Chehalis Basin Partnership

M e e t i n g S u m m a r y - October 22, 2004

GENERAL PARTNERSHIP BUSINESS

Introduction

Vice-Chair Jim Haslett welcomed everyone and opened the meeting. Sixteen of the Partnership's twenty-eight member organizations had a representative or alternate at the meeting. Six additional citizens, alternates, or visitors were at the meeting. (See attendance list on the last page of this summary). Casey Clishe from the Department of Ecology's stream flow monitoring group attended to participate in the discussion on gauging stations.

Steering/Technical Advisory Committee

The Steering Technical Committee met October 7th and worked on developing a presentation for later in the meeting on Phase 4 of the Watershed Planning Act and implementation. Because of the state Department of Health's role in the municipal water supply elements added to the Watershed Planning Act it was suggested that a request be made that the state Department of Health appoint a representative to attend Partnership meetings.

Water Quality Committee

The Water Quality Committee met October 14 ^th and discussed at length the collection of data and how you manage that data once you have it. This has been a continuing area of concern and discussion.

It was suggested that the Water Quality Committee might want to consider meeting with similar committees from other watershed planning groups, or that the next time there is a state watershed planning conference a water quality component should be included so groups can share information.

Citizens' Advisory Committee

The Chair of this committee posed the question: "How can we re-energize the Citizens' Advisory Committee and attract new members who will be active?" Partnership members expressed their interest in having the CAC be an active participant in outreach to the general public, and their belief that because CAC members know the area and people where they live they may be able to more effectively communicate with local citizens. Public involvement is very important to watershed planning. The Chehalis Basin plan may be done and approved, but that only means that the real work is beginning.

The biggest issue for citizens seems to be that Partnership meetings are held during the day when most of them work. But attracting CAC members to evening meetings has also been difficult because of the locations and time needed to travel to and from the meeting.

The question "How are members of the CAC appointed and replaced?" was asked. The response is that they are appointed by the County Commissioners from the county where the citizens live.

Other Business

Partnership Meeting Locations: There was some confusion about our meeting this morning and casino security staff could not let us in before 9:00 to set up. This led to a discussion about meeting locations. Some liked the location of the casino and others liked moving the meetings around to different communities within the Chehalis Basin. Cost is also a factor. Since the watershed plan is done we no longer have a grant to charge expenses to.

The idea of sharing costs for monthly Partnership meetings came up and several Partnership members indicated a willingness to consider contributing to the cost. Before they can do so, however, they need to know what the costs will be so they can build it into their budget.

The meetings for November and December will be one week earlier than normal because the 4 ^th Friday of both months falls on holiday weekends.

SPECIAL PROJECTS

Flow Monitoring: Department of Ecology representatives made a short presentation on where existing flow monitoring stations in the Chehalis Basin are located (copy of material attached). There may be funding to establish up to three additional permanent flow monitoring stations and Ecology would like direction from the Partnership on where these stations should go. Based on an informal survey of Ecology staff who work with flow data, Tribes and the four counties in the Chehalis Basin Partnership, three likely locations have been mentioned: the Hoquiam River, the Wishkah River and the Black River. Each of these locations has limitations. The purpose of today's discussion is to focus attention on the opportunity and head towards agreement. Comments were:

There currently is no real time data for the main stem of the Chehalis River above Adna. Flow data in this area would help with flood forecasting. It might be logical to look at making the flow station at Doty a real-time station.

Real time data really does help people who live along the river make decisions about their actions when flood waters are rising. For instance, on our farm we know which roads will be covered first and we can adjust our cattle feeding schedules accordingly.

These new stations need to be placed in the most important locations. The Black River is important to the Quinault.

Is there a fiscal impact to the Partnership or local government? No, Ecology would pay for the stations and ongoing maintenance.

Monitoring flows in many areas of the Chehalis Basin presents some challenges. Ecology would like to start reconnaissance of potential locations by the end of December.

The Partnership decided that the best approach would be to appoint a special committee to come up with a recommendation. Kahle Jennings (Ecology) will coordinate the meeting. Lee Napier, Lyle Hojem, Craig Swanson, Bruce Jones, Terry Willis and Dennis Rhodes will participate. Dean Parsons is available if needed and will convey Hoquiam's interests in a letter in any case.

Presentation on Phase 4 of the Watershed Planning Act (Implementation)

Mark Swartout, Kahle Jennings and Lee Napier shared a presentation on the requirements of Phase 4 of the Watershed Planning Act, watershed plan implementation and Plan-2-Fund as a tool to organize implementation actions. Copies of the PowerPoint slides are attached. Questions and Comments:

Today, instead of bringing the Partnership a detailed scope of work for watershed plan implementation, we have brought you key concepts to consider. Once agreement is reached on those key concepts we can begin to add the detail. Does that approach work for you? Yes it does.

If the Partnership decides to apply for Phase 4 funds to implement the watershed plan, can funds left over after the detailed implementation plan is completed within 12 months be used for actual implementation? Yes.

How can implementation funds be spent? Once the detailed implementation plan is completed leftover funds, or subsequent funds can be used to implement any action in the detailed implementation plan. The state will write an implementation contract with the Lead Agency and available funds can be spent at the local level using sub-contracts with the Lead Agency.

By the end of the discussion the Partnership agreed they: 1) liked the approach of starting with Key Concepts, 2) they wanted to keep moving forward towards implementation, and 3) the Steering/Technical Committee should keep working with Ecology on both a draft scope of work for Phase 4 implementation and on the potential for using funds left over from watershed planning (Phase 3) to bridge the funding gap between completion of the watershed plan and beginning implementation.

The next meeting of the Chehalis Basin Partnership will be held on November 19, 2004 from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. at the Lucky Eagle Casino near Oakville if it is available that day.

Decisions

Established a temporary committee to make a recommendation on where new permanent flow gauging stations should be located.

The Partnership liked the approach of using Key Concepts to begin the discussion on how to implement the plan.

The Partnership wanted to continue moving forward on implementing the plan.

The STC should continue working with Ecology on a draft scope of work and on using unspent Phase 3 funds.

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