----- Original Message -----
From: "Teri Pieper" <tpieper at atnet.net>
To: "Flores, Bob at home" <rflores at qosi.net>; "Flores, Bob"
<bob_flores at r1.fws.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2001 9:56 PM
Subject: Fw: state aquatic reserve progrm


> Bob
> Tim Cullinan is the science director for Audubon~Wa. He guided us around
> Sequim last fall, remember? I deleted his attachment - you can get it at
> the web site he linked in the email.
> Teri
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Tim Cullinan <cullinant at olympus.net>
> To: Teri Pieper <tpieper at atnet.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2001 7:51 AM
> Subject: RE: state aquatic reserve progrm
>
>
> > Hi Teri,
> >
> >
> > Just this morning DNR put a fact sheet on its web site about aquatic
> > reserves. I'v appended it below. If you want to see it in a more
> > attractive format, you can view it at
> > http://www.wa.gov/dnr/htdocs/aqr/reserves.htm
> >
> > I've also appended below the text of the law that authorizes DNR to set
up
> > aquatic reserves. It will allow you to get a legal description of them.
> >
> > I've also attached a copy of a press release from May, 2000, when
Jennifer
> > Belcher established a few of the reserves. This doesn't give a lot of
> > general info, but is a good illustration of what the reserves are like.
> If
> > you can't open the attachment, you can view the story at
> > http://www.wa.gov/dnr/htdocs/adm/comm/nr00046.htm
> >
> > I've been told that DNR will use the first part of the meetings to make
a
> > presentation about the Aquatic Reserve program, then take public
comments.
> > The are calling these "public meetings" not public hearings--I think the
> > former is a little less formal. I haven't seen an agenda, so I don't
know
> > if they intend to have speakers get up in front of the whole crowd and
> > deliver comments, or whether they will just have "listening stations"
> where
> > you talk one-on-one with a DNR representative. I suspect it may be the
> > latter. Officially, the purpose of the meetings are "scoping"--i.e.
> getting
> > opinions about what should be covered in the EIS. But it's OK to make
any
> > kind of comments you wish. You don't have to limit your comments to the
> EIS
> > scoping.
> >
> > Oops, sorry for the name dropping...
> > Leslie Ann Rose is a former member of the ACOW Conservation Committee
from
> > Tahoma Audubon. She's now the Policy Analyst for Citizens for a Healthy
> > Bay, a group that is watchdogging the cleanup of Commencement Bay. She
is
> > very astute, and has a lot of great insights about the aquatic reserves
> > issue. You can reach her at 253-383-2429.
> >
> > I'll be on the road after 10:30 this morning. If you have more
questions,
> > please call me, as I won't be back in touch via e-mail until after your
> > Moses Lake public meeting. You can reach me on my cell phone at
> > 360-789-8020.
> >
> > Good luck! And thanks for caring about this issue (DNR has aquatic
lands
> in
> > the Columbia Basin too--so the program we save today may come to your
> > neighborhood some time in the future).
> >
> > Tim
> > _____________________________
> >
> > Aquatic Reserves: Creating Tools For Education, Science and the
> Environment
> > Public meetings for reviewing environmental impacts
> >
> > Overview
> > The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages 2.5 million acres of
> > aquatic lands in Washington for the benefit of the people of the state.
> DNR
> > manages those lands to provide a balance of public benefits. Those
> benefits
> > include public access for recreation, supporting business activities
that
> > depend on access to the water, and ensuring environmental protection.
DNR
> > generates revenue from these lands to fund important programs such as
> > environmental programs and salmon recovery.
> >
> > An important part of that management is the creation of scientific,
> > environmental and educational aquatic reserves that help DNR manage
> > sensitive lands and resources. Currently, DNR is inviting public input
on
> > the continued development of the state's aquatic reserve program. This
> input
> > will be used to develop more detailed guidance on how to review areas
for
> > reserve status, how to manage these areas, and what activities should
> occur
> > in each type of reserve.
> >
> > When DNR designated five areas as reserves or areas withdrawn from
active
> > use in the year 2000, many questions were left unanswered. There was no
> > clear guidance on what activities should be allowed in a reserve and
what
> > the differences between environmental, educational or scientific
reserves
> > are. How does a withdrawn area differ from a reserve? How would we
manage
> > reserves? What activities are allowed or prohibited?
> >
> > The answers to these questions, and the subsequent aquatic reserve
> program,
> > will be reached only with help and input from the public. Once a program
> is
> > developed, DNR would be able to provide a consistent statewide
management
> > framework for sensitive aquatic lands and resources. The program would
> also
> > allow DNR to work more effectively with others involved in aquatic
> resource
> > management and protection, complement existing land use/land management
> > efforts, and create long-term benefits to the public.
> >
> > DNR's aquatic reserve program, in conjunction with other management
> efforts,
> > would seek to:
> > . Maintain natural biodiversity.
> > . Protect and restore ecosystem functions.
> > . Maintain appropriate public access to aquatic lands for scientific,
> > educational and recreational uses.
