Washington Tribal Conservation Advisory Council (WATCAC)Meeting notes - Draft

Tuesday, February 12th, 2013 (9:30AM-12:00 approx)

Please note: We need your help!

Robin will be setting up Tribal Local Working Group meetings March through May to discuss priorities for programs and funding requests for the FY 2014

This LWG information will be compiled and finalized at the June face to face WATCAC meeting and then integrated into the state program budget requests.

Tribes are also encouraged to participate in the local working groups that will be led by the District Conservationists throughout the state. Again, this information will be used for programs and funding requests for the FY 2014

Meeting notes: Please submit agenda items to Robin by March 8 for the March 12 meeting

1. Welcome, Introduction (Roylene Rides at the Door) (15 min) Thanked everyone for their attendance at Jan WATCAC F2F Meeting Information and input provided from WATCAC for future actions Rebecca S. East Tribal Liaison is no longer with NRCS-WA effective this week. Staff will have to

address new organization for Tribal program Two Tribal DC positions are awaiting word from HQ regarding selection of panels of applicants Awaiting from HQ final budget allocations and federal budget through the EOY, Sequester, FY 2013 Program FA allocations have been reduced relative to previous years End of March WA to request for additional FA programs $$ Farm bill (awaiting new) – Both houses working on new legislation, Senate Version is very good for

NRCS Questions:

o Jackie R. What kind of direction from group on NRCS funds? A: To be discussed during later topic, regarding how to shift funds around funding pools to cover applications, with limited funds in existing funding pools FY1 13 programs-EQIP. FY 13 program FA for EQIP funds were reduced this year, down $3M.

2. Tribal Resource Assessment (TRA) finalized (Peter B.) (30 min)

Discussion and input from Tribes on review Comments Q: Alan Chapman will review and provide info soon Picture Use on TRA, regarding permission to use from Quinault (Mike) is okay, Robin needs to contact

Nisqually and Makah. Roylene requested for final comment by end of week as we are going to finalize TRA publication and

use of information for resource based performance planning in FY 14 and forward. Deadline – 2/18, Monday for final input for TRA Draft

Q-Randy Kinley – How do we address the issue/policy in order to address Salmon Recovery need? A: LWG approach in addressing dollar focus and resource concerns. Robin has sent out info on LWG meetings in the North Sound. New Farmbill not yet decided. In FY 13, FB 2008 has been extended through FY 13.

3. Tribal EQIP FY13 update (Jeff Harlow) (30 min) Handout and input requested. Attached? Last year in June 2012, WATCAC info and priorities were garnered to use for FY 13 Program rollout, FY13 Funding Pool Options – 5ea. DECISION

o Fund what you can with Option 5, Paul Williams, Chairwoman Nelson, Jonalee Squeochso Next priority will be to follow the order of ranking; Cropland, Other, and Pastureo Request for additional funds on the next top 5ea. applicationso Slippage funds could be moved around between LWG funding pools in the interim before our

Dead line obligations on March 22, 2013. April 1st is the national sweeping of funds in states.o Q: What do the other LWG’s do? A: Typically a process is set up for decision making for these

issues.o FYI- LWG Meetings for FY 14 Program discussion will be happening from Feb through April

2013. This info is posted on the NRCS-WA website. Contacts, locations and meeting dates are contained with this info. Robin to work with Sherre on this info to share with Tribes.

There are 10 LWG (non tribal) and 1ea. WATCAC (LWG). Funding prioritization is discussed at these LWG meetings

o Questions; please send to Jeff directly.

4. Tribal EQIP FY14 game plan (Peter B., Jeff Harlow, Robin) (30 minutes) PowerPoint - Overview of FY 2014 Program proposal are to be discussed in the next months

including; Screening Tool, Ranking Criteria, Priorities for Funding Pools, Key Practice Systems and hold down rates.

o A worksheet will be used to build the input provided from the WATCAC/LWGs to use for Budget FY 14 development.

o Need info by May 2013. Note; To have the tribes participate with LWG meeting to help focus priorities in non- tribal funding

and support that affect Tribal resources Q: (Mike) – New Ranking process now compares against only within the Land Use funding pools? A:

Yes. Subsequently, do we have to now compare against only within the Land Use funding pools? A: Yes. Q: Subsequently, do we have to determine ranking criteria between Land Uses? A: Yes we need to set up a protocol for setting LU funding pools priority process of funding.

