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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20180717__NPCMRCMtgSummFNPC MRC 7/17/2018 FINAL Meeting Summary 1 July 17th, 2018 NPC MRC Final Meeting Summary The Tuesday, July 17th, 2018 NPC MRC meeting took place at the Hemlock Forest Room, UW Olympic Natural Resources Center (ONRC), at 1455 S Forks Avenue, Forks, WA from 4:05 (00:00:01 on the audio counter) to 6:03 PM [01:55:30]. Appointed committee members present at the meeting were Rod Fleck (City of Forks), Jennifer Hagen (Quileute Tribe Rep.), John Hunter (Citizen Rep., Clallam County – Education [by phone]), Katie Krueger (Citizen Rep., Clallam County – Science), Tami Pokorny (Jefferson County Rep., Coordinator/Facilitator), Jill Silver (Citizen Rep., Jefferson County – Conservation/Environment) and Chiggers Stokes (Citizen Rep., Clallam County – Recreational Groups). A quorum was present at the beginning of the meeting. Also present were Rebekah Brooks (ONRC), Frank Hanson (ONRC), Deb Moriarty (Washington CoastSavers), Ian Miller (UW SeaGrant [by phone]) and Rich Osborne (Coast Salmon Partnership). Introductions Public Comments There were no public comments. Additions to and Approval of the Agenda The agenda was approved by consensus as written. Approval of the June Meeting Summary The June Meeting Summary was approved by consensus. Announcements Tami Pokorny announced a new app promoted by Pacific National Labs called Eye on Water; an opportunity to join a guided hike to Ozette with an archeologist, by reservation only; the Power Paddle to Puyallup, this year’s Canoe Journey for northwest tribes; and three vacancies on the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Council if anyone wishes to apply. San Juan County has partnered with others to fly a whale flag when the orca whales are present. Old Business Tami Pokorny reminded the group about the Clallam MRC Meeting that is meeting in Neah Bay on Friday to discuss opportunities to fund Makah Tribe green crab control efforts. The group reviewed the agenda. Project Idea Updates: Biodigester The group discussed approaching the Tulalip Tribe about doing a pilot project on biodigesters. Tami Pokorny has looked for more information on biodigesters, but they do not seem to be available for human waste in the US. Pleistocene Guide/Carbon Dating of UW Samples NPC MRC 7/17/2018 FINAL Meeting Summary 2 Chiggers Stokes wrote a draft brochure on the wood and its locations on the West End. Ian Miller discussed the possibility that UW funding could be used to pay for carbon dating on the coast. The least expensive carbon dating is limited to 40,000 years old, and the Pleistocene wood is likely much older than that. Cascades geomorphologist John Rydell highlighted the Pleistocene wood at Rialto in a report and expressed interest in dating the wood. Two weeks ago, UW students collected samples of the wood at Rialto; if the NPC MRC is interested in providing some funding for the testing, a different methodology can be used to date the Pleistocene samples and do some potential landslide mapping. Tami Pokorny recommended that the group vote on this project with the other proposed projects. *Jill Silver offered her home on Mora Road for the students to stay at if they do not wish to camp when they come back to do more analysis. Solar Installation Tami Pokorny mentioned that Andy Cochran from Power Trip Energy in Port Townsend has agreed to do an assessment of the Forks Transit Center for $150. He will present his findings at the August NPC MRC Meeting. UW Marbled Murrelet Citizen Science Tami Pokorny presented Lauren Kuhne’s answers to questions regarding her project. The proposal is to take a week to train assistants to analyze murrelet tapes for Navy jet sound impacts. The group reviewed her answers and the project. Jennifer Hagen followed up with the Navy on the possibility of Navy funding for the project; she is waiting to hear back. Newsletter Tami Pokorny thanked everyone who sent in material for the West End Natural Resources Newsletter. MRC Summit 2018 The MRC Summit is scheduled for 10/25/18 to 10/27/18 in Ocean Shores. If anyone is interested in helping to plan the Summit, they can participate in the conference calls. There is no NGO funding available this year. New Business Orca Task Force Rich Osborne presented on the Southern Resident Killer Whale Task Force. The southern residents are one of four different populations of killer whales off the coast. The population spends the summer around the Salish Sea, but go from the Queen Charlotte Islands down to California. All four populations specialize in their own diets and languages, but the southern residents are fish eaters who eat