The Eightmile River

Wild & Scenic Study Committee

 

 

Meeting Minutes – December 15, 2003, Salem Town Offices

Present: Nathan Frohling, Sally Snyder, Anthony Irving, David Tiffany, David Bingham, Eric Belt, Sue Merrow, Brad Parker, Larry Reitz, Bill Koch; NPS – Kevin Case; Other – Michael Ott

Absent: Walter Smith, Jon Morris, Linda Krause, Jamie Fosburgh

1)           Meeting called to order at 5:05 PM

2)           Minutes of October 27, 2003 approved unanimously.

3a)  Outreach & Education Report – Case reported for the subcommittee.  5,000 brochures have been printed, a portion of which are being used for a watershed-wide landowner mailing.  Most of the remaining brochures are being placed in public buildings and community meeting areas throughout the watershed.  The subcommittee is pursuing road signs at the watershed boundary on state roads that declare “You are entering the Eightmile River Watershed …”  The website still needs updating.  The Nathan Hale – Ray High School in East Haddam has agreed to produce a video regarding the Eightmile River and Study process.  The next phase of the vernal pool research was discussed and it was agreed that the Study Committee is only interested in supporting the verification of vernal pools this spring that occurs on public lands or lands part of a conservation organization’s land holdings, where the conservation organization provides voluntary permission to access the pool area.  Frohling announced a meeting is being planned with Congressman Rob Simmons for either Jan. 13 or 14 in Salem.  The focus of the meeting is to provide a study progress update to the Congressman and press.  State reps and Senators Lieberman and Dodd will also be invited.  Frohling, Irving, Case and Smith will head up a working group to coordinate the event.    

3b) Natural Resources Subcommittee – Case reported the contract has been finalized with Michael Klemens, LLC regarding the watershed biodiversity assessment.  Write-ups on geology, water quality and water quantity are all underway to be delivered to the subcommittee in early January.

3c)  Cultural/Historical Subcommittee – Merrow reported the subcommittee has met and is working on developing a watershed-wide cultural landscape analysis.  The work of Carolyn Bacdayan of Lyme has been very helpful in structuring this effort.  Help is still needed from a Salem representative on this – Bingham offered to help identify someone.  The subcommittee will also be retaining a consulting archaeologist to write-up the unique archaeological and historic resource summary for the watershed.  The recreational resources of Hamburg Cove and Devil’s Hopyard will be the two main focus areas for analyzing potential recreational ORVs.  Also it was mentioned that the subcommittee should consider summarizing the myriad of places within the watershed people can go to recreate – the broad variety of resources may constitute an ORV. 

3d)  Management Subcommittee – Frohling reported that the subcommittee has achieved full representation from a land use board from all three towns.  Frohling presented to the East Haddam Planning & Zoning Commission regarding the work of the subcommittee.  A major purpose of the meeting was to determine how the management subcommittee could most efficiently interact with P&Z.  They will be discussing it at their January meeting.  Similar meetings will also be held with other town land use commissions.  The cultural and natural resource subcommittee are being asked to provide the management subcommittee a comprehensive list of threats to their potential ORV recommendations.  

3)     Old Business – Snyder reported on the follow-up regarding the Study Committee’s Rt. 11 position reported to Denise Ruczicka.  Denise still seemed to have concerns regarding a last minute interjection by NPS in the permitting process.  The Study Committee reiterated its position that it has no plans to become involved in the Rt. 11 permitting issues and feels that the efforts of EPA and US Fish & Wildlife will address conservation interests.  NPS however, may still have to review and sign-off on the Army Corp permit for the project.      Bingham noted there is likely still another year of study before the Environmental Impact Statement will be complete. 

A new application has been submitted to the Lyme Inland Wetlands Commission regarding a proposed gravel pit along Beaver Brook.

5a) New Business – Case will put together orientation packages for Larry Reitz and Brad Parker. 

         Case reviewed the financial status of the Study Committee funds.  See Dec. 15 Financial Report for details.  

6)           Next meeting date Monday, January 26, 2004 in East Haddam.  Note: the Management Subcommittee will meet just prior to the Study Committee meeting at 3:45 pm. 

Meeting adjourned 6:30 PM

Submitted K. Case