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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM061902 Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee Minutes Wednesday, June 19,2002 Present: Yarn Brooks, Marine Science Practitioner Larry Crockett, ex-officio, Port of Port Townsend Judy Damore, District 1 Jeff Gallant, District 1 Spike Hall, District 3 (Vice Chair) Anne Murphy, District 2 Andrew Palmer, District 3 (Chair) Rex Rice, Environment David Jenkins, District 2 Larry Lawson, Commercial Fishing Judy Surber, City of Port Townsend Absent: Bill Kalina, ex-officio, U.S. Navy, Indian Island Richard Wojt, Jefferson County Commissioners Dave Christensen, Jefferson County Natural Resources Staff/Guests: Barbara Bowen, Jefferson County John Cambalik, Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team Paula Mackrow and Kevin Long, North Olympic Salmon Coalition Barbara Nightingale Joanna Sanders, MRC Meeting Secretary Steve Todd, Point No Point Treaty Council Ginna Correa, Washington State Conservation Commission OPENING BUSINESS Chair Andy Palmer called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM in the Port Townsend Community Center, Port Townsend, W A. Minutes of the May meeting were approved, with a correction to page 2, paragraph 2, to include Yarn Brooks as a participant in the Port Townsend Bay Beach Seine. The agenda was approved as written. OBSERVER COMMENT John Cambalik reported that he has additional information on the shellfish area of concern in Port Hadlock, which he will forward to Anne Murphy. Noting that net reduction in the number of shellfish harvest areas closed due to contamination is a Northwest Straits Commission benchmark, Anne Murphy proposed that one or several MRC members become contacts for communications from the Department of Health or Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team Warning System regarding shellfish growing downgrades or areas of concern in Jefferson County. David Jenkins, Larry Crockett and Yarn Brooks expressed interest. Larry Crockett agreed to copy Varn, and David on the notices the Port has received from the Department of Health about downgrades within the Port district. John Cambalik announced that the Action Team is recruiting for his counterpart position, a local liaison in the North Sound, to cover Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom and possibly Island Counties. Their web site contains more information about this position. OLD BUSINESS Long- Range Planning Retreat: Andy Palmer reported that the Executive Committee met last month and has begun to chart ideas about where the MRC may want to be in two years, at the conclusion of the Northwest Straits Initiative. The task is proving to be more difficult than anticipated, but they will continue to work on a plan guided by the idea of building on the MRC's work in the first three years, incorporating as many of the action areas identified at the long-range planning retreat as possible. Olympia Oyster Restoration: Anne Murphy reported that on a recent site selection trip, they identified a potentially good seeding location on Discovery Bay, though it might lack the support of area Marine Resources Committee - June 19,2002 Page: 2 property owners. Another site selection trip may soon be scheduled. The North Puget Sound brood stock is ready for seeding in September. There was discussion of other possible seeding sites. PRESENTATION Limiting Factors Analysis for Jefferson County Salmon Habitat: Barbara Nightingale pointed out that the main purpose of the presentation is to show the various tools and databases used to help identify near shore details. The Limiting Factors Analysis (LFA), which is due to be produced in draft form as early as September, will provide the MRC with an opportunity to see what has been identiíïed through the resource and inventory process. The analysis will include a prioritized list of recommended actions as well as data needs and may be of interest to current or future MRC projects. The City and County should find the LFA helpful for shoreline master planning. Barbara circulated a list of stressors in the near shore habitat for the MRC's information. Steve Todd of the Point No Point Treaty Council reviewed some of the sources of information being used in the limiting factors analysis (Dept. of Fish and Wildlife marine resource database and priority habitat species and DNR shore zone inventory). They have been using the drift cell, as defined by the Department of Ecology, as the unit for identifying human impacts to near shore processes (physical, chemical and biological). An historic baseline could help determine how these processes may have affected juvenile salmon in the 150 years since this area was settled. This information might also help identify what could be done to rehabilitate and restore some of those near~shore areas. He showed 1800s U.S. coast survey maps and then DNR maps of the same area with an overlay of GIS polygon features representing salt marshes, intertidal area and spit formations. An overlay of data obtained from a project led by the Point No Point Treaty Council shows bulkheads, piers, launch ramps, stairways, marinas and other shoreline features. Looking at the Department of Ecology's oblique photographs showing shoreline details, there was significant discussion about the changes in Oak Bay at the government cut and interest in obtaining copies of maps and data for the MRC website. Jeff Gallant mentioned the need for funding in the Year 4 Action Grant to upgrade the MRC website to contain this data. Larry Crockett indicated the Port of Port Townsend would purchase maps and data for its Comprehensive Scheme update and that the MRC may retain in its library these materials once the Port has completed its Scheme. Jeff Gallant announced that the MRC also has in its library the new data disk from Anchor Environmental. He mentioned that it might be possible for the Year 3 grant contractor to incorporate some of the Anchor evaluation into the Habitat Stewardship Project. During a refreshment break the MRC recognized the efforts of Barbara Bowen and Dave Christensen in staffing the MRC. OLD BUSINESS - Continued Status of RFQ for Habitat Stewardship and Olympia Oyster Projects: Spike Hall reported that while there were many who requested materials, there were just two interested applicants. Both candidates when interviewed next week will be asked whether they are also interested in working on the Olympia Oyster project (since this project was inadvertently omitted from the RFQ). The interview team consists of Dave Jenkins, Yarn Brooks, Spike Hall, Andy Palmer, Judy Damore