Chehalis Basin Partnership

 

 

 


Meeting Summary – September 23, 2005

 

A.      GENERAL PARTNERSHIP BUSINESS

 

Introduction

Chair Bob Spahr welcomed everyone and opened the meeting.  Thirteen of the Partnership's twenty-eight member organizations had a representative or an alternate at the meeting.  Seven additional citizens, alternates, or visitors were at the meeting. (See attendance list on the last page of this summary). 

 

Chairman Spahr asked everyone to introduce themselves. 

 

Monthly River Flow Report

Jennings reviewed the flow charts he created and distributed with the September mailing.  The graphs describe real time data from the USGS gage sites at the Newaukum, Skookumchuck at Bucoda, Chehalis at Grand Mound, Chehalis at Porter, Satsop, Wynoochee and Humptulips Rivers. The graphs show the regulatory flow, the actual flow, and the median flows for the 15th day of the month and measure the flow in cubic feet.  This month the flows have dropped and in the case of the Newaukum and Humptulips Rivers are below the minimum flow. 

 

Chehalis Basin Watershed Festival

Chanele Holbrook-Shaw reported that the Nisqually festival is this month.  Several Partnership members plan to attend.  She hopes to get some ideas to help with our festival.

 

Anyone who is interested should contact either Chanele or Kahle.  She will continue to provide progress reports during the monthly meetings.

 

B.     Special Projects

 

Watershed Plan Implementation –Phase IV

Napier updated the group regarding the Phase IV contract.  Beginning this month, the meetings of groups that count as in-kind service match, will use the revised attendance sheet she distributed at the start of the meeting.  The actual counting of meeting time as match will not take effect until October 1.  This month is just a test run using the new form. 

 

The first task in that contract with an upcoming deliverable due date is a letter to the group A Water Systems.  Swartout commented that this letter was a challenge due to the audience and the number of water systems we must contact.  Napier is still finalized the distribution list, but the estimated number of contacts is around 300.  Swartout asked the group to consider ways to encourage participation. 

 

Wiltzius suggested more details to explain the process.  The letter as written was somewhat intimidating.  He thought the reader might assume we are we going to take away water rights or some other drastic action? 

 

Other comments or questions included:

·         A suggestion was made to give the reader less in the letter and more through attached materials? 

·         Or have a packet available to send out when the recipients contact Napier.   

·         The group suggested that Napier contact County Health Departments and give them a heads up so they know the information is coming.  She will add them to the distribution list. 

·         Will we be getting new information or information that is not already submitted to Department of Health?  Not necessarily.  

·         Put together a Q & A attachment of questions that they might ask. 

·         Will we only send one letter?  Maybe we should consider a second letter to show more of a good faith effort. 

 

Guy McMinds stated that the QIN understands the Partnership’s need to work with their constituents. He went on to say again that the QIN did not approve the Plan.  The QIN stated their support of water storage projects to supplement the water quantity components of our work.  Because the Partnership has not responded to this request, they intend to begin discussions with state agencies and if necessary federal agencies.  He makes this statement to the group so that the QIN plans are transparent. 

 

Steve Craig reminded the group of the grant opportunity for storage and encouraged QIN to submit an application. 

 

Swartout summarized group comments related to the draft letter to the Group A Water Systems:

·         Re-write with generic terms

·         Create an attachment that describes the regulations.

·         Attach FAQs

·         Also have a packet of more detailed information if requested. 

·         Kahle and Patrick will help with the letter.

 

The group will review another draft letter next month.

 

Coordinated Water Quality Monitoring Plan

Jennings distributed a revised document to the group and explained that he incorporated all the Partnership’s suggested revisions from last month.  If the CBP accepts this document, project sponsors can include this as part of their application for the Centennial Clean Water grant program due to the Department of Ecology at the end of October.

