Approved Minutes
Island County Marine Resources Committee
April 3, 2002 Meeting
Heller Road Firehall, Oak Harbor 4pm to 6pm

MRC members present: Vice-Chair Tom Roehl, Dick Toft, Mike Gallion, Phyllis Kind, Marty Behr, Hi Bronson, Don Meehan, Roger Sherman, Jeff Tate; Exec. Dir. Gary Wood; Technical Advisory member Julie Buktenica; Admin. Assist. Kate Poss. Absent: Sayed El-Sayed, and Chair Tom Campbell. Visitor-Frank Roberts who came to drop off many copies of the book "Voodoo Science." He left shortly after he brought the books without saying anything.

Call to order: The meeting was called to order at 4:03 pm

Action -Approval of March 6 meeting minutes: Hi Bronson moved and Phyllis Kind seconded the motion to approve the March 6 minutes. The motion was carried unanimously.

Approval of today's agenda: Additions include the latest news on Marine Protected Areas, Don Meehan's letter from the Nooksak Indian tribe and Julie Buktenica's announcement regarding National Marine Fisheries Service or NMFS.

Reports
· Wood announced that the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation along with the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration or NOAA, have awarded Island Co. MRC $15,000 for forage fish. Skagit, Whatcom and Snohomish counties were each awarded $10,000. Wood will oversee managing of the grants.
· The Salmon Recovery Funding Board or SRFB technical panel questioned the link between the nearshore mapping our MRC does and the benefit to salmon. Wood said SRFB staff stepped in to explain the connection. SRFB asked that Wood work out protocols; i.e. using the same format, that will be used to coordinate the other county's data with ours. SRFB is expected to fully fund Island County MRC's request of $227,000
· The Northwest Straits Commission, the parent of all 7 north Puget Sound MRCs, will grant our MRC $130,000 of federal money over the next two grant cycles.
· All told our MRC may expect to work with about $372,000 in grants for fiscal year 2002/2003. This is up from our $230,000 grant for 2001/2002; and up from $25,000 for Fiscal Year 2000/2001.
· Roehl asked that Wood change the wording in our NWSC grant request from saying it is the MRC's intention to IMPLEMENT nearshore zoning to INVESTIGATE the potential usefulness of nearshore zoning as an alternative form of MPA. Roehl noted that this more accurately reflects what we intend to do since we, as a committee, had not yet made any commitment to take this path and he didn't want us to inadvertently be (or seem) contractually bound to do so. He said he also had some concerns lest the public perceive us as "implementers" of policies not thoroughly researched. Roehl noted that our research into the concept should compare it to the existing regulatory framework already in place to determine whether more layers of "zoning" would indeed be useful. Wood agreed to make the change in the grant language.

o Wood agreed that perhaps Marine Protected Areas aren't necessarily a fit; he suggested it would be better to layer the areas with specific protection needs while allowing other uses. Adding that MPAs traditionally pertain to deeper waters, he asked the MRC if it would be interested in having a presentation on the concept of "Nearshore Zoning" at one of our future education meetings. A talk would include information on feeder bluffs and mapping protocols. There was general agreement that such a nearshore talk would be beneficial.
o Shoreline Armoring: Regarding the NWSC grant element to map armored areas, Roehl noted that he thought our intent was to also specifically assess the health of beaches in front of said armored areas. Wood explained that the NWSC grant element was for mapping only but that the Forage Fish element of that and the SRFBD Grants did include the Beach assessments, but only on a "random sampling" basis. Meehan & Buktenica explained the current procedures to the group. Roehl offered that perhaps the next SRFBD phase should specifically call out armored areas for detailed biological assessment either as part of Dr. Penttila's work or as part of the feeder bluff protocols. Wood and Meehan offered that the work would be done in one way or another. Wood explained that much of Island County's hardened shorelines was mapped through a previous Beach Watcher grant; the 2001/2002 SRFB grant pays for the mapping of Camano Island's hardened shores. In addition, there was a hardened bulkhead study done 30 years ago; that information can be compared to what we now plan to gather. Buktenica noted that the forage fish database now being developed does include "cells or columns" noting the proximity or presence of armored areas to spawn areas .
o Mapping Protocols: Roehl requested that we continue to specify the AutoCad base for mapping deliverables whenever we can. He noted that it is the base most widely used in the community of professional engineers, planners, and surveyors in the community. As a "base" this format can then be converted to GIS maps through software such as ArcView. With a good CAD basis to start with County mapping can be supplemented with maps, surveys, and data generated by the private sector and other smaller agencies and be more broadly accessible for the public's use, which is why it has been specified in past grant contracts. Roehl, explained that he brought it up only because he did not want to lose that basic step in our mapping project protocols. Wood, Meehan, and Tate, assured the committee that we were still on that track with our deliverable protocols wherever it was applicable.
o LiDAR Technology: Buktenica said that the county's surface water planner has been using demonstration versions of LiDAR, a highly accurate Topographic mapping and data technology. It results in elevation accuracies as close as 6 inch tolerances according to Meehan. Meehan indicated that Doug Kelly was to have this data in hand and would be able to use it for our project. The Public Works department wishes to acquire the Full version of the software and data. Julie Buktenica suggested that the MRC may also have access to the technology in its work and may wish to write a letter to the BICC endorsing its full acquisition (at around $15,000) by the Public Works Department. In discussion, it was generally agreed that, if the technology could be used by more agencies in the county, we should endorse its procurement. Wood said that if the Committee wanted he would write a letter to Bill Oakes, public works director, in support of the county's continued use of LiDAR.

o ACTION: Hi Bronson moved and Don Meehan seconded the motion to have Wood write a letter in support of the continued use of LiDAR by Island County and the MRC. The motion passed.

o Sherman inquired as to how much access the general public will have to all this mapping technology. Tate noted that there is free "read only" software available to the public to view most of the county's GIS based mapping on web sites or upon download. Wood noted that soon there will be General Public Access to the maps and data on the forage fish web site at www.foragefish.org.

