HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources July 24 20011
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Natural Resources Committee
July 24, 2001
The meeting was called to order at 9:30 a.m. by Committee Chair Dan
McShane in the Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Also Present:
L. Ward Nelson
Connie Hoag
Absent:
None
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL
1. CONSIDERATION OF THE DRAFT WRIA WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
PLAN (AB20001 -233)
Bruce Roll, Water Resources Manager, stated this is a draft request for
proposals (RFP) for services necessary to write the plan, do the environmental
impact statement (EIS), provide additional public information and education, and
do work related to developing the management options for the decision - support
system (DSS) and the management plan. A subcommittee created this draft RFP.
It has gone through the staff team. It will go before the Planning Unit tomorrow
night for approval. A request for qualifications (RFQ) went out to help them narrow
the pool of contractors. This is a large piece. The goal is to go to the Planning Unit
meeting tomorrow and provide support for carrying out this RFP. Anticipate a
selection process for the contractor once the RFP goes out. This will come back
again in two to three months with another proposal for the contractor who will be
selected.
McShane moved to recommend approval. This is not the draft watershed
management plan, but the RFP for those services. Roll stated the RFQ has already
gone out. The pool of potential contractors is huge, and they want a process to
sort through that list.
Nelson stated he appreciated the timeline specified.
Roll stated they still plan to adopt the plan by June 2003.
Motion carried unanimously.
Dawson stated a recent court case referenced watershed management. The
court turned everything over to the State Department of Ecology (DOE) for a final
decision. The courts don't require science -based decisions.
McShane stated another court case went the other direction, and ordered
DOE to consider the science provided.
Natural Resources Committee, 7/24/2001, Page 1
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Roll stated his goal is to create a network of people within WRIA 1 who have
the expertise to perpetuate and give the decision - makers informed decisions. His
goal is to see this WRIA make it through the modeling efforts and updates. The
information from Utah State University (USU) is state -of- the -art and beyond
scrutiny. They've engaged in independent peer review. They are creating a
science- and knowledge -based decision - support system to provide the decision -
makers with the trade -offs between the various options in the watershed.
DOE is involved in WRIA 1 as a state caucus. The legislation forces the state
government to be included as a caucus and provide input into the process, which
eliminates 11th hour second - guessing. The state caucus has to vote positively for
all the methods and the plans. They are part of the 18- member caucus group that
has to achieve consensus to move forward. They are creating a pretty good case to
gain DOE and state support.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 9:43 a.m.
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
ATTEST:
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Dan McShane, Committee Chair
Natural Resources Committee, 7/24/2001, Page 2