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

ATTENDANCE:
Commission	Public
Kelly White, Chairman	John Sewell, WA State Hound Council
Russ Cahill, Vice Chairman	John Fuller
Don Heinicke	Ed Mahany, Pacific Coast Hound Club
Lisa Pelly	Ed Owens
Dawn Reynolds	B.J. Thorniley, Hunters Heritage Council
Will Roehl	Larry Alvar, WA State Bowhunters
Fred Shiosaki	Tony Wells, Hunters Heritage Council
Bob Tuck	Rick Letteer
Van Van Gytenbeek	Jim Hearn
	Doug Pineo, WA Falconers Association
Commission Staff:	Karen Munro, WA Wildlife & Recreation Coalition
Debbie Nelson	Bonnie Blessing
	G.D. conroy
Department	Mike Maruyama, FFF
Jeff Koenings, Director	Wes Hopper, Steelhead Trout Club
Larry Peck, Deputy Director	John Evensen, Steelhead Trout Club
Tim Smith	John Kelly, King County Outdoor Sports Council
Josh Weiss	Mark Erickson
Gayle Kreitman	Arthur Hudson
Pat Chapman	Woodrow Watts Call, North American Prospectors
Greg Bargmann	Greg & Candy Christensen, North American Prospectors
Bill Frymire	Walt Christensen, WA State Muzzleloaders Association
John Broome	Maureen Rhodes
Donny Martorello	Melynda Campbell, North American Prospectors
Bruce Bjork	Don Walker
Bill Tweit	Merle Stout, Resources Coalition
Phil Anderson	Keith Wedynspall, Fat Chance Mining
Pat Pattillo	Bob Oke, Washington State Senator
Dan Budd	Vernon Keating
Rob Costello	Lisa Wathne, HSUS
Elyse Kane	Spephanie Hillman, PAWS
Chuck McComb	Joe Durham, Trout Unlimited
Doug Kuen	Will Anderson
Steve Jackson	Jim Tuggle, Trout Unlimited
Bob Gibbons	Terry Turner, Trout Unlimited
Other Department Staff	Frank Urabeck, NMTA
	Shari Stoican, Puget Sound Anglers

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6:

Chairman White called the workshop to order at 10:00 A.m.

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.

BUDGET UPDATE:

Deputy Director Larry Peck provided a status report on the Department's current biennial budget.

ESA COMPLIANCE AND HPA PROGRAM PROJECT -- STATUS REPORT:

Gayle Kreitman and Pat Chapman provided a status report on the HPA ESA Compliance Project and an explanation of legal gold panning activities.

The Commission will hold a conference call on October 10, 2000 at 8:00 a.m. to consider approval of numerous items to be included in the Department's 2001 Request Legislation for submission to the Office of Financial Management. One of these items pertains to the authority to issue pamphlet Hydraulic Project Approvals.

CHERRY POINT HERRING -- BRIEFING:

Greg Bargmann provided a status report on the status of Cherry Point herring stocks.

Department staff will draft a letter for Chairman White's signature to the Department of Natural Resources, Department of Ecology, etc., expressing the Commission's concern regarding the decline in Cherry Point herring stocks.

COUGAR REMOVAL WITH THE AID OF DOGS:

John Broome and Donny Martorello presented the Department's final recommendation of adoption of a permanent amendment to WAC 232-28-272, 2000-2001, 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 Black Bear and Cougar Hunting Seasons and Regulations. This amendment would establish criteria which allow the use

of hounds to remove cougars, identify removal rate, establish participation and reporting requirements, and establish the dates for the 2000-2001 public safety cougar removals.

Since public input on the proposed rule amendment was accepted at the September 16, 2000 Commission meeting, no additional public input was accepted at the workshop.

At the September 16, 2000 Commission meeting, the Commission made and tabled, until the October 6 Commission workshop, the following motion:

"That in light of the Legislature's recognition that the staff of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife are limited in their ability to protect the safety of the citizens of the state of Washington with the existing tools and methods available, to adopt the permanent amendment to WAC 232-28-272, 2000-2001, 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 Black Bear and Cougar Hunting Seasons and Regulations, as filed with the Code Reviser's Office and amended by staff. As part of that process, the Department shall continue to use the other practical alternatives available to address public safety complaints as a result of cougar activity."