· Legislative info: Wood and Meehan reported meeting with Congressman Rick Larsen. Wood said that Larsen sang the praises of MRCs. Meehan said, in response to Larsen's asking what he could do for Island County MRC, that Larsen contact SRFBD in support of our funding requests and let them know that nearshore and salmon have complimentary relationships with one another.

The latest on Wash. Dept. of Fish & Wildlife's Marine Protected Areas for Island County
· Dr. Kind passed around a hard copy of the report she and Sherman had prepared for the MRC after their on-site inspection with Don Meehan utilizing the County GPS equipment. They were accompanied by the Camp Casey Marine Lab coordinator. Their report noted significant deviations between the boundaries represented by DFW and the actual MPA boundaries per legal descriptions. The biggest problem was with the Admiralty Head boundaries that are actually further northward than what Ms. Mills stated to the public and the Commission. The new regulations are scheduled to be effective May 1, 2002 and, until proper posting is achieved, the public will be "at risk".
· Kind suggested that MRC ask WDFW to clearly post signs on the areas to be protected ASAP.
· Gallion stated the Admiralty Head MPA was not WHERE they said, WHAT they said, or
WHY they said, referring to the WDFW and their proposed Admiralty Head proposed MPA.
Since the area is relatively low quality rockfish habitat, the effect of salmon and steelhead
sportfishing on any rockfish that may be there would be nil. If the purpose of the MPA is to
protect the kelp beds, sportfishing would have no effect at all on the kelp. It appears that the
purpose of the Admiralty Head proposed MPA has little or nothing to do with either protecting
rockfish or kelp. Gallion wondered if there might be some other reason for WDFW proposing
this location.

· ACTION: Toft moved to send a letter to the WDFW commission stating the MRC's disappointment with the MPAs as proposed. Behr seconded the motion, which was carried by all.
o Wood, Toft, and Roehl will draft the letter .
o Behr suggested that on a positive note we support the designation of Keystone as a marine protected area and Buktenica added that we comment that Keystone's coordinates are not precisely listed.
New Business
· Buktenica asked the MRC to comment on the Nat'l Marine Fisheries Service protection of Puget Sound Chinook. NMFS is seeking to document all conservation efforts currently underway or completed since the ESA listing as part of it's ongoing monitoring efforts. Comments are due by April 12. Buktenica was asked if she could draft such a letter for our MRC, but said she did not have the time. Roehl Said He may be able to "take a stab at it" but also offered no assurances on his ability to meet the deadline due to a full work schedule.
· Meehan read a letter from the Nooksak Tribe which stated the tribe values our MRC's concerns and efforts regarding bottom fish and forage fish. The Nooksak are working with WDFW to create a co-management plan; the Nooksak will be glad to share its technical information with us.
· Meehan announced that the Port of Coupeville has informed the BICC of its intention to change representatives to the MRC. The Port's slot on the committee is now held by EDC director, Sharon Hart who has expressed her willingness to continue helping the MRC, perhaps as a Technical Advisory member. Meehan noted the Port had no complaint with Hart, but was only interested in having one of their own (Port Commissioners Benye Weber) in the slot who wanted to do that work for them. Don said he will keep us appraised of the situation.
· Filling Matt Klope's position on the MRC. Klope has been filling a slot designated for "Science"
o Meehan suggested several names as possible candidates for the MRC to the Island Co. Board of Commissioners or BOCC, including Bill White. BOCC wants Meehan to ask Ralph Valdez, a commercial fish processor, if he would like to join; apparently Valdez was interested about a year ago in joining the commission.
o Gallion said the group of citizens possibly most affected by possible MRC activities is the owners of shoreline property and suggested that any replacement also fit that category. It was noted that several on the MRC already fit that category and no specific action was taken.
· NWSC educational training seminars-are planned in Pt. Townsend and in Mt. Vernon regarding derelict gear. Meehan said we need one or two members to attend these seminars that will focus on media and outreach of derelict gear. Wood said we have $15,000 in grants for derelict gear outreach. A Tribes 101 course is planned as well in Skagit Co. Both seminars are planned for May and/or June.
· Kind passed around a handout-a scientific consensus statement on marine reserves; another on Tampa Bay.
· Wood displayed a ¼" thick packet of the quarterly reimbursement request forms required by our grant funding agencies before funds are distributed. He explained that right now those are occupying most of his immediate time, hence his inability to write some letters discussed and approved today.
· Meehan said all future agendas ought to include a section on public comment.
· Gallion distributed copies of the book, "Voodoo Science" by Robert Park, Oxford Press. He said the books were left for the committee by Frank Roberts who had to leave early.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:55 pm. Our next meeting will be on April 17 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland from 4 pm to 6 pm.