MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
Thursday, February 26, 2015 at 3:30 P.m.
1st Floor Conference Room, Town Hall
302 Main Street, Old Saybrook
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Larry Ritzhaupt called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Members Present
Larry Ritzhaupt
Doug McCracken
Robert Yust
Janice Holland
Michael Momparler
Tom Gezo (arrived at 3:34 p.m.)
Absent Members
Steve Tagliatela
Jerry Brophy
Bill Webster
John Donnelly
Land Use Department Staff Present
Sandy Prisloe, Environmental Planner
Chris Costa, Zoning Enforcement Officer
Kathleen Noyes, Recording Clerk
III. REGULAR BUSINESS
Minutes MOTION to approve the regular meeting minutes of 12/11/2014 with the following corrections: on page 3, replace paragraph 2 with the following: “She reminded us of data previously presented to the committee by Adam Wechsel of the Nature Conservancy that highlight parcels of land in town which may be suitable for marsh advancement.” Also, on page 3, replace paragraph 5 with the following: “Maintaining the health of the marshes through invasive species management is crucial. J. Holland described attempts in other parts of the country to stabilize the marsh margins and surfaces utilizing “living shorelines” which involve the strategic placement of structural organic materials (e.g. biologs, oyster reefs, etc.)”The regular meeting minutes of 2/12/2015, 1/22/2015, 1/21/2015 and
1/8/2015 are approved as presented. MADE: by L. Ritzhaupt; SECONDED by M. Momparler; VOTED IN FAVOR: L. Ritzhaupt, D. McCracken, R. Yust, J. Holland, M. Momparler; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
- Correspondence & Announcements
The due date for the next submission for Saybrook Events Magazine is Monday, March 2, 2015. M. Momparler offered to write the article focusing on education and outreach while updating the public on the progress of the Committee as well as listing the different speakers that have presented.
L. Ritzhaupt said he felt the Committee was ready to start writing the draft of their report. He would like the draft to be completed by the end of March 2015. Committee members present said they are all ready to write their draft reports focusing on the questions, “Where are we?”, “Where are we going?” and “How do we get there?”
Committee members discussed the length of the report and how much they should each write on their assigned topic. The report should be written with bullet points/ talking points rather than long and complete sentences. There will be a written introduction and conclusion.
The major risks of sea level rise and climate change can be mitigated via programs which include educational outreach and town plans, standards which include regulations and building codes and physical improvements which include roads, town buildings and storm water infrastructure.
Committee members discussed ways to keep the momentum of the CC SLRCAC going. Also, they talked about the importance of incorporating their report into the Town Plans.
Committee members present offered to get in contact with J. Brophy, S. Tagliatela and B. Webster to see if they need assistance with their topics so that the entire draft report will be completed by the end of March 2015.
IV. DISCUSSION
T. Gezo addressed his concerns about the sea level rise projections that the group is using to determine the amount of sea level rise that Old Saybrook can expect in 2035 and 2085. He suggested that conservative numbers are good for planning, but periodic checks should be done on the projected numbers to give the public the most accurate estimate of the amount of sea level rise they can expect.
Where Are We? Where Are We Going? How Do We Get There?
ENVIRONMENT – Aquatic & Terrestrial Animal Populations (Larry Ritzhaupt)
L. Ritzhaupt began his presentation by reviewing: Where we are? Where are we going? and How do we get there?
He shared information about maintaining and restoring coastal wetlands by allowing coastal wetlands to migrate, promoting wetland accretion by introducing sediment and looking for alternatives to hard shore protection. He also reviewed the benefits and constraints of maintaining shorelines utilizing “soft” measures such as the use of living shorelines through beach nourishment, planting vegetation, and planting submerged aquatic vegetation (such as sea grasses) to stabilize sediment and reduce erosion.
He talked about maintaining the shoreline by replacing hard protection and other barriers to tidal flow, incorporating wetland protection into infrastructure planning and establishing rolling easements.
In order to maintain sediment transport you need to trap or add sand through beach nourishment – the addition of sand to a shore line to enhance or create a beach area and trap sand through the construction of groins.
L. Ritzhaupt discussed preserving coastal land/development (including infrastructure) by utilizing armoring of the shoreline as an interim measure, land exchange programs where owners exchange programs in floodplain areas for county-owned land outside of the floodplain and participating in land acquisition programs by purchasing coastal land that is damaged or prone to damage and use it for conservation.
Marsh can be created by planting appropriate species – typically grasses, sedges or rushes in the existing substrate and creating dunes along the backshore of the beach; including planting dune grasses and sand fencing to induce settling in wind-blown sands. Also, rock sills can be installed and other artificial breakwaters in from of tidal marshes along energetic estuarine shores.
L. Ritzhaupt referenced material from the Synthesis of Adaptation Options for Coastal Areas, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Climate Ready Estuaries Program, January 2009.
COMMUNITY – Public Health (John Donnelly)
John Donnelly was unable to attend today’s meeting. He will make his
presentation at a later date.
V. MEETING SUMMARY
VI. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 5:12 p.m. until the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Conservation Commission’s Sea Level Rise Climate Adaptation Committee on Thursday, March 12, 2015 at 3:30 p.m., Town Hall, 302 Main Street, 1st Floor Conference Room.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kathleen Noyes, Recording Clerk
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