Climate Science Summaries for Marine and Coastal Systems Available
WDFW recently released a set of climate science summaries for four major ecological systems. Follow this link http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01239/ for electronic copies of the reports, including one on Marine and Coastal Systems.
Beach Mining / Mineral Prospecting Demonstration
A demonstration of beach mining and mineral prospecting equipment occurred on October 29, 2011 near Boone Creek in Grays Harbor County. Some MRC members and WDFW staff were able to attend. For more information on small scale mineral prospecting, please see the State Parks website at http://www.parks.wa.gov/rules/.
2011 Coastal MRC Summit Report
The Coastal MRCs gathered in Forks on October 13th and 14th for the annual Summit. To read about the discussion and outcomes of the Summit, check out the Report.
The National Ocean Council is seeking public input as it develops the strategic action plans for the nine priority objectives outlined in the National Policy for the Stewardship of the Ocean, our Coasts, and the Great Lakes (National Policy). President Obama adopted the National Policy last year by executive order. To be considered during the development of the draft strategic action plans, comments should be submitted by April 29, 2011. Draft strategic action plans will be released for public review in the summer of 2011, allowing additional opportunity for the public to provide comments. Plans are expected to be completed by the end of 2011.
Comments should be submitted electronically at http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/administration/eop/oceans/comment or can be sent by mail to: National Ocean Council, 722 Jackson Place, NW., Washington, DC 20503.
For more information on this comment opportunity, please refer to the announcement in the federal register.
NW Straits Presentation on Derelict Gear Project:
Northwest Straits Foundation will present results of a recently completed economic stimulus funded project: Puget Sound Derelict Fishing Net Removal Project. It will take place at the Natural Resources Building, at 1111 Washington St. SE in Olympia, on the first floor (room 175A&B), on March 9, 2011 from 2:00-3:00 PM.
North Pacific Coast MRC Request for Proposals
The North Pacific Coast Marine Resources Committee is accepting proposals for marine related projects in Western Jefferson and Clallam Counties. Project proposals can be submitted by individuals, groups or organizations and should range from $500 to $20,000. Projects must occur between March 1st, 2011 and June 30th 2012. Proposals should be submitted no later than end of business on Friday, February 11th, 2011 for guaranteed consideration. Contact Rich Osborne if you have additional questions at 360-417-2569. Request for Proposals
Wahkiakum MRC Request for Proposals
Wahkiakum County Marine Resources Committee is accepting proposals for marine related projects in Wahkiakum County. Project proposals can be submitted by individuals, groups or organizations and should range between $200 and $14,000. Projects must occur between March 1st and June 30th, 2011. For full consideration, proposals must be received by 6 p.m., Tuesday, February 8th. Proposals will be accepted beyond the 8th, but there is no guarantee of available funding. Contact Carrie Kennedy if you have additional questions at 360-795-3278. Request for Proposals | Proposal Form
Wahkiakum County MRC Meeting in Cathlamet, WA
Wahkiakum MRC will meet Monday, January 24, 2011 to discuss the organizational structure of the MRC, rank projects, and develop an action plan. The meeting will be held from 4:30 – 6:30 at the River Street Meeting Room. Contact Carrie Kennedy with any questions at 360-795-3278. Agenda
2010 Report to the Legislature Published
Program staff and MRC coordinators compiled the 2010 Report to the Legislature! This report describes the accomplishments of the MRCs in the third successful year of the Coastal MRC Program.
2010 Coastal MRC Summit – A Huge Success!
On September 29th and 30th, Washington’s Coastal MRC board members, coordinators and WDFW Program staff gathered at the Chateau Westport to meet as a group for the first time after establishing all of the MRCs. Sponsored by Surfrider and The Nature Conservancy, the Summit was well attended and consisted of a panel discussion, work sessions and a site visit and presentations at Grays Harbor’s Bottle Beach State Park. The creative energy from the Summit carried on as the group joined the public at the Coastal Marine Spatial Planning Comment Session at the Westport Maritime Museum. Please see the report for a summary of both events.
North Pacific Coast MRC Publishes First issue of NPC MRC Newsletter!
