BELLINGHAM – The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission elected new leadership, decided on 2026 legislative requests, and heard briefings and public input on a variety of topics during its Aug. 14-16 meeting in Bellingham.

The Commission meeting began Thursday, Aug. 14, with Big Tent, Habitat, Fish, and Wildlife committee meetings, including a panel discussion with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) regional leaders and representatives from the Lummi Nation, Nooksack Indian Tribe, Bellingham Technical College, and City of Bellingham on a partnership to raise Chinook salmon that return to?Whatcom Creek.

The committees also heard updates on fishways?rule making, beaver habitat management, the proposed?Resident Native Trout Harvest Policy, progress on hatchery monitoring and evaluation, biodiversity?investments, and work by WDFW’s Private Lands team. The Fish Committee approved a recommendation to delegate changes to the?lowland lakes?fishing season in the?Eastern Region?to the WDFW Director.

On Friday, Aug. 15, commissioners discussed and then held votes on Commission leadership, unanimously electing James "Jim" Anderson of Buckley as the new chair. The Commission elected John Lehmkuhl, Ph.D., of Wenatchee as vice chair. More information on Commission members is available on the Department’s webpage.

The Commission then heard open public input and reports from WDFW Director Kelly Susewind and North Puget Sound Region Director Brendan Brokes, as well as a briefing on the?Skagit Wildlife Area Management Plan. Later in the afternoon, the Commission unanimously decided to advance potential agency request legislation and supplemental budget proposals for the 2026 state legislative session.

The Commission meeting continued Saturday, Aug. 16, with additional open public input followed by discussion among commissioners on future meeting planning before moving into executive session.

Presentation slides and materials are posted on the Commission agenda. The August hybrid meeting was recorded so members of the public can watch at their convenience. The recording, as well as information about past and future Commission meetings and ways to participate, can be found at WDFW's Commission meetings webpage.

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is a panel appointed by the governor that sets policy for WDFW. WDFW works to preserve, protect and perpetuate fish, wildlife, and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities.