Minutes
October 6, 2004
Members Present: Laura Arnold, Brian Calvert, Peter Fromm, David Hoopes, David Loyd, Kit Rawson,
DJ Sessner, Dennis Willows
Absent: Kelley Balcomb-Bartok, Mike Bertrand, Terrie Klinger, Mary Masters, Kevin Ranker, Jim Slocomb
Guests: Ray Bigler, Mark Billington, Jody Kennedy, Kari Koski, Lori Larkin, Tillie Scruton
Guest Presenter: Mark Tompkins, Manager of County Environmental Health
Acting Chair, David Loyd, called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. in the Community Room at Islanders Bank Annex, Friday Harbor.
Minutes: Minutes of the 9/1/04 and 9/15/04 meetings were approved as read.
Aquaculture Protocol:
Kit distributed copies of emails from Betsy Peabody, Russel Barsh and Sandy Wylie-Echeverria, with their responses to the MRC draft aquaculture protocol checklist; their respective test cases are the abalone restoration project, native oyster restoration effort, and eelgrass re-seeding project. Kit said that there were mostly positive comments on the questionnaire itself. Kit said he was very appreciative of the work people put into being the test cases. There was discussion about adopting the current draft of the questionnaire for use when the MRC is asked for its opinions on proposed projects that would enhance or supplement natural marine populations. Laura suggested that this review procedure would also be relevant for grow-out-and-harvest projects. Laura, Dennis, and Kit will develop a final draft for BOCC approval, recommending its use as one of the tools for review of such proposals. Laura said that the questionnaire might also be used by other county agencies to supplement their regulatory review; this information gathering effort deals with a project’s potential impacts to natural conditions and resources.
MSA Outreach:
Kari Koski said that she distributed hundreds of copies of the laminated MSA maps at the recent Einar Nielsen Derby. She added that this represents the fourth year of maintaining a presence to promote the MSA concept.
MRC Retreat:
Jody said a tentative date of Saturday, November 20th has been set for the Retreat; an outside facilitator will be hired for the event to be held at the UW Labs. There was agreement that only MRC members would be invited to attend but that NWSC presence would be welcome (Tom Cowan?). Jody presented a draft agenda for the Retreat: long-term strategy discussions for the morning session; 2005 work plan, grants, and the membership composition / meeting times issues for the afternoon session. David Loyd said that the initial intent for this Retreat was to discuss the MRC’s philosophy and the ultimate benefit of its work. Peter added that he’d like to hear discussion of who the members are and learn more about their personal backgrounds. Kit agreed that covering such topics that do not happen within the confines of formal meetings could be beneficial. Jody said that strategic planning and establishing goals were important topics for the Retreat. Brian suggested a look at what other Islanders may be interested in. Dennis said that the visions of individual members to educate and motivate the community are of interest to him; he added that the future of the Labs is also an important topic. Peter said that the 2010 Winter Olympics have the potential for all the MRC’s in the area and for British Columbia to present a very positive plan for marine protection to the many visitors who will be here.
Water Quality Presentation:
Mark Tompkins explained the role of the County Environmental Health Department in water quality monitoring. One of its roles is to oversee installation and repairs of septic systems. The San Juan County Watershed Action Plan addresses both fresh and saltwater issues; one of its goals, to establish long-term monitoring, has not been fundable by the county but the SJC Conservation District is finishing up a 3-year grant, working with local school groups to carry out water quality monitoring (upland, not marine). Jenny Roberts and her students are in their third year of fresh water monitoring in two watersheds, Beaverton Valley (3 sites) and False Bay (4 sites); monitoring includes fecal coliform, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, temperature and pH. Continued funding for the project is being sought. The monitoring can provide early warning of problems and can identify trends over time (e.g. seasonal winter flow). Lori Larkin of the San Juan County Conservation District said that samples are taken every six weeks. She added that the student program not only provides hands-on education but also shares useful scientific data with the Health Department.
Mark said that the Washington Department of Health regulates shellfish growing areas to assure that water quality meets FDA standards for harvest and sales; seven bays here (Westcott/Garrison, Ship Bay, Buck Bay, Mackaye Harbor, and Mud, Hunter, and Barlow Bays) are monitored for levels of fecal coliform. The testing is done every other month and is probably one of the best programs in the state, Mark said; he added that water quality in the shellfish beds here is probably the best in the state. WADOH sends out CD’s and hardcopy of their “early warning system” reports.
Mark said that the county had grant funds in 2000 to help owners of failed septic systems complete repairs so that water quality has improved greatly. Mark noted that some areas with concentrated numbers of boats anchored over or near shellfish beds (e.g. Shoal Bay) have been closed to harvesting. Other areas (e.g. Mackaye-Barlow) have been conditionally-approved but closed in summer because of the presence of boats that are presumed to be dumping septage.
Lori said that the Conservation District’s farmer education program includes water quality information. Ten sites on Lopez and Orcas have been sampled for nitrates, phosphates, and ammonia by the school groups. They have also monitored at the Port of Friday Harbor marina. Brian pointed out that there are two perpetual leaks in the Town of Friday Harbor septic system at the outfall pipes which skew monitoring numbers.
Sampling and testing for PSP (“red tide”) is done by the local Environmental Health Department for waters at UW Labs, West Beach, Deer Harbor, Barlow Bay, Hunter Bay, as well as sites on Sucia and Stuart Islands. There are no PSP closures now in the county.
Mark said there will be a BOCC hearing for adoption of the San Juan County Watershed Action Management Plan next week; the Plan looks at water resources on a county-wide basis to identify areas of limited quantities of groundwater and also at areas impacted by saltwater intrusion.
There was brief discussion of potential impacts to water quality by the increasing numbers of desalination plants here and by the untreated sewage outflow from Victoria. Tillie Scruton mentioned the reported algae cloud off the coast of Washington; Mark Billington said that the demoic acid cloud is being monitored and is not likely to enter the Strait.
Coordinator’s Report:
Jody said she will email the RFP for construction of the bottomfish recovery zone signs for review; the RFP will be announced in all the local newspapers.
Over 100 MSA surveys have been completed; Jody distributed copies of the compiled results. A press release on the results was discussed (e.g. there are reports of some decreases in rockfish populations; 82% of respondents are in favor of more voluntary approaches rather than regulatory enforcement). It was agreed that the survey should be continued; Kit said that he will help develop a spreadsheet for analysis of survey results.
Jody said there will be a series of Sea Doc Society lectures at Camp Orkila. An abalone workshop will be held at Rosario Resort on October 29th.
There is NWSC grant money for contracting with someone to do the MSA maps; Jody said she has assembled a hiring committee made up of MRC members and others (Dennis Willows, Laura Arnold, John Spady, Bruce McDanold). A position description is being prepared for release to local newspapers and the position will be filled by the end of November.
Motion: Brian moved, and David Hoopes seconded, that Jody’s plan to proceed
with the RFP and hiring committee be approved. The motion was passed unanimously.
The next MSA public outreach meeting will be on Waldron Island on November 13th or 14th, depending on when the Waldron Community Meeting is scheduled.
Jody said that eight MRC members have signed up for the NWSC training scheduled for the end of October.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 a.m.
Submitted by Helen Venada
