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Chehalis Basin Partnership Meeting Notice and Agenda
DATE: Friday June 22 2001
TIME: 9:00 to 11:30 AM
LOCATION: Bingo Room, Chehalis Tribe "Lucky Eagle" Casino (Directions on Back)
A. General Partnership Business 9:00 a.m
| 1 . Welcome, introduce members and new visitor s | (5) | Chair |
| 2. Identify special issues of concern and adjust agend a | (5) | Members/Chair |
| 3. Committee Reports | - | - |
| Citizens' Advisory Committe e | (5) | Rob Schanz |
| Steering/Technical Committe e | (5) | Mark Swartout |
| 4. Other Business | - | - |
| Annual Plan of Work - Status Record of Decisions | (10) | Kahle Jennings |
| Other Update s | (10) | Members |
| ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN AT THIS MEETING: None Noted | -- | -- |
| B. Special Project Status Reports, Budget Updates and Committee Reports | - | 9:40 a.m. |
| 1 . Watershed Planning Project - RCW 90.82- | (20) | Grays Harbor County and Triangle Assoc. |
| Update on Phase 3 Plan scope/outlin e | - | - |
| Level 1 Assessment available on the web www.ecy.wa.gov/watershed/2223.html | - | - |
| Study of Chehalis Basin Flows at 6 sites | - | - |
| 2. Salmon Recovery Project RCW 77.85 Statu s | (20) | Grays Harbor County |
| 3. Flood Control Project s | (5) | - |
| Centralia/Chehalis Flood Damage Reduction Project Corps of Engineers | - | - |
| Chehalis River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Study Corps of Engineers | - | - |
| 4. TMDL Updates | - | - |
| Grays Harbor Fecal Coliform Bacteri a | (5) | Ecology |
| Upper Chehalis Temperature | - | - |
| Humptulips Temperature | - | - |
| ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN AT THIS MEETING: None Noted | - | - |
| C. Special Presentatio n | - | 10:30 a.m. |
| Review/Discuss proposed operating procedures (revised by-laws ) | (45) | Committee |
| D. Open Commen t | - | 11:15 a.m. |
| Any remaining issues identified in agenda item A 2 | (15) | Audience |
| E. Chair Adjourns meeting | - | 11:30 a.m. |
Future Action Items
July
13th Partnership workshop #I: Developing scope of the Phase 3 watershed plan
27th -- Approve proposed operating procedures
August 24th
Partnership workshop #2: Review/Discuss draft scope for Phase 3 Plan
September 28th
Discuss/Approve scope for Phase 3 Plan
Watershed Planning - next steps
October 26th
Approve salmon recovery project priority list prior to submittal to SRF Board
Review Partnership membership; recommend changes
Begin work on 2002 Annual Plan of Work
November 30th
Review Intergovernmental Agreement; identify potential changes
December 21st or 28 th
Approve 2002 Annual Plan of Work
Meeting Summary - May 25, 2001
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Introduction
Chairman for the day Jim Haslett welcomed everyone and opened the meeting. Orville Ball, Mason County's alternate for Commissioner Mary Jo Cady was introduced.
Fourteen of the Partnership's thirty-two member organizations had a representative or alternate at the meeting. Twenty-seven additional citizens, alternates, or visitor attended.
Citizens' Advisory Committee
Turnout for the May 9th Citizens' Advisory Committee was small, perhaps due to a late mailing of the meeting announcement and agenda.
The June meeting of the CAC will be held after the Partnership meeting on June 22nd at the Chehalis River Council offices in Oakville.
I Annual Plan of Work
Changes to the Annual Plan of work that were suggested prior to its approval at the April Partnership meeting were reviewed. Updates to the Annual Plan of Work will be identified in the meeting summary for the month when they occur. An updated version of the schedule from the Annual Plan of Work will be sent out with the meeting announcement each month. (Copy of schedule attached)
The question of how to make up-to-date information such as the Annual Plan of Work available to Partnership members and the general public was discussed. Eventually the Partnership may need to set up a web-site. Currently, the Chehalis River Council provides information on the Partnership's activities through its web-site.
Record of Decisions
Maintaining a record of Partnership decisions was a recommendation by Mark Swartout several months ago. Kahle Jennings is currently going through all the past meeting summaries and pulling out the decisions they contain. The purpose of creating a record of our decisions is to make sure we don't loose track of those things that have already been decided. This information will be useful as changes in the members of the Partnership occur and as work on Partnership activities moves forward.