Commissioner Heinicke moved, seconded by Commissioner Roehl, to amend the motion to strike all language under the "Bag Limit" section and replace with the following language: "Two (2) cougar per license year EXCLUDING public safety cougar removals. It is unlawful to kill or possess spotted cougar kittens or adult cougars accompanied by spotted kittens. Individuals selected for a public safety cougar removal permit may take one (1) cougar and must take the first legal cougar available." The motion to amend the motion carried unanimously.

Commissioner Heinicke moved, seconded by Commissioner Roehl, to amend the motion to insert the existing language under Subsection (1), and add a Subsection (2) that reads: " Individuals selected for a public safety cougar removal must possess a valid big game license and cougar transport tag prior to issuance of the permit. Individuals may participate in multiple public safety cougar removals, but must purchase a hunting license and cougar transport tag for each cougar removed. Purchases in excess of two (2) cougar transport tags must be made at Department offices." The motion to amend the motion was withdrawn to allow a motion to establish a list of participants to be made and considered prior to this motion being considered.

Commissioner Heinicke moved, seconded by Commissioner Roehl, to amend the motion to strike all language under the "Public safety cougar removals: Permit selection procedure" section and replace with the following language: "Public safety cougar removals: Permit issuance procedure. (1) To participate in a public safety cougar removal, individuals must request his/her name be placed on a list of available participants (participant list) by mailing their request to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Enforcement Program - Public Safety Cougar Removal, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091. The request must include the individual's name, address, phone number, and region applying for (see page 4 of 2000 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Rules Pamphlet for region map). Individuals may apply for multiple regions. An individual's request to be placed on a participant list for the 2000-2001 removal must be postmarked no later than November 15, 2000 or received at Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's (Department) Olympia office no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 15, 2000. (2) To be eligible for a public safety cougar removal permit (permit), participants must have at their disposal dogs capable of detecting and tracking cougar. The permit holder must use dogs while participating in a public safety cougar removal. (3) Individuals eligible for participation in a public safety cougar removal will be randomly selected from the participant list. The Department will issue a permit to the person whose name is selected from the participant list. Individuals selected will be notified by telephone or mail. Individuals selected must contact the Department's Enforcement Program in Olympia and accept the public safety cougar removal permit within 15 days of being notified. Failure to contact the Department will result in forfeit of the permit and the individual will be placed on the participant list for later selections. Permits may not be sold or reassigned. (4) No more than four (4) total individuals may participate per public safety cougar removal, including the permit holder(s). Only the permit holder, whose name appears on the permit, may take a cougar. (5) Permit holders shall notify the Department's Enforcement Program in Olympia at least 24 hours prior to exercising a public safety cougar removal permit. The Department reserves the right to accompany permit holders while participating in a public safety cougar removal. (6) Permit holders must complete the Department's public safety cougar removal education course prior to participating in a public safety cougar removal." The motion to amend the motion carried.

Commissioner Heinicke moved, seconded by Commissioner Roehl, to amend the motion to insert the existing language under Subsection (1), and add a Subsection (2) that reads: " Individuals selected for a public safety cougar removal must possess a valid big game license and cougar transport tag prior to issuance of the permit. Individuals may participate in multiple public safety cougar removals, but must purchase a cougar transport tag for each cougar removed. Purchases in excess of two (2) cougar transport tags must be made at Department offices." The motion to amend the motion carried unanimously.

Commissioner Pelly moved, seconded by Commissioner Heinicke, to amend the motion to modify Subsection (2) under the "Public safety cougar removals: Criteria" section to allow removal of not more than 50 cougar during the 2000-2001 removal period unless otherwise authorized by the commission. The motion to amend the motion failed.

The motion, as amended, carried.

The Commission requested the Department develop policies and procedures to monitor the permit removals.

Director Koenings indicated that the Department views public safety cougar removals as part of the overall cougar management effort, an additive step, to augment and not to replace.

2001 NORTH OF FALCON STATUS UPDATE:

Phil Anderson and Pat Pattillo briefed the Commission on the proposed process for development and Commission adoption of the 2001 North of Falcon Policy. At a future meeting, the Commission will be asked to consider approval of the 2001 North of Falcon schedule.

COLUMBIA RIVER SMELT (EULACHON) POLICY AND MANAGEMENT PLAN -- BRIEFING:

Bill Tweit and Greg Bargmann briefed the Commission on the development of a policy and management plan goals for maintaining healthy populations of Columbia River smelt while assuring the integrity of the ecosystem and habitat upon which the smelt depend.

INVITED INFORMAL DISCUSSION:

Brad Wood and Doug Pineo from the Washington Falconers Association met with the Commission for an informal discussion on delisting of the state endangered peregrine falcon.

