Minutes
January 4, 2006
Members Present: Laura Arnold, Michael Durland, (Alan) Skeet Lowe, David Loyd, Mary Masters, Victoria Parker, Kit Rawson, Howie Rosenfeld, Joy Sevier, Jim Slocomb, Tina Whitman
Staff: Barbara Rosenkotter, Helen Venada, Candace VerBrugghen
Absent: Terrie Klinger, Ken Sebens, Jonathan White
Guests: Mike Ahrenius, Ginny Broadhurst, Kirsten Evans, Phil Green, Kari Koski,,
Amy Mathews Amos, Claudia Mills, Rowann Tallmon
Chair Kit Rawson called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. in the Community Room at Islanders Bank Annex, Friday Harbor. He introduced Amy Mathews Amos of the Packard/Island Press project and Mike Ahrenius of the Port of Friday Harbor Commission.
Minutes:
Minutes of the 12/21/05 meeting were approved with these revisions to page 3: 2nd ¶, David said that the SJC Agriculture Resource Committee (ARC) has informally discussed a clam aquaculture proposal; and, under “Tidelands Removal,” Mary noted that the details mentioned in the motion have not been added to the letter, which has not yet been sent.
MRC membership:
Kit said that Brian Calvert’s position on the MRC ended as of December 31, 2005; therefore, there is an open position on the committee. He added that at least one County Council member has requested an extended list of new member nominations to include more names than the number of openings. There was discussion about the preference of having representation from Lopez Island and also from the Port of Friday Harbor; representation from the Community Development & Planning Department (CDPD) was also seen to be fundamentally important. The suggestion was made that the CDPD’s position should be advisory, not a voting member; Laura pointed out that this position is set up by state law as a voting member. She added that the CDPD Director is assumed to be a member per the MRC charter. Another suggestion was that the charter be modified to expand membership from 15 to 16. All agreed that it is imperative for the CDPD Director to be a member, particularly with the Critical Areas Ordinance update work this year.
Motion: Jim moved, and Tina seconded, that the MRC put forth Mike Ahrenius’ name to the County Council as a new MRC member, with the understanding that the CDPD Director is assumed to be a member per the MRC charter. The motion passed unanimously.
Letter of Appreciation:
Laura will draft a letter of letter of appreciation to Lil Hamel who is retiring from the BOCC office; the letter will be presented in person.
Packard/ Island Press project:
Amy Mathews Amos said that she has interviewed some MRC members on the phone. She explained that she has been contracted by the Packard Foundation and Island Press to help them understand approaches for using Ecosystem Based Management (EBM) as a way to do marine resource management in the United States. Amy said that the concept of EBM has been getting a lot of attention across the country as a way to improve conservation management. She noted that EBM was a major theme for the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy. Amy said that Packard and Island Press want to know how to do EBM and how it is working out. They want to learn from existing examples, such as the MSA concept; they will then make the lessons available to others by putting them into a database with the help of the National Center of Ecological Analysis in Santa Barbara. Amy said that the information being collected is qualitative and has to somehow be put into accurate, comprehensive, and manageable form. The emphasis of her work now is to find out who needs to be involved and how and when they should be involved. She added that she looks forward to talking with MRC members later today and tomorrow. Amy explained that Island Press publishes scientific books on conservation and ecological subjects and its goal is to identify its target audience and what information is needed by that audience; they hope to shape a future book on EBM.
Creosoted logs removal:
Ginny Broadhurst used a PowerPoint presentation to give an overview of NWSC’s regional creosote removal project. She said that an inventory and removal of creosote debris was done last year. Creosote is a wood preservative that contains from 2-300 different chemicals including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Creosote is listed as a carcinogen and is identified as a “contamination of concern” in the “State of the Sound” report. Creosote is no longer allowed in new marine structures and where pilings are being replaced steel ones are used instead. Creosote leaches for decades into the environment and is found on nearly every beach (3-400 pieces were found in a 1-mile stretch of beach). Its source is mostly derelict structures and other accretion areas (e.g. from creosoted railroad ties where train tracks are adjacent to beaches). Lisa Kaufman has been working on DNR’s creosote removal project. Some sites required helicopters to move the logs.
Ginny said that there are lots of fresh, as opposed to weathered, creosoted logs on the beach at First Lagoon in American Camp; Dungeness Spit and Spencer Spit in the San Juans also have creosote debris. Unfortunately, many beachgoers, including children, either build with these logs or burn them. Ginny said that Whatcom County and the WA Department of Ecology completed a comprehensive removal project along Whatcom’s entire shoreline; Padilla Bay, other Skagit County shorelines, and Whidbey County have also done inventory and removal projects. Ginny added that the Skagit County MRC created a model for cost effectiveness by using volunteers to help clean up the beaches (35 tons of creosoted logs were removed for $20,000). Ginny said that the safest disposal choice now is the Roosevelt landfill which is designated to receive hazardous wastes. David Loyd asked what Canada is doing about creosoted logs but no one had the answer. Ginny said that NWSC is waiting to hear if creosoted logs removal is on NOAA’s community restoration list (NOAA did not fund it last year). Priority sites are high accretion sites with public access or with landowner okay.
