Minutes
April 5, 2006
Members Present: Laura Arnold, Michael Durland, Ron Hendrickson, (Alan) Skeet Lowe, David Loyd, Victoria Parker, Howie Rosenfeld, Ken Sebens, Joy Sevier, Jim Slocomb
Staff: Jody Kennedy, Helen Venada
Absent: Terrie Klinger, Mary Masters, Kit Rawson, Jonathan White, Tina Whitman
Guests: Shannon Davis, Kat Fennel, Marilyn O’Conner, Dan Vekved
Guest speaker: Joel Breems, Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group
There was an informal vote around the table in support of Jim Slocomb acting as pro tem Chair in the absence of both Kit Rawson and Mary Masters. Jim called the meeting to order at 8:35 a.m. in the Community Room at Islanders Bank Annex, Friday Harbor.
Citizens’ comments:
A visitor from the New Mexico Water Dialogue said he was here at the suggestion of Dr. Dennis Willows to view the bottom-up community-based process of the MRC in action.
Ron Hendrickson gave a brief run-down on last Friday’s introductory workshop on the CAO. He announced that Jim Lombard of Steward and Associates has tentatively been hired as consultant for the project. Following a contract, there will be discussions on process and technical/citizen participation.
Dan Vekved, engineer with the SJC Public Works Department, said he wanted to introduce himself to the MRC and to communicate his interest in working together in those areas of his work where issues overlap, e.g. culverts, sea walls, West Sound.
Jody circulated the monthly record of volunteer hours to be filled in by members.
Minutes:
Minutes of the 3/15/06 meeting were approved as read.
Guest Presentation: Joel Breems said he is a field technician with Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group’s Mount Vernon office. He explained that Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups were established in 1989 to produce salmon and to lead restoration community-based efforts. Skagit Valley’s RFEG was founded in 1991 with a mission to build partnerships to educate and engage communities in salmonid population enhancement efforts and watershed stewardship. Joel’s work deals with WRIAs 2, 3, 4, and parts of 1 and 6, within the boundaries of the Skagit Watershed, including the San Juans. There are 14 RFEGs statewide that want to work with private and public lands in a bottom up approach. Joel outlined some accomplishments of the SFEG; some 57 million fish have been released. Most of the work is on barrier removals, streambed restoration, riparian planting, invasive species removal, monitoring, education, and cleanups. The goal of the strategy plan for 05-08 is to understand scientific priorities and nearshore habitat of the San Juan Islands and Whidbey Island; to provide leadership to restoration efforts; and to develop an action plan by the end of 2006.
Current San Juan projects include:
*Thatcher Bay Nearshore Assessment and Design project- Assessments will be made of levels of wood waste sediment from logging and milling activities, historical attributes; and responsible restoration.
* increasing public awareness of the connection between salmon and orcas (noting the work of Liz Leavers of Americorps and Dr. Robert Otis);
* complementing the work of other groups in the San Juans;
* continuing to be active in the WRIA 2 process.
Joel asked that the SFEG and the SJC MRC exchange minutes. He noted that a partnership could help to leverage future grant and private funding opportunities. Joel’s contact information is: joel@skagitfisheries.org or 360-336-0172. David said that SFEG has a good interactive display in an Anacortes storefront.
Action:
Copies of the MRCs draft letter to the County Administrator and Council were distributed. Suggested edits included underscoring aspects of technical issues, e.g. the ESA listings of Chinook and Orcas. Laura reported that the Policy subcommittee wants to assure that the MRC has a role in the CAO process as it develops.
Motion: David moved, and Howie seconded, that the letter be sent as written.
The motion passed with Skeet abstaining.
Shannon Davis presented a draft letter from the MRC to the NorthWest Fund for the Environment in suppport of FOSJ’s “Campaign to Protect San Juan County’s Critical Areas.” She explained that the grant could help to provide best available science for the CAO process, land use updates, etc. There was general consensus, after discussion, that in this instance MRC support would not be appropriate.
Work Session:
Jody talked about the value of the last MRC retreat in the fall of 2004 to new and experienced members. There was agreement that a November 9-10th retreat this year would help in future planning efforts.
Jody said there will be an election for a new Chair and Vice-Chair at the May 3rd meeting. Nominations can be mailed to her or presented at the next meeting.
