Commissioner McBrayer moved, seconded by Commissioner Shiosaki, to request the Department provide a briefing at the August 5-6, 2005, Commission meeting on sea lion control and techniques that are being used. The briefing is to include federal agencies. The motion to request Department action carried unanimously. (Commissioner Chew was absent during discussion and vote on the motion.)

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:
Two individuals provided oral testimony on issues of concern during this portion of the workshop.

Chair Ozment adjourned the meeting at 4:45 p.m.

These minutes, plus the audio recording, constitute the full minutes.

* Commissioner Chew was absent during discussion and vote on the motion.

Commissioners in Attendance:
Ron Ozment, Chair
Fred Shiosaki, Vice Chair
Ken Chew
Clyde McBrayer
Chuck Perry
Shirley Solomon

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