State Technical Advisory Committee Meeting Notes

November 23, 2010

Attendees – in person

Rich Baden – Spokane County CD Sharon Bromiley – NRCS

Chad Dunnahoo – NRCS Don Larsen – WDFW

Gina Kerzman – NRCS Paul Scales – NRCS

Larry Johnson – NRCS Sherre Copeland – NRCS

Georgia Sormun – NRCS Larry Johnson - NRCS

Attendees – by phone

Nicole Berg-Tobin – WAWG Megan Stewart – Asotin CD

Ginger Phalen – USFWS Ray Abriel – USFS

Larry Brewer – WSCC Karma Anderson – US EPA

Don McCool – ARS Mark Clark - WSCC

·  WA Geographic Area Rate CAPS for WRP and GRP – Chad Dunnahoo (handout)

A market analysis was conducted by Northwest Ag Credit to get the market value of the land in ten areas located throughout Washington.

Question – Don Larsen – Why only 60 percent for easement value in GRP grazing land on the Big Bend Study? Are these percentages based on national?

Answer –

Question – Sherre Copeland – Are percentages developed by NRCS?

Answer – Yes

Question – Sherre Copeland – Was base value developed by Northwest Ag Credit?

Answer – Yes

Question – Don Larsen – How is Whitman County the same as Franklin County? It seems like there would be a difference.

Answer – It is based on the market analysis (value of land).

ACTION ITEM – Chad Dunnahoo

Take another look at the market analysis although the date is pretty much set.

·  Hunting Blinds on WRP Easements – Chad Dunnahoo (handout)

In past WRP, hunting blinds weren’t allowed unless they had a compatible use. A new draft to the policy addresses permanent and temporary hunting blinds. This draft provides guidelines that have been developed for blinds to be considered acceptable.

Question – Does someone need to be notified about a hunting blind?

Answer – The local NRCS office should be notified so they are aware of the hunting blind when doing a status review.

Comment - The need to notify the local NRCS office should be included in the draft.

Question – Are there any hunting rules/restrictions?

Answer – No, unless a status review shows problems because of hunting use.

Question – Must a report be given on what is taken during a hunt?

Answer – No

Comment – Don Larsen – I will check with WDFW to see if they have any comments on this draft.

·  Subcommittee to STAC for Review of Conservation Practice Documents – Paul Scales/Larry Johnson

Paul Scales gave a status update on the establishment of a technical subcommittee to review and comment on NRCS practice standards and associated documents.

The Conservation Commission has agreed to coordinate with state agencies. Paul Scales will be working with Carol Smith on this matter. Carol has suggested that the roles and responsibilities of the subcommittee must be established before she speaks with the agencies. A rough draft of roles and responsibilities should be done by the January 2011 STAC meeting. Carol also feels that federal agencies should be included in this endeavor.

After the roles and responsibilities of the subcommittee are established, it is hoped that the subcommittee should be formed sometime in the spring of 2011.

Question – Rich Baden – Is the Department of Ecology involved?

Answer – They will be on the list of agencies to contact.

Comment – Ginger Phalen – I would like to be added to the list of agencies who review conservation practice standards.

ACTION ITEM – Sherre Copeland – Send an invitation to agencies to participate in the STAC and subcommittee

·  Proposed Improvements to the STAC – Sherre Copeland (handout)

A discussion was held at the last STAC meeting about potential improvements that could be made to this committee. Some of these items have already been implemented.

·  Use of a webinar to encourage participation in meetings.

·  A letter has been sent to various agencies and organizations with a formal invitation to participate in STAC meetings.

·  Webpage – a section on the NRCS webpage has been established for the STAC. This includes such information as what the STAC is, what agencies/organizations are involved, when meetings are held, and meeting notes (meeting notes are posted for 90 days).

Frequency of meeting – meeting will continue to be every other month. Two of these meeting will be held outside of the NRCS State Office. The January 2011 meeting will probably be held somewhere in the central part of the state (perhaps Ellensburg). The July 2011 meeting will most likely be held on the west side of the state (probably Olympia).

Meeting minutes will be posted to the NRCS website, usually within a week or two of the meeting.

It was mentioned that the meeting agenda is not getting out in a timely manner. We will continue to work on improving this by sending out topic forms earlier and ensuring that the agenda is sent out early enough for everyone to review.

Comment – online? – Thanks to Sherre for asking for input. I feel these meetings are very productive and well run. The topics are timely.

Question– online? – Is it possible to post STAC information to a SharePoint site?

Answer – some research has been done on this possibility, since the NRCS SharePoint site is not available to everyone, not sure this is possible. We will continue investigating this possibility.

·  Strategic Planning – Dave White’s questions – Sherre Copeland (handout)

Chief White recently met with ag and conservation groups to discuss the NRCS Strategic Plan. He is now asking that all state conservationist request input from ag and conservation groups in their state. Roylene is asking for input from the STAC on the following questions.

ü  What is working?

ü  What is not working?

ü  What needs to be fixed?

ü  What should NRCS be doing in the future to better serve our clients and the resource base?

Comments/suggestions should be sent to Sherre Copeland by December 30, 2010.

·  WREP – Dave Brown (handout)

Dave Brown was unable to attend today’s meeting but is asking the STAC to review the handout on WREP and provide him with any feedback.

Question – Don Larsen – What is the advantage of WREP over WRP?

ACTION ITEM – Dave will be asked to provide this answer.

·  Next STAC meeting – January 25, 2011. Location will be in the central area of the state (probably Ellensburg). The focus of the meeting will be the local work group process.