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Home My WebLink About04-18-16 WRC Minutes April 19, 2016 Meeting Minutes Members Attending: Name Representation Jon Negley P Soil & Water Frank Proto P At-Large Elaine Quaroni P At-Large Marjorie Rinaldo-Lee E Environment Michael Thorne A At-Large Brad DeFrees E Associate Member Michelle Henry P Associate Member Roxy Johnston E Associate Member Jose Lozano P Associate Member John Mawdsley P Associate Member Todd Miller P Associate Member Steve Penningroth A Associate Member Joanne Trutko A Associate member Tom Vawter A Associate Member Linda Wagenet E Associate Member Guests: Andrew Snell, Owasco Lake Watershed Inspection Program; Kristen Hychka, University of RI/resident; Hilary Lambert, CLWN, local resident; Bill Foster, Floating Classroom; Mariah Mahaney, Floating Classroom; Damian Helbling, Cornell University Chairperson Darby Kiley called the meeting to order at approximately 4:17 PM. Agenda Review and Approval of Minutes –There were no changes to the agenda. MOTION by Jon Negley, seconded by Lynn Leopold, to approve the minutes of March 21, 2016. The draft minutes were amended to change the time of adjournment to 5:45 PM. The draft minutes, as amended, were approved by the unanimous vote of the members present. WRC minutes are posted on the webpage: http://tompkinscountyny.gov/planning under Advisory Boards. Emerging Pollutants in Our Watershed and Statewide Monitoring Plans – Jose Lozano of the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility (IAWWTF) and Damian Helbling of Cornell University gave a presentation on two testing technologies for identifying emerging pollutants. A copy of their presentation is posted on the webpage: http://tompkinscountyny.gov/planning under Advisory Boards. Jose presented the results of a testing program the IAWWTF undertook, in partnership with USGS, that measured for about 250 emerging pollutants at five points: the Cornell University Water Treatment Plant intake, the City of Ithaca Water Treatment Plant intake, the influent and the effluent at the IAWWTF, and at a point in Cayuga Lake. Many chemicals were detected at very low levels (in the parts per trillion). Damian presented the results of testing using a mass spectrometer to screen for suspected pollutants and confirmed 150 different chemicals in Ithaca drinking water. Similarly, these tests detected chemicals at very low levels (in the parts per trillion). He also presented a proposed New York State monitoring and Rapid Response program. Name Representation Sharon Anderson P Cooperative Extension John Andersson P At-Large James Balyszak P At-Large Fay Benson A Agriculture Chris Bordlemay P Water Purveyor Cynthia Brock P Recreation Ed Bugliosi P USGS ex officio Liz Cameron P T C Environmental Health Sarah Dwyer E At-Large Bill George P Municipal Barry Goodrich E Watershed Organization Joan Jurkowich P TC Planning Dooley Kiefer A Legislature Liaison Darby Kiley P Municipal Lynn Leopold P Municipal Jim McGarry P EMC Liaison TOMPKINS COUNTY WATER RESOURCES COUNCIL 2 Key points of the presentation were:  A collaborative monitoring program has been underway for two years.  Suspect screening is a powerful new tool that helps emerging contaminants “emerge.”  Septic systems are an underexplored source of emerging chemical contaminants.  A statewide rapid response program has been proposed and is currently under review. Tompkins County is under consideration as a potential demonstration site. Hydrilla Update – James Balyszak provided a brief report on Hydrilla eradication efforts, noting they are moving forward with the contracting process for 2016 treatments and that they are reducing the amount of chemicals to be used in Cayuga Inlet as a result of a lower incidence of Hydrilla. A more detailed written report is attached to these minutes. Committee Reports – Education and Outreach – by Lynn Leopold - The committee is working on draft language for the clean boating brochure, but will not be including the navigational information included in previous versions of the brochure. They plan on including information about pump out facilities and gas sales locations for the entire lake. They expect to be done by summer. Potential Pollutants – by Chris Bordlemay - The committee will be reviewing the Cornell Waste Management Institute’s report and bring pertinent information to the WRC. They are also organizing a boat tour for the WRC. The committee is also reviewing the results of the Third Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 3) required by the three local water purveyors and researching the significance of the parameters that were detected. The next round of UCMR (UCMR4) testing begins