1/10/2008 CONSERVATION COMMISSION Minutes

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(Len Pinaud steps down and removes himself from the commission table to the audience) The Agent introduces Doug Allen and Bill Fisher from Haley and Aldrich who were hired to perform the bog feasibility study on the Quashnet Fiver. Doug Allen explained that he will be going over the power point slides and will hope to keep an open dialog with questions being asked as he goer along. lir. Allen explained that they were studying the Quashnet bogs and explained how they numbered the bogs for identification purposes KI —K6. He explained that the bogs are located near the FB1 plume treatment system. The treatment system is treating the plume of EDB (Ethylene Dibromide) running from the IVIIVIR to the 0 uash net water system. The treatment system consists of activated carbon, which filters the water at 515 gallons per minute. The goal of the study was to determine the feasibility if the bogs in this area. The bogs of most concern were the K5 and'K6 bogs where to mediate some of the earlier problems AFCEB had installed berm. The berm (peat deposit)was 'installed to separate the water lagers and continues to sink Into the bogs and create muck. The muck has made the bogs uninhabitable for brook trout and for any kind of cranberry growing. Doug explained that there are three options for the area 1 Do nothing-to the area besides general maintenance Realign the river to bypass K , K6 or Full realignment of the Quashnet Fiver to make It favorable for fish and or cranberries.As part of the study the area was looked at from both a geological level and a topographical level. The area Is outwash plain area and has many spots of surface and groundwater upwelling. The configuration has not changed from as. far back as the 1870 s where is seems it was created to be a herring run. The bogs were all sampled and models configured to rate thelr"pulse. The K1 and K2 bogs were the best#the water Is good for trout or agriculture and early signs in that area Is that these bogs have Improved with the introduction of more cold oxygenated waters. The K3 and K4 bogs have less defined channels and are mucky, silty. The K5 and K6 as previously mentioned are by far the worst, very mucky up to hip deep with slow moving warm water and lots of sun exposure. Haley and Aldrich carne up with a decision matrix to try and figure out which of the three options would b thebest based on seven factors. The factors looked at things like cost, permitting and production of brook trout. The matrix was based on a scale of one to three, with one being the poorest choice and three being the best. The factors and scale were thea multiplied together and then added down to the bottom. Based on their matrix the best option was number three scoring a 61 with number one taking second and two i taking third place. As Chairman Fitzsimmons pointed out the matrix is vera open to Interpretation based on where you move the factors. The rankings really do matter when It comes to the final numbers. Doug explained that it was just a draft and would be altered based on what the commission felt was most important. Doug then showed a slide with an approximate cast break down. Option one with just general maintenance would be approximately$86,400. option two would cost about$665,900 and option three would be$925,500 approximately. Bill Fisher explained that these numbers were approximates and that the numbers are so large as the amount of labor the latter two options would require is enormous. He did state that from his research there should be Federal monies available for the project. Mr. Fisher and Mr. Allen said that they would definitely like to invite public feedback when the project reaches that point as well as knowledgeable volunteers. The Commissioners thanked Mr. Allen and Mr. Fisher for coming and commended them on the report comprehensiveness. Meeting adj urned at 8:25 p.m. Respectfully submitted, i i Melissa Brown f Board Secretary 4 r