Approved Herring River Restoration Committee Mtg Mins

Minutes

Herring River Restoration Committee (HRRC)

Cape Cod National Seashore Headquarters

Wellfleet, MA

April 14, 2016

9:30 am-5:00 pm

Members Present: Tim Smith, Steve Spear, Peter Herridge, Steve Block, Hunt Durey, Gary Joseph

Others Present:  Margo Fenn, Don Palladino, Martha Craig, Helen Miranda Wilson

Administration/Coordination

Communications/Coordination with Friends of Herring River (FHR): Don Palladino updated the Committee on recent FHR activities. FHR has been hosting a series of seminars at the Wellfleet Public Library, which have been well attended.  In addition, FHR will hold a public informational meeting about the Restoration Project this evening. Presentation topics include:

            -Why the restoration needs to be done

            - Extent of restoration and its effects): What changes to expect and where (salinity, vegetation, low roads, etc.)

            - FEMA maps, concerns about flood insurance

            - The impact of restoration on mosquitoes

The Committee discussed a number of questions that have been raised by citizens about the potential impacts of the Restoration Project, including effects on shellfish resources. FHR is preparing for the Wellfleet Annual Town Meeting articles regarding High Toss Road and the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) III.

The Committee discussed completion of the High Toss Road engineering, noting that work must be completed before the end of the state fiscal year (June 30, 2016). In order for this work to be completed, the Wellfleet Board of Selectmen needs to decide which option they want to support.  Helen Miranda Wilson suggested bringing this issue to a May 2016 Board of Selectmen’s meeting.

Gary Joseph and Helen Miranda Wilson mentioned a number of questions that they have heard regarding the Project.  The group agreed that continued public outreach is needed by all the Project partners, including newsletters, websites, social media, public meetings and one-on-one meetings with property owners.

The Committee also discussed again sending a letter to update abutting property owners about the status of the Restoration Project.  This will be done in coordination with the release of the Final Environmental Impact Statement/Report (FEIS/EIR).

Approval of Minutes:  The Committee voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the March 18, 2016 and March 24, 2016 HRRC meetings.

Schedule of Meetings:  The Committee approved the following schedule for upcoming meetings:

            May 12, 2016              HRRC regular meeting

            June 9, 2016                HRRC regular meeting (proposed)

Budget:

DER FY16 Contract Modifications:  Chris Rein is preparing a package of proposed amendments to the FY16 DER grant contract.

NOAA 2016 FFO Application:  Don Palladino reported that FHR staff had completed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 2016 grant application and submitted it on April 6, 2016.  He commended the hard work of Chris Rein, Martha Craig and Karen LaRocque in assembling all the grant materials in a timely fashion.

FEIS/EIR Schedule and Next Steps:  Margo Fenn noted that the Final Environmental Impact Statement/Report (FEIS/EIR) is nearing completion. It will be filed with MEPA and the Cape Cod Commission in mid May (estimated May 25, 2016 publication in the MA Environmental Monitor).  The Cape Cod Commission will hold a public hearing in June.  Under this schedule MEPA would issue its decision by July 1, 2016.  The National Park Service (NPS) would prepare its Record of Decision (ROD) in that same timeframe.

The Committee discussed the logistics of the environmental review process. Steve Block suggested scheduling the Cape Cod Commission hearing in coordination with the June HRRC meeting. The group also discussed how to coordinate signing of MOU III with the FEIS/EIR schedule.

Work Plan Updates:

Low-lying Properties (LLP):  Martha Craig provided an update on meetings with low-lying property owners. Survey work is continuing in coordination with the low-lying road engineering and design. The Committee discussed how to replace the Zoho system for tracking contacts with property owners. The group agreed that a new database should be set up in SmartSheet for this purpose.

Adaptive Management Monitoring:  The Committee discussed the status of ongoing water quality monitoring efforts.  The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has an existing monitoring station on the Chequessett Neck Road (CNR) dike.  Additional funding is needed to complete monitoring efforts through March of 2017. NOAA funds could be used (through a sub-contract with FHR) to continue the USGS work.

Hydrodynamic Modeling:  Tim Smith, Eric Derleth and Chris Rein met with the Woods Hole Group (WHG) in late March to review progress on several Restoration Project contracts.  WHG has added staff to increase capacity.  The first phase of the Graphic Users Interface (GUI I) should be available in a few weeks.

Stream Monitoring:  Tim Smith reported that WHG had purchased a stream flow gauge.  Prior to using it, the culvert where it will be installed needs to be cleaned.

Rare Species Monitoring:  Oxbow Associates has submitted a new proposal to FHR for the next phase of box turtle monitoring.

Permitting:  Martha Craig reported that ESS had prepared a draft outline of the Development of Regional Impact (DRI) application.  A sub-contract with the law firm of Singer & Singer is pending.  Chris Rein is drafting a Request for Proposals for an overall permitting consultant.

High Toss Road:  Work on High Toss Road design is mostly on hold, pending the outcome of the Wellfleet Annual Town Meeting and subsequent action by the Board of Selectmen.  However, a conceptual rendering is needed to describe the so-called Alternative E (raising, widening and armoring the road and installing multiple culverts). This design would require a permit from the National Park Service, and there would have to be a land transfer to cover the additional land area needed.

CNR Dike and Mill Creek Dikes:  Fuss & O’Neill is completing permit-ready plans for the Chequessett Neck Road (CNR) bridge and tide gates, as well as a new Mill Creek dike and tide gates.

Low-lying Road (LLR) Design:  Steve Block and Martha Craig updated the Committee on road design and engineering work.  Outermost Survey is finishing the right of way surveying.  The Technical Working Group (TWG) discussed a number of issues regarding LLR design at its March 28, 2016 meeting.  The TWG agreed that maintaining natural stormwater run-off would likely be acceptable so long as stormwater treatment improvements are made where possible over existing conditions, that 3:1 side slopes would generally be acceptable, and that the stream crossing standards would not be applicable because the crossings will be tidal when the project is fully implemented. TWG members also recommended that the designers evaluate erosion potential as conditions transition from non-tidal to tidal, and ensure slope treatments are appropriate to minimize erosion potential.

CBI Facilitation:  The Consensus Building Institute is continuing to facilitate discussions between HRRC and CYCC. The Committee recently provided a written response to a proposal by CYCC, along with a Woods Hole Group (WHG) report on groundwater issues in Mill Creek and a related groundwater analysis by the firm of Sanborn Head.  HRRC members have also met with USGS hydrogeologists, who will propose a recommended study plan for further groundwater modeling and monitoring in association with the Restoration Project.

Don Palladino reported that he had met with the CYCC General Manager to discuss a number of issues.  Kirk Bosma also reported on a meeting with CYCC’s groundwater consultant. Another meeting between HRRC and CYCC representatives is planned for April 20, 2016.

Cultural Resource Assessment:  The Public Archaeology Lab (PAL) has completed its fieldwork for the Mill Creek Dike access route, but has not yet submitted its report.

Documents Referred to in the Meeting:

-Minutes of the 3/18/16 and 3/25/16 HRRC meetings