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HomeMy Public PortalAboutComprehensive Water Planning -- 2012-09-24 Minutes ttttiquitilloo Comprehensive Water Planning o"„ie"D"• k.,14 Town of Brewster Committee 1: f tol 2 2198 Main Street 3.0 11;117, s ..; 0, • 1- Brewster, Massachusetts 02631-1898 (508) 896-3701 x1233 544i17.;:: tommiliiit;00 FAX (508) 896-8089 _ Date Approved:11-26-12 Vote: -0-1 Ryan abstains TOWN OF BREWSTER MINUTES OF COMPREHENSIVE WATER PLANNING COMMITTEE (CWPC) 1 Regular Meeting Monday, September 24, 2012 at 4:30 pm _ Brewster Town Office Building Chairman Lem Skidmore convened the CWPC meeting at 4:30 pm in the Brewster Town Office Building with members,Joanne Hughes, Russell Schell, Elizabeth Taylor, Pat Hughes, Bruce Evans, and Dave Bennett present. Absent: D n Ryan,John O'Reilly Also Pres nt:Sue Leven,Jim Gallagher, Mark Nelson (HWG), Paula Miller Recording or Taping Notification The Chair'read"As required by the Open Meeting Law we are informing you that the Town will be audio taping this public meeting. In addition, if Ianyone else intends to record this meeting they are required to inform the chair." AGENDA Supporting Documents: 1.Citizen Forum 092412_A FIWG Presentation 2.Review presentation with Mark Nelson from HWG,for 9-27-12 Community Meeting. Discuss project status 3.Status of matching Water Company records to identify private wells 4.Review minutes from 8-13-12,Review Action Items 5.Topics the Chair did not reasonably anticipate 1.Citizen iForum None Skidmort: Leven an Skidmore will be attending the Board of Selectmen meeting tonight at 7pm. Leven hal!,received comments from members concerned that the committee might not have enough money to do everything the committee wants to do. The original request was$200k. $130k will be recommended. Skidmore thanked Mark Nelson for the budgeting numbers for Phase III. Sumner added $10k for contingency. Leven an Skidmore will present to the Finance Committee next. 2. RevielV presentation with Mark Nelson from HWG,for 9-27-12 Community Meeting. Discuss project stafiUs Mark Nelson presented to the committee. Comments from the committee have been received through Leven. The committee reviewed the presentation with Nelson. Skidmore will not be present 9-27-12. Hughes, P will be there and will preseInt opening remarks and introductions. The meeiing will be in rooms A and B, Town Hall. Leven will email copies of the meeting flyer to the committee. *See handout for presentation. 10/23 will be the next community meeting. General Overview of the presentation 1. Main Topic: Ponds, pollution, actions to be taken to improve water quality. 2. IVVRMP overview 3. Introduction to resources for ponds in Brewster 4. Types of ponds CWPC 9-24-12.docx Page 1 of 5 5. Sources of pollutants 6. Three main issue pathogens, bacteria/viruses, sediment, phosphorus Committee Comments/Questions: Skidmore asked Nelson if he would cover the difference between what is in the sediments and what comes into ponds from septic systems and storm water. Evans asked about how many ponds are privately owned vs. town owned. He is the conservation representative. Nelson a plained if the pond is greater than 10 acres, then great pond, state owned. Leven explained it depends on the shoreline. Cobb's pond example was shared. Schell asked about a great pond, phosphorus budget, if it's determined the regeneration of the sediment is the main source of;the phosphorus, does the state have the responsibility? Nelson said there is no direct obligation. Leven stated the state has more authority to say the town should clean it up. The committee discussed further. Hughes, 41 asked about Town pond ownership vs. ponds surrounded by private development. Leven said it is most likely the development's responsibility. Hughes, rl expressed concern about dogs in the ponds. She believes in restricting dogs from the ponds. The committee discusses dogs swimming in the ponds. Private and public waters. Schell noted there are other classifications of ponds that are not included. Skidmore and Leven suggested listing ponds and explaining the meaning of great ponds. Schell noo ed Sheep Pond and the problems with Mercury. The committee discussed a petition to DEP that CDM made two year ago. 7. Pond management 8. Septic, lawns, storm water, previous agriculture uses. Barnstable example was shared (alum treatment) 9. Anima waste, bogs, irrigation, atmosphere 10. Over'riew of work, Brewster Ponds, CDM work Gallagher stated that people who have