Game and Fish Commission to meet September 21 in Overgaard

PHOENIX — The next meeting of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission will be at 8 a.m. Friday, September 21 at the Navajo County Mogollon Complex at 2188 W. Country Club Drive in Overgaard, Arizona.

The public can attend the meeting or view it via webcast at www.azgfd.gov/commission. The meeting also can be watched on streaming video at any regional office statewide.

Those who wish to speak to the commission may submit “speaker cards” (blue cards) in person at the meeting or from any Game and Fish office. The ability to speak to the commission is not available for those viewing the webcast.

Several consent items on the agenda include:

  • Approval of an intergovernmental agreement with the Gila River Indian Community to remove tamarisk from a portion of the Base and Meridian Wildlife Area.
  • Approval of a five-year lease agreement with DS Services of America, Inc. for 200 acre-feet of the commission’s excess type II non-irrigation grandfathered groundwater rights.
  • The commission will consider approval of a policy for revoking shooting privileges for habitual rule violators at commission-owned shooting ranges.
  • Approval of memorandums of understanding with Arizona Mule Deer Organization, Arizona Deer Association and the Mule Deer Foundation to partner and share funding for conservation, habitat projects and education programs.

Other items on Friday’s agenda include:

  • A briefing on the status of state and federal legislation related to the department’s mission.
  • An update on the department’s efforts toward accomplishing commission priorities.
  • An update on the department’s involvement with resource management planning and other major actions on federal lands in Arizona.
  • A briefing on humpback chub recovery and a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposal for downlisting.
  • Hearings on license revocations for violations of Game and Fish codes, and civil assessments for the illegal taking and/or possession of wildlife (time certain at 10 a.m.).
  • A presentation on two future projects: migration from a license dealer commission to a license dealer convenience fee, and implementing a paperless spring 2020 draw.
  • A marketing update and a briefing on the fiscal year 2019 Conserve and Protect campaign strategy.

The commission will be briefed on the range of ideas received during the recent 30-day public input period regarding establishing discretionary funding sources to provide support for a consistent, long-term public awareness and education strategy.

The commission will consider separate memorandums of understanding between the Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District and the Commission to prepare an environmental impact statement for the Alamo Dam water control manual update; with the Snowflake Unified School District to partner with and provide funding for students and teachers to design and implement wildlife conservation projects; and with the Natural Resources Conservation Service for grassland habitat restoration activities in southeast Arizona.

  • An update on the National Park Service’s expanded non-native aquatic species management plan.
  • Approval of proposed amendments to commission order 40 (fish), establishing open seasons, open areas, closures, and bag and possession limits for sport fish in calendar year 2019 and 2020.
  • Approval of commission orders 25 (raptors), 41 (amphibians), 42 (crustaceans and mollusks) and 43 (reptiles) for the 2019-2023 hunting seasons, establishing seasons, dates, bag and possession limits, and open-closed areas.
  • Approval of final rulemaking amending Article 3 rules addressing the taking and handling of wildlife.
  • A briefing on current issues related to the Mexican wolf recovery program, including updates on cross-fostering pups to meet the recovery plan implementation strategy. The commission may provide direction to the department.
  • Presentation of the 2018 Commission Award nominees and selection of recipients.

At 8 a.m. Saturday, September 22 the commission will participate in a field trip to discuss current and future cooperative efforts between the department, U.S. Forest Service, Eastern Arizona Counties Organization, various non-governmental organizations and local White Mountain forest restoration professionals to restore ponderosa pine forests on the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest. The field trip will not be webcast.

To view a copy of the full meeting agenda, visit www.azgfd.gov/commission and click on the “commission agenda” link.

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission is a five-member, policy-setting board that oversees the Arizona Game and Fish Department. For more information about the commission, visit www.azgfd.gov/commission.