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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019 11 19 NPC MRC FINAL Meeting Summary.docxNPC MRC 11/19/2019 FINAL Meeting Summary 3 November 11th, 2019 NPC MRC FINAL Meeting Summary The Tuesday, November 11, 2019 NPC MRC meeting took place at the Forest Hemlock Room, University of Washington (UW) Olympic Natural Resources Center (ONRC), at 1455 S Forks Avenue, Forks, WA from 4:10 to 6:04 PM (from [00:01:58] to [01:55:19] on the audio recording). Appointed committee members present at the meeting were John Hunter (Citizen Rep., Clallam County – Education/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 meeting. Also present were Rebekah Brooks (ONRC), Chris Butler-Minor (Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary [OCNMS]), Bobbie Buzzell (Western University [via teleconference]), Steve Fradkin (Olympic National Park [via teleconference]), Mya Groner (Western Fisheries Research Center [via teleconference]), Frank Hanson (ONRC), Nicole Harris (OCNMS), Ian Miller (UW Sea Grant), Rich Osborne (ONRC and Coast Salmon Partnership) and Kathy Troost (UW [via teleconference]) . Introductions A quorum was established at the beginning of the meeting. Public Comments There were no public comments. Additions to and Approval of the Agenda Katie Krueger inquired about when the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) will add the ex officio positions to the NPC MRC and asked to add the item to the agenda. The agenda was approved by consensus. Approval of the September and October Meeting Summaries Katie Krueger sent an edit to clarify the wording regarding the addition of the ex officio positions to the NPC MRC. The change was made before the redistribution of the meeting summaries. Alice Ryan confirmed that the student who had attended the October NPC MRC Meeting was Ruby Sherriff. The corrected summaries were accepted by consensus. Announcements There were no announcements. Old Business Ex Officio Members Tami Pokorny was planning to work with Deborah Kucipeck to approach the BoCC about the ex officio positions at the same time as the new NPC MRC contract goes forward. Katie Krueger did not wish to wait to approve the NPC MRC 11/19/2019 FINAL Meeting Summary 3 new ex officio members, saying that while it was only a small change for the BoCC to make, it was an important change for the NPC MRC. Jill agreed. *Tami and Deb agreed to move forward on the change quickly. Coast MRC Summit Tami Pokorny gave an overview of the Summit agenda. The group agreed that it was a great event, with good speakers and amazing food. Presentation PowerPoints will go up on the NPC MRC website. River & Ocean Film Festival Planning Ian Miller suggested a new date for the Film Festival: 3/27/20. The group discussed and decided on switching the date to 3/28/20 to make it a Saturday evening event instead of Friday. New Business Presentations: New Project Applications: 1: Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Bacterial Gill Disease in Razor Clams Steve Fradkin and Mya Groner presented on the downturn in razor clam population, which is thought to be associated with a bacterial gill disease. Samples from three Washington beaches and two Alaska beaches have found no presence of the disease in Alaska, but infection in every sampled Washington clam. New research can now look not only for the presence of the disease, but also at the severity of the disease. The project proposes to study recent and old samples to create a benchmark for comparing methods; conduct a spatial analysis over seven sites using new methods; and do a temporal analysis of the infection at Kalaloch. They also discussed the importance of communicating to the public what is happening. 2: Predation of Invasive European Green Crabs (Carcinus maenas) by River Otters (Lontra Canadensis) on the Lower Wa’atch and T’soo-Yess Rivers, Washington: An Ecosystem Based Approach to Green Crab Mitigation Bobbie Buzzell presented on the growing problem of green crab in Neah Bay, and the possible impact of predation by river otters. Her masters’ thesis intends to answer three questions: 1: Are river otters consuming green crabs in the lower Wa’atch and T’soo-Yess Rivers, and are they a preferred prey item? 2: If yes, does this consumption differ between areas of low and high green crab abundance on the Wa’atch and T’soo-Yess Rivers, respectively? 3: How does this consumption vary between months (April-September) and seasons (spring and summer)? The project also addresses the NPC MRC benchmarks of marine life and sound science. 