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Transcript of Washington Environmental Council May 10, 2013 DNR Aquatic Resources Photo from WA Department of...
Washington Environmental
Council
May 10, 2013
DNR Aquatic Resources
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Overview of state-owned aquatic lands
Aquatic Programs
Ownership
Leasing Activities
Aquatic Lands HCP
Coordination
Presentation Overview
Fisherman Terminal, Port of Seattle
“…all tidelands, shorelands, harbor areas, the beds of navigable waters, & waterways owned by the state & administered by the department or managed under RCW 79.105.420 by a port district.”
“…does not include aquatic lands owned in fee by, or withdrawn for the use of, state agencies other than the department.”
RCW 79.105.060(20)
State-owned Aquatic Lands
1890 to 1950 the sale of aquatic lands promoted for economic development and to fund state government
1950s Shift from selling land to leasing it
1971 Laws passed to prevent sale of tidelands and shorelands
Evolution of Aquatic Land Management
Manages 2.6 million acres of aquatic lands in navigable waters
Exercises proprietary authority - a unique, distinct role among governments
DNR Aquatic Resources Today
Center for Wooden Boats, Lake Union
Foster water-dependent uses
Ensure environmental protection
Encourage direct public use and access
Utilize renewable resources
And where consistent with the above, generate revenue
DNR Management Goals
RCW 79.105.030
Myrtle Edwards Park and Grain Elevator
Land Management
Geoduck Wildstock Fishery
ESA Section
Aquatic Reserves
Derelict Vessel Removal
Sediment Quality Section
Restoration/Creosote Removal
Nearshore Habitat/Eelgrass Monitoring
DNR Programs
• Port manages some or all state-owned aquatic lands within a port district
• Port follows same statutes as DNR
• Port retains portion of lease revenue
DNR Delegation: Port Management Agreements
WAC 332-30-114
Port of Seattle
Aquatic Land Management
• Authorizations: >5,000 authorizations• Types: Leases, Easements, Licenses,
Rights of Entry• Uses: Marinas, docks (public and private),
outfalls, aquaculture, utility easements, bridges, buoys, etc.
• Districts: Orca Strait, Shoreline, and Rivers
Stewardship of State-owned Aquatic Lands
Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act
GOALReduce ESA liability associated with authorizing the use of state-owned aquatic lands, while enhancing efforts to conserve and recover endangered, threated, and imperiled species
Why Are We Doing the Aquatic Lands HCP?Develop a workable balance between species conservation and land use on Washington’s aquatic lands
Negotiated agreement with Federal Services
Addresses harm to listed and sensitive species
Describes commitment to avoid, minimize & compensate
Basis for an Incidental Take Permit
What is an HCP?
In order for the ITP to be issued by the Services, DNR must…• Demonstrate avoidance, minimization
and/or mitigate for the impacts of authorized incidental take of Covered Species to the maximum extent practicable
• Demonstrate that the incidental take will not result in species jeopardy
Required information for ESA compliance:• Covered Species• Covered Area/Habitat• Covered Activities• Potential Effects and
Expected Outcomes• ‘Incidental Take’
DNR’s Goals Reduce impacts to
HCP- covered species and habitats
Photo: H. Shipman
Photo: M. Esteve
Improve and restore habitat quality
Photo: C. Piening
Photo: C. Cloen
Identify and protect important habitats• Conservation• Restoration• Landscape planning Photo: C. Cloen
Photo: C. Cloen
Species - Distribution; Habitat requirements; Life history; Threats; Benefit from inclusion
Photo: W. Leonard
The Science Behind the HCP
Photo: N. Lopez
Activities - Potential effects on species/habitats; Habitat taken; Ability to affect change
Habitat managed - Distribution; Characteristics
Photo: C.Cloen
Conservation measures - Regulatory gaps; Proprietary authority
Photo: L. Amiotte
Direct and Indirect Effects
Overwater Structures
Decreasedlight
Alteredenergy regime
Decreased water quality
Decreased aquatic
vegetation
Increased predator
abundance
Decreased substrate stability
Changed substrate
composition
Decreased water quality
Decline in wildlife
production
Wildlife behavioral changes
• Alteration of wave & current energy, sediment transport, depth/slope profile
• Artificial shading
• Release or accumulation of waste, contaminates, nutrients
• Substrate disturbance and modification
Focusing on these Threats…
HCP Planning AreaHCP Planning Area 2.6 Million Acres
56% Offshore 56% Offshore
Rivers 4%Rivers 4%
Lakes 15%Lakes 15%
25% Nearshore25% Nearshore
Washington State Department of Natural ResourcesWashington State Department of Natural Resources
Herptofauna (5) - Columbia spotted frog, Northern leopard frog, Oregon spotted frog , Western toad, Pacific pond turtle
Fish (18) - Bull trout, Chinook, Chum, Coastal cutthroat trout, Coho, Pink, Sockeye/Kokanee, Steelhead, Green & White sturgeon, Bocaccio, Canary & Yelloweye rockfish, Eulachon, Pacific herring, Pacific sand land, Surf smelt, Pacific lamprey
Covered Species
Birds (5) - Black tern, Common loon, Harlequin duck, Marbled murrelet, Western snowy plover
Marine Mammal – Southern resident orca
HCP Covered Activities Log booming
and storage Aquaculture
Overwater structures - Docks & wharves, Boat ramps/launches, Rafts, Mooring buoys, Nearshore buildings, Floating homes, Marinas, Shipyards & terminals
Operating Conservation ProgramProgrammatic Strategies
(All lands)
Standards(All uses)
Conservation Measures
(Covered activities)
HCP Programmatic Strategies Protection of
Aquatic Vegetation
Forage Fish Protections
Aquatic Reserves Program
Derelict Vessel Program
HCP Programmatic Strategies Aquatic
Landscape Planning
Conservation Leasing
Commissioner Withdrawal Orders
Standards Avoidance – All Uses
No treated wood or tires in contact with the water
Standard Goal
Photo: C. Cloen
Avoid additional inputs of toxins
Conservation MeasuresAvoidance & Minimization - Activity Specific
Prevent groundingof vessels/structures
Measure Goal
Avoid/minimize benthic crushing
HCP Programmatic Strategies Protection of
Aquatic Vegetation
Forage Fish Protections
Aquatic Reserves Program
Derelict Vessel Program
HCP Programmatic Strategies Aquatic
Landscape Planning
Conservation Leasing
Commissioner Withdrawal Orders
Avoidance Buffers Surveys Monitoring
Minimization Grating Design standards
Aquatic Vegetation
Avoidance Siting criteria Surveys
Minimization Work windows Design standards Mgmt plans Surveys Vegetation Protection
Forage Fish Protection
Forage fish eggs mixed with grains of beach sand. Photo by L. Amiotte
Standards Avoidance – All Uses
No treated wood or tires in contact with the water
Standard Goal
Photo: C. Cloen
Avoid additional inputs of toxins
Conservation MeasuresAvoidance & Minimization - Activity Specific
Prevent groundingof vessels/structures
Measure Goal
Avoid/minimize benthic crushing
Outreach• Tribes & Commissions• Industry• SOAL Lessees & Users• Land & Water Use
Regulating Agencies• NGOs• General Public
HCP - Anticipated Timeline• Sept. 2013 - NEPA 90 day public
comment; Draft EIS & HCP Released
• Dec.2013 –Jan. 2014- Revisions/Response Documents based on tribal and public comment
• June 2014 - Final documents released
• Fall 2014 - Final NEPA 30 day public comment period
• Fall 2014 - Programmatic Implementation
Thank You
Photo by David Roberts
www.dnr.wa.gov/aquatichcp