Meeting Information June 2013

AGENDA

June 25, 2013

4501 North Fairfax Drive

Arlington, VA

MEETING MINUTES - JUNE 25, 2013

SFBPC members participating: James Adams, John Arway, Thom Dammrich, Fred Harris, Scott Kovarovics, Ryck Lydecker, Mike Nussman, Geoff Ratté, John Sprague, Janine Belleque, Chris Edmonston, Roger Fuhrman, Anne McCammon‐Soltis

Other participants: Doug Hobbs (FWS), Christie Vigfusson (FWS), Paul Van Ryzin (FWS), Jarrad Kosa (FWS)

Boating Issues Committee – John Sprague, Chair

Boating Infrastructure Grant Program: Discussion and consideration of Fiscal Year 2013, Round 2 BIG Grant Recommendations

John Sprague, Chair, BIG Project Proposal Review Team

• Sprague briefed SFBPC members on the FY2013 project proposal review process. He highlighted the make-­‐up of the review team and the process by which the proposed projects were reviewed.
• Sprague pointed out that this was the first time that FWS has undertaken a 2nd round of BIG funding in a single fiscal year.
• Lydecker indicated that the FWS undertook the 2nd round partly at the suggestion of the Council.
• He presented the findings of the review team and presented possible recommendations by the SFBPC to the FWS Director regarding Council recommendations on funding priorities.
  
  Motion to approve recommendations: Geoff Ratté
  
  Second: Mike Nussman
  
  Motion approved unanimously

Update on Boating Infrastructure Grant / Clean Vessel Act Grant Programs Enhanced Participation Project

Ryck Lydecker, Subcommittee Chair

• Lydecker briefed the Council a strategy for undertaking a process to craft recommendations to increase participation in both BIG and CVA.
• He indicated that a Council team will be established and that it will engage SOBA and other partner organizations.

Fisheries Issues Committee – Mike Nussman, Chair

Consideration of SFBPC Fish and Aquatic resource Conservation “Vision”

Mike Nussman, Chair

• Nussman updated Council members on discussion of the draft Vision during the May 2013 Council meeting.
• He indicated that feedback from several Council members has been received and incorporated into the latest draft.
• Nussman suggested that Council members take last look at the report and provide any final edits.

Motion to approve final Vision, pending member edits: Geoff Ratté

Second: James Adams

Motion approved unanimously

Other Business

Update on RBFF assessment project

Scott Kovarovics, SFBPC Vice Chair

• Kovarovics gave a brief update on the upcoming Council assessment of RBFF.

New Business

National Park Service planning

• Ryck Lydecker raised the issue of following up on an agenda item from the May 2013 Council meeting: National Park Service planning process.
• Rachel Jacobson, DOI Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, made an offer to help schedule a detailed briefing on the planning process for Council members. To intent was to help Council members understand the process as it relates to revision of park management plans.
• John Sprague indicated that he feels it is important for the Council to have a better understanding of how the NPS planning process works.
• Both Sprague and Doug Boyd said they were interested in following up on the issue, perhaps as part of an ad hoc team.

Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act

• John Arway noted that the act has expired.
• He noted that funding for mass marking of hatchery salmon is included in the act. States and conservation organizations see this activity as critical to their management efforts.
• Hobbs to schedule a briefing on this at future meeting.

Ethanol / E15 / Renewable Fuel Standard

• Arway noted that the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies is considering drafting an AFWA white paper / position paper on E15.

New Assistant Director for Fish and Aquatic Conservation

• Jeff Underwood introduced David Hoskins.

Adjourn

Motion to adjourn: Ryck Lydecker

Second: James Adams

Motion approved unanimously