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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021 05 17 Hoh River Phase I Steering Committee Meeting Summary lk 5.17.2021 Page 1 of 4 Hoh River Resiliency Plan PHASE I Steering Committee Meeting Summary Monday, May 17th, 2021 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Remote Access Only https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87284846755 Meeting ID: 872 8484 6755 +12532158782,,87284846755# US (Tacoma) More information: tpokorny@co.jefferson.wa.us Welcome/Introductions Tami Pokorny, JCPH; Jill Silver, 10,000 Years Institute; Jean Fletcher, citizen – landowner; Bridget Kaminski-Richardson, DNR; Rich Osborne, UW ONRC; Garrett Dalan, TNC; Julie Ann Koehlinger, Hoh Tribe; Kim Bray, Hoh Tribe; Wendy Largent, Hoh Tribe; Mara Zimmerman, CSP; Mike Ericsson, NSD; Raena Anderson, 10,000 Years Institute; Theresa Powell, WDFW; Alec Harrison, WFL; Betsy Krier, WSC; Luke Kelly, TU; Regan Huffman, USGS; Roger Oaks, Citizen; Agenda Changes/Additions Regan Huffman with USGS will be joining us at 2pm. Jill would like to provide updates on spotted jewelweed, and ordinary high-water mark at Morgan’s Crossing. Otherwise, no Changes or additions. Approval of the April 19th, 2021 Draft Meeting Summary Luke noted that he was delayed in finishing the 4/19 meeting summary. He will send draft to Tami this week, and Tami will send out to the group soon after. We will aim to approve 4/19/2021 meeting summary during the June steering committee meeting. Announcements/Comments Tami is updating the audio for the video presented at the SRC, and this will likely be done this week. Tami will send around a link to the updated video. Jill presented updates on the jewelweed monitoring and treatment work. Jill showed aerial images of Morgan’s crossing area from 1991 to 2019. Jill then showed new 2021 imagery of the area. The new image showed the new WFL road that was recently grubbed in. Jill then showed the aerial at Morgan’s Crossing with overlay of ordinary high-water line points resulting from recent site visits. This is done by looking in into the bowl of the trees for deposited sediment from high flow events. In summary, Jill gave an update on invasive plants work in the Upper Hoh. Multiyear effort includes scotch broom, Knotweed, Herb Robert, Reed Canarygrass, blackberry, Foxglove, Tansy Ragwort, Thistles – Canada and Bull, St John’s wart. Recent invasive plants work includes: Queen Anne’s Lace, Spotted Jewelweed, Wild Chervil. Jill showed scotch broom images and maps and noted the challenge of getting it before it goes to seed. Jill showed aerial of Schmidt Bar, and bar is now gone due to new active side channel. Page 2 of 4 Hoh River Resiliency Plan PHASE I Tami asked Mike if dolos have been used in other restoration projects. Mike wasn’t aware of dolos being used on any SRFB funded projects. Old Business US DOT Western Federal Lands Upper Hoh Road Project Updates: Construction – Alec Harrison and Susan Ellis, Western Federal Lands Alec gave an update on the WFL Upper Hoh Road work. Removal of spotted jewelweed material took place (now buried in Seaton’s pit). Recently began excavation at the Canyon Ck site. Driving piles for new bridge is a bit delayed but will likely get going next week or the following. After pile driving, pouring concrete for bridge abutments will take place. Dolos have begun to be delivered, and this work will begin ~July 15 (beginning of in water work window). This will take place at Tower Creek site and MP 4. The channel plug mitigation work is still under stop work order (still in discussion with WFL, USFS, and TNC). Contractor did place some logs and berms on new grubbed road to deter travel from the public, visitors, etc. Jill asked that Alec share the seed mix details and source. Alec will follow up with Jill on this. Tami asked about the plan for access to the Morgan’s Crossing area. Alec responded that the current contract doesn’t detail this, but there will be more info soon as a result of communications with WFL, USFS, and TNC. Tami asked what the timeline is for the potential mitigation work and public access at Morgan’s. Potential channel plug mitigation work is now planned for next year (but TBD based on comms with USFS and TNC). Tami will get a contact for Alec to connect with the guide community (needing access to the Morgan’s Crossing boat launch). Invasive Spotted Jewelweed – Jill Silver, 10,000 Years Institute Update given in comments/announcement section above. Ecological Corridor Discussion continued – Natural Systems Design Tami asked about flexibility of conservation easement(s). Mike needs some more feedback to aid in developing a statement as to ‘desired future conditions. If not enough input is provided, NSD will have to go ahead and develop a statement for review and comment. Desired Future Conditions/Survey Discussion continued – Natural Systems Design Thus far, only one response to the survey. Tami and NSD will extend the survey submittal deadline to May 24th. New Business New Orthophotos: