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Puget Sound Nearshore Partnership
Steering Committee Meeting
January 18, 2005

Attendees:

Curtis Tanner, Rob Koeppen, Bernie Hargrave, Fred Goetz, Dick Ecker, Michael Rylko, Jennifer Steger, Paula Del Giudice, Jacques White, Beth Coffey, Tim Smith, Josh Baldi, Debbie Rick

Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project

Federal Project Manager Report - Bernie Hargrave

Bernie reported he had been away from the office a good deal since the last Steering Committee. During his absence, he has had a turnover in staff. Beth Coffey has gone on to a permanent position with Regulatory, and serving in a transition role on the GI until she is replaced on the Implementation Team. Bernie is looking for someone with plan formulation experience.

VEC White Papers

Progress to-date:

Eelgrass and kelp - Tom Mumford on track for delivery of draft in late January

Forage fish - Dan Pentilla on track for delivery of draft in mid February

Marine/shorebirds – Dave Nyswander declined request – interested, but not available to deliver draft until early summer. Joe Buchanan considering request – may be assisted by Dave Nyswander and a recent People for Puget Sound report to USFWS containing life history info on American black oystercatcher and pigeon guillemot. Initial discussions suggest delivery of draft in late March

Action Items: Change Analysis Workgroup – need to pursue in short time frame, include Jacques by phone.

River History presentation at the February Steering Committee (Tukwila Fire Station)

Local Project Manager Report – Curtis Tanner

Curtis has been working with Implementation Team and Nearshore Science Team to finalize list of Management Measures and develop working list of associated ecosystem processes. They have consolidated list of ~30 management measures into the current list of 20. Relationships have been formatted as a matrix of goals (e.g. “Restore beach ecosystem processes”), objectives (e.g. “Restore sediment transport processes”) and management measures (e.g. “Armor modification/Removal”) In order to address some “orphan” management measures that could not be related to the physical nearshore ecosystem processes; Curtis added some other categories of ecosystem process as placeholders:

• Protect ecosystem processes
• Reduce biological stressors
• Protect ecosystem processes
• Reestablish native plant or animal species
• Create habitat structure

Change Analysis –

Bernie discussed potential role of a multi-agency GIS team to implement sound-wide change analysis. Some Steering Committee members indicated interest in this approach, but needed to coordinate with potentially affected staff. Also discussed was the recently reviewed River History Group’s (RHG) analysis of change for Puget Sound deltas. Steering Committee members expressed interest in learining more about the RHG work.

Curtis presented a goal/objective/management measure matrix that is also in the hands of PRISM nearshore projects database design team.

Completion of Stage II -

The Finance Sub-committee met to develop estimated costs to finish Stage II and made good progress. There is significant uncertainty about Phase III tasks that have made going beyond original Project Management Plan (aka Blue Book) not possible.

Curtis presented a spreadsheet (attached) derived from the Gantt chart describing by task estimated costs and money expended to date. This task also identified unallocated amount (funding needs), which totaled ($3,828.070). This figure also includes a 20% contingency. The Steering Committee discussed including contingency as a line item. It was decided to remove this line item, and include in individual task estimates as appropriate.

FY07 Federal Requests

The Steering Committee identified the following tasks for completion of Stage II to be included in the FY Federal Budget Request:

By submitting FY07 federal budget requests in the manner above, the Partnership is requesting funds to complete Stage II and if received, there is not a shortfall.

FY06 State Supplemental Request

Nearshore ecosystem restoration - $750,000 General Fund

Enhanced funding for the Puget Sound Nearshore Partnership (PSNP), a partnership between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, state and federal agencies, Indian tribes, industries and environmental organizations. PSNP targets some of the foremost habitat restoration needs in Puget Sound, specifically to identify significant ecosystem problems, evaluate potential solutions, and restore and preserve critical nearshore habitat.

Restore estuaries and salmon habitat - $2,500,000 State Building Construction Account

Targets $2.5 million in high-priority estuary and salmon restoration projects in Puget Sound.

