Jason Cottle

The 2025 North Carolina Wildlife Action Plan serves as a comprehensive statewide blueprint for fish and wildlife conservation over the next decade. Its primary goal is to prevent species from becoming endangered and maintain common species by ensuring the sustainability of North Carolina's diverse aquatic and terrestrial wildlife resources and their habitats. Key strategic areas include identifying and prioritizing species of greatest conservation need, describing and conserving critical natural communities, assessing and mitigating various threats, and implementing conservation goals through collaborative partnerships and robust monitoring efforts. The plan aims to ensure future generations can enjoy the state's fish and wildlife resources.

This strategic plan outlines a comprehensive framework for the conservation, management, and recovery of North Carolina's diverse fish and wildlife resources. Key focus areas include habitat management and restoration across various ecosystems, climate adaptation and resilience strategies, and species-specific conservation efforts to address imperiled populations. The plan aims to sustain biodiversity by mitigating impacts from land use, addressing water quality concerns, and fostering partnerships for environmental stewardship.

The meeting covered roll call, conflicts of interest declarations, and approval of previous minutes. Key discussions included the financial report detailing revenues and expenditures for the general and capital improvement funds, and an update on the endowment fund balance and asset allocation. Committee reports covered migratory bird hunting season frameworks, rules cycle proposals for inland fish and land access, updates on captivity rule adjustments, and permanent rule making adoptions. The Land Acquisition and Property Committee recommended approval for Phase 2 land acquisitions, including a new fish hatchery purchase and a land donation, and approved an NC DOT trade. Capital improvements updates highlighted completed projects such as the Burnsville Depot, the Sam Nunn facility, and restoration work, alongside future projects like the Sets/Sam Nunn hatchery and the Gold Rock Gamelands bridge replacement. Rule-making discussions involved adopting frameworks for migratory bird seasons, falconry take, and recommendations for extending a sea trout harvest closure. Additionally, staff presented on public access improvements, detailing new floating fishing piers, fixed piers meeting ADA guidelines, and motorized/non-motorized boating access areas, including a renovation project at Surf City.

The meeting commenced with the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation. Discussions included a special presentation by the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, which presented a check for longleaf pine restoration on the Chawan Swamp Gameland. Financial reports provided year-to-date activity for general and capital improvement funds, along with updates on the endowment fund, including a recommended transfer of $20 million from equities to the short-term fund. The commission honored Dr. William O. McLaren with the Thomas Elquay Wildlife Diversity Award for his contributions to aquatic communities and conservation in the Little Tennessee River Basin. Committee reports covered permanent rule-making items for several counties, approval of augmentation plans for two freshwater mussels, and the release of the yellow lamp muscle conservation plan for public comment. The Fisheries Committee addressed unsuccessful striped bass restoration in certain rivers and the economic impact of black bass fishing. The Migratory Birds and Waterfowl Committee received updates on potential 2026 federal frameworks. The new Wild Turkey Committee reviewed accomplishments over the last 13 years and discussed upcoming work. The Executive Committee reviewed proposed CPIU license fee increases. The Committee of the Whole reviewed the 2026-2035 strategic plan, discussed property matters, and approved the $20 million fund transfer. The session concluded with a wildlife spotlight presentation on beaver biology and history in North Carolina.

The meeting proceedings included organizational items such as a pledge of allegiance and an invocation. The financial report detailed revenues and expenditures for the general and capital improvement funds as of May 31, 2025, noting details regarding unrestricted vs. earmarked cash balances, and presented the endowment fund balance of approximately $215 million as of May 31, 2025 (projected to be $225 million by June). The Executive Committee reported on the executive director's 2024 performance evaluation. Committee reports covered permanent rule-making notices for several counties. The Habitat, Nongame, Endangered Species Committee endorsed the Eastern Black Rail Conservation Plan and received updates on dam removal projects and the draft 2025 North Carolina Wildlife Action Plan. Detailed discussions covered conservation efforts for four species: the magnificent rams horn, the Tar River spiny muscle, the Appalachian elktoe, and the Rono log perch, including updates on habitat restoration, population augmentation, and the successful delisting of the Rono log perch. The Land Acquisition Property Committee reviewed public comments on a proposed archery zone and approved numerous land acquisition proposals totaling over 10,000 acres. The Committee of the Whole discussed a US Forest Service Good Neighbor agreement totaling $250-$300 million for habitat restoration. The agency spotlight presentation focused on 20 years of conservation work for North Carolina's aquatic species of greatest conservation need.