Western Regional Panel
NEXT MEETING: THURSDAY, MAY 13
Members Present: Tina Proctor, Susan Ellis, Jim Athearn, Wendy Ralley, Ted Grosholz, Mark Sytsma, Scott Smith, Karen McDowell
Members Absent: Blaine Parker, John Chapman, Al Van Vooren
1. Travel Reimbursement Policy
The EC approved the draft Travel Reimbursement policy that was discussed last month. The policy is attached to the Minutes.
2. Addition of New Organization
The EC discussed adding the Western Aquatic Plant Management Society as a voting member. Tina said we would need to have an e-mail vote of the membership. She will send out a notice to voting members and request a two-week response time. The EC will then fill the Inland-At Large position vacated by Mark.
3. Western Governors’ Association
Scott updated the committee on the draft resolution that he is working on with the WGA regarding the ANS pathways of recreational boating and aquatic plant and animal suppliers. The resolution sets up a MOU between the WGA, the WRP and the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. The MOU will create a work group from these three agencies which will produce an annual progress report. Scott will contact Governor Locke (D) to see if he will co-sponsor the resolution. Other suggestions for co-sponsors were Kempthorne in Idaho and Kulongoski in Oregon. Scott will send out the draft resolution to the EC after the phone call. It is not for distribution yet until it has been approved by WGA staff.
4. Work Plan Committee
The co-chairs are John Chapman, Karen McDowell and Ted Grosholz. They would like 5-6 more members if possible. We are looking for people who want a role to play between meetings. Tina will send out an e-mail asking for members to volunteer to be on the committee.
The discussion continued about how to get more people involved in the Executive Committee. It was suggested that we have a rotation of states, so that people serve for one or two years at a time. Another suggestion was that every quarter the EC could hold an open forum by conference call and invite members to call in for discussion. We can add this topic to the business meeting at the WRP annual meeting.
5. US/Canada Cooperation
Wendy Ralley discussed a proposal for the rest of the budgeted funds ($2,500) for US/Canada cooperation. She is thinking about a project that would consolidate a uniform message in the western US and Canada at border crossings. The EC asked her to send a proposal to review.
Tina forwarded an e-mail from Canada Federal member, Dennis Wright, inquiring whether the WRP would be interested in sponsoring a biota inventory at Devil’s Lake, North Dakota. The US is proposing to lower the water level to the lake by means of a pipeline and a canal to the Sheyenne River, a tributary to the Red River of the North. There is concern that this would cause transfer of non-native aquatic species into the Hudson Bay drainage. The federal governments are involved as well. Wendy explained that the proper agency to be involved is the International Joint Commission (IJC) and they have been requested to look at this cross-border dispute. Susan suggested that this is a good solution and the WRP should not get involved at this time. The EC concurred.
6. NALMS
Mark announced that the North American Lake Management Society needs papers for their meeting in Victoria, BC in November. Since we are co-sponsors of the meeting, he is encouraging WRP members to submit papers for the ANS session. Information is available at http://www.nalms.org/
7. Rapid Response Plan
The EC discussed the value of a western zebra mussel rapid response plan. Mark said he talked to Chuck O’Neill from New York Sea Grant who said that there are only a small handful of actions that can be done when zebra mussels are discovered; the toolbox is limited. Mark doesn’t think it would be worthwhile to have a rapid response plan for the western US. He suggested that we might create a working plan for a certain type of situation, such as a irrigation reservoir or a large river. Scott said he would talk to David Lodge about this idea. Susan will talk to Erin Williams about the zebra mussel rapid response plan being developed in central California.
8. Annual Report
There is $5,000 available to create a WRP annual report. Karen said she would look into costs for a 25 page document with a color cover and get back to the committee.
9. Meetings
Karen announced that there is a CALFED Science Conference October 4-6 specifically for the Bay Delta area. Abstracts are due June 4th.
Minutes prepared by Tina Proctor, WRP Panel Coordinator
Executive Committee Minutes
Thursday, April 15, 2004
bettina_proctor@fws.gov