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Home My WebLink AboutCB Minutes 2008-10-02 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board October 2, 2008 Final Minutes MEMBERS PRESENT: Chris Benedict, Diane Conneman, James Hamilton, Eva Hoffmann, Brent Katzmann, Susan McCutcheon, Jon Meigs STAFF: Darby Kiley GUESTS: Tony Ingraham, Nirav Patel, Stephen Wagner, Adrian Williams Presentation on the Monitoring Plan for the South Basin of Cayuga Lake: Roxy Johnston, on behalf of the Tompkins County Water Resources Council (WRC), presented a Monitoring Plan for the South Basin of Cayuga Lake. Roxy explained the context of water quality concerns in the south basin and why the plan was developed. A subcommittee of the WRC has been meeting with staff and faculty from Cornell for over 2 years to work collaboratively and to develop the draft plan. CB members asked about how the data are being shared and about outreach efforts. Roxy responded that the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network is helping with outreach and eCommons at Cornell is also being utilized as a digital repository for data and reports (http://ecommons.library.cornell.edu/index.jsp). Someone also asked if the plan is happening. Roxy answered that it is and in small pieces. Some parts of the plan are already underway, and there has been funding allocated by the Stormwater Coalition of Tompkins County and the Tompkins County Planning Department, as well as a possible grant application for FL-LOWPA special projects to fund a study of macrophytes. On a side note, Roxy also distributed a recent article "Emerging Contaminants in the Cayuga Lake Watershed: Comparison of Two Water Supplies" by Liz Moran and Richard Gell both of whom are consultants on the City water supply project. Roxy said that the EIS for the project will be up on the City website soon. Diane mentioned that the Town Board passed a resolution in July regarding the Monitoring Plan. The CB decided to draft a resolution for next month. Members Concerns: Susan McCutcheon attended an informational session on Cornell's Draft transportation GEIS on September 9. Cornell has looked at four hypothetical population scenarios with mitigation suggested for each. The report is not intended as research for future projects where a transportation study is part of the project. It is meant as a proactive approach to anticipate growth and mitigation ideas in response to such changes. Part of 1 President Skorton's $20 million pledge to Ithaca will go toward mitigation. Three interesting stats: 13,000 people come into the county everyday; a van pool is already underway (6 locations suggested); Cornell purchased 2000 memberships in the car share program. Chair and Coordinator Reports: Diane reported that she spoke with Rich Schoch about the tree planted at the end of the South Hill Rec Way (for the 2007 Fischer award winner) and he will replace the tree. Diane wanted the CB to know about a report that Bill Sonnenstuhl distributed that is a UN report on green jobs. If anyone wants the link to the paper, let Diane know. Diane reported that she has been in touch with Susan Riha regarding the moratorium on gas drilling. Susan said that the moratorium will continue until a new generic Environmental Impact Statement is accepted. The EIS is expected to come out soon. Darby reported that the Northeast Environmental Assessment has been submitted and will be a topic on the October 20 Town Board agenda. The consultant will make a presentation. The Planning Committee will discuss the study at their October 9 meeting. Also on the 10/20 Town Board agenda is a public hearing on Lakefront Residential Zone (docks and moorings). At the Planning Board meeting on Tuesday, October 7, Carrowmoor Sketch Plan will be presented. The Town Board referred the local law to the PB for review. There will be an EIS as the Carrowmoor local law and site plan are developed. One other PB item is that the Wilson Lab Energy Recovery Linac project will likely be proceeding to an EIS though no official letter has been received. The stream buffer law will be on the next COC agenda. Darby shared that there is concern that an invasive species, swallow-wort, is spreading on town-owned land near the water tank on south hill. The town policy is not to use herbicides. Herb and others asked if the Conservation Board would be interested in getting involved. Darby can arrange to have someone come and talk about it next month. Darby shared information for the eco-cruises being hosted by the Floating Classroom/Tiohero Tours on the next 4 Saturdays. Donations are suggestions, reservations are preferred. They leave from the Farmers Market at 3 PM. Business: Approval of Minutes: Eva asked for a clarification for the term "hydrofracking," which was misspelled. With that change the chair accepted the minutes as final. 2 Membership: Diane, James, and Darby met with and interviewed Tony Ingraham and made a recommendation to the CB that Tony's appointment be recommended to the Town Board. The recommendation was moved by Eva, seconded by James, and the CB voted unanimously in favor. Conservation Zone Memo with goals for recommended changes The CB discussed the memo that was distributed in the packets. A few edits were made in order to clarify language. James made a motion to send the memo regarding Conservation Zoning language changes to the Town Board. Chris seconded the motion and all members voted in favor. Diane will make the suggested changes and deliver to Town Hall. Regular Reports and Updates: ERC: No report SRC: The SRC met with the Planning Committee on September 11. The PC agreed that something should be done to save Ithaca's views, and will look into the possibility of putting roadside pulloffs at some of the best view points. A WHCU radio news reporter interviewed James on what the Town might do to save views and what easements were necessary, James explained the idea of interpretive signs at roadside pulloffs and the need to keep Danby Road view next to Longview nursing home. R. FISCHER AWARD COMMITTEE: No report TOMPKINS COUNTY EMC: No report SIX MILE CREEK VOLUNTEER MONITORING PROGRAM: The July 14th sampling event results were normal, showing no pollution problems. Of the three BMI samples in the first week of September, two sites have showed healthy BMI communities, the third sample has not been analyzed yet. At the quarterly meeting on September 22, the group scheduled a weather-dependent high-flow sampling sometime before the end of November and a base flow sampling on January 6, 2009. The group is wondering how to organize the annual symposium, since the Cooperative Extension coordinator is no longer there. The stream sampling results will be posted online at a newly-designed website, now in the "beta" state, under development by a part-time work study student. Check out www.communityscience.net/beta if you are interested. The new website will automatically load new sample data into existing Excel spreadsheet. The few hard-core volunteers still working in Six Mile creek are looking for ways to increase their numbers, and also hope to train volunteers in BMI sampling for Fall Creek and other streams in the watershed. A part-time person at CSI has started such training with Nick 3 Schipanski and James, but needs more microscope work. Three samples for bacterial analysis at a new site in Potter's Falls on 7/14, 7/28, and 9/2 have shown that E. coli, total coliform, and fecal coliform bacteria counts are sometimes higher than DEC's legal definition of "safe" limits. Safety seems to depend on water temperature; the warmer the water, the higher the bacteria. Though flow rate may be involved, too, as dangerously high bacteria were found on the morning after a heavy rain and hot weather. CITY OF ITHACA NATURAL AREAS COMMISSION: No report COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REPORT: Diane reported that an Open House was held on September 22 with good attendance. Other Business: None Next meeting to be held on November 6, 2008. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 PM. Minutes generated by Darby Kiley and member submissions. 4