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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019 02 19 NPC MRC FINAL Meeting Summary.docxNPC MRC 2/19/2019 FINAL Meeting Summary 1 February 19th, 2019 NPC MRC 1st Draft Meeting Summary The Tuesday, February 19, 2019 NPC MRC meeting took place at the Forest Hemlock Room, UW Olympic Natural Resources Center (ONRC), at 1455 S Forks Avenue, Forks, WA from 4:00 (00:00:55 on the audio counter) to 6:04 PM [02:03:45]. Appointed committee members present at the meeting were Jennifer Hagen (Quileute Tribe Rep.), John Hunter (Citizen Rep., Clallam County –Conservation/Environmental Groups), Katie Krueger (Citizen Rep., Clallam County – Scientific Community), Deborah Kucipeck (Clallam County Rep.), Tami Pokorny (Jefferson County Rep., Coordinator/Facilitator), Alice Ryan (Citizen Rep., Clallam County – Recreational Groups), Jill Silver (Citizen Rep., Jefferson County – Conservation/Environmental Groups) and Riley Smith (Makah Tribe Rep.). A quorum was present at the beginning of the meeting. Also present were Adrienne Akmajian (Makah Tribe), Rebekah Brooks (ONRC), Frank Hanson (ONRC), Nicole Harris (Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary [OCNMS]), Ian Miller (Washington Sea Grant [called in]), Ravae O’Leary (Olympic Peninsula Guides Association), Rich Osborne (Coast Salmon Partnership) and Tommy Moore (Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission). Introductions Public Comments Jill Silver went to Sound Waters University to make a presentation on the Pulling Together Project; while there, she took classes on giant Pacific octopuses, and on microplastics and the environment. She would like to invite the professor on microplastics to present at the MRC Summit or to the NPC MRC. Additions to and Approval of the Agenda The agenda was approved by consensus. Approval of the January Meeting Summary Jill Silver moved to approve the January Meeting Summary as written. The Summary was approved by consensus. Announcements Tami Pokorny announced that the Clallam County MRC will be hosting a HAZWOPPER Wildlife Training on 3/2/19 in Port Angeles and on 3/23/19 in Everett. Old Business Nonpoint Pollution Project and Video Class Updates *Jennifer Hagen and Tami Pokorny will connect on the nonpoint pollution project. Alice Ryan confirmed that she has two students signed up for the class. Tami is working on a registration form and *will follow up with Jill Silver about a possible venue if the Forks High School does not work out. Dates for the Video Class are 4/20/19, 4/23/19, and two out of three of the following dates: 5/7/19, 5/14/19 or 5/21/19. Rain Fest River and Ocean Days Planning NPC MRC 2/19/2019 FINAL Meeting Summary 2 Ian Miller requested feedback from the group on two poster draft options for the Film Festival. The group favored the poster with a picture of a sunset at Second Beach, but agreed to send Ian a picture that Jill Silver took of Goodman Creek to see if it could be used instead. The NPC MRC also made some edits to the poster text and discussed which sponsors to feature; there was consensus to remove the West Olympic Council of the Arts and the OCNMS from the poster. Film submissions are still being accepted, and film reviewers are needed. *Ravae O’Leary and Katie Krueger volunteered to review films; Alice Ryan may have a student who is interested in volunteering to review them as well. Reviewer recruitment will be finalized at the next NPC MRC Meeting. Ravae announced that the Olympic Peninsula Guides Association will be doing river floats again this year, and will provide root beer floats in coordination with the end of the Umbrella Parade. She reported positive feedback and a good turnout last year. *Alice volunteered to help kids decorate umbrellas for the Umbrella Parade. MRC Summit Planning Tami Pokorny reported that Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is going to find some new funding for the MRC Summit, but the amount is yet to be decided. New Business Invasive European Green Crab Project – Adrianne Akmajian Adrianne presented on the Makah Tribe green crab project that the NPC MRC helped to fund. The Tribe was first notified about the presence of green crab in August 2017 and started trapping as an early rapid response. The International Union for Conservation of Nature considers green crab to be one of the 100 worst invasive species in the world. They compete with multiple local native species, particularly the Dungeness crab. The Tribe is concerned with the likelihood of increasing populations, especially during warm El Nino winters, which the green crab tend to thrive in. Enough funding was raised for the Tribe to purchase their own traps, and in 2018 they set over 2000 traps from April through September, most of them in the lower Wa’atch and T’soo-yess Rivers. Over 1000 green crab were caught and humanely euthanized. About 30 volunteers contributed over 200 hours to the project, coming from local areas, throughout the peninsula, and Seattle. The project has also opened up outreach