Herring River Restoration Committee
September 24, 2009
Meeting Minutes
Members Present: Charleen Greenhalgh, Hillary Greenberg, Eric Derleth, Hunt Durey, Steve Spear, Tim Smith, Steve Block, Gary Joseph
Others Present: Maggie Geist, Margo Fenn, Holly Johnson, Lisa Berry Engler, John Portnoy, Don Palladino, Jack Whalen
Administration/Coordination
Communications / Coordination with Friends of Herring River
Don Palladino reported that a walk will be conducted in the Herring River Floodplain during the 2009 Wellfleet Harbor Conference, November 15, 2009. An informational booth will also be set up at the conference. The Friends of Herring River are working on a series of signs to post along the road crossings in the estuary.
Document Sharing: Liquid Planner/Google Docs
A discussion took place on how best to share documents. Maggie Geist suggested that she receive all documents first and then would be responsible for transferring them into readable formats for all members of the HRRC. Tim Smith commented that we need a web site where all the project documents can be stored and accessed. Tim Smith and Maggie Geist will look into available options and report back to the Committee at the next meeting. Hunt Durey requested that all members with Microsoft 2007 click the backwards compatibility box prior to saving.
Approval of meeting minutes from 19 August 2009
Steve Spear suggested two amendments to the August meeting minutes: Under the discussion of NRCS Funding: after the word “project”, add “assuming it is funded.”
Under the discussion of Hydro modeling: change “causeway” to “road”.
Motion to approve as amended by Steve Block, seconded by Charleen Greenhalgh, unanimous vote to approve.
Schedule next meetings: The Committee set future meeting dates as follows:
For the HRRC monthly meetings at CCNS Headquarters on:
October 28, 2009
November 18, 2009
December 16, 2009
For the Technical Working Group: October 21, 2009 at DEP SERO in Lakeville
Discussion Items
Review of Alternatives Workshop
HRRC members felt confused and uneasy and had a lack of confidence at the end of the workshop. Both the quality of the draft Data Sources Review document and the conduct of the Alternatives Workshop were of concern. A few members spoke to Craig Wood of the Louis Berger Group (LBG) after the workshop and he was apologetic and concerned. LBG acknowledged that we did not get as far along as we should have and their staff offered to come back at no charge and facilitate the discussions further. Tim Smith spoke with additional staff, supervisors, from LBG about the deliverables and the HRRC’s expectations. Causes of workshop deficiencies may have included: lack of specific targeted agenda, lack of organization, failure to pay close attention to detail, poorly defined process, lack of adaptability, failure to lead effectively. The Committee
discussed possible ways to address the problems including LBG bringing different expertise to the table and/or the HRRC involving someone from the Environmental Quality Division (EQD) of the National Park Service to provide better guidance on the NEPA process. There are two deliverables still due under the current contract: The revised Data Sources Review document and the final Alternatives Workshop report.
Several members questioned whether LBG should be paid for all the work completed to date, given the concerns with quality. Going forward, HRRC members want to know who at LBG will staff and lead the project. HRRC would like a written response about how the firm intends to address the problems. Tim Smith agreed to convey the Committee's concerns to LBG and offered to talk with someone at NPS Environmental Quality Division as well. Margo Fenn noted that APCC might be able to assist the HRRC with oversight and coordination of consultants. Margo Fenn agreed to post the draft Workshop Notes on Google Documents. HRRC members agreed to post comments by October 9, 2009.
Review of Alternatives Matrix (Tim Smith version)
Tim Smith led the group in a review of the Alternatives Matrix that he prepared following the Workshop. This was an attempt to pare down the range of Alternatives in a more systematic and comprehensible way. The group debated a number of key issues including dike opening widths at Chequessett Neck, whether or not to allow over-topping of High Toss Road, and the possibility of eliminating tidal controls in both those locations and adding upper basin controls. The Committee succeeded in paring down the range of Alternatives for Chequessett Neck, High Toss Road and Mill Creek to a more manageable number. Tim Smith agreed to reconfigure the draft matrix and prepare narrative descriptions to reflect the discussion and distribute these materials to the Committee.
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Review of Impact Topics
Margo Fenn led the group through a review of the Impact Topics (Tab 6 in the Alternatives Workshop Binder) prepared as part of the draft Chapter 1 of the EIS/EIR/DRI by LBG. She noted that the group needed to address several questions:
a. Does the draft list include all the topics that are relevant?
b. Are those topics organized in a sensible way?
c. Does the text properly characterize the nature of the potential impacts?
The Committee went through each topic and made suggestions for specific changes. However, there was general agreement that the whole Chapter needs to be reorganized and rewritten. Holly Johnson noted that this section should include the information called for in the MEPA Certificate. Margo Fenn and Tim Smith agreed to work together on a reorganization/rewrite of the Impact Topics.
Planning for October 22, 2009 Meeting of Technical Working Group (TWG)
Holly Johnson gave an overview of what is expected at the TGW meeting. A project overview will be needed as some members of the TWG may have no knowledge of the project. Some topics to discuss will include: adaptive management, restoration alternatives, wetland delineations, goals and expectations of the TWG. Hunt Durey suggested that we organize a field trip for the TWG later in the fall. Holly Johnson agreed to provide the TWG with a copy of the MEPA Certificate on the project prior to the meeting. Holly agreed to prepare a draft agenda for the October 21st meeting and Tim Smith and Margo Fenn offered to set up a conference call to plan the session.
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