There is a question about how the record should be made accessible to Partnership members and the general public once it has been created. It will be updated monthly. One suggestion was to include a section in each meeting summary that reviews the formal decisions made at that meeting.
Other updates
Lew Patton, a member of the Chehalis River Council (CRC) announced that the Chairman of the CRC had resigned and provided the following information.
The Chehalis River Council began in 1992 with the ideas and leadership of Dave Palmer. The mission statement of the CRC is to "Promote the conservation and restoration of the greater Chehalis River Basin Resources."
This past Monday the CRC Board was jolted by the resignation of Dave. The Board does not always agree on everything, but it does agree Dave's leadership has been appreciated, and he will be missed.
The CRC publication "Drops of Water" has been looked forward to each month by thousands of readers in the Chehalis Basin. Because of the difficulty of finding sustained funding it will be an ongoing challenge to continue to publish Drops of Water.
(Note: the CRC web-site has also been a major source of information for the general public about a multitude of Chehalis Basin issues - including the activities of the Partnership.)
A new CRC board is in place. The board is reviewing the makeup, mission, and sources of funding for the activities of the Chehalis River Council. The new Board consists of Margaret Radar (Chair), Rob Schanz (Secretary), Karen Knutsen (Treasurer), Janet Strong and Lew Patton. These Board members are ably assisted by Sally Cox (Citizen's for Preservation of the Upper Chehalis) and Brady Engvall (Friends of Grays Harbor).
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Watershed Planning under RCW 90.82
Grays Harbor County staff introduced Bob Wheeler from Triangle Associates. Triangle Associates was selected as the top candidate to assist the Partnership in the development of the scope for the Phase 3 watershed plan. If the Partnership approves the panel's recommendation, Bob Wheeler will be the lead for Triangle on the project.
Triangle has proposed a series interviews with key Partnership members in June/July and a couple of work sessions in July and August. To meet the
schedule, one of the work sessions will have to be held on the 13th. This work
session will be in addition to the regular July Partnership meeting on the 27 The schedule for developing the scope of the Phase 3 watershed plan is based on Partnership approval of a final product at its September meeting. The scope for the Phase 3 watershed plan should reflect agreement between the Partnership members about the goals for managing water quantity, quality, and fish habitat in the Chehalis Basin.
Several Partnership members expressed their thoughts about the importance of this stage of the planning process. The scope for the plan will basically determine how the remaining two and a half years of work will proceed and how the grant funds the Partnership has received for the project will be spent.
Acting in its role as Lead Agency for the Partnership, Grays Harbor County made two requests. First, the County requested that the Partnership's approve the selection of Triangle Associates as the firm that will work with the Partnership on developing the scope for our Phase 3 watershed plan. Second, the County requested permission to develop a contract with Triangle Associates for the work. There were no objections to either request, so Grays Harbor County's request was approved by consensus.
Margaret Rader, current chair of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), announced that the decision to move forward into development of the scope for the Phase 3 plan was a point of transition that would be a good time for her to step down as the chair of the TAC. Mark Swartout, alternate Partnership member for Commissioner Kevin O'Sullivan of Thurston County, has expressed the willingness and interest in serving as chair of the committee. Margaret requested that the Partnership appoint Mark as the chair of the TAC.
Margaret was thanked for her work as chair of the Technical Advisory Committee and Mark Swartout was appointed as the new chair.
Salmon Recovery RCW 77-85
In April, Carol Smith presented the Limiting Factors Analysis for the Upper/Lower Chehalis Basin (including Grays Harbor) to the Partnership. Since the April meeting, the salmon recovery Technical Advisory Group has continued to work on a draft Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Strategy for the Chehalis Basin. The draft strategy includes a description of restoration goals and criteria developed to prioritize between sub-basins. The prioritization will be one of the basic building blocks of a detailed salmon recovery strategy for the basin.
Grays Harbor County staff announced that a workshop has been scheduled on June 21st for groups that are interested in applying for SRF Board salmon recovery funds for projects in the Chehalis Basin. A copy of that announcement is enclosed with this summary.
