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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-02-10 KRSMA Board Packet~C NI Fili/ER Special Management Area "Working togeihec..for the river" **x Tentative Meeting Agenda*** Thursday, February 10, 2005 5:30 p.m. Kenai River Center L CALL TO ORDER A. Roll Call B. Approval of 1/13/05 minutes C. Agenda Changes and Approval II. PUBLIC COMMENT III. NEW BUSINESS A. Board of Fish Summary -Tom Vania B. Kenai River Operations- Jack IV. OLD BUSINESS C. Kenai River Center Update, Suzanne Fisler D. Letter to Commissioner re: illegal guide enforcement E. Corr Property update Jack Sinclair F. 'Boat wake shady update Robert. Ruffner V. PUBLIC COMMENT Vi. ADJOUR~MEi`VT A. Board Comments B. Date/Agenda of Next Meeting Kena? F'en ns~laO Bo cub hx 6ox78 Oo SO,IUC",naK AK69966 0p °attlo f «a nZL^e Ke a'. Panmsuia acmcgh. ~/ ~~ Alaska Division of F'rks anc Outdoor Recreation, D..panme t of ~aturai Resources, "- Kenai River Special D'tanagement Area Advisory Board Thursday, January 13, 2005 5:30 p.m. Kenai River Center I. CALL TO ORDER A. Roll Call Members Present: Pete Sprague, Floyd Heimbuch, Ted Forsi, Joe Connors, Ted Wellman, Jack Sinclair, Deb Cooper for Bi11 Shuster, Dick Hahn, Linda Snow, Tim Stevens for Kent Patrick-Riley, Rick Wood Iembers Absent: Dave Westernian, Robin West, Ken Lancaster, Tom Vania, Jeff King, Paul Shadura B. Approval of 12!9/05 minutes Pete Sprague noticed one correction on page 2, Under Old Business: Dept. of Law -not lewder. C. Agenda Changes and Approval There were no agenda changes II. PUBLIC COMMENT III. NEW BUSINESS A. Update o^ Boat Wake Study -Robert Ruffner The Watershed Initiative is a program that EPA started several years ago. Tribes were eligible to apply for it. The Kenaitze Indian Tribe applied 2 years ago after consulting with different entities involved with the Kenai River addressing issues related to recreational activity specifically motorized boat use on the Kenai River. Two main issues were addressing the hydrocarbons that were documented in the Kenai Kiver in July and the 2°a phase of the Boat Wake Shidy. They were awarded the grant in August. The next task was to write a specific work plan on how the money was to be used. It is now in EPAs hands to make comments. The Watershed Fonmi is major player in this efforC. At the same time Robert says he has been worlcnrg with the COE to get the Boat Wake Study up and mm~ing. RoberC spoke wiCh Dr. Steven Maynard today. He indicated they are 85-90% certain there will be work done this summer. When the work plan comes from Dr. Maynard it will be reviewed to assure appropriate questions are asked. The study is funded for $260,000. The whole grant package is for $70,000. The remainder of the funds is for hydrocarvons monitoring and motorreplacement. Robert said this gives the Kenai Watershed Forum enough `Funds for the next three years, but will also depend on the present support from all the agencies involved. The second part of the grant calls for KWF to provide market-based incentives to replace 2-stroke motors for 4-stroke, This will hopefially get more of the 2 stroke motors off the river. There is $100,000 available for the motor replacements. There will probably be a voucher progi am with each voucher worth $500, which could replace 200 motors. Hydrocarbons are one of 4 major parameters being monitored in the river. The others are: nutrients, bacteria and metals. There was discussion about how to prevent fraud within the program. Robert said he does not have a process yet and will look to this board for advice on how to develop the details of the program. B. Update on, Watershed Initiative -Robert Ruffner Discussed with above. C. Standing Committee Assignments for 2005 The board reviewed the past years'eommittees. The following are committee assignments for this year: • Commercial Operators Committee: Joe Connors as Chair, Suzanne Filler as staff, Ted Wellman, John Cho, Cliff Chamberlin, Mel firickson, Greg Bnish, Jeff King, Dwight Cramer, Mark Glassmaker, Bi11 Berkhahn, Jack Sinclair • Legislative Committee: Ken Lancaster as Chair, Paul Shadtua, Robin West, Toe Connors, Pete Sprague, Linda Snow • Borough Committee: Pete Sprague as Chair, Deb Cooper, Linda Snow • Wate~° Quality Comnzettee: Ted Wellman as Chair, Rick Wood, Robert Ruffirer, Dick Hahn, Ted Forsi, Jack Sinclair Kenai River Special Management Area Advisory Board Minutes -Janaury 13, 2005 Page 2 of 5 D. Setting Board Priorities for 2005 Discussion began about the 7 board priorities that weie identified in the December meeting. It was decided not to prioritize as 1 through 7. Joe Connors pointed out that a few issues would be resolved soon: The Boat Wake Study is close to becoming a reality for this summer. Joe said he would report on the guide standards. Ted asked if there are any more issues that need identified. Dicksaid at the last KRWG meeting he proposed a Monday drift boat only f shing to inchide guides. Dick asked if it could be done as an experiment. In other words, it could be a trial basis only rather than a regulation change. Dick asked for discussion on this. Suzanne said it is a F&G issue, not Parks. Joe Connors likes the idea but feels it is too late to bring this up to the Board of Fish meetings that begin this coming Monday. Ted asked the board to think about this possibility but reminded theme}nbers that when this board was formed the original charge was not to get into fish allocation. Suzariie said