April 2008

Welcome to our first e-newsletter!

Hello and welcome to the first issue of the Northwest Straits Initiative newsletter! This will be a monthly publication, with distribution by email only. You’ve been added to our mailing list as a member of a Marine Resources Committee or the Northwest Straits Commission. The purpose is to provide some much needed internal communication, so that the entire Initiative community is informed about timely issues, events, and interesting accomplishments. MRCs are welcome to submit items to share, which we’ll include in our “bulletin board”. Comments and suggestions are welcome!

In this issue:

• Featured Project
• News Items
• Marine Resources Committee Happenings
• Northwest Straits Commission Happenings
• On the Horizon
• Upcoming Events

Featured Project

Laying the Groundwork for a Potential Marine Stewardship Area in Port Susan Bay

Snohomish and Island MRCs together with the Northwest Straits Initiative, Tulalip Tribes, Stillaguamish Tribes, and multiple other partners are collecting information to inform a potential Marine Stewardship Area in Port Susan Bay. With funding provided by the Harder Foundation, the Northwest Straits Foundation has hired a contractor to conduct targeted stakeholder interviews to gain an understanding of community attitudes and marine conservation goals in the bay. Marine Stewardship Areas have proven to be effective tools in Island and San Juan counties for focusing community attention on marine resources issues and prioritizing conservation strategies. A community-based Marine Stewardship Area planning process could help protect Port Susan Bay’s high biodiversity, transcend complex jurisdictional boundaries, and address potential conflicts between diverse user groups. For more information, click here.

News Items

Tribal Gear Loss Forum

BP Cherry Point Refinery recently funded a Northwest Straits Foundation project to address tribal fishing gear loss due to shipping lane traffic. The forum brought together maritime operators, regulators, tribal natural resources representatives and fishermen, and resulted in some excellent outcomes that will reduce the loss of gear and the associated marine resources. A full project report is available.

Farewell to Andrea

On March 28 the Northwest Straits Commission and some old friends gathered to thank Dr. Andrea Copping for her many years of service on behalf of the Northwest Straits Initiative. The Commission presented Andrea with a special commemorative Pendleton blanket in the Lummi Nation’s “Return of the Potlatch” pattern. Click here to read Andrea's memories of that time. As the first chair of the Commission and an active member of the Initiative for ten years, the highlights give a wonderful look into the history of the organization.

Governor Signs Bill to Support Development of Outer Coast MRCs

On March 28, Governor Gregoire signed Senate Bill 6227 creating the “outer coast MRC program”, which provides staff support and grant funding for future outer coast MRCs. The Department of Fish and Wildlife will direct this new program. Outer coast MRCs were first authorized in 2007 but have not had a source of funding and support. With SB6227 set to take effect in June of this year, outer coast counties will have new resources at their disposal. Click here for more information on SB6227.

Marine Resources Committee Happenings

Sea Level Rise Assessment to Inform Restoration at Kayak Point

With funding from the Northwest Straits Commission, Snohomish MRC is busy designing shoreline restoration strategies for Kayak Point Park. The MRC is currently developing a scope of work for a study of the likely impacts of sea level rise at the site. This information will inform the project design and maximize the long-term benefits of restoration. It will also provide a template to help other MRCs factor sea level rise into their restoration projects. For more information  click here.

Additional $25,000 in funding

Each of the seven MRCs is eligible for an additional $25,000 in funding for the second year of the current grants, the period from July 2008 through June 2009. The Northwest Straits Commission staff have heard from all MRCs about the intended use of those funds, and are now working on project review and preparing amendments to the grant agreements. Contact Sasha with any questions about this process or the current status of your amendment.

Northwest Straits Commission Highlights

Canoe Journey Water Quality Project

Terry Williams and Christine Woodward reported to the Commission that the Northwest Straits Commission Tribal Committee recommends that tribal funds be used to support the Canoe Journey Water Quality Project. This project brings tradition and science together to collect water quality data during the annual Coast Salish Canoe Journey. Using a traditional canoe as a sampling platform eliminates the impacts of boat engine and exhaust disturbance that interferes with data collection and quality. A presentation on the project will be scheduled for a future Commission meeting. The total cost of the project is just over $46,000. At the March meeting, the Northwest Straits Commission approved funding $25,000 of the project.

Join a Committee!

Anyone with an interest in contributing can join one of the Northwest Straits Commission subcommittees. Meetings are often held by conference call for convenience. If you are interested in participating in the Science/Technical or Education/Outreach committees please contact Sasha or Ginny.

Strategic Planning

At the Commission meeting on March 28 Simon Geerlofs explained the process of taking the information from the retreat and putting it into a strategic plan format with measurable results. Soon the draft of the Northwest Straits Commission’s Strategic Plan will be sent to Commissioners and Marine Resources Committees for input before adopting. Stay tuned for opportunities to review the draft and make comments.

On the Horizon

Grant Due Dates

Be prepared for the upcoming due dates for MRC projects! The end of June is sneaking up on us, and with it comes the end of the fiscal year and the deadline for many of the current MRC project deliverables. The due date for those materials is very firm, so please plan ahead to ensure all project leads are aware of the schedule. If you need a copy of the grant agreement or information about a specific project schedule, please contact Sasha or your MRC lead staff.

2008 Marine Resources Committee Training Conference

Mark your calendars, the 2008 Marine Resources Training Conference will be November 7-8 at the Port Angeles Red Lion Inn. We welcome your input on designing the agenda!

Upcoming Events

Lead Staff/Chair Meeting

A meeting for the MRC chairs and lead staff is scheduled for April 24 at Padilla Bay. Those attending are encouraged to bring forward discussion topics of interest to your MRC. This meeting will be followed by a potluck barbeque at the Padilla Bay bunkhouse. Please contact Connie if you’d like to join us.

Northwest Straits Commission Project Sharing Meeting

The Northwest Straits Commission will be meeting at Padilla Bay on Friday, April 25. The meeting agenda is designed to provide MRCs with an opportunity to report on current project accomplishments. MRC members are encouraged to attend and see what others are doing. See draft agenda.

More events