< Back to Meeting Archives

Puget Sound Nearshore Partnership
Steering Committee Meeting
September 20, 2006

Attendees:

Doug Myers, Jacques White, Debby Hyde, Bernie Hargrave, Diane Cooper, Dick Ecker, Robert Koeppen, Fred Goetz, Tim Smith, Theresa Mitchell, Curtis Tanner, Miriam Gilmer, Doug Osterman, Debbie Rick and Colonel Michael McCormick.

Introductions were made, as it was Diane Cooper’s first meeting with the Steering Committee.

Debbie Rick presented the Steering Committee a preview of the Website update www.pugetsoundnearshore.org

FY06 Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program (ESRP)

Curtis Tanner updated the Steering Committee on the status of the ESRP projects and enhancements. Of the nine projects, six have been contracted and are out the door (Qwuloolt Marsh Restoration, Olympic Sculpture Park ($77, 712), Belfair State Park, Smuggler’s Slough, Skokomish West Bank Dike Removal, and Normandy Park Acquisition.)

The Skokomish Project also submitted a proposal for a Coastal Wetland Conservation Grant.

The Seattle Art Museum has not submitted a proposal for the $18,538 set aside for interpretive materials development. That money may reach another project down the list if not submitted by the October 15 deadline.

Margen Carlson, WDFW, will be writing the report that is due to the Legislature and the Office of Financial Management, and is very good timing for a presentation for the Governor’s budget. The report is due November 1, 2006.

Puget Sound Partnership Update

Tim Smith briefed the Steering Committee on the recent Puget Sound Partnership meeting. The Governor pushed back on the partners stating that their recommendation to date were not what she wanted. Governor Gregoire wants something on the ground, and in front of the people, that they can taste, touch, smell, and see. Most important to her is that it is a collaborative effort between state, federal, tribal governments, as well as non-government organizations, industry, and the public. She will not introduce any new taxes. The Partnership is re-ordering their priorities. It appears that the Puget Sound Nearshore Partnership is well positioned.

FY07-09 Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program

Tim Smith introduced a document entitled WDFW 2007-09 Budget Proposal, which includes narratives for each of the Department’s budget requests, continuing provisos, and enhancements in one document. He presented to the SC for discussion the idea of growing the $10 million in the (07/09 PSAT Puget Sound Conservation and Recovery Plan), into one billion dollars for the Puget Sound. The formula he used was 10 million ESRP + 25 million Real Estate value + 65 million Federal dollars + 30 million Mitigation re-direct over eight biennium equals one billion dollars. The Alliance for Puget Sound Shorelines wants this dollar figure to equal $40 billion.

Tim feels that the Nearshore Partnership needs to hold two or three workshops with the Lead Entities, Marine Resource Committees, local governments, etc. to describe the Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program. The result would be sponsors would get excited to get more project information into the Nearshore database and add more projects to the database.

The Implementation Team should focus on defining selection/prioritization of projects, review criteria for selection, and identify a potential list of projects totaling 1.5 – 2 million dollars. The IT should develop an ESRP strategy and criteria for completion for completion of the General Investigation.

Theresa Mitchell will continue to work on the existing database to fill data gaps.

Advertising the ESRP needs to be done as well as describing how the Nearshore Partnership will be spending the ’07 dollars on ESRP projects.

It is possible to use the Work Plan for WRIA9 as a strategic plan.

Executive Committee Meeting

  • January 24 has been identified for the Executive Committee.
  • Some possible Agenda Theme/Focus items:

WRIA 9 Strategic Needs Assessment Report
ESRP Growth and Well-being

  • Choose a WRIA9 location rather than Olympia if the SC might be rolling out the WRIA9 SNAR.

VEC Theme Meeting

No date was identified for the VEC Them meeting, however potentially November/December for a half-day meeting. Topics might include overview of white papers, how to use VECs as performance measures, and overall how to use VECs and which habitats support the VECs.

Federal, Local, Implementation Team, NST Reports

Federal Project Manager

  • Wrapping up a very good year with accomplishments on VEC White Papers, Change Analysis, WRIA 9.
  • Next year may fall under a similar FY03 omnibus
  • Conferencees have not been appointed for the ’07 budget
  • Bernie predicts a very good year

Local Project Manager

  • Working with CommEn Space on the WRIA 9
  • Completing the ESRP agreements and contracts
  • Working to make the NOAA community Restoration Partnership Grant deadline (9/25) Ask for the Partnership to provide letters of support.

Implementation Team

  • The IT received a presentation from Si Simenstad on Conceptual Models for the Management Measures.
  • Working on how the SNAR will bring together the Management Measures, VECs, and the Strategic Needs at a workshop in November.
  • On September 28, 2006, A consortium will meet to share information on how data and GIS information is stored in various data sets.

Nearshore Science Team

  • Reported on the WRIA9 Change Analysis Report and next step with Sound-wide change analysis
  • Future Without Scenario Workshop on September 29, 2006
  • Greg Steyer from Lousiana Coastal America

Met Colonel Michael McCormick, Seattle District Commander

Next Meeting: October 18, 2006
Tukwila Community Center
12424 - 42nd Ave. South
Tukwila, Washington