HomeMy Public PortalAboutM&FWQC 2019-09-16 (2) °RI ORLEANS TOP CI ER
TOWN OF ORLEANS
OFFICIAL NOTICE OF A PUBLIC MEETING vi-Art�'
Marine & Fresh Water Quality Committee Minutes
iC ?i pI, ,Fri
Monday, September 16, 2019 10 am •
Skaket Room, Orleans Town Hall
Member Attendance: Judith Bruce, Carol Etzold, Betsy Furtney, Ed Hafner,
Carolyn Kennedy,Judy Scanlon, Lara Slifka
1. Approval of Minutes for Aug 19, 2019
A motion to approve edited minutes was made by Judith, seconded Judy. (6,0,1)
2. Orleans Summer Estuary Sampling— review of data
Many of the water bodies were below 5.0 mg/L Dissolved Oxygen at some point during
the sampling season (7/8-9/4). Lonnie's Pond and Arey's Pond bottom depth had a wide
range of oxygen fluctuation (6.21- 1.54 mg/L). The deep terminal ponds had the lowest
oxygen levels at deepest points.
Ed asked who was publicizing this information. The Committee discussed ways that the .
public could be educated on water quality matters and what can be done to resolve
them. The Committee had discussed in past meetings that we should wait to present
the pond data to the Selectmen when we have the reports for Crystal and Pilgrim. The
Committee is still waiting for the Pilgrim Lake Management Plan-Final.
Wednesday October 16, 11:00 am is the next Pleasant Bay Watershed Meeting at
Orleans Town Hall; Orleans has an adaptive management plan.
3. Review of PALS data
Many of the lakes are not swimmable at the time of testing, because they lack visibility
measured by Secchi disk depth-4 feet of visibility minimum. There was less than 5
mg/L dissolved oxygen in many of the ponds in August/September. Below 5 mg/L many
of the species in the pond become stressed. Judith mentioned she observed, from
taking weekly samples at Sarah's Pond, that during the period of August 1-15 the ponds
were in the worst condition.
4. Committee responsibilities review— members taking on responsibilities
for work
There was lots of discussion about what other Committee members could do that
Carolyn currently completes. Some of the discussion included if reports from
consultants should be sent directly to the Committee members from Town Staff or if
they should be funneled through the Chair first. Who should answer media responses. if
others could look at the data and datasheets and summarize. Ed moved that Judy could
organize the bullets so that we can discuss them next time, seconded by Lara. (7,0,0)
5. Plans/topics for new fiscal year
A motion was made by Lara, seconded by Betsy to move the topic for the October
meeting. (7,0,0)
6. Public speak
Charles emailed Carolyn for Public Speak that there are about 100 Cormorants roosting
on wires above Little Depot Pond in Eastham. Judy Scanlon added that there are
cormorants roosting on a rock at the end of Rock Harbor. Carolyn asked for a volunteer
to count the cormorants on and around Cedar Pond for around 5:00 pm any day of the
week.
Annual River Herring meeting is October 17°', it is off Cape. Judy asked Brad Chase of
MA Division of Marine Fisheries to help with a job description as the Technical
Coordinator for the Orleans Volunteer Herring and Eel Count Program.
At 11:35 am, Lara moved for adjournment, seconded by Betsy. The motion carried (7,0,0).
Documents/ Spreadsheets stored at Town of Orleans Planning Department:
1. Nauset Estuary/ Cape Cod Bay Samples– DO field measurements-2019 Spreadsheet
Summary compiled by Carolyn Kennedy
2. Upper Pleasant Bay Samples—DO field measurements 2019 Spreadsheet Summary
compiled by Carolyn Kennedy
3. PALS 2019 Orleans FW Pond Sampling- DRAFT, Temperature and DO spreadsheet
4. Chair of Marine and Fresh Water Quality Committee (Tasks)- Draft (2 pages# 1-20)
Submitted By: Lara Slifka, Clerk
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