been complaining about lily pads will be coming to the meeting. Nelson said growth of lily pads is an indicator of a pond going through a natural transition. Schell added another indication of poor water quality, high degree of toxins, decay of algae, as in Walker's Pond and Seymour Pond. 11. Nelson asked about documentation. Has Ed Eichner made anything available? Perhaps in several weeks. Paula Miller mentioned the dogs that became sick after drinking from ponds in Nickerson State Park. The committee discussed this topic further. Skidmore asked if there was a difference between the bacteria in Cliff Pond and the other ponds. Schell explained further. Blue green algae is a different species of algae. Bennett Suggested Nelson could review the data from MA Dept. of Public Health that Hughes, J has. 12. Good water quality vs. impaired water quality (Skidmore questioned what impaired would mean to audience member '). Nelson explained that the ecosystem of pond has been impaired. He can discuss this further. Hughes, P and Schell di cussed other factors. Evans asked about poor quality pond water affecting drinking water. Nelson said this was not an is ue. Hughes, J asked about cyanobacteria. Possible solutions to the lily pad issue. Bennett asked about any value in lking about trophic states of Ponds. Skidmore concerned about using this terminology. Nelson added there are natural ructions to changing ponds. Bennett was concerned about people raking out lily pads. 13. Data(from Pickering 14.Which ponds require TMDL analysis? 15. Updalted Mass DEP list 16. Graphics— Ponds with bigger issues 17. What is the Town doing?What can people near ponds do? 18. Septic System ideas 19. Fertilizers/non asphalt driveways/leach fields 20. What homeowners can do? CWPC 9-24-12.docx Page 2 of 5 21. Discussion 22. Where we are and point to 10/23 meeting Hughes, P asked about permeable pavement(town allows this to be used) Leven confirmed. Grass, turf stone, etc. Taylor stated the Planning Board asks people not to pave. The committee discussed further. Schell asked about leach fields perpendicular to ponds. Is this part of normal title V design? Nelson explained they want to encourage ground water flow towards the pond. Parallel pipes. He explained the slide to the committee. Skidmore asked Nelson to explain drip irrigation instead of leach field. Nelson explained they could show a drip irrigation example. Leach fiend as far up the property as possible. BOH regulations. He explained the process in detail to the committee. Schell asked questions about septic tank pumping. There was further discussion. Hughes, J asked if a drip system was different. detailed discussion occurred between Nelson, Bennett, Hughes, J, Schell. Nelson explained benefits of drip irrigation to the committee. (Approved alternative technology, seeing it more and more, more costly) The group discussed Title V. Schell asked what Nelson would say about an IA system. Nelson said there are not many in use. Skidmore said one came before the BOH. They did not go forward since it was expensive. The meeting will be videotaped and added to the web site. Phosphorlus was discussed. Alum treatments—Bennett and Nelson. Hughes, j asked what are we doing about our ponds and what are we doing in the future as a possible audience question.) She thinks she might be the person who would answer it. Skidmore acknowledged there are specific issues with pons today and we are planning for future actions. Bennett mentioned bridge projects, storm water identification, and 3, 103/o projects seeking grant money. Hughes, p stated the need more data so they can tailor a management and mitigation program that gets to the sources. Bennett mentioned it is important to tell the audience what has been done to date. The committee discussed further. Leven shared an example from Elbow Pond. She stated it is important to give people small things that they can do at home. j Hughes, 4,1 asked about a sign at the end of Underpass Road. Re: the meeting. "Pond Meeting Tonight" 3.Status: f matching Water Company records to identify private wells Skidmore explained this topic came up at a BOH meeting. Skidmore asked about status. Nelson said it has not been done. HeIdoes not it to believe to be significant. Nelson explained they have the records in the build out. They are tied to parcels. kidmore was concerned about a specific query. Nelson will check into it. Skidmore might have to ask Kathy Lambert.