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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-01-16 KRSMA Board PacketENI RIVE Special Management Aeea "Working togethec..lor the river" I. CALL TO ORDER QD V ~~JO~ IJ ° O[r.1~D *** Meeting Agenda*** Thursday, January 16, 2003 7:00 p.m. Kenai River Center r ~ i , e'i'i'?,` ..~ -~" ~A! ~`==~` A. Roll Call B. Approval of 12/19/02 minutes C. Agenda Changes and Approval II. PUBLIC COMMENT III. NEW BUSINESS A. Board Elections of Officers B. 2002 Recreation Use Monitoring Project, Dr. Greg Brown, APU IV. OLD BUSINESS A. Moratorium on new Kenai River Sportfishing Guide Permits for 2003, Update, Chris Degernes B. «Iater Quata ,~ Committee Report, Charles Qnarre C. Commercial Operators Committee Report, Joe Connors D. Kenai River Center Update, Suzanne Fisler V. PUBLIC COMMENT VI. ADJ©IJRP11yIENT A. Board Comments B. Date/Agenda of Next Meeting e Kenai Area Ottice, Box 1247, Soldotna, AK 99669, Soldotna 262-5551 Kenai Peninsula Borough, Box 850, Soldotna, AK 99669, Soldotna 262-4441 I p Alaska Division of Parks and Outtloor Recreatioq Department of Natural Resources, in cooperation with the Kenai Peninsula Borough. . KENAI RIVER SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA ADVISORY BOARD Thursday, December 19, 2002 7:00 p.m. Kenai River Center I. CALL TO ORDER A. Roll Call Members Present: Joe Connors, Ted Wellman, Tim Golden, Charles Quarre, Ben Ellis, Ken Lancaster, Pete Sprague, Rick Wood, Robin West, Bill Shuster, Glenda Landua for Lance Trasky, Linda Snow, Clu-is Degernes, Joime Slemons, Roland Maw Members Absent: David Westerman, Paul Shadura B. Approval of 11/21/02 minutes The mimrtes were approved as written.. C. Agenda Changes and Approval Under New Business, Item. D. Jorme Slemons would like to introduce the Outreach Coordinator for DEC. Under Old Business, Item B. Charles Quarre will give a Water Quality Committee report from their meeting today. Under Old Business, Item C. Joe Connors will give a Commercial Operator Conunittee report from their mee'iing Today. Kenai River Center Update would become Item D. The agenda was approved as amended. II. PUBLIC COMMENT Don Johnson supplied the board members with a copy of an email correspondence from him to the AG's office regarding the Guide Moratorium Director's Order. He thinks the statutes do not provide any authority for this action, and feels that DNR will be facing a number of lawsuits. He advised the Board to seek legal assistance before proceeding. He also stated he does not have a position personally for or against the moratorium. III. NEW BUSINESS A. Flood Damage Reports -Kenai River Watershed -Glenda Landua ADF&G Habitat and Restoration Div. Alaska Rail Road bridges were damaged at Ptarmigan Creek, Falls Creek and the middle liiidge on the Resurrection River as well as the Trail .Creek Bridge. Embankment protection was also needed at one site at aboLit Mile 36:3 of the railroad. Kenai Lake,had m~dtiple slope,faihires. Those slope failures coincided with the earthquake, and may have been exacerbated due to saturated soils. On the Kenai River, emergency repairs were confined to 2 sites in Cooper landing and 1 site at Funny River where the Bear Cteelc culvert started to fail. Bear Creek advert was subsequently replaced. This was good because the perched pipe was ah'effective barrier to juveriile fish passage. In Cooper Landing, the biggest concern was at Mile 55 (downstream from Sportsman's) when the highway embankment fa~iied and the road eroded back to the guardrail. DOT installed about 600 feet of rip rap and reinforced that bend. -Bill Shuster, Chugach National Forest Bill gave the board members a detailed report with color photos of the Forest Service's preliminary analysis of the flood damages from the storms of October 22 and 27th. He reviewed the report and said the main impacts occurred at the following areas: Kenai River Watershed: Upper Russian Lakes Trail, Russian River Angler Trail, with road damage on. Snug Harbor Road and Primrose Road. Bill said that most of the restoration projects held very well during the flooding. There does not appear to be much damage on the Juneau Creels side of the Resrurection Trail. Outside the Kenai River Watershed, extensive damage' also occurred along the Resurrection RiverTrail, Iditarod South and Bear Lake Access. Exit Glacier Road was closed during the Hood event. -Robin West Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Not much assessment done from Skilak Lake downstream yet. The upper Kenai River area had damage on Mystery Creek Road but that is not high priority. There was a