Approved Herring River Restoration Committee Mtg Mins

Meeting date: 
Thursday, September 15, 2016

Minutes

Herring River Restoration Committee (HRRC)

Cape Cod National Seashore Headquarters

Wellfleet, MA

September 15, 2016

9:30 am-5:00 pm

 

Members Present: Tim Smith, Steve Spear, Eric Derleth, Hunt Durey, Hillary Greenberg, Peter Herridge

 

Others Present:  Margo Fenn, Don Palladino, Martha Craig

 

Discussion and Updates:

 

Proposed FY17 Work Plan: 

 

Ecosystem Modeling:  Kirk Bosma of the Woods Hole Group (WHG) joined the meeting by phone. The Committee reviewed with him a series of upcoming modeling tasks. A comprehensive Sediment Report is due to be completed by the end of September. This will include recommendations for additional sediment monitoring.  A new proposal for both baseline and post-restoration sediment monitoring will follow the completion of that report. The Committee discussed other hydrodynamic modeling tasks as well as how to integrate some of the existing ecosystem models.  The committee agreed that WHG move ahead with work on the SLAMM model now. WHG will include this in the batch of upcoming proposals.

 

Preconstruction Monitoring: A stream flow gauge has been installed in the Pole Dike Creek Road culvert to monitor stage and discharge in that location, however modifications to the installation are still needed to ensure data quality. The group discussed the possibility of moving the gauge to Mill Creek after sufficient data is collected from Pole Dike Creek. The HRRC has received a groundwater monitoring proposal from USGS.  The modeling subcommittee will review the USGS proposal.  USGS water quality experts will meet with the USGS Adaptive Management team as part of the October 12, 2016 HRRC meeting.

 

Mill Creek Dike:  Fuss & O’Neill is continuing its design work for a new dike and tide gates at Mill Creek.

 

Low-lying Roads:  Survey work is being completed for all low-lying road segments. Further design work may be needed for some of these road segments.  FHR is seeking to coordinate with NPS regarding right-of-way issues for raising sections of Old County, Pole Dike and Bound Brook roads.

 

Low-lying Properties:  Louis Berger Group is continuing work on mitigation design options for selected properties.

 

Permitting:  FHR received two proposals in response to the Request for Proposals (RFP) for a lead regulatory consultant.  A subcommittee is evaluating the proposals.  Hunt Durey noted that the HRRC must specifically define what Project elements will be proposed as Class 1 and 2 elements in preparing the upcoming permit applications.

 

Adaptive Management:  USGS and NPS are seeking internal funding for continued development of the Herring River Adaptive Management Plan (HRAM). The committee agreed that FHR funds are needed and should be allocated for public outreach and interpretation in conjunction with the HRAM process.

 

Legal Issues:  Don Palladino reviewed a number of potential topics for consultation with FHR legal counsel.

 

Strategic Planning and Capacity Building:  Don Palladino reported that he had received proposals from potential consultants to address resource development, communications and FHR organizational capacity.  FHR is working with both consultants to refine these proposals and coordinate this work. The Committee discussed FHR’s future leadership needs and more short-term capacity gaps and how to best address those. The consultants may meet with the HRRC as part of the October 12th monthly meeting.