Washington Environmental Council May 10, 2013

1. Photo from WA Department of Ecology – Washington State Coastal Atlas – 2006 DNR Aquatic Resources Washington Environmental Council May 10, 2013

2. Presentation Overview • Overview of state-owned aquatic lands • Aquatic Programs • Ownership • Leasing Activities • Aquatic Lands HCP • Coordination Fisherman Terminal, Port of Seattle

3. State-owned Aquatic Lands • “…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 • “…does not include aquatic lands owned in fee by, or withdrawn for the use of, state agencies other than the department.”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)

4. Evolution of Aquatic Land Management • 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 • 1971Laws passed to prevent sale of tidelands and shorelands

5. DNR Aquatic Resources Today • Manages 2.6 million acres of aquatic lands in navigable waters • Exercises proprietary authority - a unique, distinct role among governments Center for Wooden Boats, Lake Union

7. DNR Management Goals • Foster water-dependent uses • Ensure environmental protection • Encourage direct public use and access • Utilize renewable resources • And where consistent with the above, generate revenue Myrtle Edwards Park and Grain Elevator RCW 79.105.030  

8. DNR Programs • Land Management • Geoduck Wildstock Fishery • ESA Section • Aquatic Reserves • Derelict Vessel Removal • Sediment Quality Section • Restoration/Creosote Removal • Nearshore Habitat/Eelgrass Monitoring

9. DNR Delegation: Port Management Agreements • 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 Port of Seattle WAC 332-30-114  

10. 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

12. Stewardship of State-owned Aquatic Lands

13. 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

14. Why Are We Doing the Aquatic Lands HCP? Develop a workable balance between species conservation and land use on Washington’s aquatic lands

15. What is an HCP? • Negotiated agreement with Federal Services • Addresses harm to listed and sensitive species • Describes commitment to avoid, minimize & compensate • Basis for an Incidental Take Permit

16. 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

17. Required information for ESA compliance: • Covered Species • Covered Area/Habitat • Covered Activities • Potential Effects and Expected Outcomes • ‘Incidental Take’

18. DNR’s Goals Photo: M. Esteve • Reduce impacts to HCP- covered species and habitats • Improve and restore habitat quality Photo: C. Cloen Photo: C. Cloen • Identify and protect important habitats • Conservation • Restoration • Landscape planning Photo: C. Cloen Photo: C. Piening Photo: H. Shipman

19. The Science Behind the HCP • Species - Distribution; Habitat requirements; Life history; Threats; Benefit from inclusion Photo: W. Leonard • Activities - Potential effects on species/habitats; Habitat taken; Ability to affect change Photo: N. Lopez • Habitat managed - Distribution; Characteristics Photo: L. Amiotte Photo: C.Cloen • Conservation measures - Regulatory gaps; Proprietary authority

20. Direct and Indirect Effects Decreased aquatic vegetation Decreased light Decline in wildlife production Increased predator abundance Overwater Structures Decreased substrate stability Altered energy regime Wildlife behavioral changes Changed substrate composition Decreased water quality Decreased water quality

21. Focusing on these Threats… • Alteration of wave & current energy, sediment transport, depth/slope profile • Artificial shading • Release or accumulation of waste, contaminates, nutrients • Substrate disturbance and modification

22. 25% Nearshore Rivers 4% Lakes 15% 56% Offshore Washington State Department of Natural Resources  2.6 Million Acres HCP Planning Area

23. Covered Species 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 Birds(5) - Black tern, Common loon, Harlequin duck, Marbled murrelet, Western snowy plover Marine Mammal – Southern resident orca

24. 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

25. Operating Conservation Program Programmatic Strategies (All lands) Standards (All uses) Conservation Measures (Covered activities)

26. HCP Programmatic Strategies • Protection of Aquatic Vegetation • Forage Fish Protections • Aquatic Reserves Program • Derelict Vessel Program

27. HCP Programmatic Strategies • Aquatic Landscape Planning • Conservation Leasing • Commissioner Withdrawal Orders

28. Standards Avoidance – All Uses Standard Goal No treated wood or tires in contact with the water Avoid additional inputs of toxins Photo: C. Cloen

29. Conservation Measures Avoidance & Minimization - Activity Specific Measure Goal Prevent grounding of vessels/structures Avoid/minimize benthic crushing

30. HCP Programmatic Strategies • Protection of Aquatic Vegetation • Forage Fish Protections • Aquatic Reserves Program • Derelict Vessel Program

31. HCP Programmatic Strategies • Aquatic Landscape Planning • Conservation Leasing • Commissioner Withdrawal Orders

32. Aquatic Vegetation • Avoidance • Buffers • Surveys • Monitoring • Minimization • Grating • Design standards

33. Forage Fish Protection • Avoidance • Siting criteria • Surveys • Minimization • Work windows • Design standards • Mgmt plans • Surveys • Vegetation Protection Forage fish eggs mixed with grains of beach sand. Photo by L. Amiotte

34. Standards Avoidance – All Uses Standard Goal No treated wood or tires in contact with the water Avoid additional inputs of toxins Photo: C. Cloen

35. Conservation Measures Avoidance & Minimization - Activity Specific Measure Goal Prevent grounding of vessels/structures Avoid/minimize benthic crushing

36. Outreach • Tribes & Commissions • Industry • SOAL Lessees & Users • Land & Water Use Regulating Agencies • NGOs • General Public

37. 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

38. Thank You www.dnr.wa.gov/aquatichcp Photo by David Roberts