AGENDA:

The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. and began with introductions.  A meeting agenda with copies of the August 26, 2004 meeting minutes were distributed for review.   Walt asked for any comments or corrections. 

It was noted, by Reanette Boese, that the minutes for review at the August 26^th meeting were for the August 17, 2004 meeting.

Dee Bailey asked that under the Coeur d’Alene Tribe section where it talks about “population is in the mouth and surrounding area.  The total acquisition totals around 1500 acres.”  She thought it should be changed from “the mouth” to “the headwaters”.

Bill Rickard mentioned that on the first page under the reforestation section, it sounds like Chris Pitre was attending the meeting when it reads, “Chris Pitre also said because the area was predominately an agriculture basin there might be some resistance to reforestation.”  It should read, “in previous conversation with Walt that Chirs said because the area was predominately an agriculture basin there might be some resistance to reforestation.”

Minutes were approved with changes noted.

Minutes

New Website Status

Walt updated the Planning Unit with the status of the new website and reminded the Planning Unit that he has a link to the test site if anyone is interested in looking at it.

Bill Rickard made a comment that it looked pretty nice.  He did have a hard time sometimes reading through the green background.  He also didn’t notice a place for meeting minutes and Walt explained that Rob Johnson is still working on that section.

Instream Flow Report

Walt reported that the Instream Flow Report was completed and turned in to The Department of Ecology on Friday, September 3, 2004.  Walt will send out the final version to the Planning Unit members today.

Hangman Country Newsletter

Articles are being put together and Walt would like a draft for the Planning Unit to review by the September 21, 2004 meeting.

Walt asked the Planning Unit members to get him any subject material for articles that they wanted to see in the next issue of the newsletter as soon as possible.

Rockford Fair

The dates for the fair are September 24-26, 2004.  Walt will send out a sign-up sheet for volunteers to help in the booth.  Rick mentioned that he would also asked for booth volunteers at the Hangman Creek Water Quality Management Meeting on September 16, 2004.

Announcements/Open Discussion/Public Comment

Bruce Carmack mentioned that the Business Journal had an article on a Wetlands Mitigation Banking  Program.

WRIA 55/57 Public Meetings

September 14 at the East Central Community Center and September 15 at Chattaroy Fire Station.

Bill Rickard asked Walt to explain about the Watershed Management Specialist open employment position at the Conservation District.  There is a position description available for anyone interested.

Implementation Strategies

Section 2

Water Quality

A.  Water Quality (flow related parameters)

      Hangman Creek is listed on 303(d) List of impaired water bodies for four
      parameters (fecal coliform,  pH, dissolved oxygen, and temperature).

Recommendations(s):

(a)   Participate in Lake Spokane D.O. TMDL process related to point and non-point sources in the Hangman Creek watershed  (revised & approved 4/20/04).

Strategy: 

§   Continuing body participating in the TMDL process as well as potentially being the implementation body

(b)   Evaluate information (data) gaps for short and long-term water quality needs (revised and

      approved 4/20/04).

Strategy: 

§   Continuing body

§   Spokane County Conservation District

           (c)  Evaluate the long-term trends of sediment loads (revised and
                 approved 4/20/04).

Strategy: 

§   Continuing body

§   Spokane County Conservation District

§   TMDL body

§   USGS

§   May need to request to be part of regional approach – Department of Ecology

(d) Maintain stream gauging operation throughout watershed to
      assist with TMDL study.      (approved as is 07/08/04)

Strategy: 

§   Continuing body

§   Spokane County Conservation District

(i)      Continue operation of five current stations to assist determination of future pollutant

      load allocations.  (approved as is 07/08/04)

Strategy: 

§   Continuing body

§   Spokane County Conservation District

                        (ii)  Support the installation of additional gauging stations to
                              monitor the effects of BMP implementation recommended
                              from the TMDL process.  (revised and approved
                              07/08/04).

Strategy: 

§   Continuing body

                  (e) Minimize the impact of stock watering directly from surface
                        water.  (revised and approved 07/08/04)

Strategy: 

§   Continuing body

§   Spokane County Conservation District

(i)  Develop incentives to encourage off creek water systems.  (approved as is 07/08/04)

Strategy: 

§   Continuing body

§   Spokane County Conservation District

(ii) Develop incentives to improve riparian zones.  (revised and approved 07/08/04).

Strategy: 

§   Continuing body

§   Spokane County Conservation District

B.  Septic systems that are failing, improperly maintained or non-functioning can provide contaminants to

     surface and ground water.

