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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-02-17 KRSMA Board MinutesICENAI RIVER Special Management Aeea ~- "Working together../or the river" QDMD~OG°3~`I ~ OGQG°3D **'kTentative Meeting Agenda*,K.p Thwsday, February 17, 2000 7:00 p.m. Kenai Peninsula Borough Building Assembly Chambers I. CALL TO ORDER A. Roll Call B. Approval of 1/13/00 minutes C. Agenda Changes and Approval II. PUBLIC COMMENT III. NEW BUSINESS A. Sterling Highway MP 45-60 (Cooper Landing area), Laurie Mulcahy, DOT Environmental Analyst B. Chugach Electric Assoc.'s Kenai Lake Power Plant Contamination, Deric Marcorelle, ADEC IV, OLD BUSINESS A. Water Quality Monitoring Program Update -Michelle Brown, The Nature Conservancy B. Boat Wake Study Update C. Recreation Impact Study Update V. PUBLIC COMMENT VI. ADJOURNMENT A. Board Comments B. Date/Agenda of Next Meeting ' Kenai Area Office, Box 1247, Soldotna, AK 99669, Soldotna 2625561 Kenai Paninsula Borough, Box 850, Soldotna, AK 99669, Soldotna 262-4441 p Alaska Division of Parks antl Outtloor Recreation, Department of Natural Resources, in cooperation with the Kenai Peninsula borough. KENAI RIVER SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA ADVISORY BOARD Thursday, January 13, 2000 City of Soldotna Council Chambers I. CALL TO ORDER A. Roll Call: Chairman Wellman called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Members present: Jeff King, Ted Wellman, Tim H. Richardson, Brannon Ames, Ann Whitmore-Painter, Paul Shadura, Ken Lancaster, Robin Wesf, Land Tras':y, Derr Marcorelle, Chris Degemes, Peggy Mullen, Tim Navarre Members Absent: Jim Golden, Bill Shuster, Rick Ross B. Approval of 12/16/99 Minutes: Shadura requested a change regarding natural stock vs. hatchery stock on Page 3 to show: Improved technology could be used on wild salmon without causing much stress. There were no other corrections to the minutes, and the minutes stood approved as amended. C. Agenda Changes and Approyai: The agenda was approved as submitted. II. PUBLIC COMMENT -None DLNFW BUSINESS A. Boat Wake Study Update, Bob Sanders, Arm~rps of Engineers Bob Sanders, USACOE, stated the funding problem for the study was solved last year, however, when Joe Dorava or USGS resigned, they had no one to replace him to provide the field logistic coordination and interpret the experiments. The process has faltered since that time. He has been working with Janet Curran, hydrologist with USGS, and she will be developing the study design and plan which should be completed by early Feb. It is expected that she will be able to provide the study interpretation with funding they hope to receive in the next federal fiscal year. As it looks now, the Waterway Experiment Station will perform the experiments on either Stormy or Johnson Lake. Ile Kenai River Special Management January 13, 2000 Area Advisory Board Page' 1 stated that after the lake experiments have concluded, a couple of sites on the Kenai River will be selected, preferably one deep and one shallow, to compare the results. Degernes inquired if some research money from EPA was available. Phil North of EPA who was present in the audience stated it was conceivable that EPA funds for research on the Kenai River could be used. A process for applying for the grants would be set up later this winter. B. Kenai Area Plan Response to KPB's request for KRSMA-Designated Lands: Degernes discussed Mayor Bagley's comments to Che Department regarding the Kenai Area plan. She stated some of the issues he brought up have been contentious between the Borough and the State for a number of years. Concerning the lands designated for KRSMA, the Department's response is that the issue had already gone through an intense public process and had been adopted in Che Kenai Comprehensive Management Plan so the Department has no intention of changing the classification of these lands. MOTION: RICHARIDSON MOVED TO REAF'FI12M TIlE BOARD'S POSITION ON SUPPORTING THE ADDITIONS TO THE KENAI RIVER SMA, AS STATED IN THE KENAI. RIVER PLAN. LANCASTER SECONDF,D. Richardson felt that because of the publicity in the newspaper, it was importanC to reaffirm the Board's positions on the Kenai River additions. Navarre stated that the Assembly already took a position in supporC concerning the additions of these lands: For the Mayor to take a position against an Assembly action is not how it shoidd work. Navarre supported the motion. He assumed the matter would be addressed at the next assembly meeting. He stated the Assembly's position has never changed. Lancaster agreed with Navarre. He stated the City of Soldotna also passed a resolution to support the Kenai River lands additions. Representative Davis is now willing to introduce legislation to add these lands to KRSMA. Whitmore-Painter stated that this issue was also discussed at the Moose Pass Sportsmen's Club at a recent meeting. 