WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/

August 15, 2016
Contact: Jim Scott, (360) 902-2736

WDFW invites applications to new Puget Sound steelhead advisory group

OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking applications through August 31 for membership on a new ad hoc advisory group that will assist in developing management options for Puget Sound steelhead.

The new advisory group will meet twice monthly through December to develop recommendations that support conservation objectives and improve sustainable fishing opportunities for steelhead in tributaries to Puget Sound.

The group's primary task will be to develop fishery and hatchery management strategies tailored to specific watersheds throughout Puget Sound, said Jim Scott, special assistant to the WDFW director. As part of that effort, the group will also be asked to help identify a new wild steelhead gene bank in north Puget Sound.

"We are looking for applicants who are well-acquainted with the fisheries, hatchery programs and ecological issues of watersheds throughout the Puget Sound area," Scott said. "We plan to draw on their knowledge as the department works with federal fishery managers on steelhead recovery planning efforts."

WDFW plans to make a final decision on river-specific management strategies and a gene bank in north Puget Sound later this year after receiving input from the advisory group and completing discussions with tribal fishery managers.

Applications for membership in the Puget Sound Steelhead Advisory Group must be submitted in writing with the following information:

Applicant's name, address, telephone number and email address.
Relevant experience and reasons for wanting to serve as a member of the advisory group.
Applicant's effectiveness in communication.
Name and contact information for any individual or organization submitting a nomination.

Applications must be received by Sept. 1. They may be submitted to Cathy Davidson by mail: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA, 98501; or email at Cathy.Davidson@dfw.wa.gov. For more information, contact Jim Scott at (360) 902-2736.



Persons with disabilities who need to receive this information in an alternative format or who need reasonable accommodations to participate in WDFW-sponsored public meetings or other activities may contact Dolores Noyes by phone (360-902-2349), TTY (360-902-2207), or email (dolores.noyes@dfw.wa.gov). For more information, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/reasonable_request.html.

Jim Scott? Might give him a call in the AM!

Bit of a short notice on posting and a rather short window from Sept to December to make that "final" decision on river-specific management strategies and a gene bank on a north Puget Sound river system.

Sounds to me like the cake is already baked on this one folks... :-/

Sure would like to get out on the Skagit again but me thinks that's not in the cards and will never be again...

Will WDFW make the membership selection process transparent? The timeline would seem to limit the opportunity for individuals and groups to make nominations and then for WDFW to go through a selection process.

I applied, hope I can help make a difference.

I think I will apply for this too.

I thought about it but the next two months are already planned and I'd miss all the meetings.

Seems like an awfully short turn around time to do do much more than confirm what has been decided internally.

Glad to read you two are available and willing to play. Like the Carc I have things on the agenda plus with the new NOAA rockfish plan out I suspect what little time I have in the fall will be tied up there.

Seems like an awfully short turn around time to do do much more than confirm what has been decided internally. [/quote]

Glad to see I was not the only one to feel this way! Business as usual I see...

Glad to see I was not the only one to feel this way! Business as usual I see... [/quote]

No, you're not the only one. The additional question is whether the selection process will be slanted toward Department objectives. "Can't have any discourse ya know - we're on a time crunch to get 'er done!"

Damn shame these are the initial perspectives of stakeholders.

Respect and trust are earned.

I can't think of a better member for it!

I already applied. I guess we will see what happens.

I applied as well!

Curt

This is shaping up like a Puget Sound All Stars team! It will be interesting to see how many of you get nominated. I hope it's all of you, of course.

Although I do not have the extensive knowledge base of a Salmo G. or Smalma, I hope to contribute in as productive of a way and I cannot think of two more qualified people.

Good luck,


Streamer

gotta play to win! good luck Steve and Curt! We need insiders that we can trust..I trust you!

Feel better about you guys in this than the Hatchery Haters. We need to keep the rivers open for fishing not as some shrine were we go to pray to a fish.