Approved
Wastewater Planning Committee
Meeting Minutes
February 4, 2014
7:00 pm Town Hall Hearing Room
Attendance: Alex Hay, Curt Felix, Ned Hitchcock, Janet Drohan, Patrick Winslow, Lezli Rowell, Paul Gabriel and Anne Marie Petricca of Environmental Partners, Amy Costa of Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies.
Cape Cod Commission 208 Plan update: Curt and Ned indicated next meeting is Thursday, Feb. 6th.
Oyster Propagation Zone Proposal: Curt received a verbal response from DMF that they have met with Director Diodati and are inclined to approve the no take/propagation zone proposal, but have some additional questions they will be forwarding.
He is also working on a meeting with DMF and DEP to gain consensus on oyster values for nitrogen credit which would also be used for the 208 plan. This should take place late February or March.
National Fish and Wildlife Proposal: Curt reviewed the multi-pronged grant application submitted under the Coastal Resiliency program, using the presentation media as recently introduced to the Cape Cod Water Protection Collaborative, covering --
• 140 acres of oyster restoration area
• Support of salt marsh restoration projects
• Green infrastructure improvements/alternatives to coastal seawall extensions
• Integration of planning at local, county and state levels (SERI model)
Curt’s PowerPoint illustrates quantitatively measuring impacts of the oyster restoration pilot project area on water quality, introducing the summer 2013 data collected. Anamaria Frankic has collected biodiversity inventory and Mark Borrelli of Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies is working on a species population estimate tool with side-scanning sonar, developing interpolation processing by comparing the ground-truthed inventory to calibrate software. Presentation also illustrates nitrogen-removal capacities by natural habitat types, and accentuates that systems are most active during summer months matching peaks in nitrogen input cycle. The grant application and partnering with CC Water Collaborative intends to advance the best available science, provide Wellfleet and other Cape communities with the tools and alternatives
to consider the best return on investment analysis in planning for nutrient management and water quality improvements under requirements for wastewater management.
It was noted that despite phased, expensive hard structure improvements (sewering) in the Chesapeake watershed, water quality improvement goals are failing to be met and there has been decades of work on oyster restoration as a viable alternative for restoring water quality. In Chespeake Bay restoration, and oyster density at about 200/m2 is considered ‘good’ while Wellfleet propagation pilot project area is currently estimated at 600/m2.
Tracking of the pilot project area shows changes to sediment types over the past two years, reef growth and demonstrated removal of chlorophyll, and reduction to point-source nitrogen input from the Mayo Creek duck-bill pipe. It has also been observed that terrapins are feeding at the reef.
Curt has received numerous letters of support for the NFW proposal, as well as interest from other communities to pursue similar projects. The project is heading to peer-review process and publication.
[Letters from: Cape Cod Commission, Towns of Wellfleet, Truro, Barnstable, Brewster, Harwich, Mashpee, Sandwich, Senator Wolf and State Representative Peake, MA Department of Ecological Restoration, Division of Marine Fisheries – Director Diodati, Friends of the Herring River, Representative Keating, USDA – Natural Resource Conservation Service, Senator Markey, MA Oyster Project, Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group, DOI – National Park Service, DOC – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Social and Environmental Research Institute, the Nature Conservancy; EPA, Town of Dennis and Audubon letters came in after submission]
Presentation of Water Quality Data and Biological Results: Amy Costa gave an overview of the 2013 sampling program and graphics of results. The propagation pilot project area continues to show remediation of the severely degraded water quality coming from Mayo Creek at the duck-bill pipe. While comparison of 2012 to 2013 sample results in project area shows the area meets MEP classification of ‘Good’ water quality, down from ‘Excellent’ – the increased nitrogen concentration at the duck-bill for 2013 demonstrates significant ability of the oyster propagation zone to remediate. Comparisons of 2012 to 2013 chlorophyll data indicate improving remediation with a more mature population.
Pat asked for the timeline on moving along with proposed additional propagation sites. Curt responded that Director Diodati will be coming for an on-site inspection of the project application in the next few weeks and some level of conceptual support and approval is anticipated. If the project proceeds, an increase of 128 acres will become available as commercial habitat with 14 acres of the total project designated as ‘no take’. If the NFW grant proceeds, cultching will be 1800 tons per year for the next two years, water quality and biologic inventory monitoring will be expanded to “propagation” areas, video monitoring surveillance will be installed, and two hatcheries for town propagation programs will be supported. Earliest grant decisions are expected in April.
Update on Analysis of Alternatives: Paul Gabriel presented February 2014 update with a handout, reviewing population forecasting (Curt’s methods to MEP will be incorporated), and comparisons of effectiveness of various nitrogen load reduction strategies. Further developments of the update will compare return on investment of strategies, i.e. the unit cost of pound-per-year removal of nitrogen through the various actions of enhancing natural systems, increased regulatory installations of on-site I/A systems, installations of cluster or centralized wastewater systems. Lezli asked that the table for predicting value of newly requiring upgrades to I/A be adjusted to cover older conventional Title V systems in place 10 or more years (since local BoH regulations began I/A triggers) and in setback range from 100 – 300 feet from
marine resources (beyond the currently identified sensitive area). Alex asked for pricing estimates for alternatives comparison. There was a discussion of considering stormwater improvements in lieu of ‘menu item’ to consider permeable reactive barriers given the disruptive installation it would require, if recommended. Paul noted that there is no nitrogen given for stormwater collection with residence time for treatment.
Paul discussed the seawalls alternative component of the NFW grant for areas with severe erosion issues, essentially steel cages filled with cultch to seed reef colonization. Pat discussed the vehicle access to grant areas that will need to be preserved in siting seawall extension projects.
Alex discussed DPH lab under development for vibrio and coliform monitoring and controls.
SERI mediated public/private partnerships for adaptive planning and policy decisions component of the NFW proposal was discussed. Curt indicated that the grant application was also strengthened by listing $525,000 matching funds and in-kind services, demonstrating current acceptance of projects and commitments to expansion.
Baker Field Update: Ned has been working diligently with the Town Administrator’s office on the developments since issuing RFQ. A contract is under review, but the alternative of purchasing a pre-fab building, reducing RFP to engineering services to shorten the process may be considered. Curt and Lezli also recommended looking into Sole Source Justification. Construction beginning in late fall is still anticipated.
Meeting minutes: Ned moved to approve amended minutes of May 28, October 8, and November 21, 2013; second by Alex. Motion unanimous.
Next Wastewater committee meeting, Tuesday, March 4th, 7:00 pm. Meeting adjourned around 8:45 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Lezli Rowell
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