> >
> >
> > Public Input and Guidance
> > The Department will solicit and encourage the broadest possible public
> > participation, using the process established in the State Environmental
> > Policy Act (SEPA). DNR will complete a programmatic SEPA review to
> consider
> > the impacts of establishing an aquatic reserve program. Site-specific
SEPA
> > reviews of potential reserve locations and management plans will occur
at
> a
> > later time.
> >
> > The process will begin with a "scoping" period, during which DNR will
ask
> > the interested public to help identify the elements that should be
> included
> > in an aquatic reserve program, such as: land management goals, what
types
> of
> > aquatic lands need protection, selection criteria,
> environmental/ecological
> > priorities, and what specific issues, interests, and concerns must be
> > addressed.
> >
> > Following the scoping phase, DNR scientists, planners, managers and
policy
> > staff will work with the information gathered and prepare options for
> > consideration. These options will be included in a Draft Environmental
> > Impact Statement (DEIS) for public review. Comments will be considered
and
> > incorporated into a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). The
FEIS
> > will form the basis of DNR's aquatic reserve program. DNR anticipates
> > completing this process during the summer of 2002.
> >
> > Implementation would occur following completion of the SEPA process when
> DNR
> > would develop policies and procedures for an aquatic reserve program.
> Next,
> > staff would review areas designated as reserves or withdrawn from
leasing
> > (beginning with those established in year 2000) to ensure that those
> > management tools are appropriately applied. Once areas have been
approved
> > for inclusion into the reserve program, staff would develop
site-specific
> > management plans.
> >
> > For additional information about the Aquatic Reserve program, visit the
> DNR'
> > s web page at www.wa.gov/dnr, or contact Margaret Pilaro Barrette by
phone
> > at 360-902-1116 or by e-mail at: Margaret.Barrette at wadnr.gov.
> >
> > If you would like to make comments related to Aquatic Reserves, you can
> > e-mail them to information at wadnr.gov
> > _______________________________________
> >
> > WAC 332-30-151 Reserves (RCW 79.68.060). (1) Types of reserves:
> > Educational, environmental, scientific - see definitions (WAC
332-30-106).
> > (2) Aquatic lands of special educational or scientific interest or
> > aquatic lands of special environmental importance threatened by
> degradation
> > shall be considered for reserve status. Leases for activities in
conflict
> > with reserve status shall not be issued.
> > (3) The department or other governmental entity or institution may
> > nominate specific areas for consideration for reserve status.
> > (4) Such nominations will be reviewed and accepted or rejected by
the
> > commissioner of public lands based upon the following criteria:
> > (a) The site will accomplish the purpose as stated for each reserve
> > type.
> > (b) The site will not conflict with other current or projected uses
> of
> > the area. If it does, then a determination must be made by the
> commissioner
> > of public lands as to which use best serves the public benefit.
> > (c) Management of the reserve can be effectively accomplished by
> either
> > the department's management program or by assignment to another
> governmental
> > agency or institution.
> > (5) The department's reserves management program consists of
> prevention
> > of conflicting land use activities in or near the reserve through lease
> > actions. In those cases where physical protection of the area may be
> > necessary the management of the area may be assigned to another agency.
> > (6) When DNR retains the management of reserve areas the extent of
> the
> > management will consist of a critical review of lease applications in
the
> > reserve area to insure proposed activities or structures will not
conflict
> > with the basis for reserve designation. This review will consist of at
> least
> > the following:
> > (a) An environmental assessment.
> > (b) Request of agencies or institutions previously identified as
> having
> > a special interest in the area for their concerns with regard to the
> > project.
> > (7) Proposed leases for structures or activities immediately
adjacent
> > to any reserve area will be subjected to the same critical review as for
> > leases within the area if the structures and/or activities have the
> > potential of:
> > (a) Degrading water quality,
> > (b) Altering local currents,
> > (c) Damaging marine life, or
> > (d) Increasing vessel traffic.
> > (8) All management costs are to be borne by the administering
agency.
> > Generally, no lease fee is required.
> >
> > [Statutory Authority: RCW 43.30.150. 80-09-005 (Order 343), ?
332-30-151,
> > filed 7/3/80.]
> > __________________________________
> >
> > Tim Cullinan
> > Director of Science and Bird Conservation
> > National Audubon Society
> > Washington State Field Office
> > Olympia, Washington
> >
> > cullinant at olympus.net
> > 360-683-6257
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Teri Pieper [mailto:tpieper at atnet.net]
> > Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2001 1:12 AM
> > To: Tim Cullinan
> > Subject: Re: state aquatic reserve progrm
> >
> >
> > Tim
> > Well, I really have nearly no one to discuss this with so don't worry
> about
> > it going out and about. Is there anywhere I can learn exactly what an
> > aquatic reserve is? Do you know what is happening at these hearings?
Is
> > there an agenda posted anywhere? Is the purpose simply to take comments
> or
> > will the state be presenting any information? Who is Leslie Ann Rose?
> I've
> > seen her name before.......... I'll probably go to the hearing tomorrow
> but
> > don't know that I am well enough informed to say anything.
> > Thanks
> > Teri
> >
> >
> >
>