Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-09-27 9/27/2022 CONSERVATION BOARD September 27, 2022 Hybrid Members Present: Gian Dodici (Chair), Bob Beck, Anne Clark, Nancy Munkenbeck (7:20 PM), Craig Schutt, Andrew Miller, Jeanne Grace (Left at 9:00 PM), Tim Woods Absent: Liaisons: Loren Sparling (Town Board), Simon St Laurent (Planning Board) Guest(s): Adam Effler (Executive Director-Cayuga Lake Watershed Management Council) The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM Review and approval of minutes dated July 26, 2022 On motion made by C. Schutt, seconded by B. Beck, minutes were unanimously approved as amended. Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council Adam Effler, Executive Director of the Cayuga Lake Watershed Management Council, presented a slideshow (attached) to welcome the town and offer gratitude for joining and to show a little bit more of what they’re all about. He said the Town of Dryden recognizes its roll in protecting the important Owasco inlet headwaters. He thanked A Clark for her willingness to participate at meetings and says she has been a valuable resource. Meeting Reports Ag Committee- Did not meet. C Schutt mentioned that the Ag committee would like to meet with the Conservation Board to discuss water quality with farms to determine if there are specific hotspots and become aware of areas of concern. Planning Board- S St. Laurent did not attend the meeting. Town Board- The board briefly talked about next steps that the town should take regarding upgrading the town zoning law in light of the recently completed comp plan. Town Board will talk about models and membership of the zoning task force at the October board meetings and decide from there if a consultant should be hired. EMC- S Bissen missed the meeting. Liz Thomas with Cayuga Lake intermunicipal met with the committee. Rail Trail- There are open sections and progress towards opening the full 14.4-mile Dryden Rail Trail. The trail is currently open (including the Jim Schug Section) from Freeville through Dryden Village to Purvis Road at the Cortland County line (7.5 miles) and, on the western end, it's open two ways from Stevenson Road – west to Game Farm Road and east through Varna to Route 13 (2.7 miles). 9/27/2022 Last week, County Highway began their promised road work at Game Farm Road to remove/reduce the unsafe "vertical curve" north of the trail crossing. This, we hope, will soon lead to County approval of the request by the Towns of Dryden and Ithaca to install safety features and to formally open the crossing connecting the Dryden Rail Trail to the East Ithaca Recreation Way. The pedestrian bridge at Route 13 is on track for construction next year, as is the 0.6 mile section through the light industrial park to Pinckney Road. Meanwhile, work continues on the remaining stretch of 3.6 miles through Etna to Freeville. Stormwater- Dave Sprout did not get back to Nancy. Slaterville Road Subdivision The board discussed the proposed subdivision on 1729 Slaterville Road. After discussion, the board put together a resolution they saw fit for this particular property. RESOLUTION #1 (2022)- PROPOSED SUBDIVISION-1729 SLATERVILLE ROAD G Dodici offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: WHEREAS, given the steep nature of the site descending to 6 Mile Creek; and WHEREAS, the position of a long driveway, which is likely to be given an impervious surface, terminating near a pond with a 90 degree turn away, it appears to be difficult to implement stormwater retention structures, as required by town law in the Town of Dryden; and WHEREAS, the entire parcel lies within a designated UNA-156, we also recommend that the subdivision section off a smaller parcel, thus eliminating the need for specifying a 600’ buffer; and WHEREAS, thus we have strong reservations along the current proposal. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Conservation Board would agree to the subdivision if the above conditions are met. 2nd-S Bissen All in favor RMS Gravel The owner of RMS Gravel has passed away and it was in his wishes that the business does not get sold. His daughter is planning to shut the business down at this time. G Dodici said that it might be a great opportunity for the Town to acquire some parcels and turn it into a park, fishing pond, etc. Town Hall Wetland 9/27/2022 There is a wetland next to Town Hall that is mowed like a lawn now. Early on, the town mowed it and Dan Kownowski who was the Planning Director at the time, had a fit because they had to develop the wetland. C Schutt is going to ask for the plan for this wetland. NYSACC Membership The board discussed whether or not they want to renew their $75 membership for the New York State Association of Conservation Commissions. N Munkenbeck said she doesn’t feel like they have provided any valuable resources for the board to use. S Bissen thinks it might be a good idea to stay in touch with what other Conservation Boards and towns are doing. And it is only $75, it is not a significant amount of money. A Clark said if we want to have collaborations it does seem like its keeping our feelers in. It is easier to stay in contact. RESOLUTION #2 (2022)- RENEW NYSACC MEMBERSHIP G Dodici offered the following resolution and asked for its adoption: RESOLVED, that the Conservation Board hereby votes in favor of renewing the New York State Association of Conservation Commissions membership in the amount of $75. 