WRP Executive Committee Meeting
Members Present: Tina Proctor, Jim Athearn, Susan Ellis, Scott Smith, Ted Grosholz, Blaine Parker, Mark Sytsma
Members Absent: Dwight Williamson, Nate Dechoretz, John Chapman
Next call: Thursday, May 9 , 2002, 9:00 Pacific Time
1. WRP Meeting in Salt Lake City
Dates: September 10 and 11. Or September 11 and 12. Or October 1 and 2. Or October 8 and 9. The Committee discussed the issue of the one-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks and whether people would feel uncomfortable traveling that week, particularly if airport security will be increased and that makes travel more difficult. Tina will poll the members about the dates and ask who is planning to attend. She will give a deadline for response so that arrangements can be made with the hotel.
2. WRP funds - FY 2002
Sharon Gross has received funding requests from all four regional panels. Since there is an additional panel this year (Northeast Regional Panel), but the same amount of money to distribute, we will probably not receive the amount of money that we have requested. She will let Tina know as soon as possible when the money will be distributed.
3. Update on Brochure/Display
Marsha Brockbank is in touch with the Western Governor's Association and has requested an extension to the current contract, so that the $11,500 still left in the contract can be used to print more Threats to the West brochures. She will also have one more display made. Susan requested that the current display be sent to her for use in the California DFW Sacramento office. Jim suggested that Tina provide a form to track the displays including where they go, who is responsible and how many people will be viewing them.
4. Update on Screening Process
Proceedings are completed. They will be distributed to attendees, WRP members, ANS Task Force, and other regional panel chairs.
5. Planning for State ANS Workshops
California - third week in May or first week in June, depending on availability of Mike Fraidenburg. Arizona - still hasn=t picked a date yet.
6. Planning for Committee Conference Calls
Blaine, after conferring with Mike, will pick dates for inland committee and Tina will set up the conference call. Ted will work with John to schedule a call in May and will let us know so that interested people can participate.
7. Meeting Review:
Pacific Ballast Water (PSMFC) in Portland (April 15-16)
Large group in attendance. Had difficulty coming up with a list of research priorities. Mark came up with list afterwards and sent a draft to other researchers which will go out to all attendees asking for a follow-up e-mail response. He listed broad questions, which can be prioritized.
He suggested that the group might be able to function better if there is a Research Committee and a Policy Committee that are focused and task oriented.
Discussion needs to continue on what is the appropriate way to fund this research. Should it be public money or private money? Should we look at a tax or harbor fee or depend on foundations or what else?
Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Meeting in Lewiston, ID (April 12-14)
Blaine staffed the display in the vendor tent regarding ANS issues. AAA is interested in passing out information in their mailings. Columbia River Inter-tribal Fish Commission will be active in getting materials to tribes and others regarding invasive species transfers. Tina attended the meetings on "Signature Events", Conservation Issues and the two federal inter-agency work group meetings. It continues to be important to bring up invasive species movement issues during the events.
Columbia River Coordination Meeting - April 10 or 11.
Jim reported that there was good attendance from states: Montana, Washington, Oregon. Information sharing is the major reason for meeting at this point. Strong feeling that there is a need for this coordination and group agreed to meet every two months, rather than three months.
100th Meridian Initiative Meeting is scheduled for May 21 in Omaha. For information, check out the website at www.100thmeridian.org.
8. MICRA - New Regional Panel
MICRA, the Mississippi Interstate Cooperative Resources Association, is an interstate entity with membership of 28 state departments of conservation and natural resources in the Mississippi River Basin. They have developed a proposal to add ANS to their existing tasks and serve as an ANS Regional Panel. The WRO will need to address the overlap. Some states would be both WRP and MICRA members. Scott suggested that, if MICRA is approved as a new regional panel, the WRP send out a letter indicating that we are flexible in how the states choose to approach membership: 1) be a member of both, as Texas is in WRP and Gulf Coast Panel; 2) be a member of one or the other of the panels. We see a benefit in having overlap.
9. Caleurpa Update
Final report from scientific review panel will be available next week. Suggestions are: 1) Scientific review of on-going eradication; 2) Look at data gaps; 3) Is it actually being eradicated? 4) Need to centralize authority in one state agency and get funding for five year period (or longer).
10. New Coastal Committee Co-Chair
Paul Heimowitz is stepping down as co-chair, although he will continue to participate. John Chapman has agreed to serve as co-chair. The WRP would like to express our appreciation to Paul for his role in co-chairing the committee and all of his efforts to make that committee and the WRP a success.
April 18, 2002