Grays Harbor Marine Resources Committee Implementation Gaining Momentum

Great progress is being made with a multiple meeting series of gatherings being held at City Hall in Montesano, Washington from November through early January. The meetings intend to quickly identify the practical vision and goals that would be carried out by a marine resources committee (MRC). By pin pointing obstacles and the strategies needing to overcome them these workgroups are aiming to create core action plan to begin working with communities in coastal Washington to address a diverse array of marine issues. Some of the things that have been discussed as potential roadblocks for the successful formation of an MRC include:

-Scarce financial resources (NOT HAVING SUPPORT/PARTNERS) lack of participation, inability to get people to understand how they are affected.

-Difficulty to find common ground/conflicting priorities/lack of collaboration with similar efforts.

-Distrust from citizens due to negative experiences involving regulation, taxes, or lack of project successes.

-Not thinking about sustainability of public resources.

-Not having enough scientific expertise leading to data gaps, ignorance of resources.

-Lack of communication leading to poor participation.

During the most recent exploratory meeting, however, strategies were then discussed to address these obstacles and these strategies included:

-Building an efficient organization.

-Demonstrating worthiness to secure funding.

-Promoting education through direct involvement.

-Developing responsible educated members.

-Ensuring the balance of diverse issues/perspectives.

-Empowering public decision making.

-Promoting volunteerism.

-Measuring and communicating success through action/accountability.

-Utilizing sound technical assistance (sound science).

Three more exploratory meetings and one more workgroup meeting will take place between now and January 7, 2009 with the primary focus being on implementation. There has been so much participation and support from local citizens that most expect legislative funding to continue in order for this group to go forward on the many marine issues being discussed along our coast such as water quality, watershed and wetland habitat conservation and renewal, alternative energy proposals, salmon recovery, erosion, commercial and residential development planning, and sustainability.

For more information, including upcoming meeting times and locations as well as meeting minutes please visit http://www.co.grays-harbor.wa.us/info/pub_svcs/MRC/index.html.