HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-11-09 Minutes�F,W PpRT
�� n City of Newport Beach
Coastal/Bay Water Quality
Citizens Advisory Committee Minutes
DATE: 6/11/09 TIME: 3:00 P.M. LOCATION: Fire Conference Room
1. Welcome/Self Introductions
Committee Members:
Chairwoman/Council Member Nancy Gardner
Council Member Mike Henn
George Drayton
Ray Halowski
Tom Houston
Jim Miller
Janet Rappaport
Randy Seton
Guests:
Monica Mazur
Jack and Nancy Skinner
Dr. Steven N. Murray, Cal State Fullerton
Dr. Jayson R. Smith, Cal State Fullerton
Stephen G. Whittaker, Grad Student, Cal State Fullerton
City or County Staff:
Dave Kiff, Assistant City Manager
John Kappeler, Code & WQ Division Supervisor
Bob Stein, Assistant City Engineer
Mark Reader, Consultant with Public Works
Michelle Clemente, Marine Protection and Education Supervisor
Shirley Oborny, Administrative Assistant
2. Approval of Previous Meeting's Minutes
The minutes from the April 9, 2009, meeting were approved.
3. Old Business
(a) Bay and Ocean Bacteriological Test Results
Ms. Mazur reviewed the latest bacti reports.
4. New Business
(a) Little Corona del Mar Rockweed Program
Dr. Smith explained that Mr. Stein contacted him and Mr. Murray to find out how long it
would take for the rocky intertidal weeds to recover if, for example, water quality issues
and human impacts were removed. Dr. Smith responded that it could take 8 to 10
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years but they could potentially speed up the process by restoring the populations. Dr.
Smith gave a PowerPoint presentation on the restoration experiments they performed
(attached).
Ms. Gardner asked if they witnessed people attempting to remove the experimental
samples. Dr. Smith said the canopies used in the experiments did draw attention. He
agreed with her suggestion that certain areas could be roped off using signage and the
City's Tide Pool Rangers to help keep people off the rocks.
Mr. Seton asked if there were any influence or measurements of the fresh water lens at
the control site in Morning Canyon on calm days vs. heavy days of runoff. Dr. Smith
said they didn't take any measurements of water quality as part of this experiment but
he said both locations have creek terrestrial runoff. He said the top predators are
probably sea stars or sea snails.
Mr. Kappeler asked how long it takes for a new species to establish. Dr. Smith said
survivor rates drops off over time and it probably takes three years to determine how
old the individuals of the population are.
Ms. Skinner asked what the source is of the non-native plants. Dr. Smith said a lot of it
comes from Japan but he's not sure. They believe it's on oyster spat or oyster
aquaculture.
Mr. Skinner asked if the new MPA designations are important to his experiments. Dr.
Smith said a no -take reserve is very effective but there is no law affecting trampling or
handling. When he studied mussels in a protected -by-law area vs. unprotected, the
results were virtually the same suggesting the MPA regulations aren't effective when
only collecting is taken into account.
Mr. Drayton asked what the benefit is of Rockweed. Dr. Smith said a lot of species rely
on it. If there are a lot of species there, it will increase visitation and the economy.
Ms. Gardner asked why the seeding was unsuccessful. Dr. Smith said he thinks the
bags attracted sand and sediment which could scour off any new individuals.
Mr. Stein said there is a Phase II in the NOAA Grant. Dr. Smith said in that phase he
wants to transplant more material in an aggregation in order to see enhanced
populations and survival. He wants to monitor diversity underneath the canopies and
outside the transplanted material. He also wants to remove non-native seaweeds in the
tide pools.
In response to Mr. Seton, Dr. Smith said he doesn't think there are areas as abundant
with Rockweed as there were in the '70s; however, Shaw's Cove and Dana Point have
some good populations. He said there could be many different reasons for the decline
in the Rockweed but the most obvious are in the high human -use sites.
(b) Big Canyon Creek Restoration Program
Mr. Reader said he assists Mr. Stein with management duties on this project. He
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provided handouts (attached) and explained the project.
In response to Ms. Skinner's question about whether the plants could be harvested to
remove the selenium, Mr. Kiff said there isn't a good way, thus far, to remove selenium.
It may or may not be pulled up with the roots so that's why this is a pilot program.
In response to Mr. Seton, Mr. Kiff explained that there is an urban runoff component
but the selenium is likely coming from a Monterey Rock formation in the local hills. It
doesn't matter what the water source is because whenever there's an opportunity for it
to pond, that's when it converts to selenite, which is more bio-available to fish and then
to birds. The reason the pond must stay is to replace previous mitigation required as
part of the Back Bay sewer trunk line. Discussion ensued regarding potential water
sources that could be used to fill the pond.
Mr. Reader continued with his presentation. In response to Chairwoman Gardner, Mr.
Reader said the Department of Fish and Game plan to introduce the Western Pond
Turtle to this area. Council Member Gardner questioned the wisdom of the introduction
of the pond turtle.
Mr. Stein said the various agencies involved have had a series of conference calls and
have been very accommodating. He said Mr. Reader has been doing a great job
moving the project through the pre -permit process. He's very hopeful to get on the
California Coastal Commission's agenda within four months and start construction at the
end of November '09.
Mr. Kiff said the Upper Bay Ecosystem Restoration Project is contingent upon adding
mudflat and this is the project that adds the mudflat.
Mr. Reader talked about the project schedule. The revised mitigated negative
declaration may go to the City Council on September 8tn
In response to Mr. Houston's question about why plans are submitted incomplete, Mr.
Reader said plans typically go through several rounds of plan checks.
In response to Council Member Henn, Mr. Reader said the latest cost estimate for the
project is between $8 and $9 million. Mr. Kiff added that $900,000 has been funded to
date through grants and about $5 or $6 million has been set aside by other agencies for
this project.
In response to Mr. Seton, Mr. Kiff said there will be a maintenance component to the
wetlands. The final document will project those costs.
5. Public Comments on Non -Agenda Items
Mr. Miller commented on MiOcean's beach monitors discussed at the last meeting. He
thinks it's a great idea. He suggested a live feed of the surf conditions be included to
alleviate driving from place to place to view the surf.
Mr. Skinner announced Mr. Kappeler's storm drain study on Balboa Island. He said
some bacterial samples have been taken where the San Diego Creek and Delhi Channel
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enter the bay. The bacterial level there is lower than it is up in the creeks. He thinks
it's due to the weir that acts as a catch basin. As it fills and empties out during high
and low tides it prolongs the dilution of what's coming down San Diego Creek as well as
promoting die -off because travel time is increased. He thinks this is also happening at
the Delhi Channel. Discussion ensued. Mr. Skinner said Newport is getting blamed for
everything that's running off the islands and the Peninsula. He thinks Mr. Kappeler's
study will show bacteria regrowing in the gutter and storm drains. The public will need
to be educated about the importance of preventing water from running off the grass,
etc.
6. Topics for Future Agendas
(a) Carnation Stormdrain
(b) DWR Model Landscape and Irrigation Ordinance
(c) Poseidon Desalination Project
(d) Pacific Oyster Restoration Program
(e) NOAA Grant Update
(f) Update on Integrated Watershed Planning Efforts
Mr. Kappeler said Harbor Resources and California Coastkeeper would like to give an
update on the Copper Reduction Program.
Ms. Rappaport suggested having a presentation by Aquafied, a company that uses a
method to treat water so less is needed for irrigation purposes.
7. Set Next Meeting Date
The next meeting was scheduled for July 9tn
S. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 4:35 p.m.
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