PressRelease:






PBWC REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
5 May 2010





Meeting was called to order at 5:32 p.m. by Ulee Yanok, Vice Chair.

Recognition of Guests / Unscheduled Business:
Guests were recognized and introductions made:
o Bob Gecy, USFS-WWNF Hydrologist
o Katie Countryman, USFS-WWNF Planning Team Lead
o John Dadoly, ODEQ Basin TMDL Coordinator

Two brief announcements were made:

o Kirkway Powder River Project – Jason Bland announced that Vicki, Chuck Risley and he went before the County Commissioners to request donation of the 24” rock needed for the instream structures and stabilization designed for the .5 mile reach. Fred Warner moved and the commission approved of the donation, pending the City’s agreement to haul and stage it.

o North Fork Burnt River Watershed Restoration -- Phase 1 – Suzanne Fouty announced that the grant application as written and submitted in April to OWEB. The request is for 46.8K to construct buck-and-pole fence around 3 stands of aspen at the site. The USFS is matching 67.7K; total cost of project is estimated at 153K. This includes significant volunteer monitoring by Whitman College students.


Approval of Minutes 04/07/2010 – The minutes were approved as presented by Council consensus.


GENERAL BUSINESS:


Powder Basin TMDL Briefing and Update

John Dadoly greeted the WC and informed us that he has been working on the TMDL for the Malheur Basin. The Powder Basin is next. The process begins with scoping, i.e. identifying water quality issues in basin. The Powder Basin TMDL incorporates the Powder River, Burnt River and Brownlee Reservoir (Oregon side) subbasins.
The ODEQ will be collecting data on water quality. For the most part, the sites will be public locations at bridge crossings and other accessible public access points. The TMDL will be written to benefit the basin and every effort will be made to accommodate current land uses.

Jim Young invited John to all public meetings held for the Brownlee Subbasin Assessment. He also stressed that Idaho Power Company is currently engaged in extensive monitoring within the Brownlee and Powder Subbasins. Jerry Franke invited John to a Burnt River SWCD meeting.

John stated that the working groups are undefined as yet and that he is amenable to working with more than one group. The TMDL boundaries that the groups will work within are defined by the Brownlee subbasin north and south boundaries on the Snake River and also include the entire Powder and Burnt Rivers Subbasins. Contact information for John Dadoly is:
Eastern Region-Water Quality
700 SE Emigrant, Suite 330 1-800-304-3513
Pendleton, OR 97801 dadoly.john@deq.state.or.us

The WC asked for the Burnt River Ag Water Quality Management (SB 1010) Plan definition of a “healthy” stream. {Note: the FIND tool in MS Word 2007 could not locate the words, “healthy” or “healthy stream”, either in the Burnt River Plan or in the Administrative Rules by which it is guided. However, the definitions of “waste” and “pollution” are clarified on page 23 of the plan.]


Blue Mountain Forest Plan Proposed Revisions 2010:

Katie Countryman presented the Forest Service PowerPoint on the revision of the Forest Plan for the Malheur, Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests. She explained that the “Issues” will be developed from the “Comments” that are received. Then there will be a 90 day comment period on the EIS (Environmental Impact Statement).

Emphasis on proposed actions points to the desired forest conditions. The plan will address specifically designated areas. The Plan will focus on the big picture and all comments will be considered under currently existing laws. Public comment should address issues of concern and should present alternatives and justification for revisions. Homework should precede comment. Look in the current Plan for the rationales that prevent you from attaining your objectives for the resource. In some cases approach the forest rangers for clarification of management guidelines they must use to address specific issues. Comments should answer the question, “Why?”

In Council consensus, the PBWC decided to pursue submittal of a group comment. Friday, May 28th is the deadline for this comment phase. The Council will:
1. Receive comment from its members.
2. Send out rough draft of WC comment.
3. Receive revisions and comments from members.
4. Send out final draft to members.
5. Receive final revisions.
6. Submit WC comment by the May 28th deadline.

