Bill > HB1698

This bill aims to provide more flexibility for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to collaborate with local governments in managing gray wolves. It establishes a process where counties can notify the WDFW if they have met certain recovery criteria, allowing WDFW to manage gray wolves as if they are no longer designated as endangered in that county. The bill then requires the WDFW to form a work group to develop a regional management plan for gray wolves in those counties, with input from various stakeholders like local governments, cattle producers, and conservation groups. The regional plan must address objectives like minimizing livestock impacts, improving responsiveness and deterrence efforts, and maintaining overall wolf population recovery goals.