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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-03-08 KRSMA Board PacketSpecial Management Area "Working together...for the river" Kenai Diver Speeial Management Area Advisory B®ard *** Meeting Agenda*** Thursday, March 8, 2007 5:30 p.m. Kenai River Center I. CALL TO OI2D~ER A. Roll Call B. Minutes Approval C. Agenda Changes and Approval II. PUBLIC COMMENT TII. OLD BUSINESS A. Guide Advisory Committee report -Connors B. Boat wake study update Trasky/Ruffner/Sinclair C. Waterbody Recovery Plan status -Stevens D. Collaborative Letter addressing the Hydrocarbon Issue - Shuey E. Kenai River Center Update -Russell F. Kenai River Flooding Update- Sinclair/Russell G. Regulation Process update -Sinclair IV. NEW BUSINESS A. Russian River Coordinator and the Russian River Management Complex - Bobbie Jo Skibo, USFS A. Emissions Matrix Discussion -Hahn V. ACTION ITEMS A. Officer Elections VI. PUBLIC COMMENT VII. ADJOURNMENT A. Board Comments B. Date/Agenda of Next Meeting April 12, 2007 ~,\ Kenai Area Office, PO Box 1247, Soldotna, AK 99669, 907-262-5581 / - Kenai Peninsula Borough, PO Box 850 Soldotna, AK 99669 907-262-4441 ~" Kenai River Center 514 Funny River Road Soldotna, AK 99669, 907-260-4882 a~ J~ Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Raueaflon, Department atldatu al Reswroee, In coopaeation with the Kenel Poninaule Borough ~.~~.__ t~w~~~ ~b ~ r. ~<r~t~ Kenai River Special Management Area Advisory Board Thursday, February 8, 2007 5:30 p.m. Kenai River Center I. CALL TO ORDER: In the absence of Ken Lancaster, Ted Wellman will be acting President A. Roll Call Members present: Ted Wellman, Jack Sinclair, Brenda Trefon, Robin West, Tom Vania, Tim Stevens, Richard Hahn, Curt Shuey, Rick Wood, Richard Dykema, Gary Knopp, and Jeni Evans Members Absent: Ken Lancaster, Joe Connors, George Heim, James Czarneski, Rick Koch B. Approval of January 11, 2007 minutes -Minutes were approved as written. C. Agenda Changes and Approval: Ted stated that even though there was a quorum, he did not feel comfortable voting on the action items with four of the voting members missing. As discussed in the emissions workshop before the meeting, it was decided that more clarification from the agencies on what role the KRSMA Advisory Board should have in the hydrocarbon remediation plan is needed. He asked that Item A and B, under Action Items, be postponed until the March meeting. Also postponed was the vote on elections. The agenda was approved with changes. II. PUBLIC COMMENT There was no public comment. III. OLI7 BUSINESS A. Guide Advisory Committee Report-Pam Russell Pam shared an e-mail from Mark Glassmaker on a summary of the meeting on January 11, 2007. Items discussed included: • Importance of a good working relationship between guides and park rangers. • Discussion on permitting requirements for large groups of 40 or more. • Communication with guide industry regarding existing and new boat launch facilities. • Standardized complaint form The next meeting is scheduled for March 8 at noon at the Kenai River Center. B. Regulation Process Update-Jack Sinclair Jack had no news to report on the regulation process; other than it is still in the Commissioner's Office. C. Boat Wake Study Update-Jack Sinclair Jack Sinclair thanked Robert Ruffner and Brenda Trefon for assisting in the development of the letter sent out to seven peer groups. Robert Ruffner stated that written comments will be collected and sent back to the principal investigator in Mississippi. A teleconference is tentatively set for March 15 with Dr. Maynard. D. Emission and Water Quality Committee Update-Ted Wellman h° 'tt° ^,et "r r tC th nv h rr3 maatin t night rl T ~ ,,,,mm~ .,~ ... r is oa ._g ~o_._a___. e~ stated that there was good discussion, but before the Board can go forward, the issue of how the process is going to work needs to be spelled out. The Board needs to know what kind of recommendations can be made. We will be looking for direction from DEC. This committee report was tabled until the March meeting. Robert Ruffner addressed the board on a draft document they are working on which will be a summary of all the data compiled for the past seven years on water quality. He hoped to have the document ready for the April meeting. Robert said that upon completion of the draft document, he may propose some changes to the baseline monitoring effort. Discussion turned to the recent flood and ice damage to structures on the river and what will be done with all the debris. Kenai River Special Management Area Advisory Board Minutes -February S, 2007 Page 2 of 6 Jack Sinclair stated that the big concern will be navigational hazards. The debris that is visible will be removed if possible. Right now, it is not safe to be attempting to remove debris due to ice calving. E. Kenai River Center Update-Pam Russell Pam passed out the new application that was developed specifically for repair work on flood damaged structures. Meetings have been held with all of the agencies involved in the permitting process. Jan Yeager, with the Watershed Forum, did a lot of work on the form to make it available on the Internet. It was developed to make the process as easy as possible for applicants anal also be a way. of tracking all. of the repair work. Previously non-permitted structures, or structures that were not done according to code, could be brought up to date with regulations. It is estimated that there will be 300 permit applications coming in to the Kenai River Center, in addition to the normal permits. Pam stated that most of the permits for flood damage will be handled in-house. There will be meetings with all of the agencies to review the permits and decide which agencies will need to be involved. There will be a lot of site visits. Jack