Maryanne Reiter, hydrologist at Weyerhaeuser on “Spatial and temporal turbidity patterns over 30 years in a managed forest of Western Washington”:

“In the early 1980s there was concern over sediment filling Capitol Lake.”  Weyerhaeuser wanted to determine if forest practices were contributed, so created a watershed plan.  

Study started in 1974.  Several 1 square mile sections studied, plus multiple grab sites. 

Used turbidity as a measure since more data was available than suspended sediment on.  A correlation between the two was demonstrated.

The measures of turbidity was adjusted for flow.  The watersheds, although near, behaved differently, and account.  

Harvest does not account for the decrease. Changes in way roads were constructed, sediment traps and ditching are likely influential.

Underlying geology was considered.  There was a marked difference between glacial and volcanic terrains.

New sampling equipment were installed in 2006. 

“This study has shown decreasing trends in winter turbidity for at the small and large watershed scale.” 

Conclusion:  Decline largely due to improvements in road construction and maintenance practice.

Questions and answers:

Was there a problem with clogging culverts with vegetation?

No, design includes settling basin to allow cleaning.

Questions regarding road construction.

Most of the road consruction had been completed prior to sampling.  Traffic more than density of roads.

Luke Rogers spoke on “South Sound forest land conversion”

Questions asked from Integrated Statewide Parcel Data:  How big is forest industry?  How much of these are family forests?

things are rapidly becoming urbanized in the South Sound

roughly a 1/4 of forest land has been impacted by development

Showed timberland ownership net flow.  The amount of land under public ownership and small owners hasn’t changed much.  Much of the conversion comes from large forestry selling to smaller owners, which then (after a time) sell land for development.

He explained the property tax incentives to keep land for forestry.

Researchedthe amount of incentive payments needed for someone to choose not to develop.  For $200 an acre per year, 93% of owners would join a 10 year contract to not develop.  53% of people would keep the land undeveloped for 50+ years.

Concerns: “Forestlands are more at risk now than ever.”  DFL reduced risk, but was expensive for local communities.  “Regulatory takings trump tax incentives.”

Could use mitigation funds/markets, and dvelopment right markets.

Questions and answers:

Is there any evidence that reduced land prices is an opportunity?

This is a question that will be researched next spring, but opportunities here could be cancelled out by smaller budgets for buying land.

Are there any places where the conversion of large forestlands to small parcels could be adding to forested land, since it is less apt to be harvested?

We don’t have a good idea of what smaller parcels contribute to the ecosystem, and smaller parcels are more likely to be poorly managed.

Pete Swensson, Senior Planner Thurston Regional Planning Council, spoke on “South Sound population growth projections.”

How forecasting is done, our changing economic base, pattern of growth

Where population growth and decline comes from:  birth rates and death rates change slowly, but migration is highly variable.  We need to look at economics and demographics to find labor force supply and demand

currently our growth is slowing due to state gov’t employment growth slowdown (since Intiative 601) and recession

gov’t share of jobs is falling

There are more commuters between Puget Sound counties.  We’re “NOT YET a ‘bedroom community'” 

outbound commuters “bring more earnings into local economy than State Government”

Commuters from Pierce and King (8,700) combined is approximately equal to commuters from Mason, Grays Harbors, and Lewis counties (8,900)

growth is cyclical and comes in spurts

“For the first time since the early ’80s, Thurston employment is droppping,”  but “TRPC forecasts a return of rapid long-term growth for Thurston.”

Long term models cannot predict the timing of recessions or recovers, but are good for major trends.

Jeff Dickison welcomed attendees.

Tribal fishermen have moved onto chum salmon.  While sockeye was good this year, coho salmon was dismal.  We need to look into this.

Referenced new research into algal blooms that provide danger to fish.  Ask Jeff to email you the article.

Thanked planners and sponsors.

Dr. Julia Parrish (University of Washington) will be facilitator today.

Encouraged us to focus on integrating ideas for a research agenda.

Joe Gaydos of The SeaDoc Society provided opening remarks.  He is a member of Puget Sound Partnership Science Panel, and Northwest Straits Commission.  Here are some selections from his talk:

Used example of Lancet article stating there was a link MMR vaccine and autism that has since been discredited as an example of denialism.

“prescription for denialism: allege there is a conspiracy, use fake experts, cherry-pick evidence, create impossible standards for your opponents, use logical fallacies, manufacture doubt”

“…we expect miracles, but have little faith in those capable of producing them.” -Michael Specter, Denialism

There is a “scientific vacuum in a world of information overload.”

Scientists are too negative and too literal, and we’re poor story-tellers (Don’t Be Such a Scientist – Randy Olson)

We need share our research to the public in a way they can understand

“Step 1: Resolve to speak for your science”

“Step 2: Know the playing field” (know what the media expects)

“Step 3: Pursue excellence and be realistic”

“Step 4: Expect backlash” (possible personal, and possibly from other scientists)

Jeanette Dorner and I will be updating what’s happening at the 2010 South Sound Science Symposium.  Updates will be posted at  https://www.squaxin-nr.org/  

Some background information about the Symposium is on the Puget Sound Partnership website, which also has the agenda.

If anyone else present as your own updates or observations, please feel free to email them to me: kanderson [at] nwifc [dot] org