'They expressed support for the plan and were appalled by the newspaper reports stating the Mayor's desire that certain Trail Lakes lands should go to the Borough. Ames stated he agreed with the general sentiment, however, wondered if the Board should stand down on this issue in order to establish a working relationship with the new Mayor. Trasky felt it would be useful to reaffirm the support, especially with threats of lawsuits. He agreed that the issue already went through an extensive public process. Kenai River Special Management January 13, 2000 Area Advisory Board Page - 2 Wellman supported the motion. He felt Che Board has worked too hard and Long wits a lot of public input on the Pian to throw it away because a minority wants it changed. He believed it iS important to stand up and be counted on these issues. He further hoped that these views would be given the same exposure as the Mayor's viewpoints. Shadura stated he was new to the Board and has not had the chance to review the land issue. Since he felt he was not privy to al] the complex issues, he would abstain from voting. Whitmore-Painter called for the question. VOTE ON MOTION TO AFFIRM POSITION: Yes: King, Wellman, Richardson, Mullen, Ames, Whitmore-Painter, Navarre, Lancaster, West, Trasky, Marcorelle, Degernes No: Abstain: Shadura MOTION PASSED: 12 Yes, 0 No, 1 Abstention C. Ftmny River Bridge Discussion -Tim Navarre: Assembly Member Sprague briefed the Board on recent Assembly actions regarding the Funny River Bridge. A resolution was passed which requested that the bridge be placed back on the ST1P list. Lancaster pointed out that at the last two Sterling meetings, the bridge was the hot topic. Navarre stated the Funny River and Sterling constituents might be surveyed to help compile anext-step scenario of what is required. This survey will help to continue a dialog so everyone could make an informed decision when they vote. King would Like the survey to include Soldotna and Kenai because the bridge will impact them also. MOTION: KING MOVED TO WRITE A LETTER TO THE POROLrGH ASSEMBLY REQUESTING THEM TO ENLARGE THE SCOPE OF THE SURVEY TO INCLUDE THE COMMUNITIES OF SOLDOTNA AND KENAI. MARCORELLE SECONDED. Navarre asked the Board not to read more into the initial request for information. They are just trying to find out the responses of the two communities that would be impacted the most. He noted it wouldn't be the last time they will go out for information. Mullen believed iC was good to get more people involved by a survey but cautioned that the survey needed to be well worded. She also hoped that the survey would include an - area stating the pros and cons of the issue. Kenai River Special Management January 13, 2000 Area Advisory Board Page - 3 Navarre noted that the Assembly hasn't even decided to actually send a survey. If it is it done, it wouldn't be a pro or con survey but an information-gathering tool to find out what the impacts could be. Fisler commented that before a bridge can become a reality, the borough and communities need to come forthwith their own land use planning. She noted that the resource agencies along the river are not iri any position to go farward regarding permitting considerations until an acceptable ]and use plan is in place. Marv Bea Byrne gave an update concerning the actions of the Funny River Advisory Planning Commission which is currently inactive because of lack of participation. People just weren't interested in land use planning at that level. Without public input, the Commission did not feel they had the right to make decisions. She stated most meetings were split 50-50 on the bridge issue. She stated with the recent paving of Funny River, the scenario may have changed. She agreed more input is needed, but felt it needed to start locally and then go borough wide. Navarre believed the motion should be withdrawn and the issue brought up at a more appropriate Lime. He agreed with King that the discussion needs to be kept open and a survey asking for or against a bridge should be borough wide, but it hasn't even been determined that a survey will actually be sent. He again requested the Board not to read more into the initial survey if one is senC. The bridge was pue on the needs list to keep the debate open. MOTION TABLED: KING WITHDREW IIIS MOTION BUT ASKED THAT THE TOPIC BE KEPT ON FUTURE AGENDAS. C. Election of Officers: :MOTION: LANCASTER MOVED TO NOMINATE WELLMAN AS CHAIRMAN. WHITMORE- PAINTER SECONDED. MOTION: LANCASTER MOVED FOI2 NOMIN?