it would need to be presented as anon-allocation issue. Linda asked if Parks could pursue it. Ted asked if Suzanne and Jack could talk to F&G. IV. OI,D BUSINESS A. Kenai River Center Update, Suzanne Fisler Suzanne introduced new KRC staff member Pam Russell. She will be assisting Suzanne as Admin. Clerk and the new board secretary. Welcome D~.r ~ i uui: The guide orientation schedule for this year is as follows: 5/21, 6/4, 6/25 and 7/9 only for new guides. Next year will be for all guides. The guide letter is due out in February. Suzanne said she attended the FERC meeting on the Cooper Lake Darn Relicensing yesterday in Anchorage. She said they are close to their deadline for what is called flee agency's agreement in principle. Things are looking brighter than 2-3 months ago. There was a meeting today with Wilder Construction about the Soldotna Bridge. They will start on the Soldotna side. They will start in March and have the temporary bridge put in by May in order to accommodate traffic She will have more information on this project next month. The Kenai River is starting to ice jam, which is fairly normal for the cold weather conditions that have been occurring. No stacking has occurred yet. Kenai River Special Management Area Advisory Board Minutes -January 13, 2005 Page 3 of 5 Suzanne then asked Tim Stevens from DEC if there are any updates on DEC's Mixing Zone Regulation Proposals. Tim said DEC is still having internal dialogue with sister agencies and are still looking at the public comments received. B. Kenai RiverWorking Group lipdaCe, Joe Connors/Ted Wellman Joe said the last meeting was held on January 7`h. Joe said they are done with the short term changes they want to take concerning guides tlv ough park regulations. They are still working on a long term plan perhaps like limited entry that would require a constihitionai change or significant change in law, but for now stipulation changes will probably happen. There are 7 points the group has come to an agreement on, most of them unanimous. They include: • Drug testing program for commercial users. • Component of previous fishing experience in Alaska of 2 yeas. • Adhere to all park regulations - all 36 have been reviewed. • 18 years of age • No felony conviction in the last 5 years. • Fishing violations -cannot have more than 2 in 5 years. • Unanimous support for the guide academy; a week long cotiuse for all people. There will be a phase in process ~- new people must have it before getting permit in 2006; people with less than 5 years experience would have the next 2 years to get through the academy; people with 10 years experience would have an additional year, eta Cost is $360. There may be a test out option, pay half the fee. Toe said there was also discussion about a fee stricture. Two concepts were A;crnccaGl The frgt pre ig a War narcnn Weer feP and thg cernnd that P}irks has ..~,,,,~~,,.. r_ r,,,_...,_' _'"__ the authority to increase fees 100%. They settled on a $250 fee increase with a payment option for paying 3 years ahead. The agenda was set for the next KRWG meeting on March 10th. They will be working on the institution of a guide board, user fees for non-guided boats, user fees for individuals fishing the river, increased user fees for rental boat operators, and to deal with booking agent/shared accommodations bed and breakfast and travel agency concerns. C. Commercial Operator Committee Update, Joe Connors Joe said Suzanne led the committee on a discussion on the 2005 permit stipulation changes and the committee unanimously supported all the changes. There was also decision to raise the perniit fees for both resident and non- resident by $250 for the 2006 season. Kenai River Special Management Area Advisory Board Minutes -January 13, 2005 Yage 4 of 5 The committee also discussed the KRWG recommendations as discussed above and the committee unanimously endorsed those. The committee would like to have the Chair of the KRSMA board write a letter to Commissioner Tom Irwin setting a priority for the coming years to increase enforcement on the Kenai River with an emphasis on illegal guiding. Ioe made the motion and Dick Hahn seconded. Toe said in light of the more stringent regrrirements that are proposed, the feeling is that there will be more illegal guiding. Joe said there is a lot going on now. He said there is no ability to activate enforcement. Toe said there is a $5,000 reward upon conviction from the Kenai River Guide Association and KRSI and no one has ever tried to claim it. Discussion continued and the vote was made unanimously to send the letter to Commissioner Irwin. V. PUBLIC COMMENT Charlie Boole said he is interested in becoming a guide on the Kenai River. He asked where the permit fees go. Jack said the fees go to the State's general fund. However, the way the budget is set, DPOR is allowed to request as mach money as the Office of Management and Budget will approve and so far everything we have requested has come back in our budget. The Kenai Area State Parks still receives approximately 40% of it's operating budget Lrom state revenues generated from oil royalties and the other 60% is from local state park program receipts obligated from the legislature. Robert Ruffner said he would report back to the board next month on the status of the Boat Wake Shrdy. VL ADJOURNMENT A. Board Comments B. DafelAgenda of Nexl Meeting February 10, 200 Kenai River Special Management Area Advisory Board Minutes -January 13, 2005 Pale 5 of 5