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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025 01 25 NPC MRC First DRAFT Meeting Summary NPC MRC 1/21/2025 DRAFT Meeting Summary 1 January 21, 2025 NPC MRC Draft Meeting Summary The Tuesday, January 21, 2025 NPC MRC meeting took place at the University of Washington (UW) Olympic Natural Resources Center (ONRC) in Forks, WA and by Zoom connection from 4:00 PM to 5:20 PM ([00:00:25] to [01:20:13]). Appointed committee members present at the meeting were Maggie Bockart (Hoh Tribe Representative), Chris Butler-Minor (Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, ex officio), Eileen Cooney (Citizen Representative, Jefferson County - Economic Groups), Wendy Feltham (Citizen Representative, Jefferson County – Scientific Community), Rod Fleck (City of Forks), John Hunter (Citizen Representative – Conservation / Environmental Groups), Rebecca Mahan (Clallam County Representative), Ian Miller (UW Sea Grant, ex officio), 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), Deric Kettel (ONRC), Tressa Lindquist (Jefferson County Environmental Health), Vera Trainer (ONRC Olympic Region Harmful Algal Bloom [ORHAB] Program), Chris Waldbillig (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife [WDFW]), and Katie Wrubel (OCNMS) were also in attendance. Introductions Public Comments There were no public comments. Additions to and Approval of the Agenda Eileen Cooney moved to approve the agenda as written; Wendy Feltham seconded. The agenda was approved by consensus. Approval of the December 2024 NPC MRC Meeting Summary Rebecca Mahan moved to approve the December 2024 NPC MRC Summary as written; John Hunter seconded. The December 2024 NPC MRC Summary was approved by consensus. Announcements Ian Miller announced that the National Park Service would be hosting the North Coast and Cascades Science Days online conference from 2/11/25 to 2/13/25. More information can be found at: https://www.nps.gov/rlc/northcoastcascades/science-days.htm. Jill Silver added that she would be presenting at the conference on reed canary grass removal in Irely Lake and Irely Creek. Vera Trainer said that she would give a presentation on the ORHAB program at the February NPC MRC Meeting. Chris Waldbillig asked the group to let himself and Tami Pokorny know if they spoke to any representatives who might be interested in taking up the opportunity to fund MRCs so that he could let his legislative director know. Chris Butler-Minor announced the upcoming OCNMS/Feiro Speaker Series on megafauna from January to April; the 1/28/25 presentation will focus NPC MRC 1/21/2025 DRAFT Meeting Summary 2 on whale entanglements and will be a virtual but live-only event. Rebecca Mahan said that the Clallam County MRC would be planting native plants with the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe at Ediz Hook for their second and final year on 3/6/25 from 1 to 3 PM. *She will send out the link to sign up to volunteer. An upcoming Hazardous Waste Operation and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) training with International Bird Rescue will be held at the Dungeness Heritage Center and in the field on 4/15/25 and 4/16/25; *Rebecca will distribute the link to sign up. Old Business Film Festival Planning A proposal was brought forward at the December NPC MRC Meeting to change the dates for the Film Festival in order to partner with RainFest, but the group agreed that they preferred to hold the Festival with the Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Competition in May. Ian Miller brought up two concerns about this date: Light: by May, there is a full hour more of daylight in the evening, which has been an issue in past years; and Cost: partnering with RainFest would mean that the NPC MRC would not have to bear the full cost of reserving the Rainforest Arts Center. Coinciding with RainFest over the weekend of 4/12/25 would offer support with covering costs, providing a facility, and bringing in people. Jill Silver led the NPC MRC in voting to join the Film Festival with RainFest; there was no opposition. Jill requested having displays of current NPC MRC projects. John Hunter suggested including MATE ROV team presentations as part of the event. New Business 2025-2027 Funding Cycle Planning Tami Pokorny had distributed the 2025-2027 Funding Cycle materials for review, including the press release, request for proposals (RFP), application, scoresheet, and calendar. Tressa Lindquist displayed the press release for group discussion. Chris Waldbillig noted that WDFW would probably see some budget cuts in the next biennium, but they should have a good idea by mid-April whether the MRC program would be absorbing any of those cuts or not. He said that the way the press release was worded was fine for now. Tressa next brought up the RFP for group discussion. Chris Waldbillig said it was a great RFP, and that he appreciated its structure and early release so that applicants had plenty of opportunity to ask questions before the final submission deadline. He added that by the time the dates rolled around, they would have a good idea of funding availability. The group discussed the MRC Benchmarks and considered changing the wording of “Sound Science” to something less ambiguous. Chris Waldbillig pointed out that “Sound Science” came directly from the Manual. Chris Butler-Minor suggested several options