Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutEnfield Water Protection Committee Minutes 42623Enfield Water Protection Committee Minutes ! 4/26/23 (and follow-up from the March 30 meeting) Attending: Stephanie Redmond, Becky Sims, Dan Walker, Tom Joyce, Julie Schroeder, Jude Lemke, Nancy Spero, Peter Penniman, Virginia Bryant (March 30 attendees: Harry Stewart, Stephanie Redmond, Dan Walker, Becky Sims, Peter Penniman, Nancy Spero, Grascen Shidemantle of CSI) On March 30 We met with Grascen Shidemantle from the Community Science Institute. We discussed water monitoring in Enfield. This is in response to the concerns of many residents about the increased CAFO manure spreading in the town and concerns that it could affect our water quality due to run off into streams and wells. There are currently 3 CSI monitoring sites in Enfield that have been monitored for many years and could give good baseline data. The areas of concern are not covered by these three sites. We discussed possibly adding 2 new sites.The data may be able to help with future actions, if they need to be taken in the town, related to water quality changes, since this is a NY State lab. After the meeting, Grascen of the Community Science Institute sent us this cost information for the town as follows: She wrote: “Here is the breakdown of testing costs per sample: E. coli = $47 Nitrate+Nitrite-Nitrogen = $37 TKN = $40 Total Phosphorus = $32 Total Sample Cost = $156 We offer a 10% discount to local governments so the cost per sample would come out to $140.40. Typically, to cover the costs of data management and entry on our database and volunteer training and coordination, we would charge an additional 50% of the discounted sampling cost. However, in recognition of Enfield's consistent support of CSI for many years, I would like to waive that for you and do this part of the work in-kind ($70.20 in-kind per sample). " We continued the discussion of water monitoring in this April meeting. Peter Penniman and Harry Stewart participated in the water collection this past month. Julie Schroeder has participated in the past in the Newfield area. Tom Joyce voiced interest in helping with future water collection also. After much discussion this Committee recommends that the Town begins quarterly water monitoring at two sampling sites downstream from the areas of concern. The total cost would be $1123.20 per year for the town. Stephanie will write a draft resolution to bring to the Town Board for discussion at the next Town Board meeting. After this discussion we continued the review of the draft Water Protection Plan compiled and created by Steve Winkley. We continued making notes as to possible editing needed. Any typos or other changes should be emailed to both Nancy Spero and Dan Walker. We will continue to refine the document as a committee. Next Meeting: Wednesday May 31, 2023, 6:30 pm via Zoom.