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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20180821_NPCMRCMtgSummFNPC MRC 8/21/2018 FINAL Meeting Summary 1 August 21st, 2018 NPC MRC Final Meeting Summary The Tuesday, August 21st, 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 4:02 (00:02:00 on the audio counter) to 6:06 PM [02:04:00]. 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), Katie Krueger (Citizen Rep., Clallam County – Science), Deborah Kucipeck (Clallam County Rep.), Tony Petrillo (Citizen Rep., Jefferson County – Economic/Scientific Groups), Tami Pokorny (Jefferson County Rep., Coordinator/Facilitator), Alice Ryan (Citizen Rep., Clallam County – Recreational Groups), Jill Silver (Citizen Rep., Jefferson County – Conservation/Environment) and Chiggers Stokes (Citizen Rep., Jefferson County – Recreational Groups). A quorum was present at the beginning of the meeting. Also present were Steve Allison (member of the public), Nadine Fuller (guest), Frank Hanson (ONRC), Ian Miller (UW SeaGrant), Rich Osborne (Coast Salmon Partnership) and Kim Sager-Fradkin (Lower Elwha Tribe). 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 July Meeting Summary Approval of the July Meeting Summary was postponed pending the following corrections: *Jill Silver will email a sentence to Tami Pokorny to reflect the discussion on a biodigester pilot project as a response to the issue of human waste on overused beaches by trails and campsites; *Rich Osborne had corrections to his presentation that he will send to Rebekah Brooks. Announcements Katie Krueger announced a training session held by the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (OCNMS) at ONRC for science teachers that focused on how to sample phytoplankton and how to teach students about the role of phytoplankton in the ecosystem. Alice Ryan spoke about the awesome experience she, John Hunter and other teachers from the coast had at a Seagrass Wasting Disease Training from a PhD student from Cornell University. Tami Pokorny recapped the joint Clallam MRC Meeting held in Neah Bay, which included a salmon dinner and updates on the Makah Tribe’s invasive green crab management. She also announced a training from CoastSavers on 9/9/18 on marine debris protocol. Old Business Newsletter NPC MRC 8/21/2018 FINAL Meeting Summary 2 Tami Pokorny sent out a draft pdf version of the West End Natural Resources Newsletter and distributed some paper copies for review. NPC MRC members offered some edits on photos, typos and layout. MRC Summit 2018 Tami Pokorny updated the group on the upcoming MRC Summit, which is scheduled for 10/25/18 to 10/27/18 and will be hosted by Grays Harbor. Planning calls continue and Tami will send out updates. A letter requesting funding is being circulated. The group discussed Summit funding challenges and possible ways to support the Grays Harbor Summit in hopes that there will be support for the NPC MRC Summit next year. Rod Fleck suggested applying to the City of Forks as a potential sponsor for next year’s MRC Summit; the NPC MRC approved of Tami making an application to the City. New Business Internal Project Updates and Funding Recommendations The remaining NPC MRC funds total $14,939.55. The Committee went over each project application. Biodigester This was originally discussed as a potential pilot project, but is not viable at this time because the technology is not available in the US yet. The NPC MRC is evaluating potential solutions to the excess of human waste on overused beaches along trails and at campsites, posing a pathogenic risk to people and the environment. Carbon Dating of UW Samples of Pleistocene Wood Ian Miller gave a brief presentation on the process of dating of the Pleistocene wood samples and the three items that the group could choose to approve of: Item 1: Radiocarbon date one sample at three locations; Item 2: Chiggers site radiocarbon dating; Item 3: Chiggers site OSL dating. Jennifer Hagen moved to support all three items of the carbon dating lab work, for up to $3100; Jill Silver seconded, encouraging the addition of having a PhD geomorphologist present for the sampling. Ian confirmed that that was included as part of the testing process. The motion passed by consensus. Solar Panel Installation The estimates for solar panel installation at the Forks Transit Center came to $46,659.88 for 11.73 kW and $157,769.63 for 41.54 kW. It was decided not to pursue this project further since the NPC MRC does not have the capacity to fund either proposal and another funding source may be available. UW Marbled Murrelet Citizen Science Tami Pokorny stated Ed Bowen’s concern that this project might be politically motivated because of its focus on connecting naval flights with marbled murrelet population. The group discussed flaws with the project and whether or not it is an appropriate use of NPC MRC funding. Rod Fleck raised the following points: 1: Sponsor Lauren Khuene will have to deal with the likelihood of Ed Bowen finding another flaw as he has with each rewrite; 2: The project has an inherent political bias; 3: There is a type 1 error in logic with the attempt to connect naval flights with the decline in the marbled murrelet population, which raises potential for false inference from an impact that may not actual be there. Other comments included concern that the project may not be appropriate for NPC MRC funds; that the group would rather not step into this “hornet’s nest,” especially over such a small amount of money; that the sponsor should find a different way to do the project; that there was a desire to see more of the actual data; and that the group did not want to see the project move forward without consensus. The major suggestion to Lauren was that if the project attempted to connect the navy overflights with marbled murrelet behavior instead of population, it might be acceptable. Rod Fleck moved to not fund the project at this time, to send the application back, and that sponsor Lauren Khuene could listen to the meeting recording for comments; Katie Krueger