Washington Wildlife Commission Investigation Prompts Removal Demand

Wildlife commissions do not get to operate above the people they serve.

A fourteen-month independent investigation requested by Washington Gov. Ferguson has put fresh heat on the state’s Fish and Wildlife Commission. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation says the investigation validated its concerns over public records violations and commission governance, including allegations involving Commissioner Melanie Rowland and a mandatory public records request.

The report, according to the update, found that Rowland intentionally chose not to respond to a lawful public records request, had previously signed a court declaration claiming relevant records had been searched for and surrendered, and later admitted to the investigator that she had not responded to the request and was not actively working on it.

Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation says it has sent a demand letter to the governor calling for the removal of Commissioners Barbara Baker, John Lehmkuhl, Melanie Rowland, and Lorna Smith. It also says it filed a court motion seeking sanctions tied to false declarations.

This matters far beyond one boardroom in Olympia. Wildlife commissions make decisions that affect hunting seasons, predator policy, access, harvest opportunity, and the public’s trust in management. If commissioners cannot follow transparency laws, they should not be trusted to regulate hunters, anglers, trappers, landowners, or the wildlife resource itself. Accountability is not optional just because the subject is wildlife.