~TIONS FOR CHAIRMAN TO CEASE. WHITMORE- PAINTER sECONDr D. MOTION: DEGERNES MOVED TO NOMINATE LANCASTER AS VICE-CHAIR. WHITMORE- PAINTER SECONDED. MOTION: NAVARRE MOVED FOR NOMINATION FOR VICE-CHAIRMAN CEASE. VOTE FOR APPROVAL OF CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMAN: MOTION PASSED: UNANIMOUS WITHOUT OBJECTION. Kenai River Special Management January 13, 2WU Area Advisory Board Page - 4 D. Permittine Issues -Sue Fisler: Fisler discussed a recent agency teleconference concerning the Juneau Creek highway alternative. Last summer the Sterling Highway rehabilitation from Mile 37 to Mile 4~ started. The second phase of that project would address the Sterling Highway MP 45-60 section,. In4he mid 90's, DOT considered two alternatives, one that would rehabilitate the existing road and keep the highway in Cooper Landing without changing the alignment, and one that would bypass Cooper Landing by traversing up onto the Juneau Creek bench. DOT's preferred alternative on the draft EIS was the Juneau Creek bypass, but the final EIS hasn't been completed. Now, they are working on what is to be included in the final EIS. DOT is proposing two alternatives for the Juneau Cr bypass: the "forest route", which would keep the new highway section almost completely within the Chugach National Forest lands, and the "refuge route", which would construct a portion of the highway in a corner of the refuge. Some of the teleconference participants stated that these two alternatives aren't adequate for meeting NEPA review requirements, and other alternatives needed to be included. This may require that DOT resurrect a rejected mid- 80's proposal that would result in six bridges crossing the river, to serve as an alternate to the Juneau Creek Alternatives. None of the alternatives will be without controversy. There are agency concerns regarding the Juneau Cree]< alternatives because a lot of the road will be going through road less US Forest Service lands, or Chrough Refuge wilderness areas. There are also concerns about having the road along the river itself, especially if a number of new bridges are to be built. There will be future agency meetings and scoping meetings within the next few weeks. She suggested inviting DOT to make a presentation to the Board next month. Richardson stated Cooper Landing residents have had considerable discussion on these alternatives during the last 2'3 years. He stated the community voted on the issue and 80% favored the Iuneau Creek alternative because it protected fne Kenai River from spills into the river. One spill could destroy the entire Kenai River. He also noted thaC the stretch of the road through Cooper Landing is very dangerous and has the second highest number of highway deaths in the state. He felt the road needed to be moved due to the safety factor for both people and the river. West stated the old Kenai River alternative may be resun-ected but he isn't.too worried about it. It would be a controversial project and it would likely be challenged legally. It was questioned if President Clinton's road less initiative would preclude the road from even being built within the US Forest Service lands, however. Degernes stated a good public process would help everyone to understand the issues. She believed this Board could help to weigh in on some of the issues. This will be a future board discussion. item. E. Chugach Electric Association: Kenai River Special Management January 13, 2000 Area Advisory Board Page - ~ Marcorelle discussed a discharge from the Chugach Electric powerhouse facility Kenai Lake. The discharged waste water was never tested, but some of the oil and sludge has been tested and high PCB levels have been detected. He stated DEC is pursuing the situation. An assessment of the damage has not been determined