Minutes
December 7, 2005
Members Present: Laura Arnold, Brian Calvert, Michael Durland, David Loyd, Victoria Parker,
Kit Rawson, Howie Rosenfeld, Jim Slocomb, Tina Whitman
Staff: Jody Kennedy, Barbara Rosenkotter, Helen Venada, Candace VerBrugghen
Absent: Terrie Klinger, (Alan) Skeet Lowe, Mary Masters, Joy Sevier, Jonathan White
Guests: Kelly Balcomb-Bartok, Kirsten Evans, Phil Green, Kari Koski,, Jacques White
Chair Kit Rawson called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. in the Community Room at Islanders Bank Annex, Friday Harbor.
Citizens’ comments:
Jody read a letter from Ryan Drum of Waldron Island who requested that it be entered as public record. The letter’s subject is “eating from the sea” and Ryan explained that every day for the past 30 years his family has eaten food harvested from the sea and shores around Waldron Island. Most of the family’s food consists of invertebrates and sea vegetables from intertidal zones. Their harvest does not represent sport, recreational, or commercial activity; island people by choice, his family harvests from the sea for personal consumption. The letter goes on to say that they “...hope that any and all discussions of local marine resource access and utilization will include recognition and accommodation of the many local San Juan County families who eat regularly from the local marine waters....” Jody added that it is important as the committee works on the MSA project that those who subsist off the local marine resources be considered.
Brian Calvert announced that this would be his last MRC meeting as a member. Kit pointed out that Brian is the last original MRC member remaining on the committee.. Brian said that after 10 years with this incredible organization he is leaving it in good hands and with good direction. He talked about the origins of the committee, starting as a whim following the 3-year turmoil over the marine sanctuary issue. Out of that, he said, came the Murray-Metcalfe measure and the MRC, the most profound and wonderful program in the country and in the world for protection of the waters we care so much about. Brian leaves the MRC with the advice that it continue to get something concrete done every year. The voluntary Bottom Fish Recovery Program of the first year had buy in from everyone, Brian said; the MRC has been modeled by other counties in the Northwest and has been the subject of several student theses. Throughout, Brian added, the committee has stayed politically “clean,” staying focused on protecting marine waters and enhancing fish habitat, goals that everyone shares. Brian leaves to serve on the Board of the NW Yacht Club Association, on the governmental affairs committee.
There was discussion on the now-vacant Port position and its importance to the committee.
Minutes:
Minutes of the 11/16/05 meeting were approved as read.
Shared Salmon Strategy:
Barbara said that Shared Strategy is going through the process of moving beyond being an organization to help put a strategy and plan together to implement the plan that was submitted to NOAA this year. She referred to a document from Jim Kramer called “Democracy in Action,” which describes how the region would be organized for implementation. The Shared Strategy is looking for feedback from the local watersheds on the new structure the group is proposing. Barbara distributed copies of “Proposed Functions for Local Watersheds vs Regional Functions,” noting that the last paragraph highlights the proposal that the regional leadership group include a representative from each local watershed group as well as from the tribes, state and federal agencies, environmental organizations and the business community (especially from the fishing, forestry, agricultural and development sectors).
Barbara pointed out that there are 15 watersheds in the Puget Sound region, of which San Juan County is one. The County is the lead entity and MRC was appointed the citizens’ committee under the salmon Recovery Act. The regional leadership group will be working to implement the Puget Sound salmon Recovery Plan. Copies of a draft letter from the MRC to William Ruckelshaus, Chairman of the Shared Strategy for Puget Sound, were distributed. In response to a question from Jim, Kit pointed out that “all-H” integration efforts include harvest, hatchery, habitat, and hydro management. Barbara noted that this is an opportunity for working with Shared Strategy and for future funding.
Motion: Brian moved, and Laura seconded, that the conditional letter of support be approved, with conditions to be added by Chair, Kit Rawson.
The motion was unanimously approved.
MSA Anniversary Celebration:
Candy thanked Kelly Balcomb-Bartok for being in attendance and explained that he would be writing a news release on the Celebration for next week in all three local newspapers. Candy said she will also be sending an announcement to several websites, e.g. PSAT, NOF, SJC, etc. She asked that members send their suggestions to her at candan@orcasonline.com. Candy said that several events and displays are being planned as well as an art contest (kindergarten to adults) to create an image/brand for future use of the MSA effort. A “birthday” party for the MSA and MRC will be held at the San Juan Island Middle School on Saturday, January 28th from 1-4 pm. Members were asked to bring to the next meeting their suggestions for organizations that should be invited to set up informational tables at the event.
Copies of Kit’s draft press release were circulated for members’ review and edits. Howie suggested that San Juan County could become the lead jurisdiction for watching over the resident orca whales, newly-designated as endangered under the ESA.
MSA Plan:
Kirsten distributed copies of information on two new targets added at the workshop; they are “Human Benefits from the Marine Environment” and “Water.” Kirsten said the idea for the Human Benefits target comes from the MRC being open to including social, cultural, and economic elements in the MSA plan so that the human factors are explicitly planned for as opposed to just being consequences of other activities. Another option is to use these goals as filtering tools as future strategies are developed. Kirsten discussed the nested targets added to this target, top stresses and sources. Jacques added that this may be the most important and most difficult target; he said since there is no real model for this approach, a sub-committee might be assigned to study the issue. Jim, David, and Howie volunteered and Jacques offered his assistance.
There was consensus that the relevance of the “Water” target, which was intended to capture water quality, quantity, pelagic environment, etc., is that of establishing a baseline for other targets and, therefore, need not be identified as a separate target.
Reports:
Local Knowledge project: Laura said that anecdotal information is an important part of the story under the human interest category. She added that stories being collected are rich and compelling.
Salish Sea Gathering: Jody attended the 2-1/2 day gathering of U.S. and Canadian coastal tribes in Sequim two weeks ago. She said she thoroughly enjoyed the event in which discussions were held on environmental issues affecting the tribes in an effort to develop a platform. Some of the highlights for her were the importance of sharing oral history and tribal connectedness to the marine environment. Jody explained that a 13-month lunar cycle is common to the tribes, with each moon connected to specific seasonal events. One
result of the gathering was the determination to maintain the momentum and sense of unity. The creation of
the Coast Salish Aboriginal Council, launched by Terry Williams, will serve as an ongoing entity to represent the tribes. Jody said she had many good conversations and will be meeting with Terry Williams about how the tribes are going to capture their traditional knowledge and if there is a mechanism for the MSA to use to incorporate the tribal message.
NWSC meeting: Jody said the NWSC met last week. She enjoyed the abalone presentation and Tina said that the presenter has been invited to San Juan. Kari said that Claudia Mills has mapped local abalone. Copies were distributed of the booklet, “Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Progress Report, 2004-2005: Two More Years of Success.” Jody said there will an oil spill forum in Seattle on December 12th, noting that this has the potential to be a huge issue for Puget Sound. PSAT is sponsoring a meeting on climate change and its effects on Puget Sound. NWSC is providing funding for a tribal video project that will be shown on channel 11.
Jody said there was discussion about the NWSC two-year grant cycle. There will be a budget discussion at the MRC meeting on the 21st along with a proposal for how to spend the increased county funding. She will present an annual report at that time.
Victoria announced that she has resigned from the San Juan Nature Institute to serve as Director of the Orcas Island Music Festival. Dr. Fiona Norris will be the interim director of SJNI.
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Citizens’ comments:
Kari said that she will be attending the Marine Mammal Conference in San Diego from the 12th to 16th.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 am.
Submitted by Helen Venada
