HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-11-29CONSERVATION BOARD
November 29, 2022
Hybrid
Members Present: Gian Dodici (Chair), Bob Beck, Anne Clark, Nancy Munkenbeck, Craig Schutt, Andrew
Miller, Jeanne Grace, Tim Woods, Steve Bissen
Absent:
Liaisons: Loren Sparling (Town Board), Simon St. Laurent (Planning Board)
Guest(s): Katri Haantera (Behavioral Scientist)
The meeting was called to order at 7:05 PM
Review and approval of minutes dated October 25, 2022
On motion made by C. Schutt, seconded by B. Beck, minutes were unanimously approved as amended. S
Bissen abstained since he wasn’t at the previous meeting.
Katri Haantera, a behavioral scientist with Evidn working with the Owasco Watershed, presented a
slideshow (attached) to the board on agriculture practice change. The purpose of asking Katri to speak
to the board was to discuss successfully interacting with others to elicit change. She talked about the
agricultural adoption work her team has been involved in which uses behavioral science.
Questions/Comments:
As far as the restraining forces, is there any kind of ranking done with those? They do have a ranking
system and it is really important to do that to give communities realistic expectations about what can be
done. Often the criteria are how easily something is modifiable, is it within the power of the company to
target, and how practical is it to actually change. There are never really any right or wrong answers.
T Woods was wondering how he could acquire a list of soil health best management practices that were
discussed. Katri said that the list doesn’t really actually exist. They spent months working closely with ag
advisors and asking them what practice they actually wanted to see a big shift in that is important to the
watershed. It did differ a little bit between counties but there were 3-4 practices that kept coming up in
conversations. Reduced or no tillage and cover crop implementation were the two big ones that were
brought up most often. It is going to differ from farmer to farmer depending on their situation. There is
a document called NY Soil Health Map was developed by Cornell and other collaborators and that was
their reference point in the early days. Katri recommends that resource.
With individual levels, group levels or macro levels, how does social media and people living in their own
bubble affect what you do and what others do in trying to make these changes. I can see a group level
but at a local level how do you make those influences. Group levels are some of the most influential
because what you’re tapping into are peoples sense of group identity and with those group identities
come different social norms which are unwritten rules which governs the way we think and behave.
They often play out at a very subconscious level. She would recommend thinking about those group
level factors and how they have implications for work.
How do you identify those people? When you first come in what are your initial steps? That is one of the
hardest things they do coming in as outsiders. They will do desktop research, find what role they play
and how needed they are to make a behavior change program work on the ground. After that they try
to use personal referrals. Eventually they tap into some of the unofficial networks.
Do you actually identify your own ideal group from within the landscape of people and call them in
physically? Yes, the first step is coordination, making sure everyone is on the same page and everyone
has the same goal to work towards.
Who typically calls you in? It changes from project to project.
Who typically sets up the interviews with the ag farmer/consumers? They do. That is the #1 thing they
do at Evidn. They really focus on our relationship with the customer.
N Munkenbeck asked Katri what the board could do to influence the Highway Department to stop their
current ditching practices. There are so many contributing sources to the issue. It’s a really tricky and
challenging issue and she thinks the message is everyone has a part to play.
Do you know many farms within the watershed or what % of farms are involved in the AEM program?
She said she doesn’t have a number right this minute but it is an issue her team has picked up on.
The board thanked her for speaking with them and sharing her knowledge.
Meeting Reports:
Ag Committee- Discussed manure to methane in our region.
EMC- The EMC meeting of 11-10-2022 had a presentation from former EMC member and currently our
representative in the NYS Assembly, Anna Kelles. She told us about some of the environmental items
that she and the NYS Assembly have been working on. Here is a list of some of them:
- Establishes a moratorium on cryptocurrency mining operations that use proof-of-work authentication
methods to validate blockchain transactions; provides that such operations shall be subject to a full
generic environmental impact statement review.
- Enacts the "per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFAS) surface water discharge disclosure act"; requires
publicly owned treatment works and people who discharge industrial waste to such treatment works to
disclose the measurement of PFAS found in any discharge into the state waterways.
- The 2022-2023 NYS Budget will include $500 million for clean water infrastructure funding. This is in
addition to money provided by the Federal Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act.