made a friendly amendment to send it back with the comment that the NPC MRC would like the application revised subject to the specific points made during the meeting so that Lauren would not have to wade through the taped discussion. Jill Silver seconded. The motion NPC MRC 8/21/2018 FINAL Meeting Summary 3 passed by consensus. *Tami will send the application back to Lauren with the NPC MRC comments, and will run the comments past the whole Committee first to make sure that the right instructions are sent to Lauren. Water Bottle Filling Station The group discussed where the water bottle filling station would go in the ICN building in Forks because of where plumbing is located in the building. It was approved by consensus to purchase the water bottle filling device for up to $1200 if the plumbing can come together. Approved internal projects came to $4300, leaving $10,636.55 for other projects. CoastSavers has requested additional funds. The group discussed reaching out to other sponsors from the original RFP to see if they could use additional funds, and whether to consider researching the biodigester pilot project. It was decided to add this to the next agenda so there would be time for Kim Sager-Fradkin’s presentation. The First 7 Years, Wildlife Response to Removal of the Elwha Dams Kim Sager-Fradkin presented on the wildlife response to the Elwha Dam Removal Project, which was the largest dam removal undertaken in the world. The two dams were removed between 2011 and 2014. While the major impetus for the dam removal was for salmon restoration, the impact to wildlife was also an important consideration. In a study that was funded by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFW) and started in 2010, the Elwha Tribe and partner Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute focused on the response of the river otter and the American dipper. Specifically, they looked at how the river dependent animals were impacted by the return of marine-derived nutrients, and how wildlife contribute to moving nutrients through the system. Fourteen river otters and 246 American dippers were tracked during the study. It was found that the otters moved widely throughout the watershed, up to 18 miles up and down the coast, and that the animals that used the marine environment had higher contributions of marine-derived carbon and nitrogen in their diets and systems. The American dippers that lived in systems with salmon were 13 times more likely to stay in their territories year-round, and were 20 times more likely to attempt a second nest in one year. In a three-year terrestrial wildlife study also funded through the USFW, the goal was to look at how wildlife recolonized the new habitat, and what species contribute to the restoration or contribute in a negative way. The study found that small animal species composition has increased across both reservoirs since the dam removal; that beavers have successfully colonized both reservoirs; that deer and elk are found across both reservoirs, but the only increase was seen in elk use on the upper reservoir; and that generally deer and elk are not causing undue stress. Other partners in the studies included the US Geological Survey, the Park Service and multiple funding agencies. Biochar Jill Silver was ready to give a presentation on biochar if there was extra time in the meeting, but her presentation was postponed due to lack of time on the agenda. Updates Orca Task Force Rich Osborne gave an update. The Orca Task Force is meeting on 8/27/18 in Anacortes. Marine Debris (All) The International Coast Cleanup will be in September. 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 last meeting was held on 7/20/18 in Pacific Beach. Tami Pokorny could not get the agenda to download, but attendees reported interesting presentations. The next meeting will be in September in Neah Bay. NPC MRC 8/21/2018 FINAL Meeting Summary 4 West Coast Ocean Partnership Jennifer Hagen said the group is now called the Regional Ocean Partnership. Everyone who was part of the former Partnership has elected to stay involved. There is still coastwide interest, but the Regional Planning Bodies are gone. The northwest coastal tribes are adamant about maintaining their treaty rights regarding ocean uses. There are still some good things to be done in the new executive order, like marine data collection. 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) Vessel traffic may be affected by orca feeding times. Administration and Fiscal Agent Update Tami Pokorny announced that Jill Silver and Chiggers Stokes were reappointed on the NPC MRC. Tony Petrillo was also appointed, but he was not available to attend this meeting. Progress is being made with the contracts. Next Agenda (September 18th): The next NPC MRC Meeting will be held at the ONRC in Forks on September 18th. The agenda will include continued discussion on how to use remaining NPC MRC funds. *If anyone has any additional items for the agenda, please send them to Tami Pokorny. Public Comments/General Rich Osborne had edits to the last agenda that did not get included yet; *he will send his edits in to be voted on at the next agenda. John Hunter commented on the Seagrass Wasting Disease Training he attended, and that it would be a challenge to get the students out to collect samples because of the timing of low tides this time of year. Adjourn at 6:03 PM (02:04:00 on the counter) Draft summary compiled by Rebekah Brooks. *Jill Silver will email a sentence to Tami Pokorny to reflect the discussion on a biodigester pilot project as a response to the issue of human waste on overused beaches by trails and campsites. *Rich Osborne had corrections to his presentation that he will send to Rebekah Brooks to be voted on at the next agenda. *Tami will send Lauren Kuehne’s project application back with the NPC MRC comments, and will run the comments past the whole Committee first to make sure that the right instructions are sent to Lauren. *If anyone has any additional items for the agenda, please send them to Tami Pokorny.