Washington Commission to Discuss Columbia River Fisheries, Consider Land Transactions
OutdoorHub 05.27.12
The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will receive briefings on Columbia River fisheries and consider proposed land transactions during meetings May 31-June 2 in Olympia.
The commission, a nine-member citizen panel appointed by the governor to set policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), will convene a special workshop on Columbia River fisheries at 1 p.m. on May 31. The meeting will be held in Room 172 of the Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington St. S.E.
The workshop will be followed by a two-day meeting at the same location June 1-2. That meeting is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. both days.
Agendas for both meetings are available on the commission’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/meetings.html.
During the special workshop May 31, WDFW fishery managers will present the commission an overview of Columbia River fisheries, particularly those for salmon and steelhead. The presentation also will include information on conservation objectives and Endangered Species Act guidelines.
During the June 1-2 meeting, the commission is scheduled to take action on proposed land transactions, including the purchase of a 51-acre property in Clallam County. WDFW is proposing the land acquisition to protect important habitat for fish and wildlife.
In other business, the commission is tentatively scheduled to receive a briefing on discussions regarding a potential partnership for operating the Puyallup Trout Hatchery.
The commission also will receive briefings on regional fisheries enhancement groups, the operation and maintenance of WDFW-owned lands, the department’s Energy and Major Projects Program, the Karelian bear dog program, the Puget Sound shrimp fishery, and a commercial license buy-back program for the sea cucumber and sea urchin fishery.