Reports:
Laura reported that the Executive subcommittee had discussion last week on current and future funding. Kirsten Evans’ contract and scope of work was included (her replacement will be coming onboard today). Laura said Jody has been asked to put together an update on the Work Plan and Budget.
Jody said that the NWSC had a great meeting. DNR has a $2 million grant to remove creosoted logs from Puget Sound beaches. Jaeckles Lagoon, the port at Deer Harbor, and a cove on Shaw Island will be cleaned up. Jody reported that Tom Edwards, who has worked with the Lummi Tribe and in Whatcom County’s CAO update regarding anecdotal data and local history, is interested in presenting to the MRC, along with a Whatcom County planner. He has a San Juan map with traditional names and baseline data; GPS points can be referenced with elder information. Kat added that there is a tribal Meriweather map in the Library of Congress. Jody will email members a copy of a draft comprehensive letter from the Whatcom MRC to their Council on shoreline development best available science.
CAO Workshop: Jim reported on last week’s introductory Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) workshop. In addition to a brief run-down on current status and steps to be taken there were presentations throughout the morning, he said, including a very good one by Jody on the 5-S conservation process and the MSA. The consultant CDPD has hired has background in fish and wildlife habitat, Jim said, which will be important to the MRC. He said that he enjoyed CTED’s Tim Gates’ presentation that laid out issues, deadlines, etc. Jim added that a wide variety of people (~60) were in attendance, with lots of perceived interest in the topic. He pointed out that once again there was the “disconnect between the popularity of planning in the street” and the higher levels of government here. Jim suggested that members so inclined should speak to the County Council and Administrator to apply political pressure to move the CAO process forward.
Howie said that he heard a report this morning on NPR radio that orcas feed primarily on Chinook salmon. Discussion followed including mention of recent acoustic studies.
Jody said that she had a good meeting with National Parks Service ranger, Peter Dietrich, about Westcott-Garrison Bay. They highlighted the need for the MRC to go back to the conservation plan and to move it forward, which is part of the committee’s Work Plan and Budget (e.g. to update it and bring it before the County Council, requesting adoption). Jody said the draft plan is impressive and looks at the watershed connections with the marine environment; she noted the issue of declining eelgrass in the area.
Laura gave a briefing on the historical steps of the watershed planning process from 1996-98; an attempt was made to create some form of marine habitat conservation designation for Westcott-Garrison Bay, akin to a watershed plan. Following public outreach and SEPA review, the Growth Management Act (GMA) petitions hit, Laura said, and the effort was waylaid. At least half of the people living in the watershed area were part of the outreach process but with so much time gone by the outreach would have to be repeated. The basic analysis work has been done and is readily available for update. Laura said the CDPD would necessarily be involved in bringing the plan forward again but is currently not staffed to do that. She suggested that the MRC review some of the action strategies in the plan and consider opportunities to raise those in the context of the CAO update. Shannon pointed out that the Friends of the San Juans has updates on septics and docks.
There was discussion on the future of Mitchell Hill (prospective sale by DNR?). Howie said the Trails Committee has been completely involved in the issue.
Motion: David moved, and Skeet seconded, that the Executive Committee be asked to review the current status of the Westcott-Garrison Bay draft plan in light of the CAO update and report back to the committee. The motion was unanimously approved.
Citizens comments: Kat Fennel invited the MRC to attend this year’s Deer Harbor Wooden Boat rendezvous, beginning on Tuesday, September 5th. She said that 300 people attended last year’s event and many non-profits participate. There will be a sailing race on Wednesday this year and Kat suggested that the MRC hold its regular meeting aboard a boat (e.g. the Morning Star). She said posters will soon be available.
Kat asked Joel about having a San Juan Islands representative on the Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group and Joel invited contact through the Mount Vernon office.
Kat reminded everyone of Wayne Suttles’ exceptional mapping and linguistic studies of the Coast Salish people, available at the public libraries.
Shannon invited everyone to participate in the Earth Day beach cleanup and ongoing adopt-a-beach program. FOSJ has the collection equipment and recording forms. There was brief discussion of Nick Nash’s funding for the marine debris collection project.
Ken said there will be an Open House at the Friday Harbor Labs on May 20th.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 am.
Submitted by Helen Venada
