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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-NAC-2011-06-13NAC Minutes June 13, 2011 Attendance Members Todd Miner Anna Stalter Joe McMahon Ron Herring G.._nffi�in Roxy Johnston, WaterWorks Gary Jordan, Park Ranger Jeanne Grace, City Forest Technician Wade Wykstra, Board of Public Works Daniel Hoffman, City Attorney Note -Taker Todd Miner Agenda Announcements Roxy reported on her Watershed Walk, 5 participants. Talked about present and future Joe reported on Bird Walk, 4 participants. Red tailed hawk babies starting to fledge Red fox run over on Giles Trees cleared on trails July 15Y kick off of "A Year in the Life of Six Mile Creek" Talks, music, maybe art exhibits, courtesy of Level Green Institute. Ranger Report — Gary Jordan Only been working for 2 weeks. Starting early this year. Memorial Day, very busy. Second week very quiet (IthacaFest) Forestry Report - Jeanne Grace Emerald Ash Borer - -500 ash trees in urban area of which 50% are considered in "good condition." Closest confirmed infestation is Bath. Very virulent once in area. Difficult to detect. Spread most efficiently by human moved firewood. Pesticide "Treeage" being used, injected into tree. Works best on healthier trees. 100% mortality. Bio controls being worked on, but success not known. Local entomologist Mark Whitmore starting to work on genetic repository by collecting and saving seeds. Ash early pioneer species. Ash already impacted by other diseases (Ash Yellow, etc.). Only real thing that can be done is to slow infestation. Hemlock Wooly Ageldid — City Cemetery near Cascadilla Creek, where there are a number of very large hemlocks, was inspected and none found there. Cornell is actively trying to protect some of its hemlocks with several different pesticides. Asian Long Horned Beetle- -Moves slowly. It is in NYC and Worcester, MA. However it eats a huge variety of trees. Response? -- ID ash trees in Six Mile and create inventory? GPS? Get volunteers? Pesticides can be applied by any citizen but employees have to be certified. Native Plant Society Letter Letter, from Joe as chair, sent in support of their mission, and to support their application of non - profit status. Tracking Workshop Anna talked to Linda Spielman about doing tracking workshop in the winter. Invasives Report Zev and Robert Wesley getting together to develop map. Six GPS units were purchased to help map them. Anna will be getting report to Park Foundation which helped with funding. National Heritage has application for GPS units which will be helpful Tom Whitlow and Anna are talking about applying for a grant to clean parking area at Muholland entrance to Six Mile of invasives and to beautify it. Or possibly to look at how invasives and tree kill could negatively impact watershed. Volunteers Should they sign waivers? Joe will check with Cayuga Trails Club about their willingness to help with trail maintenance on City Land. Membership /Attendance How do we get people to remember? We are still down a person. Tom Whitlow is interested, but lives out of the City. Six out of 9 have to be from the City. Should we meet less often?