The Eightmile River

Wild & Scenic Study Committee

 

Meeting Minutes – June 28, 2004, Salem Town Offices

Present: Nathan Frohling, David Bingham, Eric Belt, Anthony Irving, Sally Snyder, Bill Koch Randy Dill; NPS – Kevin Case, Jamie Fosburgh

Absent: Brad Parker, Larry Reitz, Walter Smith, Sue Merrow, John Rozum, David Tiffany, Linda Krause

1)                  Meeting called to order at 5:10 PM

2)                  Minutes of June 1, 2004 meeting approved unanimously.

3)                  Subcommittee Reports:

a.      Natural Resources –

Case reported on the status of the biodiversity report.  It was the consensus of the Committee that while they appreciate the work of the consultant, they would like to end the contractual relationship with them at the draft stage.  It seems clear what the Natural Resources Subcommittee wants and what the consultant is prepared and willing to deliver is not compatible.  It was agreed it will be helpful to retain the draft document as an internal reference document to draw data sources and management recommendations from.  Case will follow up and pursue another consultant that may provide a better fit for the subcommittee’s needs. 

Case reported on the instream flow study.  The researchers should be in the field starting next week.  David Bingham has been very helpful spending time with them in the field locating access points and sample sites.  A letter has been sent to all riparian landowners letting them know the research may be occurring in the river or stream adjacent to their property and if they have any issues or do not want sampling to occur along their property to contact Irving or Case.  A field day will be set up in July for the Committee to spend some time in the field with the researchers.  Steve Gephard of CT DEP and other biologists have reviewed the sampling plan and offered input on the sampling method.   

Case noted the final reports on geology, water quality and water quantity will be completed over the next 2 months. 

b.      Management – 

Frohling reported the Management Subcommittee is planning to hire an intern to assist in some of the policy and plan reviews.  The ideal candidate will be someone with planning experience who can both review plans and policies and analyze them for issues that may affect the Eightmile Watershed.  Up to $5,500 will be allocated towards the position.  The subcommittee continues to work on assessing threats and gaps in protection measures for outstanding resource values. 

A joint meeting of local land use commission members from the three towns is being planned for the first week of December.  The goals of the meeting are to receive feedback on draft recommendations of the management plan and to increase the commission member’s awareness and desire to work collaboratively on issues related to the Eightmile River Watershed.  It was recommended and agreed, to secure the services of John Monroe, from the National Park Service Rivers and Trails Program, to provide support in planning and facilitation of the meeting.   There is no cost for John’s services.   A month prior to the meeting members of the Management Subcommittee will meet with each land use commission to encourage them to attend the joint meeting and provide a brief summary of the plan and its major components.   Dill noted it will be very helpful if we are as clear as possible with commission members as to exactly what is expected of them at the joint meeting.    The Management subcommittee is also considering hiring a planning specialist to help in crafting some of the management recommendations.     

An outline for the management plan has been drafted and will help guide the subcommittee as they continue their work.

c.      Outreach & Education –

Case reported the second newsletter has been completed and sent to all riparian landowners.  With the newsletter was a cover letter that provided some follow-up on the Community meetings and an announcement regarding the upcoming fish survey (see mention above).  The newsletter will also be emailed to the Eightmile email list that has been developed from community meeting sign-in information and other sources.  In addition, it will be mailed to the local land use commissions.  The Outreach subcommittee is ready to assist the Management Subcommittee in the logistical planning for the fall joint commission meeting.  Case will act as the liaison between the two committees.  It was also recognized that after the joint commission meeting is completed there will be a need to meet with landowners from various areas in the watershed such as Hamburg Cove or Lake Hayward and collect their feedback on specific draft management recommendations.     

d.      Cultural/Historic/Recreational –

Case reported the Cultural Landscape Study is well under way.  The graduate student has visited the watershed four times already.  David Bingham has spent part of a day with her, showing her various views, vistas and resources.  Frohling reiterated his interest in seeing if the Cultural Landscape can be considered an outstanding resource value (ORV).  Fosburgh noted recreation has yet to be addressed.  It may not be an ORV, but it is an important way in which people relate to the watershed.  The Committee agreed this is important to capture.  It was suggested that recreation management should also be addressed in the Management Plan.  Also, the Archaeology Report has been completed.  The subcommittee now needs to make a recommendation to the full-committee regarding ORV status.

4)                  Other Old Business

a.      Study Timeline -

Case reviewed briefly the study process timeline.  The goal continues to be getting on the agenda of local town meetings in late spring of 2005 for town votes.  This vote can be both for support of designation and support for the management plan.  To get to that point there are a number of actions that have to occur beforehand such as the fall joint commission meeting.  Case and Goodfriend are working on a timeline chart to lay out the next 12 months of the study process.  Fosburgh noted the Taunton Wild & Scenic River Study has decided to convene their long-term river management committee before designation is achieved.  Frohling noted it may be difficult to complete the Management Plan in this tight timeline.   Especially if the Management Subcommittee determines there are certain management action items that need to be completed during the study process to make the river suitable for designation.  Overall the Committee agreed to try and meet the timeline goal. 

5)           New Business – none

6)           Next Meeting Date – Monday, July 26, 5pm, East Haddam Grange Hall

Meeting adjourned 6:55 PM

Submitted K. Case