little damage arormd the Russia River ferry but the restoration and stabilization work that was done the last couple of years held well. Robin said the major concern is with Jim's Landing. The access road is threatened to be washed out. The road may have to be rebuilt and could cost approximately 300k. He said there are no funds designated for this. Most of the current emergency funding from the federal government is for earthquake damage. Ben made a motion to send a letter of support for federal funding to restore recreation sites within the Forest and Refiige, with the letter to go to Sen. Stevens, Congressman Young and tihe soon to be announced new senator. Joe Connors seconded. Unanimous consent from the board to send a letter. 1<enai River Special Management Area Advisory Board MinuEes - Uecember 19, 2002 Page Z of 7 B. Board Priorities for 2003 Ted said the purpose of this discussion is to help focus Board efforts for the coming year. He asked for four to five items that would be priorities. These items would then be discussed in the working committees that will be set later in the meeting During discussion the following goals were identified. (The list is not rankedin any priority.) I. KRSMA Lands Additions 2. Fishing Guide Moratorium -Restricted Entry Program 3. Habitat Protection/R estorarion 4. Water Quality Monitoring S. Recreation Use Management 6. Funding Support (actively seek fimding for priorities) Ted asked Chris to organize the list of the applicable recommendations from the Comprehensive Management Plan that have not been accomplished atld put them in the categories listed above. These will be included in next month's board packet. C. Establishment of Standing and Special Committees Roland Maw suggested a change in the committees from last year. He asked to .,.,mbi.>e the Boat ~hlake Erosion Stt.dy and 1`lutiient St1:dy committees together and rename that the Habitat Protection/Restoration Committee. Board members and some non-board members from the public will serve on the following committees for 2002-2003: Permit Committee Suzanne Fisler, Chair Lance Trasky Ted Wellman Bill Shuster Ben Ellis Joe Connors Jim Golden Recreation Use Committee Chris Degernes, Chair Ted Wellman Paul Shadura Kenai River Special ManngemenC Area Advisory Boord Minutes -December ] 9, 2002 Page 3 of 7 Roland Maw Charles Quarre Jim Golden Riclc Wood Commercial Operators Committee Joe Connors, Chair Suzanne Fisler Ted Wellman Jim Golden Bill Shuster John Cho Greg Bnish Legislative Committee Ken Lancaster, Chair Paul Shadura Robin West Chris Degernes Joe Connors Ben Ellis Pete Sprague Linda Snow Borou>?h Committee Pete Sprague, Chair Lance Traslcy Chris Degernes Linda Snow Water Quality Committee Charles Quarre, Chair Lance Traslcy Chris Degernes Rick Wood Bill Shuster Robin West Dave Westerman Robert Ruffner Micah Johnson Jonne Slemons Ken Lancaster Kenni River Special ManagemenC Areu Advisory Board Minutes -December 19, 2,002 Page 4 oC7 Habitat Protection/Restoration Committee Lance Trasky, Chair PaulShadura Joe Connors Chris Degernes Roland Nlaw Joe Connors Jim Golden Ben Ellis Bill Shuster Dave Westerman Ted said he would like to have all the committees meet once per month and make a report to the board at the full board monthly meeting. D. Introduction of DEC Outreach Coordinator-Jonne Slemons Jonne introduced Brenda Wyrme-Duty who is the Outreach Coordinator for the Division of Air & Water Quality of DEC. Brenda said she is working to reinforce communications about what DEC is doing in the Kenai Watershed Area with contaminated sites, and environmental health, and is seeking to more effectively communicate with the public about what DEC is doing. They have created a web site called "The Kenai River Watershed". Brenda said there will also be a quarterly newsletter available feahrring updatesand activities in DEC with regard to the Kenai River. She invited the board to feel free to call on her with any questions regarding the Kenai River Watershed. She can be reached at: (9`v'7j 259-fi2o3. Her eniaii address is: Brenda wvnne a,envircon.state.ak.us IV. OLD BUSL~ESS A. Moratorium on new Kenai River Sportfishing Guide Permits for 2003 -Organizing Priorities fer the publie proeess Chris brought the board up to date. A letter from the Board was sent to Commissioner Pat Pourchot on November 22nd along with Resolution 2002-0I. Jim Stratton signed a Director's Order the same day. DNR has received approximately 12 or more appeals to date. The Department is dealing with those making sure they are received in a timely fashion so the legal process is followed. In the meantime