EASTHAM WATER RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD
MINUTES: meeting of May 3, 2004
The meeting was opened by Chair Weiss at 3 pm at the police station meeting room. Attending were members Bill Nugent, Bruce Whitmore, Stan Holt, Muriel Lightfoot and Sandy Bayne, Health Agent Crowley and Natural Resources Head Lind.
The minutes of April 5 were approved as amended.
Pond study issues:
Bayne reported the pond study has no funding for 2004 water quality sampling; only dissolved oxygen, temperature and clarity testing will be done. As discussion about possible funding for 2005 testing ensued, some members wondered if we have enough info already to begin to propose remediation. Holt suggested one pond serve as a pilot project; Minister Pond was focused on because it is in the worst condition.
It was agreed that the work proceed using these steps:
Continue data gathering (Data re land use around the pond will be gathered. Weiss will contact USGS’s Colman for his Minister’s test well data.)
Ask for the assistance of Ed Eichner of the Cape Cod Commission water department in interpreting the data from Minister. (The Selectmen will be asked to send a letter to Margo Fenn, Commission Director. Holt also suggested the data interpretation could be a thesis for a UMASS Dartmouth grad student.)
Determine a remediation plan specifically for Minister. (Research funding possibilities for the remediation plan.)
A meeting of landowners around the pond should be called in order to educate them as to risks to the pond; this could be the impetus for the formation of a pond association. Whitmore suggested the WRAB meet with the Selectmen about the ponds and well testing issues. Bayne will compose a letter to the Selectmen asking for
such a meeting and will forward it to Weiss.
Well sampling project:
Crowley reported that the town has software in development which will allow the Health Department to download much data from the County; this will be immensely helpful in her work. Regarding the well sampling program, she reported that 2071 kits had been mailed so far in 2004. Of those, 834 lab results have been returned; there are 33 in the works. Of those, 175 are first time returns. Additionally, about 200 were done on title transfer. This could be looked at as about 1300 tests in total; Crowley wondered whether this number could be considered an adequate return.
Lind, arriving late, was asked to consider the plan to use Minister Pond as a model pond for a remediation plan. He commented that he’d heard from abutters to Herring Pond who are concerned about vegetative growth there. The 1987-89 studies of Herring and Great, done at the behest of Fish and Wildlife, showed rather good conditions on those two ponds. He suggested it may be time to request the Selectmen put a follow up study on the town’s capital plan, and Minister could be included in that request. He felt the state looks more favorably on funding requests where there is a pond association urging the town to take action. The study would cost $50,000 per pond at least. He agreed we should start with the request to the CCC.
He also raised the issue of the need for volunteers for the Nauset Estuary Study. The study is going into its fourth year, and has lost several Eastham volunteers. The job entails six two hour sampling trips at first light in June through August. Volunteers should call George Meservey, Orleans Town Planner; training will be provided.
The meeting was adjourned at 5.
Sandy Bayne, clerk
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