5. Tribal Consultation (Robin) (30 min) Roylene - SAFE Harbor discussion for March Meeting. Our agency will be providing states info on this

area to use. WA has requested HQ to remove us as states to receive info until we have shared and vetted with our tribes first. To be discussed in March. Robin to work with Tribes and Jim Peters to prepare this issue on paper to share with WATCAC.

Discussion with other State Conservationists recently about Formal Consultation agreements with Tribes. WA has no formal agreements at this time.

o Formal Consultation vs. Informal option may be more beneficial? None of the tribes have requested for this per se – Roylene. Robin will not discuss this at this time.

o Christine – Won’t Consultation count with those current NRCS agreements? A: Depends as there are various levels.

o Robin:

o National Level - How NRCS will work with Tribes?o State Level – How NRCS will work with Tribes?o Local – Can also be as much as we prefer?

Informal method is the preferred choice, unless otherwise requested.o Q: Jackie R - Will an MOU suffice to document level of engagement and commitment? A: Yes

this will be helpful. USDA does not have a Consultation Agreement template.o Jackie suggests that it will helpful more than not to have some sort of an agreement in place

which defines our relationship and process of working together…Roylene in agreement.o A suggestion from Lummi was about developing an umbrella Consultation Agreement with

each Tribe. Mutual Agreement at various levels for several areas…o Robin - Consultation Agreement is a Tribe by Tribe agreement with the NRCS o Mike Stamon: If this will help you along and is specifically a standalone agreement then

agreed that it might be something that we might want to consider.o Peter – NRCS has MOU and Cooperative Working Agreement (CWA) Agreement with CDs and

NRCS regarding mutual agreement on working relations.o Also EPA and NRCS are working together on the National WQ Initiative on specific Watersheds

(303d listed streams) FY 2012 – South Fork Palouse WA for NWQI FY 2013 – WA to propose to change Watershed focus to the Nooksack WS (Westside)

for NWQIo Roylene – currently we have only 2ea. Tribal Consultation Agreements as of last year 2012.

Safe Harbor Concept - Robin working on issue paper and will provide info to Tribes for input after initial draft

o Roylene talked with other State Conservationists who are moving forward with Safe Harbor – Important lesson here: They did not get Tribal input, and are experiencing the consequences now. We will be involving the Tribes from the beginning to ensure that we are moving forward in positive way for all partners.

o Jim Peters provided a great concept at the State Conservation Commission meeting – Robin will work with him to get that down in a draft issue paper and will send out to all Tribes.

o Roylene – will garner copies of example Safe Harbor Agreements between individuals and regulating agencies from other states

o WDFW and NRCS are already working with Saige Grouse Initiative and other candidate species and the protection of their habitat.

6. Other:

Next F2F Meeting, June 11-13, 2013 at Eastside (Northern Quest Casino) or Cle Elum – SunCadia Resort.

o To use the last F2F meeting information collectedo If Cle Elum then 6/19-20 (tail end of WADE), can actually engage at WADEo Tribal Forestry Convention also 6/11-13 – conflicto 6/3-7 NQwest not available

Attendees:Alan Chapman, Randy Kinley ( Lummi); Nicole R. (Quileute); Christine (Samish); Jackie R (CRCD); Chairwoman Charlene Nelson (Shoalwater Bay); Jonalee Squeochs (Yakama); Paul Williams (Suquamish); Mike Stamon(Quinault); Mike Schelenburger (IAC); Cindy Spiry, (Snoqualmie); Daryl Williams, (Tulalip)

Roylene Rides At The Door, Robin Slate, Peter P. Bautista, Dave Brower, Jeff Harlow, Rick Noble, Ed Teel, Will Keller Okanagan DC, Jim Poffel, Rich Edlund, Scott Cook, Alex Hall,

March agenda items: Please submit agenda topics to Robin by March 8.

o Safe Harbor discussion including Sage Grouse as example (Roylene, Will Keller) (30 min)o Tribal experiences with Wetland Reserve Program (Quinault? Yakama?) (30 min)