HomeMy Public PortalAboutM&FWQC 2019-03-18 ` `t J l J
TOWN OF ORLEANS " ?-'-� A
Marine & Fresh Water Quality Committee Meeting Minutes
Monday, March 18, 2019 10 am Y
ORLEANS TOOK CLERK.
Skaket Room, Orleans Town Hall
Members Present: Judith Bruce, Carol Etzol, Betsy Furtney, Carolyn Kennedy, Lara Slifka. Selectman
Liaison: Kevin Galligan. Absent: Mike Brink, Edmund Hafner
Approval of Minutes for February 11, 2019
Motion made by Judith Bruce, seconded by Carol Etzold, minutes were approved (4,0,1)
1. Spring Freshwater Pond Sampling
Training Manual—update—Lara
Coordinator for Spring sampling—volunteer needed
The Committee is targeting April 3, 10, 17 for pond water sampling. Judith volunteered to
sample: Deep, Meadow Bog, Uncle Seths, Sarahs, Shoal, Gould. Carolyn volunteered Ed for
Uncle Israels. Lara volunteered to sample Kettle Pond. Carolyn: Pilgrim, Ice House, Uncle
Harvey, Twinings. Carolyn will find out if SMAST is monitoring Pilgrim Lake, Crystal, Bakers
and Cedar Pond. Sampling will be completed between 7 am and 3 pm as identified in the
QAPP. Carolyn will coordinate the program until April 17th, which is when Betsy has
volunteered to take over.
2. Dredging Committee update— Betsy
Dredging Committee met 3/13/19. Committee members will attend a Joint Eastham/Orleans
Selectman's meeting on 3/25 in Eastham. The Committee agreed to hold its regularly
scheduled meeting on Monday's at 5:00 pm. Freshwater pond dredging will be addressed
during the Dredging Committee meetings. Betsy had heard that Barnstable County is
considering purchasing a small dredge for pond dredging. A motion was made by Judith,
seconded by Carol to send a letter of interest to Barnstable County to see if the Town of
Orleans is a suitable candidate for a freshwater pond pilot program for dredging. Betsy
recused herself. (4,0,1)
3. Uncle Harvey's Pond—Opinion from Town Counsel
Betsy Furtney recused herself as an abutter.
The Committee discussed the letter from Attorney Michael Ford, Re: Uncle Harvey's Pond
remediation.
Public Comment: Betsy Furtney in her opinion the cyanobacteria present has had a negative
impact on the pond and abutting ecosystem. She believes that the State has to weigh the
liability of the Town and State doing nothing to control the cyanobacteria. She stated that she
contacted the State Health Department and they will get back in touch with her regarding the
State's position. Betsy is concerned that the Town will continue to do nothing.
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APPC workshop on cyanobacteria, April 5th
APCC is hosting a workshop on cyanobacteria on April 5th, some of the Committee members
are already signed up to attend.
Brewster to work on Cyanobacteria aerosols in 2019
With help from UNH, Brewster Ponds Coalition will be working to capture aerosol components
of cyanobacteria this summer.
4.. Revised Estuaries Database Report
Betsy returned to the table.
Kevin Galligan stated: The Town holds an Intermunicipal Agreement with UMASS Dartmouth.
The scope evolves depending on the work plan. There are multiple contracts with SMAST that
get updated yearly. Some committee members questioned having SMAST being a provider of
service and manager of the Town's marine and freshwater data. There are other companies
who provide the same services as listed in the Intermunicipal Agreement.
SMAST provided a Revised Addendum to the Estuaries Database Report. The majority of the
Committee seemed to feel that SMAST provided clarification for the Center for Coastal Studies
(CCS) data, but some members felt that it still wasn't sufficient as to why they did not include
it in analysis. Discussion ensued as to why SMAST and CCS were collecting samples at similar
locations. Carolyn clarified that the Town was responsible for collecting the samples
necessary for the Estuaries Program. SMAST was contracted with the DEP to analyze the
water samples through the Pleasant Bay Alliance. CCS contracted with Barnstable County to
monitor Cape Cod Bay.
As read in the Town Municipal Agreement, SMAST was to gather all data and analyze it. CCS
has an objection to the Technical Memorandum and the updated Revised Estuaries Database
Report. Carolyn will add hearing from CCS to the April 8, 2019 agenda if CCS provides the
Town with a document explaining their concerns with the updated report
Questions from the Committee included: Was'the report ever approved by the Committee
and Town?
Betsy pointed out that this Committee's role has changed since the start of the Intermunicipal
Agreement and that we need to have more input into what gets done and when.
5. Cedar Pond update
The power lines over Cedar Pond used by the cormorants have been removed. The lines
remaining at the same height, are a different thickness and higher voltage.
Judith moved adjournment, seconded by Carol, (5,0)
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, i Date:
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Respectfully submitted by: '
Documents stored at the Planning Department
1. Howes, B. & Ed Eichner. (November 5, 2018). Technical Memorandum, Re:Addendum to 2018 Estuaries
Database and Review Report. Dartmouth, MA: University of Massachusetts.
2. University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (2016). Services Agreement Project Title: Technical Support
forthe Town of Orleans Water Quality and Wastewater Planning Program FY17. Dartmouth, MA:
University of Massachusetts
3. E. Eichner. (Personal communication, INSERT DATE)
4. Williams, A. B. March 15, 2019. Algae crisis: Airborne particles of toxic cyanobacteria can travel
more than a mile inland, new FGCU study shows. Fort Myers News-Press. Retrieved online.
5. Ford, M. (2019, February 21). Uncle Harvey's Pond Remediation [Letter to John Kelly, Town
Administrator]. 73 Main Street, West Harwich, MA.
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