January 9, 2009 Meeting
Brainstorming Threats
2.5- hour exercise on threats (Brainstorming with some discussion and debate) Listing threats began with attempts to capture both Stressors and Causes, then we simply listed the threats. The list is the transcription of threats anyone mentioned, not prioritzed nor did we seek consensus one each threat prior to listing.
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Stressors to Fish Habitat |
Existing Causes/Potential Threats |
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Degraded water quality |
increasing impervious surfaces |
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loss of wetlands |
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alteration of riparian zone |
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warming temperatures |
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septic |
Changing hyrdrology |
increasing impervious surfaces |
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climate change, reduced snow pack |
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groundwater withdrawals |
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hydroelectric projects |
Reduced bank stability |
alteration of riparian zone |
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recreational activities (fishing, ATV, etc.) |
Loss of access/connectivity |
roads/railroads/utilities, culverts |
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invasive species |
Lack of coordination |
agencies/org with no common goals |
Lack of prioritization process |
poor communication |
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lack of planning capacity |
Lack of enforcement |
poor political/gov't support |
Loss of structural complexity |
waterfront development |
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loss of LWD source or removal |
Increases on disease/pathogens |
warming temperatures |
Increases competition for native aquatic com. |
invasive species |
Loss of natural resilence |
poor understanding of system process/planning |
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upland development |
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diversion of surface water flows |
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groundwater contamination |
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new energy project - tidal/current/hydro |
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no BMP |
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poor planning |
degraded riparian habitat |
no holistic planning |
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no accountability |
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lack of long-term time frames |
loss of biodiversity |
unregulated development |
lack of education of policymakers |
lack of biocomplexity reservations |
lack of knowledge/resesarch/data |
lack of education of public |
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policy-making process |
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no mitigation |
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lack of understanding abut economic ecosystem services |
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compartmentalization |
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lack of financial incentive to do right thing |
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economics |
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climate change |
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loss of habitat |
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shoreline simplification |
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population growth |
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migration into area |
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toxic discharge |
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herbicides |
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response time to disasters |
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lack of (zoning) regulations |
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gaps in regs |
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land use regs |
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revise 50' setbacks |
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revise parking requirements |
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variances |
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(Conditional use permits) |
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past/present/future |
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timber harvest |
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gravel mining |
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wetland conversion |
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Forest Practices Act |
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no ecosystem management |
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poor implementation of design standard |
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outdated design standards |
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habitat fragmentation |
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Environmental Education Standards |
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gold mining |
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coal mining |
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oil and gas development |
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water use |
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impervious cover |
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spill management |
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no zero discharge |
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sewage discharge |
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shoreline hardening |
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sewage treatement - settling pond capacity |
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catastrophic spill |
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port expansions |
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vessel traffic |
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spills |
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sea level rise - rate of change |
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loss of estuarine habitat |
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complacency |
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beetle outbreaks |
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flooding |
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fires |
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channelization |
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agricultural farming/ranching |
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mariculture |
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overharvest |
Brainstorming Opportunities
(things that have worked well or have a good basis to build on)
Brainstorming exercise, no right or wrongs – little debate or discussion
Culvert inventory and prioritization
Critical habitat areas
50’ setback ordinance
50/50 program – Kenai River boardwalks
Conservation Land Acquisitions
KR Special Management Area
High Percentage of Federal lands
Management of public access
Receptive audience for habitat protection
Growing sense of collaboration
Corporate cooperation
Coastal Impact Assistance Program
Kachemak Bay State Park
Water Quality Monitoring – Citizen Environ. Monitoring / Agency Baseline
Coastal Erosion Awareness
Kasitsna Bay Lab
GIS capacity
Borough Tax Credit
Ability to Identify information needs and filled them (wetlands map/ DEM)
Hight degree of NGO capacity
Wetland working group (collaboration)
Visitor information centers
World renown FISH
Vigorous group with energy to succeed
(Lots of examples to learn from)
Diversity of partners
Fishing industry – value to local and state economies
Scenic Highway Program – improvement
Kenai Peninsula Wildlife Scenic Trail
Partnership within one borough
Aquatic Education Programs
KBEEA/KPECE (collaborative environmental educational networking)
Coastal & Estuarine Land Cons. Program (CELP)
Streamwatch
Track record of success
Skills sets can be found locally
Fish is still a cultural value on Kenai Peninsula
Some success of enforcement
Existing funding opportunities
Well positioned @ state level politically
ADOTPF does not use herbicides
State/federal invasive species positions and mandated plan
Local Technical Advisory Committee on Invasive Species
Cost-share program (ADF&G, FWS)
New borough culvert ordinance
Federal tax incentives for easements
Land owner education thru land trust
Kenai River Center, Kachemak Bay Research Reserve
BPM Training Opportunities– Stormwater
College campuses
Caring for the Kenai
Adopt-a-Stream program
Islands & Oceans Institute, Sealife Science Center