Brian Peck, USFWS, announced that the replacement hired to fill Mike Kelly's Chehalis Basin Fishery Restoration Program coordinator position has unexpectedly resigned. Brian has been temporarily assigned the responsibility of coordinating USFWS funding for salmon recovery projects. The turn-around time for federal 2001 funds will be very short (applications due by July 6th ) because the fiscal year ends September 30th . A copy of the USFWS letter announcing the availability of funds is enclosed with this summary. In closing, there was some discussion of the USFWS formalizing its working relationship with the Partnership and having the Partnership take a stronger role, perhaps by serving as the Steering Committee for the USFWS restoration program.
(To view which Washington State basins have Limiting Factors Reports and to request a copy of those that have been completed, go to the Conservation Commission Web-site at www.conserver.org and select the "salmon" tab. That will take you to the Habitat Limiting Factors page. You can review the status of a report and request a CD for those that have been completed.)
Flood Control
Centralia Flood Damage Reduction Project
Lewis County Commissioner Richard Graham provided an update. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has appointed a permanent project manager. There is $500,000 in the President's budget for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Chehalis project. The County is seeking additional federal funding within the House Transportation Budget. There may be more definite information about this budget within the next month or so.
Dennis Fischer, USACOE, informed the Partnership that Pacific International Engineering submitted the hydraulic model they have been working on for independent review. The USFWS has provided updated wetland maps. In addition, the USACOE has also recently obtained aerial photos interpreted for land cover and the location of the river.
Chehalis River Basin Ecosvstem Restoration Study
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues to work with Grays Harbor County to develop a project management plan that will serve as a template for the project.
Leslie Kaye, USACOE Public Affairs off ice is Seattle, announced that web pages for both Chehalis projects are now active on the USACE web-site and passed out a news release on the topic. A copy of the news release with web-site information is enclosed with this summary.
TMDL Updates
Grays Harbor Fecal Coliform Bacteria:
Currently open for public comments through June 11, 2001.
Upper Chehalis Temperature
Comment period has closed; Ecology is preparing responses.
Humptulips River Temperature
A public meeting was held May 16, 2001 and public comments are being accepted until June 1, 2001. A copy of an Ecology FOCUS Sheet on this TMDL is enclosed with this summary.
Grays Harbor County staff commented that the Humptulips TMDL did catch them by surprise. The County encourages Ecology to integrate TMDL planning into the regular Partnership processes and meeting agendas.
There was a general discussion about TMDLs, how the data is gathered and
used, and public process.
C. SPECIAL PRESENTATION
Neil Amondson and Dr. Mark Johns of AMEC Earth & Environmental Inc. presented information on the Decision Prioritization Tool (DPT) that they offer. This computer-based tool allows "what if" questions to be asked in a visual (GIS) format using data available for a specific geographic area. It provides a regional focus with site-specific options.
DPT allows the analysis of information based on the questions and priorities established by the Partnership. It allows multiple considerations to be evaluated simultaneously.
For a copy of the lengthy handout provided, contact Kahle Jennings at (360) 4076310.
D. OPEN COMMENT
During the meeting a request was made that the Partnership arrange a future special presentation by the Department of Ecology on the provisions of the revised Shorelines Management Act that it has adopted. It was also suggested that if such a presentation is scheduled, the counties that have joined in the lawsuit against Ecology over the revised Shorelines Management Act should be asked to explain their positions on the rule that led to the lawsuit.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:30.
The next meeting of the Chehalis Basin Partnership will be at 9:00 a.m. on
June 22nd at the Lucky Eagle Casino.
+ Approved Grays Harbor County negotiating a contract with Triangle Associates for the work.
+ Appointed Mark Swartout as the new chair of the Technical Advisory Committee.
Recommended Future Agenda Items
+ Ecology presentation on the revised Shorelines Management Act the agency adopted.
+ Presentation by County's that joined the lawsuit against the revised Shoreline Management Act.
Changes to Annual Plan of Work
+ No changes made at this meeting.
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Issue
The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) and partners have completed a draft of the Water Cleanup Plan that identifies strategies for reducing water temperatures and to protect and restore critical habitat in the Humptulips River. The cleanup plan was developed with input from private timberland managers, the Quinault Tribe and state and federal agencies in order to meet federal total maximum daily load (TMDL) requirements.
You are invited to learn about the plan at a public meeting May 16, 2001. You may comment on the plan from May 1, 2001 until June 1, 2001. Once the public comment period has ended and Ecology determines how to incorporate the input it receives, the agency will submit the plan to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval. Upon approval by EPA, Ecology will work with landowners, tribes, and agencies on how to best implement the plan.
