The Eightmile River
Wild & Scenic Study Committee
Meeting Minutes – October 25, 2004, East Haddam Grange Hall
Present:, David Bingham, Nathan Frohling, Bill Koch, David Tiffany, Walter Smith, Anthony Irving, Sally Snyder, Sue Merrow John Rozum; NPS – Jamie Fosburgh, Kevin Case
Absent: Larry Reitz, Eric Belt, Brad Parker, Randy Dill, Linda Krause
1) Meeting called to order at 5:10 PM
2) Minutes of September 27, 2004 meeting approved unanimously.
3) Subcommittee Reports:
a. Cultural/Recreational –
Case reported the draft Cultural Landscape report has been distributed to the entire Committee for comment. Deadline for comments is November 3. Bingham said he had read it and thought it was well done. The Committee wants to ensure the data is strong and robust enough to support the draft conclusion that the cultural landscape is an outstanding resource value. It was also recognized that the report in its current form lacks any management recommendations, something all agreed was key to the final document. A public presentation of findings is scheduled for Thursday, December 9, 7pm at the Lyme Public Hall. On the topic of recreation Case reported data has been collected on angler usage and stocking levels.
b. Management –
Frohling reported meetings with town staff and land use commission chairs continued with East Haddam last week. A meeting with Lyme is scheduled for November 1. A final build-out was presented to the subcommittee by Ken Geisler. The subcommittee has a number of extended meetings scheduled for the next two months to complete major components of the draft management plan. Goals for each outstanding resource value have been completed. Key attributes and indicators used to understand and measure the ongoing quality of outstanding resource values are being developed. Irving, Case and Merrow met with the head of the Lake Hayward Homeowners Association, Tim Pelton, to share with him information on the Study and learn form him what his group focuses on. It was a very good meeting and raised the opportunity for a strong partnership in the future. The summit meeting with the three communities land use commission members is scheduled for late January or early February, 2005.
c. Outreach & Education –
Smith reported the fourth newsletter was completed and distributed to riparian owners, land use commissions, the Eightmile email list and the press. Irving and Case will be going on a public access cable show in the next month or so to talk about the study. The CT River Coastal Conservation District is looking for volunteers to assist with aquatic insect sampling on November 6. Case assisted with promoting the call for volunteers by sending out a flyer to all the riparian landowners and a notice to all on the email list. Case will be presenting to the East Haddam Community Lions on Oct. 27. The subcommittee meets next week to discuss outreach needs for the winter.
d. Natural Resources
Case reported Moorhead continues to work on the watershed ecosystem assessment. A rough draft habitat map was distributed as well as some of the early analysis from NatureServe who is performing a comparative analysis of the quantity of listed species in each watershed across New England. Moorhead plans to be completed in mid-December. The UMASS instream flow research team presented preliminary findings of their fish sampling work this summer. Case distributed a map showing the types and quantity of different species caught at sites across the watershed. The subcommittee is now in discussions with UMASS regarding next steps in the modeling process, associated costs, and funding. The water quality and water quantity write-ups are in their final draft form. The subcommittee is meeting Nov. 8 to finalize. Smith noted each subcommittee should be bringing recommended outstanding resource values to the full Study Committee for formal approval.
4) Other Old Business
a. Rte. 11 Extension –
Irving raised the issue of needing to capture and understand the cause of growth in Southeastern, Connecticut and the Eightmile River Watershed. Case has communicated with Rosemary Monahan of EPA who has forwarded significant information on the causes of growth. Case and Irving are reviewing the material to determine how it may be used to help determine what could be done to hire a consultant to provide an assessment of the cause of growth and future rates of growth for the Eightmile Watershed, including the effect from a completed Rt. 11. There was discussion as to whether this was a needed exercise or not and what the cost may be in the context of available funds for the remainder of the study. Case and Irving will continue to explore how such an analysis could be achieved.
b. Pending Diversion Permit Renewal for Fox Hopyard Golf Course –
Case distributed and discussed content of a draft letter to DEP regarding the diversion application. The letter did not take a position on the application and offered some suggestions on how the possible permit renewal might incorporate and support some of the ongoing instream flow work the Study Committee is sponsoring. Snyder from DEP recused herself from the discussion. Case also drafted a list of questions that arose in reviewing the application. The Committee felt the questions were pertinent and should be included in the letter, not in the context of taking a position on the application, but simply asking for information and clarification. Case will redraft and have it reviewed by those interested before submitting to DEP and the applicant.
5) New Business – none
6) Next Meeting Date – Monday, November 22, 5pm, Lyme Town Hall
Meeting adjourned 7:00 PM
Submitted K. Case