 

A question was asked about records management?  The document briefly mentions that need, but it will be covered more through a coordinated water quality monitoring program.  Craig mentioned an opportunity through Department of Ecology to help organize a data collection clearinghouse.  A single source point, such as that proposed by the conservation district, could submit data to the larger clearinghouse.

 

Ron Mauel is still concerned about data reporting.  When the data reports a problem, it does not necessarily help to identify the problem, so how do you arrive at a solution? He used the example of fecal coliform and the need to analyze the DNA to determine the source (human vs. wildlife).  This plan should include something that triggers a higher level of analysis when data reports a problem.  Jennings responded that this document is meant to provide some guidance for people who want to monitor.  It indicates that regulatory standards are different.  Swartout added that Mauel’s concerns might be bettered addressed in the detailed implementation plan. 

 

Jennings reviewed the maps which currently only focus on the Upper Chehalis. Department of Agriculture will help the Partnership to develop maps for the Lower Chehalis later this year. 

 

The group accepted the document. 

 

The group thanked Kahle for his work on this project. 

 

Letter of Support for the Proposal to Develop a Water Quality Coordinator Position

The group accepted the letter with some modifications.

 

Salmon Recovery Funding Board

Napier reviewed the list for the group.  The list contains twelve projects that address salmonid habitat needs through either restoration or preservation.  The total funding request to the SRFB is just under 3 million.  The list was accepted by the group. 

 

Chehalis Basin Legislative Requests-

Based on comments from the last meeting, the STC organized an approach to invite the legislators to the November meeting.  The design of the November meeting would be a roundtable discussion.  During this discussion, designated representatives would present the background of the Partnership and the watershed plan.  Then members could share the group’s top priorities for implementation issues.  We would also try to solicit from the legislators what their most important watershed related issues would be for the session.

 

Even though we have many needs that could be addressed through legislative action(s), we would only focus on one request and that would be done outside of the November meeting.  Members would contact legislators requesting they sponsor a line item appropriation to support administration of the group.  

 

C.  Open Comment

 

Dave Rountry distributed a handout entitled Help Choose Water Quality Priorities in the Western Olympic Region.  Ecology would like to hear ideas about important water quality issues and needs in the Olympic Western Region. This area is describes as beginning at Cape Flattery on the north end of the Olympic Peninsula and continuing south to Ilwaco at the mouth of the Columbia River.  The ideas will help Ecology’s work-planning for water quality assessments and other important water quality projects.  If you are interested in submitting ideas, contact Dave Rountry by November 6th.  His e-mail is drou461@ecy.wa.gov or call 360.407.6276.

 

The next meeting of the Chehalis Basin Partnership will be held on October 28, 2005 from 9:30 AM to 12:00 m at the Lucky Eagle Casino near Oakville.

 

Decisions

 

§         The CBP accepted the Coordinated Water Quality Monitoring Plan.

§         The CBP accepted the letter of support for the Water Quality Coordinator proposal by Lewis County Conservation District.

§         The CBP accepted the Lead Entity list for the 2005 Salmon Recovery Funding Board grant cycle.

 

Chehalis Basin Partnership Attendance Record

Lee Napier

Grays Harbor County

Mark Swartout

Thurston County

Kernen Lien

Lewis County

Art Lehman

Port of Centralia

Chuck Caldwell

Port of Grays Harbor

Kahle Jennings

City of Centralia

Councilman Bob Spahr and Patrick Wiltzius

City of Chehalis

Ron Schillinger

City of Montesano

Jean Gayle

Grays Harbor County Water District #2

Jim Hill

Lewis  County CAC member

Chanele Holbrook Shaw

Thurston County CAC member

Chad Stussy

Department of Fish and Wildlife

Ann Wick

Department of Agriculture

Steve Craig

Department of Ecology

Lonnie Crumley

CBFTF

Ron Mauel

Lewis County Farm Bureau

Bruce Jones

Quinault Indian Nation

Ken Miller

WA Farm Forestry Association

Guy McMinds

Quinault Indian Nation

Laura Orr

USACE