Background
The Humptulips River Watershed has been actively "managed" by humans for over I 00 years. Land use in the Upper Humptulips is predominantly silviculture, including commercial forest owned by Rayonler. Some valley bottomland in the extreme lower watershed consists of small farms.
The headwaters of the Humptulips River originate in the steep Olympic Mountains in the Olympic National Forest. The streams then flow into gradually broadening glaciated river valleys. Salmon, steelhead, and cutthroat trout are present in the Upper Humptulips watershed. Significant fish-bearing streams within the watershed include the East Fork Humptulips and West Forks Humptulips mainstems and key tributaries (Goforth Creek, Flatbottom Creek, Donkey Creek, Chester Creek).
A partnership made up of private timberland managers, the Quinault Tribe, and state and federal agencies evaluated the condition of the East Fork and West Fork Humptulips River Watersheds. Water quality sampling indicates that temperatures in the river system exceed state water-quality standards. Although high water temperatures are the primary concern, sediment in the river and loss of spawning and rearing habitat are also of concern.
Ecology sets water quality standards to protect the beneficial uses, such as swimming, fishing and fish and wildlife habitat, associated with surface waters of the state (lakes, rivers, wetlands, etc). Increased temperatures can reduce the quality of habitat for salmon, steelhead, and trout. Typical causes of increased temperatures include roads, riparian vegetation removal and channel widening, as well as timber harvest in sensitive areas outside the riparian zone.
Federal law requires cleanup of polluted waters
Federal law requires states to identify sources of pollution in waters that fall short of water quality standards, and to determine how much pollution needs to be reduced for the water body to remain healthy. Using the source and allocation information, Ecology and local interests develop strategies for achieving the necessary reduction or elimination of pollution. The result is a water cleanup plan or Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL).
Water Cleanup plan process
Principle partners for the current Water Cleanup Plan process are Ecology, EPA, U.S. Forest Service, and Rayonier Inc. The Watershed Analysis of the East Fork and West Fork Humptulips conducted in 1999 provided the technical basis for this process. Partners used existing temperature data to evaluate the effects of human activities on water temperatures and the effectiveness of possible management strategies.
The Water Cleanup Plan identifies:
The temperature problems and causes in the watershed.
Temperature levels required to assure healthy water quality in the creeks and the river.
The amount of added shade needed to achieve temperature standards.
Actions for reducing temperature and restoring habitat (Summary Implementation Strategy)
: A monitoring plan to assess effectiveness.
What comes next
After the TMDL is finalized and submitted to EPA for their approval, we will use the cleanup plan to work with landowners and agencies to develop a detailed implementation plan to meet TMDL goals. Current and on-going water quality restoration projects will be incorporated into
the detailed plan. Ecology will continue to work with landowners to identify best management practices.
How you can participate
You may also review the draft plan at the Hoquiam Timberland Library, 420 Seventh Street. Or
on the Internet, visit: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0110022.html
.
Please send written comments by June I to: Chris Peredney
Department of Ecology
Water Quality Program
PO Box 47600
Olympia, WA 98504-7600
or E-mail cper461@ecy.wa.gov
For more information, call Ann Butler at 360-407-6480. For this information in alternative formats or for other special accommodations, please call at 360-407-6480 or (360) 407-6066 (TDD).
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June 7, 2001 -- WDFW Montesano -- 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Present: Mark Swartout (Chair), Lonnie Crumley, Patrick Wiltzuis, Margaret Radar, Michelle
Anderson, Lee Hansmann, Chad Stussy, Kahle Jennings.
1) Organizational Issues
Role of the Steering/Technical Committee (STC) - What had it been, what should it be (relate
to proposed by-law changes
STC work assignments and schedule as it relates to the Partnership's Annual Plan of Work
The 6-month advanced agenda
Meeting times and dates
2) Watershed Plan Scope
Role of the STC
Schedule of STC involvement
Summary of Ecology's recent agency watershed planning support work session
3) Salmon Recovery Strategy
Role of the Partnership's STC vs. the Salmon Recovery Technical Advisory Group (TAG)
Schedule
Process
Role of the Steering/Technical Committee
(STC)
General - The STC carries out functions that are a blend of the Steering Committee that was formed when the Partnership was being established and the technical Advisory Committee formed in the current by-laws. Other committees can be formed around specific issues, such as the committee that has worked on the local prioritization of basin water quality grant/loan applications. The draft operating procedures (revised by-laws) do a nice job explaining the role of the Steering/Technical committee. The draft operating procedures will be sent out to the STC at the same time they are distributed to the Partnership with the June meeting announcement and agenda.
