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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 2024 NPC MRC First DRAFT Meeting Summary NPC MRC 2/20/2024 DRAFT Meeting Summary 1 February 20, 2024 NPC MRC Draft Meeting Summary The Tuesday, February 20, 2024 NPC MRC meeting took place at the Peninsula College in Forks, WA and by Zoom connection from 4:09 PM to 5:57 PM ([00:00:01] to [01:48:01]). Appointed committee members present at the meeting were Eileen Cooney (Citizen Representative, Jefferson County – Economic Groups), Wendy Feltham (Citizen Representative, Jefferson County – Scientific Community), Rod Fleck (City of Forks, Washington Coast Marine Advisory Council [WCMAC] Chair), John Hunter (Citizen Representative, Clallam County – Conservation / Environmental Groups), Julie Ann Koehlinger (Hoh Tribe Representative), Katie Krueger (Citizen Representative, Clallam County – Scientific Community), Rebecca Mahan (Clallam County Representative), Ian Miller (Washington SeaGrant, Ex Officio Representative), Tami Pokorny (Jefferson County Representative, Coordinator / Facilitator), and Jill Silver (Citizen Representative, Jefferson County – Conservation/Environmental Groups). A quorum was present at the beginning of the meeting. Rebekah Brooks (Rebekah Brooks Contracting), Ally Galiotto (Puget Sound Restoration Fund), Megan Juran (Washington CoastSavers), Nancy Messmer (Clean Coast Alliance and Lions International), and Sanpisa Sritrairat (Washington Sea Grant) were also in attendance. Introductions Public Comments There were no public comments. Additions to and Approval of the Agenda The agenda was accepted by consensus as written. Approval of the January 2024 NPC MRC Meeting Summary Wendy Feltham sent in a correction the spelling of the name of one of the authors she had recommended: Geoff Hammerson, which was corrected in the second draft. The January NPC MRC Summary was approved by consensus with that change. Announcements Tami Pokorny announced that she would be meeting with the other coastal MRC coordinators to discuss the upcoming Coastal MRC Summit. *Please let Tami know if you are interested in attending. Ian Miller noted that last week, the National Park Service hosted Science Days for the North Coast and Cascades network, which featured a number of talks on the Olympic coast. Ian presented on Kalaloch, where a couple of the cabins have recently been removed due to progressing erosion. He reminded folks to check out the photo analog stations he installed last fall. Hazel Galloway is the contact for the Science Days mailing list; her email address is: hazel_galloway@partner.nps.gov. *Tami and Ian said they would distribute the link to the recorded presentations if they found it. NPC MRC 2/20/2024 DRAFT Meeting Summary 2 Old Business Film Festival 2024 Planning Ian Miller reminded the group about the proposal for a joint event between the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (OCNMS), the Clallam County MRC, and the NPC MRC that will feature two showings: one in Port Angeles in July, and another in Forks in October, coinciding with the Coastal MRC Summit. Surfrider has asked about cosponsoring the event, so Ian asked the NPC MRC for their thoughts regarding a process for adding new sponsors. The Committee discussed this, agreeing that they wished to maintain control over sponsorship. Wendy Feltham moved that Ian Miller represent the NPC MRC and invite Surfrider to cosponsor the 2024 Film Festival; Rebecca Mahan seconded. The motion passed by consensus. Rebecca suggested welcoming sponsors and partners to host table displays of their organizations and projects at the event. *Ian will reach out to Chris Butler-Minor before inviting Surfrider to make sure there are no objections. The next steps for Film Festival planning are to finalize the website and send out a request for film submissions. 2024 Coastal MRC Program Summit Planning Tami Pokorny confirmed that the 2024 Coastal MRC Summit is scheduled for 10/16/24-10/18/24, with the Akalat Center reserved for gathering on the 16th, and the Rainforest Arts Center reserved for the Film Festival on the 18th. Quileute Oceanside Resort facilities in La Push are available to reserve at the government rate. There are no plans for food yet. The group discussed inviting Peninsula College; the Quileute Tribal School; the Neah Bay, Clallam Bay, and Forks High Schools; the County commissioners; all coastal tribes and governments; and the WCMAC. Proposed topics included offshore wind energy, MRC effectiveness, funding changes, climate projects, maritime heritage, the discovery of the SS Pacific, the Makah Tribe and managing of Lake Ozette with associated climate risks, the Grays Harbor proposal regarding Lady Washington, Rialto Beach geological changes, Quileute Natural Resources log jams, and Kalaloch. New Business Plastics: Overwhelming Problems and Some Steps Forward Nancy Messmer presented Plastics Pollution: My Journey to Action, explaining that her journey started when she became involved with the Clean Coast Alliance in 2007, cleaning beaches with the Washington CoastSavers. When she started, it was all about people: being inspired by them and using fun ways to get them involved. Then she started paying more attention to marine debris. When the International Cleanup began, it showed what was happening around the world, and impact grew through data collection. The problem with marine debris is not as evident locally as it is elsewhere. It became clear that plastic pollution is a global problem, affecting every life on the planet. After the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami in 2011, tsunami driftage was studied, leading to increasing awareness of the global problem and the fact that we are all connected by ocean currents. The Washington Marine Debris Action Plan, which details a process for preventing and managing marine debris, was collaboratively developed by over 50 organizations across Washington State. Then Coronavirus shutdowns changed things, including strategies for beach cleanups. New grants and research are now coming into play. