Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-09-23 KRSMA Board PacketENI RIV R Special Management Area "Working together...fov the river" GQDb~~OG°~~ ~ OO G^QG°~D **~'Tentafive Meeting Agenda*** Thursday, September 23, 2004 7:00 p.m. Kenai River Center I. CALL TO ORDER A. Roll Call B. Approval of the 5/20/04 minutes C. Agenda Changes and Approval II. PUBLIC COMMENT III. NEW BUSINESS A. Bylaw Changes and Board Appointments B. Kenai River Working Group-Chris Degernes C. 2004 Field Season Report- Bill Berkhahn D. ADF&G Guide Licensing Program- TBD IV. OLD $iJSINESS A. Chugach Electric Cooper Lake FERC Re-licensing- Suzanne Fisler B. Kenai River Center Update, Suzanne Fisler V. PUBLIC COMD'IENT VI. ADJOURNIYIENT A. Board Comments B. Date/Agenda of Next Meeting Kenai Area Office, Box 1247, Soldotna, AK 99669, Soldotna 262-5581 Kenai Peninsula Borough, Box 850, Soldotna, AK 99669, Soldotna 2624441 Alaska Division e( Parks and Outtloor Recreation, Department of Natural Resources, in cooperation with the Kenai Peninsula Borough. ~~V i Kenai River Special ManagemenC Area Advisory Board Meeting Minutes Thursday, May 20, 2004 7:00 p.rn. Kenai River Center L CALL TO ORDER A. Roll Call Present: Joe Connors, Ted Welhnuv, Jim Golden, Ken Lancaster, Jeff King, Pete Sprague, Rick Wood, BIll Shuster, Tom Vania, Linda Snow, Chris Degernes, Tonne Slemons. Absent: David Westerman, Richard Hahn, Robin West, Pau] Shadura, Roland Maw. B. Approval of 4/15/Oa minutes Approved as written. C. Agenda Changes and Approval Move SB 190 to the top of new business and add KI2 Guide Academy discussion by Jeff King under old business. II. PUBLIC COMMENT None offered. III. NEW Bt7SINESS A. SB 190 update, Sen. Tom Wagoner SB 190 was passed this year. The decision was made Co reduce the acreage so that the bill would pass as the original request contained too many acres. Tom recommended that the advisory board should look at other lands that Ken Lancaster tried to get passed and to incorporate more next year. It was a good bill and dre only controversial part was the advisory board changes, but the agency people still have a seat on the board. Sen. Wagoner said he feels the Governor will sign the bill. Tim G. asked if the derby language was in the bill that passed. Tom replied that the hill was passed as it was inn oduced into the Aouse, without any mention of derbies. I3. Kenai iZiver Hydrocarbons -Modeling Concepts, Kent Patrick-Riley, ADEC Kent described the model thaC was developed to look at results from last year's peb~oleum sampling on the Kenai River. A previous presentation eo the Kenai River Board described the levels of hydrocarbons found in the aver during July, and the results were corzelated to the numbers of boats on the river. Kent worked with Robert Ruffner to develop a draft model to help predict hydrocarbon levels on the river. The model was based on certain assumptions, such as the level of petroleum discharged by various motors such as 2 stroke or 4 stroke, the volume of water flowhig in the Kenai River and the mm~bers of boats in use on Che river. Robert Ruffirer showed the board how the model worked and what assumptions he had made. Based upon daCa collected in late 7uly last summer, his version of the draft model included the following assumptions: • river flow rate of 15,000 cfs 0 380 boats on the river, with 80%v of them using 4 stroke engines 4-sh'okes use .5 gallhour and .14 of that goes into the water = 2-strokes discharge 4 mes as much fuel as a 4 stroke. The model does not include tidal influence as they are not sure how Chis would affect the model. This is extremely difficult Co do, but au evaluation wIll be made dw ing the 2004 surveys to try to assess tidal influence. Kent's model contained a few different assumptions on fuel loss, based upon literature research he'd done. The DEC model assumes that 80% of the boats use 4-stroke motors. The 4-stroke uses .75 gal/hour and 5% is exhausted. 60% of that discharge equals .03gallhoru into the water. The 2-sh'oke engines discharge 10x as much as a 4-sh'oke engine. The 2 models are rcmar'kably simJlar in terms of the graphs that resulted, and their correlation to the graphs developed from the actual water quality testing. Robert showed the board how the model could be used to determine what the hydrocv'bon levels might have been in 1985, when at Least 95% of Che boats had 2-stroke engines: the hydrocarbon levels would have been a whopping 40 ppb, 4 times greater than the state standard With a scenario of 50% 2 stroke engines, one could expect to see 20 ppb. A scenaao of 100% 4-strokes shows 4 ppb, which is well ender the state standard. Assmning a normal flow of water, based ou last year one would have seen 14 ppb. Preliminary model conclusions include data gaps and the aced for peer review. The next step is to find out the ratio of 2 vs. 4 strokes, how much fuel. people are using on the river, and what impact this is having on the fish. Ted W. asked if the survey was based on the assumption that boats are idling in place, full throttle or drift fishing. Robert said they had reasonable data from dividing up the boats into daft and motor categories. We did not uy to come up with an estimate of how many boats were under power or not. Kent said this is Kenai River Special Management Area Advisory Board May 20, 2004 Page 2 of 5 an estimate only. Robert said they plan this summer to do more work in the lower river and see how fides may at"fect this. Rick W. asked what DEC's role is when the standards a~'e being exceeded? Tonne S. said DNR is the manager of the KRSiVlA. She has discussed with Gary Morison and they will help DNR come up with management action that might be considered. Kent said that after 2006 there wouldn't be any standard 2-stroke