October 2008

In this issue:

• Release of the Puget Sound Partnership Action Agenda
• Washington/British Columbia Transboundary Workship a Success
• MRCs Making Headway on Strategic Plans
• Mussel Watch Providing Data on Snohomish County Water Quality
• ConocoPhillips Grant Awarded
• Foundation Finishes up Creosote Removal Project
• Hand-held Global Positioning System Units Available for Checkout

News Items

Release of the Puget Sound Partnership Action Agenda

The Puget Sound Partnership is scheduled to release the draft Action Agenda on November 6 just in time for our annual fall conference. Martha Neuman, lead staff for the Action Agenda will present the document and discuss it at the conference on November 8. The Commission will then have less than two weeks to develop comments and get them to Partnership staff. We will be working closely with MRCs immediately following the conference for feedback on the Action Agenda so that we can provide one coordinated comment letter. We encourage all MRC members to stay connected to the work of the Partnership at this critical time. A draft list of the Puget Sound Partnership’s strategic priorities and candidate initiatives was distributed at the October 1 Ecosystem Coordination Board meeting and will be updated for the October 22-23 Leadership Council meeting. Go to the Puget Sound Partnership’s web site for information. 

Washington/British Columbia Transboundary Workshop a Success

Over the last six years, we’ve learned firsthand the magnitude of the problem that derelict gear poses in Puget Sound. Officials in British Columbia expect that they also, unfortunately, face a similar problem with derelict gear. Because British Columbia and Washington state share the Salish Sea ecosystem, it’s important for our two governments to coordinate activities and learn from one another.

Washington Governor Christine Gregoire and British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell have made regional collaboration on marine issues a priority of their two administrations. They’ve identified two initial areas of focus for this collaboration: Derelict fishing gear removal and marine managed areas. Because of the success of its derelict gear program, the Northwest Straits Initiative was tapped by the Governor’s office to host the event.

On October 8 and 9, the Commission hosted representatives from Canadian provincial and federal agencies and First Nations along with representatives from Washington state, US Federal government, and tribes at a two-day derelict gear workshop. Funding for the workshop was provided by the Governor’s office and the Environmental Protection Agency. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife was a key collaborator in workshop planning.

Following a full day classroom session and a field trip on the second day, Canadian and US officials both left with a better understanding of the opportunities, challenges, and techniques of derelict gear removal work. Workshop findings will be presented at the Puget Sound Georgia Basin Conference and workshop participants are already discussing a possible transboundary crab pot survey and removal project in Boundary Bay. A link to the proceedings of the workshop will provided in next month’s newsletter.

MRC Conference

Over 88 people are registered! This is a great opportunity to meet and talk with MRC members from around the region, and learn about some of the most important issues around the Sound. Clallam MRC is hosting a field trip starting at 12:30pm on Friday, and the conference will wrap up by 4:00 pm Saturday afternoon. An updated agenda is now available. Late registration will be accepted through October 27 but room rates can no longer be guaranteed. Please contact Connie Price for more information. 

SharePoint

A new tool for collaborative work is now being unveiled for the Port Susan Bay marine stewardship area working group. Northwest Straits has a SharePoint site through the Department of Ecology servers. This online tool is a great fit for the Port Susan group since it allows shared files, online discussion, and the ability to work closely with a group of people who may not be easy to get together in one room. If you have an ongoing or long-term project that could benefit from a shared system for communicating among team members, contact Sasha for a site tour.

Marine Resources Committee Happenings

MRCs Making Headway on Strategic Plans

Writing a strategic plan is hard work—especially when there is so much to do to protect and restore our marine environment. But given limited budgets and hectic schedules, strategic planning can really help prioritize action. The MRC strategic plans that have been completed to date all embody the spirit, focus, and unique attributes of each MRC. And the Commission’s strategic plan represents the collective ideas and ideals of the entire Northwest Straits community—the MRCs, the Commission, and the Foundation.

If you would like to download completed strategic plans, please follow the links below. And if you’d like another set of eyes to review your draft strategic plan, please feel free to contact Simon at the Northwest Straits Commission.
Island MRC
Jefferson MRC
Skagit MRC
Northwest Straits Commission

Mussel Watch Providing Data on Snohomish County Water Quality

Since 1986, NOAA has analyzed mussels collected from the nation’s coasts and bays in order to monitor for chemical contaminants in the marine environment.

Washington state has been included in the Mussel Watch program for many years, and recently Snohomish MRC has partnered with NOAA to add additional sites in county waters. Beach Watcher volunteers are collecting mussel samples and the MRC is picking up the tab for chemical analysis.

