Accepted February 28, 2012
WALLOWACOUNTY NATURAL RESOURCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING
January 24, 2012
9 AM – OSU Meeting Room
NRAC Standing Committee Members Present
Bruce Dunn, ForesterJohn Williams, OSU Extension
Jeff Fields, TNCNils Christoffersen, Wallowa Resources
Cynthia Warnock, SWCDGreg Haller, Nez Perce Tribe
NRAC Members
Susan Roberts, Co. Commissioner
Others
Brian Kelly, HCPCJeff Overson, GRMW
Adriene Holcomb, USFSKaty Nesbitt, Observer
Eileen Williams
The meeting was called to order at 9:04 am by Chairman Bruce Dunn
The minutes were approved as corrected.
Old Business
LowerJosephCreek
Lower Joseph Watershed Assessment
Progress Report
December 14, 2011
Working Group / Status of Draft Report / Action / Contact DatesRange / Outline Complete. Introduction for Range section completed – not reviewed. Remainder of Range info is work in progress. / Reviewing Range introduction – JR, NC / 10/13/11 e-mail
11/10/11 e-mail
Riparian / Misc. Riparian missing: River Miles where tributaries flow into Joseph Creek, Survey Data rock Creek, Basin Creek, Bear Creek. / Will call/visit with Cynthia instead of Email. JR
Looking at section to check if new assessment work is turned in. – JR
Contacted Dana and working with her on missing info. / 12/19/11
1/12/2012
1/19/2012
Geology/
Soils / Draft Complete.
Fisheries / Draft Complete
Weeds / Invasive Species/Noxious Weeds: General information on Weeds is completed: a. Introduction b. Assessment Methodology c. Inventory Methods / Draft Being Finalized – MP, KC
Botany
Rare Plants / Still in need of misc. pieces of information.
Misc. info still needed for fill in the blanks.
1) # of occurrences still need verified for new watershed boundary
2) Survey and occurrence data to be updated with 2005 survey data / Making direct request to Jerry H. on info needs – Will cc: John W. and Ken - JR
E-mailed Jerry H. and continued correspondence with him the week of Jan. 16. / 12/20/11 RNA
Done
1/12/2012 botany
Section
1/12/12
1/17/12
Forestry / Draft completed. Priority treatment areas identified. Priorities overlap with fuels priorities done. / Veg/Fuels integration occurring on treatment Prescriptions. – JR, KC
Working Group Meeting Scheduled
January 11 to do task identified. Subgroup meeting done and notes.
Veg/Fuels integration occurring on treatment Prescriptions. – JR, KC
Working Group Meeting Scheduled January 11, 2012 / On-going
1/11/12
Fuels / Draft Completed. Priority areas identified. Overlap with Forestry Priorities done. / 1/11/12 –mtg
1/12/12 –KC,JR
Meeting notes
and outline
Roads / Draft Reports Completed as per 4/26/2010.
Roads information essential for management access. (This may come later as amendment)
Final Recommendations are expected following integration meeting once other resource concerns and road system use needs are identified. / Admin. and Commercial Facilities inserted. JR
Recreation / Administrative and Commercial Facilities updated. / 10/17/11
10/20/11
Wildlife / Draft Report Completed. Review by ODFW, USFW and NPT completed April 1, 2010 (as per 4/26/2010 progress report).
Upland Riparian habitat lacking. / Checking with Sophia on Wildlife response comments being incorporated. – JR
Received comment response from Sophia, includes ODFW and Paul Wick WDW / 12/12/11
12/19/11
1/12/12
1/17/12
Cultural Resources / Draft complete.
GIS/Maps /
- Management areas map completed.
- Spring data map, Rare Plants map needed.
Received GIS shapefile of TES plant occurrences / 12/12/11
12/19/11
1/12/12
1/18/12
Technical writing / Preparing Document Characteristics
Review resource information
Make necessary contacts for Resource Group Leaders
Meeting to decide follow-up on Next Step Tasks / Reviewing sections for consistencies in format. - JR
Highlight information (to be submitted for removal decision) that does not contribute to Watershed conditions and/or can be excluded. – JR
Made contact with Sophia and received additional information
Meeting – JR, MP
MP will follow-up with Nils / 1/17/12
1/12/12
Next Steps:
- Prepare for Working Groups to meet in February.