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program Salish Synergy Grant details efforts to solve the plastic issue through recycling, avoiding, and breaking down plastics. Microplastic research is showing that microplastics are everywhere, including in our own bodies. The Center for Climate Integrity has revealed the fraud behind plastic recycling. However, Nancy noted that we are in the midst of a hopeful time. She distributed a handout with links, resources, movies, and reports on marine debris management and science, including information on the United Nations Environment Program Plastics Treaty to curb plastic pollution. Discussion followed on next steps, personal actions, organizational actions, global actions, and health risks. Megan Juran urged everyone to work as individuals to start at home and within our communities, encouraging everyone in our lives to take actions to reduce single use plastic consumption. The upcoming Coastal Cleanup is scheduled for 4/20/24. NPC MRC 2/20/2024 DRAFT Meeting Summary 3 Update: Dungeness Crab Larval Monitoring Project Assistant Program Coordinator with the Puget Sound Restoration Fund Ally Galiotto expressed her thanks to the NPC MRC for funding this project and gave a project update on Building Capacity for Coastal Dungeness Crab Larval Monitoring. The project was inspired by a long-term monitoring effort in Coos Bay, Oregon that successfully captured crab megalopae using light traps. The overarching project goals are to 1: Identify spatial and temporal trends in larval crab recruitment; 2: Pinpoint population bottlenecks; and 3: Develop tools to forecast adult crab abundance with expansion to the outer coast. Ally described the locations and challenges of the project sites, which include La Push in 2022; Neah Bay, Westport, and Tokeland in 2023; and Neah Bay and the Wa’atch River in 2024-2025. The project overview is to 1: Support coastal partners who are established with this monitoring; and 2: Update and improve light trap construction and protocols and share resources to standardize methods. Ally gave an update on the process and the work with the project partners: the Makah Tribe, The Quileute Tribe, the Shoalwater Bay Tribe, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). They are also collaborating with the US Geological Survey to collect and analyze DNA to see if European green crab can be detected. Update and Letter of Support: Remote Beach Cleanup in Olympic National Park (ONP) Megan Juran had requested a letter of support for a grant with the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation that includes funding for the helicopter removal of marine debris along the wilderness coast of the ONP, as well as support for the foot effort of the removal. Due to complications with the letter of support process for the NPC MRC, it was not possible to get the letter signed by the County commissioners in time for the grant deadline. However, the ONP, the Hoh Tribe, and the Quileute Tribe all provided letters of support. Megan acknowledged the work that Nancy Messmer and Roy Morris have done through the Clean Coast Alliance and Lions International. She also gave an update on recent CoastSaver efforts and grant applications, including an application for the Salish Synergy grant through NOAA’s Marine Debris Program, and a Sea Grant grant that will include mapping the marine debris found along the Olympic coast to give the ONP a better understanding of the debris load and locations. She recognized the support of the ONP, Christine Miller, and Bill Bacchus for the remote debris removal process. Updates Coast MRC Update Chris Waldbillig was not present for an update. Washington Coastal Marine Advisory Council (WCMAC) The last meeting was held on 2/14/24 in Grays Harbor. The agenda and other WCMAC meeting materials can be found at the Ecology website: Department of Ecology - Committees, Boards, and Workgroups (wa.gov). Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council The last meeting was held on 1/19/24 and was entirely virtual. John Hunter reported a presentation on seabirds in the Sanctuary. West Coast Ocean Alliance Jennifer Hagen was not present for an update. Invasive European Green Crab There was nothing new to report. Marine Debris NPC MRC 2/20/2024 DRAFT Meeting Summary 4 This item was addressed during the meeting’s presentations. Climate/Fossil Fuels Related (All) There was nothing new to report. Administrative Update Tami Pokorny said that the project funding from WDFW was in the pipeline, so she will be working with the project sponsors and finalizing inter-local agreement with Clallam County. Rebecca Mahan said she had just received the inter-local agreement and would be sending it to the Board of County Commissioners. Next Agenda (March 19, 2024): The next NPC MRC Meeting will be held on 3/19/24 in Forks with a virtual option and will be hosted by Rebecca Mahan. There will be some upcoming presentations on Rialto Beach, ocean acidification, and wind energy. Other suggested presentation topics included glaciers and an update from the ONP Superintendent. Public Comments/General There were no public comments. Adjourn at 5:51 PM Action Items: *Please let Tami Pokorny know if you are interested in attending the Coast MRC Summit planning meeting. *Tami Pokorny and Ian Miller said they would distribute the link to the recorded Science Days presentations if they found it. *Ian Miller will reach out to Chris Butler-Minor before inviting Surfrider to cosponsor the Film Festival to make sure there are no objections. Draft summary compiled by Rebekah Brooks (Rebekah Brooks Contracting).