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Home My WebLink About021317_cabs01JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S BRIEFING AGENDA REQUEST TO: Board of County Commissioners f f FROM: Philip Morley, County Administra#sf X i DATE: February 13, 2017 RE: Update re: Lower Duckabush River Assessment and Outreach Project STATEMENT OF ISSUE: Staff from the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group will provide an update to the Board of County Commissioners regarding the Lower Duckabush River Assessment and Outreach Project, conducted in 2016, and discuss next steps in the project. ANALYSIS: The Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group (HCSEG) is working with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to gather community input about the future of the lower Duckabush River, as WDFW and others begin long-term planning. HCSEG is conducting a Feasibility Study to identify community, County and Tribal interests and concerns as to the current conditions of the lower Duckabush River, so that local interests can be represented in any future restoration efforts. A final report will be assembled late in 2017. A community survey was conducted in the Fall of 2016. HCSEG's powerpoint presentation is attached to this memo, and includes a summary of the survey results. HCSEG staff will make a presentation about work to date, and next steps in this project. FISCAL IMPACT: None from the briefing. RECOMMENDATION: Hear the presentation of the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group and engage in dialogue with staff about the project. REVIEW Y: Philip Morley, C. ty Administrator Date Lower Duckabush River Assessment and Outreach Project Update February 2017 0 C E N T E R v�rtr NJ oN o EA'NANCE MENS Note: This presentation is meant to provide a high level overview of the overall project including numerical findings and available research. Images and text provided in this presentation do not represent the full extent of the work, or more detailed speaking used by the presenters. Questions pertaining to any interpretations of this presentation should be directed to the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group whom prepared it. Note: This presentation is meant to provide a high level overview of the overall project including numerical findings and available research. Images and text provided in this presentation do not represent the full extent of the work, or more detailed speaking used by the presenters. Questions pertaining to any interpretations of this presentation should be directed to the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group whom prepared it. Purpose & Scope • The Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group (HCSEG) working with WDFW as an local partner to gather community input about the future of lower Duckabush River as WDFW and others begin long-term planning • Feasibility Study: to outreach and identify all community, County, Tribal interests and concerns of current conditions of the lower Duckabush River to ensure local needs are represented in any future restoration. A final report will be assembled late in 2017. : one x --.*, t $. It 46/ : one x --.*, Why the Duckabush? • Important for many uses - fishing, shellfish harvest, other recreation • Supports Hood Canal summer chum, threatened under the ESA • Lower river/estuary has numerous habitat issues: o Flooding o Road/Bridge Safety o Culverts o Disconnected Floodplain and Channels • Goal is to figure out what the community wants/needs, and what condition the natural resources are in currently. Project Timeline To Date January 2016: Scope of Work Developed and begin Feasibility Study Spring 2016: Identify key community stakeholders. Develop outreach materials Conduct initial interviews and outreach Jefferson County Commissioners Project Introduction Summer 2016: Hood Canal Tracts Board Meeting Community Survey Distributed Community Q&A Session at Olympic Canal Tracts Fall 2016: Community Survey Responses Deadline Community Survey Responses and Results Analyzed Survey Specifics • What? 0 Comments/Concerns about recreation, harvest, safety, flooding, etc. • Who? 0 300 + landowners, tribes, agencies, Fire Dept. 0 Just under 50% response rate • Where 0 Those in the lower 1 mile of river Survey Results Re rm a nee 2S Non Response 211,10 ■ Seascin Ei ■ Permanent v Non R espy Housing Survey Results P refe red Method of Communication ■ Mail ■ Email ■ Phone rel on Response Survey Results 10 YEARS ON LAND m6r-10Yr m11-20Yr m2l+ mNonResponse Survey Results Age of Respondents 50 HE D1 20 2- ■ 1&-�.5 0 3&-50 41 1 1 31-E3 56+ 0 Non Re one Survey Results Riverside Properties ■ Yes No m Non Response Survey Results Top Qualities of Living Along Ducka bush River/Estuary? Sh elf idh I14%_ -mm� Access �o pan Water° Sa I rroWildlife 21 Nature 33 I Peace/Quiet 18% ■ N a ure ■ Peace;IQuiet ■ Salm x/W idlife ■ Clean eater ■ Access ■ 5heffi�h Survey Results Top Qualities of Living Along fJuckabush River/Estuary? ■ N a �e ■ Pear Quiet ■ Salmo i/Wildlife L.: jean V - titer ■ � ■ 17� %d7 Survey Results Biggest Concerns F o odng 60 5C Lack of Marvestab.e _ 1 % Lack of ac cess -co P L 0 2D ! Safet D Survey Results Desired Improvements ■ ncreased aceto estuary c od pr oto porgy ■ Safer Road5h-r Ed De ■ irxresed harp- est off. pert Unities ■ nrreased wildlife vieve ing ■ -other "Other" responses include erosion control, floodplain reconnection, mushrooming, swimming area, trails, etc. Questions? New Developments - WIIN Act (WRDA) • The Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project (PSNERP) is an assessment of Puget Sound's shoreline and nearshore areas to better understand human activities and what restoration potential exists. This project began in 2001 as a partnership between WDFW and Army Corps of Engineers. • WIIN Act passed and signed by Pres. Obama in December 2016 provides funds to Army Corps to work with WDFW on beginning investigation into restoration of Duckabush, along with two other watersheds in W. WA. o http://bit.ly/2j7ffox What Does This Mean? • Army Corps, WDFW have interest in restoring Duckabush River Estuary by reconnecting Hood Canal with intertidal wetlands while improving tidal exchange and sediment transport. • Army Corps currently has no funding appropriated to do anything in the Duckabush, but has authority to begin discussions with project partners. • Important for HCSEG as local watershed partner to continue engaging with landowners and stakeholders to ensure community concerns are addressed while developing local support for future restoration. Next Steps... Spring - Summer 2017 • Engage with community members, stakeholders and partners • Seek funding for citizen monitoring program in lower Duckabush River • Work closely with WDFW, ACE to track progress of PSNERP while ensuring community concerns are represented Fall - Winter • Project update to stakeholders, feasibility report to follow. Project Contacts Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group Michelle Myers - 360-275-3575 ext. 22 1 michelle@pnwsalmoncenter.org Seth Elsen - 360-275-3575 ext. 12 1 seth4pnwsaImonce nter.org Tamara Cowles - 360-275-3575 ext. 24 1 tamara4pnwsalmoncenter.org Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Theresa Mitchell - 360-902-2750 1 Theresa. Mitchell@dfw.wa.gov