Meeting Minutes WASHINGTON FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091

ATTENDANCE:
Commission	Department (Cont.)
Kelly White, Chairman	Greg Bargmann
Russ Cahill, Vice Chairman	Kevin Amos
Don Heinicke	John DeVore
Lisa Pelly	Bob Gibbons
Will Roehl	Andrew Appleby
Fred Shiosaki	Pat Michael
Bob Tuck	Other Department Staff
Van Van Gytenbeek
	Public:
Commission Staff:	Jack Brock
Debbie Nelson	Ed Owens
	Ron Shultz, National Audubon Society
Department	Al Adams, HCSEG
Jeff Koenings, Director	Melissa Palmer, HCSEG
Larry Peck, Deputy Director	Don Walker
Jim Lux	John Edmunds
Dan Budd	Dave Smith, Columbia Basin Walleye Club
Craig Burley	Chris Bellows
Steve Keller	J. D. Love
Bruce Crawford	Terry Rudnick
Jim Eby	Rob Kavanaugh
Gayle Kreitman	Mary Garvey
Bruce Bjork	B. J. Thorniley, WA State Trappers Assn.
Harriet Allen	Ron Holtcamp
Dave Ware	Jim Hearn
John Pierce	Greg Frister
Dave Brittell	Susan Ridgly
Greg Hueckel	Brent Simcosky, Governor's Office of Indian Affairs
Carl Samuelson	George Ziegltrum, WA Forest Protection Assn.
Peter Birch	Butch Smith, Ilwaco Charter Assn.
Steve Pozzanghera	Frances Clark, NW Gillnetters Assn.
Dave Seiler	Mark Storaasli
Morris Barker
Sara LaBorde

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12:

Chairman White called the workshop to order at 1:10 p.m.

DIRECTOR'S REPORT:

Director Koenings reviewed significant Department issues and activities.

BUDGET UPDATE:

Jim Lux provided a status report on the Department's current biennial budget and briefed the Commission on the impacts of I-695 on the Department.

YEAR 2000 (Y2K) OVERVIEW/BRIEFING:

Jim Lux and Jim Eby briefed the Commission on the Department's progress toward compliance with the Year 2000 date requirements, including what steps have been taken, where we are at this time, and where we will be on January 1, 2000. The Department's efforts involve all types of equipment, not just computer equipment.

LICENSE DISTRIBUTION PROCEDURES -- BRIEFING:

Bruce Crawford briefed the Commission on the Department's license distribution procedures.

The Commission requested the Department look into the development of a transferrable vehicle use permit.

LAND TRANSACTIONS:

Dan Budd presented the Department's request for approval of numerous proposed land transactions, including acquisition of two properties and two conservation easements, and granting of one easement and one right-of-way.

Commissioner Cahill moved, seconded by Commissioner Tuck, to approve the following land transactions:

• Acquisition of the 8.85-acre Holgerson Family Limited Partnership property in Clallam County for $79,200;
• Acquisition of the conservation easement on a 79.56-acre parcel of the Hottell property in Okanogan County for $230,000;
• Acquisition of the conservation easement on a 33.05-acre parcel of the Winchell property in Okanogan County for $28,000;
• Acquisition of the 21.5-acre Roe property in Okanogan County for $55,000;
• Acquisition of the 5.14-acre Deppiesse property in Kitsap County for $26,950;
• Easement request to John Armstrong, Milton Cole, and James Hecker in exchange for shared maintenance of the road at Lake Whatcom Hatchery in Whatcom County; and
• A .17-acre right-of-way and a .57-acre slope easement to Clallam County at Dungeness Hatchery in Clallam County for $1,354.22.

POACHING HOTLINE -- BRIEFING:

Bruce Bjork briefed the Commission on the Poaching Hotline, including what occurs now when a call is made to the Hotline, what can be done to improve the system, potential costs involved, Washington State Patrol issues, legislative action, and public response/perception.

LISTING OF OLYMPIC MUDMINNOW, MARDON SKIPPER BUTTERFLY, AND NORTHERN LEOPARD FROG -- BRIEFING:

Harriet Allen briefed the Commission on the proposed listing of the Olympic mudminnow, mardon skipper butterfly, and northern leopard frog.

Public input and Commission consideration of adoption of the final rule proposal will occur at the December 10-11, 1999 Commission meeting in Vancouver.

STATUS AND TREND OF GAME SPECIES:

Dave Ware and John Pierce presented the status and trend of game species in the State of Washington.

The Commission will consider approval of a time line for development and adoption of the 2000-2002 hunting season package and alternative methods for adoption of future hunting seasons and quotas at the December 10-11, 1999 Commission meeting in Vancouver.

HYDRAULIC CODE HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN -- BRIEFING:

Greg Hueckel, Gayle Kreitman, and Peter Birch provided a status report on the Department's efforts to comply with the Endangered Species Act through its Hydraulic Project Approval Program.

