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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember 2026 NPC MRC First DRAFT Meeting Summary NPC MRC 9/15/2026 DRAFT Meeting Summary 1 September 15, 2026 NPC MRC Draft Meeting Summary The Tuesday, September 15, 2026 NPC MRC meeting took place at the Olympic Natural Resources Center in Forks, Washington and by Zoom connection from 4:01 to 5:28 PM. Appointed committee members present at the meeting were Maggie Bockart (Hoh Tribe Representative), Chris Butler-Minor (Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary [OCNMS]), Eileen Cooney (Citizen Representative, Jefferson County – Economic Groups), Wendy Feltham (Citizen Representative, Jefferson County – Scientific Community), Rod Fleck (City of Forks), Ian Miller (Washington Sea Grant, Ex Officio), Chase O’Neil (Clallam County Representative and NPC MRC Co-coordinator), Tami Pokorny (Jefferson County Representative and NPC MRC Co-coordinator), Alice Ryan (Citizen Representative, Clallam County – Recreational Groups), and Jill Silver (Citizen Representative, Jefferson County– Conservation/Environmental Groups). A quorum was established at the meeting. Alexander Birk (Pacific Conservation District and Pacific County MRC), Rebekah Brooks (Rebekah Brooks Contracting), Nancy Messmer (Clean Coast Alliance), Roy Morris (Clean Coast Alliance), Florence Sullivan (Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team [COASST]), and Katie Wrubel (OCNMS) were also in attendance. Introductions Public Comments Wendy Feltham reported seeing many returning salmon on her recent hike up the Elwha River to the old dam site. Alice Ryan said that five trapped storm petrels had been stuck on the Quileute Tribal School campus this year; four of them were successfully released at night. Once the birds hit the ground, they cannot take off again on their own. Alice and her students use COASST survey protocols on the dead birds. *Florence Sullivan offered to check the data to see if that is part of a larger pattern or just a local one. Nancy Messmer said that 62 engineered log jams were installed on the Little Hoko River by helicopters on State Park lands. The Makah and Quileute Tribes partnered with Trout Unlimited to do the work. Maggie Bockart shared a link to an article and video of restoration of Owl Creek that the Hoh Tribe and Trout Unlimited have been doing through multiple projects. Additions to and Approval of the Agenda Rod Fleck moved to approve the agenda as written; Alice Ryan seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Approval of the July NPC MRC Summary Wendy Feltham moved to approve the July NPC MRC Summary as written; Tami Pokorny seconded. The motion passed unanimously. (The August NPC MRC was cancelled due to summer field schedules.) NPC MRC 9/15/2026 DRAFT Meeting Summary 2 Announcements Nancy Messmer announced the Annual Coast Cleanup, scheduled for the coming Saturday, 9/19/26. Old Business There was no old business. New Business Super El Niño Chris Butler-Minor gave an overview of Cliff Mass’ presentation on “Super El Niño” misinformation. Cliff Mass’ blog post has additional details. He explained that scientifically, there is no such thing as a “Super El Niño,” but there can be strong ones. A strong El Niño is 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius higher than normal. If the temperatures reach more than 2 degrees Celsius higher than normal, this is called a very strong El Niño. We have seen four very strong El Niños since the 1980s. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting another one this coming fall, with temperatures forecasted to reach 2.2 degrees Celsius above normal. While moderate to strong El Niños tend to bring less snowpack and dry conditions, very strong El Niños typically come with normal rain and mountain snow. The coast region should expect low pressure offshore systems, southwest winds, near normal snowpacks, modestly warmer temperatures, wetter weather than usual with warm rains, and less chance of big windstorms. Chris noted that little to no snowpack in our mountains is anticipated by 2040. Jill Silver shared a link to an article from the University of Washington on the upcoming very strong El Niño. Florence Sullivan added that historically, an increase of one degree Celsius is associated with a strong mortality event for seabirds, followed by a lull and a second mortality event. They have started to see common murres coming in, but not to mass mortality levels yet. Common murre data makes up about 30% of reported birds in the COASST program. Such good data shows strong seasonal trends and distinct patterns of life history, so it is important to continue to track. COASST has had trouble getting volunteers for the beaches between Ruby and Kalaloch because they are so remote, so she welcomed volunteers for the area, even as a group rotation. Jill reported that during her ten years of surveying Rialto, she stopped seeing common murres, puffins, and pigeon guillemots, and started seeing pelicans and arctic tern. The smelt also stopped appearing, so forage fish is a big reason why the bird populations have changed. Ian Miller shared a link to his blog that is focused on El Niño and coastal flooding. Florence also posted the link to COASST’s El Niño blog. The next online COASST training is scheduled for 10/7/26. River and Ocean Film Festival Planning Ian Miller said that he was focusing on films and who was going to be at the Film Festival and asked about location and refreshment options. Tami Pokorny confirmed that the Rainforest Arts Center had been paid for by the County. *Alice Ryan