3: 2020 Ocean Science Workshop Nicole Harris presented on a partnership project between OCNMS and the Pacific Education Institute to hold a workshop for coastal teachers. The two organizations have been collaborating over the last five years to give teachers tools that match up with State test requirements, and to use an outdoor classroom to do it. This year, they intend to take a step back and broaden out with the theme of Ocean Benefits through speakers, videos, articles, field data and education. Teachers will learn how to identify good evidence versus bad information, practice persuasive arguments, focus on local communities and cultural knowledge, and explore how healthy oceans support healthy communities. The workshop will take place over three days of free lodging and meals at ONRC. 4: Washington CoastSavers: Coordination of Three Coast-wide Beach Cleanups James Roubal presented on the work that is done every year by Washington CoastSavers and their partners to collect marine debris from Washington beaches. CoastSavers goals include protecting wildlife and habitat, encouraging stewardship, conducting outreach, and removing or identifying things that cause harm. The group has collected 496 tons from Washington beaches from 2000 to 2019. They also continue to conduct research and monitoring that can inform legislation, and to partner with other organizations to find more sustainable solutions to the problem of marine debris. 5: Origin and Erosion of Rialto Beach and Terrace: Implications for Ongoing Geologic Hazards NPC MRC 11/19/2019 FINAL Meeting Summary 3 Ian Miller and Kathy Troost presented on their formal proposal to continue their last two NPC MRC funded projects that focused on geomorphological history and changes to several Washington coast beaches. Continuation of their studies can help to better quantify geologic hazards, zero in on specific historic dates, and map erosion trends. This study will try to determine the dates of beach deposits and match them to dates of last known events. The low marine terrace of Rialto Beach may provide answers. The proposal requests support for additional dating, continuing transects, finding historical changes, building a data repository, and telling a story for people who visit the area. 6: Marine Advanced Technology and Education (MATE) Olympic Coast Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Competition – Students Engineering Solutions to Global Problems Nicole Harris presented on the competition that is made up of three main components: building a robot, creating a poster, and giving an engineering presentation. MATE puts out a Request for Proposals and students must compete and sell their project by practicing real-world skills. Project funds will help to secure the Forks pool and repeat a workshop like the one they held last year, with the addition of a prop-building component. Last year’s workshop saw the kids sharing ideas and recognizing each other as competitors and allies. The project seeks to make the competition a coast wide opportunity and event, and to explore the process of having a student mentor/internship program. The proposal requests funds for the pool rental, prop building, workshop support, and the student internship program. 7: West End Natural Resources Newsletter and Support for River and Ocean Film Festival Tami Pokorny distributed the proposal with the project packet; there was no presentation. Updates The NPC MRC Meeting was out of time, so most of the updates were skipped. Orca Task Force This item was skipped. Last year’s 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. Invasive European Green Crab This item was addressed under Presentations. Tami Pokorny also announced that good progress was being made and was presented on during the Coast Summit. Marine Debris (All) This item was addressed under Presentations. Washington Coast Marine Advisory Council (WCMAC)/Marine Spatial Planning The next meeting is scheduled for 12/11/19 in Aberdeen. Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council The last meeting was held on 11/8/19 in La Push. The next meeting is scheduled for 1/24/20 in Montesano. West Coast Ocean Alliance Jennifer Hagen sent a report through Tami to say that an in-person meeting is scheduled for 12/3/19- 12/4/19 in Tacoma. Stakeholders are invited to participate, so *Tami will forward a link about it. Washington Marine Resources Advisory Council (MRAC) The last meeting was held on 4/10/19 in Olympia. 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. NPC MRC 11/19/2019 FINAL Meeting Summary 3 Climate/Fossil Fuels Related (All) This item was skipped. Administration and Fiscal Agent Update This item was skipped. Next Agenda (December 17, 2019): The next NPC MRC Meeting will be held at the ONRC in Forks on 12/17/19. It will include the scoring of project proposals. *Score sheets are due a week before the December Meeting. Public Comments/General Chris Butler-Minor announced the upcoming OCNMS Meeting, since the item was skipped on the agenda. Adjourn at 6:04 PM [01:55:19] Draft summary compiled by Rebekah Brooks. Action Items: *Tami Pokorny and Deborah Kucipeck agreed to move forward on the ex officio seats quickly. *Tami will forward a link about the West Coast Ocean Alliance Meeting. *Proposal score sheets are due a week before the December NPC MRC Meeting.