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Commissioners Office
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
Philip Morley, County Administrator
FROM: Cheryl Lowe, MRC & Beach Naturalist Coordinator
DATE: February 26, 2018
SUBJECT: UPDATE re: Marine Resource Committee 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 2017
and plans for 2018. 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 JCMRC's 2017 accomplishments and plans for 2018.
REVIEWED BY:
Date
Jefferson County
Marine
Resources
Committee
2017 MRC Projects
2017 Annual Summary Report
Board of County Commissioners
February 26, 2018
Rain Gardens:
Stormwater is now being filtered through two more rain gardens installed in the First Security Bank
bank's parking lot in Port Hadlock and at Chetzemoka Park in Port Townsend. Rain garden
volunteers included three high school students, MRC members and community volunteers, as well
as 45 K -5th grade students from PT School District's OPEPO program. Two more installations
planned for 2018.
Olympia Oyster Proiects:
In Discovery Bay, the Olympia oyster habitat enhancement project is on track. Data collected in
2017 showed a significant increase in both numbers and size of shell compared with the 2015 data.
In Quilcene Bay, the MRC, WDFW and tribal co -managers added 80 bags of Olympia oysters to the
test plots. 2018 plans include working with Puget Sound Restoration Fund & Quilcene Bay residents
on monitoring surveys and permit applications for expanded Discovery Bay work.
M
Fort Townsend State Park Shoreline Restoration:
Post -construction monitoring by volunteers continued with
WDFW & Point No Point Treaty Council. More than 200 forage
fish eggs were found in beach samples collected by citizen
scientists in late 2017. Visitor surveys showed more park
visitors reporting easier beach access reading signs and
learned something. Monitoring will continue 1 more year.
Adelma Beach (Discovery Bay) Forage Fish Monitoring:
Volunteers are now assisting WDFW with Index Site monitoring on a private beach in this
community. Trained volunteers, have confirmed sand lance spawning at this site, and engaged local
residents in educational outreach. Monitoring will continue into 2018.
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Bull Kelp Monitoring:
Jefferson MRC continues to participate in a Northwest Straits Commission (NWSC) effort to develop
citizen science monitoring of local bull kelp beds. Satellite imagery helped direct Jefferson volunteers
on paddleboards and kayaks to areas of potential interest. Monitoring will continue in 2018.
`1"'T IG �1
I Eelgrass and Shellfish Voluntary No -anchor Zones:
MRC continued protection of 52 acres of eelgrass beds on the Port
f,
Townsend waterfront. No -anchor Zones in Port Hadlock and Mystery
y 1 Bay protect commercial and recreational shellfish beds as well as
f ,yy eelgrass. Our work has also become a model for efforts in San Juan
County. Buoy maintenance and outreach will continue in 2018.
2017 Edli nation R.
Shoreline Landowner Outreach:
MRC assisted with the NW Straits Foundation's Shoreline Landowner Program with targeted mailings
& promoting incentives, resulting in 12 landowner site visits in 2017 to encourage the idea of armor
removal. Two public programs and additional mailings are planned for 2018. Three armor removal
NTAs are being proposed for the 2018-2022 Action Agenda.
Diggin' for Dinner:
Two family-oriented programs on safe and sustainable clam
harvesting were conducted on South County public beaches in
partnership with WDFW. A total of 86 people, most of them new to
clamming, participated in the events at Quilcene WDFW Tidelands
and Dosewallips State Park beaches. Follow-up surveys clearly
documented increased knowledge about safe and sustainable
harvesting practices. Continuing in 2018.
Other Outreach:
Outreach efforts also included developing a
PTSD Maritime Discovery Program partnership
to train teachers about ocean acidification
and local actions; prevention of lost crab
pots: school participation in rain garden
projects; and more outreach to the boating
public through festivals and film trailers at a
local theatre. Continuing in 2018.
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Benefits to Jefferson County
0
The MRC and Northwest Straits Initiative provide important economic, recreational and
environmental benefits to Jefferson County through grant funds that support better stewardship of
local habitats, cleaner water, increased recreation at local beaches and local businesses.
$74,000 annual grant for MRC administration and local projects (EPA $ thru WA Dept of
Ecology). $1,420,000 to Jefferson County since 1999.
oiu"n esc;traits Foundacion teigt4o-y.
$26,570 to Jefferson County in 2017 for:
• Shoreline Armoring Removal Program targeted outreach, technical consultant
site visits, conceptual design work and permitting assistance in Jefferson Co.
• Opportunity Fund support for program assistant to expand community engagement in
marine stewardship actions
Other Leverage (In-kind Value): N $60,000
$47,134 in Volunteer hours (1,626 hrs @ $28.99/hr)
Community In-kind Match:
• City of Port Townsend (rain gardens)
• WSU Extension (rain gardens & volunteer support)
• WA Fish and Wildlife (shellfish, restoration monitoring & Olympia oysters)
• Taylor Shellfish (Olympia oysters)
• Point No Point Treaty Council (forage fish lab work)
• Port of Port Townsend (no anchor zones)
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