Check out the July issue of the NPC MRC newsletter to learn about the recent activities and accomplishments of the Marine Resource Committee, and to find out how to get involved in upcoming activities on the outer coast of Clallam and Jefferson Counties. If you have any questions, contact Rich Osborne, Coordinator rosborne@co.clallam.wa.us
Final Wahkiakum County Exploratory MRC Meeting June 30th
The last E-MRC meeting for Wahkiakum County will be held Wednesday June 30, 2010 from 6-8 pm at the Skamokawa Grange Hall. Contact Carrie Kennedy, the E-MRC coordinator, with any questions at 360-795-3278.
National Marina Day - Beach & Marina Clean-Up on Saturday June 12th 9 am – 12 noon
The Grays Harbor MRC, Port of Grays Harbor, and the Westport Marina will sponsor a beach and marina clean up Saturday June 12, 2010. Meet at the McCausland Hall @ the Westport Maritime Museum! Please see the flyer for more details.
Attend the 2nd Annual North Pacific Coast MRC Community Potluck on Saturday, June 12th!
Come enjoy live music, presentations, and a BBQ potluck at the Forks Community Center (the pool) 91 Maple Avenue on June 12th from 4 - 8 pm. Please bring something to grill or a dish to share, photos and stories about the coast and what its resources mean to you. Everyone is welcome! Potluck flyer
Join the Pacific County MRC for its 2010 Coastal Summit:
Your Coastal System, May 20th and 21st
The Summit will take place at the WSU Cranberry Research Station 2907 Pioneer Rd. in Long Beach, WA on May 20th 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM and May 21st 8:30 am – Noon. Please RSVP to Karen Tully edcpcog@pacificedc.org. For more information, see attachment.
“20,000 Gigabits Under the Sea: Next-Generation Ocean Science off the Washington & Oregon Coasts”
The Grays Harbor MRC will co-sponsor a presentation by Dr. John Delaney, Professor of Oceanography, University of Washington on Thursday, May 20, 2010 at the Ocean Shores Convention Center. Announcement
“The Ocean and You” Tuesday, April 27, 2010
The Grays Harbor MRC invites YOU to come learn, share, and discuss information about the Pacific Ocean and coastal resources: ocean acidification, marine spatial planning, and more! See the attached agenda below. This event will be held at the Westport Maritime Museum, 2201 Westhaven Drive Westport, WA. Open house begins at 5:30 PM and Meeting from 6 – 8 PM.
The Ocean and You: Agenda
Wahkiakum County Exploratory MRC Hosts 1st Meeting and Potluck April 1st
After presenting the idea of a Marine Resources Committee to several groups across the county throughout February, Wahkiakum E-MRC will host its first meeting April 8th at 6 p.m. at the Skamokawa Grange. Bring your favorite potluck dish and join the E-MRC for an informative dinner and discussion. Contact Carrie Kennedy, the E-MRC coordinator, with any questions at 360-795-3278.
North Pacific Coast MRC still accepting citizen applications for committee
NPC MRC will hold another update meeting in Forks at the DNR Pacific Meeting Room adjacent to Tillicum Park from 4 PM to 6 PM on Wednesday February 24th. NPC MRC is still accepting citizen applications for EITHER Clallam County or Jefferson County West End residents who would like to serve as voting members of the committee. The closing date for applications is February 26th. Application and submittal details can be downloaded in the following attachment:
Clallam
County Board and Committee Applications
2009 Report to the Legislature Published
Program staff and MRC coordinators compiled the 2009 Report to the Legislature! This report showcases the accomplishments and valuable partnerships made in the second successful year of the Coastal MRC Program. Click on the link below to view the report.
Progress Establishing Coastal Marine Resource Committees
Jefferson County Commissioners Approve MRC Formation
On September 8th, the Jefferson County Commissioners approved a resolution forming a North Pacific Coast MRC in coordination with Clallam County. Clallam County Commissioners will consider the same resolution on September 14th.
Grays Harbor MRC to Host Workshop on Marine Spatial Planning
Grays Harbor MRC is planning to host a workshop on marine spatial planning – sometimes also called “ocean zoning”. The workshop is scheduled to take place in Aberdeen on October 20, 2009. Stay tuned for event details.
