HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources February 24 1998I WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
2 Natural Resources Committee
3
4 February 24, 1998
5
6 The meeting was called to order at 11:03 a.m. by Committee Chair Connie Hoag
7 in the Council Committee Room, 311 Grand Avenue.
8
9 Also Present: Absent:
10 Tom Brown None
11 Kathy Sutter
12
13 Staff Also Present:
14 Marlene Dawson, Council Member
15 Ward Nelson, Council Member
16 Michael Knapp, Planning & Development Services Director
17
18 COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
19
20 1. RESOLUTION REGARDING THE INTERIOR COLUMBIA BASIN
21 ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT PROJECT (AB98 -045)
22
23 Jennifer Ferenstein from Northwest EcoSystem Alliance has been following the Interior
24 Columbia Basin Ecosystem project and gave a slide presentation. She addressed the
25 following topics: level of public participation and the role of the federal government in the
26 project, human and natural resources affecting the area; the level of public participation in
27 the process; and regulation of private lands. The plan is a landscape analysis to offer an
28 alternative that creates some management decisions for forests.
29
30 Mitch Freedman from NW EcoSystem explained that the management implications apply
31 only to federal land. The resource inventory and research applies locally to all the lands.
32
33 Ferenstein explained that there has been more than adequate public input, and the public
34 comment process is still open for statements.
35
36 Skip Richards asked about the lead agency, the size and type of the documents, and the
37 percentage of urban vs. rural population. Ferenstein explained the document is 4000 pages,
38 and comprehensive summaries are available. There was discussion about the Cascade
39 International Park Corridor and coordination of cross jurisdictional management plans.
40
Natural Resources Minutes, 2/24/98, Page 1
I Marlene Dawson, Council Member, questioned the definition of ecosystems. Freedman,
2 Executive Director of the Northwest EcoSystem Alliance, explained the definition of
3 ecosystems and community.
4
5 Mike Polson, Washington State Farm Bureau, Natural Resource Committee Chair,
6 explained the assessment of the request by the federal government. The Boise Cascade
7 assessment has been completed. One concern is that the plan is not science based. The
8 major flaw with the plan is that resource land can be transferred to tourist land, and implies
9 that resource land has no economical value. This indicates the County is less dependent on
10 resources. Other topics of discussion included long -term management plans; socio- economic
11 viability; private property lines vs. ecosystem boundaries; and salmon existence. Terms in
12 the document are undefined.
13
14 Art Anderson, Associated General Contractors, questioned who paid the $14 million.
15 Polson explained it was paid by tax dollars.
16
17 Dawson explained that the assessment is a directive from the President of the United
18 States and has not gone through Congress. Ferenstein explained it has had congressional
19 review.
20
21 Polson explained that everyone was promised a science based plan and they did not get it.
22
23 Hoag requested clarification of public access to these lands if transferred to recreational
24 use. Polson stated the areas would be without roads, which would deny access. Land use
25 plans done in the United States historically have not recognized that the basic foundation of
26 economy is based on these resources. The United States uses more than its share of the
27 resources per capita, but does it more environmentally than anyone else. Ferenstein clarified
28 that the document does not halt logging and grazing. This plan promotes active
29 management.
30
31 Hoag questioned the pictures of dams and also cattle in the slides and how the document
32 addresses cattle grazing. Ferenstein explained the issues the document address. The plan
33 proposes alternative grazing regimes.
34
35 Polson stated that the statistics of riparian damage has been challenged by various
36 agencies that manage the areas. He further discussed the standards for riparian loss.
37
38 Brown asked how many species have become extinct, and how one knows that species
39 loss is occurring faster. Ferenstein explained that the rate of loss is due to the loss of habitat.
40 She addressed the scientific approach used to calculate the rate of species extinction.
Natural Resources Minutes, 2/24/98, Page 2
1
2
3 Sutter asked about the 70% loss of function in riparian areas and the damage done by
4 roads. Federal government activities promoting destruction need to be examined, as well as
5 the plans regarding repairing the damage now. There are too many questions remaining
6 before this plan makes sense. She questioned the amount of local control of federal lands.
7
8 Hoag questioned a slide regarding mining impacts. Ferenstein stated she wanted to
9 illustrate the human impacts.
10
11 Discussion followed regarding returning the land back to its natural state. Polson
12 explained the document refers to restoring the land to pre- European times. Ferenstein
13 argued the land would never be back to natural due to the influx of humans.
