HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Minutes 2015-10-01 Town of Ithaca Conservation Board (CB) Meeting
October 1, 2015, 5:30 p.m.
Final Minutes
Members present: James Hamilton- Vice Chairperson, Jon Meigs, Vladimir Micic, M. Elizabeth Sanders,
Ellie Stewart - Chairperson
Staff. Mike Smith.
Guests: Bill Goodman(Ithaca Town Board), Brian Eden(Tompkins County EMC), Bernd Blossey
(Cornell University, Department of Natural Resources), Bryan Delaney(Ithaca College student interested
in the CB), and two students from Cornell University
1. Deer Management Presentation/Discussion
Bernd Blossey from Cornell's Department of Natural Resources made a presentation on Integrated Deer
Research and Management. Cornell's goal was to reduce deer by 70%near campus. CU has a 40 year
history of deer management. They have used various forms of hunting programs, fencing, and sterilization
(no sterilization on campus since 2014). Map shows many areas open to deer hunting. Use of(planted)
oak sentinels as well as trail counts to assess population size. No plants survive over a month on Leopold
property, but good survival rate where fencing the oak is used. Oaks don't survive under current
conditions. Cayuga Heights is worst for oak survival, after$500,000 spent on sterilization. Sterilized deer
are healthier, live longer, and eat more. Non-lethal methods have no benefit. Even recreational hunting
takes too few to matter. Deer rights activists and hunters oppose significant killing. Deer are threats to
native plants and animals, as well as human health (lyme, collisions on roads). Nuisance hunting permits
are available(Deer Damage Permits) with extended operational times, and rules are different. 18 CU
participants in 2015, averaged 50-80 hours per deer killed. The land ethic implemented—fence high value
populations (oak, trillium, etc.), shoot deer,restore native plants.
In the Village of Lansing, number of participating landowners increased from 1-30 from 2007-2014. In
Village of Trumansburg, 91 deer taken by end March 2015, with only weekend hunting. Highly
supportive community. Still, many deer left.
It takes years for plans to make a difference. It's not the NUMBERS of deer taken, but the IMPACT that
we should pay attention to. We need to monitor the effects, the survival of native species, the number of
ticks, and deer-vehicle collisions. These are examples of things that can be assessed and reported. Hunt
smarter, with fewer people (to avoid driving deer into safer areas).
In response to Ellie's question about immigration: There will be some re-propagation,but not enough to
negate control effects, when you keep up the programs of deer management.
Vlad asked about population assessment. Answer: The deer go to the food sources, so that's the best place
to count them. Vlad asked questions from an absent Board Member: The opposition to deer killing,has it
declined? Answer: Most of the strong opposition now comes from outside (even outside the Country), via
social media, not from our area. But you have to be prepared that you will have activists against these
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types of programs. What communication methods were used in Trumansburg? Landowner questionnaires,
electronic distribution in Lansing. State sets discharge distances, by weapon used.
Ellie: What's the cost of the programs? Lansing was cost-neutral in first year,but now budgeting for
materials and infrared aerial assessment flights. The Village of Lansing spent approximately$6,000 and
the Village of Trumansburg spent approximately $5,000 last year. Costs include the feeders and the feed,
over-flight analysis, administration, etc.
Elizabeth asked about need for more information on effects,before and after controls are put in place,
including lyme effects, since national questionnaires about attitudes are of limited usefulness. Berndt is
right to shift the process to measuring impact,but how do we get all the information out to the people?
Berndt showed slides, data from a controlled study on deer and Lyme in an area of CT. He says that some
communities are ready to make a community effort, as Lansing and Trumansburg have.
Rye, NY also wants to implement a program like Cornell's. Bernd talks to interested communities. So it
gets easier, with more adopters.
Ellie: let's take proposals to Town government, maybe City government. Bernd and Brian: this really
needs to be a county wide effort including all municipalities to really make a difference.
Michael: how does it work in agricultural areas? Bernd: Those hunters need information about best
techniques, too. Damage in rural areas is different in some ways, but it's very much present.
Bernd: it would help if the Town joined this effort, and you wouldn't need to change laws, because Town
of Ithaca does not have a discharge ordinance. Should the Town support coordinated deer management,
and if so where, and when? What would an implementation plan look like? What are the most valuable
places (ecologically) in the Town to hunt? Bernd can advise us, when we ask questions about methods and
places, what should be the focus of our first efforts. Trumansburg example: a small group met with Bernd
and Paul Curtis, made some decisions on methods,places, and then had wider public meetings. It is easier
where there are fewer land owners. Boundaries,priorities may change over time. Animal rights and
hunters will descend with their contrary arguments.
The CB needs to discuss what to focus on and prepare a specific proposal to the Town Board. Or should
the focus be towards a county effort?
2. Persons to be heard: None
3. Members concerns: None
4. Chair and Coordinator Reports:
Mike Smith: Upcoming Planning Board projects —the Longhouse Cooperative on Elm Street Extension
has an application in for a large solar array; the Verizon cell tower application on Mecklenburg Road is on
hold, waiting for additional visual information; the Amabel Subdivision on Five Mile Drive will be
submitting a revised plan.
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Mike also mentioned the upcoming Conference on the Environment taking place here in Ithaca on October
16th and 17th. The Board had previously mentioned the possibility of a tour of the Ithaca Wastewater
Treatment Facility to look at energy developed from methane. Mike will email everyone to see interest
for sometime this fall or wait until spring.
5. Approval of minutes from 09/03/15: no quorum, wait until November meeting.
6. Regular reports and updates:
Environmental Review Committee: Ellie drove up to look at the proposed cell tower location in a field off
Route 79 proposed by Verizon. She did not see a big concern with the location.
Scenic Resources Committee: no report
Communications Committee: Elizabeth reported on effort to contact Ithaca High School teachers regarding
getting students involved in invasive species spotting and control. Message was left with IHC science
teachers, no reply so far.
Tompkins County EMC: no report
Six Mile Creek Volunteer Monitoring Program: James gave an update on water sampling for chemical
analysis on September 23ra
City of Ithaca Natural Areas Commission: no report
Cornell Plantations Natural Areas Program: James reported that he has been helping improve trails by
Fall Creek, as well as Plantations has been planting native plants on the barren cliff behind the Foundry.
7. Other Business: None
8. Review 2015 Work Goals / Set November Agenda: The main topic for November will be following up
on the deer management presentation and talk about plans to move forward.
9. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 7:34 PM.
Respectfully submitted by Elizabeth Sanders
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