MEETING NOTES – AUGUST 26, 2014
Place: Roland Schirman’s Home at 120 Weinhard Road, Dayton, WA.
Format: Dinner meeting started at 5:30pm
Board Members Present: Jerry Hendrickson (AC),Brad Johnson (AC), Brian Shinn (AC), Dick Ducharme (CC), Roland Schirman (CC), Mike Talbot (CC), Bill Bowles (GC), Del Groat (GC), Bob Johnson (GC), Art Swannack (WC), and Stuart Durfee (WWC), Perry Dozier (WWC).
Board Members on Phone: None.
Others Present: Representative Joe Schmick (9th District), Representative Terry Nealey (16th District), Representative Maureen Walsh (16th District), Skyler Rude (with Rep. Walsh), Terry Bruegman (CCD),Jennifer Boie (PaCD), Duane Bartels (PCD), Steve Martin (SRSRB), Kris Buelow (SRSRB), John Foltz (SRSRB), Debbie Seney (SRSRB), Chris Hyland (WWWMP).
Others on Phone: None.
Welcome
Chair, Del Groat,called the meeting to order and verified a quorum. (12present,0on the phone for atotal of12). Del welcomed everyone to the boardmeeting and thanked the Schirman’s for their hospitality and dinner accommodations. Del then turned it over to the host, Roland Schirman, who blessed our food, travels and the evening.
Introduction of Guests and Public Comment:
All Board Members and Guests conducted a round table of introductions and affiliations.
CONSENT AGENDA:
13th Month, 2014 Expenses
RCO (HCSR) $6,411.65 WDFW (HCFW) $2,406.43
BPA5(HCB5) $193.38 BPA6 (HCB6) $1,991.20
July 2014 Expenses
RCO (HCSR) $14,161.34 WDFW (HCFW) $6,110.82
BPA5 (HCB5) $708.57 BPA6 (HCB6) $6,377.10
Approve July 22, 2013 Meeting Notes
ACTION 1: Approval of Consent Agenda items ~ Amotion was made by Art Swannackand seconded by Billy Bowlesto accept the13th Month and July 2014 expenditures and budget statuses, as presented. The Board approved the motion by consensus.
ACTION 2: Agenda Review and Approval ~A motion to approve the agenda was made by Art Swannack and seconded by Bill Bowles. The Board approved the motion by consensus.
DISCUSSION: Columbia River Recreational Fishery Seasons for Spring Chinook Salmon ~ Chris Hyland presented information, as the basis of our requests have fallen on deaf ears with WDFW and the WDFW Commission plus otherfor the past six years, to the members and guests present at this meeting. On behalf of Snake River Salmon Recovery, we (as a collaborative group) have been proposing to WDFW and the Fish and Wildlife Commission that they implement more conservative recreational fisheries for spring Chinook in the Lower Columbia to help protect upriver stocks and to provide fisheries in our region. It was noted that the SRSRB staff and Board members have met with the Director of WDFW and staff many times, participated in numerous fishery compact meetings, sent letters to WDFW and the commission as well our state legislators. Chris noted that the entire group greatly appreciated our legislators attending tonight and asked for their general support of our request. He share that we are not asking for monies, only equity and requested that perhaps our legislators can assist us with this request to protect our ESA listed salmon and provide local fisheries for our economy.
DISCUSSION: Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement Program Update ~ SRSRB Director, SteveMartin shared that one challenge WDFW has in allowing recreational fishing for salmon and steelhead is the federal requirement that they monitor fisheries so they know how many fish are caught and they have to enforce the fishing regulations. He noted that the CRSSE program was initiated in the Upper Columbia as they were anticipating larger salmon runs several years ago and were concerned WDFW would lack funding formonitoring and enforcing the pending fisheries. The concept was embraced by Representative Linda Parlette, which then led to ESSB5421. The legislation created an $8.75 fee for anyone purchasing a salmon/steelhead license in the Columbia Basin for the purpose of maintaining or providing new fisheries. The program is generating about $1.5 million a year and Del and I are members of that board which oversees expenditures, approves projects and are responsible for a report to the legislature this session. In our region, the program funds a partial enforcement FTE for the purpose of enforcing regulations and then about $100,000 a year on average for monitoring local fisheries. He explained that the Tucannon steelhead fishery is a good example of a fishery that was maintained do to this program, as is the new spring Chinook fishery on the Grande Ronde.
DISCUSSION: Tucannon River Spring Chinook Pre-spawn Mortality Update ~ Steve Martin also reported that the Snake River Salmon Recovery staff have provided this information at prior board meetings but as you know, in the last few years that has been a high percentage of adult spring Chinook that die prior to spawning in the Tucannon River. Suspicions in the past were predators, poaching, disease, or other factors. Based on observations this summer, the primary factor could be the concrete adult fish trap near Rainbow Lake, where fish appear to be stressed out by jumping at the concrete walls prior to being handled, tagged and released. WDFW is working with the Tribes on strategies to collect broodstock and enumerate the run in a way that is far less stressful and damaging on the adult population and as information becomes available we will share it. He shared that our biggest concerns are impacts to our recovery goals for this population and the potential conclusion that our habitat work is not effective.