14
15 Brown moved to recommend approval of the resolution.
16
17 Sutter moved to strike the two AWHEREAS= paragraphs beginning on lines 27 and 30
18 on page 1 and line 2 on page 2.
19
20 Motion carried unanimously.
21
22 Hoag moved to strike the paragraphs beginning on lines 10 and 12 on Council packet
23 page 162.
24
25 There was discussion on the motion. Hoag discussed her reasons for striking the
26 paragraph beginning on line 12. Brown stated his support for striking lines 10 and 11;
27 however, lines 12 - 14 could be left as they are. Hoag accepted Brown =s statement as a
28 friendly amendment to her amendment striking lines 10 and 11 only. There was discussion
29 regarding the jurisdictional management of public lands.
30
31 Motion carried unanimously.
32
33 Brown moved to add language in the paragraph beginning on line 2, packet page 153, to
34 state, AWHEREAS the Western Legislative Forestry Task Force has recommended the
35 Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project (ICBEMP) should be terminated.=
36
37 Motion carried unanimously.
38
39 Sutter moved to amend the language on line 3, page 2, to state, ANOW THEREFORE
40 BE IT RESOLVED by the Whatcom County Council that no record of decision on ICBEMP
Natural Resources Minutes, 2/24/98, Page 3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
be approved.=
There was discussion on the motion.
Sutter withdrew her motion.
Brown moved to amend the last paragraph to read, ANOW THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council strongly supports natural resource planning
and environment management, featuring site specific management decisions and local
control of natural resources management and involvement of County government in these
decisions with the appropriate agencies.=
Motion carried unanimously.
Hoag clarified there is a motion to recommended approval of the amended resolution.
OTHER BUSINESS
1. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE SUBMITTAL OF A PLAN TO THE
COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS (COG) WHICH ADDRESSES THE
POTENTIAL FOR AN ENDANGERED SPECIES LISTING (AB98 -101)
Hoag detailed recommendations from Council member Dawson, who suggested these be
forwarded to Council of Governments (COG):
1. Request that the state develop data wherein it is only the count of fingerlings
leaving the river that is considered for environmental purposes.
2. Encourage state support for hatchery cultivation of Spring Chinook. Perhaps
specific rivers could be identified for hatchery brood.
3. Encourage the state to discontinue the practice of selling Spring Chinook eggs to
foreign markets and instead put them into productive fish enhancement. If that
cannot be done, the revenue from such sales needs to go toward improving fish
runs, not into the general fund.
4. Work with the appropriate agencies to allow river gravel extraction.
Natural Resources Minutes, 2/24/98, Page 4
2
3 5. Fishing on the river should be strictly limited or not allowed until the number of
4 fish returning to the river reaches acceptable levels.
5
6 6. Closure of identified sensitive spawning areas of the river to Atubing =.
7
8 Sutter moved to recommend to forward the plan to COG so they may include in their
9 development of the document which is to be sent to the Environmental Protection Agency in
10 order to show the efforts being made to protect the resource.
11
12 There was discussion on the motion. Brown stated that he takes issue with some of the
13 items but is willing to move forward with the intent of further discussion. One issue he
14 questioned is the lead agency responsible for the salmon enhancement egg - planting project.
15 Hoag stated she would like to forward this to COG with the understanding that these issues
16 need to be raised for more discussion.
17
18 Hoag suggested a change to the language, Aas additions to a plan to be submitted as
19 issues to be addressed by the Council of Governments for subsequent submittal to the state.=
20
21 Sutter suggested further changes to the proposed language amendments.
22
23 Hoag clarified a scrivener error in item #4.
24
25 Discussion followed regarding bringing this item forward to the full Council for
26 discussion. Committee wants the Council of Governments to consider the issues brought
27 forward only, yet Council has not taken a stand on these issues.
28
29 Sutter will make amendments to reflect committee =s intent and have it ready for
30 tonight =s Council meeting.
31
32 Motion carried unanimously.
33
34 Brown stated he is going to make contacts in British Columbia and schedule an
35 appointment to see their fisheries departments. Brown asked if any of the Natural Resource
36 committee members wished to be included. Hoag stated she would like to be included.
37 Sutter stated she would also possibly like to attend.
38
39
40
Natural Resources Minutes, 2/24/98, Page 5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 1:05 p.in.
NaDean Hanson, Recording Secretary
ATTEST:
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Connie Hoag, Council Member
Natural Resources Minutes, 2/24/98, Page 6