AG0120S130018_PProplMtgNotes_fnl.pdf

AG-0120-S-13-0018, A001

Preproposal Meeting Agenda

Kenai Russian River Complex (KRRC)

Fish Waste Management Plan

AG-0120-S-13-0018

9 Aug 2013, 1pm Alaska Time

Forest Service Attendees: Denise Murphy, Contract Specialist and Bobbie Jo Kolodziejski, Technical Rep and Contracting Officer’s Representative

Contractor Attendees: Steven Grabacki, of Gray Star Pacific Seafood

Meeting started a little after 1pm. Reviewed the items listed on the attached agenda regarding the solicitation package. Mr. Grabacki did not have any additional questions regarding the solicitation package.

Bobbie Jo talked about fish waste being a problem in the Kenai Russian River Complex (KRRC) since the 1990s. The Forest Service has been working hard to mitigate bear problems. Bobbie

Jo talked about the different recreation areas and activities going in in the KRRC area. There are unique challenges when dealing with fish waste and there is no one size fits all solution.

A couple of ideas have been vetted: hydro-powered chopper system – patent pending with UAA and a stand-alone system that attaches to fillet station from Forest Service San Dimas Research

Station.

Forest Service has tried doing manual raking and disbursement of fish waste. There may be an option for collecting fish waste to be used in compost piles or as fertilizer.

The Forest Service has a handful of fillet tables and we ask people to dispose of fish waste in fast moving currents—stop, chop and throw.

There are bigger and better solutions. The Forest Service is looking for a contractor to help us identify the best option, work out the details on what will work and provide cost benefit analysis for options. Looking to go beyond conceptual ideas and find something realistic and effective.

Main goal is to dissipate fish waste to not attract bears.

The demographic of people visiting the area is wide ranging. There are people who have been fishing the area for generations and there are people who have never fished before in their life.

The fish waste options need to be user friendly and convenient so people of all level of experience can and will use it.

Safety is number one overall.

The need or lack of a need for staffing is important and should be considered.

Do not want fish waste system to become a bear attractant.

Map of the area is attached for reference. It shows the KRRC area and existing fillet station areas. The one option is not shown is access points to electricity.

AG-0120-S-13-0018, A001

Are there concerns about areas around Forest Service land boundaries? The KRRC runs from the falls to the confluence down to the power line. There are two federal agencies that have jurisdiction in the area along with state agencies. Food conditioning of bears to fish waste in the

Kenai Wildlife Refuge is an issue.

One issue that is know is that people have imported fish waste from dip-net areas on the lower

Kenai Peninsula – they bring fish to the KRRC to fillet it there and dispose of their waste.

Bobbie Jo has data that documents where the fish waste accumulates why they occur. There are many factors that contribute to the deposits: shallow water; snags (Do not want to remove because they provide habitat); rocks and people using the same popular fishing holes over and over. Fillet tables have been moved out of these popular spots, however, bears know the area has a lot of fish waste and they return.

Bobbie Jo stated that the FS has exhausted a lot of options and documented why the options did not work.

Looking for bigger and better solutions to resolve the problem of fish waste. Voluntary compliance has shown some improvements; however, there may need to be some infrastructure and regulatory requirements to really solve the problem. There will need to be solid monitoring to know if goals are being met.

Meeting over at 1:30 pm.