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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20170516 FINAL NPC MRC MinutesNPC MRC 5/16/2017 FINAL Meeting Summary 1 May 16th, 2017 NPC MRC FINAL Meeting Summary The Tuesday, May 16th, 2017 NPC MRC meeting took place at the Cedar Room, Olympic National Resources Center, at 1455 Forks Avenue, Forks, WA from 4:05 (00:01:00 on the audio counter) to 5:25 PM. Appointed committee members present at the meeting were John Hunter (Citizen Rep., Clallam County – Education), Deb Kucipeck (Clallam County Rep.), Ian Miller (Washing Sea Grant, Ex Officio), Roy Morris (Citizen Rep., Clallam County – Commercial Fishing), Rich Osborne (Citizen Rep., Clallam County – Science), Aaron Parker (Makah Tribe Rep. [called in]), Tami Pokorny (Jefferson County Rep., Coordinator/Facilitator), and Chiggers Stokes (Citizen Rep., Jefferson County – Recreational Groups). Frank Hanson (ONRC), Vern Hestand (member of the public), Katie Krueger (member of the public), Jared Low (Olympic National Park [ONP]), Jon Schmidt (Washington CoastSavers) and Lee Snook (ONP) were also present. Introductions Public Comments There were none. Additions to and Approval of the Agenda Tami Pokorny added a presentation from Jon Schmidt to the agenda, and moved the update on the transit center to 5:00. A quorum was not yet present, so approval of the agenda was postponed. Approval of the April Meeting Summary Approval of the summary was postponed until a quorum was present. Announcements Rich Osborne and Tami Pokorny announced a whale presentation in Port Angeles on 6/5/17 by John Calambokidis of Cascadia Research. Katie Krueger also announced her seat on the Sanctuary Advisory Board. Old Business RainFest and WA Coast Cleanup Jon Schmidt updated the group with some of the results from the Washington Coastal Cleanup; there were just over 1,300 volunteers who collected 15 tons of debris over 60 beaches. He also shared photos and comments that were posted from volunteers. He thanked the NPC MRC for its support. Tami Pokorny gave an update on the RainFest events and thanked the NPC MRC for its valuable participation. John Hunter reported that the Remotely Operated Vehicle event during RainFest went very well and the competition will be this weekend. Funded Projects NPC MRC 5/16/2017 FINAL Meeting Summary 2 The first batch of West End Natural Resources Newsletter draft articles went out to everyone and will be finalized at the June NPC MRC Meeting. John Hunter announced that the field trip with his students has been rescheduled for 6/13/17. The water bottle filling stations have arrived and are being installed; signs still need to be designed. New Business MERHAB Rich Osborne gave a presentation on Monitoring and Event Response to Harmful Algal Blooms, a forecasting model for reducing harmful algal blooms along the coast. He explained that the Olympic Region Harmful Algal Bloom (ORHAB) monitoring program, a partnership between the Makah, Quileute and Quinault Tribes, Department of Fish and Wildlife, UW Natural Resources, Department of Health, NOAA and UW Department of Oceanography, has been in place since the 1990’s and is the longest running database on harmful algal blooms in the world. This background of data has led into the MERHAB project, funded by UW and NOAA. NOAA already has weather forecast stations set up and wants to set up a similar system for the coast to predict HAB with a citizen science sampling component through the Makah Tribe. Bulletins are posted weekly at https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/research/habs/forecasting. COASST Training A COASST training in La Push is being planned for June 24, 2017 [10am – 4pm at the Quileute Tribal School in La Push; RSVP to coasst@uw.edu] Old Business Transit Center A quorum was reached. Vern Hestand gave a presentation on various options that could be scaled up or down depending on funding and phases. He would take marine and river photographs and digitally paint them so they could be reproduced at much larger sizes than the existing photo resolution allows. Discussion followed over display options. Tami Pokorny said that the photography and digital paintings will likely cost about $8,000. Rich Osborne moved to use as many residual funds as possible for the transit center art display, including eight large photographs and additional small photos; Roy Morris seconded. Discussion followed: Aaron Parker cautioned against an open-ended project without a long-standing agreement with the transit center; Tami confirmed that the project will end at the end of June when the biennium is up. Vern added that the project could be added to over time, but will look completed at the end of this phase. The motion passed by consensus. Tami can set up a special meeting if more people are interested in being part of the display decisions. International Coast Cleanup This was covered under Marine Debris. Updates Marine Debris (All) Jon Schmidt announced that the next International Coastal Cleanup will likely be on Saturday, 9/3/17. Washington Coast Marine Advisory Council/Marine Spatial Planning The last meeting was held on 5/10/17 in Grays Harbor. There was discussion on the preliminary Marine Spatial Plan draft and examination of maps for offshore energy use; very little space is available for offshore energy development. The public draft should be available sometime in June with a long comment period. Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council The next meeting is scheduled for 5/19/17 in Neah Bay. *Tami Pokorny will send the agenda around. NPC MRC 5/16/2017 FINAL Meeting Summary 3 Washington Marine Resources Advisory Council (MRAC) There was a presentation on updating the Blue Ribbon report on ocean acidification and recommended actions. Fossil Fuels Related (All) There were no updates. Administration and Fiscal Agent Update Tami updated the group already under Funded Projects and the Transit Center. Next Agenda (June 20th): The agenda will include final discussions on the West End Natural Resources Newsletter articles and Transit Center, and a look at the RFP. Public Comments/General Tami Pokorny thanked everyone for their involvement in all the projects. Adjourn at 5:25 PM (01:49:15 on the counter) Draft summary compiled by Rebekah Brooks. *Tami Pokorny will send the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council agenda around.