- Schedule integration Meeting with Executive Committee for Resource integration.
-Have started reviewing the whole document.
-Need to schedule integration meeting.
-FS has new directive on roads that isrelevant to the roads sub-group.
Will look into the directive.
Seems to be a More practical approach.
-Roy had asked about bringing Bob Riggs and John Cook in to discuss wildlife with the group.
Bruce- Good idea would be nice to get insight into their studies.
John – Think it needs to be a Lower Joe meeting with committees relevant to wildlife, maybe this group plus committees involved with elk etc.
Range:
-Draft of Summary -Finishing draft of interpreting indicators trying to put together a more generic form of presenting what was found. Looking at about Feb 15th.
-Found original sites that didn’t burn in the fire as thought we need to map the locations.
Interpreting indicators needs to be a stand alone layer
Nils will check to see who will do it, probably WR.
Riparian:
No response from Dana or Allen, Nils will check with them.
Integration Meeting, March 8th at 9:00am. Will meet at Cloverleaf Hall.
All the sub committee chairmen’s and their members should attend.
NMFS Recovery Plan
No news
Jeff O - Next workshop is Feb 8th, 10-3 at the LaGrande Ranger Dist Office.
Going to talk about all the comments and how toimplement, have not seen the document.
Susan - I don’t think they have a plan to coordinate with our plan.
Greg – They are plugging away on it.
Jeff O- I think they have spent so much time and money that they don’t want to back down. I would encourage as many as possible from this group to come to the Feb meeting. The new guy in charge will be there.
Full Committee Meeting
Cynthia we need to have a meeting regardless of TMP
Could discuss Farm Bill
March 20thwe will have the Over All Meeting.
Finalize agenda at the Feb meeting.
We will have election of officers.
FS/WC MOU
Still moving through the process
In FS contract review
LowerImnahaRange Analysis
Kelly presented to the Tech Committee.
-3 Alternatives
-Need to give input to forest service
-Tech made some recommendations
-Pt 7, no evidence to say that it will happen, probability is extremely low.
-Vacant Permit – FS suggested Re issue permit of as a Grass Bank, John thinks it should be re-issued as a regular permit.
-If reissued, that is another rancher getting good winter feed.
- If held as a grass bank then you have a different batch of cow each year. The
cows and the rancher do not know the ground.
-Logistics to be successful is not good
-Feel we need to encourage the permit being reissued. At least 5 Ranchers would like to have it as a permit.
Jeff- what kind of need has been shown for Grass Bank
John -there are two winter grazing permits in the county, would limit the need and use of a Grass bank.
John -Don’t believe it is wise to leave it open.
John - I think as a group we should recommend it be filled.
Adriene -The house on the permit is falling apart. They are proposing that during the time that the permittee is not on the permit that it be rented out to help cover repairs
John -Good idea as long as it is available to permittee during the time that there are cattle on the permit.
Adriene- They are having meetings now, and this is a pertinent time to have input
There are general discussion and scenarios being discussed.
-Not too many riparian issues which was good
Jeff F- If they have an argument for a land bank, I would like to hear it.
Nils- I would like Mark to send a letter from WR.
Cynthia -Would suggest a letter from us, indicating we do not want to see it closed or vacant and we would like to see it issued and would not like to see it as a grass bank. Also would like to see the house on the permit rented when not needed by the permittee.
Jeff F- feel that John’s and Cynthia’s arguments are strong at this time for not having a grass bank, but we are not hearing an argument in favor.
Jeff F -No mention of allotted numbers
Cynthia – Numbers have been dropped in the past and current levels are good, so was not discussed.
-Gregg commented on 1855 Treaty right and what it may apply to. He will check on it.
Generally when it moves from private to public the tribe has access. May have come from concern in a discussion that Greg had with Kelly.
-Susan will attempt a letter
New Business
July – December Standing Committee Summary
Send changes and additions to Eileen will finalize next meeting.
