HomeMy WebLinkAboutM062001
Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee
Minutes
Wednesday, June 20, 2001
Present:
Larry Crockett, ex-officio, Port of Port Townsend
Judy Damore, District 1
Larry Fay, Jefferson County Environmental Health
Jeff Gallant, District 1 (Vice Chair)
Spike Hall, Citizen
Bill Kalina, ex-officio, U.S. Navy, Indian Island
Anne Murphy, District 2
Linda Newberry, Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe
Barbara Nightingale, Citizen
Deborah Siefert, Marine Science Practitioner
Richard Wojt, Jefferson County Commissioner
Absent:
Larry Lawson, Commercial Fishing
Sydney Lipton, Local Government, City Excused
Andrew Palmer, District 3 (Chair) Excused
Rex Rice, Environment Excused
Guests:
Varn Brooks, Citizen
Dave Christensen, Jefferson County Natural Resources
Mike Dougherty, Clallam County
Libby Palmer
Amy Leitman
Karen Lull
Ron Hirschi, Neil Harrington, Paula Mackrow, NOSC
David Sullivan, Citizen
Connie Ross, Citizen
Vice Chair Jeff Gallant called the regular meeting to order at 6: 10 PM in the basement conference room of
the Jefferson County Courthouse Port Townsend, Washington.
PRESENTATION - FORAGE FISH SURVEY PROJECT: Guest speaker Ron Hirschi of the North
Olympic Salmon Coalition (NOSC) spoke about the ecology of near shore habitat including the three elements of
drift cells (feeder bluff, transport area, and accretion beach) in creating spawning habitat. Because sand lance are
an important forage fish to other species and little information is known about them and their spawning habits, the
desire is to find out how they are impacted by nearshore changes. In NOSC's upcoming forage fish study, they will
be mapping spawning areas and habitat within the context of drift cells. Maps of shoreline structures (bulkhead,
docks, launch ramps) currently being prepared by Point No Point Treaty Council will help NOSC identify problem
areas and changes in beach conditions. The end result is to create guidelines for how those structures relate to
spawning. Mr. Hirschi recognized Dan Pentilla's work on smelt spawning and said Mr. Pentilla will conduct the
volunteer training. Circulated at the meeting was a draft mailer to shoreline residents as well as a volunteer sign-up
sheet. Neil Harrington provided a brief explanation of the volunteer involvement in collecting sand samples.
NOSC brochures with contact information were also provided.
OPENING BUSINESS
A sign-in sheet was circulated. There being no changes to the minutes of the May meeting, they were
approved as written. Additions to the agenda were County Organization under Old Business.
OLD BUSINESS - REPORTS
LONG-RANGE PlANNING: The Operations and Administration Committee has not yet had an
opportunity to meet to prepare a broad outline and concept to present to the MRC. The Operations and
Administration Committee agreed to meet and draft an agenda. Joanna Sanders agreed to poll the MRC
membership to see if any of the Saturdays in August (4, 11 or 25) would work.
JEFFERSON COUNTY FAIR: The Public Outreach Committee reserved a booth several months ago for
the August 10-12 fair. The Committee agreed to circulate a sign-up sheet to arrange for booth staffing. Ideas for
Marine Resources Committee - June 20, 2001
Page; 2
booth activities were to distribute remaining surveys, provide MP A and Forage Fish survey information, and
provide an opportunity for volunteers to sign up. It was noted that more members are needed on the Public
Outreach Committee.
ANNOUNCEMENTS / OBSERVER COMMENTS
Clallam County Commissioner Michael Dougherty, liaison to the MRC, talked about Clallam County's
public outreach forums where they get roughly 50~60 of the public participating.
NEW BUSINESS & REPORTS
NORTHWEST STRAITS COMMISSION: Anne Murphy said minutes of the May 24 meeting were
provided via email. She is participating in the new Education and Outreach Committee, which is in the process of
developing a marketing and outreach plan.
MPA COMMI'ITEE REPORT: Barbara Nightingale highlighted the subcommittee work from their
meetings (minutes were distributed): They viewed the Quileute Tribe MPA presentation, worked on the final pre-
proposal for the DC Davis MEHP grant (copies distributed), and discussed Year Two grant tasks and GIS
resources. Related to the Year Two Grant, the committee has begun formulating objectives for the focus group
meetings and identifying committee members to provide meeting support. They will interview selected candidates
for the facilitator tomorrow and expect to have the person on board in the next few weeks. WSU has been
contacted about the possibility of sharing GIS software and might be interested in hosting a 2~day workshop to
brief people on its use. The next step is to begin contacting tribes.
