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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20170810_CWDACminutesAlways working for a safer and healthier community 615 Sheridan Street Port Townsend, WA 98368 www.JeffersonCountyPublicHealth.org Community Health Environmental Health Developmental Disabilities Water Quality 360-385-9400 360-385-9444 360-385-9401 (f) (f) 360-379-4487 Jefferson County Clean Water District Advisory Council Pacific Room, Jefferson County Public Health 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368 Thursday, August 10, 2017 3:00 to 4:30 pm Attending: Al Cairns, Dave Steele, David Sullivan, Deborah Stinson, Richard Hull, Richard Wojt, Trevor Swanson Absent: Amy Leitman, Eric Kuzma Staff: Michael Dawson, Alisa Hasbrouck, Anna Bachmann The August 10, 2017 meeting of the Clean Water District Advisory Council was called to order at 3:05 pm by Mike Dawson. INTRODUCTION OF NEW COUNCIL MEMBER, AL CAIRNS Mike Dawson introduced Al Cairns, new District Manager at Jefferson County Conservation District (JCCD). AGENDA AND MINUTES APPROVAL Richard Hull moved to approve the meeting agenda. Deborah Stinson seconded the motion. No further discussion. The motion was unanimously approved. Dave Steele moved to approve the meeting minutes for May 11, 2017. Richard Wojt seconded the motion. No further discussion. The motion was unanimously approved. STATE BUDGET IMPACTS TO WATER QUALITY PROGRAM Mike Dawson stated that funding approval for the Northern Hood Canal PIC, and Oak Bay/Mat Mats projects is on hold due to the State budget impasse, and a vacant Environmental Health Specialist position will not be filled immediately. Al Cairn stated that Jefferson County Conservation District funding is also impacted by the State capital budget freeze. Al will give Mike a letter of agreement to participate in the Strait Priority Areas project, pending funding approval. JCCD’s funding to assist homeowners with the cost of septic repairs is also on hold. DRAFT ANNUAL REPORT Mike Dawson provided the draft annual report for review. Al Cairn stated that he will provide Mike with updated BMP numbers for the report. Trevor Swanson stated that Jean will be amenable to receiving the report by late August. Mike will add a URL to the report showing where to find it online. HOOD CANAL 3 DOWNGRADE Trevor Swanson from Washington State Department of Health (DOH) provided recent data from marine samples collected in the Hood Canal 3 area. He showed a map of the area surrounding Station 137 will be closed to commercial shellfish harvest annually from May 1 to Oct. 31. The Skokomish, Port Gamble S’Klallam, Jamestown S’Klallam, Lower Elwha Klallam tribes will be affected. DOH has sampled the area every other month in the past. Mike stated that Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) will begin Page 2 of 2 sampling for the Central Hood Canal PIC project soon, and will coordinate with DOH to sample in their “off” months, so overall sampling will increase to monthly. Trevor stated that DOH will pay for lab analysis, but must use the Shoreline Lab. Trevor stated it could be beneficial to encourage homeowners to remove floats if found to be “seal hangouts”, or take other measures to discourage seals from populating the area, short of harming them. Trevor stated that the time period for which samples must have low bacteria levels in order to trigger re-opening of the area is not defined. He stated that DOH would be more likely to be re-open the area if sources of bacteria where discovered and remediation done, which would provide reason to believe levels should remain low. DOH will not do shoreline surveys right away; however, they do shoreline surveys every 10 years or so, and that time is coming up soon, but if JCPH completes a shoreline survey, DOH would not repeat the work. Mike stated that DOH will likely close recreational shellfish harvest in a similar manner to the commercial closure, and JCPH will post the area “Closed Due to Pollution”. DUCKABUSH (HOOD CANAL 3) RECREATIONAL SHELLFISH HARVEST DATA Mike shared shellfish harvest data provided by Camille Speck at WDFW. The Duckabush area is historically very heavily used, second only to the Dosewallips area. CENTRAL HOOD CANAL PIC UPDATE Anna Bachman is the new project lead; Evan Dobrowski has left to work for the Department of Ecology. There will be a public meeting August 24, 2017, 6:00-7:30 pm at Brinnon Community Center. Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group (HCSEG) is doing a habitat-related citizen’s science project in Duckabush. The Canal Tracts HOA has been contacted by HCSEG and JCPH. HCSEG is also working toward a project to replace the Highway 101 bridge over the Duckabush River and do habitat restoration in the area. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mike announced there will be a public meeting regarding the Strait Priority Areas PIC Project on Wednesday, September 6, 2017 from 6:00 - 7:30 pm. Mike will send that information to Deborah Stinson, who stated that she will inform the Port Townsend City Council. Mike demonstrated the County’s new website. He hopes to be able to distribute meeting materials using a new website feature in the future. Several JCPH publications were circulated: the Quilcene Water Quality Fact Sheet; Strait Priority Areas Open House flyer; and Summer 2017 Water Quality Newsletter. PUBLIC COMMENT: There was no public comment. ADJOURN The August 10, 2017 meeting of the Clean Water District Advisory Council was adjourned at 4:30 p.m. by Michael Dawson. NEXT MEETING: NOVEMBER 9, 2017, 3:00 - 4:30 pm.