and Anne Murphy. In response to the suggestion to em ail the Olympia Oyster RFQ to candidates before the interviews, Barbara Bowen agreed to draft a cover note for review by Anne Murphy. Andy Palmer reported that the Executive Committee met with the new MRC staff person, Pat Pearson, Dave Christensen, David Goldsmith and Katherine Baril of WSU. After an overview of the background and representation on the MRC, they discussed MRC projects and the possible advantages of a partnership with WSU. There was also discussion of the Northwest Straits Commission grants and administrative needs, such as Marine Resources Committee - June 19,2002 Page: 3 moving the MRC website to the WSU server and holding its regular monthly meetings at the WSU Madrona Room. Larry Lawson expressed interest in finding out whether WSU would be able assist the MRC with grant writing. Jeff Gallant was curious how the transition from the County to WSU would affect Dave Christensen's participation on the MRC representing Local Government. Andy Palmer indicated that it is a desire to have both County Commissioner representation and Staff participation. It was suggested that a possible topic for the long~range planning discussion is how other MRCs interact with their County Commissioners. Barbara Bowen reported that she has submitted the Year 4 Administrative Grant application and the final report for the Year 2 Action Grant. Pat Pearson will receive a complete folder of the administrative and project grants to help her get up to speed as the new administrative grant begins July 1, 2002. A copy is also available for the Executive Committee. Andy noted that Pat Pearson will attend the July meeting and should be added to the list serve. Geoduck Follow-Up/Action: Larry Lawson solicited feedback on last month's presentation by the Department of Natural Resources and asked whether there was MRC interest in gaining more information from different points of view (e.g., tribes or commercial bidders). Although there were several comments that the information presented last month seemed to portray the program as efficient and responsible, there was interest in hearing from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife as well as from a bidder. Larry Lawson agreed to do some more research and will post information on the list serve prior to trying to schedule a presentation. NEW BUSINESS & REPORTS Northwest Straits Commission Report: Anne Murphy reported that the first Commission newsletter should be complete in July. Each MRC is offered the opportunity to make submissions -listing news items, photos and calendar events. She asked the Fair committee to let her know the number of newsletters needed for distribution at the County Fair. The target audience for the December issue is legislators. The Commission has also been distributing fact sheets. Currently posted on the website is one on derelict gear that can be reprinted for distribution. Billy Frank, Chair of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission and Jeff Koenings, Head of the Department of Fish and Wildlife attended the last meeting and said they gained an appreciation for the role of the Commission and the MRCs, particularly the data collection and the dissemination of information. In the process of developing protocols for the pilot Derelict Gear Removal Project funded by NOAA, a large purse seine net was discovered off of Stewart Island. This event will receive news coverage tomorrow, including comments by several VIPs. Larry Lawson said that suggestions for protocol on this project should be forwarded to the Commission. Anne reminded the MRC that there will be a press workshop in Port Townsend next week. Carryover Funds from Previous Year: Barbara Bowen said that because the final report has already been filed, carryover funds from the Year Two Action Grant are not available. Due to the expressed needs in the areas of website and the library, she offered to provide assistance within the next ten days by placing photos on the web site or by purchasing several key resource books. Suggestions should be forwarded to Jeff Gallant. There was interest in adding links on the MRC web site to the DOE oblique photographs shown tonight. Barbara also agreed to send Jeff the North Olympic Salmon Coalition's data disk from the forage fish proj ect. Fair Booths - Jefferson County Fair and Low Tide Fest: Jeff Gallant volunteered to set up and staff the booth at the July 7th Low Tide Fest. Suggestions for improving the display boards were to include photos relating to both the Olympia Oyster and the derelict gear removal projects. The North Olympic Salmon Coalition will join the MRC at its County Fair booth again this year. MRC members were encouraged to begin signing up to staff the booth. He hopes to have a sign up sheet at the next regular meeting. Northwest Straits Resolution Orca Pass International Stewardship Area: Anne reported that many MRC members attended Mike Sato's presentation on this project last week. The proposed Resolution of Marine Resources Committee - June 19,2002 Page: 4 Support was also included in the MRC's agenda packet and has been discussed over the last several months. It was noted that the Northwest Straits Commission will act on this resolution at their next meeting later this month and may propose minor modifications. Larry Lawson moved that Anne Murphy be directed to voice support for the concept outlined in the Orca Pass International Stewardship Area Resolution. The motion was seconded. During discussion of the motion, uncertainty surfaced about what this proposal would mean for the Northwest Straits Commission and other potential marine protected areas. Other than a high level of diversity in a number of hot spots, there was thought to be a lack of scientific proof that this area needs protection. Another comment was that this resolution supports the concept of protection and would not exclude MP As. Andy Palmer asked that since one of the benchmarks is to achieve a regional system of MP As, would the MRC want to vote against another protection effort? It was pointed out that this proposal is not called a marine protected area nor would it be falling under any of the effective controls. Other comments in support of the proposal were that it opens up good dialogue, is focused on the ecosystem, and spans international borders. The motion was approved by consensus. OTHER/ADMINISTRATIVE - None PREPARE AGENDA / ADJOURN The next meeting is tentatively scheduled on Thursday, July 25, 2002 at 7:00 PM in the Madrona Room, Port Hadlock, Washington. The meeting adjourned at 9:55 PM. MARINE RESOURCES COMMITTEE Andy Palmer, Chair