Research is needed, Ginny added, on how much contamination is actually occurring, on what contamination remains after the logs are removed, and which marine life is most vulnerable to the toxins. The Nature Conservancy has sites with creosote where they are concerned with impacts to habitat. Ginny said that with Governor Gregoire’s new initiative to protect Puget Sound, there may be more money for creosoted logs research and removal projects. Mike Ahrenius added that DNR requires all land leases that have creosoted pilings to be covered by insurance. David said that there are encapsulating devices for creosoted pilings.
Marine Managers Work Session:
Ginny said that the MRC and NWSC partnered to present a Marine Site Managers Work Session last November to explore how all the different managers of San Juan areas could manage collectively. Discussion included ways to build upon and support the MSA effort and to have the MSA support the managers’ work. The goal was also to identify opportunities for managers to improve their management strategies to protect marine species and habitat in the San Juan Islands archipelago.
The goal of the second Marine Managers Work Session (scheduled for March 13th and 14th at Friday Harbor Labs) will be similar to last year’s, Ginny added. She said it is a great forum for agency managers to learn what’s happening in the reserves and how their work can be supportive. Kit said that MRC participation is a great opportunity to talk to all the managers and this is the grass roots part of MSA planning. The managers and authorities are also a part, he said, of making the MSA work. Barbara asked if there will be opportunity to discuss the Salmon Recovery Plan and possible commitments to it. Kari suggested that those who were absent last year need to attend this work session, particularly CDPD; she also mentioned its relevance to the orca recovery plan. Ginny suggested that participants be given ideas of what they can do as shoreline managers to support the recovery plans. It was noted that Parks, the Land Bank, and SJ Preservation Trust typically emphasize terrestrial impacts and shoreline is not extended to the water.
Ginny said there will be updates on last year’s work, e.g. building on last year’s pledges. David said this is an action item for the MRC. Ginny said use of the 5-S process grew out of last year’s discussions. Kit said the managers need strategies from the MRC but th MRC needs their feedback as to what is doable. Tina said the managers need to know that their constituents support them taking a conservation role. Victoria suggested a good example of managers working together is the mooring buoys issue. Ginny asked what actions or successes should be highlighted where managers are working together. Tina said that Department of Fish and Wildlife staff will be here on March 1st to discuss the HPA process; she suggested that attendance by the CDPD is essential at the managers’ workshop as well as at the MRC meeting when the HPA is discussed. There was discussion on who should be invited and on enforcement issues.
Kit said the draft tidelands letter, an example of manager interaction, will be run by the state and tribal co-managers before it is sent out. There was discussion on other edits. Victoria said that this should be recognized as one example of a success for the marine managers; another is the Whale Rocks effort.
MSA Plan update: Kirsten said that the project plan for finishing up the viability analysis and digesting the workshop results is an agenda item for this afternoon’s MSA core team meeting. Also to be discussed are how to design the next stages of objectives setting and who will be involved in strategy development and what format it will take. She distributed copies of her 12/7/05 draft summary of workshop results, requesting that members and others actively involved give her feedback within the next two weeks on the summary, particularly for break out groups they participated in.
SRFB Process:
Barbara said that she’ll be going to Olympia tomorrow for SRFB’s final determination on projects. She is confidant that all four projects will be funded. Kit sent a letter to SRFB to clarify the genetics stock identification project. Barbara thanked all who have been involved. Tina said that the message of how we use assessment data is not getting through. Barbara said we’re finally at a tipping point and SRFB is getting feedback from different arenas that are using the data.
MSA Anniversary:
Candy passed around the invitations, inviting members to personalize any of the 267+ that will be sent out; there are five different photo images. Mary spoke to Orcas students from 5th grade and above; Rhea Miller has offered to speak to Lopez students, Tina Wylie-Echevarria will talk to Waldron school, Stephanie Buffum will go to the Shaw school, and Kari will speak to San Juan Island students. Candy said the art contest in underway. Judging is scheduled for January 25th, 8:30 am at Islanders Bank; Howie, Tina, Joy, Victoria and Jonathan will be judges from the MRC. Kit gave a program update: he said the Tulalip First Salmon group will open the celebration, Kevin Ranker will do an introduction, followed by speakers Joe Gaydos and John Evans. Victoria said that the County Council will sign a proclamation for the MSA celebration on January 10th; all members should attend. Jim will email the details.
Jim reported that West Marine has been selling the MSA laminated maps for $1 each; Mary said school students love them.
Kari thanked the committee for its letter supporting the orca conservation plan. She added that the MRC and the MSA are recognized as positive actions on page 113 of the 189-page document.
There was discussion on whether the MRC should pay for an ad in the Visitors Bureau Guide (changes need to be in by Friday). Mary and Kit will review the brochure and send edits to Kari who has been working with the Visitors’ Bureau on this.
Howie said that the Lodging Committee has funds available. The suggestion was made to amend the 2006 workplan to include BRI posters and other outreach tools.
Kirsten said the UW Labs program is doing marine policy issues analysis to the end of January; it may be possible to get them to work on one to three steps of the 5-S MSA planning effort. Students may be calling MRC members to question them about the craft of policy analysis.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:35 am
Submitted by Helen Venada