Pacific County Commissioners Approve MRC Formation
On July 14th, the Pacific County Commissioners approved a resolution forming a Pacific County MRC. Committee membership has not yet been determined.
Article in the Peninsula Daily News Highlights Work of the Northwest Straits Commission and MRCs:
“Study finds abandoned crab pots can be killers”
By Jeff Chew
Peninsula Daily News
Article published Sep 8, 2009
SEQUIM -- A yearlong study of Dungeness Bay adds credence to what fisheries officials have suspected for years: derelict pots kill crab and cost commercial shellfish operations money. "The project confirmed what we've known about the impact of pots," said Ginny Broadhurst, Northwest Straits Commission director.
"The economic impacts are pretty darn significant." Jeff June, a Northwest Straits Commission consultant who helped conduct the study, agreed. "It looks like derelict crab pots are killing between 4 to 5 percent of the crab harvest in Dungeness Bay," June said. That amounts to some $600,000 to $800,000 lost to commercial operators dropping pots there.
The study found that, after 12 months of sampling pots, 487 crabs were caught, 191 escaped pots with biodegradable rot cords that allow the pots to open in a month and 180 crabs died. Crabs found alive in the pots numbered 188.
Six days or more
It takes six days or longer before a Dungeness crab dies in a pot, the report states. Lost pots also trap kill sunflower starfish. The study found that a pot that remains intact, without a biodegradable rot cord, will catch about 42 crab per year, killing 14. The mortality rate was found to be heaviest in shallower depths. Over the study period, 48 crabs died at 60 feet compared to 132 dead at 30 feet. Commercial pots caught 266 crabs over the year, killing 109, while 221 crabs in recreational pots killed 71 crabs. Based on the study, officials predict that about 14,000 crab pots are lost each year in Puget Sound and inside waters. Of those pots, 80 percent use rot cord, while 20 percent do not. Based on a year, the study predicts that 2,800 pots without rot cord would kill 41,187 crabs.
The study results fortify Northwest Straits Commission's efforts in 2002 to remove abandoned crab pots, using divers. The derelict gear removal program has removed 1,921 derelict pots, weighing 48,421 pounds. Based on the Dungeness Bay study and another study in Port Susan Bay near Camano Island, about $14.4 million in commercial and recreational crab are lost annually.
Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com. All materials Copyright © 2008 Horvitz Newspapers.
North Pacific Coast Community Potluck May 30 well attended
The Western Clallam and Jefferson County E-MRC hosted a North Pacific Coast Community Potluck on Saturday, May 30 in Forks. Potluck dishes brought by community members were excellent and donated salmon, halibut, oysters made the meal unforgettable. Dr. Rich Osborne, Clallam E-MRC coordinator gave a presentation on killer whale life history and Rod Fleck, City of Forks Attorney and Planner lead a group discussion about special features and priorities for the coast. The event was attended by 40+ community members from Western Jefferson and Clallam Counties.
Grays Harbor MRC Workshop/Forum June 20
Grays Harbor MRC is sponsoring an event to kick off and introduce the official formation of the Grays Harbor MRC to the community. The forum will help inform the public about what an MRC is and what activities it will do. Saturday, June 20, 10am – 2pm at the Aberdeen Rotary Log Pavilion. For information contact Garrett Dalan. See the save the date flyer!
Grays Harbor County selects new MRC members and hires Garrett Dalan to be the new MRC coordinator
Grays Harbor County Board of County Commissioners has selected the first MRC members. The board will consist of 15 voting members. Visit the Grays Harbor MRC website to find out who is on the board. Garrett Dalan, County Environmental Health Specialist has been hired to coordinate the MRC.Welcome Garrett!
New Coastal MRC Program brochure
Check out our new look! Click here to download a pdf.
Work Group Approves Benchmarks
In January, the Coastal MRC Program Work Group agreed on a set of priority of operating principles to guide the development of the Coastal MRC Program and focus the work of coastal MRCs. The Work Group also finalized interim performance benchmarks that will be used to measure MRC activity and achievement. Click here to review program priorities and benchmarks.
