County residents start to form marine resource council

A group of Wahkiakum County residents gathered last week to take initial steps to form a county marine resources council.

The councils are part of a program sponsored by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to encourage community based stewardship of the coastline and its estuaries. Councils conduct citizen-driven marine science studies and protect and restore marine habitat.

They are set to receive funding of $40,000 every two years.

About a year ago, Wahkiakum County commissioners agreed to form a council in the county and appointed WSU Wahkiakum Extension Agent Carrie Kennedy to coordinate the effort. Since then, Kennedy said, she's held three exploratory meetings, and citizens said they thought the council would be a good resource.

Last week's meeting brought citizens together to learn about the role of councils, list possible local tasks for a council, and identify possible Wahkiakum council members.

Speaking at the program were Jenna Norman, who coordinates the program for the WDFW, and Pacific County council members Mike Nordin and Doug Kess.

"The council will bring resources to the county," Kess said. "We've done a bunch of projects, and it's also a real opportunity for volunteers."

"Keep in mind that it's your MRC," Nordin said. "It can do what ever you want it to do. Be creative."

Councils in other counties have supported school programs, sponsored beach cleanups, sponsored programs to locate and remove lost or abandoned fishing gear, conducted water quality assessments and monitoring, presented informational workshops, and monitored spartina presence in Willapa Bay.

Nordin added that the council offers a real opportunity for citizens to have a voice, for each council has a representative to the Washington Ocean Caucus, a group of legislators representing coastal areas.

"It's a real opportunity for the local people to have a voice and protect their interests," Nordin said.

The citizens participated in a process to identify possible projects for a Wahkiakum council. These included:

--Preparing and presenting educational displays about the marine resource program;

--Initiating and supporting efforts to control invasive species in the Columbia River and connecting waters;

--Initiating and supporting efforts to clean up shorelines in the county;

--Promoting the county's commercial fishing industry;

--Promoting understanding of the county's marine resources;

--Promoting schools' educational programs involving marine resources, and

----Preparing and presenting community education on water quality issues.

The citizens put together a list of names of citizens and officials with interests in marine activities. They will be contacted and invited to another meeting to continue forming the council.