The shutdown, as it continues, could be interesting for WDFW (and WA). WDFW gets a lot of Federal funds (DJ/PR/Mitchell Act/other mitigation) that in all likelihood will come, eventually. But, bills have to be paid today so they'll have to use State funds to cover. Some of the Fed money is matching, 1 state to 3 fed, for example.

So, WDFW backfills with State funds and expects reimbursement. We only have 5 months left in the biennium so the pot of appropriated money must be drying up. Possibly, the Leg will have have to pass an emergency appropriation for all state agencies to backfill for the Shutdown Money.

Interesting, for sure.

This belongs on the main fishing forum, even if it has political implications. Donde esta El Parquito?

We have already been notified that the proposal that needs to be ok'd by NOAA-F in order to have a Sauk/Skagit CnR fishery this spring is sitting on a desk in a closed office right now, and that it is unlikely to get approved thanks to the shutdown.

Fish on...

Todd

Heard that there is a bridge replacement in King County that needs NOAA approval to be done this year. Chances are dimming..

Yeah, we're gonna have to break into that office and start forging some signatures.

Wonder what will happen with NOF, the US/Canada management, and Tribal fishing without the Feds.

The Skagit annual plan is sitting on a desk, and even if NIck breaks in (ask me how) and forges it, it still has to go to Portland for Barry Thom's signature. And the Portland NMFS office is closed too.

NOF begins next month, but pre-lim meeting usually begin in Jan. Not just NMFS missing, but PSFMC is an inter-state council and presumably federally funded, ergo, can there even be NOF?

The tribes got it easy. They just go fishing and request an "after the fact" permit when the gov't. eventually re-opens.

Oh my!!!!

Who will make sure the generator runs?????

Haa! Maybe we'll just fo fishing and do the same?

The kicker is that we need a Federal Permit but the State (who is more or less open and "working") does the enforcement. Be a great fundraiser for the state coffers, though.

hmmmm ..... enforcement lay offs in the hopper?

The rules of problem ownership should come into play here. WDFW and the Skagit tribes have done their work and crafted the annual steelhead plan and submitted it to NMFS in timely manner. It isn't the co-managers' fault that NMFS is closed for business. Nor should this be the co-managers' problem. IMO WDFW should open the Skagit season on time as planned, and then NMFS can back date its review and approval whenever they re-open for business.

We should all get a credit on our taxes for services the goberment never provided.

All Federal legislation requiring permits need to have a stipulated processing period; once that time has expired w/o action on an otherwise properly submitted application the permit is automatically approved.

So if this continues, how will it affect NOF and this schedule of meetings?
SF


November 2018 Council meeting. Changes to salmon methodologies discussed.
Jan 22-25, 2019 Salmon Technical Team (STT) meets in Portland to draft 2018 Review of Ocean
Salmon Fisheries. Available mid-February.
Feb 19-22 STT meets in Portland to complete Preseason I Stock Abundance Analysis.
Provides abundance estimates for 2019. Available early March.
Feb. 25-
March 4
State and tribal agencies hold meetings to review preseason forecast and range
of options.
March 5-12 Council meeting in Vancouver, Washington. Council adopts alternatives for
2019 fisheries for public review. Also addresses Inseason issues for fisheries
opening before May 1.
March 14-21 STT completes Preseason Report II (proposed alternatives). Available late
March.
March 18-31 Agencies, tribes, and public develop final recommendations for alternatives.
North of Cape Falcon forum meetings held.
March 21 Preseason Report II available.
March 25-26 Tentative sites and dates of public hearings: Westport, Washington (March 25),
Coos Bay, Oregon (March 25), Ukiah, California (March 26).
April 9-16 Council meets to adopt final measures in Rohnert Park, California.
April 18-22 STT, Council staff complete Preseason Report III (analysis of adopted
measures).
April 23 Preseason Report III available.
May 1 NMFS implements Federal ocean salmon fishing regulations.

Part I forgot is that the Feds pay (or used to anyway) salaries, bennies, and travel for designated Salmon Treaty staff. So, the current negotiations on the US/Canada fisheries have state folks paid for by the Feds. If that money isn't coming, WDFW needs to find it, cut something at least temporarily, and hope they get reimbursed.

We winning yet?

Fed staff did not attend last weeks meeting in Vancouver BC of the PSC. Fed staff are not attending a work session this week in Portland for PFMC. State and tribal staff did attend these meetings. The longer the shutdown the longer the gap in Fed (NMFS, USFWS) work needed for this years salmon management process.

I believe that they have votes on various commissions and panels. Plus, there is the money that goes to the states. Real fuster cluck.

Well the shut down is over...….for at least 3 weeks. In this 3 weeks period, now is the time to "crank up the work machine", and get done what needs to be done.

"If you snooze, you lose"

fixed it for ya,

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