The Eightmile River

Wild & Scenic Study Committee

Meeting Minutes – April 4,  2006, Salem Town Hall

Present: Anthony Irving, Nathan Frohling, Eric Belt, David Bingham.  Also in attendance: Damon Hearne.

1. Acceptance of March 13, 2006 Meeting Minutes – Unanimous

2. Acceptance of Study Report – Nathan Frohling made a motion to accept the version 18 study report (as emailed to the Study Committee for approval) as the draft for submission to the National Park Service for review.  David Bingham seconded the motion.  It was noted that a previous draft of this report received no comments or submissions of concern from the Committee and that the version 18 draft strengthened the watershed approach wording as discussed in the March 13 2006 committee meeting.  The motion was passed unanimously.  Nathan Frohling emphasized that the Study Report is a guiding document that describes the study process and philosophy of the protection strategy.  He went on to add that the Study Report is a companion document to the Management Plan.

3. Funding  - Damon Hearne outlined the progress news regarding funding for FY ’07.  The completed pre-proposal for a NFWF grant of $20,000 was distributed to the committee.  Hearne noted that if NFWF is interested in considering the grant application, they will request a full application no later than May 1.  Hearne also listed the foundations that have been researched thus far and show promise for possible grant funding.  It was decided that Hearne would draft a two page letter to be used to introductory contacts with various foundations and that the committee would seek professional and/or volunteer assistance in writing this letter.  Nathan Frohling volunteered to pose several questions to the funding specialist at TNC. 

4. Study Report Update - Tony Irving reported that the Study Report would now be submitted to the regional and national NPS offices for official approval.  Once the national NPS director signs off on the bill, it will be sent to the Government Printing Office for printing.  He also noted that we are attempting to coordinate the report review with initiation of the designation bill in congress. 

5. ERWSCC – Damon Hearne presented the list of current committee members interested in continuing with the Coordinating Committee as well as a list of additional names that had been recommended by various people.  There was some discussion regarding how current members may represent towns or land trusts, but that the final decisions as to committee composition would be made by the selectmen and land trust boards.  It was decided that a near final list would be available for discussion at the next Study Committee meeting. 

6. Involvement thresholds - Tony Irving discussed the fact that the committee would possibly need to establish some sort of threshold for involvement in or intervention in a given project within the watershed that may impact the resources values.   David Bingham stated that he would expect the committee to be involved to some extent in any project that would affect the ORV’s.  Others noted that they worry that if we do not have a threshold that there will be too many projects to effectively participate in the most important ones.  It was also noted that there are actually not that many “significant” development proposals at any one time.   Damon Hearne will contact other wild and scenic coordinating committee’s to find out how they deal with involvement criteria.  David Bingham volunteered to assist in reviewing various applications and proposals.

7. Remaining activities – Damon Hearne updated the committee on the status of the Management Plan (waiting for Kevin Case to meet with Hearne – should occur within two weeks) and the report from Bill Moorehead (hoping to get it this month).

8. Tony Irving reminded the committee that the celebration dinner date was April 27^th at the Fox Hopyard Restaurant, 6pm.

9. The next meeting of the Study Committee will be April 24^th, 5pm in Lyme.

Submitted D. Hearne