Puget Sound Nearshore Partnership

Puget Sound Nearshore Partnership
Steering Committee Meeting
August 16, 2006

Attendees:

Paula Del Giudice, Paul Cereghino, Tim Smith, Andrea Copping, Fred Goetz, Dick Ecker, Doug Osterman, Hayden Street, Debby Hyde, Bernie Hargrave, Jacques White, Curtis Tanner, John Dohrmann, Mike Ramsey, Miriam Gilmer, Debbie Rick

Executive Committee De-Brief

Everyone felt that the Executive Committee went remarkably well. The logistics were great and the note taker was very good. The Estuary and Salmon Restoration project list was well received and the projects stayed on the list. The Executive Committee Notes are attached.

Captain Tanaka gave the program and the Nearshore Partnership a glowing report to the Department of the Navy.
LTC Leighow commented on how well he was treated by the Executive Committee
Mona Thomason was reflective of the federal/state collaboration.
Kudos to Phil Bloch for making change analysis understandable to a lay audience and after the presentation left the audience wanting more.
The Nearshore Partnership has a process on the ground for improving the General Investigation.
Kathy Fletcher is the lead partner (Puget Sound Partnership) for the Habitat Sub-Committee.

Other partnership opportunities between funding entities have been drawn to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

NOAA Community Restoration Program –

This program has completed thousands of projects across the country. As the program is popular with Congress, it consistently receives funding. WDFW and the Nearshore Partnership have a recent agreement and will be applying for a full partnership in the Community-Based Restoration Program for a three-year program with funding.

Corporate Wetlands Partnership –

Coastal America established the Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership as a voluntary public-private partnership. Through the program, corporations join forces with federal and state agencies to restore wetlands and other aquatic habitat. This highly successful partnership enables businesses to contribute to coastal restoration and protection. Michael Rylko outlined the steps required to initiate and establish the program within Puget Sound. The Executive Committee gave approval to convene the membership and begin working on the project implementation list.

Next Executive Meeting –

Debbie Rick has begun the screening for dates for the next Executive Committee meeting. January 24, 2007, looks hopeful, but is on conflict with the Nearshore Science Team Meeting.

Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program

Curtis Tanner thanked the Implementation Team for allowing him to hijack them for a couple of months to screen, score, and develop the Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program and first project proposals.

All applicants have been notified of outcome of the Executive Committee’s action, i.e., Funded projects, Contingency projects, and/or Projects not recommended. Agreements are being drafted and additional information requested. At present, the program is planning to fund nine projects, including the Skokomish dike breach project. The ESRP program has approximately $180,000 available for enhancements dedicated to project-specific enhancements (can not address any non-projects.)

General NST recommendations for a working group to recommend principles for ESRP supporting enhancement projects that:

Provide tools for future enhancement projects
Compare projects
Advances Research Plan
Complements other research initiatives
Leveraging (other) research funds
Addresses system-level/cumulative responses
Support reference site monitoring

WDFW will be creating and filling a full-time ESRP Program Manager Position which will be managing first round project agreements; improve policies and procedures for the program; and insure consistency with PSNERP guidance.

Programmatic Learning Proposal

The Nearshore Science Team put in a Request for Proposal (RFP) is for development of a Programmatic Monitoring Plan (attached) to address larger-scale, cumulative effects (e.g., effects across a whole delta or along an entire drift cell) that are likely to occur within restricted geographic areas within the Puget Sound nearshore environment. The Puget Sound Nearshore Partnership (Nearshore Partnership) and the Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project (PSNERP) will oversee the Monitoring Plan development and early implementation of the plan.

The NST asked that funding be provided through the Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program (ERSP). This plan if approved and funded through the ESRP would be one component of an overall monitoring program for the Nearshore Partnership.

The final advise of the Steering Committee to the NST was as follows:

1. Re-scope 1A of the RFP so that the NST can do what it needs to do quickly. The funding will come from another Partnership funding source.
2. The NST is to look at the list of the nine funded projects in regards to Task 1(b), 1(c), and 1(d) for consistent application. Ask for $9,000 a piece and contract back to the ESRP.
3. Task 1(e) and 1(f), the NST needs to put in a different package all together.

Signage

Curtis and Debbie presented three sign designs for the ESRP funded projects (attached). It is the ESRP’s intent to have a sign posted at the project site. Each sign will have a brief description of the project and the benefits derived from the restoration work done. Debby Hyde provided the language for the contracts that will require the sponsors of the ESRP projects to post the sign. Please look at the examples, and the language for the contract, and give Debbie or Curtis your feedback no later than September 20.

Contract language:

Acknowledgement: The GRANTEE agrees to acknowledge WDFW, the Puget Sound Nearshore Partnership and the Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program in publications and signage that acknowledge project partners and funding sources, and also in press releases, public service announcements, posters, flyers and electronic postings or “home pages.” WDFW and the Puget Sound Nearshore Partnership reserve the right to post project information on their website. WDFW will provide a project sign, approximately 18” x 24” to be posted by the GRANTEE or their agents at an appropriate location on or near the project site. WDFW will provide upon request, electronic versions of the WDFW and the Puget Sound Nearshore Partnership logos for use by the GRANTEE in project materials.

