Approved
Wastewater Planning Committee
Meeting Minutes
November 21, 2013
2:30 pm Town Hall Hearing Room
Attendance: Alex Hay, Curt Felix, Ned Hitchcock, Janet Drohan, Patrick Winslow,
Lezli Rowell and Bob Rafferty and Ann Marie Petricca of Environmental Partners.
Harry Terkanian, John Morrissey, Scott Horsley, Tom Cambrieri, Hillary Greenberg
2:37 pm meeting called to order by Curt Felix.
Curt stated the purpose of the meeting is to bring into context what the waste water committee has been doing. The county process will be ingrained into Wellfleet. Curt gave an overview of the feasible options available to the Town, which included oyster restoration, habitat salt marsh restoration, and an analysis of sewering the downtown area. Examples of cost per pound of nitrogen removal was provided. Commercial harvest proves to be the most productive. There has been nitrate monitoring at the inside of the Harbor in the oyster propagation area. The nitrate concerns are inshore, closest to the heavily populated areas. Within the oyster zone, the water is of high quality. The population of oysters now exceeds 4 million from the original 10,000 planted in the oyster zone. Blackfish Creek and Herring River have not been rated. Curt wanted to know how this program could work into the 208 county process.
Harry Terkanian stated solutions that are sustainable, less intra-structure, and not cost prohibitive should be pursued. Alex stated as far as the 208 is concerned, he questioned if it was plan to keep evolving it (the natural resource solution), and Scott Horsley stated that oyster propagation is relatively new but they want to keep this at the front. He stated data will have to be received, implemented into other towns, and if the results are better than intra-structure facilities. DEP needs data before they would look at this as a total solution. He stated agencies need to look at monitoring plans and more green ways to go throughout the Cape. Tom Cambrieri stated Wellfleet’s data is impressive. MEP data has not been collected for over two years. Cambrieri stated the enhancements using
natural solutions is going in the right direction. Terkanian stated he feels this could be an opportunity to solve problems in other towns and resources could be used at another towns to help solve their problems.
Scott Horsley stated two alternative plans will be presented Cape-wide (traditional and non-traditional) which would include I/A systems, and Scott will present non-traditional solutions (oyster propagation, compostable toilets, etc.). He does not want to use the traditional options alone. Scott stated there will be another group look at monitoring and adaptive management process. Curt stated he would like to demonstrate compliance matrix versus the data provided from MEP. Scott stated several watersheds do not have numbers and MEP numbers would provide a basis. Alex questioned what criteria the town will be under, MEP or 208. Cambrieri stated he is involved with a group of representatives from various agencies who are looking at alternative solutions (an executive group).
Horsley stated there is not much data available for salt marsh restoration and the costs involved and asked Curt if he could provide gather information from the Herring River project and use as an index. Horsley stated it would be important for the committee to be involved in the monitoring management committee which will start up in January. He stated demonstration processes NRCS (?) as a partner. Winter monitoring will take place this year.
Morrissey questioned if the CCC is looking seriously at Wellfleet’s oyster propagation data and Horsley stated the information is being reviewed by a technology group to confirm information in the matrix. Morrisey wants reassurance that this technique will be viable and information proven and accepted. Horsley stated there will be monitoring locations throughout the Cape towns and Wellfleet Harbor would probably be a good location because there is previous data already.
There is a triple bottom line project going on as well which identifies the co-benefits of the alternatives solutions which include economic, habitat, and environmental. Horsley stated reports which have been implemented in town, i.e. storm water, compost toilet at beach, need to be in the plan which will give the town more credit. Horsley stated the 208 plan will look at the towns plan is consistent and within the range identified. Horsely stated if there is a technology plan and several towns involved with proven data, the chances of approval and funding will be far greater.
Lezli moved to adjourn at 3:55 pm; seconded by Ned; passed 6-0.
Respectfully submitted,
| 