Mashpee Environmental Oversight Committee
Minutes of Meeting
November 10 at 7:00 p.m.
Mashpee Town Hall, Selectmen’s Meeting Room
Present: Chairman John Cahalane, Rick York, Ted Theis, Peter White
Absent: George Petersen
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was opened by Chairman Cahalane at 7:05 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES July 14, 2011 and October 13, 2011
Mr. Theis made a motion to accept the minutes of July 14th, 2011 and October 13th, 2011. Mr. York seconded the motion. All voted unanimously.
COMMUNICATIONS
There was no public comment.
NEW BUSINESS
Land Stewardship Program Presentation
Conservation Agent Andrew McManus addressed the Committee to provide an update about the Land Steward Program. Mr. McManus reported that Kelsey Boyd, an Americorps volunteer, would be working with the Conservation Department one day per week for one year, with the intent of re-establishing the Land Stewardship Program. Mr. McManus stated that a recent article appeared in the Mashpee Enterprise about Ms. Boyd and plans for the Land Stewardship Program.
Mr. McManus stated his intent that the program be more simplified, eliminating the area coordinators. The initial key contacts for the program would be Mr. McManus, Ms. Boyd and Kris Carpenter, secretary to the Conservation Department. The Conservation website will be updated to include downloadable forms to become a volunteer and for stewards for their parcels. Mr. McManus planned to map all existing trails and have the maps uploaded to the web page. Regarding recruitment, Mr. McManus expressed his hope to target key residential areas located at the road/vehicle entrances to the parcels in an effort to acquire the assistance of residents local to the roads. The Mashpee Environmental Coalition also recommended door-to-door recruitment which Mr. McManus anticipated conducting on
Saturdays. The Department of Public Works has again offered vouchers to the Transfer Station so that, with validation from Mr. McManus, volunteers will be able to dump collected trash at no additional cost.
A recent meeting occurred regarding areas in larger parcels, such as Noisy Hole, Jehu Pond, John’s Pond and Mashpee Pine Barrens, that featured dead end roads. It has been recommended that the areas be blocked with boulders and gates in an effort to reduce the dumping that has occurred. Plans to gate off an area will be presented to the Board of Selectmen prior to doing so. Mr. McManus hoped to clear the areas of trash and install gating in the same day, in order to prevent additional dumping. Mr. McManus noted that much of the trash has come from other towns.
Mr. McManus stated that the Conservation Department was in possession of handheld GPS units to assist with mapping the progress on trails. Mr. McManus and Ms. Boyd have been considering a number of ideas to include volunteers managing the herring runs, controlling invasive species, construction of kiosks and beautification of parking areas. Mr. McManus indicated that volunteers would be identified as passive, to monitor and observe parcels as part of their regular routine, or active, to work on specific activities. Ideas have also been generated to recognize the efforts of the volunteers, such as certificates, tshirts, online newsletters and volunteer appreciation days.
Mr. McManus referenced Moody Pond and an initiative to propose a restriction of motorized boats for the next Warrant. Mr. McManus explained that the pond was bordered by town owned conservation land and stated his preference that its pristine condition be protected. Although there has been little motorized activity due to the proximity of John’s Pond, Mr. McManus suggested the benefits of incorporating the restriction into the Town’s Bylaw. Mr. McManus added that the parking and erosion situation at Grafton Pocknet Road has recently deteriorated with vehicles parking on the beach. Mr. McManus has received a $4,000 grant from the Barnstable County Cooperative Extension to create a 5-vehicle parking area across the street and to develop run-off control. Chairman Cahalane also
expressed surprise at the amount of erosion that had occurred, as well as vehicles parking on the beach. The Chair noted previous concerns about the restriction of motorized boats, adding that the State was typically the only authority that could control similar restrictions. Mr. McManus confirmed that the Environmental Police must be contacted when proposing a local bylaw restriction on a “great pond.”
Mr. White recommended that Mr. McManus reach out to the school system to assist with the Land Stewardship Program and Mr. McManus responded that student and/or Boy/Girl Scout involvement had been considered. Chairman Cahalane recommended involving the Cape Cod Jeep Club and Mr. McManus agreed that they had been a tremendous help previously but that a request to utilize the sand pits for a bi-yearly initiation had been refused. There was discussion about other groups such as homeowners associations. Mr. McManus will also encourage feedback from the Mashpee Environmental Coalition, the Environmental Oversight Committee and the Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge. Mr. McManus also noted that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was working to move forward with plans for the Mashpee National Wildlife
Refuge, such as the creation of a visitor center.
Mr. McManus encouraged the sharing of ideas. Mr. Theis suggested a fundraising idea to generate contributions based on the pounds of trash collected during an organized trash cleanup. Chairman Cahalane announced that homeowner organizations could contact the Conservation Department if they were interested in having Mr. McManus address the group. Mr. York reported that the new Harbormaster, Stephen Mone, was conducting a cleanup campaign for the waterfront, noting that Popponesset Bay/Ockway Bay/Shoestring Bay/Mashpee River area was cleaned up last month. The effort was a collaboration between the Wampanoag Tribe’s Natural Resource Department and the DPW and over 5 tons of trash was removed from the waterfront, with a possible total of 10 tons. Mr. Theis added that the John’s Pond
Neighborhood Watch also hosted an annual clean-up day. Mr. McManus noted that a resident of Briarwood, of his own accord, cleaned up 8 truck-loads of trash from the John’s Pond area.