mostly salmon. They have been on the endangered species list in Canada since 1998 and in the US since 2002. The population reached 98 individuals in the mid 1980’s, but is now down to only 75. The governor has mandated the Orca Task Force, comprised of tribes, state agencies, municipalities and the public. The order was to look at three areas of concern in order to come up with emergency actions to try to save the population: prey availability; toxics contamination; and vessel traffic disturbance and nearwater noise. The prey availability group is looking at other mammals that compete with the orca food supply; there is an active program now to look into potentially culling seals and sea lions. The toxic contamination group is headed by the Department of Ecology and is looking at how toxins are getting into the orca food sources; it is believed that since the population is close to urban areas, they are consuming more stormwater toxins. Rich is part of the vessel traffic disturbance and nearwater noise working group; new legislation is trying to keep marine traffic and drone use further away from the whales. The working groups report back to the task force with recommendations. This year, the Washington legislature approved funding for a long-term recovery plan to address increased enforcement, boost hatchery operations, expand training programs, stormwater mitigation projects and other agency actions. The first draft report of the process is due in October, with the final report due in November. There will be one additional report the following year, with the intent to include funding for the proposed projects in the next biennium. Executive Order and Federal Ocean Policy Jennifer Hagen presented on President Trump’s executive order to revoke the previous ocean policies. This action removed sections on stewardship, biology and ocean health; did away with the ocean planning bodies; NPC MRC 7/17/2018 FINAL Meeting Summary 3 and eliminated engagement between the tribes and federal government. She said that those who were a part of the West Coast Regional Planning Body are still invested in the work they have done and do not wish to abandon it. Surfrider Leadership Academy, CoastSavers Transition Deb Moriarty presented on the CoastSavers Leadership Academy, which included a project to support ocean health in communities. The project is soliciting locally made videos on marine conservation; the advertisement will go out on Friday. The group reviewed the RFP and suggested edits. The MRCs will judge the videos submitted by their districts; the top video from each district will go to the MRC Summit. She also updated the NPC MRC on the new CoastSavers coordinator James Grobel, who is a UW graduate. He starts on 8/1/18. The next CoastSavers beach cleanup will be on 9/15/18. A small nonprofit called A Million Waves approached CoastSavers about using marine debris to create artificial limbs for children with 3-D printing. CoastSavers is also planning for new facilities in Port Angeles and on the West End. Updates Orca Task Force This item was addressed earlier under Rich Osborne’s presentation. Marine Debris (All) This item was postponed until the next agenda. Washington Coast Marine Advisory Council/Marine Spatial Planning The next meeting is scheduled for 9/26/18 in Grays Harbor. Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council The next meeting is scheduled for 7/20/18 in Pacific Beach. West Coast Ocean Partnership There was nothing new to report. Washington Marine Resources Advisory Council (MRAC) The Council is meeting quarterly; good information can be found at their website: https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Our-role-in-the-community/Partnerships-committees/Marine-Resources- Advisory-Council. Climate/Fossil Fuels Related (All) There was nothing new to report. Administration and Fiscal Agent Update Tami Pokorny is supposed to provide an annual report at this time of year. *If anyone would like to help or has any opinions, let Tami know. Next Agenda (August 21st): The next NPC MRC Meeting will be held at the ONRC in Forks on August 21st. The agenda may include presentations from Power Trip and on the Elwha restoration. Jill Silver suggested discussing the installation of a water bottle filling station in the Forks City offices. Public Comments/General Adjourn at 6:03 PM (01:55:30 on the counter) Draft summary compiled by Rebekah Brooks. NPC MRC 7/17/2018 FINAL Meeting Summary 4 *Jill Silver offered her home on Mora Road for the UW students to stay at if they do not wish to camp when they come back to do more analysis. *If anyone would like to help with the NPC MRC annual report, or has any opinions on it, let Tami Pokorny know.