Linda Newberry commented that it is expected that the tribes meeting on MPAs wìll eventually produce a
statement. She stressed that if the MRC wants to talk with the tribes they wìll need to be contacted individually
and a question may be what resource are we talking about protecting. She suggested identifying tribal contacts and
asking them if they want to meet. Any negotiations wìll need to be done in a government~to-government
relationship.
FUND RAISING COMMITTEE REPORT: Judy Damore asked that members consider joining this
committee.
LIBRARY COMMITIEE REPORT: They have finalized the work plan and identified a contractor for
updating the MRC website. Larry Fay noted that the invoice for this work needs to be received by the end of July.
In response to a question about working with the County library to manage the site, Deborah Siefert said she is
interested in investigating a possible link to the library's CLAN system.
FORAGE FISH REPORT: Although the committee has not met recently, they have reviewed the
preliminary draft of the flyer to landowners, which was presented earlier. NOSC said they have now received the
contract between the MRC and NOSC and deliverables will be paid back to May. Dan Pentìlla is unable to do the
training in this area until September, so NOSC is refocusing how to use staff and interns to gather information.
NOSC's next task will be to get the flyer printed and develop the Jefferson County property owners' list.
PUBLIC OUTREACH: This committee is in need of members. While each committee is working to
develop their own materials, there was a suggestion to discuss at the retreat the MRC's overarching public
outreach effort. Anne Murphy said the Northwest Straits Commission blueprint for outreach might provide some
guidance. She suggested that benchmark reporting could be another topic of discussion.
COUNTY STRUCTURE: Larry Fay reminded everyone that the BOCC approved the establishment of a
Natural Resources Division, managed by Dave Christensen. Mr. Christensen said this decision by the County
acknowledges the growing importance of natural resource issues to local government. He is looking forward to
working with the MRC.
Marine Resources Committee - June 20, 2001
Page; 3
MRC MEMBERSHIP: It was noted that the MRC has open a District 3 position. Commissioner Wojt
suggested that such advertising for the open District 3 position be coordinated through Lorna Delaney in the
Commissioner's office. There was support for placing a two~week ad.
OTHER/ADMINISTRATIVE
Linda Newberry mentioned a recent Bill Moyers special "Earth on the Edge," a portion of which related to
MPAs.
Barbara Nightingale said she has located the Washington State Department of Natural Resources videos of
the 2000 Shorezone inventory fly over for a total cost of $45. There was interest in the MRC purchasing the set
related to the East Jefferson County shoreline.
Jeff Gallant expressed interest in the MRC viewing the Quileute Tribe MPA presentation at an upcoming
meeting. It was noted that these were filmed for the Northwest Fisheries Commission and may not be as
appropriate as information on the local usual and accustomed areas. Linda Newberry agreed to provide tribal
contact information to Spike Hall. Ms. Newberry explained through her relationship with the Jamestown
S'Klallam tribe as a watershed restoration specialist in the Natural Resources Division, she forwards pertinent
information. Mr. Fay suggested that as part of the Watershed Planning Unit, tribes have already designated
representatives. Dave Christensen agreed to forward a list of tribal representatives to the MPA subcommittee. It
was also suggested that the new tribal liaison to the Northwest Straits Commission be invited to meet with the
MRC.
Paula Mackrow encouraged the MRC establish contacts with State regulatory stakeholders (e.g., Fish and
Wildlife and DNR and the watershed stewardship team) for developing a working partnership that includes those
stakeholders. It was noted that Ginna Correa is involved with the nearshore strategy program. There was a question
what level of participation is needed. Anne Murphy agreed to speak with Ginna Correa about specific issues as
they arise.
PREPARE AGENDA I ADJOURN
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 18, 2001 at 7:00 PM in the basement conference room
of the Jefferson County Courthouse, Port Townsend, Washington. The meeting adjourned at 8:45 PM.
MARINE RESOURCES COMMITTEE
Jeff Gallant, Vice Chair