Draft hatchery and genetic management plans (HGMPs) for fifteen Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) programs will be available on April 20, 2005, for a sixty-day public review and comment period. These include twelve anadromous programs and three resident trout plants made to the Tilton River, Skate Creek and Mayfield Lake. A number of HGMPs involve cooperative partnerships with local citizen organizations including Friends of the Cowlitz and the Cowlitz Game and Anglers. Public comments, WDFW's response, and any resultant modifications to HGMPs will subsequently be posted on the WDFW website and provided to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries (NOAA) for its consideration after the comment period.

     The HGMPs describe, in a format prescribed by NOAA Fisheries, the operation of each program and the potential effects of each program on listed species. The draft HGMPs will be provided to NOAA Fisheries for consideration as significant conservation measures under subsection 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act.

     Draft HGMPs may be accessed for review through one of the following means: (1) Electronically via the internet at the WDFW website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/hat/hgmp); or (2) in-person through a scheduled appointment at the WDFW office in Olympia, Washington. To schedule an appointment, or to obtain more information, please call (360) 902-2802 or (360) 902-2700.

     WDFW will be accepting public comments on the draft HGMPs until June 20, 2005. Comments must be submitted in writing to Dr. Jeff Koenings, Director, WDFW, Attention: Andy Appleby, Fish Program, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091 or electronically through e-mail addressed to HGMP@dfw.wa.gov. All comments must be received by WDFW at the appropriate address or via WDFW's website by 5 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time on June 20, 2005.

     This notice can also be found on the Washington State Register website at http://leg.wa.gov/CodeReviser/.

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