Tim Bliss will be the Comment lead. The Coordinator will facilitate meeting deadlines and electronic communication. Council members were asked to focus on water issues for the group comment. Members were encouraged to submit comment on other issues as individuals.


Oregon’s Integrated Water Resources Strategy

Jerry Franke reported on the 2010 Open House held in Ontario, April 7, 2010. Purpose of the meeting was to receive input from the public on the development of a state integrated water resources strategy for Oregon by 2012. State agencies will draft and implement the decisions under the lead of 3 state committees of 25 members. Currently they are gathering information.

Jerry stressed that it is important that the PBWC participate in the process and stay informed and involved. It is disappointing that there is widespread misconception that the Ag industry is responsible for degrading water quality. Agricultural needs to educate the public on the positive effects of current Ag management. Ag’s main concern is that, though it is viewed as the main problem, it is not allowed to participate in the solution.

Discussion stressed that urban landscapes on the west side of the state also shoulder the rap for water pollution. It is a huge responsibility for watershed councils and other environmental groups to request that municipalities and other local governments to recognize their collective responsibilities for maintaining water quality.

Is there a role for the Watershed Council? One suggestion is that we could document the progress being made by Ag to improve water quality within the Powder Basin. The WC will ask Curt Martin to speak to us on this issue.


Watershed Status Reports

No reports were heard due to time constraints.


PBWC Strategic Planning – Answers for Planning Direction - Workshop April 30, 2010

Jim Young commented on lack of attendance by WC members. Steve Edwards, Eric Schoenfeld, Suzanne Fouty, Denine Schmitz and himself were the only ones able to attend. Suzanne and Denine were there only in the afternoon. Outside members attending were Commissioner Warner, Ted Davis, BLM, and Bonnie Hebert, Mayor of North Powder. Fred Warner’s comments were valuable. Fred feels that the WC can make a major contribution to county resource stability, particularly, by creating the sideboards necessary to cut through the red tape and streamline the process of getting projects on-the-ground.

Jim presented the PBWC Vision and Mission statements, as revised by the Board of Directors, April 7th, at the Board meeting. The Council approved both statements as drafted.


PBWC Vision: The Powder Basin Watershed Council vision is to promote, retain, restore and enhance the health of our watersheds through the cooperation of all stakeholders. We are committed to this vision because we recognize that the prosperity of the Powder Basin is dependent on the function of our watersheds.

PBWC Mission: To fulfill our vision, we will develop partnerships to:
Analyze watershed conditions.
Develop and implement short and long range plans and projects to protect or improve watershed conditions.
Inform people in the community about watershed health and invite them to participate in Watershed Council activities.

Board of Director’s Report:
The report was tabled due to time constraints.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:29 p.m.

Council Attendance: 12 members [Quorum = 9]
Tim Bliss, Chairman Ulee Yanok, Vice Chairman
Bruce Lindley Eric Schoenfeld, Treasurer
Aaron Umpleby Paul Wares
Marion Crow Suzanne Fouty
Denine Schmitz Jim Young
Jerry Franke Jason Bland
Vicki Wares, Coordinator

Others Attending:
Katie Countryman, USFS-WWNF Planning Team Lead
Bob Gecy, USFS-WWNF Hydrologist
John Dadoly, ODEQ Basin TMDL Coordinator
Karen Leiendecker, OWEB Eastern Region Representative

Attachments: None
Next Council Monthly Meeting
July 7, 2010
5J District Supervisor’s Office; North Conference Room
4th and Broadway 5:30 p.m.
Meetings of the PBWC are open to the public. All are welcome.


☼ UPCOMING EVENTS – COUNCIL TIMELINE ☼
Board of Directors Meeting ► 06/02/10 @ 1230 hours, USDA Service Center
County Commission Meeting ►06/02/10 & 06/16/10
OWEB Grant Application Deadline ► 10/18/2010 (restoration, acquisition, others TBD)
Pine Creek Work Group ► TBA, USDA Service Center
State Agency Furlough Day ► Friday, June 18, 2010