said she would reach out to her remotely operated vehicle (ROV) students to see if they wanted to do a bake sale at the Film Festival. Ian said that unless anyone else wanted to take on refreshment coordination, his inclination was to gather snacks from Costco and collect donations for the ROV team. The opportunity is open for the ROV team and other groups to set up tables and posters at the event. *Chase O’Neil offered to consider coordinating concessions. Discussion followed on concession options, with the suggestion to check Swain’s for event popcorn. Marketing efforts were being made by Fish N Brew, Coast Salmon Partnership, and Washington Sea Grant, but volunteers were needed to get physical posters to Forks. Ian thanked the film review team for their time. Additional details can be found at the Film Festival website. NPC MRC 9/15/2026 DRAFT Meeting Summary 3 Coast MRC Summit Alexander Birk gave a general update on the upcoming Coast MRC Summit, which the Pacific County MRC will be hosting this year. In lieu of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) funding support, they were trying to get creative with various funding options. The Summit will be held in Ilwaco at The Salt from Thursday, 11/12/26, to Saturday, 11/14/26. *Alexander said he would send the agenda to Tami and Chase. The link to RSVP and fill out a request for proposals for presentations can be found here. The theme this year is Working Waterfronts, and refers to both human and natural processes. The agenda includes presentations and talks on Thursday; a site visit on Friday; and MRC-centered conversations with project partners who received grant funds, and discussions on future legislative priorities on Saturday. Pacific County MRC is asking the other MRCs for any project partners or ports who would be willing to come and speak. The event will be catered. Lodging is available but not paid for. An art and gallery walk will be focused on marine themes to incorporate art with science. *Alexander said he would follow up with Tami and Chase to outline the requests to the MRCs. Current Projects and Funding Update Florence Sullivan reported that the COASST interns were monitoring First Beach at La Push and that they had been pretty responsive. Tami Pokorny said she was still working with Stonybrook on the ICETree project; they were getting close to finalizing the contract. The amendment was submitted to WDFW to add the Twin Harbors project to the project list; she will contract with them directly once that goes through. Some wiggle room may be available for last-minute costs associated with the Film Festival, the Coast MRC Summit, or other small projects if those come to mind. Tami has also been pursuing the Storymap; she had what she needed from the other MRCs and hoped to have something to present soon. Updates Coast Program MRC Update Chris Waldbillig was not present for an update. Washington Coastal Marine Advisory Council (WCMAC) The next meeting is scheduled for 9/23/26. Rod Fleck said the agenda would include a conversation on the state budget and potentially sending a letter to advocate for the protection of smaller ticket items with great economic value; a discussion on July 4th celebrations and their marine impact led by Surfrider’s Policy Manager, Peter Steelquist; an update from the Economic Resilience Committee; and a discussion on European green crab. The next meeting after this will be in December. The agenda and other WCMAC meeting materials can be found on the Ecology website. Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council The last meeting was held on 9/10/26 and was held in La Push with a hybrid option. Chris Butler-Minor said the meeting included the discussion from Cliff Mass on El Niño off the Washington coast, a presentation from Washington CoastSavers coordinator Megan Juran on multiple projects and cumulative efforts, a recap of a recent meeting between coordinators and chairs that focused on working with Friends of the Birds, and a tour of the Beachcombing Museum in Forks. The next Advisory Council meeting is scheduled for November and will be virtual. All meetings are open to the public. West Coast Ocean Alliance Jennifer Hagen was not present for an update. Invasive European Green Crab Tami Pokorny said there was an amazing article in the New York Times on European green crab on Washington’s coast. Jill Silver said there was a discussion on biochar and using European green crab as a soil amendment during the climate action plan meeting last week. Pacific County is using the crabs as compost. NPC MRC 9/15/2026 DRAFT Meeting Summary 4 Marine Debris Nancy Messmer announced the upcoming International Coastal Cleanup, to be held on 9/19/26. Climate/Fossil Fuels Related There were no updates. Administrative and Fiscal Agent Update This item was covered under the Current Projects and Funding Update. Next Agenda (October 20, 2026): The next NPC MRC Meeting will be held on 10/20/26, tentatively located at Peninsula College in Forks. Public Comments/General There were no public comments. Adjourn at 5:28 PM Action Items: *Florence Sullivan offered to check the storm petrel data for larger patterns. *Alice Ryan said she would reach out to her remotely operated vehicle (ROV) students to see if they wanted to do a bake sale at the Film Festival. *Chase O’Neil offered to consider coordinating concessions for the Film Festival. *Alexander Birk said he would send the Coast MRC Summit agenda to Tami Pokorny and Chase O’Neil, and that he would follow up with them to outline the requests to the MRCs. Meeting summary prepared by Rebekah Brooks (Rebekah Brooks Contracting).