Fall Creek Watershed Committee Minutes
September 5, 2002

Present: Yvette de Boer, Phil Koons, Joyce Gerbasi, George Patte, Mona Barghout, Alexis Cefaratti, Craig Schutt, Roxy Johnston, Gordie

1. Intros: Last month's minutes, any changes let Yvette know. Yvette asked for any additions to the agenda. None were made.

2. Phil gave an update on LakeFest. The festival took place on Sunday, August 25th. The FCWC set up a display of aquatic insect samples, microscopes, books, keys, and freebies. The table was a big draw for kids and adults. There was a display map of the Fall Creek Watershed and the land-use planning, the food was great and next year it was suggested to bring water testing chemistry kits. People were more interested this year, than they have been in the past. The weather was also very accommodating. Roxy asked what was different this year from previous years. No one knew for sure what the difference was, but the Farmer's Market had a presence this year, which they had not in the past. Next year the festival will be further north on Cayuga Lake. This year the CLWN funds helped to support LakeFest and interaction among the participants and displays was key. Many people made connections with other watershed enthusiasts this year. Mark Nelson, the AP Environmental Science Teacher at Ithaca High School attended the festivities and joined the list serve. He is interested in CLW Envirothon.

3. Mona introduced herself as a graduate student doing research on citizen volunteer organizations on Cayuga Lake and the groups connected with the watershed. Mona is gearing her study toward the larger watershed groups, what volunteers are doing with the data they collect, what their supports are and more. Mona passed out surveys for the volunteer members to fill out for Mona's research.

4. Sharon has sent Yvette support details from CLWN. Yvette asked the new members to be on the list serve. She asked if anyone had any ideas to write an article for the Network News, and questioned if an article has ever been written. Some people thought an article was written about a creek clean-up. It was suggested to write up the monitoring results, a general plan for the Fall Creek/Virgil Creek collaboration efforts, and the article would be in full color. Yvette said she would take a shot at writing an article with Joyce's support as an editor. The next issue will probably be out in December, because they are quarterly per year. There is the capability to submit an on-line longer article version, with the Network News version being a shorter version.

5. On August 21st, a monitoring group went out with 5 volunteers, and the team is working more quickly as they become more familiar with the equipment and the insects. The group needs to set a date to identify bugs for the last sampling round. It was set for Thursday, September 12, at 7:00pm at Phil's house, (1107 N.Tioga, last house on the right before pulling into the movie theatre). Two microscopes are available, and Roxy has a dissecting scope available to bring also. Joyce asked if Phil had the bugs pre-sorted. He laughed and said he might have it done by next week's meeting. Anne Gallager will be back for a refresher workshop on insects, in October-ish. Anne performed graduate work on 3 local creeks, so she knows the insects very well. The latest bug samples have been sent to the Community Science Institute, to check the accuracy of the aquatic insects identified by the volunteers.

   There is grant money available for equipment purchases, such as meter tapes that are needed. Phil found some ideas on-line and also at the local hardware store. Roxy suggested looking into WAG grants, Steve has applied to this before. Roxy said that WAG is looking to fund grassroots watershed organizations, such as this one. Yvette asked when the grants need to be submitted. Roxy did not know but she suggested checking into the website.

   Craig had a Ben Meadows catalog at the meeting, which enabled Phil to find the meter tape that the group needed and also the group decided to purchase a secchi disk to determine the turbidity of the water. Yvette advised to check with Sharon to purchase the secchi disk and meter. Yvette, Joyce and Phil determined how to pay for and reimburse their purchases for the monitoring project.

6. There is no money left in the current FCWC budget, however, there is money set aside for Fall Creek Watershed equipment and this money can also be applied to training needs. Craig thought there was FLOWPA money available, and George asked if the FCWC needs to apply for it. Craig said there is open money in the budget from the CLWN. Craig said they would be able to purchase the equipment needs, such as meter tape and secchi disk.

