Skagit Environmental Endowment Commission DRAFT Meeting Minutes

Friday June 9, 2017 9:30am – 2:30pm

1. Call to order/Introductions 9:30

The meeting was called to order at 9:30 by Canada Co-chair Shaun Hollingsworth

Attending: Gerry Cook (US); Tom Curley (CA); Jim Davis (US); Shaun Hollingsworth (CA); Liz Johnston (CA); Keith Kurko (US); Matt Love (US); Gail Ross (CA); Rob Smith (US); Laurie Terry (US); Bhalwinder Waraich (CA)

Not present: Michelle Connor (US); Nancy Wilkin (CA), Leo Bodensteiner (US);

Staff: Chris Tunnoch (CA); Scott Powell (US); Rudy Kehler (communications contractor)

Partners/Guests: Scott Barrett, BC MFLNRO

2. Minutes of the Last Meeting All

Minutes of March 10, 2017 were approved.

3. Finance Committee Tom 1st Qtr 2017 Investment Fund Update

Tom Curley provided the update, from Committee call w/ David Davies on May 30. The fund is performing well, with moderate growth for the quarter in both the Canadian and US portfolios. Strongest performance for the quarter in US and International equities. No investment changes proposed at this time.

SRI/Financial Management Shaun Rob: In keeping with SEEC’s mission for environmental protection, can we pursue additional SRI

options beyond the approach currently provided by CIBC? Can we consider screening out investments in carbon and minerals.

Scott P: Shared that he has discussed this with a City of Seattle pension fund advisor and an investment consultant specializing in green portfolio development. One realization is that we can find advocates for both sides of the question and it’s perhaps difficult to find unbiased advice.

Tom: Believes we can separate the philosophy question from the financial return question.

Shaun: We should ensure we use the Commission’s treaty perspective as we decide.

Tom: Let’s pre-read the treaty before the retreat and designate agenda time for discussion.

There was general discussion about whether we stay with our current CIBC advisor or pursue another person to represent and advise.

2016/17 Budget Status and Plan Scott P

In the interest of time, Scott just distributed a summary spreadsheet of the status of spending under our 5-year budget. We will get into this further during the strategic plan process. 4. BC MFLNRO Update and Plans Scott Barrett

Chris introduced Scott Barrett, Director of Resource Management at MFLNRO, who had been unable to join the March meeting where Partner presentations were featured.

Scott made a presentation of habitat mapping and prioritization tool, under development by MFLNRO. Will hope to make a presentation to the Int’l Tech Team in the Fall to explore opportunities for collaboration with SEEC and with agencies across the border. Presentation will be posted to the web site.

5. Int’l Tech Team Report May 11 Meeting Update Chris Brief update of topics covered - minutes were distributed and are attached to these minutes. Chris noted that Ministry of Environment had not been able to spend budgeted white bark pine funds in previous years because of poor cone supply. Following last year’s field trip, the Commission had agreed to consider some additional support for this work. MOE Kirk Safford has said this may be a good year and has requested the additional funds. There was consensus that the combined availability, carrying over from past years, should be up to $20,000. US Suction Dredge Mining Issue Scott P - PPT

Scott gave a powerpoint presentation about suction dredge mining being done in the US non-park, non-wilderness portion of the upper Skagit. Leo and he have both participated in a coalition being led by Trout Unlimited, seeking regulatory reform in Washington State to better control this activity. There are potential opportunities for field assessment and use of environmental-DNA techniques to evaluate damage from the practices in the US Skagit. The Commission was supportive of these efforts.

6. Mining – Donut Hole Shaun

An update was provided to Commission members, and there was encouragement to proceed. 7. SEEC Leadership discussion Scott P Scott noted that Shaun’s term on the Commission may close at the end of October. So there is some uncertainty in the Canadian Chair position and his leadership role with the Giant Copper effort. It was also noted that Michelle’s professional work currently limits her availability for SEEC. Her Commission term continues and there is a value in her retaining the USA Chair position, primarily for the Giant

Copper effort. It is proposed that the US Commission select a Vice-chair to carry forward with other leadership responsibilities. Leo Bodensteiner was nominated by his US counterparts and is willing to serve as US Vice-chair. There was consensus agreement to this strategy.

8. Strategic Planning Scott P

Scott noted that 2018 will be the last year of our 5-Year plan and budget framework. In the past, the Commission and Partners have wished for a more orderly process for developing budget priorities and Partner proposals. Scott suggested that the Commission can start now to develop a strategic planning process, with a goal of having the next 5-Year Plan and budget ready for adoption and presentation to the Province and the City of Seattle by the end of 2018. Liz noted her work through the Communications Committee to develop planning components and begin a SWOT analysis. She supported the notion of a strategic plan process. In round-table conversations, several perspectives about strategic planning were voiced.

