October 5-6, 2012 Minutes

1. Commissioners’ Discussion
   • Wildfires
   • Major issues the department is currently facing
   • Recognition of work effort, dedication and diligence of Director, Deputy Director and Staff
2. Meeting Minutes Approval
   • August 31, 2012 - conference call
   • September 5-6, 2012 - regular meeting

2. Open Public Input:
The following person signed up to provide public input during this item:

• Daniel Hall - Wolf Management, Wedge Pack

3. Director's Report:
The Director briefed the Commission on various items including:

4. Klickitat Hatchery Improvements and Master Plan Update – Briefing
John Easterbrooks, Region 3 Fish Program Manager and Bill Sharp, Klickitat River Coordinator (Yakama Nation) briefed the Commission on the key elements of the proposed Klickitat Hatchery infrastructure expansion needed to support the fish production changes. 

5. WAC Overhaul Technical Rule Changes, Round 3 - Briefing
Joanna Eide, Admin. Regulations Analyst, Enforcement Program, briefed the Commission on the proposed third batch of technical rule changes associated with the WAC overhaul project.  This proposal updated, clarified, reorganized, and restructured numerous bottomfish, commercial shellfish, and recreational shellfish rules.

The following rules are amended:

The following are proposed new rules:

The following rules are repealed:

No one signed up to provide public input for this item.

6. Intersecting Science Education and Natural Resource Management - Presentation
Margaret Tudor, Christian Grue and Karen Dvornich presented to the Commission the vision of intersecting science education, information needs of natural resource management agencies, and biodiversity protection. 

7. 2012 Wolf Plan Implementation Activities – Briefing
Dave Ware, Game Division Manager, Steve Pozzanghera, Region 1 Director and Donny Martorello, Ph.D., Carnivore Section Manager, provided a comprehensive briefing on the implementation of the Wolf Conservation and Management Plan for 2012.

The following people provided public input for this item:

Chair Wecker recessed the meeting at 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

8. Columbia River Fishery Management – Briefing 
Guy Norman, Regional Director briefed the Commission on the results of meetings with the Oregon and Washington Fish and Wildlife Workgroup.

The following people provided public input for this item:

13. 2013 Commission Meeting Calendar – Decision
The Commission discussed and set the meeting dates for 2013.

Commissioner Carpenter moved, seconded by Commissioner Perry, to adopt the calendar as presented.  Motion carried unanimously.  

Noted to consider having placeholder in September – to be determined later.

14. Miscellaneous and Meeting Debrief
The Commission discussed items that arose immediately before or during the meeting and after the preliminary agenda is published.

Wildlife Committee:

• Hunting and wildfires
• Discover Pass
• Predator/prey management
• Lands/Habitat – planning process with US Forest Service
• New range land ecologist  and fire ecologist
• Wolf Plan updates
• Fire control funding
• Special permits – keeping public informed
• Impressed with Wildlife Departments’ efforts with the wildfires

Fish Committee:

• Columbia River proposals
• Tangle nets, mortalities
• Commercial fishing in mainstem / ramping down of Spring Chinook fishery
• Improved monitoring for Columbia river
• Barbless hooks and circle hooks
• Buy back issues
• Late season fisheries
• Additional conference call for issue
• Update to Governor Kitzhaber
•  letter from Oregon staff

Meeting with Governor Gregoire during November meeting.

Chair Wecker adjourned the meeting at 1:56 p.m.