engines produced so the problems wlll eventually go away. Tonne said that we don't intend to study and model this for 5 years. Om' intention is to work on solutions with DNR soon. Rick W. said we aze looking at only a few exceedances in the summer; so at what ponrt is this a problem? Tonne said that the month of July is a concern, with a lot of fish and a lot of people. She thinks it is prudent to address the water quality problems in the month of July. This prevents us fiam having EPA step in and take action. C. 2004 Field Season Project Update, Tom Vanier, ADF&G Tom reviewed that stahis of projects being conducted or plaimed by ADF&G for the coming summer. This year Chinook salmon will be mu'ked with a spaghetti tag to provide data on hawest and location of harvest relative to time-of-entry into the river. A news release telling the public about the spaghetti tags will be senC out soon. In Sonar Research there will be a new Long-range sonar tested, the DIDSON LR, to determine its range and its ability Co Clack individual fish and direction of travel. This will be tested in several ADF&G sonar sites nr 2004. We will also be loc'~.g at mule-frequency techniques Co discriminate between Sockeye and Chinook salmon. On Che Russian River wen' there will be a video camera set up to compare counts done by video with counts conducted by the weir attendant The video images will also be available on ADF&G's website. IInder Conunercial Fisheries there is the Sockeye salmon sonar, catch sampling, lirnnological work in Skilak and Kenai Lakes and marine-derived nuhienCS in the Kenai River Watershed. Other things ADF&G is doing include stream walks for Rainbows on the Russian River, invasive species work for pike control in the Soldoma Creek area and Mary King will be finishing up her photogrammetiy study Chis summer, IV. OLD BUSINESS A. Kenai River Working Group -Update ou Process, Chris Degernes Today was the close for bids for a faciliCator. 2 bids came i,n. On the topic of SB 190, the Board needs to start thinking about reconfiguring the board this fall. 9 priblic members and 3 municipal voting seats wfl1 be on the board. In addition, 5 agency members will be non-voting members. So we will. Kenai River Special Management Area Advisory Board May 20, 2004 Page 3 of 5 put it on the list for September or October. And it may be possible to add other lands per Ken L.'s suggestion. Ii. Kenai River Center iJpdate, Suzanne Fisler The River Quest property owner Cook his subdivision plat request offi the planning commission agenda, He has stated that he will widen the 50 ft habitat buffer back to its legal width. He is taking iC back to the planning commission on May 24"'. The long awaited Kenai River Bridge project is due to start in the fall of 2004. Ted made a motion to appoint a couple board members to atxend and represent Clus board on the issue of River Quest in Homer at the next planning commission meeting. Pete S. excuses himself from the discussion. No action is taken on the motion. C. Kenai River Guide Academy, Jeff I{ing Jeff asked Toe C. if the guide academy advisory cormnittee has met recently. He asked Che board to take another look ae: 1. Can or can't it be college accredited. If not, why is the com'se at the college? 2. The rate structure should be consistent with other college fees with a Resident/Non-ResidenC fee differential. 3. Experienced guides should not have Co take the course. Guides with IS-20 years should not have to take the test at least. Joe C.'s concern is over who could be grauflfathered in. The course would have to go tiu-u UAA to be accredited. He will take 7eff's comments back for consideration. Suzanne F. said she envisioned the Kenai River Working Group taking this issue on and letting a full public process take a look at it. Ted W. feels that guiding should be subject to demonstration of competency. We want to elevate this business to be a profession. We should be sensitive to guides who developed the indust'y and factor in experience but still have some demonstration of competency. Tim G. says he is in favor of the guide Indust y but does not think we need to compromise the standards. V. PL`BLIC C(DMMENT Dick Enkeneff recommended a board of review in lieu of guide academy and testing requirements. Brenda Trefone with the Kenaitze Tribe announced that there are summer educational programs available for local children, a fish camp for teenagers and a day camp for younger children. Programs are not limited to tribal members. Phone mm~ber is 283-3633 ext 241. Kenai River Special Management Area Advisory Board May 20, 2004 Page 4 of 5 George Pappas with Fish & Game said that part of Fish & Game and National Marine Fisheries requires professional certification and training with criteria that has been approved and in regulation for on board fisheries observers. AN observer is required to have a professional certification as taught by UAA professors at the observer-training center in Anchorage. VL ADJOURNMENT A. Board Comments SiIl S. said there will be work done in the Trail River Campground to create new picnic sites and remove a road. This will be doneby July. Quartz Creek is dosed until this weekend, as they are chip sealing Che road. Russian River is getting Coilets replaced and improving the road. This should be doneby June. By tomon'ow the Kenai Lake bum will be completely replanted. Rick W. said a member of guides he has talked to are concerned about the guide academy. Chris D. is interested in having the board encom-age Sen. Wagoner to take the next step next fall and to figure out which KIZSMA lands will be acceptable Co the conmmnity Co add. B. Date/Agenda of Next ,Meeting September 23rd. Kenai River Special Management Area Advisory Board May 20, 2004 Page 5 of 5