Recommendation(s):

      (a) The Marshall Creek sub-watershed should be evaluated to determine influence of septic

systems on water quality.  (approved as is 07/08/04)

DELETE  (as of 09-07-04)

(b)   The California Creek sub-watershed should be evaluated to determine influence of

DELETE  (as of 09-07-04)

(c) The lower portion of Hangman Creek (City of Spokane jurisdiction) should be evaluated to determine influence of septic systems on water quality.  (approved as is 07/08/04)

            DELETE  (as of 09-07-04)

 (d) An education/information program should be initiated for septic systems construction, care   

      and maintenance.  (revised and approved 07/08/04)

Strategy: 

§   Spokane County and Regional Health District to initiate and/or support program

(e) A septic maintenance program should be established  and implemented with an inspection program every three years and pumped every six years. (revised and approved 07/08/04)

Strategy: 

§   Regional Health District

(f) Develop incentive for replacement and/or upgrades for substandard septic systems (revised and approved 07/08/04)

Strategy: 

§   Continuing body

§   Regional Health District

C.  Wellhead Protection

            Recommendation(s): 

CHANGE

(a) Identify the needs for wellhead protection in smaller communities.  (revised 09-07-04)

Strategy: 

§   Continuing body

(i)      Identify funding sources for wellhead protection in smaller communities.  (revised

           09-07-04)

Strategy: 

§   Continuing body

 (b) Identify the impacts of storm water handling in smaller communities.  (revised 09-07-04)

Strategy: 

§   Continuing body

(c)  Identify potential funding sources for storm water system plans with wellhead protection

      program.  (revised 09-07-04)

Strategy: 

§   Continuing body

Section 3

Habitat & Land Use

A.  Habitat/Land Use

The types and extents of land uses appropriate for the watershed should be compatible with the watershed.  Riparian area and flood plain encroachments continues to occur throughout the basin (rural and urban).

Recommendations(s):

(a)   Shoreline management plan should be changed to restrict commercial, residential, and industrial development along streams and within the 100-year flood plains and associated meander belts  (revised & approved 04-15-04).

Strategy: 

§   Shoreline update committee of local jurisdictions

§   Spokane County

§   City of Spokane

(b)   New commercial, residential, and industrial development within the 100-year flood plain should be required to mitigate for fish and wildlife impact (revised & approved 04-15-04).

Strategy: 

§   Shoreline update committee of local jurisdictions

(c)   Agricultural producers should implement Best Management Practices (BMP) and establish appropriate riparian buffers to protect streamside habitat and water quality (revised & approved 04-15-04).

Strategy: 

§   Shoreline update committee of local jurisdictions

(d)   Greenbelts or conservancy corridors should be established to improve and enhance fish and wildlife habitat (revised & approved 04-15-04).

Strategy: 

§   Continuing body to coordinate and make recommendations to Park & Recreation Department

§   Park and Recreation Department make recommendations to County Commissioners

§   Conservation Futures Program to fund

(e)   Prohibit residential and commercial development within flood plain and associated meander belt.  A complete meander belt mapping project should be funded within the watershed and should be considered in future land use regulations (revised & approved  09-07-04

Strategy: 

§   ??

(f)     A comprehensive meander belt mapping project should be funded (revised & approved  04-15-04).

DELETE

(g)   Reassess delineation of 100-year FEMA flood plain designations.  New boundaries should be assessed by a professional engineer (revised & approved 04-15-04).

Strategy: 

§   FEMA

§   Department of Ecology and the Flood control program

§   Spokane County

(h)   Conduct feasibility study of a land acquisition/relocation program for structures within the 100-year flood plain (revised & approved 04-15-04).

Strategy: 

§   Continuing body

§   Local jurisdictions

(i)     Develop public awareness and education programs for riparian area function and benefits and flood plain encroachment.  (This needs to be inclusive of residents, developers, and broader range of stakeholders) (revised & approved 04-15-04).

Strategy: 

§   Local Shoreline Inventory & Assessment Committee to help develop

§   Local jurisdictions

CHANGE

(j)     The local jurisdiction should develop a coordinated flood response plan in conjunction with a flood warning system. (revised & approved 09-04-04).

Strategy: 

§   Coordinated with the Emergency Management Services

ADD & CHANGE

(k)   Establish a riparian restoration program  (approved 09-07-04).

Strategy: 

§   Continuing body

(l)     Identify high priority riparian habitat to submit for consideration to the Spokane County Conservation Futures (revised & approved 04-15-04).

Strategy: 

§   Continuing body

(m)  Coordinate and continue Riparian Buffer Cost-Share programs (revised & approved

04-15-04).

Strategy: 

§   ??

B.  Fisheries Habitat

Recommendations(s):

(a)    Fish barriers should be identified and mapped within the mainstem and tributaries.  An action plan to eliminate the barriers shall be developed (revised and approved 04/20/04).

Strategy: 

§   Department of Fish & Wildlife

§   Continuing body

(b)   Conduct Proper Function Condition assessment (PFC) on the remaining tributaries in the Hangman Creek Watershed (revised and approved 04/20/04).

Strategy: 

§   Local Shoreline Inventory & Assessment Committee

§   Spokane County Conservation District

(c)    Evaluate whether the current hydrology is capable of supporting flows required for returning migratory salmonids (revised and approved 04/20/04).

Strategy: 

§   Continuing body in conjunction with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe

Homework

The Planning Committee was asked to review the deleted recommendations document, before the September 21 meeting, to see if there were any deleted recommendations that should be re-activated.

Next Meeting

The next meeting is scheduled for September 21, 2004, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the SCCD offices.  October meeting was set for October 5, 2004 and October 19, 2004, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the SCCD offices.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:15 p.m.