DISCUSSION
OLD BUSINESS
ACTION ITEMS
Zero Phosphorus Lawn Fertilizer Bylaw Update
The Chair stated that the bylaw failed at Town Meeting. Chairman Cahalane summarized that the bylaw was initially drafted by the Friends of Santuit Pond, introducing it to the Environmental Oversight Committee for support. Concerns about the wording of the bylaw resulted in the EOC and the Board of Selectmen not supporting the Article. The Friends of Santuit Pond then petitioned to have it added to the Warrant. The Chair stated that the bylaw needed to be drafted in such a way that it fit with the town of Mashpee and be enforceable. The Chair inquired whether the EOC wished to develop a new Article for the May Town Meeting. Mr. York inquired whether it should be a bylaw or an educational campaign, adding that some components of the bylaw did not make sense such as leaving grass
clippings in place. Chairman Cahalane suggested the possibility of considering it for a directive instead of a bylaw. Mr. York suggested that it should remain under consideration by the EOC. Mr. White reported that the Mashpee Environmental Coalition, and specifically Michael Talbott, expressed interest in working on the bylaw. The Chair stated that the current wording was unenforceable and suggested the possibility of a compliance officer position being added through a future Town Meeting vote. Mr. York stated that residents were willing to help the environment and that an educational program may assist in achieving that goal.
Combine Water-Sewer
Chairman Cahalane reported that the Board of Selectmen signed the agreement to work together and agreed to create a committee consisting of the Selectmen, the Town Manager, the Sewer Commission Chairman and the Sewer Commission Administrator. The Committee will meet to determine whether it would be advantageous to utilize the Water District for sewer planning.
Town-Wide Stormwater Management Plan
Chairman Cahalane will follow up with Catherine Laurent regarding the current status.
Santuit Pond and Santuit Pond Grant
Chairman Cahalane reported that the Board of Selectmen agreed to contract with Solar Bee to purchase the circulators with an option to buy back the units if the circulators were not working after two years, excluding the costs of one year rental, shipping and installation. The formula has not yet been identified to determine whether or not the units demonstrated effectiveness after two years but the Board of Selectmen will be working with the Cape Cod Commission to create a formula. Mr. York indicated that the AECOM report offered a target for the solar circulators. Mr. York stated that the Solar Bees should cut the algae bloom in half, though it would not eliminate eutrophication. The Chair inquired whether information was available regarding the current size of the bloom and Mr. York confirmed
that the information was available and that the ongoing water monitoring would continue to provide data. Monitoring includes use of the sonde water monitoring unit and monthly nutrient analysis by SMaST. Mr. York added that the State Department of Health also monitors the algae bloom during the summer months. Mr. York also emphasized the need to control run-off, septic systems and fertilizer in order to achieve a complete cleanup alongside use of the solar circulators. Mr. York stated that 78% of the total nitrogen was coming from the sediments and AECOM conservatively estimated that 67% could be removed. Mr. Theis inquired whether quantifications were included in the agreement and Chairman Cahalane responded that parameters would be added to the contract.
Mr. York reported that the Santuit Pond dam was looking good and that collaboration and work was continuing on the planning.
Land Steward Program
Discussed previously
Water Quality Monitoring
Mr. York reported that Ponds and Lakes Program (PALS) and the estuary monitoring were continuing.
Estuary Restoration/Shellfish Propagation
Mr. York stated that the oyster project for Mashpee River/Mashpee Neck had included approximately 1000 oyster seed bags per year, containing 1 million oyster seed. Mr. York reported that the area at Mashpee Neck opened on November 1 with very positive results. Mr. York reported that oyster seed had begun to set by itself in Popponesset Bay, which has not occurred since the 1980’s and Mr. York shared examples of seed oysters setting on solid services such as mussels and rocks. Mr. York stated that the seed purchased for the oyster project would clean up 10% of the Mashpee River and indicated that the spawning was unexpected and has occurred in a significant amount. Mr. York stated that expansion of shellfish farms such as the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s farm and Mr. Cook’s Ockway Bay
farm have hit the critical threshold of biomass of oysters providing sufficient larvae. An increase to 10 million oysters or more could possibly clean up the entire system, though sources would still need to be addressed. Mr. Theis suggested that the proliferation of oysters may assist in buying time for the Town to address the sources and sewering. Mr. York has requested that residents return their oyster shells to the bay allowing the seed to survive.
Regarding the quahog project in Waquoit, Mr. York reported that the three million quahog seed grew very well, some of which are over submitted,
Jennifer M. Clifford
Board Secretary
LIST OF DOCUMENTS
-Discussion Items for Mashpee Land Stewardship Program
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