WRIA 14 PLANNING UNIT MEETING

Wednesday, December 15, 2004

2:30-4:30 p.m.

Shelton Civic Center

Shelton, WA

Meeting Summary

Attendance:

Government Members Present:
Jeanne Kinney, Thurston County	Phil Wiatrak, Dept. of Ecology
Theresa Parsons, City of Shelton	John Konovsky Squaxin Tribe
Government Members Absent:
Mason Co.	Mason County PUD # 1

Other Planning Unit Members Present:
Warren Dawes, SWPSWC	Bob Simmons & Emily Piper, WSU Co-op Extension
Diane Cooper, Taylor Shellfish	Ric Byrd & Al Frey, Port of Shelton
Amy Hatch-Winecka, Mason CD

Others Present:
Mike Madsen, Mason CD	Jennifer Eklund, Mason CD
Chad Stussy, WDFW	Susan Gulick, Technical Project Mgr/Facilitator

1. Updates

q Northwest Land and Water is still working on finalizing an agreement with the Port of Shelton to use their wells in the study.

q Comments on the storage report are due.

q Emily distributed a draft e-mail. Please e-mail comments to Emily at elpiper@wsu.edu

2. Centennial Grants

q The Planning Unit prioritized the four grant applications in the WRIA as follows:

1. Totten/Littlle Skookum Response. A partnership to work with local landowners on best management practices to improve and protect water quality ($250,000);

2. Oakland Bay Riparian Area Assessment. Assistance to landowners to replant native plants along riparian areas ($125,000);

3. Dog Waste Composting. A pilot program to build and assess on-site dog waste composting facilities for kennels and veterinarians ($50,000);

4. Critical Area Buffer Restoration. A partnership to restore buffers in critical areas ($150,000).

3. Salmon Recovery Projects

q Amy Hatch Winecka gave a brief description of the three projects that received funding from the Salmon Recovery Funding Board. Three out of four projects proposed received funding.

1. Oakland Bay/Malaney Creek Habitat Acquisition. Under this project, Capitol Land Trust and Mason County will acquire 80 acres along Oakland Bay and Malaney Creek for habitat preservation ($1,453,300).

2. WRIA 14 Nearshore Project Development. This project will identify and design five nearshore projects for restoration activities such as bulkhead removal, wood and gravel recruitment, restoring pocket estuary function, dam and levee removal, etc. ($90,262).

3. Hiawata Fish Passage Project. This project involves replacing a blocking culvert with a bridge and restoring the channel below the culvert ($517,764).

4. EAP Applications

q The Environmental Assessment Program at the Department of Ecology is gathering applications for the 2006 fiscal year. The program offers support and equipment to assist in projects but NOT funding.

q PU members should bring their ideas to the Technical Committee meeting in January for consideration and prioritization.

q The PU delegated to the TC the final decision on which applications to submit.

5. Issues/Options for Watershed Plan

q The PU discussed the desire to meet with Squaxin Tribal Council to discuss tribal concerns with the watershed planning process.

q It was agreed that local elected officials should initiate this meeting (County Commissioners from Thurston and Mason County and City Council members from the City of Shelton).

q Susan will draft a letter from a Mason County Commissioner to the Tribal Council requesting a meeting. It is hoped the meeting could occur in January or February.

6. Other Issues

q The next Technical Committee meeting will be on Wednesday, January 12^th from 10-12 am at the Shelton Civic Center.

q The next Planning Unit meeting will be on Wednesday, January 26^th from 2:30-4:30 at the Shelton Civic Center.