Habitat Work Group (HWG) Meeting

December 8, 2006

Lewis Conservation District Office

 

Lee Napier, Jim Hill, Brett DeMond, Kathy Jacobson, April Johnson, Eric Delvin, Bob Amrine, Brian Peck, Chad Stussy, and John Kliem were present.

 

Strategy Update

Skookumchuck Subbasin Chapter

John Kliem reviewed the suggestions from last month and asked the group for clarification on a few points.  Comments from the group are summarized below.

Sediment-

­      Brett would like more information related to the dam operation to determine how the transport of sediment should be addressed.  Lonnie had a Trans Alta contact and she could follow up on this for the group.  (Tom Emerick)

­      Brian thought the project was exempt from FERC when the license was obtained.  Brett thought Tom was referring to conditions of the exemption.   She will follow up.

­      Symptom #3, need to determine how much accumulation (sediment) is above the dam to determine the symptom and cause.  Then add the 2000 Mainline Road as a cause.  Brett will clarify substrate accumulation in the reservoir. 

­      Add as a symptom, excess sediment load transported through the reaches due to lack of LWD.  Chad interpreted the LFA to state that substrate retention was a problem. The group revised this symptom to “Above the dam, excessive transportation of gravels through the reaches due to a lack of LWD.   Randy interprets this text as a cause. 

­      Although the reaches above the dam are considered transport reaches, the transport of sediment has been increased because of lack of LWD.  Then add as a cause Removal of LWD and dam break floods and poor LWD recruitment potential. 

 

Brian called for a time out and asked if we could proceed through this process in a more expeditious manner.  John explained that he would like people to volunteer to help edit the subbasins.  The group signed up (copy attched) for subbasin to further the review.  The due date for completing the revisions is January 19th.  Everyone will submit a copy of their assigned subbasin with notes. 

 

Lee will mail out the assignments, the edited copy by Brett of the Satsop, and copies of the standardized list of actions.  The group will need to add Tiers for actions. 

 

John asked how does the group want to include priority watershed processes?  As an introduction under the description section or as an introductory paragraph preceding the actions?  This would also include a description for species and life stages.  Randy added that EDT would help with the species and life stages prioritization.

 

The group discussed the open house/workshop proposal by John.

­      A suggestion was made to follow up with community surveys and work with the TNC on their outreach effort for noxious weeds. 

­      A suggestion was made to record the workshop to allow for follow up. 

­      Ask some of the potential “invitees” to also serve as a facilitator and maybe a co-host. 

­      Maybe we should contract with a volunteer group to organize and host the outreach meetings. 

­      Another suggestion was made to develop a somewhat standardized program to reach out to a variety of groups during their regular meetings.

­      Based on the comments, the group realized the need to develop an outreach strategy.   However, a long term outreach plan will not meet the needs of the lead entity contract to conduct outreach and update the plan before June 30, 2006.

 

EDT utility related to identifying areas of preservation. 

EDT will identify areas of intact habitat and should help to map those areas.  We would need to find a way to link and quantify areas.  This translates into site inspections to confirm and calibrate EDT output.  However, until we can transfer the data and hire an administrator, utilizing EDT will be a challenge.

 

The January 12th meeting is cancelled.  The next meeting will be February 9th. 

 

 

Subbasin Assignments

 

Grays Harbor

Randy  Brian and Chad

Humptulips

Kathy  Brian and Chad

Hoquiam-Wishkah

Brett and Lonnie Brian and Chad

Wynoochee

Brett Brian and Chad

Satsop

Brett Brian and Chad

Cloquallum

Gavin Brian and Chad

South Harbor

Randy Brian and Chad

Black

Eric and April Brian and Chad

Lincoln

Andy Olson (Lee contact)Brian and Chad

Skookumchuck

Chad Brian and Chad

Newaukum

April (Chad and Bob)

Boistfort

Bob and Chad (Rob)

Chehalis Mainstem

Andy Olson (Lee) Brian and Chad

 

First edit (names in black) due back to John by January 19.  Lee will circulate for second edit (names in red) after John incorporates first set of edits.