7. Virgil Creek - Fall Creek Sampling and Monitoring Plan. At the August 27th meeting, Pat Reidy and Will helped to establish the dates, where to sample, and what equipment to use. On Saturday September 14th, there will be training for sampling protocol. Yvette asked how many sites the group thinks it can handle. In the original plans there were 11 sites. However, this needs to be shortened and prioritized. A hydro-lab will be used to takes all of the measurements out in the field, so it will be quick monitoring, however the hydro-lab will have to be shared among all of the groups participating in each sampling round. Craig and Gordy volunteered for 2-3 sites. Also the Dryden High School may be able to help monitor some sites, under a grant the CLWN applied for under the EPA. There will be eight monitoring sites, and we will try to get them all on the same day, minus any major storm events.

   Joyce asked how the hydro-lab will be passed around to all the people collecting data. Mona asked how the students would work within a given time frame, possibly needing permission slips, and what if there is no science class that day on a sudden event. The group will have to coordinate hydro-lab use every morning of water sampling. And determining flood events at the last minute will be hard. Yvette suggested if Craig and Gordie could focus on the Virgil Creek watershed in Tompkins County, then the FCWC could focus on Fall Creek. Someone reported that Pat (not present) suggested to obtain samples from the outlet, and let him collect samples at the inlet.

   1st site: Mark Golfarb gave permission to sample on his property, Virgil Creek.
   2nd site: In Freeville.
   3rd site: Downstream of Freeville Plant, Joyce talked about landowners, and the village of Freeville has given permission.
   4th site: Upstream of Freese Cliffs., Cornell owns?
   5th site: Downstream of Freese Cliffs. Freese Rd. bridge access. Sedimentation here?
   6th site: Mouth of Fall Creek. Yvette concerned about effects from lake polluting true sample.
   Roxy has taken samples from the Stuart Park pedestrian bridge. It was also suggested to take a sample on the Cayuga St. bridge (closest to the mouth). Mona questioned Ithaca Falls. Yvette said that Fall Creek needs to be sampled before it hits Cayuga Lake, but where? Joyce added to make an additional site at the Sewage Treatment Outfall.

   Sampling sites were decided upon, the 5th site, the Cayuga St. bridge, and two sites, upstream of where Fall Creek and Virgil Creek meet. One on each creek. This gives the FCWC four sampling sites, in addition to the 2-3 sites that Craig and Gordie will be sampling.

8. The Hydro-lab. Roxy reported that Jose is available anytime this week for training, just drop by. Gordy mentioned he would go to get re-acquainted. Roxy explained the sampler needs to change the DO membrane every time the hydro-lab is calibrated. All other calibrations for the different functions must be performed before every sampling as well. The hydro-lab should only take about 5 minutes to operate in the field. However, Jose does not work on Saturdays. Roxy said she would try to learn how to work the hydro-lab and then demonstrate it on Saturday the 14th, at 9:00am, at the Water Treatment Plant (behind Aldi's/ Farmer's Market). Yvette will put this on the list serve. Craig said that he would bring their flow meter on Saturday, also for the training.

9. Celebration of the Clean Water Act, 30 years. The celebration is called National Monitoring Day! It will be Friday, October 18th, to learn more, www.yearofcleanwater.org. They are asking people to collect temp, pH, turbidity, DO, and a few others. Data are collected and will be published nationally. Mona suggested to coordinate this with the October sampling round. Bring this up with Pat Reidy, who is the water quality specialist for the Cortland County, SWCD.

Roxy mentioned she will check the holding time for turbidity, so maybe just a grab sample could be taken, dropped off to the Plant to be calculated.

Craig mentioned the CLCD has allocated $280,000 for Best Management Practices, to improve water quality. They are working on one farm in Cortland Co. and two farms in Tompkins County.

Phil also mentioned the Trout Unlimited meeting, Tuesday, at 7:00pm.at TC3, in Rm. 210 B.

Next meeting is October 3rd, 2002, at the Public Library

Minutes submitted by Alexis Cefaratti