2nd- S Bissen G. Dodici Yes B. Beck Yes A. Clark Yes N. Munkenbeck No C. Schutt Yes A. Miller Yes T. Woods Yes There being no further business, under motion made by G. Dodici, seconded by B. Beck, the meeting was adjourned at 9:25 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Emily Banwell Deputy Town Clerk The Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council (OLWMC) The Central Hub for Coordinating Owasco Lake Watershed Protection ADAM EFFLER, PHD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OWASCO LAKE WATERSHED MANAGEMENT COUNCIL Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council Ultimate goal of the OLWMC is protection and restoration of the watershed to protect and improve lake water quality, acknowledging the fact that decreases in water quality are primary driven by non-point source pollution/watershed activities. Owasco Lake Watershed by the Numbers Drainage Area: 208 square miles Counties: 3 -Cayuga, Onondaga, Tompkins Townships-15: Groton, Lansing, Locke, Dryden, Fleming, Genoa, Moravia, Niles, Owasco, Scipio, Sempronius, Sennett, Skaneateles, Summerhill, Venice Villages-2: Moravia, Groton Maximum Lake Depth: ~177 ft. Lake Length: 11 Miles Lake Average Width: 1.2 Miles Lake Average Depth: 96 ft. Finger Lakes Rank: 6th Largest Number of Consumers Drinking Owasco Lake Waters: ~45,000 Land to Lake Ratio: 20:1 (Largest of Finger Lakes) Average Volume of water in Owasco Lake: ~260,000,000,000 gallons Duties: Actively monitors and evaluates the general health of the waters of Owasco Lake and its watershed Supports research in the watershed to help drive management decisions Oversees the Owasco Lake Watershed Inspection and Protection Division to identify and control land disturbing activities within the watershed Coordinates projects by partnering with various groups/ agencies including, but not limited to, Cayuga County, Tompkins County, The Nature Conservancy, the Owasco Watershed Lake Association, the Finger Lakes Institute, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Implement educational programs that will increase public awareness about the responsible care and protection of the watershed. Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council Buy-In, Members and Directors Thane Benson, Town Council Member, Town of Locke Joan Jayne, Town Supervisor, Town of Niles Ginny Kent, City Councilor,City of Auburn Aileen McNabb-Coleman, County Legislator,Cayuga County Karen VanLiew, Town of Fleming Melinda Pitman, Town Board Member,Town of Scipio Ed Wagner, Town Supervisor,Town of Owasco Terry Baxter, Town Supervisor, Town of Moravia Gary Mulvaney, Mayor, Village of Moravia Nancy Niswender, Village Clerk, Village of Groton Charlie Ripley, Supervisor, Town of Summerhill Thomas Blair, Town Supervisor, Town of Sennett Anne Clarke, Conservation Board, Town of Dryden New Directorship, 2022 New Representatives, 2022 Buy-In Targets The OLWMC presents the opportunity to leverage a unified voice for improved water quality watershed wide. Director Vacancies to be filled: Towns of: 1.Groton 2.Sempronius 3.Venice 4.Genoa 5.Skaneateles 6.Lansing Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council’s Broad Goals Buy-in, build directorship Currently 13 Directors, eleven of which are watershed municipal representatives A balanced approach necessary for achieving behavior change and advancing conservation Updates to Watershed Rules and Regulations for the interest of compliance Under Consensus Review with NYS Expand community outreach and education to promote the voluntary adoption of conservation and best practices Identify and secure funding sources to advance watershed protection and restoration projects/programs Overarching Watershed Goal-Prevention, the ‘Bottom-Up’ Approach Pollutant Reduction Existing Watershed Rules and Regulations Updated Watershed Rules and Regulations Nutrient management plan requirements for farms Riparian buffer requirements Setbacks Requirements Better Protections for ditches Consistent and common messaging to promote education towards adopting voluntary conservation practices Land Acquisition Municipal Advancements Lake Friendly Living Self-sustained sediment and erosion control measures for municipalities Climate Smart Communities Why is this Work Critically Important? •2020 Polling Project by the Nature Conservancy •~800 Voters Olivia Green, 2021 Number of confirmed cyanobacterial blooms in Owasco Lake tabulated by the DEC NYS- HABs website (Halfman et al., 2021) Why is this Work Critically Important? Widespread Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) at North End Drivers and What We Can Control Limiting Nutrient-The nutrient in lowest quantity relative to an organisms need for growth. Phosphorus is known to be the limiting nutrient for algal production in freshwater systems. Daily nutrient and sediment loads measured near the terminus of Dutch Hollow Brook revealed that over 90% of the loads are delivered during precipitation/runoff events, typically in the spring season, and more spread out through the field season in 2021. (Halfman et al., 2021) Land Use Percentages in the Owasco Lake watershed Agricultural land is a primary land use in the watershed and agricultural land contributes proportionally more nutrients and suspended sediments per acre than any other land use in the watershed. The 9E Plan’s SWAT Model predicted that the annual total phosphorus (TP) load is from: •Cultivated Crops (53%) •Pasture/Hay Fields (36%) •Forested Lands (6%) •Developed Lands (5%). Thus, nearly 90% of the phosphorus loads originate from the agricultural sector. (Halfman et al., 2021) In the agricultural sector, the SWAT Model indicated that significant phosphorus loading reductions will result from three remediation practices: 1. Restriction of manure and fertilizer application to the land. 2. Adoption of strict nutrient management planning for all farms. 