The Eightmile River
Wild & Scenic Study Committee
Meeting Minutes – March 22, 2004, Salem Town Offices
Present: Nathan Frohling, David Bingham, Eric Belt, Sue Merrow, John Rozum, David Tiffany, Bill Koch, Larry Reitz, Anthony Irving, Walter Smith; NPS – Kevin Case
Absent: Brad Parker, Sally Snyder, Randy Dill, Jon Morris, Jamie Fosburgh, Linda Krause
1) Meeting called to order at 5:05 PM
2) Minutes of February 23, 2004 meeting approved unanimously.
3) Subcommittee Reports:
a. Management –
Frohling reported the Subcommittee has almost completed the assessment of stresses and threats to the watershed’s outstanding resource values and has identified a series of analytical tools to evaluate their significance. Case will be working with our GIS support person and others to implement. The subcommittee also spent some time discussing the content of the community meeting presentation Frohling will be doing regarding watershed management issues. All agreed the meetings are an important opportunity to get a sense of local citizen’s management strategy preferences. The subcommittee also identified an interest in obtaining more detailed aerial photographs for the stresses/threats analysis. Case has tracked down a possible source to get new low-elevation photos taken this spring. Merrow moved spending up to up to $3,000 for obtaining new aerial photos. Bingham seconded, and committee approved unanimously. The Committee also asked that a justification and data management write-up be put together prior to committing to a contractor, to clarify exactly how the data will be used and who will be responsible for housing the data during and after the study.
b. Outreach & Education –
Smith reported for the Subcommittee. Community meeting dates have been confirmed for May 13 (East Haddam), 18 (Lyme) and 19 (Salem). The meeting will focus on two areas: a summary of the Committee’s findings to date regarding outstanding resource values; and a discussion on the management committee’s work to identify management approaches for those special resources. The subcommittee is very interested in getting the attendance and input of not only those local citizens that have been aware and supportive of the study, but also those that have not yet been engaged. Outreach to promote the meetings will include a postcard mailing to every household in the watershed, press releases, signs, and website. Merrow and Smith have identified the specific locations where roads signs will be put up announcing “Entering the Eightmile River Watershed”. Applications to install the signs will be submitted to DOT by the local First Selectman. “Going Wild in the Eightmile” looks like the winning phrase for a bumper sticker. It is hoped they will be printed and available by the Community meetings in May. Merrow suggested the Salem Valley Ice Cream Shop should create an Eightmile River flavor. All agreed. Bingham will look into. The subcommittee has also begun developing a strategy to directly reach out to landowners in the watershed. It is anticipated that in June a series of local landowner meetings will be held throughout the watershed to give landowners an opportunity to learn more about the study, ask questions and provide input.
c. Cultural/Historic/Recreational –
Merrow reported the subcommittee met with the UMASS graduate student, Lauren Todd. Everyone was very impressed with her and felt comfortable with moving forward on the project. Case will work with her and Ethan Carr to develop a detailed workplan and contractual arrangements. It is anticipated the bulk of the work will be done by the end of July and final product will be delivered by October 2004. The subcommittee has also received a draft copy of the archaeology review from its consultant.
d. Natural Resources –
Belt reported the geology section is still being rewritten. The final contractual arrangements with UMASS for the instream flow study are almost complete. It is anticipated that a launch meeting for the study will occur on April 5 with its principal investigator, Piotr Parasiewicz. The draft biodiversity assessment should be to the subcommittee in one week. The first phase of the vernal pool assessment process, a training class for volunteers, was a great success with over 60 people attending. A second training will occur in two weeks, then the assessment will begin.
4) Other Old Business
a. Lyme/Beaver Brook Gravel Pit Application – Case reported that NPS will give a heads up to the Army Corps on the status of the project and their possible need to review. The IWC hearing has closed.
b. Colchester/Lake Hayward Subdivision Proposal – Case provided update on status. The IWC hearing has likely been closed. The Committee discussed sending a letter similar to what has been sent to the Lyme IWC just to raise awareness with the local commissions that the study is underway. There was consensus that the Committee not be drawn into local land use applications as it is not the purpose of the study, however it will be helpful for the local commissions to be reminded that the study is happening.
5) New Business – none
6) Next Meeting date – April 26, 2004, East Haddam
Meeting adjourned 6:55 PM
Submitted K. Case