HomeMy WebLinkAbout022216_cabs01Consent Agenda
Regular Agenda
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of Commissioners
Philip Morley, County Administrator
FROM: Cheryl Lowe, MRC coordinator
DATE: Feb. ,15;2016
RE: MRC annual report
STATEMENT OF ISSUE: Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee (JCMRC)
provides an annual report to the BOCC to keep them informed about grants, accomplishments
and goals accomplished in 2015 and plans for 2016.
ANALYSIS: This committee brings together community expertise on marine resource issues
of interest to the County. They identify priority actions consistent with the Puget Sound
Partnership Action Agenda and the Northwest Straits Strategic Goals and implement those
actions. This annual report gives the BOCC an opportunity to provide input and guidance
regarding marine resource education, outreach and nearshore restoration activities.
FISCAL IMPACT: No fiscal impact. Jefferson County receives grant funds for this program
from the Northwest Straits Commission (Dept of Ecology) and the Northwest Straits
Foundation.
RECOMMENDATION: A 30 -minute presentation on the 2015 accomplishments and 2016
plans of the JCMRC.
DEPARTMENT CONTACT: (WSU Extension) Cheryl Lowe, JCMRC Coordinator
REVIEWED BY:
Philip Morley,,. ounty A mmistrator Date
Jefferson County
Marine
Resources
Committee
2015 Annual Report & 2016 Projects
BOCC Presentation Feb 22, 2016
Highlights
• 1,254 volunteer hours for MRC projects
• Expansion of Voluntary No -Anchor Zone in Port Townsend
• New interpretive signs about rain gardens and shoreline restoration projects
• New citizen science projects with kelp, forage fish and Olympia oysters
2015-16 MRC Projects & Programs
• Fort Townsend_ State Park Shoreline Restoration (2014-16): Project will improve
beach access and enhance nearshore habitats. Pre -construction monitoring by citizen
science volunteers in 2015 with Point No Point Treaty Council. Two colorful interpretive
signs highlighting the benefits of this project will be installed when construction is
completed in 2016. Three outreach events in 2016. Current.
• Eelgrass and _Shellfish Voluntary No -anchor Zones: In 2015, the MRC completed
an expansion of the Port Townsend No -anchor Zone to south of Boat Haven, protecting
36 more acres of eelgrass beds. Outreach and maintenance of voluntary no -anchor zones
in Port Townsend, Port Hadlock and Mystery Bay continues. Current.
• Rain Gardens (2015-16); Following installation of two Garfield Street rain gardens in
fall 2014 (partnering with City of Port Townsend & WSU Extension), MRC installed
interpretive signs at the Monroe Street outfall pipe and at each rain garden. The MRC is
now completing a prioritization of future bio -retention project sites in East Jefferson
County and expects to complete 2-3 more installations in 2016. New phase.
• Olympia Oyster Projects (2015-16�: Citizen science monitoring of the 2014 Olympia
oyster habitat project in Discovery Bay continues. The MRC is working with WDFW and
tribal co -managers to test restoration feasibility in Quilcene Bay. Current.
• Bull _Kelp Studies: Jefferson MRC is participating in a regional citizen science effort to
monitor the status of local bull kelp beds, coordinated by the Northwest Straits
Commission. This effort arose out of concern that critical bull kelp habitat is shrinking.
• Puget Sound_ Partnership: MRC is part of the Strait ERN and Hood Canal Coordinating
Council LIO areas. Current.
Education & Outreach
• Shoreline Landowners Workshops on Bluff Erosion and Soft -shore Protection
(2015-16). Two workshops were held in 2015 in partnership with NWS Foundation.
Another workshop is planned for fall 2016. Current.
• Jefferson County SoundIQ: The MRC provided local data to the NWS Commission for
an updated, on-line, easy -to -access, shoreline mapping platform. See
haps:l/www.igmap.orglgev ewer/Html5Viewer/?viewer=soundiq. Current.
• Diggin' for Dinner (2015-16): Annual hands-on, family-oriented programs on safe and
sustainable clam harvesting at local public beaches, in partnership with WDFW and WSU
Beach Naturalists. Current.
• Oil Spill Preparedness Workshop. January 2015. Co -hosted with NWS Foundation
and designed for local officials. Current.
• Information tables at festivals, presentations to local groups, local media articles, paid
advertisements in local media and Rose Theatre trailer ads. Current.
Economic Benefits to Jefferson County
Northwest Straits Commission(NWSC
• $73,000 annual grant for MRC administration and local projects (EPA $ thru WA Dept
of Ecology). Completed.
Northwest Straits Foundation (NWSF).
• $350,000 (2014-2016) to NWSF for construction phase of Fort Townsend State Park
Nearshore Restoration. Current.
• $50,000 to NWSF for removal of derelict crab pots in Port Townsend Bay.
Completed.
• $14,000 (2014-2016). MRC funding to support targeted outreach and education
about shoreline habitats and armor removal. Current.
MRC Partners
City of Port Townsend
Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe
Point No Point Treaty Council
Jefferson Dept of Community Development
Jefferson Dept of Public Health (Water Quality)
Northwest Straits Initiative
North Olympic Salmon Coalition (NOSC)
Puget Sound Partnership
Port of Port Townsend
WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife
WSU Extension Beach Naturalists