Chris has been looking for finding sources to support the public process That were identified by the Knowles administration. It has been difficult to determine where the funds are and it has not reached a high level within the Murkowski administration yet. Chris asked for support from the board to Acting Di~TR Kenai River Special Management Area Advisa-y Board Minutes -December 19, 2002 Page 5 of 7 Commissioner Marty Rutherford to articulate the need for those resources. Resources are needed before a plamler can be hired to help facilitate the public process. Joe Connorsmade the motion to write a letter,to .4eting DNR Commissioner Marty Rutherford to endorse the need for a facilitator and to identify fimding sources to assist the board. in the public process on the guide moratorium. Ben seconded. There was unanimous consent. B. Water Quality Committee Report -Charles Quarre. The committee met earlier today. Charles said Robert Ruffner provided them with a 55 page document from a study done on the environmental assessment of 3-sri-oke outboard engines used on Lake Tahoe. He mentions this to compare what others are doing for water quality. Charles also talked abort the power point presentation by Robert Ruffner m the September meeting. In summary, Robert's studies showed that hydrocarbons have exceeded the state's standard for fish and aquatic life during the July sampling. However the data has not been peer reviewed. Among the topics the committee will work on over the next months will be to develop a draft strategy regarding contaminated sites/spills, storm water runoff, motorboats, resource impacts and a few other items affecting the kenai River water quality. C. Commercial OperatorCommittee Report-Joe Connors ,, Joe said today the committee met with 12 people and covered 4 issues: 2003 guide orientation. They ars planning four orientation dates accommodating 80-100 per session. There will be a team approach using individuals from the guide community and agency revs. Topics were selected. The 2003 season commercial operators letter was reviewed. In the discussion of that, it was mentioned that there were probably 35-40 guides who fished this year that have not submitted their end of season reports. They will receive a citation that has a $100 fine. State Parks will not suspend permits for guides cited under this violation since this will be the first year ofissuing a citation for failure to produce the end of season report. An update was provided regarding the Kenai River Professional Guide Association's Master fishing guide program. The application period for that is right now and can be found on KRPGA's web site. The period for the applications will end on January 14`x. Then there will be a review period for~one month. They are hoping to make their first awards by end of February. Concerns and thoughts about moratorium were discussed. Those affected the most are concerned about making srue a wide variety of options are considered, and that the affected parties will be able Kenai River Special Management Area Advisory Board Minutes-December 19, 200: Page 6 of 7 to participate. People in industry have strong feelings about what the components of the program should be. E. T{enai River Center tipdate, Suzanne Fisler Glenda gave the update in Suzanne's absenoe. Shesaid things are quieting down after the flood events of October and November. Working on a number of very large projects. The Sterling Highway MP45-60 project will have a public and agency meeting on January 22 in Cooper Landing at the Princess Lodge from 6pm to9:30 pm. Fish. & Game is working with Corps to get studies done on the Kenai Coastal erosion trail project. The Cooper Lake hydro relicensing gxoup met this month to go over the draft study plans being developed for the relicensing. Those draft study plans are being reviewed by the agencies and are due back by the end of January. V. F`JBi:IC ~^.f3MMENT None taken VI. ADJOURNMENT E. Board Comments Linda: Happy Holidays to all! .Toe: Excited abotiit the spirit o~f cooperation; especially i11 the committees: Pete: Glad to serve on this board. Pete corrected his email address: s~praaue(a~,acsalaska. oom Tonne: Requested that the agendas include information about the time and place of the various committees. Chris: Welcomes Pete to the board. Ben: Happy Holidays! Glenda: FYI: the book provided to board members this evening is a reprint the of Alaska Wild Salmon book that has been updated. Ken: Happy Holidays! B. Date/Agenda of Next Meeting January 16, 2003 Kenai 12iver Special Management Area Advisory Board Minutes - Decembm~ 19, 2002 Page 7 of 7