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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-02-20 KRSMA Board MinutesKenai River Special Management Area Advisory Board * ** Meeting Minutes * ** Thursday February 20, 2014 5:30 p.m. Gilman River Center 3'I�I �y yIBQ Soldotna, AK N3WI NOIi0V ON I. CALL TO ORDER /,IONnoo ke a3M3U\38 A. Roll Call: Ricky Gease, Brenda Trefon, Clayton Holland, Terri Carter, Rick Koch, Ted Wellman, Monte Roberts, Andy Loranger, Robert Begich and Jacques Kosto. B. Minutes Approval: Approved as written. C. Agenda Changes and Approval -Under new business Ted Wellman added discussion of revising the strategic plan. Rick Koch stated that he would like to wait and put this on the March agenda so that board members could have a chance to review the plan. The board determined to move forward with the discussion. Agenda was approved as amended. II. Public Comments /Presentations: None. III. REPORTS A. Agency and Government Reports: a. State Parks — Jacques Kosto provided board members with the following report: 1. Eagle Rock is now under State Park management. The facility will be open for the 2014 season. The outlook is to see how the facility operates at this time and make recommendation as to improvements for the 2015 season. Opening date will be determined by the road conditions. The fee structure has not been set at this time. 2. Rick Koch asked if State Parks has had any discussion about habitat protection along the bank at the Warren Ames Bridge in Kenai. Jacques stated there has not been any discussion recently and at this time there is no funding available to do any restoration in this area. State Parks does plan on posting the area with no trespassing sign. b. DEC — No Report. C. ADF &G —Robert Begich provided board members with the following report: 1. Just finished the recent board offish meeting 1) Slot limit in the first run Kenai Kings was expanded and it is now a 42 - 55 inch no retention range. 2. When the Kenai River is in an emergency order (ED) to allow catch and release fishing only for king salmon it is now barbless while fishing for king salmon. The definition of barbless is a little unclear at this time but I believe the outcome was "manufactured barbless hooks, barbed hooks where the barb is broken off and filed smooth or barbed hooks with the barb pinched down against the shank of the hook" but please read the regulation booklet when it becomes available. While fishing for other species during this timeframe you are allowed to use a barb. 3. Labor Day Monday we are allowed to guide for silver salmon that Monday on the entire length of the Kenai River. However, our proposal to allow fishing for silvers from boats above Skilak Lake on Mondays failed due to opposition from the Department. 4. The trout line closure from May 2 - June 10 was moved from the Upper Killey River area downstream about 3/4 mile to the current king salmon sanctuary maker located by Wally's Creek. Below the lower sanctuary marker located at the bottom of the Third Hole the Kenai River is open to Rainbow Trout fishing the entire year. The King Salmon Sanctuary around the Killey River is still a fly fishing only, no fishing from a boat, closed for King Salmon, from January 1 - July 31. Kenai Area Office, PO Box 1247, Soldotna, AK 99669, 907 - 262 -5581 Kenai Peninsula Borough, 144 N. Binkley, Soldotna, AK 99669 907 - 262 -4441 Gilman River Center 514 Funny River Road, Soldotna, AK 99669, 907 - 260 -4882 Alaska Division of Parks and Outtloor Recreation, Department o ktural Resources, in cooperation with the Kenai Peninsula Borough o � UNAL�0 R n RpU 4t 5. The sanctuary marker at Slikok Creek was increased with the marker now moved upstream to about the location of around the big rock area. This will take some water out of the king fishery in this location. 6. The Slikok Creek marker will also be the new location mentioned in an EO given to restrict King Salmon Fishing on the Kenai River instead of using the Soldotna Bridge when the EO restricts the area from Skilak Lake downstream to this point. 7. Moose River area 'no fishing from a boat during King Salmon' season is now closed to fishing for king salmon. 8. Possession limit for sockeye salmon in the Kenai River was increased to 6 fish — this allows folks who don't have access to 'preserving' their fish the ability to have two daily limits in possession. It is likely that an EO increasing the daily limit will also increase the possession limit. d. USFBWS —Andy Loranger provided board members with the following report: 1. The new visitor center is on scheduled and will be open in the fall of 2014. e. USFS /Chugach -No Report f. City of Kenai —No Report g. City of Soldotna —No Report h. Kenai Peninsula Borough- No Report C. Committee Reports a. President's Report-No Report b. Guide Advisory-No Report c. Habitat - No Report d. River Use- No Report e. Legislative /Government Activities —No Report f. Board Development/ Nomination — No Report g. Agenda /Board Structure /Housekeeping -No Report IV. OLD BUSINES: V. NEW BUSINESS: Discussion about revising the strategic plan. Ted Wellman gave a brief history of how the plan came to be. It was also recommended that the plan be revised every ten years. It has been well over ten years in which the plan has been revised and there have been several changes. Ted would recommend that the board considered a new strategic plan. It was agreed that the board should revise the plan. It has been recommended that this be placed on the March Agenda. VI. CORRESPONDENCE: None. VII. PUBLIC COMMENT: None. VIII. ADJOURNMENT A. Board Comments B. Date /Agenda of Next Meeting: March 13, 2014 at 5:30 p.m.