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WMSC
ASTEWATER ANAGEMENT TEERING OMMITTEE
Minutes of March 6, 2003
Members Present:
Augusta McKusick; Robert Rich; John Hinckley; Judith Bruce; Carl Hevert.
Also Present:Absent:
George Meservey; Dr. Brian Howes. Bill Wilcoxson.
The meeting convened at 10:00 a.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
MOTION: Judith Bruce Gussie McKusick,
On a motion by , seconded by the Committee voted to
approve the minutes of February 6, 2003.
VOTE: 2-0-1 The vote passed by a majority.
(Hinckley abstained).
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
A report was made that Andree Yager, Bob Rich, and Marcia Galazzi met with Glenn Ritt and had a very
good discussion about public education. A “lawn survey” draft was passed out to 35 homeowners for
return to the Planning Department.
The audience discussed George Heufelder’s talk at the Orleans Yacht Club’s annual meeting.
Gussie McKusick reported that WIC has $55,000 and has hired Wright-Pierce to study Wastewater
Management Districts.
Dr. Brian Howes arrived at 10:15. Gussie McKusick turned the meeting over to Dr. Howes.
Dr. Howes presented data from the 2002 water quality monitoring.
Copies of the report will be delivered to the Planning Department on March 10, 2003.
“Need several years of data before you can make statements about long-term trends.”
There are areas that won’t have to be restored. Howes described for people in attendance what was
sampled. The Data capture for 2002 was 96%.
Fecal coliform data showed very high levels in many fresh streams.
Paul O’Connor asked the following question: Q: Are other samples taken for shellfish closures
comparable? A: DMF lab uses a different method, but results are essentially the same.
CCB although very high in bacteria, it’s probably not a problem because they are marsh systems.
Data shows that Nitrogen is the limiting factor to eutrophication in all systems except fresh streams.
Water column Nitrogen is higher than background in all areas. In many areas, the amount of nitrogen is
double the background level.
Dissolved oxygen levels in Pleasant Bay are mostly below 6 ppm on average, which is a regulatory
critical level.
Wastewater Management Steering Committee Minutes – March 6, 2003 Page 1 of 2
Thresholds for salt marshes are different from bays. There are no thresholds developed for salt marshes
but they are known to digest large amounts of nitrogen.
QAPP approval should be completed within a month or so.
The meeting adjourned at 11:40 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Karen C. Sharpless
Recording Secretary
Wastewater Management Steering Committee Minutes – March 6, 2003 Page 2 of 2