DISCUSSION: Tucannon River Habitat BiOp Project Update and the next steps ~ Kris Buelow, Tucannon Programmatic Technical Coordinator provided a handout and shared information with the attendees on all the big projects that have happened and will be upcoming on the Tucannon River. Suffice it to say that Eric Holverson, Terry Bruegman and Dave Karl have been extremely busy this summer implementing the projects we approved on the Tucannon and all have done an exceptional job overseeing our visions for the Tucannon.
DISCUSSION: Utilizing Unspent Operations Grant for the funding of Monitoring activities ~ Steve shared that he had received approval from GSRO to use unspent funds from 2013-2014 from our administrative contract for funding of monitoring activities like: survival of juvenile salmon in the Tucannon River, monitoring stream flow in George Creek, monitoring adult abundance in the Wenaha, etc. Steve has asked the RTT to prioritize one or two monitoring activities with the criteria that it be a “one-time” expense and in total, not more than $50,000. He noted that it would be up to the Board to approve a contract amendment to fund a monitoring activity, or not.
DISCUSSION: Project and Data Symposium ~ Steve let the attendees know that due to his neck injury and associated sick leave time this summer, the proper planning didn’t happen in time to hold the Project and Data Symposium, this Fall, but instead it will be scheduled in the Spring.
DISCUSSION: USACOE Dredge Spoils Management Plan comment opportunity ~ Del Groat and Steve Martin provided the consideration of whether or not the Board wants to offer additional comments, which are due September 25th on this plan and Steve provided a web link to the plan for anyone’s review. The Board choses to reaffirm the three options they had earlier collaborated on and submit that comment letter the deadline.
Confirm, September 23, 2014 Board Meeting at the WWCC – Clarkston Campus, 1470 Bridge St., Clarkston,WA starting at 6:00 p.m.
ACTION 3: This meeting schedule and time was confirmed, as approved, to be held at the WWCC Clarkston Campus at 6:00 p.m. A motion was made by Roland Schirman and seconded by Jerry Hendrickson. The Board approved by consensus.
Chair Del Groat then adjourned the meetingat 8:00pm.
Review of TasksAction Title / Motion / Second / Consensus / Vote / Pass
Action 1: A motion was made by Art Swannack and seconded by Bill Bowlesto accept the 13th Month and July Expenditures and Budget Status, as presented. The Board approved the motion by consensus. / Art Swannack / Bill Bowles / Yes
Action 2: A motion was made by Art Swannack and seconded by Bill Bowles to approve the Consent Agenda. The Board approved the motion by consensus. / Art Swannack / Bill Bowles / Yes
Action 3: Roland Schirman made a motion to set the September 23rd Board Meeting at 6:00 p.m., to be located at the WWCC Clarkston Campus, in Clarkston, WA at 6:00 p.m. and it was seconded by Jerry Hendrickson. The Board approved the motion by consensus. / Roland Schirman / Jerry Hendrickson / Yes
Approval Of Meeting Minutes
Date:
Signed By:
Del Groat, Chair, Snake River Salmon Recovery Board
PA 15 - DOWNSTREAM IN THE NEWLY EXCAVATED CHANNEL
Attendance
Name / Attendance for July 2014 – June 2015Jul / Aug / Sep / Oct / Dec / Jan / Feb / Mar / Apr / May / Jun
*Brian Shinn / No / Yes
Brad Johnson / -Yes / Yes
Jerry Hendrickson / No / Yes
Dick Ducharme / -Yes / Yes
Roland Schirman / -Yes / Yes
*Mike Talbot / Yes / Yes
*Bob Johnson / Yes / Yes
Del Groat / Yes / Yes
Billy Bowles / Yes / Yes
*Perry Dozier / No / Yes
Yancey Reser / No / No
Stuart Durfee / Yes / Yes
Gary Ryan / Yes / No
*Art Swannack / Yes / Yes
Gary James / -Yes / No
Jed Volkman / No / No
*County Commissioner
!First Meeting as Board Member
#Last meeting as a SRSRB Board Member
- Call In
ACRONYMS
AC: Asotin County
ACCD: Asotin County Conservation District
APUD: Asotin Public Utility District
BMP: Best Management Practices
BPA: Bonneville Power Administration
CC: Columbia County
CCD: Columbia County Conservation
CTUIR: Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
EDT: Ecological Diagnosis and Treatment
ESA: Endangered Species Act
GC : Garfield County
IMW: Intensively Monitored Watershed
LWD: Large Woody Debris
MSA: Major Spawning Area
mSA: Minor Spawning Area
NPT: Nez Perce Tribe
PA: Project Area
PaCD: Palouse Conservation District
PCD: Pomeroy Conservation District
RCO: Recreation Conservation Office
RTT: Regional Technical Team
SRFB: Snake River Funding Board
SRSRB: Snake River Salmon Recovery Board
Tuc Geo: Tucannon Geomorphic Assessment & Design
USFS: United States Forest Service
USFWS: United States Fish and Wildlife Service
WC: Whitman County
WDFW: Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
WWC: Walla Walla County
WWCCD: Walla Walla County Conservation District
WWWMP: Walla Walla Watershed Management Partnership