yet. Liquid from floor drains apparently go through an oil separator and oil is separated from the water before the water is disposed in the lake. Trasky stated this situation was discovered during the upgrade of the powerhouse. The source of the PCB's is not clear. Shadura asked that the discharge be halted immediately. Chairman Wellman requested this issue be placed on next month's agenda. F- Modet of DOT Site: Lancaster displayed a model of the Soldotna old DOT site made by Brannon Arnes' daughter, Ella, as a part of the Caring for the Kenai Project. It identifies trails, parking and other park improvements that might be considered for this parcel. IV. ~£.TJ BL'SIIVESS A. Recreation Impact Committee - Study Organization Chris Deaernes: Degernes stated the committee has come up with some basic goals to evaluate the changes in recreation use on the river since the 1992 Carrying Capacity study was done. The three components of the survey could include: 1) an on-site survey to evaluate real time opinions about impacts experienced on the river, 2) a mail-out survey, and 3) separate observations by someone not directly interacting with users of the river, to observe behavior by different users on the river. The initial objective developed during the Kenai River Comprehensive Management Plan process was to evaluate behavior on the river to see how it differed between guided use and private use. If significant differences could be distinguished between guides and private users, that might form the basis for lnniting guides. The committee decided that a study would probably be better if we looked at use objectively, and if differences became apparent, they could be addressed. Shadura stated the study could look for behavior such as "boat rage" and it's important to keep the study as unbiased as possible. Hopefully this study will provide a base line to help evaluate future behavior trends. Degernes would like to update the survey on an annual basis in order to make good comparisons. She will be speaking with Greg Brown and/or Doug Whittaker to see if they have any suggestions how to accomplish this. Navarre commented that this study has been a priority of this Board for many years. Wellman stated that although this study has taken a back seat to the Boat Wake Study, it is a very important study. He felt the more input, the better the study will be. Kenai River Special Management Ianuary 13, 2000 Area Advisory Board Page - G B. Brown Bear Habitat: Navarre stated Mayor Bagley wrote a letter ADF&G stating that the Kenai Peninsula Borough administration would not participate in the Brown Bear Conservation Strategy Stakeholder process. Navarre stated he has not spoken to Mayor Bagley yet about his reasoning, but he felt the Assembly would react very differently at the next meeting. Navarre stated the Assembly sets policy and will have to voice its opinion on these types of matters. V. PUBLIC COMMENT Mary Bea Byrne stated that she was encouraged to attend a meeting with such proactive members. Gary Liepitz stated the Kenai River Center and the Nature Conservancy Watershed Group are developing an educator's training session to teach teachers about water quality management. VI. ADJOURNMENT A. Board Comments: Mullen thanked Filler and Liepitz for their work in advising the Board on various issues. Trasky stated it looks like the new year will be an exciting one. Ames stated the education program is encouraging. Lancaster stated there has been no reaction from DOT on the letter sent to them (re: River Terrace contam~nationl, however, they are drilling a new test site in front of Riverside Auto as a new hot snot was found on the west side of the road. B. Date/Agenda of NexC Meeting: The next meeting will be on February 17, 2000. Agenda items will include updates on the Funny River Bridge/Survey from Tim Navarre, the Juneau Creek Alternative (DOT will attend), and contamination from the Chugach Electric power station. ,Lancaster stated he would be unable to attend the meeting. Note: the Feb. 17 meefing will be held at the KPB Assembly Chambers as the Soldotna City Council Chambers are unavailable. Having no further business, Chairman Wellman adjourned the meeting at 9:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Earlene Reed, Recording Secretary For the Division of Parks & Outdoor Recreation Kenai River Special Management January 13, 2000 Area Advisory Board Page- 7