WRIA 14 PLANNING UNIT MEETING

Wednesday, December 17, 2003

2:30-4:30 p.m.

Shelton Civic Center

Shelton, WA

Meeting Summary

Attendance:

Government Members Present:
Jeanne Kinney, Thurston County	Theresa Parsons, City of Shelton
Phil Wiatrak, Dept. of Ecology	Jason Manassee & Herb Baze, Mason County
Jeanne Kinney, Thurston County

Government Members Absent:
Squaxin Tribe	Mason County PUD # 1

Other Planning Unit Members Present:
Warren Dawes, SWPSWC	Bob Simmons & Marilyn Brennan, WSU
Constance Ibsen, LHCWIC	Anita Latch, Citizen
Diane Cooper, Taylor Shellfish	Nancy Ness, Citizen
Kim Zabel-Lincoln & Stephanie Kenny, Mason County Health Dept.

Others Present:
Toby Kevin, Citizen	Stuart Glasoe, PSAT
Harry Paul, Thurston Co. PUD	Susan Gulick, Technical Project Mgr/Facilitator

1. Review and Approve PU Comments on Water Quality Chapter

q The PU reviewed comments received on the Water Quality Chapter.

q In addition to the comments, the PU asked Jason to address the following:

o Make sure that the reader understands that the Golder references are referring to the Technical Assessment (i.e. note that Golder was the author when you mention the technical assessment in the introduction). Also, add page numbers to the Golder references rather than just “Golder 2003”.

o Ensure that the lack of data does not imply that water quality is good. Clarify where there are data gaps.

o Expand on Thurston County areas; Jeanne and Jason will talk to identify what needs to be added.

o Make sure that all causes of water quality are identified (not just septics). For example, mention landscape chemicals and pet waste.

o Kim mentioned the trade-off of new sewer service. Many shoreline areas have not been developed because septics were not allowed; with a new sewer, more development will occur. The sewer system will address septic concerns but the new development will lead to an increase in landscape chemicals and pet waste. The complexity of the issues needs to be explained to the reader.

o The second paragraph under existing information is out of contest; fecal coliform contamination doesn’t relate to existing information.

o Add headings and discussions of point and non-point pollution sources in the watershed.

o The language needs to be targeted for average citizens—technical savvy people will read the Technical Assessment; the plan should be written for the citizen and decision-makers. Try to eliminate or explain acronyms (DO, TMDL, etc.). The three areas that really need to be easily readable to citizens are the existing conditions/issue characterization, the recommendations, and the executive summary.

o Allyn urbanization issues need to be discussed.

q Jason will leave copies of the plan chapters (and future work products) in the “To Be Picked Up” box at the reception area of Building One.

2. Discussion of Water Quality Options

q The Planning Unit developed a list of options to address water quality concerns (see separate list).

q Jason will research and summarize these options in a water quality option section of the plan, which is due on February 11^th.

3. Updates

q Jim Mathieu is working on the hydro-geo study. He will come to the January TC meeting to present his initial results for TC input, but has requested that the meeting date be changed to January 21^st.

q All of the grant amendments (Watershed Grant, Water Quality Grant, Instream Flow Grant) have been signed by the County and forwarded to Ecology.

q The PU will not submit a Water Storage Grant Application unless a PU member takes the initiative to write the application. The report to the Regional Task Force has been delayed until March, which means the PU probably won’t get a response to our request for their partnership until later in the spring.

q A WRIA 14 newsletter will be published in January.

4. Upcoming Meetings

q The next TC meeting will be on Wednesday, January 21^st from 10-12 at the Civic Center.

q The next PU meeting will be on Wednesday, January 28^th from 2:30-4:30 at the Civic Center.