Budget for Federal ‘06

Bernie still has $100,000 unallocated funds. He will apply these funds to complete tasks necessary for the Strategic Needs Assessment Report especially those associated with Change Anaylsis.

Deschutes Estuary Feasibility Study

Curtis finalized an agreement with NOAA Coastal Services Center for $20K additional support of Net Benefit Analysis study. He received Steering Committee approval to proceed with development of formal stakeholder group to identify socially relevant issues to include in Net Benefit Analysis Study. (He anticipates stakeholder meetings in March) Curtis reviewed draft Scope of Work with Technical Work Group for Engineering Design/Cost Estimate study and anticipates a contractor to be selected an on board in April/May timeframe.

Nearshore Science Team Report - Fred Goetz

Future Without Project Workgroup “reconstituted”

The workgroup meeting resulted in clearer understanding about the history and current status of this task. U of W Urban Ecology Lab (Marina Alberti, PI) is developing a scenario building approach for establishing boundaries/variables in model condition. A future workshop by UEL will focus on scenario building, not analysis of alternative approaches for predicting future conditions. The NST requested Dr. Alberti complete “Task 1” of her contract by delivering a brief white paper or other description of alternative approaches.

“Bioinvasions in Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Program” presented by Phebe Drinker

Phebe is the NST Graduate Student supported by PSNERP. Her master’s research is on how national ecosystem restoration programs have addressed non-native species invasions. She has had feedback from the NST on a regular basis. Her research builds on and acts as an extension of the Lessons Learned investigation begun by Brie VanCleve that is a PSNERP technical report. She is reviewing other program’s invasive species control programs and is using a question and answer survey aimed at program managers and invasive species experts. Phebe delivered an update on her thesis research – for a copy of her PowerPoint, please contact Fred or Si.

New NST Website –

The UW received FY06 funding to redevelop the NST website through a series of phases with phase 1 and 2 funding provided so far. The website has a new architecture allowing for better organization of documents and allows individual users to modify, post, and download documents without need for a web-manager. This architecture could be used to reorganize the IT and Partner websites. Please visit the new site at: http://sal.ocean.washington.edu/nst/index.jsp the site is still under construction based on comments/additional needs from NST.

Revision of Research Plan –

Tom Mumford and Guy Gelfenbaum discussed with the NST potential revisions for Research Plan based on external peer review comments. Reviewers noted that though the questions and research topics are all high priorities, no ranking has been applied. The NST discussion noted that the plan does not have a single research question that the NST thinks should be addressed (because of multiple stressors and scenarios), nor do they think just one question should be focused on and no further prioritization should be applied. The Reviewers also noted that there is no comprehensive implementation section. The research plan team is very interested in developing this section more. Discussion included how research should be implemented as well as examples of how it is being implemented - Governor’s Initiative and other efforts going on; Pew report, USCOP, Millennium Report; and show how those fit into our research scheme.

Implementation Team Report – Beth Coffey

Only addition to reports already given, Beth would like to have the first draft of the Management Measures white paper drafted at the next Implementation Team. She is working on changes, improvements to the Strategic Needs Assessment report and assigning who is writing what.

Beth is also pulling in the GIS Team. A VEC Workshop is planned for March 14.

Coastal America Partnership – Michael Rylko

The purpose of the Coastal America Regional Principles meeting on January 27th, is for the federal agencies to focus on the Puget Sound. The Nearshore Partnership will be showcased as a collaborative effort consistent with the objectives of Coastal America.

Michael provided a presentation on EPA Puget Sound Regional Priorities report and asked for the Puget Sound Nearshore Partnership’s input into its content. The purpose would be so that all of the Nearshore Partners are measuring the same thing and heading the same direction. In the report, the EPA matches its priorities to Governor Gregoire’s key initiatives for the Puget Sound.

EPA Priority Plan Goals for FY 2006-2011:

• Reduce the harm from storm water runoff.
• Continue to clean-up contaminated sites and sediments.
• Contribute to the conservation and recovery orca, salmon, forage fish, and ground fish populations through protective water quality and habitat management measures.
• Help to protect shorelines and other critical areas that provide important ecological functions and restore degraded nearshore and freshwater habitat.
• Reduce toxic contamination and prevent future contamination.
• Prevent nutrient and pathogen pollution caused by human and animal waste.