in 2018 and will involve at least 30 new potential contaminants to test for. The concern of PFOA’s was briefly discussed. No PFOA’s were found in the local water supplies. Watershed Assessments – by John Andersson - The committee will be addressing four questions: how the assessments should be disseminated; should watershed extending outside the county be included; should efforts be directed at studying watersheds that have not been addressed or in updating the old reports; and, is Cayuga County interested in a joint effort to look at the Owasco Inlet watershed. Watershed Rules and Regulations – by Chris Bordlemay –The committee is working to modify the Cornell University and the City of Ithaca watershed rules. Grants – by Jon Negley - The committee is preparing a list of grant resources that will be posted on the WRC website once completed. Cayuga Lake Monitoring Partnership – by Jim McGarry - The committee discussed follow-up questions from the public meeting with Jeff Myers of NYSDEC. There was considerable concern about NYSDEC discussing harmful algal blooms (HABS) when there has been no evidence of them in Cayuga Lake. The TMDL may address HABS due to their occurrence on other lakes in an effort to forestall them on Cayuga. Andrew Snell noted that Owasco Lake is on the 303(d) list as well and will also be subject to a TMDL. Chair and Staff Reports – Darby Kiley reminded members to take Jennifer Turner off of their distribution lists since she now works full time for the County Personnel Department. Announcements – Hilary Lambert announced they sponsored a very successful Spring Community Conference with 70 participants, many of whom were new to CLWN events. She also noted that there are new volunteer monitoring efforts, sponsored by CSI, for four creeks at the north end of Cayuga Lake. Adjournment -- The meeting adjourned at 5:32 PM. Respectfully submitted, Joan Jurkowich, Planning Administrator Tompkins County Planning Department Approved by Council on May 16, 2016 3 WRC April 2016 Meeting Hydrilla Task Force Updates By James Balyszak Management Updates:  The HTF and Tompkins County Soil & Water Conservation District (TCSWCD) advertised an RFP for 2016 hydrilla treatments. One bid was received from Solitude Lake Management (formerly Allied Biological). The bid was approved, and the Hydrilla Program Manager (HPM) and TCSWCD are currently working to finalize a contract with Solitude for 2016 treatments:  TREATMENTS: Overall, treatments will be scaled back in 2016 in the Cayuga Inlet, which will result in lowered costs and lower herbicide input, while still maintaining management pressure on remaining hydrilla populations. o CAYUGA INLET: Primary treatment for 2016 will consist of Sonar treatments (low-dose, systemic herbicide). One (1) injection unit (at NYSDEC fish ladder, southern inlet) and Sonar Pellet treatment areas (Cornell Boathouse bay, Cascadilla Creek, Linderman Creek, and East Branch of inlet). Treatment will extend approximately 60 – 90 days. o FALL CREEK: Primary treatment for 2016 will involve Aquathol-K (contact herbicide) injection treatment (to main channel) and spot-treatment in backwater areas (golf course lagoon, cove, Stewart Park pond, and DEC wetland). Follow-up Sonar H4C (low-dose, systemic herbicide pellets) will be applied to Fall Creek backwater areas for duration of season (approx. 60 – 90 days). o SOUTHERN CAYUGA LAKE: Isolated hydrilla patch discovered in late 2015 (adjacent to Cornell Sailing Club, in 3 – 3.5 meters of water) will be directly addressed though physical removal/benthic barrier installation. Extensive plant monitoring will determine Early Detection/Rapid Response. Additional physical removal and benthic barrier installation (when/where applicable).  TCSWCD/HPM working to finalize and advertise RFPs for 2016 plant community monitoring AND water quality monitoring. Will advertise this week, and review proposals from bidders. Formal contracting process to follow.  TCSWCD (Angel Hinickle) currently working on NYSDEC permit applications for 2016 hydrilla treatments. Will finalize and submit applications to NYSDEC, and will conduct necessary public notification (signage posting and riparian owner notification, per NYSDEC permit requirements).  TCSWCD and HTF are working with Tompkins County and City of Ithaca to secure local funding support for 2016 season. County and City will provide local funding support, which will allow LTF to cover up-front management costs and then request full reimbursement from NYSDEC grant. Reimbursements will be sent directly back to County and City. County funding contract is in place. Currently working with City to finalize funding resolution and contract (April – June).