for other terminology, including “Good Science,” “Solid Science,” “Good Knowledge,” “Plausible Science,” “Reproductive Science,” “Safe Science,” “Sane Science,” “Scientific Rigor,” “Based on Scientific Evidence,” “Evidence Informed,” “Scientifically Credible,” and “Scientifically Sound.” The group had no suggested changes to the application, scoresheet, or calendar. Updates Coast MRC Update Chris Waldbillig said he would work with Tami Pokorny on the current budget, and to remind current project sponsors that there were only about five and a half months left with a considerable amount of funding still unspent. Washington Coastal Marine Advisory Council (WCMAC) NPC MRC 1/21/2025 DRAFT Meeting Summary 3 The last meeting was held on 12/3/24. Rod Fleck gave an update. They have a fully formed steering committee: Rod Fleck was reelected as Chair; Peter Steelquist is Vice Chair; Mike Nordin, the Department of Ecology and WDFW also hold seats. They do not have a governor representative yet. They have drafted a letter of introduction about the WCMAC to the governor’s office to inform the new leadership about what the WCMAC is and what it has accomplished. Some current concerns include the impacts of state budget cuts on rural communities, and the sensitive role of advising state leaders about the interests and concerns of the coast when some in Olympia see the WCMAC as being “against things.” Among the executive orders recently signed by the president is the halt of offshore wind leasing and temporary withdrawal of practices for all such projects; more information can be found at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/temporary- withdrawal-of-all-areas-on-the-outer-continental-shelf-from-offshore-wind-leasing-and-review-of-the-federal- governments-leasing-and-permitting-practices-for-wind-projects/. The next WCMAC meeting is scheduled for 3/19/25. The agenda and other WCMAC meeting materials can be found at the Ecology website: Department of Ecology - Committees, Boards, and Workgroups (wa.gov). Jill Silver added that in terms of the WCMAC and coastal issues, 10,000 Years Institute has done about 300 acres of Scotch broom and gorse removal around Grays Harbor and southwest Jefferson County on State Park, Quinault Indian Nation, and Hoh Tribe lands. Scotch broom has tremendous capacity in coastal areas. She will present the work they have done, including the use of drone imagery and training school kids and Grays Harbor College students, at a future NPC MRC meeting or at the Film Festival. Wendy Feltham said that yesterday was the annual Martin Luther King Day of Service that the Port Townsend Marine Science Center always sponsors, which was focused on invasive European dune grass that was planted to control erosion. They had a great turnout with over 60 volunteers and seven organizations represented. Ian Miller asked Rod about any new strategies or changes to the WCMAC under the new administration. Rod noted that the new governor’s priorities in relation to the coast are not known yet, but that the letter illustrates what the WCMAC has done and emphasizes that they are here to serve. Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council The next meeting is scheduled for 1/24/25 and will be virtual. Chris Butler-Minor gave an update. The agenda includes a rockfish report from WDFW, and a working session for the Advisory Council’s annual work plan. She hoped there would be lots of good ideas to discuss. The meeting link is: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/934726957. West Coast Ocean Alliance Jennifer Hagen was not present for an update. Invasive European Green Crab Wendy Feltham reported that she and Eileen Cooney have volunteered for about nine years with the Sea Grant European green crab team. The 2024 Summary on 57 inland and 11 coastal sites was well presented: https://wsg.washington.edu/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024-Infographic.pdf. Chris Waldbillig added that the numbers on the coast are very high. Marine Debris Chris Butler-Minor said that Megan Juran with CoastSavers has been inventorying caches of coastal debris for removal, but apparently the entire cache at Scott’s Bluff was burned. Jill Silver noted that the group Ocean Plastics has been putting out new information on micro plastics and plastic recycling. It takes more energy and chemicals to recycle plastic than it does to make new. Climate/Fossil Fuels Related (All) There was nothing new to report. Administrative Update NPC MRC 1/21/2025 DRAFT Meeting Summary 4 Tami Pokorny was not present, but Chris Waldbillig gave an update under the Coast MRC Update. Next Agenda (February 18, 2025): The next NPC MRC Meeting will be held on 2/18/24 and will include a presentation from Vera Trainer on the ORHAB Program. Public Comments/General The group thanked Rebecca Mahan and Tressa Lindquist for filling in for Tami Pokorny. Tressa said she was available for any questions until Tami returned on 1/23/25. *Rebecca said she would send out an email tomorrow with all of the links mentioned during the meeting. Adjourn at 5:20 PM Action Items *Rebecca Mahan will send out the links to sign up for the Ediz Hook planting and the Hazardous Waste Operation and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) training with International Bird Rescue, and the other links mentioned during the meeting. Draft summary compiled by Rebekah Brooks.