01/16/2003 CONSERVATION COMMISSION Minutes

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x MAS H P E E CONSERVATION COMMISSION Minutes of January 1 ,, 2003 Public Dearing Iahpee Torn Hall Meeting Room 3 Commissioners present: *Jack Fitzsimmons, Elliot Rosenberg, Cass Costa, Stephanie Jones, Leonard Pinaud, Ralph shaver, Michael Talbot. Staff Present: Robert Sherman, Agent; Frances Wise, Board Secretary Jack Fitzsimmons, chairman, called the meeting to order at 6:55 p.m. Public Comment: Jack Fitzsimmons said there is a request for an emergency certificate for the dredging of Popponesset creek filed by the save the Bay Organization. He said over the past few days there have been a number of meetings Fr ith save the Bay organization, Torn officials, members of the conservation Commission, the Harbormaster, and the head of the Waterways gays Com ission. He summarized the situation as follows. Jack said two years ago a Notice of Intent was filed by save the Bay organization to dredge the Popponesset creek. A one-time permit was granted based on the- recommendation of the conservation Agent and Assistant Agent even though allegedly the dredging of the creek did not meet the performance standards in teras of barrier beach protection. The creek was subsequently dredged after approval was given by .� the corps of Engineers for a one-time dredge. At that time the corps of Engineers sent F us a letter saying that the long-term solution for the Popponesset Creek estuary has four possible alternatives, which they presented to the BSC Group who represented the Save the Bay organization. The Corps of Engineers letter said the basic project purpose is to maintain navigation and tidal exchange in the Popponesset creek area. The alternatives are 1 use of the ' southern channel, 2 use of the northern channel, which meant dredging under the new bridge, 3 combination of the first two and to do nothing. Jack said it is his understandingthat the save the Ba Organization has been proceeding with an y examination of these alternatives and has presented their findings to the corps of 4 Engineers who have been studying there but have not rendered a decision. However, events have overtaken the situation in that recent storms have caused an overwa h over the spit which has caused the depth at lour tide to be reduced to some 2 1/2 feet as he understands it and also some filling in of the side calls to the extent that the channel is much worse off noir than it's been for some time. The save the Bay Organization has said that they Irish to have an emergency certificate to dredge the {