3. Use of winter (i.e., cover) crops. Findings of the SWAT Model and Recommendations. (9E Plan Public Meeting #2, 9/21/21) Proposed and Committed 2022 Core REVENUE SOURCES City of Auburn:$210,000 requested, $210,000 committed Town of Owasco:$28,000 requested, $29,000 committed (+$2,000) Town of Fleming:$10,000 requested,$7,000 committed Town of Scipio:$2,500 requested, $3,000 committed (+$500) Town of Niles: $2,000 requested, $2,000 committed Town of Moravia:$2,000 requested, $2,000 committed (+$1,000) Village of Moravia:$2,000 requested, $2,000 committed Town of Sennett:$2,000 requested, $2,500 committed Hamlet of Locke:$2,000 requested budgeted amount Village of Groton:$2,000 requested budgeted amount Town of Summerhill:$2,000 requested budgeted amount Town of Dryden:$0 requested, $0 committed Town of Genoa:$0 requested, $200 committed (+$200) Current Committed Annual Total: $257,700 •The OLWMC is requesting all municipalities within the watershed contribute. •The OLWMC prepares grant proposals for specific projects. Grant Funding Recent Awards: $4950 from Hobart William Smith PRISM for AIS Portaboard OLWIPD New Vehicle Expense $16,000-Emerson Foundation $5,000-French Foundation $5,000-Metcalf Foundation $10,000 from the Great Lakes Commission towards agriculture conservation implementation www.enviroscapes.com/product/watershed-nonpoint-source-model/hands-on- models Special Projects-Watercourse Level Sensors Administered and coordinated externally funded (Great Lakes Protection Fund) tributary level sensors installation project (Hyfi) to improve data driven approach to reducing nutrient loading, and advancing flood warnings for asset management, recreation, and planning (administered 2020-2022) Grant subcontract award through partnership with Hyfi Data Available through OLWMC Website Data will be used for estimating flow SWAT Model Calibration Special Projects-Watercourse (Hyfi) Level Sensors Common and Consistent Messaging- Driving Practices Adoption LFL Program Signage The ‘Lake Friendly Living’ pledge includes a wide array of requested BMPs for land and water stewardship. This pledge program promotes consistent messaging with sister Finger Lakes’ watershed groups. “Lake Friendly Living’ signs were installed on existing tributary sign posts and with municipality signage throughout the watershed. Municipal/Agency resolutions to take/endorse the LFL pledge: City of Auburn Cayuga County WQMA Town of Owasco Town of Moravia Town of Niles Town of Sennett Village of Moravia Town of Scipio Town of Dryden? **All committed municipalities offered permission for the installation of associated LFL program signage Sennett, NY LFL Program Signage •Robust May webinar Series to Promote Conservation Education and Solicit Program Pledges •In total, ten webinars and seven live events accommodated 371 participants. Projects Highlights: Fall 2021 Rain Garden Preparation 31 32 Projects Highlights: Fall 2021 Rain Garden Preparation Other Projects Highlights: Fall 2021Rain Garden Installation 34 Shrub willows, provided by SUNY ESF, were planted by volunteers and OLWMC staff at the Town of Owasco Nursery. They will be used for the installation of riparian buffers within the Owasco Lake watershed. Example Project (Spearheaded by OWLA in 2021): Farmer Collaboration and Riparian Buffer Willow Planting along Veness Brook in Fleming 36 37 Projects Highlights: Farmer Collaboration and Riparian Buffer Willow Planting along Veness Brook in Fleming In 2021, the OLWMC spearheaded preparing a commemorative resolution for ‘Lake Friendly Awareness in the Finger Lakes’ that passed among the NYS Assembly. Lake Friendly Awareness In 2022, the OLWMC coordinated with champions in Both Houses to pose a resolution to Commemorate LFL Awareness. Lake Friendly Awareness Projects Highlights- Land Acquisition and Stewardship for Source Water Protection 40 •~164 acre Sempronius parcel, gifted by The Nature Conservancy •Ranked highly within their prioritization model •Acquired through NYSDEC WQIP Funding •Land Holding Approved Via OLWMC Board Resolution •$15,000 stewardship grant Closing Remarks and Recommendations for the Town of Dryden 1.Municipal Resolution to ‘take the pledge’ towards Lake Friendly Living •How many signs can you attach toexisting municipality signposts? 2.Adoption of Sediment and Erosion Control practice requirements for new construction 3.Make ditch stabilization program funding whole 1.Cayuga County example 4.Highway Superintendent erosion and sediment training through SWCDs 1.May be required through updated WRR 5.Consider a financial commitment to the OLWMC 6.How can we serve you? Adam Effler, Executive Director 315-975-7146 ajpeffler.olwmc@gmail.com Questions and comments www.olwmc.org For more information, please visit our website!