and internship opportunities. In 2019, the Makah Tribe plans to continue the biweekly trapping with more focus on other areas of observation, including crab health, reproductive behavior, additional measurements, and studying possible predation of river otters on green crab. They also intend to develop a long-term strategy. Adrianne stressed that green crab is a coastal issue as the populations move throughout our waters, enhanced by warmer winters. She has reached out to the other coastal tribes, Olympic National Park and the OCNMS. She encouraged people to look for molts, which are easily distinguished from native species, and to report them. Adrianne’s full report can be requested from Tami Pokorny. ROV Project Update and Opportunities Nicole Harris, education specialist with the OCNMS, gave an update on NOAA’s ROV project. The NPC MRC helped to fund the project. A ROV Workshop is scheduled for 3/9/19 at ONRC for mentors and students. The project also received funding from Motorola to purchase motor kits, which will help to bring in new students. There are 15 students involved in the competition this year. She will be recruiting judges for the competition if anyone wants to volunteer. Newsletter Tami Pokorny gave an update on the West End Natural Resources Newsletter. She asked for anyone who wished to submit an article to provide it by 5/1/19. There will also be articles on the NPC MRC projects. *Katie Krueger suggested an article on the Film Festival; Alice Ryan volunteered to draw a green crab cartoon. Consider Strategic Planning Tami Pokorny suggested developing a NPC MRC strategic plan after RainFest. Rich Osborne said there used to be one and that *he will try to locate it. Updates NPC MRC 2/19/2019 FINAL Meeting Summary 3 Orca Task Force Rich Osborne gave an update. The legislature is currently working through the list of the Orca Task Force’s recommendations for proposed actions. Nothing new will happen until the legislature makes its final decisions. The actions and other associated documents can be found at the Governor’s Task Force webpage: https://www.governor.wa.gov/issues/issues/energy-environment/southern-resident-killer-whale-recovery-and- task-force. Marine Debris (All) Jennifer Hagen expressed interest in hearing from the microplastics specialist that Jill Silver recommended. *Jill will follow up with him. Washington Coast Marine Advisory Council (WCMAC)/Marine Spatial Planning The last meeting was held on 12/12/18 in Aberdeen. The next meeting will be held in March. Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council The next meeting is scheduled for 3/15/19; no agenda is out yet. West Coast Ocean Alliance Jennifer Hagen announced a new work plan from the federal government that is very data centric. The tribal caucus portion of ocean planning on the west coast is putting together a best practices management plan for further interaction with the tribes. It will be a starting point for federal and state agencies on how to interact with the tribes. The Alliance is having monthly calls. Washington Marine Resources Advisory Council (MRAC) There was nothing new to report, but 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) Tami Pokorny reported another train derailment in Canada. Katie Krueger brought up an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico called the Taylor Oil Spill that has been going on since 2004. Nicole Harris announced that a Swedish student named Greta Thunberg started a school strike for climate change. *Katie will try to find an article on a microbe that metabolizes methane. Administration and Fiscal Agent Update Tami Pokorny showed a list of NPC MRC projects and their progress. Next Agenda (March 19, 2019): The next NPC MRC Meeting will be held at the ONRC in Forks on 3/19/19. Agenda items will include finalizing reviewer recruitment for the Film Festival submissions. Public Comments/General Discussion took place about a possible station at RainFest on how to handle human waste. Alice Ryan announced the Quileute Tribal School Carnival of Science on 4/18/19 for anyone who wants to participate. Adjourn at 6:04 PM (02:03:45 on the counter) Action Items: *Jennifer Hagen and Tami Pokorny will connect on the nonpoint pollution project. *Tami is working on a registration form for the Video Making Workshop and will follow up with Jill Silver about a possible venue if the Forks High School does not work out. *Ravae O’Leary and Katie Krueger volunteered to review films for the Film Festival. *Alice Ryan volunteered to help kids decorate umbrellas for the Umbrella Parade. NPC MRC 2/19/2019 FINAL Meeting Summary 4 *For the West End Natural Resources Newsletter, Katie Krueger suggested an article on the Film Festival and Alice Ryan volunteered to draw a green crab cartoon. *Rich Osborne will try to locate the NPC MRC strategic plan. *Jill will follow up with the micoplastics professor she heard present at Sound Waters University. *Katie will try to find an article on a microbe that metabolizes methane. Draft summary compiled by Rebekah Brooks.