Outdoorsmen, environmentalists, and locals alike, pay attention. The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is gearing up for a packed meeting in Olympia from April 18-20, where cougars, wolves, and fish will be on the docket. The sessions, promised to be as lively as a spawning salmon run, are scheduled to kick off at the Natural Resources Building in Olympia but can be also caught on a live stream for those who can't make the trip.
Starting Thursday, the Fish Committee will chew over a non-native game fish policy, and provide updates on the North of Falcon salmon-season setting process. An appetizer, the budget for the Fish Program’s, will also be served up for discussion. The Habitat Committee isn't taking a back seat—expect them to dive into updates on Springwood Ranch in KittitasCounty. But the main course might just be the Big Tent Committee's handling of the draft Conservation Policy, managing the sometimes hairy public comments, and seasoning the final draft of the best available science policy.
According to a release on WDFW's website, Friday's session will swing wide the doors to the public before getting down to brass tacks with the WDFW director’s report. Later in the day, the Commission plans to rule on a land acquisition that's more than just a pretty piece of property—it's a potential lifeline for salmon and steelhead at Springwood Ranch in KittitasCounty, doubling as an off-channel reservoir.
And let's not forget the trees—Scatter Creek Wildlife Area’s restoration project is looking to greenlight a timber sale that's less about cashing in on wood and more about fostering a healthy forest. On the same breath, the Commission will tackle public comments and hash out proposed rule-making changes related to dock flotation. Handy if you're looking to keep your dock high and dry without harming the local ecosystem.
So, whether you're hooked on fish policies, howling at the moon for wolf details, or you're just plain nosy about where your tax dollars are going for habitat conservation, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission's upcoming gabfest might just be the hottest ticket in town this week. Tune in, turn up, or read up afterward, because Olympia's about to get wild—wildlife management style.