(List of parcels not on Town water. Leven, Nelson, Skidmore discussed further. Bennett and Nelson discussed the process further. (#of units) Bennett was interested in water quality for private wells. Nitrogen levels. Bennett thought the committee already had this information. Bennett asked Nelson if he was interested in how many IA systems are in the Pleasant Bay watershed? Nelson stated they don't have the data, but that it could be part of Phase III. Bennett has reports and will send to Leven. He also will send crarhberry bog information to Leven. 4. RevieW minutes from 8-13-12,Review Action Items i Schell entailed edits to Moore. Leven read edit. Hughes, P made a Motion to accept the 8/13/12 minutes as amended, Evans Second, All Aye, Vote 7-0. The comrfnittee reviewed the action items. See updated list, last page. Leven mentioned a flyer for Water and Cranberries in Carver on October 19. She will scan and send to group. Re: MS4 compliance. Map in lower level for review with an acetate layer, Sharpie pens available to make notes. Comments will be shared with Kleinfelder Bennett contacted Mr. Weiskel. Study is complete. It will be available early 2013. Leven explained Eichner asked for extension of a month and a half for pond study. Preliminary draft within the next few weeks. CWPC 9-244.12.docx Page 3 of 5 I 5.Topic&Tthe Chair did not reasonably anticipate iYw Hughes, 4 informed the committee about the Board of Selectmen's meeting regarding the signs on the bike path. She thinks it is a good time to add "please pick up after your pet" signs. Leven and Hughes, J discussed. The committee discussed signs. Skidmore suggested signs near the large signs (maps) in Nickerson. Hughes, P acknowledged that signing is!a good idea. Hughes, J asked the committee to sponsor this idea under general education. Leven will follow up. Leven- Large signs about meetings at the end of Underpass are permitted signs for Town Meeting only. Paula Miller—She shared comments about pond water quality. She said it should be acknowledged that not every pond has to belfixed. She stated they are not all crystal clear. Hughes, P asked Miller what it would take for someone to say this is a n turally evolving process for this pond. Miller—A slide about pond quality and natural issues. Bennett made a Motion to adjourn, Hughes, J Second, All Aye, Vote 7-0. The meeting ended at 6:05 pm Next Meeting: 10/9/12 @ 4:30 Respectfully submitted, Alk Ar ave Berin7 lerk Kelly Moore, Seni Dep rtm t Assistant Planning CWPC 9-24-12.docx Page 4 of 5 CWPC Action Items, Post 9-24-12 Meeting Up ated 9-27-12 AC'T'ION I'I'LMS MI{I:'I'ING COMMIFN"I'S P.STIMATI{D SI'ATLS I)A'I'I: COMPLETION DA"I'P. Statu of Bridge Projects: Data Synthesis- GIS/B ild-out, Ponds,Storm water Geo- locati.n orsley Witten Group(HWG)Phase II Phase II Scope Update 9-10-12 HWG proposing a Discuss at future Pending change in scope meeting Community Meeting—Final presentation Phase II 9-10-12 10-23 proposed Pending Phased Ill top issues to be addressed by HWG 9-10-12 HWG working on HWG gave a Pending cost estimates preliminary estimate 10%design on three storm water retro fit projects, 9-10-12 Concept designs Committee needs Pending HWG -Walker's Pond received 9-6-12 to comment to Breakwater Beach Leven Town Hall RG Data Synthesis and GIS-Maps accessible from 9-10-12 Waiting for install Waiting for funding Pending web site—Request from Taylor. date for People GIS Build Out data review 9-10-12 Maps available, Pending HWG fine tuning data Questjons to include in tax bills about water 1-9-12 Leven discuss TBD Pending usage Ask HWG for ideas,online form?Etc. with Mark Nelson &Lisa Vitale Cranberry Growers Association Contact CGA and ask if they might talk to the bog Fall 2011 Leven emailed Leven following up Pending owner's and find out when discharging into the Gates-Allen 8-3 ponds—to take samples. Misc: MS4 ompliance Update 2011 SEA/HWG Meeting with Pending Kleinfelder 9/24 Benn tt asked for reports done by Peter Weiskel 2-27-12 Not ready until Pending regarding tri town treatment plant early 2013 i Follow up on the ponds testing process 9-10-12 Hughes,J 10-22-12 Pending Hughes,J to request final report from the State Ed Eihner Pond Study 9-24-12 Leven Ponds study draft Pending due in few weeks. Final version Nov. Signs? 9-24-12 Leven Follow up with Bike Pending "Pleae pick up after your pet" Committee, BOS How riany IA systems are in the Pleasant Bay 9-24-12 Bennett to send Pending water;shed&cranberry bog information info to Leven for committee/HWG I CWPC 9-24.12.docx Page 5 of 5