Build connections between NCI and Manning interp efforts.

Consider setting aside more funding for opportunity projects

Do a trend analysis for spending among the inititatives

Work on partner engagement and accountability to our objectives

Engage BC ministers and deputies

Partners do a good job of interpreting our mission in the community

Scott noted that, in the past, SEEC has used professional facilitators to support this work. The previous plan was developed through a retreat at Semiahmoo using Julian Griggs of Dovetail consulting. Scott asked if the Commission would support hiring a facilitator to support this work through the next year. There was general support and the following members volunteered to be on a selection committee: Liz Johnston, Tom Curley, Jim Davis, Laurie Terry. NOTE: The facilitator selection committee, adding Leo, completed its work with the selection of Triangle Associates and proposed to the Commission via email to hire Triangle for a budget amount of $40,000. Several supportive emails were received and no members expressed concern over this decision.

Retreat options Chris

Chris Tunnoch took the task of assessing options as to time, location, and field trip opportunities for the retreat in September.

9. Adjourn 2:30 Shaun

Upper Skagit International Technical Team

Meeting Notes, May 11, 2017

Ecodairy, Abbotsford, BC

1. Cascadia Partner Forum update – Jen Watkins

The forum is working with Google on collaborative projects relating to climate change in the North Cascades,

including: interactive maps of climate, species, and ecosystem resilience; scenario planning around potential

ranges of future conditions; and story telling about climate, the North Cascades, and traditional knowledge.

Assuming funding continues to be available through the Great Northern and North Pacific Landscape

Conservation Cooperatives, the Partner Forum is hopeful of support for additional partner/collaboration

planning.

Some LCC funding that was dedicated to last year’s activities on eDNA training and sampling, leveraged with

SEEC support, may be available to be reprogrammed for use in the upper Skagit. About $14,000 is unspent and

could be used to support eDNA sample collection analysis, such as to monitor presence of harlequin ducks in

the upper Skagit.

Chris Tunnoch mentioned a BC FLNRO project to develop a stewardship baseline.

Ed Connor mentioned the work of the Skagit Climate Science Consortium and a new Northwest Science special

issue about climate impacts. http://www.skagitclimatescience.org/research/2016-skagit-climate-science-

consortium-northwest-science-special-issue/

There was discussion about communications/outreach opportunities relating to climate research and eDNA.

2. eDNA – update on prior work and opportunities/discussion for additional work, both in terms of

species and locations (including BC) – multiple (Jen Watkins, Leo Bodensteiner, Ashley Rawhouser,

Jason Ransom, Ed Connor)

Joanna Hirner described the project: Clarifying Distributions of Four Species of Rana in

Southwestern British Columbia Using eDNA Methods, which included interesting results about species

distribution in the upper Skagit. Joanna had distributed the report, which was funded by the Habitat

Conservation Trust Fund, prior to the meeting.

There was discussion about current methods and programs for eDNA sampling, including a large project by

USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station. A recent webinar can be found at:

http://greatnorthernlcc.org/event/941 Interest was expressed in doing eDNA sampling in the upper Skagit in

2017.

For harlequin ducks, Jason will work with Scott Denkers. HMCOL may be able to record locations of duck

observations, and eDNA sampling could occur at a later date. For fish, folks can work together to identify

resources and a potential pilot project for sampling in 2017. It is possible the Cascadia Partner redirect funds

could be used, or SEEC could be asked to consider additional funding at its June meeting.. Specifically:

Chris will see if eDNA sampling kits are available and can transmit to Rob Wilson.

Scott Denkers will work toward recording GPS location of duck sitings along the Skagit Valley Trail.

Folks will explore communications/outreach options around eDNA sampling of ducks and fish.

Ashley will assess potential costs for equipment and sample processing.

Leo and Scott P will prepare for discussion with the Commission on June 9.

3. Skagit River BC fish monitoring – Leo Bodensteiner, Ashley Rawhouser, Scott Powell

It was noted that Duane Jesson had contracted with Triton Consultants to perform this study in 2016, results

were distributed, and the SEEC 5-Year Plan calls for the study to be repeated in 2017. Leo and Ashley noted

the value of this work, as a long-term data base about rapid changes in population status for bull trout, rainbow

trout, and brook trout in the upper Skagit. Chris noted that MFLNRO has hired new fisheries personnel, and we

anticipate their participation at the June SEEC meeting. It is possible that, with time and staff constraints,

SEEC should contract for this work directly. Scott will contact Triton to assess their potential availability to do

the survey in late Summer.

4. US Skagit Placer Mining issues/update – Scott Powell

Scott gave a presentation summarizing recent contacts and status relating to suction dredge placer mining which

affects the upper Skagit. This activity is occurring each year in the Slate Creek and adjacent drainages. Field

visits in 2016 showed significant activity and both historical and current evidence of mining claim and potential

impacts.

