ATTENDANCE:
Fish and Wildlife Commission	Conservation Commission
Jerry Gutzwiler, Chair	Bill Boyum, Chair
Ken Chew	Lynn Bahrych, Vice Chair
Gary Douvia	Robert Barker
Conrad Mahnken	Jim Peters
Chuck Perry	Tracy Erikson
Will Roehl
Shirley Solomon	Commission Staff
	Mark Clark, Exec. Director
Commission Staff:	Mary Anderson
Susan Yeager	Stu Trefry
Nancy Burkhart	Tom Slocum
	Jon Culp
Department
Jeff Koenings, Director	Public
Phil Anderson, Deputy Director-Policy	George Boggs, Whatcom Cons. District
Dave Ware	Polly Fisher, NW Straits Commission
Morris Barker	Kristi Carpenter, Skagit Cons. District
Pat Michael	Bob Carey, The Nature Conservancy
Bill Frymire, AGO	Dave Hedlin, Hedlin Family Farms
Bob Gibbons	Richard Bergner, Fidalgo Backyard Habitat Grp.
Craig Burley	Mike Shelby, Western WA Agric. Assn.
Jo Wadsworth	Mike Rundlett, Western WA Agric. Assn.
Heather Bartlett	Lisa Pelly, WA Rivers Conservancy
Bob Everitt	Frank Corey, Whatcom Cons. District
Paul LaRiviere	Jim Cowles, WA Dept. of Agriculture
Other Department staff	Terry Shelby
	Gus Hughbanks, Natural Res. Cons. Service
	John Larson, WA Assn. of Cons. Districts

Available Fish and Wildlife Commission members met with Department of Fish and Wildlife staff to discuss the sport fishing rule adoption process in preparation for the 2008-09 season-setting regulations cycle. No decisions were made during the meeting.

Commissioner Gutzwiler called the Joint Meeting to order at 10:10 a.m.

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS:
Members of each Commission seated at the head table introduced themselves.

FARMING AND WILDLIFE:
Bob Carey (Manager, Skagit Office, The Nature Conservancy) and Dave Hedlin (Hedlin Family Farms) provided information to the Commissioners on preserving farmland.

OFFICE OF FARMLAND PRESERVATION:
Mark Clark (Executive Director, Washington State Conservation Commission) provided information on the new Office of Farmland Preservation enacted by the legislature – SSB 5108.

BACKYARD HABITAT:
Kristi Carpenter (Skagit Conservation District) and Richard Bergner (Fidalgo Backyard Habitat Group) provided information on the Backyard Habitat Program.

FOUR CONSERVATION DISTRICT PROJECTS THAT BENEFIT WILDLIFE:
Tom Slocum (Professional Engineer, Washington State Conservation Commission) introduced the Wonders of Wildlife campaign, a new statewide outreach effort designed to increase the quantity and quality of wildlife habitat on Washington’s private lands.

MAINTENANCE PROGRAM FOR DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE AND FISH PROTECTION AND COMPREHENSIVE DRAINAGE AND IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT PLAN (CDIMP):
Mike Shelby (Executive Director, Western Washington Agricultural Association) and Bob Everitt (Region 4 Director, Department of Fish and Wildlife) discussed, with the Commissioners, the Skagit Drainage and Tidegates Fish Initiatives and CDIMP.

IRRIGATION EFFICIENCIES AND WATER TRUST ISSUES AS THEY AFFECT WILDLIFE HABITAT:
Lisa Pelly (Washington Rivers Conservancy), Paul LaRivier (Stream Flow Biologist, Fish Program, Department of Fish and Wildlife), and Jon Culp (Washington State Conservation Commission) provided information on irrigation efficiencies and water trust issues as they affect wildlife habitat.

JOINT AQUATIC RESOURCES PERMIT APPLICATION (JARPA) – ISSUES THAT AFFECT BOTH COMMISSIONS:
Frank Corey (Resource Coordinator, Whatcom Conservation District) provided information on the Joint Aquatic Resources Permit Application process.

LANDOWNER INVOLVEMENT – COMMISSIONS’ DISCUSSION:
Dave Ware (Game Division Manager, Wildlife Program, Department of Fish and Wildlife) and Commissioners discussed access to private lands for hunting and wildlife viewing purposes; habitat; and crop damage.

WRAP-UP DISCUSSION, BOTH COMMISSIONS:
Commissioners discussed working together more in the future.

Chair Gutzwiler adjourned the special meeting at 4:42 p.m.

After adjournment, Commissioners, staff, and the public enjoyed a picnic hosted by the Washington State Conservation Commission.