MBNMS SAC: Conservation Working Group Meeting Notes 7/17/01

Conservation Working Group Meeting

Minutes- July 17, 2001

There were 15 people in attendance at the meeting.

Announcements:

• Steve Webster announced that the Sanctuary Currents conference would be a one-day event held on March 17, 2002 and that the theme was "New Technologies".

Management Plan Topics:

• WQPP – Holly Price gave a general presentation regarding the water quality issues facing the Sanctuary, the MBNMS’s WQPP, the Action Plans that have been developed, and future directions for the program. Future topics to address include point sources, riparian/wetland issues, and full implementation of existing plans. Greg Gauthier (CWC) noted that elevating the priority of education, training, and community involvement (such as volunteer monitoring) is critical to future improvements in water quality. A TOC memo on MBNMS water quality and the management plan review was distributed.
• BioInvasions –Kerstin Wasson from the Elkhorn Slough Reserve gave a presentation on invasive species in the MBNMS. Her talk addressed: human transport of marine species, the types of marine habitats most likely to be invaded, threats posed by marine invaders, prevention of new invasions, the need for additional science and monitoring and the importance of raising public awareness of marine invasions. She suggested that the MBNMS could assist in education efforts to prevent future invasions such as working with area harbors and small boat owners to increase awareness of the risks of transporting invasive species via fouled hulls.
• Desal – Brad Damitz of the MBNMS gave a presentation on desalination addressing desal technology, existing plants, proposed plants, environmental impacts associated with desal and potential mitigation measures. Brad noted that the MBNMS and the Coastal Commission are working together to develop guidelines/recommendations regarding future desal proposals on the Central Coast.

Marine Life Protection Act: The CWG discussed the F&G Master Plan draft Initial Concepts map for the Sanctuary area. The CWG had the following recommendations:

• larger percentage of coast should be in fully protected reserves,
• deep water habitat should be fully protected (extend some reserves out to 3 miles),
• harbor seal rookery at Bean Hollow should be protected,
• reserve protection at Ano Nuevo should be maintained (concern about fishing gear entanglement and unique habitat value of the area),
• additional reserves should be included between Cambria and Pt. Conception,
• MLPA efforts should coordinate with water quality efforts to ensure protection of water quality at MLPA sites.
• A range of alternative siting locations should be presented at the next round of Fish and Game meetings.

The next CWG meeting is August 28th. Speakers: Scott Benson and Rick Starr.