Leo has been tracking this, through the work of a graduate student and by participation in a group led by Trout

Unlimited (Crystal Elliot) which is seeking legislative reform of Washington’s “gold and fish” pamphlet permit

process, felt to be ineffective in managing this activity. Other NGOs have issued a notice of intent to sue

WDFW over the permit process and there is interest in further documenting impacts that may be occurring

across the State.

The Slate Creek drainage is something of a hot-bed for this activity, and the Technical Team discussed options

for collaborative action. These could involve SEEC, NPS, WWU, SCL and other partners. Actions could

include: tracking and possible support communications for legislative reform proposals; research into legal

status and potential roles of WDFW, USFS, and other agencies; field observations for potential stream channel,

riparian, and water quality impacts; use of eDNA to assess fish presence/absence; external/public

communications about the issue; or meetings among agencies, groups and mining participants. US participants

agreed to pursue the issue and present the status, options, and needs to SEEC at its June meeting.

5. Upper Skagit BC water quality results - Scott Denkers

Scott presented results from the HMCOL 2016 stream and invertebrate sampling, conforming with the

Limnotek Skagit invertebrates model and the Canadian CABIN protocols. Results were similar to prior years,

showing disturbed conditions for invertebrates downstream of legacy mining activity on Silverdaisy Creek and

showing slightly elevated salt concentration at a site near the Hwy 3.

There was discussion about potential use of a conductivity logger to retrieve salt concentration data through the

year. And discussion about the lack of hydrology data in the system. Chris will look into which Canadian

agency is responsible for stream gauges.

6. Whitebark pine/Clark’s nutcracker work – Mignonne Bivin, Jason Ransom

Mignonne reported on the development of test sites for alpine/subalpine vegetation monitoring in NOCA and

Mt Rainier which will be monitored on a 5-year cycle. She discussed limited understanding of white-bark pine

distribution in the US North Cascades and strong signals being found for blister rust impacts to the species.

Some consideration is being given to possible augmentation through planting of white-bark pine, and she is

aware of effort to breed/select for rust resistance strains in the US and Canada.

Jason noted a new paper forthcoming related to land-bird surveys in NW National Parks and said that Clark’s

nutcracker, a species closely associate with white-bark pine, is one of several species showing declining

abundance.

7. Grizzly bear EIS process – Jack Oelfke

NPS has received many thousands of comments on the Draft EIS, most being very brief and most being

supportive of restoration. Among substantive comments, about 500 pages of material was received from

agencies and NGOs and 100 pages of material from individuals. Among the negative comments, many sought

to challenge the science presented in the DEIS and others emphasized health and safety concerns. It is hoped

that the FEIS can be completed by January 2018 and a Record of Decision reached in February or March of

2018. The EIS team is considering what specific elements of work may be needed to respond adequately to

citizen concerns.

8. BC Parks citizen science – Rob Wilson

Thanks were expressed to Rob for arranging the meeting location and logistics. Rob reported on the use of

camera traps by BC agencies and a network of citizen volunteers. They have chosen to use a project call

eMammal, hosted by the US Smithsonian Institution, as a way to store and serve images and location

information. He noted that BC Parks continues to promote the program, involving volunteer effort to both

manage remote cameras and identify scat found in the wild.

9. Round-robin report out by attendees of what is happening in the transboundary area

Jim Davis initiated the round-robin discussion by noting that SEEC will be gearing up over the next year to

produce its next 5-Year strategic plan. He asked the group to comment on their interest and ideas that could be

considered as part of this process for ecosystem studies.

Rob noted that fishing pressure continues to grow in BC. Do we have a handle on impacts to the fish

populations? Prior creel surveys supported by SEEC were noted.

Ashley commented on the continued presence and impacts of red-side shiner on fisheries ecology.

Jack noted the benefits and solid record of vital signs monitoring supported by SEEC over the past 10

years.

Mignonne referred to activities on white-bark pine north of the border and interests in further

collaboration.

There was discussion of climate-related work generally and multiple opportunities for study.

Reference was made to US Department of Interior Secretary Zinke and apparent focus on visitor

services, as compared to ecosystem science.

NPS fisher (small mammal) re-introduction is coming to the North Cascades and will need monitoring.

Noted that NPS is considering goat introductions into the North Cascades, i.e. from overpopulated

Olympic NP.

Discussion of the link between climate and berries, in relation to fire risk, species distributions, tribal

interests.

Presence of non-native Eastern brook trout in Lake Hozomeen was discussed in term of cost of

eradication and potential full control throughout the watershed. Relationship to loons nesting on

Hozomeen was noted.

Discussion of spotted vs barred owls, in relation to BC re-introduction efforts.