The Eightmile River

Wild & Scenic Study Committee

Meeting Minutes – March 28, 2005, Salem Town Offices

Present: Anthony Irving, Eric Belt, John Rozum, Linda Krause, Walter Smith, Nathan Frohling, Randy Dill, Sally Snyder.  NPS - Kevin Case.

Absent: Larry Reitz, Brad Parker, Jamie Fosburgh, Sue Merrow, David Bingham, Bill Koch

1.      Call to Order 5:00 PM.

2.      Acceptance of March 1, 2005 Meeting Minutes – Unanimous

3.      Subcommittee Reports

a.      Cultural – The Cultural Landscape was reconfirmed at the February Study Committee meeting as an endorsed Outstanding Resource Value.  It was recommended and agreed that the work of the subcommittee has been completed and the subcommittee will disband.

b.      Management – The subcommittee is in the final planning stages for the upcoming Land Use Commissioner’s Summit to be held on March 31.  There was discussion regarding the role, if any, for planner consultant support at the summit and it was decided at this juncture such a presence was not necessary.  The subcommittee will keep open the option of future use of a consultant if it is clear the towns have specific needs for technical assistance in implementing certain management tools.  Case will follow-up with planning consultants based on need.  It was noted we need a clear “beyond the summit” message at the end of the meeting.  The subcommittee will work with John Monroe, the meeting facilitator to craft such a message. 

c.      Outreach & Education – Smith reported the subcommittee is gearing up for a substantial amount of outreach following the Summit.  Activities underway include: updates to the website; a new newsletter devoted to the watershed ecosystem; stakeholder outreach regarding the management plan development; community meetings; ecotours with CT Audubon; and a new table top display.

d.      Natural Resources – Case reported we are still waiting for the Watershed Ecosystem report which is now approximately 6 months overdue.  Apparently we should receive a draft in the next few days.  The UMASS Instream Flow Study Phase I draft is being circulated for review.  Snyder noted that she has distributed copies to appropriate fisheries personnel at DEP.  All indications are that it is a very comprehensive draft and will do much to advance our knowledge of the fish community and its habitat and flow needs within the watershed.  Comments are due back in the next few weeks from all reviewers.  The other natural resource ORVs, geology, water quality, hydrology, and unique species and natural communities need their reports fine-tuned but are essentially completed.

4.      Other Old Business

a.      Fox Hopyard Diversion Permit – There has been no activity by DEP on the permit review.  Case reviewed the application and our comment letter with a river restoration specialist from NPS and Trout Unlimited.  Case will follow-up with DEP to get an update on the status of the review process.  We are also waiting to have a meeting with the applicant to review our comment letter.

b.      Lyme Gravel Pit – It appears the Lyme Inland Wetlands Commission is poised to deny the application for a third time.  If the applicant continues with the application process with Planning & Zoning, Irving suggested the same information that was submitted on behalf of the Study Committee during the Inland Wetlands hearing process be submitted at the Planning and Zoning hearing.  The information does not take a position on the application, but provides a summary on the Study and our findings to date related to the area in question.

c.      Growth Study – Irving, Case, Frohling and Krause reviewed and provided comments to Planimetrics on their Growth Study draft.  Concerns were raised as to the methodology employed to assess variations in community growth rates based on proximity to major expressways such as Route 11.  Also, there was interest in having Planimetrics explore how growth rates may have been different over the last decade if the significant amount of land put into open space had not occurred.   Planimetrics is incorporating comments and will produce a final product.

d.      CT Support Legislation – The Committee thanked all the communities, land trusts and individuals who provided supportive comment to HB 6414 at the Environment Committee hearing.  The bill was unanimously voted out of Committee and sent to the full House.  It is anticipated it will not have to go to any other Committees and its next stop will be for a vote before the full House of Representatives.         

5.      New Business

a.      Lyme Land Use Commissioner Representative Needed for Study Committee – Irving reported David Tiffany has resigned as a member of the Study Committee.  Everyone appreciated David’s contributions to the Study effort and agreed he will be missed.  Irving is now in the process of trying to find a replacement from a Lyme land use commission to fill the seat.

6.      Next meeting date is Monday, April 25, 2005 at the East Haddam Grange Hall.

Meeting Adjourned 6:30 pm.

Submitted

K. Case