WRP Executive Committee Meeting
February l8, l999

Present

Andy Cohen At Large		X
Randy Brown	CA	X	Alternate: Nate Dechoretz
Max Haegele	USBR	X	Chairman EXCOMM & WRP
Bill Harvey	TX	X
Edward Theriot	USCOE	X	Alternate: *Jim Athern, Also present Larry Sanders
Mark Sytsma At Large
Dwight Willimson		X	Alternate: *Wendy Raley
Linda Drees	FWS	X	Panel Coordinator

*Alternate represented at meeting.

Breakfast Round Table for WRP members attending International ANS Conference in Duluth on April 27, l999 at 7:l5 AM-8:30 at the Holiday Inn, Duluth, MN. Topics for breakfast roundtable include; Status WRP Annual Report, WRP Work Plan, Agenda Items for Sept. WRP meeting, Retirement of Chair(Max Haegele), Selection of New Chair, Western Informational Strategy.

Support Letters Coordinator reported that Caulerpa, Ballast Water and Mitten Crab Letters were mailed. Randy Brown reported that California Fish and Game is not recommending a mitten crab fishery to control mitten crab at this time. The CFG may revisit this issue in 6 months. Letters from the Panel, OR,WA and the ANSTF may have influenced the decision not to conduct the fishery. Limited discussion arose on ANSTF letter failing to clearly reiterate the positions of OR,WA, and Panel on denying the fishery. This differing view may cause confusion for the Commission in making a decision. Better coordination between ANSTF and the Panel should avoid this situation in the future.

EXCOM discussed the need to inform administrators and legislators on western concerns in order to focus funding and staff support on these concerns. Andy Cohen suggested sending the Ballast Water letter sent to the ANSTF to a selected group of legislators with a transmittal letter from the Panel. Some members believed that legislators would benefit from more in depth information and that the letter would not supply sufficient background on extent of problem in west, economic impacts and funding needs. Another proposition to address the need for increased visibility of Panel in legislative circles was the development of a brief position paper and identification of key congressionals to target with this paper. Discussion of this strategy would occur at breakfast roundtable in April at International ANS Conference. A vote was called to send the Ballast water letter to legislators, with a Panel transmittal letter and in the converse to develop an alternative strategy at the April roundtable. Vote was as follows; To send letter; Cohen, Brown. To develop comprehensive strategy(position paper, id key legislators and administrators), Haegele, Athern,Toba, Harvey. Needed to Confer with Others; Raley

Status of Western Governor=s - The Western Regional Directors of the USFWS have contributed funding to the IPA on Invasives in the WGA. EXCOM discussed the pros and cons of contributing to this position in order to coordinate the Panel out of the WGA office. Unanimous Decision made to contribute support only if MOU reflects commitment of commensurate staff time to WRP ANS issues.

Annual Report to ANSTF and 1999 Work Plan - Chair requested EXCOM to provide comments on first draft of annual report. Substantive and not editorial comments were requested. Additionally members that have not provided activity reports were asked to send them in.

Mitten Crab Workshop and Idaho State Plan Workshop - Voted to provide shortfall of $600. to workshop organizers if BOR cannot provide. Workshop to be held in Sacramento 3rd week in March, l999.

Filling Vacant Slots for Inland Conservation and Inland Academic - EXCOM discussed potential candidates to fill Academic and Conservation slots. Suggestions for academic include; American Fisheries Society, Conservation include - Environmental Defense Fund, National Resource Defense Council, National Lake Management Society, Desert Fishes Council. Coordinator is to contact National Hdqts.to determine interest by next conference call.

No date was set for next meeting. Suggest March 29, l999 (Mon) at 1l:30 AM to go over Workplan and Activity Report prior to submission to Panel for two weeks and formal presentation to ANSTF at April 29th, l999 meeting.