Chehalis Basin Water Quality Committee

Grays Harbor Forestry Building

Montesano, Washington

November 9, 2006

9:00 a.m.

Draft Minutes

PRESENT

Terry Willis, Chair, Citizen, Grays Harbor County

Lee Napier, Grays Harbor County

Bob Amrine, Lewis County

Dave Rountry, Department of Ecology

Nancy Allison, Columbia Pacific RC&D

Ron Schillinger, City of Montesano

Lehr, Randy, Grays Harbor College, Natural Resources Program Director

Tate, Jessica, Puget Sound Meeting Services

Call to Order

Chair Willis called the Chehalis Basin Water Quality Committee meeting to order at 9:27 a.m.

Identify Revisions - Enhancing Water Quality in Washington State’s Chehalis River Basin Using Incentive-based Volunteer Programs Draft Document

Ms. Napier referred to the second paragraph of the project narrative portion of the document.  The language suggests the land uses are the same.  Mr. Lehr explained that the intent is to identify three different designations of the same watershed and not three different watersheds.

Mr. Amrine suggested removing “and are distinctly different with respect to land use” from the second sentence of the second paragraph within the project narrative.  Mr. Lehr acknowledged the request.

Mr. Rountry referred to the fourth sentence within the third paragraph of the project narrative.  The sentence implies there are eight endangered species of salmonid, which is inaccurate.  Mr. Lehr acknowledged the error and clarified that the intent was to refer to the various eight endangered species listed in the Chehalis system.

Ms. Napier referred to the Mini-grant program Task 2.2.  She indicated the committee should continue to research additional funding partnerships.

Chair Willis referred to the second sentence, within the third paragraph of the project narrative and asked how surface water runoff is defined.  Mr. Lehr explained the mentioned water source is only rainwater and not glacial fed water.  Chair Willis suggested including language to clarify that the water is not glacial fed.  Mr. Lehr acknowledged the request.

Chair Willis suggested the Project Need should stress the need to provide additional funding to coastal areas, instead of largely populated and polluted areas that are scientifically too polluted for adequate recovery.

Mr. Lehr reviewed the Personnel Table within the Project Plan.

Chair Willis suggested including language to clarify the intent to build a supportive foundation for the committee to build on.

Mr. Rountry asked about the identification of the grantees for the mini-grants.  Mr. Lehr indicated the vision is for Grays Harbor College to distribute funding to riparian landowners to promote participation and investment in the enhancement of riparian ecosystem health.

Ms. Allison suggested adding information about cost share funding to Task 2.1.

Ms. Napier suggested adding EQUIP to the list of possible funding partners.

Chair Willis recommended adding Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) to the list of possible funding partners.

Ms. Napier commented that she agreed with the inclusion of sediment within the document.

Mr. Lehr indicated he will include additional information regarding revolving loans in the final draft.

Mr. Rountry stated the adult community should be the focus of Objective 3 – Increase Awareness and Community Involvement in Water Resources Management as much as the student community.  Mr. Lehr agreed.

Ms. Allison suggested the addition of a Senior Core Group to Objective 3 - Increase Awareness and Community Involvement in Water Resources Management.  Mr. Lehr acknowledged the request.

Chair Willis said the committee should pursue legislative funding for long-term monitoring probes in order to capture events otherwise missed during times of massive erosions.  She indicated she would like to receive specific information about the probes, in terms of cost and use, before December 1, 2006.

Ms. Napier referred to the second sentence within the first paragraph of Objective 4 – Prioritize Watershed Management Implementation Objectives.  She stated the term “used-based” should be clarified.  Mr. Lehr acknowledged the request.

Ms. Napier indicated she would like a short description of the goals of the committee included within the document.  Mr. Lehr acknowledged the request.

Ms. Napier added that the last page of the document contained a typographical error of “Grays Harbor Country.”  Mr. Lehr acknowledged the error.

Mr. Lehr stated he will develop a timeline identifying planning, implementation, and monitoring phases of the project and include it within the document.

Mr. Rountry referred to the Monitoring and Measuring portion of the Anticipated Outcomes and Outputs section.  The portion should be more detailed in terms of what is being measured and where to affirm water quality at the sites.  Mr. Lehr acknowledged the request.

Member Issues

Ms. Napier stated the 319 Grant Review is currently the only agenda topic for the next meeting.

Chair Willis suggested future meetings should be longer, specifically in reference to member travel time.  Ms. Napier suggested canceling meetings that are not anticipated to be longer than two hours.

Mr. Rountry suggested holding a workshop meeting to review and record completed work.

Chair Willis indicated the committee should address the County regarding accomplishments and pending work.

Ms. Napier suggested hiring a facilitator for the workshop meeting.

Mr. Schillinger suggested scheduling the workshop in January or February 2007. The committee agreed. Ms. Napier indicated she will inform the Chehalis Basin Partnership of the workshop.

Adjournment

There being no further business, Chair Willis adjourned the meeting at 11:10 a.m.

Prepared by:  Jessica Tate, Recording Secretary

Puget Sound Meeting Services