On September 29, NOAA Scientist and former Snohomish MRC member Alan Mearns presented data and findings from the Snohomish County Mussel Watch program.  The Snohomish county data are yielding important information on contaminants like PAHs, PCBs, PBDEs, and heavy metals. Click here for more information about Snohomish County Mussel Watch project.

Northwest Straits Commission Highlights

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Management Plan Review Process

The Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Management Plan Review is now open and there is an opportunity for participation and comments. The Olympic Coast Marine Sanctuary is required to review and revise its plan every five years and it has been the early 1990’s since the last review. There will be seven public meetings intended to reach out to the communities near the sanctuary. The goal of these meetings is to get thoughts and ideas from the public on sanctuary management priorities.

Northwest Straits Commission Meeting Minutes

Northwest Straits Foundation News

ConocoPhillips Grant Awarded

The Northwest Straits Foundation announced a $20,375 grant from ConocoPhillips to remove derelict gillnets, focusing removal operations on the marine waters in and around the Washington Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Complex, created to protect marine birds and mammals by protecting nesting and haul out sites.

“Through our Spirit of Conservation partnership with the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, ConocoPhillips is working to preserve and restore habitat for migratory birds throughout North America and other parts of the world,” said Jeff Callender, regional public affairs director for ConocoPhillips. “We are excited about the opportunity to improve our local marine environment and protect wildlife here in northwest Washington.”   

The ConocoPhillips donation will be leveraged by funds from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and other sources to increase the scope of the project, allowing the Northwest Straits Foundation to remove 45 acres of derelict fishing nets.

Foundation Finishes Creosote Removal Project

The Northwest Straits Foundation finished its Creosote Beach Debris Removal Project, the first project it has completed that was funded through NOAA’s Marine Debris Removal and Prevention Grant Program.  Washington Department of Natural Resources was the project  partner, mobilizing its staff and crews to coordinate with land managers and implement on-the-ground removal. Washington State University Beach Watchers coordinators and volunteers played a role as well helping to survey and tag debris on the beach prior to removal.

Using helicopters, barges and ‘good old’ hand hauling, 720 tons of contaminated debris were removed from beaches and nearshore areas at Lake Hancock, Dungeness Spit National Wildlife Refuge, Fort Flagler State Park, Fort Worden State Park, Fort Ebey State Park, Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve, Monroe’s Landing Island County Park, and American Camp National Historic Park.

One hundred forty-four volunteers donated 384 hours to this project, either by surveying and tagging, assisting with removal operations, or training for future surveying activity. One hundred eighty miles of shoreline in the Northwest Straits were surveyed for contaminated debris as part of this project.

This project is a great example of the power of Marine Resources Committees.  It was inspired by the initial work of the Whatcom MRC and also by the removal efforts in Skagit County by MRC members there. The project was featured on NOAA’s Restoration Center website and is currently being replicated in British Columbia.

Hand-held Global Positioning System Units Available for Checkout

The Foundation has a dozen hand-held GPS units available for MRCs to check out. They were used during the Creosote Beach Debris Removal Project to document locations of contaminated logs on beaches throughout the Northwest Straits. They come with their own carrying cases. Just call Joan Drinkwin, at 360-820-3323, if your MRC has a use for a GPS unit and she will make sure it gets to you.

On the Horizon

2009 Northwest Straits Commission Meetings

Northwest Straits Commission 2009 meeting dates have now been scheduled. The annual planning retreat date is to be determined. All meetings will fall on Fridays in 2009.

2009-2011 MRC Grants

It’s time to start planning for the next round of grants to MRCs. Existing grants will end on June 30, 2009 with a complete close-out: no extensions of time or funds are possible. The new grants will begin on July 1, 2009. A draft schedule was proposed at the last meeting of the Commission, and MRCs are encouraged to begin developing ideas for a final proposal that will be due in March. Commission staff will work with MRCs in the first months of 2009 to discuss ideas in the pre-proposal stage. A full request for proposals will be sent out at the first of the year. Until a final budget is appropriated for the Commission for 2009, MRCs will need to prioritize or phase projects to allow for some budget flexibility based on the final amount. Please contact Sasha if you have questions.

Events Calendar

MRC Chairs/Lead Staff Meeting

The next meeting of MRC chairs and lead staff will be held at Padilla Bay on Monday, December 8. These meetings are a great opportunity to work through the nuts and bolts of running a Marine Resources Committee: what are the challenges your MRC faces, what works well, how can the MRC run more smoothly and how can the Commission best support the MRCs. This meeting will be particularly important to discuss budget and staffing issues. Please forward additional ideas to Sasha by no later than November 14.