The Eightmile River
Wild & Scenic Study Committee
Minutes - November 25, 2002, Lyme Town Hall
Present: Study Group Members Charlie Fredette, Maureen VanDerStad, Eric Belt, Anthony Irving, Peter Sielman, David Bingham, Jon Morris, Walter Smith, Nathan Frohling Sue Merrow, Sally Snyder. NPS Staff Kevin Case.
Absent: William Koch, Jamie Fosburgh, David Tiffany, Linda Krause
Meeting Called to Order at 5:35 PM.
Housekeeping
Irving reported a rapid biosassessment aquatic insect collection occurred on the river the previous weekend. The insects are important indicators of water quality and aquatic habitat health. Some work still needs to be done to fully identify the insects collected.
Process and Structure
Irving distributed an updated version of the “Component Parts – What Do We Want to Know” handout that is a series of questions regarding natural resources, cultural resources and management planning. The handout raises key issues that each sub-committee (discussed below) may have to explore as they undertake their tasks.
Case reviewed the “Draft Outline of a Work Plan Approach” that had been emailed to all study committee members prior to the meeting. The approach proposed a three year strategy that encompasses the three key components of the study process: research defining watershed resources; development of a management plan for those watershed resources; and determination of suitability/pursuit of designation. It also included recommending the establishment of 4 sub-committees including: natural resources; management planning; outreach and education; and cultural/historic resources.
Sielman questioned the need for segmenting activities into distinct years, suggesting much of the work could be done in parallel. There was consensus from the committee that working on a number of areas in parallel would be the preferred approach, recognizing that focus on the issue of suitability and pursuit of designation will naturally have to come later in the process. Sielman also questioned if the Study Committee really has three more years for the study process or actually two considering the date of passage of the study bill was already a year ago. It was noted that Jamie Fosburgh suggested at an earlier meeting that there is some flexibility in the timing of the study. This will be pursued for further for clarification.
A discussion of the proposed sub-committee structure ensued. Frohling suggested the work of the management plan sub-committee is two-fold including an assessment of the current regulatory framework in which watershed resources are managed and what changes or improvements need to take place that will protect the resources identified through the study committee process. Irving suggested the resource sub-committee might benefit by splitting into two parts geology/hydrology and ecology/biology. It was recognized that creating more sub-committees may not be productive in the context of the limited size of the study committee, although there is nothing that precludes bringing in people outside the study committee to serve on the sub-committees. The issue was also raised that by splitting the scientific components of the watershed into different sub-committees will make it more challenging to establish the unique intact watershed functionality that exists in the Eightmile.
The original proposed sub-committee structure was agreed upon. Following is a list of individual’s sub-committee assignments based on their preferred first choice interest.
Natural Resources
Eric Belt – will be initial point person for sub-committee
Jon Morris
David Bingham
Anthony Irving
NRCS Team Assistance – Walter Smith
Nathan Frohling
Sally Snyder
Charlie Fredette
Cultural/Historic Resources
Maureen VanDerStad - will be initial point person for sub-committee
Management Plan
Nathan Frohling - will be initial point person for sub-committee
Sally Snyder
Charlie Fredette
Maureen VanDerStad
Also: Linda Krause and David Tiffany who were not present were suggested as strong candidates for this sub-committee
Outreach & Education
Walter Smith - will be initial point person for sub-committee
Peter Sielman
Sue Merrow
Nathan Frohling
Case will be active with all sub-committees acting as staff support and coordinator.
In referring back to the “Component Parts” document which is being looked at as a potential guidance document for sub-committee work Frohling noted it would be helpful to have a section devoted to “Ecosystem” to integrate natural resource information and develop a description of the watershed as an intact functioning system. This will be an important concept to document in establishing the case for eligibility. Further input by all the committee on the “Component Parts” paper was encouraged.
Other issues raised during the discussion include a need to clarify the funds available to assist with study work, the need to establish an overall draft study outline based on other work such as the SUASCO, the need for more information regarding Section 7 of the Wild & Scenic Act, and what are the components necessary to prove eligibility. Case said he would distribute information to the Committee regarding these issues, for discussion at future meetings.
Questions were raised as to ultimately what type of designation will be appropriate to pursue, focusing on the main river corridor or pursuing a broader watershed based designation that would incorporate tributaries, much like the White Clay Creek approach in Pennsylvania. Continued discussion is needed on this topic as more is learned about the role of Section 7 and the differences from a study perspective in pursuing the two approaches.
Old/New Business
Irving reported the Town of Lyme came to an agreement with the owners of the Mt. Archer subdivision to purchase just under 300 acres for open space at a cost of approximately $2.3 million.
The issue of how the study committee will best interact with the existing Eightmile River Coalition was raised and discussed some. It was recognized it is a critically important group and body of work that needs to be incorporated into this process.
An update on the East Haddam bridge work (Jones Hill Road) near the land trust property was requested. No update was available at the time.
Approval of October Minutes
Approved unanimously, Bingham 1st, Frohling 2nd.
Next Meeting
Monday, December 30, 2002, East Haddam Town Hall, 5:30 PM
Major Topic of Discussion will be Section 7 of the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act
Meeting Adjourned 7:25 PM.
Submitted K. Case