Salmon Recovery - We next discussed the SRF Board's schedule for salmon recovery project proposals and how this will fit into the STC 6-month agenda. This led to a discussion of the need for a representative from the Chehalis Basin Fisheries Task Force on both the Partnership and the STC due to the resignation of John Penberth from the Task Force. The STC agreed that we should recommend to the Partnership that it seek out a replacement representative from the Chehalis Basin Fisheries Task Force.
Partnership Agendas - The STC discussed its potential role in reviewing proposed Partnership agenda items and, depending on the specific issues the Partnership is working on at the time, making recommendations about which should be a priority. There was general agreement that this is a role the STC could perform on an "as needed" basis. This responsibility should be incorporated into the draft operating procedures.
Specific Assignments - Mark will contact people to see if we can get more active participation in the Steering/Technical committee. Kahle will take notes at the STC meetings and prepare a meeting summary, which will be mailed out to the Partnership each month. Kahle will send Mark the STC Email list. Kahle will add the STC to the committee report section of the Partnership monthly meeting agenda and Mark will make a report at that time. Lonnie will talk to the Chehalis Basin Fisheries Task Force about getting someone to represent them at the Partnership and the STC.
Status of the CBP Annual Plan of Work
The Partnership approved it at the May 25 meeting with the understanding that it is a working document and that as the year progresses, changes will have to be made.
A suggestion has been made that it be broken into two lists: a list of the substantive actions and a list of the on-going regular work items. This is a good suggestion and the version sent out with the June Partnership meeting announcement will show the change.
Steering/Technical Committee Six-Month Advanced Agenda
The draft six-month advance agenda was reviewed thoroughly. It was suggested that the actual meeting date be provided in the left column as a reminder. Additional details were added under both the STC and Partnership columns.
STC Members
Grays Harbor Conservation District and Mason Conservation District to the E-mail distribution list.
Meeting Times, Dates and Location
The current meeting date (generally the first Thursday of the month) and time (1:00 to 3:00) seems to be working OK. Montesano is a bit far for some to come. Oakville was mentioned as a possibility. For now meetings will continue to be in Montesano.
Watershed Planning (90.82)
Lee handed out the contract Grays Harbor County has signed with Triangle Associates Inc. for helping the Partnership develop a scope for the Phase 3 plan. The committee discussed the schedule and made recommendations to Lee. Individual interviews should focus on the following Partnership members: Commissioners representing Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason and Thurston Counties; Chehalis Tribe and Quinault Tribe; Water Districts; combined Citizens' Advisory Committee and Steering/Technical Committee. These interviews will be held from Mid-June through approximately July 6th . The combined Citizens' Advisory Committee and Steering/Technical Committee meeting with Triangle 'II tentatively be scheduled for June 28. The first formal workshop for Partnership members will be July 13th. The second workshop will be held at the regular July Partnership meeting August 24th . An outline of the draft scope for the phase 3 plan will be out in early September and most of the September Partnership meeting will be spent on reviewing and discussing the draft scope for the plan. The schedule calls for the scope of the plan to be approved during the September Partnership meeting.
Salmon Recovery
Quite a bit of the initial work on a basin salmon recovery strategy is done. This strategy will focus on salmon recovery activities.
Acting in its role as Salmon Recovery Lead Entity, Grays Harbor County has scheduled a work session for potential salmon recovery project sponsors for June 21st . The salmon recovery strategy will be explained to potential project sponsors at this meeting. Another emphasis of the meeting will be to explore opportunities for partnerships between potential project sponsors.
Other recommendations
The Partnership agenda should include the next months meeting date and any special agenda items that are known at the time.
The STC wants to encourage activities that get Partnership members out "on" the river and Grays Harbor. Next summer (2002) might be a good time to do some events . that is when we will really be starting to deal with some complicated issues. Activities need to be fun to attract people. A tour of the harbor to look at shoreline management and shoreline habitat issues aboard the Lady Washington was suggested as one idea that might draw people out. Ecology and WDFW are measuring river flows at six sites this summer to provide information on how flows affect fish to the Partnership. It may be possible to schedule on-site visits while flow measurements are being taken so that people can see how it is done.
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