October Commission Meeting to Be Held at Bristol Motor Speedway

NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission (TWRA) will hold its October 8-9 meeting at Bristol Motor Speedway in the Bruton Smith Building Banquet Room. The committee meetings begin Thursday, Oct. 8, at 1 p.m. (EDT), with full Commission proceedings continuing Friday at 9 a.m. To watch both days of the meeting, visit the TWRA YouTube Channel.

Among the agenda items, the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) Fisheries Division will present the final draft for the Tennessee Black Bass Management Plan for 2027-36. Fisheries staff previewed the plan at the August TFWC meeting and incorporated changes to the plan based on public comments. The plan focuses on seven key areas. A Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) was created late last year and established goals for future black bass management in Tennessee.

The presentation will also preview the Tennessee Trout Management Plan. TWRA's current Trout Management Plan expires in 2027, and the Fisheries Division plans to follow the same process used for the Black Bass Management Plan, incorporating public input throughout.

Commissioner and Audit Committee Chair Ford Little will present a Federally Assisted Program Civil Rights Review. Conducted by the U.S. Department of the Interior and recently completed by TWRA, the review found that the TWRA complies with applicable federal civil rights requirements. The review recognized strengths, including free Hunter and Boater Education courses, effective recruitment, and the integration of ADA reviews into routine facility inspections.

TWRA Executive Director Jason Maxedon will recognize the city of Gatlinburg for its more than 25 years of partnership with the Agency on bear management. Special acknowledgment will be given to the city's police for handling hundreds of bear-related calls annually.

In addition, the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (SEAFWA) Tennessee Wildlife Officer of the Year will be announced at the meeting. The recipient will represent TWRA at the annual SEAWA conference in late October in Nashville.

The meeting will also include an update on the Hurricane Helene Recovery Program. A rule hearing will be continued relative to hunts.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is responsible for protecting, managing, and conserving fish and wildlife species for the benefit of Tennesseans and visitors. The Agency also maintains public safety through law enforcement and safety education on waterways.

---TWRA--