Outdoors

POSTED: Thursday, Jul. 02, 2009

Fish, wildlife panel at full strength

With the filling of three vacancies on the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission in June by Governor Christine Gregoire, the nine-member panel is back to full strength.

Appointed by Gregoire to six-year terms on the commission were David Jennings of Olympia, Rollie Schmitten of Leavenworth and Bradley Smith of Bellingham.

The first priority for the reconstituted commission will be the selection of a new fish and wildlife director to replace Jeffrey Koenings who resigned earlier this year after serving 10 years as agency head.

Jennings, who holds one of three at-large positions on the commission, works for the state department of health and has degrees in forest resources and public health. One of his specialties is water protection management. Jennings served on the Gifford Pinchot Task Force and is a past president of the Black Hills Audubon Society.

Schmitten occupies an Eastern Washington chair on the commission and has an extensive political and public administration background including election to municipal, county and state offices. He also served as director of the former Washington Department of Fisheries and Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Affairs in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Schmitten has a Bachelor of Science degree from Washington State University.

Smith is currently Dean of the Huxley College of the Environment at Western Washington University and was the first director of the office of environmental education at the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. He holds a doctorate from Western Michigan University and was a Fulbright Scholar.

The three join six currently sitting commissioners including Western Washington members Miranda Wecker (Naselle), chair of the commission, and Dr. Kenneth Chew (Seattle), Eastern Washington representatives George Orr (Spokane) and Chuck Perry (Moses Lake) and the two at-large panelists Conrad Mahnken (Bainbridge Island) and Gary Douvia (Kettle Falls) commission vice-chair.

Besides the search for a new director, among many vital issues awaiting the commission's consideration are reforming the department's fish production system, resolving Columbia River salmon management issues and refocusing the department's mission and goals in light of cutbacks made to its budget.

To communicate with fish and wildlife commissioners, call their office directly at 360 902-2267 or email in care of commission@dfw.wa.gov.

SOON TO GO UP

At least until late July, hunters and fishers will pay the same rates as last year for the privilege of pursuing quarry here.

The first of fishing and hunting license fee increases approved by the 2009 Legislature, which gave a substantial reprieve to fish and wildlife programs and installations on the chopping block, are slated to take effect Sunday, July 26.

On that date the 10-percent across-the-board surcharge on all 2009 fishing and hunting licenses, permits, tags and stamps goes into effect.

In addition, at that time, the base cost of Western Washington pheasant permits will double from the current $35.

The increase is intended to make the westside pheasant release program self-sustaining. It had been among agency programs slated for elimination in the governor's 2009-10 budget at the start of the legislative session.

Waiting for implementation dates are two other revenue-enhancing measures, one, the so-called two-pole fee ($20 for adults and $5 for seniors), will allow gamefish anglers to put a second hook and line in the water on selected lowland lakes.

The monies generated from this license endorsement will support hatchery programs. Administrators are putting together a list of Washington hatchery-stocked lakes where a-pole-in-each-hand fishing can be allowed.

Another newly created fisheries-related elective fee, one anglers here can exercise some discretion in buying is the Columbia River Recreational Salmon and Steelhead Stamp at $7.50.

It will be required of anyone recreationally fishing for salmon and steelhead from near the mouth of the Columbia River upstream to Chief Joseph Dam as well as on selected Columbia River tributaries.

A new citizen's committee was formed under terms of the legislation to advise the department concerning Columbia River sport-fishing.

But fish and wildlife officials have still to work out many details for implementation.