Next Steps – Natural Systems Design Page 3 of 4 Hoh River Resiliency Plan PHASE I New air photos will be used to help identify wood loading, and also will aid in identifying how and where the river has moved. Tami asked if the new imagery would aid in Kevin Featherston’s riparian stand analysis. It doesn’t sound like the new imagery will indicate a major shift in the vegetation analysis. Tami asked if the new imagery would help aid in identifying locations and amounts of side channels and associated habitats. Mike will check with Cramer Fish Sciences on the ability to apply this, but it could become a budget issue to update maps, imagery, etc. to incorporate the new imagery into vegetation mapping, side channel mapping, etc. Jill noted there may be particular reaches/areas where the new imagery could assist with updated mapping and trends. Mike will look into the ability of how and where to incorporate the aerial imagery. Tami noted that the mapping of scotch broom (and other invasive plants) will be valuable to capture on maps and trends. Jill noted the science isn’t really complete yet, as to the impacts of scotch broom on riverine processes. Jill is working on this. Timeline for Resiliency and Action Plans – Natural Systems Design Timeline for the draft resiliency plan for review: NSD draft is targeted for mid-June. Luke’s chapter draft is targeted for late June, and Jill is on a similar timeline. Tami and Luke will connect before the next meeting to discuss his chapter. Agenda addition – Regan Huffman USGS – RE: Hoh river gauge going offline Hoh River gauge is losing funding, so will likely go offline. The gauge is based on water year and will not be turned off tomorrow. USGS has done a prioritization on all gauges, and in general, would prefer to not discontinue any gauges. Cost for one year of operating a gauge is approximately $21K. Jill noted that between ~2003 and 2013, the Hoh Tribe was contributing to about half of the cost to operate the gauge. To continue operating the gauge, the funding would be needed by October 2021. Betsy asked about what gauges are under threat of being turned off. On the OP, the Hoko River and Hoh River gauge are the two proposed to be turned off. The gauge costs will not increase for 2022, but it’s a good idea to budget ~2-3% cost increase moving forward. Contacting interested groups and agencies will likely help in finding funding to support the gauge operation (e.g. OPGA, DOE, NGOs, etc.). Luke recommended the development of a summary paragraph as to the facts about the gauge and the need for funding. Regan noted that we (our steering committee group) should consider drafting a summary as to why we need the gauge and how it is important to us. Initiating Transportation Analysis – All Jill shared an aerial image of the Upper Hoh Road (UHR) and a potential new route for the road. This idea was discussed with the County et al about the feasibility of this idea in 1996-97. The new potential route for the Upper Hoh Road is an old DNR road that was put into storage in the 1990s. The new potential road section would come off existing UHR at ~ MP1.5 and tie back into UHR at Tower Creek, ~MP4.6. Idea - the existing UHR that is abandoned could be used as a trail. It was clearly noted that there are a lot of deep-seated landslides just north of the potential new road. The old DNR road (currently in storage) will likely be reopened once timber is of harvest age. There was discussion about potential impacts to the local businesses that currently exist along the UHR (e.g. Peak 6 Adventure Page 4 of 4 Hoh River Resiliency Plan PHASE I Store). It was agreed that there would need to be a lot of outreach and discussion about these potential impacts. Tami asked for clarification as to why the DNR road was put into storage and not kept open. Bridget will speak with internal DNR staff and report back on this question. Jill spoke up that it was likely put into storage because it was too expensive maintain and keep open until the next harvest cycle. Tami brought up an idea to think outside the box and consider different ideas, access points, etc. Tami asked if Jean had any input or ideas about the transportation corridor on the South side of the river. Jean noted that it seems like the more rip rap that goes in on the UHR impacts the south side of the river. Jean also noted the importance of access on the south side of the river for emergencies (like wildfire). In summary, thinking ~60 years out is hard to do, but important when considering climate change and Hoh River trends. Thinking outside the box is important. In general, the UHR won’t likely last when considering estimated trends. News and Projects Updates – All Luke gave a brief update on Hoh culvert barrier work and Owl Creek restoration project work. Good news: The Oil City Road MP 0.5, Two Trout Creek barrier received federal funding (to county) to complete the design and construct the new crossing (correcting this fish barrier). Announcements/Comments None Next Agenda Monday, June 21st, 1pm – 3:00 pm Remote Only Adjourn