The Eightmile River

Wild & Scenic Study Committee

Meeting Minutes – August 15, 2005, East Haddam Grange Hall

Present: Anthony Irving, John Rozum, Linda Krause, Randy Dill, Nathan Frohling, David Bingham, Sally Snyder.  NPS - Jamie Fosburgh, Kevin Case

Absent: Larry Reitz, Eric Belt, Brad Parker, Sue Merrow, Walter Smith, Bill Koch

  1. Call to Order 5:20 PM.
  1. Acceptance of July 11, 2005 Meeting Minutes – Unanimous
  1. Study Timeline –

Case reported that we are meeting our timeline goals.  After Wednesday, 8/18 all the Tier One Management Tools presentations with the town commissions will have been completed.  Joint meetings of the Inland Wetlands and Planning and Zoning Commissions in each of the three towns have been scheduled to present the full draft management plan.  The meeting dates include August 29 in Lyme, September 7 in Salem and September 8 in East Haddam.  An additional meeting with CT DEP staff to present the draft plan is being planned for late September although a date has not yet been finalized.  The Community Meeting has been scheduled for October 13 and we are still on track for a December town meeting vote. 

  1. Subcommittee Reports
    1. Management – The tier one tools presentations are almost completed, including distribution of a packet with detailed information on the top four management issues and recommended tools.  The meetings are important in that it keeps all the town commission members and staff up to speed on our progress and direction.  To date Salem P&Z and Inland Wetlands Commissions along with Lyme P&Z Commission have been presented to.  Feedback to the proposed tier one tools has been good.  There have been no serious concerns raised by commission members regarding the tools, although it is recognized some tools will be harder to implement than others.   Some commission members also asked if the towns would be expected to implement the management plan on their own if designation did not occur.  While they certainly are not required to do so they should be encouraged to implement those components of the plan that can be done within their staff and funding constraints.  Irving went through the Tier One power point presentation with Committee.    It was requested and agreed upon that at the next full Study Committee meeting the Committee take a position on supporting designation.   Knowing the Committee’s position should be helpful when additional public outreach and meetings occur.  
    1. Outreach & Education –

Case briefly reported that the Community Open House meeting to present the draft watershed management plan has been confirmed for Thursday, Oct. 13 at the Fox Hopyard Golf Club.  Details of the agenda and time are to be worked out.  A postcard invite will be sent to all households in the three towns along with pursuit of ample promotion in the local media.  A six page newsletter has been completed and is at the printer.  It is to be sent to all 7,300 households in the three watershed towns in the next two weeks.  Website updates are complete.  The subcommittee is also planning for how to promote the town meeting votes in December. 

    1. Natural Resources –

The Watershed Ecosystem report has not yet been delivered by the consultant.  We are still waiting for comments from CT DEP on the UMASS Phase I Instream Flow report.  The Phase II UMASS work on instream flow is well underway with ongoing habitat mapping occurring throughout the watershed.  Irving asked we check in with Central CT to get an update on their water quality testing efforts.

  1. Other Old Business
    1. Fox Hopyard Diversion Permit – No new information.
    1. Lyme Representative – No new information. 
  1. New Business – None.
  1. Next meeting date is to be determined.

Meeting Adjourned 7:00 pm.

Submitted

K. Case