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Home My WebLink About120715_cabs01CABS 615 Sheridan Street Port Townsend, WA 98368 www.JeffersonCountyPublicHealth.org December 1, 2015 JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST TO: Board of County Commissioners Philip Morley, County Administrator FROM: Tami Pokorny, Environmental Health Specialist II DATE: December 7, 2015 SUBJECT: Agenda Request: North Pacific Coast Marine Resources Committee (NPC MRC) Update and Discussion STATEMENT OF ISSUE: Staff requests to update the Commissioners on the activities and projects of the North Pacific Coast Marine Resources Committee (NPC MRC). ANALYSIS: The NPC MRC is one of four county -based, science -oriented groups promoting marine resources, stewardship, and restoration on Washington's Pacific coast. The NPC MRC's mission is to: actively promote ecosystem resilience through understanding, conserving, and restoring our marine resources. This will be accomplished through research, education, community engagement and advocacy for our shared marine environment and the sustainability of its coastal communities. The NPC MRC represents a partnership between Jefferson and Clallam Counties and includes governments, agencies and citizens focused on the western portions of each county including three citizens from each county, the Makah, Quileute, and Hoh Tribes and the City of Forks. Representatives from OCNMS, WA Sea Grant and ONP also participate. Jefferson County is currently the fiscal agent and provides committee coordination and facilitation utilizing funding from WDFW to support priority projects. In 2015-2017, with BoCC approval, the NPC MRC is, or will be, supporting CoastSavers beach cleanups; marine education and hands-on field studies through Feiro Marine Life Center; a test of scientific protocol for marine debris surveys conducted through the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team; a study of sea lion diets by the Makah Tribe, production of the West End Natural Resources News; the River & Ocean Film Festival, Trashion Show and related activities during Forks' community celebration, RainFest; and support for the 2016 Coast MRC Summit in Pacific County. The NPC MRC is represented on the governor's Washington Coast Marine Advisory Council (WCMAC) and is contributing to the development of a Marine Spatial Plan (MSP) for the coast. Additional topics of Community Health Environmental Health Developmental Disabilities Water Quality 360-385-9400 360-385-9444 360-385-9401 (f) Always working for a safer and healthier community (f) 360-379-4487 interest to the MRC include ocean acidification, crude -by -rail and other new uses of the coast, preventing oil spills, and invasive species. FISCAL IMPACT: The costs for this update and discussion are negligible. RECOMMENDATIONS: 1) Look over the handout and visit the WDFW Coastal MRC website 2) Discuss MRC projects and program; ask questions, share related priorities and concerns. DEPARTMENT CONTACT: Tami Pokorny, Water Quality, Extension 498 REVIEWED BY: Philip Morl unty Addiftffsirator Date Community Health Developmental Disabilities 360-385-9400 360-385-9401 (f( Always working for a safer and healthier community Environmental Health Water Quality 360-385-9444 (f( 360-379-4487 NORTH PACIFIC COAST MARINE RESOURCES COMMITTEE ANTICIPATED PROJECTS 2015-2017 COASST —Testing the "Bag -and -Tag" Protocol for Marine Debris Science The project tests whether an established marine debris protocol focused on impacts to widlife can be divided into two components using citizen science. The testing will determine whether the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) should establish a separate debris characterization program based out of partner institutions coast -wide. At least 15 marine debris sampling sites will be permanently established, at least 30 new COASSTers will be trained to sample marine debris, and dozens of individuals will participate in debris characterization. Status: In progress CoastSavers: Coordination of Coast -wide Beach Cleanups and Outreach On September 17, 2016, the fourth International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) will include the entire Washington Coast with the help of Coastsavers recruitment efforts and online registration system. The event will be designed to attract new volunteers, partners, and sponsors. The annual springtime Washington Coast Cleanups (WCC) will occur April 23, 2016 and April 15, 2017. These coast -wide volunteer beach cleanups regularly attract over 1,000 volunteers. The goal is to reduce risks to Washington's Pacific coastal environment and wildlife from household plastics, lost fishing gear, and other types of marine debris that accumulates on our beaches. Status: In progress - contracted through GHC MRC Feiro Marine Life Center: Ocean Science - Trash Free Seas FMLC will once again partner with the Seattle Aquarium and the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary to provide Ocean Science: Trash Free Seas curriculum to the elementary school communities on the outer coast. All programs are aligned with state standards and the Next Generation Science Standards and support the Essential Ocean Literacy Principles and the Essential Principles of Climate Change. Status: Pending Makah Tribe: California and Steller Sea Lion Consumption of Salmon by Species The Makah Tribe collected 776 Steller and 262 California sea lion scat at haulouts along the northern coast of the Olympic Peninsula between 2010 and 2013. Bones and hard parts from the scat were identified based on morphological features. From this analysis 361 samples were found to have salmon bones, but unfortunately the samples could only be determined to the genus level (Oncorhynchus). The tribe proposes will engage student -scientists at North Central High School in Spokane, Washington to genetically identify the salmon bones to species at their Institute of Science and Technology under the supervision of Randall James. Status: Pending MRC -based Outreach & Education Projects The NPC MRC will continue to participate in Forks' Rain Fest, publish the MRC newsletter and support beach cleanups and host satellite activities and events such as the Trashion Show and Poetry Read. OUTREACH 2015 RainFest Trash ion Show—April 24,203-5: volunteers modeled homemade fashions created from recycled and reused materials, including marine debris. A panel of "experts" judged the outfits and awarded prizes — also constructed of reused materials. Interesting information about marine debris and prevention strategies were incorporated into the show. Community members requested that it become an annual event. Status: Pending RainFest River & Ocean Film Festival — April 25, 2015: The MRC's River & Ocean Film Festival featured the world premiere of the MRC's own natural history film, Discover the Olympic Coast. The film was professionally produced to support Washington's Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) learning standards for 4th and 5th graders. A wide range of other films that connected with north VER _& CK . -Fit FESTIVAL r�- GIM coast topics were also shown, including a video about the Quileute Tribe's Natural Resources programs. Salmon Feed & Poetry Read — September 19, 2015: A first-time event this past year was the "Salmon Feed & Poetry Read" held in Forks after the International Coast Cleanup in September. Local entertainment combined with a bar-b- que of donated salmon SALMON FEED POETRY READ IH FORKS September 39, 2035 Cnastsavers Coastal Cleanup casstsavers.atg rr+..a+.. _40.n.(®Moet Ray Morris 36o 963-3443 • ab1FVVEypen.t0at made an already productive day especially delicious and memorable. West End Natural Resources News — 2015 Edition 111 A%-4 i NPC MRC - hosted Coast - Summit 2015 in La Push — ! _ October 15-177. 111 A%-4 i