1/13/2016 ENVIRONMENTAL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE Minutes

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Environmental Oversight Committee Minutes January 13,2016 Pond&Estuary Water Quality Monitoring: Update: Of note,the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe recently purchased a water quality monitoring unit(sonde)for deployment in Shoestring Bay. The portable sensing unit will assist to obtain accurate information on water quality. The advanced technology will enable the Tribe to analyze long term results measuring temperature, conductivity, salinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, algae and pH. The Town of Mashpee also uses these types of monitoring units as well. However,the sampling of the estuaries is manually conducted on a monthly basis and water samples are forwarded to SMAST for lab analysis. Mashpee CWMP: Update on final approval and implementation, Moonakis River Hydrodynamic Study by SMAST: gpproval and funding update: It was reported that all funds required for the Quashnet/Moonakis Hydrodynamic Study have been approved and funds are being collected for the SMAST study intended to be managed by the Town of Falmouth. The collection of Hydrodynamic field data will focus on the entire Quashnet Estuary with particular review of the tidal inlet and the area up-gradient of the Meadow Neck Road Bridge crossing. Esgoa Restoration/Shellfish Pro a ation—Update: Work is progressing on the estuary restoration/shellfish propagation plan,a component of the Mashpee Comprehensive Wastewater and Nitrogen Management Plan for the 2016 season. It was noted the hatchery located in the Town of Dennis is under reconstruction, and on schedule for spawning. The new a new state-of-the art facility is the oldest hatchery in the U.S. It was reported the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe aquaculture project is underway. Mr. York is assisting the Tribe in the planning and implementation process relative to the construction of oyster reefs in Shoestring Bay. It is anticipated the smaller test reefs would be fully constructed in early spring. Oysters grown by the Town of Mashpee will be used in this project. Mr. York indicated his is now in the adaptive planning stage, a subset of adaptive management. The seed program has been working quite well with almost no mortality. With the use of upwellers Mr. York plans to grow quahog seed. The option to produce seed from Mashpee's waters would represent a huge cost savings to the town, an estimated$1 million per year,and prevent the occurrence of disease. Also, it was been determined that V seed derived from other estuaries would retain 10%of nitrogen. By purchasing seed by other growers,the town would only be removing 90%of the nitrogen from the harvest of shellfish. The propagation of seed in local estuaries would target 100% of the nitrogen intended to be removed from the harvest. It was noted the town is maintaining an aggressive crab capturing program using modified seed trays and net materials designed by Mr. York with available supplies to entrap predators. A