PSNERP Funding Priorities Bernie Hargrave

Bernie Hargrave presented the Steering Committee with the Work Plan Task List in priority order from the Implementation Team and the Nearshore Science Team.

Priority 1 Tasks

(NOTE: assumes that the FY2007 funds will be less than $1 million and tasks are limited to “next step” Strategic Needs Assessment Report (SNAR) items, and Science Program limited to PSNERP GI priority needs and Implementation Team limited to on-going delivery of key products)

Science Team

Communicate research plan results

Publish Nearshore Typology Report

Publish VEC White Papers

WRIA 9 Pilot Strategic Needs Assessment

Identify priority demonstration project research questions

Publish Change Analysis Methods Report

Advise IT on Management Measure Conceptual Model

Implementation Team

Management Measure Technical Papers (2-3 papers)

Collaborate with other P.S. researchers on unified, comprehensive Change Analysis

Advance Project database

Support ESRP next round and delivery of first projects

Priority 2 Tasks

(NOTE: In addition to priority 1 and assumes that the FY2007 funds will be $1 to 2 million. Tasks include additional Stage 2 items, the Science program extended to provide broader Nearshore Partnership support and Implementation Team can provide ongoing product delivery and delivery of a pilot study)

Science Team

WRIA 9 Case Studies

FWO Scenario Building Workshop #2

Identify FWO modeling needs and methods

Identify/define priority case studies

Identify purpose and need for reference sites

Investigation methods description (e.g. literature review, BACI, microcosom studies)
Research questions? Other methods?

Develop demonstration project

Develop Science Plan Work Plan

Implement scenario approach in WRIA 9

Advise IT on ESRP Criteria Revision

Implementation Team

Management Measure Technical Papers (remaining papers)

Advance comprehensive Change Analysis to additional, strategic subbasins (Hood Canal, Skagit?)

Complete general sections of the SNAR

Prepare Pilot SNAR for WRIA 9

Priority 3 Tasks

(NOTE: Assumes more than $2millin in FY2007 funds; Completes all tasks necessary to fully complete Stage 2; Expands the Nearshore Partnership Science Program, allows IT robust efforts to deliver the Puget Sound comprehensive SNAR)

Science Team

Sound-wide Strategic Needs Assessment

Complete Priority case studies

Implement scenario approach Sound-wide

Locate and evaluate reference sites

Develop PSNERP Programmatic Monitoring Plan

Develop PSNERP Adaptive Management Plan

Implementation Team

*Add Demonstrate how the database is useful.

Complete Puget Sound Change Analysis

Write first draft of Sound-wide SNAR

Write first draft of Feasibility Report with Phase III portions outlined

Most important Work Plan Items to the Steering Committee are highlighted. The Steering Committee recommended that the Work Plan and Gantt Chart be updated, additionally, resurrect the Funding Sub-Committee. What is the status of FY06 Funding Priorities (completion)?

Data Management Committee

Dick Ecker gave a PowerPoint presentation regarding data management. The presentation outlined the following considerations:

Short Term Needs
WRIA 9 and Sound-wide Change Analysis
Early Action and other projects prioritization
Intermediate Needs
Future Without Project
Strategic Needs Assessment Report
Role of Modeling (conceptual and numerical)
Long Term Needs
Integration across large data sets, scales, and ecosystems
Need for larger technical framework to evaluate cumulative effects.

Currently NW Straits Commission, The Nature Conservancy, and King County have databases that are similar but not integrated. Questions to consider: what else is out there? Inventory what has already been created and make it better. Prioritize Data Management Needs vs. General Investigation. Identify what it is. John Dohrmann volunteered to join the Data Management Sub-Committee as Terry Wright’s time is limited due to a job change.

Strategic Needs Assessment Report

Miriam Gilmer passed out latest copies of the Strategic Needs Assessment Report. Please contact her with questions or comments.

Other Business

Puget Sound Partnership is having a retreat September 7-8 in Seattle. Three workgroups have been formed. Habitat, Lead Kathy Fletcher, Water Quality, Lead Ron Sims, and Water Quantity, Lead Jay Manning. The PSP Science working group has concerns. A recommendation will be made to advance the top three issues to the legislature by next year. Shared Strategy, the PSP Workgroups and the ’07-09 PSAT work plan will be given to the Governor.

VEC Status Paper

The Steering Committee was asked to read the preface to the Valued Ecosystem Component White Paper Series (two pages). The SC needs to reply to Bernie by August 25 with comments, edits and concerns.

Future Meeting Topics

Identify date for next Executive Committee – January 24, 2007Agenda Items
VEC Theme meeting in October
Change Analysis for WRIA 9
Decision about enhancement $ in ESRP
Programmatic Monitoring Plan

Next Meeting:

September 20, 2006
Pierce County Environmental Services
9850 – 64th Street West
University Place, Washington
Public Meeting Room West