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Puget Sound Nearshore Partnership
Steering Committee Meeting
October 18, 2006

Attendees:

Paul Cereghino, John Daly, Doug Myers, Miriam Gilmer, Tim Smith, Mike Ramsey, Doug Osterman, Jacques White, Allison Bailey, Fred Goetz, Curtis Tanner, Bernie Hargrave, Terry Wright, Hayden Street, John Dohrmann, Dick Ecker, Andrea Copping, Michael Rylko, Kirstin Holsman, Naki Stevens, Paula DelGiudice, Debby Hyde, and Debbie Rick.

Nearshore Science Team Report - Fred Goetz

Management Measures -

In preparation of Feasibility Report, Miriam (Gilmer) needs to understand, and be able to document rationale that defines what NST has determined are “important” nearshore ecosystem processes and the management measures they propose to fix those processes. Conceptual models can be used to explain the relationship between management measures and at least nearshore processes, and maybe nearshore structures. The NST may help build conceptual models for management measures, as long as they stop short of attributing “importance” to functional responses and VECs. Leads: Si Simenstad, Kurt Fresh, Curtis Tanner, Guy Gelfenbaum. It would be potentially helpful to build a matrix of management measures, ecosystem processes and ecosystem goods and services as a starting point for showing these relationships.

Future Without Project Workshop Briefing - Fred Goetz

The Future Without Project (FWOP) workshop was held on September 29, 2006, at the University of Washington. The participants used ten key drivers, each described in a short fact sheet, to select the two main drivers for four future Puget Sound scenarios. They chose Climate Change and Human Behavior as the two drivers. Our challenge as we proceed with this investigation is how to use these to describe a compelling future with and without the project.

A group of students at the UW have formed a FWOP – Lite version of the workgroup. The NST will adjourn early to attend a class presentation on October 25. Steering Committee members will be invited to attend FWOP – Lite.

Federal Project Manager Report - Bernie Hargrave

Puget Sound and Adjacent Waters Restoration Program

  • Skokomish Estuary Restoration: Phase 2 scoping meeting was held on 26 Sept with City of Tacoma who is interested in moving forward with design and permitting for the island restoration.
  • Lake Washington Gravel Nourishment: Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works [ASA(CW)] approve the PCA for signature. The City of Seattle and COL McCormick signed it 3 days later. Lands have been certified available for restoration and accesss. The city has sent a check for their estimated share of the costs. Unfortunately we missed the window of opportunity determined by WDFW for Sockeye. So, the project will be build after 15 Jul 07, when the window opens again.
  • Derelict Gear: Project has provoked a national Corps debate on whether or not the Corps should be involved with Derelict Gear. We wrote an issue paper outlining our findings about federal interest. Our division and HQ are currently reviewing.

The National Academies Press released a forthcoming title “Mitigating Shore Erosion Along Sheltered Coasts.” Online version is available now. The National Academies Press is taking orders now for the new book. The cost is $38.70 with tax and shipping.

Federal CRA strategies - Bernie Hargrave

FY’07 Budget Process:

PSNERP continues to execute per the Continuing Resolution Act (CRA) process in FY07 before the budget is enacted. The rules this year have the Project expending at an annualized rate of 90% of the lesser of House or Senate amounts. For Nearshore that means 90% of the House amount, or $450K for the year, this is very similar to the president’s FY07 budget of $400K. Without more support, the Corps is concerned about the completion of Stage II of the GI, though with $ from outside the Corps it could get done. Through the Legislature, state partners may have dollars to fill the gap, however the current budget fails to identify what those gaps are.

PMT direction to the Nearshore Science Team for FY07 - Curtis/Bernie

It is very important to keep the Nearshore Science Team working under the CRA. The goal of FY07 is to develop a compelling Future Without story – a problem statement is only as good as the Change Analysis.

  • Change Analysis & Strategic Needs Assessment Report – High Priority
  • Management Measure short report
  • Develop programmatic monitoring and monitoring plan principles
  • Demonstration Projects/Case Studies.

Preparations for the Restore America’s Estuaries - Bernie/Curtis

Valued Ecosystem Component White Papers:

The Corps’ Public Affairs team has agreed to format the VEC papers so that the papers will be available at the Restore America’s Estuaries Conference. Kendra Nettleton, a recent graduate from the School of Marine Affairs, will likely shepherd the VECs through this finally completion step.

Implementation Team Report – Miriam Gilmer / Doug Myers

Strategic Needs Assessment (SNA) Report –
The Implementation Team and Change Analysis Working Group met on October 5th to discuss Strategic Needs Assessment Report and Change Analysis. The scope and content of SNA discussed and a working definition given “Observed changes in nearshore structure where human activities have impacted processes important for support of VECs.”

Change Analysis –
The Change Analysis Workgroup reviewed and refined data templates for the WRIA9 Pilot. CommEn Space is working on final report and organizing information to support Strategic Needs Assessment. The IT and NST will finalize input on focus of “Findings” section of WRIA 9 Change Analysis Report.

Sound-wide Data Development
The Puget Sound Nearshore Project Management Team is working on scoping Sound-wide historic and current typology mapping. Puget Sound Action Team staff is working on evaluating existing shoreline armoring data and mapping methods. WDFW staff completing Sound-wide over water structure data layer, and the Corps staff is working on levees and dikes data layer

Local Project Manager Report - Curtis Tanner

Nearshore Projects Database – Theresa is filling in data gaps through a requests to project sponsors. This information is due October 19. People for Puget Sound and The Nature Conservancy are assisting WDFW efforts.

Estuary and Salmon Restoration Projects

  • $2,270,859 obligated to 9 “basic” projects
  • $229,141 obligated to 6 enhancement projects
  • $18,805 from USFWS and $31,111 from NOAA obligated to Skokomish project
    • $990,296 total, w/ $940,380 from ESRP, $49,916 from USFWS/NOAA
    • added capacity to enhancement funds
  • 11 agreements, $2,549,916 executed before Oct. 15 deadline

Other issues

Deschutes Estuary Feasibility Study –
Final technical reports for two major studies available

  • Hydraulic Modeling/Sediment Transport study – USGS
  • Reference Estuary Study – Earth Design Consultants

Alliance for Puget Sound Shorelines - John Daly

Three leading conservation groups – People for Puget Sound, The Trust for Public Land, and The Nature Conservancy – have launched a three-year, $80 million campaign to protect and restore Puget Sound’s ecologically rich shorelines and ensure they are available for people to enjoy for generations to come.

The three groups have formed a new partnership called the Alliance for Puget Sound Shorelines have pledged to restore and protect hundreds of miles of shoreline and create several new parks. The effort was launched with a $3 million leadership gift from The Russell Family Foundation.

The Alliance is working closely with other civic and political leaders who are also committed to restoring Puget Sound’s health. From the Governor’s Puget Sound Partnership to the Corps of Engineers’ Nearshore Partnership, the momentum is building, suggesting we have a remarkable opportunity to make a significant and lasting difference.

The Alliance has developed a detailed strategy for the first phase of its 10-year partnership, with an ambitious set of goals.

  • Create 10 new waterfront parks or natural areas
  • Restore 100 miles of shorelines through on-the-ground restoration
  • Protect 1,000 miles of shoreline

Paula Del Giudice passed out the latest National Wildlife magazine with a feature article on Puget Sound Orca – one of the Nearshore Partnership’s Valued Ecosystem Components.

Next Meeting: November 29, 2006
Pierce County Environmental Services