Proposed Measures for 2005-2011

An initial set of proposed measures to restore and protect the Puget Sound Basin has been proposed by the Puget Sound Action Team Partnership and is being endorsed and supported by EPA. EPA will make substantial contributions to:

• Water quality improvements and corresponding lifting of harvest restrictions in 1,000 acres of shellfish bed growing areas currently impacted by degraded or declining water quality.
• 100 acres of prioritized contaminated sediments are remediate.
• 3,500 acres of tidally or seasonally influenced estuarine wetlands are restored or protected
• Reduce total diesel emissions in the Puget Sound airshed by 8% percent.

USGS CalFed presentation – Curtis Tanner

During lunch we watched the Delta Revival, a DVD about the CalFed project. The Steering Committee discussed pursuing a similar project for the Nearshore Partnership. No conclusions were reached.

Puget Sound Nearshore Partnership

Executive Committee DRAFT Agenda
February 9, 2006

Puget Sound Nearshore Partnership
Executive Committee Meeting

US Fish and Wildlife Service - Sawyer Hall
510 Desmond Drive SE
Lacey, Washington

Draft Agenda

Noon Lunch Provided

12:15 Welcome and Introductory Remarks from the Executive Committee Co-Chairs
Introductions of new Puget Sound Nearshore Partnership Membership

12:30 Progress Report: Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project
General Investigation status: scope, schedule, and products

Early Actions
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad
Deschutes Estuary

Partners
USGS Research Plan
PSAW
Seahurst
Skokomish
SRFB
Wiley Slough

2:00

• State Supplemental Requests
  Estuary and Salmon Recovery
  PSNERP
• Federal Requests
  PSNERP
  USGS
  NOAA

  EPA
  PSAW

3:00 Status of Puget Sound Initiative – Ruckelshaus

Discussion of role of Nearshore Partnership in Puget Sound Initiative

4:30 Reception for Colonel Lewis

Governor’s Puget Sound Initiative – Josh Baldi

The Project Managers for the Puget Sound Initiative are Brad Ack (Puget Sound Action Team) and Jim Kramer (Shared Strategy for Puget Sound). The Partnership will meet for the first time on January 20-21, 2006. The purpose of the meeting will be to:

• Familiarize the Partnership with the current conditions in the Sound.
• Discuss the five charges made by the Governor, identify any potential gaps, and create Partnership direction around initial deliverables, strategies and key activities for each charge.
• Establish the overall structure and roles for project.

The Partnership will be charged with the following tasks:

1. Develop recommendations for the Legislature, Congress, and the Governor to preserve the environmental health, goods and services needed by the year 2020 to ensure that the Puget Sound’s marine and freshwaters will be able to support healthy populations of the native species, as well as water quality and quantity to support both human needs and ecosystem functions.

2. Engage citizens, watershed groups, businesses, the environmental community, and tribal, local, state, and federal governments, in a broad public education effort and enlist their help in developing the recommendations. These should support implementation of the 14 community-based watershed plans and the Puget Sound Conservation and Recovery Plan, provide increased accountability for meeting our goals, and help integrate salmon recovery with the other efforts to protect and restore the Sound.

3. Assess the existing organizational structures that work to protect and restore the Puget Sound’s fresh and marine watersheds, as well as those involved in the recovery of salmon, orca, and other threatened species. Recommend a structure for an on-going public-private partnership to steward the ecosystem back to health and protect it over the long-term.

4. Review current and potential funding sources to provide for the protection and restoration of this ecosystem and, where possible, recommend the priority of expenditures to achieve the desired 2020 outcomes.

5. Recommend how we should organize and apply broad-based scientific knowledge and current capacity, to inform our policies and assist in setting and meeting our goals.

Due date for the Puget Sound Partnership: Have the initial set of recommendations and a progress report available for review by congressional members, legislative leaders, and the Governor by June 15, 2006.