The state Fish and Wildlife Commission has a boatload of huge tasks in 2009.

There's a big budget cut on the way. Wild salmon and steelhead runs continue to struggle. Limited numbers of hard-working Fish and Wildlife employees will have fewer resources to manage fish and wildlife populations on millions of acres.

Fewer hunters and anglers — Fish and Wildlife's core groups — are buying licenses and going afield.

But no task will be more important than selecting a permanent director for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The director sets the tone in the department — and is responsible for everything from managing elk overpopulations near Mount St. Helens to cougars — and, soon, wolves — to reversing the decades-long decline in wild salmon and steelhead runs.

The director also must improve relations with core Fish and Wildlife groups — especially anglers, and, perhaps to a lesser degree, hunters.

Poor public relations at the top

Former Director Jeff Koenings alienated many outdoors people during his 10 years at the helm of Fish and Wildlife.

It's difficult to find an involved angler — the kind of nutsos that drive long distances to meetings at their own expense — who feel as though Koenings listened to their concerns.

For example, Koenings advocated letting Columbia River commercial gillnetters kill more wild steelhead in nets set for chinook salmon.

This proposal didn't make sense to the thousands of sport anglers who volunteer for steelhead recovery programs and have seen runs plummet in many Columbia River tributaries.

Koenings was often curt — to the point of rudeness — with user groups that questioned Fish and Wildlife policy.

And, to be transparent, Koenings was rude and vindictive — and inaccurate — to me when I asked questions about smallmouth bass eating baby salmon on the Columbia River.

Washington's biggest fishing groups didn't shed a tear when Koenings resigned.

Even more telling: declining sales of fishing licenses shows anglers are tiring of mediocre salmon fisheries.

Know that Fish and Wildlife employees are respected throughout the state. Biologists, enforcement officers, scientists and others do miracles with limited resources — and many of them are skilled at talking with user groups and rallying volunteers to projects.


It's time that Fish and Wildlife's top brass acted more like their boots-on-the-dirt employees and reached out to anglers, hunters, wildlife watchers and other outdoor lovers.

The big search

Jerry Gutzwiler, chairman of the Fish and Wildlife Commission, said the search for a new director will begin in mid-2009, after the department learns how much money will be cut from the budget.

Acting director Phil Anderson says the Legislature may cut up to $40 million out of the $170 million of state funds that went to the department in the 2007-2009 budget.

Anderson not a likely choice

Gutzwiler said Anderson, a deputy director who is the interim director at least through June 2009, is probably not a candidate for the permanent position.

Anderson, a former Westport charter boat skipper who has risen through Fish and Wildlife since 1994 and is an expert on negotiating salmon fishing seasons, doesn't have a college degree.

"Basically, Phil has stepped forward to take on a role during difficult times," Gutzwiler said.

Anderson will focus on getting Fish and Wildlife through the Legislature's budget process in 2009, Gutzwiler said.

Anderson said he's not sure if he will apply for the permanent position — and he's too busy trying to convince the Legislature that Fish and Wildlife programs drive a big economic engine.

"I'm not ready to make that decision yet," Anderson said of applying for the permanent job.

Anderson is telling anyone who will listen that natural resource agencies, such as Fish and Wildlife, get a tiny chunk of the state's budget.

Yet, Washington anglers alone spent $550 million on gear in 2006 and another $335 million on fishing-related expenses, such as hotels, gas and other expenses.

It's time for the state's anglers — and hunters and wildlife watchers — to have a Fish and Wildlife director who listens, reaches out and brings back the frustrated folks who stopped hunting and fishing.

It's time for everyone to work together, and it will take an exceptional leader to make it all happen.

Chester Allen can be reached at 360-754-4226 or callen@theolympian.com.

Nice article Chester.

Chester's always been pretty good at supporting the views of sport anglers...

Fish on...

Todd

BINGO!

Give that man a gold star!

Spent quite a few minutes talking to (and being questioned by) Chester before the public commentary meetings on Wild Steelhead many moons ago. Great guy - a passionate fisherman who's participating in the legislative/allocation process as well as fishing and writing about it.

I wish we had a Chester writing for the Times or PI!

Brian

A good read.

Chester for Director!

Seriously, thanks for the post. Great editorial.