- NYS Fashion Act, fashion companies selling products in New York and generating more than $100
million in revenues would have to map at least half of their supply chains and disclose impacts such as
greenhouse gas emissions, water footprint and chemical use. 8% of greenhouse gases from clothing,
supply chain up to 50% reduction required.
Planning Board- The planning board has been pretty quiet lately. They don’t have anything big on the
agenda up to the end of the year. S St Laurent is departing from the planning board at the end of the
year. The board thanked him for his contribution to the Conservation Board and hopes he will stop in
during future meetings.
Town Board- The Planning Department has settled on a vehicle for the Code Enforcers partly funded by
the Climate Smart group.
Rail Trail Task Force- Is still waiting on the approval from the county for the Game Farm Road crossing.
The board discussed a resolution encouraging the Town Board to take the friendly living pledge by the
Owasco lake watershed management council by passing this resolution below:
RESOLUTION #2 OF 2022
ENDORSING AND TAKING THE LAKE FRIENDLY LIVING PLEDGE BY THE OWASCO LAKE WATERSHED
MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (OLWMC) FOR ADVANCING POLLUTANT REDUCTION STRATEGIES FOR LAND
AND WATER STEWARDSHIP WITHIN THE OWASCO LAKE WATERSHED
G Dodici offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption:
WHEREAS, the City of Auburn provides clean, safe drinking water for nearly 45,000 residents located in
the City of Auburn and Cayuga County; and
WHEREAS, the source of the Town of Owasco and City of Auburn's drinking water supply is Owasco
Lake, a Class AA(T) designated and protected water body; and
WHEREAS, in recent years Owasco Lake has experienced widespread harmful algae blooms due to
nutrients that promote and support the growth of algae and Cyanobacteria; and
WHEREAS, harmful algae blooms threaten lake water quality and the health and safety of water
consumers; and
WHEREAS, the OLWMC is looking to advance pollutant reduction strategies and land and water
conservation within the Owasco Lake Watershed; and
WHEREAS, the OLWMC’s Lake Friendly Living pledge that aligns with a Finger Lakes Regional pledge
effort, is as follows:
I know my choices can affect water quality for Owasco Lake. I pledge to incorporate 'Lake Friendly
Living' practices to reduce my impacts on Owasco Lake. I will adopt these practices that help reduce
pollutants and minimize runoff into Owasco Lake:
(1) I pledge to refrain from using excessive lawn fertilizers and chemicals to help prevent Harmful Algal
Blooms (HABs).
(2) I will only use limited phosphorus-free fertilizers (as governed by NYS law), applied properly.
(3) I will maintain my septic system.
(4) I will reduce hazardous wastes and dispose of them properly.
(5) I will dispose of prescription drugs properly; I will not flush them.
(6) I will maintain my vehicles, water-crafts, and other recreational vehicles to reduce fluid leaks as well
as the spread of aquatic invasive species.
(7) I will use water wisely.
(8) I will not dispose of leaf litter or lawn clippings in waterways or ditches.
(9) I will strive to work towards implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs) to improve soil health
and water quality while I’m engaging in land use activities within the Owasco Lake Watershed
recommended by County Soil and Water Conservation Districts, State and Federal Agencies and other
conservation groups.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Dryden hereby strongly
endorses the Lake Friendly Living pledge program led by the Owasco Lake Watershed Management
Council. Further, the Town of Dryden will take the pledge for those lands within the watershed for
which it maintains ownership, and will work towards achieving the actions requested in the pledge
within the town limits, in solidarity with those making such efforts throughout the Owasco Lake
Watershed.
2nd C Schutt
All in favor with one abstention.
Leash Law:
At the Rail Trail meeting the committee discussed an issue with dogs not being on leashes. In the Town
of Dryden, the leash laws states that the dog has to be on a leash OR under the control of its owner. B
Beck says that most other towns in Tompkins County requires the dog to be on a leash. He would like to
see the Dryden leash law changed for public land and environmentally sensitive areas (not including
hunting dogs). B Beck is proposing making a resolution on this matter to present to the Town Board.
A member commented that they think it is a great idea but enforcement would probably remain a
problem even if the leash law is changed.
This point will be on the agenda for the next meeting for further discussion.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:25 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Emily Banwell