| Doc. # 2007-60
Issue/Agenda Committee
Cayuga Lake Watershed Network
August 29, 2007 Minutes
Conference Call
Present: Brian Boerman, Roxy Johnston, John Mawdsley,
Ruth Richardson, Sharon Anderson
1. Lake-Friendly Farms (LFF) – Brian will
contact the one farm not selected because of not meeting all our
requirements and provide words of encouragement. Once done, Sharon
will submit press releases to general and Ag specific media.
There was agreement that the Watershed Network should continue LFF
for a minimum of 5 years. Oversight of the program resides with
the Issues Committee and it is correct for the staff to spend little
time on it. It is appropriate for the office to handle logistics
such as mailing letters, however a LFF group might be the best place
for having the letters and application form reviewed. It does take
effort to get applications completed, even in places such as Cayuga
County where the AEM program is strong and that staff is supportive
of LFF. For 2008 there are good opportunities for having more than
dairy farms since more AEM steps have been developed for vineyards
and Brian has applied AEM to orchards and other crops. It would
be good to get Soil and Water Conservation Districts more involved.
2. Fall Conference will be a Sat morning 9- noon
, either Oct. 20 or November 10.
Format will be a plenary session for everyone then concurrent sessions
from which participants can choose. If there is an appropriate topic,
there will also be a closing session. Proposed location: a public
school such as Ithaca middle or high, Lansing or Trumansburg
9:00 Plenary session: Affects of Global Warming on Water
Resources by Arthur T De Gaetano at Cornell. An article he co-authored
appeared in the Aug issue of the NYS Conservationist. (confirmed)
Concurrent sessions:
Paul Lord –Weeds and land use. The cover story for the summer
issue of Network News is based on his presentation. (confirmed)
Septic – Sharon has a meeting with Tompkins Co.
Health Dept. staff 8/31. These potential speakers will not be contacted
until after that meeting.
· Implementing Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan action
item of a septic ordinance (also a goal within the Restoration and
Protection Plan) including what other central NY counties have done
· Alternative systems – Doug has a relative who works
in this area
· Septic systems for a cluster of homes – Sharon has
a contact working with Otsego Lake
· (Weeds and Land Use might fit in here)
Monitoring and Modeling
· Susan Cushman – biological monitoring
· Phosp. 101 – an overview of phosphorus and its impact
on the lake quality and ecology and work Roxy is involved with relating
to the role of P in Cayuga Lake. (confirmed)
· Monitoring Guidance document overview – Tom V. or
John M.
· Modeling – Doug Haith if he thinks he has sufficient
results. This could move to a closing session and be 20 -30 mins
in length.
For information the Intermunicipal Organization is hosting
a public program on the evening of Wed. Sept 26 at the Six Mile
Creek Winery in the evening. Topics include:
· Lake 101 -- Todd Cowen
· South end monitoring - Roxy
· CSI monitoring -- Nick Shipanski
· Monitoring guidance – whomever will do the presentation
at the Watershed Network’s Fall Conference would be the logical
person to also give this.
· CSLAP (Citizen Statewide Lake Assessment Program) –
Sharon to prepare a poster and/or handout
3. New Chair of Issues – Brian is willing
to serve as chair.
4. Any Other Business
Lakefest: Sharon requested evaluative comments relate to Lakefest
both to fill goals set out in the Balanced Scorecard process and
to fulfill requirements of the funding that paid for the entertainment
at Lakefest. Bylaws require an Annual meeting in August.
a) What is the value to the Watershed Network?
b) What is the value to the public?
c) What else could we do with the same resources?
Comments included: good event for kids perhaps market it that way;
DEC staff person with fish – didn’t feel he got to talk
to enough people to justify a day given up; display folks –
how much traffic – is it worthwhile for them? Are we getting
people coming who are not members? It is a celebration for the members;
nice to do something fun this time of year; next year have silent
auction with some of the larger prizes in order to make some money;
dooring went well.
We got about 175 people this year and typically half are non-members.
5. Next Meeting Date:
Tues., Sept 25, 4:30 in the 2nd floor conference room at Bill Shaw’s
office
Submitted by,
John Mawdsley
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