MONTEREY BAY NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY ADVISORY COUNCIL FINAL INTERIM ANNUAL REPORT April 1, 1997 - September 30, 1997 INTRODUCTION As a result of the Advisory Council's new Annual Operating Plan, the Council's Annual Reports have been changed to coincide with the fiscal year. This document serves as an interim report to bridge the gap from last year's annual report (April 1, 1996-March 31, 1997) to the end of the fiscal year 1997 (September 30, 1997). During this time, the Advisory Council held three regular meetings and one retreat, selecting meeting locations throughout the Sanctuary - Monterey, Carmel and Cambria. The make-up of the Council changed slightly during the six-month period. Elections were held for Vice-Chair and Secretary and Council members elected Rachel Saunders as their new Vice-Chair, and re-elected David Iverson as Secretary. Lt. Phyllis Blanton replaced LCDR W. Dean Lee as the U.S. Coast Guard Representative, and Becky Christensen replaced Steve Kimple at the Elkhorn Slough NERR Representative. Joanne Flanders replaced Terry Jackson as the Monterey Bay NMS Representative. Diving Representative Ed Cooper resigned his seat, which remains empty. The Council is preparing for further changes, as ten seats are expiring on December 31, 1997. WORKING GROUPS The three working groups - research, education and conservation - held regular meetings throughout the six-month period, as well as a joint barbecue and tour of the new Oiled Wildlife Facility at the University of California Santa Cruz. SUBCOMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES The Council established the Legislative Task Force as a result of increased coastal legislative bills. The purpose of the new task force is to review legislation, educate the Council, and make recommendations to the Council regarding the pros and cons of proposed bills. The Council members appointed to the task force are Steve Webster, Rachel Saunders, Dave Danbom, Karin Strasser Kauffman, Brian Baird and Tami Grove. Also serving on the task force are Ann Nottholf (Natural Resources Defense Council), Caroline Pomeroy (UC Santa Cruz), and John Robinson (MBNMS). Other task forces in operation are the Strategic Planning Task Force, the Cooperative Management Task Force, and the Alternate Funding Task Force. The Business and Tourism Activity Panel has temporarily ceased meeting, pending the appointment of the new MBNMS Sanctuary Superintendent. MAJOR ISSUES, ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS 1. Santa Cruz Harbor Dredging Practices As a result of the Council's support and Sanctuary staff efforts, Santa Cruz Harbor's dredged material disposal site off Twin Lakes State Beach was recognized as a historical disposal site by the Sanctuaries and Reserves Division. During the Spring of 1997, maintenance dredging of the Santa Cruz Harbor entrance channel, and disposal of the dredged material to Twin Lakes Beach caused odor problems associated with hydrogen sulfide in the dredge materials. Residents of Santa Cruz approached the Harbor District and the Council to complain of strong odors and the ugliness of the beach. Some residents also reported experiencing nausea and sore, watery eyes due to the dredge spoils disposed on the beach. The Santa Cruz Harbormaster requested that the Harbor District be permitted to dispose of clean dredged material from the entrance channel into the surf zone. Disposal of dredged material in the surf zone may solve the odor problems and serve beach replenishment purposes. Work by the Sanctuary staff and the Santa Cruz Harbormaster resulted in a recognition by the Sanctuaries and Reserves Division, on September 30, 1997, that the dredged material disposal site off Twin Lakes State Beach existed before the Sanctuary was designated. This recognition allows Santa Cruz Harbor to seek approval from regulatory agencies to use this site for future dredging activities in the Harbor's entrance channel. Santa Cruz Harbor must now seek approval from the Regional Water Quality Control Board to dispose of clean dredged material from the entrance channel into the surf zone. 2. Sea Lion/Salmon Interactions The Council received several presentations on the issue of pinniped predation on anadromous fish such as steelhead and salmon, and supported a successful public forum on the issue on August 28. Forum participants are working to put together a workshop that will further identify the majors problems associated with this issue, and strategies for addressing the problems. The forum was successful in bringing together a large number of scientists, environmentalists, fishermen, and government agencies in an effort to resolve a resource conflict. 3. Advisory Council Annual Operating Plan An Annual Operating Plan for the Council resulted from a three-year effort by the Strategic Planning Task Force to develop a formal list of priorities for the operation of the Council. Within this plan, the task force developed a calendar that outlines goals for the upcoming year's meetings, workshops and retreats. 4. Advisory Council Charter and Protocols The Council achieved a milestone in creating a finalized Council Charter and Protocols which were approved and signed by the Sanctuaries and Reserves Division. 5. Permit Authority Designation As a direct result of discussion among Advisory Council members and Sanctuary staff, the Sanctuaries and Reserves Division (SRD) delegated authority to the Sanctuary Manager to condition and/or approve permit authorizations for MBNMS. 6. State Mussel Watch Program Effective January 1, 1998, legislation will go into effect that requires the State Water Resources Control Board and the Department of Fish and Game to continue implementation of the State Mussel Watch Program, and provides $145,000 from the General Fund. The program is now in a better position to receive ongoing funding, directly as a result of the Council's work on this issue with Senator Bruce McPherson. 7. Collection at Jade Cove The Council Chair testified on behalf of the Council in support of the proposed changes in Sanctuary regulations which would permit the continued collection of jade in a limited area, under limited conditions. The Council's work on jade collection also led to the proposed recommendations to establish a Sanctuary permit system for the collection of larger rocks. The Council is expecting a final published rule on jade collection in the near future. 8. Kelp Harvesting off Cannery Row The Council has been working with local Monterey Bay kelp harvesters to assist them in establishing a non-regulatory cooperative which would control takes of kelp. The issue of harvesting kelp off Cannery Row has sparked a user group conflict between members of the tourism industry and kelp harvesters. The Council is working with the user groups in hopes of reaching voluntary compliance among the harvesters, rather than state or federal government regulatory action. 9. Vessel Traffic Safety The Vessel Traffic Work Group began holding regularly scheduled meetings in May. An Advisory Council representative has attended all meetings and will continue to remain involved in the development of vessel traffic management recommendations for the MBNMS. The meetings conducted up to September 30, 1997 focused on identifying a comprehensive list of strategies that could be used to address the issue of vessel traffic. Major issues of concern regarding this process are: … the authority of the work group and final recommendations; … willingness of the U.S. Coast Guard and other Federal agencies to bring the vessel traffic routing measures before the IMO; … whether or not proper weight will be given to environmental considerations. Following the last meeting of the fiscal year members broke into sub-groups to further refine written strategies. 10. MBNMS Foundation The Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary Foundation (MBMS Foundation) continues to develop, resulting in a more stable source of funding for Sanctuary related projects and programs. The MBMS Foundation cooperated in the production of a new Sanctuary poster on the organisms of the Monterey Submarine Canyon, and continues to work on future products. It is distributing this new product, along with several others, and using the funds to support MBNMS related activities. The MBMS Foundation was also integral this year in receiving and dispersing the Ethical Strategies Grant. The MBMS Foundation has also been acting as the financial organization for a number of other Sanctuary related grants and contracts, such as with Teacher Education Programs and the MBNMS Birthday Celebration. Further, the MBMS Foundation has been considering application to some philanthropic organizations for temporary operating funds while it further develops renewable and stable income sources. The Council remained committed to supporting and promoting the mission of the Foundation. 11. MBNMS Budget The Council worked with the Sanctuary Manager in identifying priorities and establishing a proposal for the Fiscal Year 1998 Budget. The Council also advised on the allocations to the Advisory Council's budget.