HomeMy Public PortalAboutMarine and Fresh Water Minutes 2014-12-15 '15 TAfj l?' -t Aj 6'h
Marine and Fresh Water Quality Task Force nRtEF!, W i ll r r
Skaket Room,Orleans Town Hall �-4
Dec. 15, 2014
Task Force Members attending: Carolyn Kennedy(chair), Mike Brink, Diana Caliri,
Gilbert Merritt, Larry Minear,Judy Scanlon and Ken Scott
Also attending: Judy Hunt,Orleans;Charles Harris, Eastham
Meeting called to order: 10:03 a.m.
Minutes of the meeting of Nov. 17, 2014 were approved as submitted (5-0-1)
AGENDAITPMS
Old business
Boland Pond update: In recent weeks there has been an uptick in BP activity,with
organizations such as Orleans Conservation Trust, Orleans Pond Coalition, and
Orleans Community Partnership tackling different challenges. Given the objective of
making the BP area more suited to science experiments,officials at both the
Elementary School and Middle School are also involved. Concern was expressed
that the numerous activities and players be coordinated. Carolyn noted that the
Task Force is involved by virtue of herself and Larry serving on the OPC's Pond
Protection Committee. Those involved seem well aware of the need to keep in touch
with each other. The study to measure the quantity and quality of the runoff into BP
at seven locations must be completed by the end of June 2015.
Stormwater update: The problems created in the area of the condos (e.g., 10
Center Place) by large amounts of stormwater runoff from the nearby parking lot
are still being addressed. Condo owners are preparing a letter to Town officials.
The stormwater bylaw requires owners to keep stormwater on their own property.
Ownership of the parking lot at Friends Marketplace is shared by two commercial
property owners.
Meanwhile,Mass DOT has become aware of its responsibility for the flow along
Route 6A into Boland Pond.
WaterQudlity Advisory Panel update: Carolyn and Judy updated the Task Force
on recent discussions; a seven-hour session of the Panel was scheduled for later in
the week To date, an array of alternatives for wastewater management had been
proposed, including sewers, cluster systems,permeable reactive barriers,
constructed wetlands and aquaculture. This week,members of the Panel would be
asked to make their choices from the"menu" offered. The engineering company
retained as consultant was recommending a hybrid approach,tailored to each
watershed.
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The Task Force discussion flagged a number of concerns. The Panel process had
focused largely on nitrogen rather than including phosphorus,which is more
expensive to deal with. The cost of various alternatives should each be compared
with the costs of extending the life of Tri-Town rather than assuming its shutdown
to be a foregone conclusion.
Members of the Task Force who agreed to provide additional liaison coverage of the
Panel's remaining discussions were Diane (Jan. 28), Diane and Mike (Feb. 11),and
Larry(March 11).
New business
Annual Report for 2014: The Task Force discussed the items for inclusion in its
report to the Town. Carolyn agreed to draft the report and circulate it to the Task
Force for comment before submitting it.
Grant Opportunity: Grant funding is available for projects involving salt marsh
restoration and fish passage. A number of activities current or potential that might
be worth applying for include additional restoration work on the Pilgrim Lake
herring run, building a herring run for Cedar Pond,and run-off issues from the
parking area onto Skaket Beach. We agreed that we should brainstorm with George
Meservey and Mark Budnik about possible projects for which funding might be
available.
Other business: The Task Force is still awaiting the analysis from last summer's
sampling sites including those off Nauset Inlet.
One member inquired whether Brad Chase (MA Marine Fisheries) had made the
correction requested in the letter received by the Town regarding the responsibility
of the Army Corps of Engineers for signing off on changes in the flow to Cedar Pond.
Meetings in 2015:Jan. 12, Feb. 23, March 16,April 13, May 18,June 15,July 20,
August 17, Sept. 21, Oct. 19, Nov. 16, and Dec. 14.
The meeting adjourned at 11:23 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Larry Minear
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