Minutes

Present: Barbara Austin, Jacob Puffer,, Zack Dixon, Brett Morse, Tom Siggia, John

Duane, Rebecca Taylor, Jim O’Connell

Regrets:

Others in Attendance: John Mankevetch (assistant constable), Michael DeVasto, Katie

Murphy, Martha Craig, Gary Joseph, Don Palladino, Susan Baumgarten, Helen Miranda

Wilson, Michelle Insley, Tim Hughes, Diane Murphy, Andrew Cummings, Judith Stiles,

Nate Davis, Janet Rhinehart, Mark Borrelli, Kirk Bosma, John Portnoy, Steve Spear,

Larry Frank, Jane Frank, Mary Wright, Rene Lamadri, Steve Wisbauer, Christine Oiling,

Carole Ridlay, Gary Joseph, John Cumbler, Elspeth Hay, Alex Hay, M J Hautanen, Davin

Hautanen, Helen Hooper, Janet Loran, Bob Wallace, Barbara Brennessel, Lisbeth W.

Chapman, Gail Ferguson, Berta Bruinooge, Kathleen Bacon, Bob Prescott, Dick

Nicholson, Dennis Cunningham, Amy LaLone, Alec LaLone, John S. Wallace, J.

O’Connell

Meeting called to order 7:06 p.m.

1. PRESENTATION BY FRIENDS OF HERRING RIVER

Don Palladino opened by stating that decisions made for the Herring River Restoration

Project have been science based. There is an extensive monitoring system already in

place which will be used to prevent/minimize risk. The end result will be improved water

quality. He encouraged the audience to listen to the science and ask questions.

John Portnoy gave some background on the research that has been done on the Herring

River since 1980. John listed many areas of study, but focused on bathymetric water

quality. Points included:

He said that diking causes problems including invasive species, loss of habitat, storm

surge problem, degraded water quality, fish kills, high mosquito production and fecal

coliform contamination of shellfish beds.

Kirk Bosma is a coastal engineer with experience in hydrology. He presented the

physical aspects of the current conditions and what might happen with the HRRP.

HISTORY

He showed a map of the area pre-dike. It showed an opening at what is now Duck

Harbor. He showed a super imposed map that illustrated a 1000 acre salt marsh loss.

Originally the dike was built to drain the land to make way for development and to

reduce the mosquito population.

Kirk showed a table that illustrated that money from the Herring auction dropped off and

money spent on mosquito control increased after the dike was built.

HYDRODYNAMICS

Kirk shared a Bathymetric mesh showing the elevations in the Herring River (underwater

areas).

He then showed all of the places at which data was collected to see what the tides are

doing (velocity, salt level, depth, etc). The instruments in the field were used to compare

to the computer model and showed a very close correlation. The idea is that the model

can be very predictive as to what will happen when the river is opened.

He then showed a moving map of the salt water influx into the river. The opening is so

small that high salinity water is not getting very far up the river. The model showed what

will happen if the river mouth is opened (much more salinity).

Kirk then presented a velocity map and an interactive map of how the water will fill into

various areas.

SEDIMENT TRANSPORT

How much sediment will move and where will it go? 80 to 90% of the sediment is sand

and the rest is fine silt and gravel. He showed a grain size distribution model. Currently,

there is sediment movement seaward of the dike and slightly into Wellfleet Harbor.

Virtually none upstream of the dike.

If the river mouth was opened to 165 ft wide by 3 ft high (very large opening, not

proposed by HRRP for the beginning of the project) the model shows much more

sediment transport upstream of the dike.

Zack Dixon asked if there are sediment transport models further into the harbor. Kirk said

no, but they are considering it.

PROPOSED DIKE

7 slide gates, 2 combo side/flap gates and 16 concrete panels. Gates provide full control.

The beginning of the project will use slide and combo gates, but not full removal of

concrete panels.

ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT

Kirk listed some of the things that are being measured and monitored so that they can be

checked against later and during the opening of the gates.

Joel Fox asked about the shellfish beds in the harbor and what might happen to them.

Kirk answered that John will address some of that later, but as far as sediment goes it will

go mostly upstream.

Question from the audience pointed out that the Woods Hole study acknowledges that

shellfish beds could be smothered. How will this be monitored and how will shell fish

industry be compensated? Kirk said that the statement was an expressed concern, but the

studies show that sediment will go upstream longterm. He said that he does have a

concern that the initial opening should be done very carefully.

Helen Miranda Wilson pointed out the black mayonnaise problem exists. She asked for

Kirk’s thoughts on if there is a possibility of the opening of the river helping with

sediment in the harbor. Kirk said that it is reasonable to think that it could help.

Barbara asked if dying vegetation will produce problems. Kirk answered that it is not his

area of expertise.

John Portnoy spoke about water quality.

Study by Nat. Seashore in 2005 asked What are the sources of bacteria? Septic? Road

runoff? No, because little land use change since 1965.

The Seashore concluded that the bacteria is likely to come from wildlife.

Fecal coliform survive well in low salinity, low ph and low dissolved oxygen. These are

the conditions in the Herring River.

Fecal Coliform is worst at low tide.

How do large rains affect fecal coliform? Concentrations shoot up, probably from runoff

from what was once the marsh plain. The source is from above the dike (also higher in

the Fall).

How will tidal restoration affect microbiological water quality? Fecal coliform will be

diluted by more salt water, dissolved oxygen and higher ph. This could lead to reopening

of shellfish beds near the dike.

John showed a California study that concluded that the greater the proportion of wetlands

in a watershed, the lower the bacterial loads.

Just the dilution factor alone will bring fecal coliform count to below the limit for

shellfish.

Mark Borrelli is a Coastal Geologist from the Center for Coastal Studies

How stable os the gut? There have been some changes since the dike was put in. It is

stable, but dynamic.

Could an inlet form? what is required for an inlet to form? a storm, a narrow, low-lying

barrier and waters of differing elevation. To maintain an inlet you must have continual

flow, a deep basin and enough movement to prevent shoaling.

Study shows that the lowest spot is not low-lying and is not narrow, there is not a big

difference in water elevation and it is not deep enough for continual flow.

Mark’s conclusion is that there is no way an inlet will form in the gut.

QUESTIONS

Will there be any use of herbicides? Don P. answered that request for permitting will not

include the use of herbicides and therefore no herbicides will be used.

Don reiterated that this is a science based project and that FHRR wants to answer any

questions.

Judith Stiles asked about the impact of the construction of the new dike? Steve Spear

(HRRC) answered was that there are standard regulations and practices that govern

sedimentation during construction. Don said that they will put together a report on what

to expect during construction.

Joel asked about what will happen to all the vegetation. Steve answered that the

vegetation management plan is ongoing. Some will be chipped, some will be burned and

some will be removed.

Barbara Austin asked about the permitting process? Phases? or is it a permit for the whole

thing at once.

Martha answered that there are two phases: 1) around the dike, and part of Mill Creek. 2)

Upper Pole Dike and the rest of Mill Creek only if an agreement can be reached with

abutters.

How long between now and the permitting is complete and work starts? Martha answered

2 years for permitting, then 2 to 3 years for construction, then 5-20 years for adaptive

management.

What about the Herring? John Duane answered that he sees only good things for the

herring. Steve Spear added that during construction there will be continuos passage of

water.

Dennis Cunningham asked when the raising of the roads will happen. Don answered that

it will happen during phase one.

Elspeth Hay asked what will happen to water flow at those roads? Don answered that

many culverts will be replaced and some enlarged.

Meeting adjourned 9:10 p.m.