Herring River Restoration Committee
Minutes
Herring River Restoration Committee (HRRC)
Cape Cod National Seashore Headquarters
Wellfleet, MA
February 15, 2017
9:30 am-5:00 pm
Members Present: Steve Spear, Eric Derleth, Steve Block, Hunt Durey, Gary Joseph, Peter Herridge, Hillary Greenberg
Others Present: Margo Fenn, Martha Craig, Don Palladino, Helen Miranda Wilson, Carole Ridley
Administration/Coordination:
Approval of Minutes: The Committee voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the January 12, 2017 HRRC meeting.
Schedule of Meetings: The Committee approved the following schedule for upcoming meetings:
March 8, 2017 HRRC regular meeting
March 9, 2017 Herring River Executive Council meeting
April 6, 2017 HRRC regular meeting
Discussion and Updates:
CBI Facilitation: The Consensus Building Institute (CBI) is continuing to facilitate discussions between HRRC and the Chequessett Yacht and Country Club (CYCC) to develop a conceptual Memorandum of Understanding between CYCC and HRRC. The Committee reviewed the latest draft of the conceptual MOU and provided comments and suggestions to the drafting subcommittee. Steve Block moved, seconded by Eric Derleth the following motion:
The HRRC generally supports the draft conceptual MOU, incorporating HRRC comments and clarifying the content of the adaptive management appendix, and authorizes the drafting subcommittee to continue work with CYCC to finalize the MOU.
The motion carried unanimously. The group discussed next steps to resolve remaining issues.
Communications/Coordination with Friends of Herring River (FHR): Don Palladino and Carole Ridley reported on recent FHR activities. FHR will co-sponsor a forum with the Wellfleet Shellfish Advisory Board on March 23, 2017 to present the science behind the Herring River Restoration Project’s benefits for shellfish resources. FHR is continuing to provide information to town officials, residents and other members of the public, as questions arise.
Vegetation Management: Eric Derleth, Tim Smith and Steve Spear are developing an outline for the vegetation management plan to be included in the Project permit applications. Eric Derleth noted that the plan would address both treatment of invasive species and management of existing woody vegetation in the floodplain. Approximately 80% of the area targeted for vegetation management is National Park Service land. Any vegetation management activities on private land would require landowner permission.
Vegetation management will likely be phased, in coordination with the incremental openings of the Chequessett Neck Road tide gates. Phase 1 restoration will primarily affect federal land. Eric Derleth noted that during this phase, reintroduced salt water would likely kill existing stands of Phragmites in the lower river. The Committee agreed that it would be helpful to have maps to illustrate what areas would be affected during the phasing of the restoration.
The Committee discussed preparation of a presentation for the Herring River Executive Council (HREC). The presentation should include:
-An outline of plan elements including management of both woody vegetation and invasive species
-Maps illustrating the geographic scope of vegetation management work, coordinated with project phasing
-Separate provisions for handling activities on public and private land/Maps illustrating locations of both
-Description of the reasons why Phragmites needs to be controlled and an outline of available techniques for management-and evaluation of their effectiveness
-Maps illustrating where Phragmites management might be needed
-HRRC’s recommendation about what tools should be included in the toolbox
The HRRC will ask the HREC to make a decision about what to propose in the Project permit applications regarding Phragmites management.
Budget/Work Program Review: Martha Craig updated the Committee on the status of several pending contracts. USGS is currently conducting a surface water quality monitoring program at the Chequessett Neck dike and in the lower river. USGS has proposed several options for continuing this work. After considerable discussion, the HRRC agreed to authorize funds for the CNR dike monitoring station from April to September 2017. Steve Block noted that further water quality monitoring work could be authorized later in the year.
USGS is also proposing to do groundwater monitoring work in the Mill Creek sub-basin. This will be coordinated with the Chequessett Yacht and Country Club (CYCC) and its consultants.
The Committee also discussed a proposal from the Woods Hole Group to purchase real time tide observation equipment in lower Herring River. Five to thirteen stations could be installed to monitor tides. There are some economies of scale in purchasing the equipment for multiple stations together. The HRRC agreed to table this proposal for the time being.
The Woods Hole Group has also submitted a proposal to provide staff assistance to continue development of the adaptive management plan. Eric Derleth provided this proposal to Mitch Eaton and Dave Smith of USGS for their review. The HRRC approved funding for this purpose.
Martha Craig updated the Committee on the status of surveying work for low-lying properties. The Committee discussed scheduling some baseline monitoring for private wells.
Documents Referred to in the Meeting:
-Minutes of the January 12, 2017 HRRC meeting