WRIA 14 PLANNING UNIT MEETING

 

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Shelton Civic Center

Shelton, WA

 

Meeting Summary

 

Attendance:

Government Members Present:

Theresa Parsons, City of Shelton

Pam Bennett-Cumming, Mason County

Jeanne Kinney, Thurston County

Phil Wiatrak,  Dept. of Ecology

Al Frey, Port of Shelton

John Konovsky, Squaxin Island Tribe

Government Members Absent:

Mason County PUD # 1

 

 

Other Planning Unit Members Present:

 

Diane Cooper, Taylor Shellfish

Terri Jeffreys, Realtors and Homebuilders

Drew Noble, Water Purveyors

Bob Simmons, WSU Extension

Harry Paul, Thurston PUD

Warren Dawes, SWPSWC

 

Others Present:

 

Chad Stussy, WDFW

Amy Hatch-Winecka, Mason CD

Stuart Glasoe, PSAT

Susan Gulick, Technical Project Mgr/Facilitator

 

 

1.      Recommendations for the Watershed Plan

q       The Planning Unit discussed the preliminary list of 79 recommendations and agreed that this was not realistic.  Plan adoption will be much more viable if the list is focused on a smaller number of priority recommendations (rather than a wish list).

q       Planning Unit members agreed that recommendations should be developed that focus on six key needs:

ü       Education;

ü       Monitoring;

ü       Improved management of septic systems;

ü       Stormwater management, including increased vegetative cover;

ü       Improved enforcement of existing laws and regulations; and

ü       Water Conservation.

q       In addition, the plan should acknowledge and support ongoing existing activities.

q       The strategies within these recommendations should be designed to address specific problems in targeted areas.  The recommendations should incorporate best available science and offer an identified solution to the specific problem. 

q       Realtors and homebuilders believe it is important for the recommendations to protect the ability to develop parcels consistent with adopted zoning codes and densities. 

q       The Squaxin Island Tribe may also want a statement added in the plan that states that the plan should not be used to determine OCPI (overriding consideration of public interest) for water rights.  The Tribe will also want some elaboration on the Phase IV implementation obligations.

q       The Planning Unit began working on the monitoring and education recommendations (attached as a separate document).  The Planning Unit will continue to work on the other recommendations at future meetings.

q       Comments on the draft Watershed Plan are due to Susan by Wednesday, November 9th.

 

2.      Oakland Bay Emergency

q       Data is still being collected but Ecology has warned that a significant downgrade is imminent.

q       The Tribe, Taylor Shellfish and others have asked for assistance from the County, State and Federal governments.  So far the County is the only one to respond, and they said they are already doing all they can.

q       The parties are very disappointed with the lack of response.  This downgrade will have a significant effect on Taylor Shellfish as well as the Tribe.

 

3.      Upcoming Meetings

q       The next Planning Unit meeting will be on Wednesday, November 9th, from 9-12 at the Shelton Civic Center.

q       The meeting scheduled for November 23rd has been postponed until Nov. 30th to avoid conflicts with Thanksgiving.  The meeting on Wednesday, November 30th, will be from 9-12 at the Shelton Civic Center.