Salmon Plan –Long Term Monitoring and Effectiveness
-We have 20 yeas of projects, etc along with GRMW.
-Would like to look at long term monitoring.
-Maybe get something in writing.
-Need to visit with Nez Perce Tribe and ODFW.
Cynthia –We had a meeting at Tech level, need to decide what we want to monitor.
Bruce - We want to review what has been done and what we can learn from it.
Nils -Lets hear what is being monitored and what they see happening; effectiveness.
Greg -Bonneville does not do much funding of monitoring.
Nils - May be have NPT come one time and ODFW, and GRMW to other meetings.
Bruce - We have spent 20-25 years doing these projects, would be nice to know we aren’t just wasting our time and money.
Nils –It won’t be comprehensive, it will beconditions and trends.
Bruce -Have we made a difference?
Greg - Lots of metrics and you are going to argue about them.
John – Will also have time frame for responses.
Cynthia -Had tribe come before, it is really good to know what is being done.
Greg - We might be able to give you trends.
Jeff – There are not really any base lines, there is some monitoring going on in Catherine Creek.
Doesn’t mean NRAC can’t start a longer term monitoring here.
Gregg – Quality of habitat is a long term desire, have to break down watershed by watershed.
Cynthia – Can look for the trend issues. Taking pictures to compare to old photos would also be interesting.
John – If we want some kind of assessment of what we have done in 20 years. More of a empirical data. Wonder if we should go to funders and have someone go to the partners and hire someone to do a study.
Nils – Like your idea,but beyond that it is useful for this group to learn what has been done. Take 15 – 30 once every quarter to invite different entities to come in and present to us.
John – Still think we need the next step to put it in a document.
Jeff -There are a lot of projects that are not getting into the data base
John – For example the map on the wall is 2000, Jeff is there a chance we could get a update.
Nils - If and when we can get funding, would like to see John’s idea done.
Would like to see presentations made before the funding
Bruce – What about a day and have all of the entities come.
Susan – Would be beneficial for us to see it all at one time.
Nils – No lofty expectations,
John -What they have done and are doing
Nils - Maybe have a planning meeting of the presenters, by phone of what ever.
Bruce - Nils will you coordinate?
Nils –Yes.
John -Heavy on habitat.
Gregg _You would benefit from Bonneville’s approach to this area, you would understand their priorities,
Nils – I will plot this out.
Bruce - Could be in the fall to the over all committee.
Cynthia - Would be good for them to hear.
Updates
NRAC Membership
As presented last month, passes by Co Commissioners.
ForestPlan Revision
Nothing , no changes.
Muddy Sled
No appeal will move into sale.
Title II 2012
Rectifying a project that got defunded on Umatilla
Jeff - Putting together plan to refinance the project;
Either pull money back from projects added onto or fund out the pot for Internal Discretion.
Nils -Our understanding is that the funds be spent by Sept.30, late funding is messing up the field time of early treatment.
Jeff -Funds should be available for the projects.
Nils - We have not been able to get funds. Could you help get it moving?
John - Our understanding is that all moneys have to be spent by Sept 30th.
Jeff –Will check on.
John - Has any of the moneys come through.
Adriene - No
Gregg - Kelly got $5,000 for a fence.
Travel Management
Nothing yet.
Salmon Plan/SP Implementation
Cynthia is still working on it.
Greg -There will be a letter coming from the tribe about the naming of the Salmon Plan
Would like the Nez Perce name removed from the document.
Old/New Photos
Nothing yet.
Wolves
CountyCommittee inplace, passed on Monday.
Received $7,500 from other counties to help pay for attorneys on the stay.
They have spent last 3 days in RailCanyon.
Other
Jeff - Walden is throwing around Designated 1. something acres under Timber Trust for producing funds.
Newspaper article linked it to schools
Bruce -It is an election year
Presentation of Salmon Plan History and NRAC, tomorrow at 9:00am here in the OSU Meeting Room.
Jeff - 20th year of Grande Rhonde Model watershed.
Adjourned at 11:25 am.
Respectfully Submitted
Eileen Williams, Sec.
WC Standing Committee January 24, 2012Page 1