Approved Meeting Minutes
Herring River Restoration Committee (HRRC)
Cape Cod National Seashore Headquarters
Wellfleet, MA
July 8, 2010, 12 Noon
Members Present: Tim Smith, Eric Derleth, Hillary Greenberg, Hunt Durey, Steve Spear
Members Absent: Steve Block, Charleen Greenhalgh, Gary Joseph
Others Present: Margo Fenn, Tara Nye, John Riehl, Shelley Hall
Administration/Coordination:
Communications/Coordination with the Friends of Herring River: John Riehl updated the Committee on activities of the Friends, noting that they are planning their Annual Meeting for August 17th. The meeting will include a presentation from HRRC on the EIS/EIR Alternatives. There will also be a kayak trip on the river on September 9th. He noted that local artist Peter Watts has agreed to do a painting of how the Herring River would look after restoration. He also mentioned that he is working on plans for the State of the (Wellfleet) Harbor Conference and suggested that HRRC might provide a presentation on some of the hydrodynamic modeling at the conference. Tim Smith suggested that HRRC put together a group presentation.
Minutes: The minutes of the June 17, 2010 meeting were approved.
Next Meetings: The next regular meetings of the HRRC will be Wednesday, August 18, 2010, Thursday, September 16, 2010 and Thursday, October 7, 2010. The Technical Working Group (TWG) will meet on Wednesday, October 13, 2010.
Informational Updates:
Tim Smith reported that there is no additional news beyond what was reported at the last meeting on three key studies that are in progress:
Hydro Modeling
Mill Creek Study
CYCC Golf Course Grading Plan
NRCS Funding: Steve Spear reported on a site visit to brief NRCS officials about the restoration project. NRCS has unofficially approved $75,000 for Herring River Restoration Project Coordination. There will be a competitive bidding process for the funds. Tim Smith will contact Hunt Durey to coordinate preparation of a scope of work. The draft scope will be provided to Steve Spear and Lee Davis of the CC Conservation District for forwarding to Tom Anderson at MA EEA, who will advertise the RFP and administer the contract.
TIP Listing: Margo Fenn reported that Mass Highway had sent a letter of rejection to the Town of Wellfleet concerning its request to get the Chequessett Neck Road dike listed on the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Mass Highway does not believe the project is a priority because the bridge is not structurally deficient. Margo Fenn agreed to follow up with town and Cape Cod Commission staff to see how to address Mass Highway’s position regarding the TIP listing. Hillary Greenberg offered to find out what were the results of the town’s tide gate inspection and provide that information to Fenn and HRRC members.
Cultural Resources Study: Tim Smith reported that the consultants working on the Phase 1A Cultural Resources Study would present their draft findings to HRRC at its August Meeting.
Update for Wellfleet Selectmen: HRRC is scheduled to provide an update briefing for the Wellfleet Selectmen on July 13, 2010. The Committee sent a handout that will be supplied to Selectmen prior to that meeting. The handout summarizes the EIS/EIR process, outlines the impact topics and describes the major elements of the project Alternatives. On July 13th, Gary Joseph will provide an introduction to the discussion, Margo Fenn will briefly outline the EIS/EIR process and Tim Smith will describe the project elements and issues that require town input. A similar briefing for the Truro Selectmen was tentatively scheduled for August 31, 2010.
Other Studies: Tim Smith reported that the National Park Service had $14,000 in new FY10 funds for the project that needed to be obligated this month. Smith and Shelley Hall requested that Louis Berger Group (LBG) prepare a proposal to develop some conceptual design drawings of the High Toss Road Alternatives using these funds. Tim Smith agreed to email the LBG proposal to HRRC members.
Discussion Items:
Alternatives Development:
Draft EIS/EIR Chapter 2: Margo Fenn and Tim Smith reported that Chapter 2 of the EIS/EIR had been revised using the comments submitted by HRRC members. The revised version was distributed to the Committee and the Technical Working Group (TWG).
Public Review Process: Tim Smith presented a draft brochure/newsletter that describes the Project Alternatives. The Committee discussed how to edit and distribute the brochure/newsletter. This document is to inform the public about the Alternatives but is not a formal solicitation for public comment. There is some funding available at the Coastal America Foundation (CAF) that can be used for producing the brochure.
Tim Smith agreed to email the draft to HRRC members for review. Committee member comments are needed by July 14, 2010. The HRRC will solicit bids from some local printers to produce it. The Friends of Herring River offered to cover postage and mailing. The goal is to mail out the brochure/newsletter in early August. The Friends of Herring River will post the approved version of the brochure on their website and email copies to members prior to the August 17th Annual Meeting.
Cooperating Agencies: Eric Derleth reported that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had sent a letter formally agreeing to become a cooperating agency in the NEPA process. This will involve development of a Memorandum of Understanding similar to the one that the National Park Service has with NRCS. HRRC members will inquire at the TWG meeting about whether the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers will also agree to become cooperating agencies.
Adaptive Management: The Committee had a lengthy discussion of adaptive management and how this issue will be addressed in the EIS/EIR. Tim Smith presented some background material on adaptive management and noted that it is fundamental to the Herring River EIS/EIR analysis. To be credible, it needs to be a structured decision-making process that includes quantitative modeling, real world monitoring to test model assumptions and a feedback loop that specifies actions necessary to respond to monitoring results. He noted that the existing Project Objectives in the EIS/EIR might need to be revised to ensure that they are:
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Results-oriented, and
Time-fixed
Tim Smith noted that HRRC needs a science advisory group to help develop the monitoring protocols and AM plan. Eric Derleth expressed concern that not all impacts are quantifiable and questioned how much detail needs to be included in the EIS/EIR. Shelley Hall suggested that the EIS/EIR should identify the range of potential impacts and include a tool-kit of steps to address those impacts. The Committee discussed what types of monitoring will be needed and what resources might be available to do the work.
John Riehl noted that the Adaptive Management Plan should address not only what issues need to be monitored and mitigated, but also what the management structure will be to make those decisions, going forward.
Margo Fenn noted that the NPS Environmental Quality Division (EQD) would have to develop a scope of work for completing the Draft EIS/EIR in the near future. It is critical that the Adaptive Management approach be articulated in that scope.
Loose Ends: Margo Fenn agreed to provide an updated list of loose ends to Committee members by email prior to the August meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:00 pm.
Documents referenced in the meeting:
- Minutes of the June 17, 2010 HRRC Meeting
- 1st Draft Herring River Restoration Project Update (brochure describing Project Alternatives)
- Handout for Wellfleet Selectmen’s meeting describing the EIS/EIR process, the Impact Topics and Project Alternatives
- June 21, 2010 Letter from MassDOT to the Wellfleet Town Manager regarding Project Need Form submitted for rehabilitation of the Chequessett Neck Road bridge.
Respectfully submitted,
Hillary Greenberg-Lemos
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