HomeMy WebLinkAbout030617_cabs01JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of Commissioners
Philip Morley, County Administrator
FROM: Cheryl Lowe, MRC coordinator
DATE: March 6, 2017
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 2016 and plans for 2017.
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 presentation 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 2016 accomplishments and
20167plans of the JCMRC.
DEPARTMENT CONTACT: (WSU Extension) Cheryl Lowe, JCMRC Coordinator
Date
Jefferson County
Marine
Resources
L$_ _ _1 Committee
2016 Annual Summary Report
BOCC March 6, 2017
• 1,877 volunteer hours for MRC projects in 2016
• Two more rain gardens installed
• Completion of Fort Townsend State Park shoreline restoration project
• Expanded Olympia oysters restoration and forage fish monitoring projects
MRC Projects
Fort Townsend State Park_ Shoreline_ Restoration: Improved beach access and
restored nearshore habitat project completed in 2016 in partnership with NW Straits
Foundation and WA State Parks. 22 volunteers helped with three on-site events last year
and permanent colorful interpretive signs highlight the benefits of this project. 17
volunteers engaged in monitoring activities. 2017 post -construction monitoring by citizen
science volunteers continues in collaboration with WDFW & Point No Point Treaty Council.
• Eelgrass and Shellfish Voluntary No -anchor Zones: In 2016, the MRC continued
protection of 52 acres of eelgrass beds in Port Townsend. No -anchor Zones in Port
Hadlock and Mystery Bay protect commercial and recreational shellfish beds. Efforts will
continue in 2017.
• Rain Gardens: Early in 2016, the MRC completed a prioritization of future bio -retention
project sites in East Jefferson County. In partnership with WSU Extension and the City of
PT, the MRC installed rain gardens at two priority sites in 2016: near the Courthouse
(corner of Washington and Walker Streets) and near the Port Townsend Community
Center (corner of Taylor and Clay Streets). The MRC plans to complete 2 more rain
gardens in 2017.
• Olympia Oyster Projects: Olympia oyster habitat enhancement project in Discovery
Bay is progressing well. Monitoring will continue for several more years. The MRC also
worked with WDFW and tribal co -managers (Skokomish and Jamestown S'Klallam) to test
feasibility of a Olympia oyster restoration project in Quilcene Bay in 2016. Monitoring and
project expansion plans underway in 2017.
• Bull Kelp Studies: Jefferson MRC continues to participate in a regional effort to test
citizen science monitoring of local bull kelp beds, coordinated by the Northwest Straits
Commission (NWSC). Results are mixed and NWSC is now working on the next iteration.
• Puget Sound Partnership: MRC has three NTAs with Strait ERN and HCCC LIOs (rain
gardens, Olympia oysters, and shoreline armoring outreach). Continuing in 2017.
Education & Outreach
Shoreline Landowner Outreach: MRC & KPTZ staff aired 2 radio programs about
shoreline armoring and local restoration projects. MRC also supported the NW Straits
Foundation's shoreline landowner outreach, which included 13 landowner site visits here,
and assistance with two designs (3 properties) for armor removal here. Two
neighborhood -based outreach programs are planned for 2017 in the Discovery Bay area,
along with a more outreach to a broader geographic area.
• Diggin' for Dinner: One family-oriented program on safe and sustainable clam
harvesting at a local public beach, in partnership with WDFW and WSU Beach Naturalists.
In 2017, the MRC will offer two of these programs in south Jefferson County.
• Ocean Acidification: Action at a Local Level: In June 2016, the Northwest Straits
Commission hosted a special program for local decision makers to look at opportunities
for mitigating O.A. Future programs being considered.
2
I
Other: Information tables at festivals, presentations to local groups, and general
outreach. In 2017, outreach topics include developing a PTSD Maritime Discovery
Program partnership, prevention of lost crab pots, school participation in rain garden
projects, and more outreach to boating public.
Benefits to Jefferson County
The MRC and Northwest Straits Initiative provide important economic, recreational and
environmental benefits to Jefferson County. 2016 direct value only is c7r,UrJ.
Northwest Straits Commission (NWSC):
• $73,000 annual grant for MRC administration and local projects (EPA $ thru WA Dept
of Ecology). ($1,346,00( to Jefferson County since 1999)
NT,Yt1„ 0r+ fN',A'1cr)° $575,000 to Jefferson County in 2016
• $478,000 spent for Fort Townsend State Park Nearshore Restoration. (Additional
$15,000 for education/outreach work in last 2 yrs).
• $48,000 for Shoreline Armoring Removal Program—technical consultant site
visits, conceptual design work and permitting assistance in Jefferson Co.
• $6,000 spent on refining "Best of the Best" feeder bluff parcel assessment in
Jefferson Co to identify best sites for future armor removal.
• $1,000 MRC funding to support targeted outreach and education about shoreline
habitats and armor removal.
• $12,000 derelict net removals in 2016
• $15,000 in support of nearshore restoration for NOSC Maynard Beach project
Other _Leverage _(I_n-kind Value): ^s $20,000
• City of Port Townsend (rain gardens) $3,600
• WSU Extension (rain gardens & volunteer support) $7,250
• Skokomish Tribe (Olympia oysters GIS work) $100
• WA Fish and Wildlife (shellfish, restoration monitoring & Olympia oysters) $1,050
• Taylor Shellfish (Olympia oysters) $5,150
• Point No Point Treaty Council (forage fish lab work) $600
• Port of Port Townsend (no anchor zones) $2,250
3