stated that he will be asking for an additional position to assist at the Kenai River Center with the anticipated influx of a t7~ationS, Pp---- F. Draft Letter Rewrite -Curt Shuey Curt stated that since he has not had a chance to look at Ted's comments, he would like to table the letter until the next meeting. He welcomed any other comments from other board members. IV. NEW BUSINESS A. New Kenai River Flooding Update-Jack Sinclair/Pam Russell Discussed above. B. Presentation on DEC Waterbody Recovery Plan-Ted Wellman Tim Stevens passed out two handouts. One titled Elements of a Waterbody Recovery Plan, which spells out nine elements for Kenai River Special Management Area Advisory Board Minutes -February 8, 2007 Page B off 6 the waterbody recover plan needed for federal funds. The other handout, "Evaluation of impaired water suitability for listing in Category 4b Waterbody recover plan would have to address". This spells out six elements within the plan to remove the water from a Category 5 to 4b. These six elements are incorporated ;n the nine elements recommended by EPA. Tim outlined in the document for a category 4b listing, the corresponding element in the waterbody recovery plan document for federal funds. Tim briefly reviewed the nine elements and recommended that the board take the time to read the documents and make comments. Tim stated that his vision would be to-prioritize the recommendations as to what would give the biggest gain or what would cost the least amount. Tim stated *.hat DEC would like to adop*, the nine elements vs. the six elements document to be able to use federal funds to help out in this process. C. Report on meeting with Commissioner's Office -Wellman Ted stated that he and Ken, via telephone, had met with Acting Commissioner Marty Rutherford, Deputy Commissioner Ed Fogels, and with Director Jerry Lewanski. The purpose of the meeting was to touch base on where we were with the regtalatinn parlragg~ aprl to mica tha iceiia of rOQrA in atinn between DEC, ADF&G and DNR about issues of mutual concern on the Kenai River. They were given the same summary of comments received on the 50hp issue that was given to the board. There was discussion on how to go forward on the coordination of agencies. Acting Commissioner Rutherford talked about what her expectations were for the KRSMA Advisory Board. She was congratulatory towards the Board and on the way it has functioned in the past. She provided no answers about what she was going to do on the regulations. v. acTao~a aTE~s A. Discussion and adoption of the guidelines for the Hydrocarbon Remediation Plan. B. Elections These items were postponed until the March meeting. %enai River Special Management Area Advisory Board Minutes -February 8, 2007 Page 4 of 6 VI. PUBLIC COMMENT Paul Shadura informed the Board that Friday, Feb. 9 would be the first hearing on Rep. Seaton's HB41 legislation regarding moving Habitat Division from DNR back into ADF8sG. Ricky Gease informed the Board that there are two bills introduced this session, HB40 and SB71, both dealing with having DNR and ADF&G work together to prioritize those areas in state that have public access and easement. Another bill going forward is a recreational liability bill that would allow a priva e property owner, such as on the Kenai River, to provide free public access to the river or other public recreation lands and not be held liable if someone was injured on their property. VII. ADJOURNMENT A. Board Comments Rick Wood applauded Pam Russell for her efficiency in helping the guides in their license renewal process. Brenda Trefon advised that she has a few extra copies of the Phase 2 Draft Boat Wake Study. She also had calendars that were developed by the Kenaitze Indian Tribe Environmental Program for anyone interested. Robin commented on comparing the flood damage to hurricane Katrina. We all believe we have done the best we can in designing and morphing the habitat protection structures. We may be re-vamping our thoughts on how long they last or how much they cost to maintain. Right now, we are encouraging everybody to clean up and re-build. Jack stated that he met with ADF&G, Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Kenaitze Indian Tribe regarding management of the Russian River confluence. He would like to have a presentation at the March meeting by the Russian River Coordinator, Bobby Jo Skibo. The Russian River confluence is probably the most heavily used pedestrian area that we have for fishing in the state. Kenai Rrver Special Management Area Advisory Board Minutes -February 8, 8007 Page 5 of 6 Curt stated that in spite of the difficulties at the meeting earlier this afternoon, it was a good suggestion to take a step back and get the agencies involved in this. I think the KRSMA Board has done something valuable in moving ahead quickly and not waiting for months or years for other to get around to it. Yet, there is some concern with the KRSMA Board taking the lead on this. Possibly something we can think about is offering to convene the body to do this. In other words, bring the necessary parties together, but not say that this Board is leading the process, but that we want to be a part of it. Maybe that would ease concerns of other people participating and we would still have a role in it. B. L1ate/Agenda of Next Meeting Next meeting will. be March 8, 2007 at 5:30 p.m. at the Kenai River Center. Items added to the agenda for the next meeting included: Boat Wake Study Update- Lance Trasky Tim Stevens suggested another workshop be held prior to the March board meeting. This would be contingent on receiving the agency feedback requested. The workshop was tentatively scheduled for 3:00 pm at the Kenai River Center. Kenai River Special Management Area Advisory Board Minutes - Februasy 8, 2007 Page 6 of 6