|
Meeting Minutes
Wellfleet Comprehensive Wastewater Management Committee
DPW Building
May 22, 2012
Present: Alex Hay, Lezli Rowell, Patrick Winslow, Curt Felix, Ned Hitchcock
Regrets: Bob Larsen
The meeting opened at 2:30 pm. Chair Hay introduced the question of funding for the YSI water quality monitoring project. It was pointed out that ultimately the project could be funded by the USDA grant, but that would not be available soon. Alternatives presented included using money from the Conservation Officer’s water quality budget or from the CWMPC’s budget. There was considerable discussion of the need for monitoring. Lezli Rowell moved to support ongoing water quality sampling and data collection including the use of the YSI subject to the recommendations of Hillary Greenberg-Lemos, Conservation Officer, in support of the CWMPC’s ongoing efforts. Seconded by Curt Felix and passed unanimously. Discussion continued with a brief review of the EPG proposal
for monitoring and managing the YSI. The committee felt the proposal needed further review. There was also discussion regarding approaching DEP for input regarding the kind of water quality monitoring they might expect as ongoing follow-up after the MEP is completed and the CWMP is finished.
Alex Hay moved and Lezli8 Rowell seconded that the committee accept the Oyster Project and Water Quality reports from Annamarija Frankik and EPG respectively. Motion passed unanimously.
Ned Hitchcock reported on a workshop he attended on May 10, 2012 at the Dennis Pines Golf Club in Dennis regarding the governance and water quality on Cape Cod. The presentations focused on the need to develop solutions to wastewater issues that move away from large scale sewering systems. The EPA is advocating science-based adaptive management incorporating in-depth research, innovative and alternative technologies, and continuous evaluation of progress. There were several interesting speakers and Wellfleet was mentioned positively for its work with oyster propagation as a way to improve water quality.
Committee discussed the desirability of making some kind of press release regarding the various grants we’ve been awarded. Curt Felix will announce the $2,000 from the Massachusetts Oyster Project at tonight’s Board Of Selectmen’s meeting. The SPAT grant will be announced later and the USDA grant when it’s made official.
Curt Felix reports speaking with Mark Forrest regarding helping us find support for the NOAA-TNC grant application. Mr Forrest will speak with someone he knows in NOAA on our behalf.
The Planning Board requests a joint meeting regarding build-out and watershed based zoning. They will meet June 20 at the COA. Committee representatives will be there.
Chair Hay introduced discussion of the Shellfish Advisory Board’s belief in the growing need to regulate the opening and closing of wild harvesting seasons. They are looking for scientific support for the maintenance of a substantial shellfish population throughout the year. This is consistent with the CWMPC’s interest in shellfish as an element in water quality management. There was a lengthy discussion of shellfish growing, population balance, the natural and social ecology of the harbor among other things. The CWMPC can be of help in planning for the larger picture. Ned Hitchock identified the obvious tension between short and long-term interests and needs. It was agreed that the shellfish community as it lives and works within the commons shared by many other parties
needs some form of management plan and perhaps a “propagation officer.”
Review of past meeting minutes was postponed and the meeting adjourned at 4 pm.
Respectfully submitted, Ned Hitchcock for the committee.
| 