The Association is willing to assist the Department in a review of the status of peregrine falcons in Washington.

PROPOSED LAND TRANSACTIONS:

Dan Budd presented the Department's request for approval of numerous proposed land transactions.

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

• Acquisition of the 9.92-acre IP Pacific Timberlands, Inc. property in Pierce County for $150,000;
• Acceptance of the 186-acre Cottonwood Island property in Skagit County from the Department of Natural Resources;
• Acceptance of the 7-acre Lummi Island property in Whatcom County from the Department of Natural Resources;
• Acceptance of the 110-acre Scatter Creek property in Thurston County from the Department of Natural Resources;
• Acquisition of the 231-acre Miller property in Skagit County for $753,000;
• Acquisition of the 917-acre Highland Farms, Inc. property in Columbia County for $239,000;
• Acquisition of the 760-acre Flying S, Inc. property in Columbia County for $252,000;
• Acquisition of the 156-acre Nysoe Enterprises, Inc. property in Columbia County for $118,030;
• Acquisition of the 31.75-acre Blake property in Clallam County for $490,000;
• Acquisition of the 5-acre Lewis property in Kitsap County for $40,000;
• Acquisition of the 2.38-acre Spring & Kearsley property in Jefferson County for $140,000;
• Approval of an easement over the Trout Lake Road in Ferry County to the U.S. Forest Service;
• Approval of boundary line adjustment on Clemans Mountain in Yakima County;
• Grant an easement at the Department's Montesano Office property in Grays Harbor County to James House;
• Grant a 114 square foot right-of-way at Tumwater Falls Hatchery in Thurston County to the City of Tumwater for $250; and
• Grant a 2.47-acre right-of-way on Iron Springs Road in Garfield County to Garfield County in exchange for 1.4 acres and standing timber.

The motion carried unanimously.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

Commissioner Pelly moved, seconded by Commissioner Cahill, to approve the Minutes of the following:

• June 1, 2000 Commission conference call
• June 9-10, 2000 Commission workshop
• June 15, 2000 Commission conference call
• July 6, 2000 Commission conference call
• July 20, 2000 Commission conference call
• August 3, 2000 Commission conference call
• August 17, 2000 Commission conference call
• August 22, 2000 Commission conference call
• September 7, 2000 Commission conference call
• September 16, 2000 Commission meeting
• September 21, 2000 Commission conference call.

The motion carried unanimously.

Chairman White recessed the workshop at 5:00 p.m.

(That evening, available Commissioners attended a Washington Falconers Association barbecue and observed falconry activities.)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7:

The Commission met in Executive Session to discuss current and/or potential litigation.

Chairman White called the workshop back to order at 9:45 a.m.

WASHINGTON WILDLIFE AND RECREATION PROGRAM -- BRIEFING:

Elyse Kane and Karen Munroe (Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition) briefed the Commission on Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program grant activities.

FOREST MANAGEMENT ON DEPARTMENT LANDS -- BRIEFING:

Chuck McComb and Doug Kuehn briefed the Commission on forest management on Department lands.

The Department is to provide Commissioners with a copy of the Sherman Creek timber management annual report.

WARM WATER FISH ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM -- BRIEFING:

Steve Jackson briefed the Commission on the Warm Water Fish Enhancement Program.

The Commission suggested that the Department better educate the public on importation of fish and illegal dumping of fish in state waters.

QUALITY TROUT STREAMS -- BRIEFING:

In response to a Commission Request, Bob Gibbons identified potential streams that could provide additional quality trout fishing opportunities. However, at this time, the Department does not recommend establishing additional quality trout fishing streams.

Commissioners agreed the Department should develop a comprehensive strategy for Washington's quality resident trout waters by the summer of 2001.

RECREATIONAL STATEWIDE WILD STEELHEAD "NO HARVEST" POLICY -- BRIEFING:

In response to a Commission Request, Bob Gibbons briefed the Commission on the Department's evaluation of impacts of a recreational "no harvest" policy on wild steelhead.

The Commission requested the Department investigate the cost of conducting another steelhead angler preference survey.

Chairman White adjourned the workshop at 2:15 p.m.

(Following the workshop, the Commission met in Executive Session to review the performance of a public employee.)

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

Commissioners in Attendance:

Kelly White, Chairman

Russ Cahill, Vice Chairman

Don Heinicke

Lisa Pelly

Dawn Reynolds

Will Roehl

Fred Shiosaki

Bob Tuck

Van Van Gytenbeek

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