METHOW RIVER MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING -- BRIEFING:

Carl Samuelson briefed the Commission on the draft Memorandum of Understanding between NMFS, USFWS, WDFW, and Okanogan County for development of a Methow River Basin habitat conservation plan and implementation of interim conservation measures.

Chairman White recessed the workshop at 5:45 p.m.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13:

WILD SALMON PRODUCTION AND SURVIVAL EVALUATION PROGRAM -- BRIEFING:

Dave Seiler provided a briefing and slide presentation overview of this statewide monitoring program directed at improving harvest and habitat management.

SALMON AQUACULTURE -- BRIEFING:

Kevin Amos and Andrew Appleby briefed the Commission on recommendations for management and regulation of Atlantic salmon aquaculture, along with recommendations for other potential aquaculture species.

Commissioner Van Gytenbeek requested the Department draft legislation on regulation and management of aquaculture.

MARINE FISH ESA CANDIDATE LISTING -- BRIEFING:

Greg Bargmann briefed the Commission on the petition to list 18 species of marine fish in Puget Sound as threatened or endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act.

PUGET SOUND SHRIMP FISHERIES TRANSITION TO LIMITED ENTRY FISHERIES -- BRIEFING:

Morris Barker briefed the Commission on rule proposals to convert Puget Sound shrimp fisheries from emerging fishery status to limited entry fishery status effective January 1, 2000 as per enacted Senate Bill 2107.

Public input on and Commission consideration of adoption of the final rule proposals will occur at the December 10-11, 1999 Commission meeting in Vancouver.

LIVE FISH FISHERY REGULATIONS -- BRIEFING:

Greg Bargmann briefed the Commission on a rule proposal to prohibit a commercial fishery for live marine fish.

Public input on and Commission consideration of adoption of the final rule proposal will occur at the December 10-11, 1999 Commission meeting in Vancouver.

PUGET SOUND COMMERCIAL DOGFISH RULES -- BRIEFING:

Greg Bargmann briefed the Commission on a rule proposal to discontinue commercial dogfish fisheries in the northern and southern Puget Sound until populations recover.

Public input on and Commission consideration of adoption of the final rule proposal will occur at the December 10-11, 1999 Commission meeting in Vancouver.

2000-2001 SPORTFISH RULE PROPOSALS -- BRIEFING:

Ross Fuller, Pat Michael, Morris Barker, and Bob Gibbons briefed the Commission on the policy issues in the 2000-2001 sportfish rule proposals.

Commissioner Van Gytenbeek suggested the Department thoroughly review the use of single hook, barbless flies, and lures as a fishing method that the National Marine Fisheries Service will accept. The Department should review the study done by the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council on the use of circle hooks which would allow cutthroat fishing, and be prepared to discuss their findings at the December 10-11, 1999 Commission meeting.

Public input on the final rule proposals will occur at the December 10-11, 1999 Commission meeting in Vancouver. The Commission will table consideration of adoption of the rule proposals until the February 2000 Commission meeting; no additional public input will be accepted at that meeting. 2000-2002 COLUMBIA RIVER STURGEON MANAGEMENT -- BRIEFING: John DeVore briefed the Commission on management strategies, harvest allocation in fisheries, and options for a potential restructuring of lower Columbia River sport and commercial sturgeon fisheries. Public input on and Commission consideration of adoption of the final management objectives and allocation guidelines and delegation of authority will occur at the December 10-11, 1999 Commission meeting in Vancouver.

2000 COMMISSION MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS:

Due to insufficient time at the workshop, it was agreed that Chairman White would select the dates and locations for the 2000 Commission meetings and workshops and advise the Commission.

MINUTES:

Commissioner Shiosaki moved, seconded by Commissioner Van Gytenbeek, to approve the Minutes of the following:

• July 29, 1999 Commission conference all
• August 6-7, 1999 Commission meeting
• August 12, 1999 Commission conference call
• August 26, 1999 Commission conference call
• September 23, 1999 Commission conference call
• October 7, 1999 Commission conference call
• October 11, 1999 Commission conference call
• October 14, 1999 Commission conference call
• October 28, 1999 Commission conference call.

The motion carried unanimously.

MISCELLANEOUS AND WORKSHOP DEBRIEF:

Commissioner Tuck moved, seconded by Commissioner Van Gytenbeek, to request that the Department develop a white paper to serve as basis for possible development of policy concerning gravel mining in floodplain areas, and present the white paper for review and discussion at the March 17-18, 2000 Commission workshop. The motion carried unanimously.

Chairman White adjourned the workshop at 3:35 p.m.

Commissioners in Attendance:

Kelly White, Chairman

Russ Cahill, Vice Chairman

Don Heinicke

Lisa Pelly

Will Roehl

Fred Shiosaki

Bob Tuck

Van Van Gytenbeek

Return to Commission Minutes Index