4/8/2010 ENVIRONMENTAL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE Minutes

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S. blamed for trouble but never acknowledged for contributions or improvements to the environment. Mr. Baker shared an anecdote about when he used green water on his bogs that turned clear within 5 days, and noted the improvement of his bogs with use of the pond water. Mr. Baker added that the pond was originally a swamp and was created to assist with the irrigation of 100 acres of bogs. Mr. Baker also stated that he uses very limited amounts of fertilizer. It was noted that cranberry bogs had been determined to be only a small source of the addition of phosphorus to the pond. Mr. Royce Baker confirmed that there were 2 active bogs that take and return water to the pond and expressed frustration that water studies were not conducted during the winter when water was held by the cranberry bogs. It was suggested that increased activity of the bogs could benefit the pond. Mr. Kretchmer suggested that inorganic phosphorus fertilizers were being used in the 50s and 60s and more intensely in the 70s and 80s. In response to the use of bogs to improve the pond, Mr. Kretchmer stated that the deepest part of the pond needed to be addressed and that the pond requires action in the summertime, but bog growers would not be flooding their bogs. Mr. Waxman reported that Friends of Santuit Pond had researched other communities using a combination of treatments and stated that chemical treatment was reduced along with the use of the solar circulators. Ms. Waygan questioned residents' willingness to support the circulators in the pond. Mr. Waxman stated that hundreds of communities are using the units successfully and reported that his membership supports the use of the solar circulators. The Chair questioned educating residents to change their habits regarding phosphorus loading and Mr. Waxman felt that educating residents could be accomplished through the paper and the Town could submit draft legislation to the state to address rainwater runoff. Mr. York emphasized that something should be done now because of the risk to humans and animals and supported the use of solar circulators until a better solution becomes available in the future. Evelyn Bushenfeld, a resident of Santuit Pond, stated that an effort had been initiated by the Town to have the abandoned bog managed by an organic farmer. Ms. Bushenfeld questioned the impact of watercraft such as jet skis. Mr. Kretchmer stated that watercraft have been known to cause shore erosion as well as mixing up the water column. Ms. Bushenfeld asked that the Town address the issue. George Schmidt, of Bryants Neck, noted that, although a town by-law could limit use of phosphorus fertilizer, without a regional regulation, residents could purchase phosphorus containing fertilizer elsewhere. Mr. Schmidt questioned re-stocking the pond with bass and Mr. Kretchmer responded that there were many predators that could improve the health of the pond, and that it is more of a fisheries management issue and educating people to not remove all of the largest fish. The Chair questioned which of the three in-lake recommendations Mr. Kretchmer recommended to which he suggested that it would depend upon the public. Dredging was likely too expensive to be considered. Mr. Kretchmer stated that alum treatments have been successful on the Cape and now offer better control of toxicity and improved information has recently become available supporting the solar circulators. A discussion ensued regarding alum toxicity and the ways in which toxicity could be avoided with treatment. The Chair questioned sources of funding available to assist with the costs of improving the pond. Ms. MacDougall indicated that she could add information to the final report such as State 3 19 grants which address BMPs for the watershed, although those grants tend to be competitive. Mr. Kretchmer noted that some projects have been funded by direct legislation. AECOM does provide grant writing services. Mr. Waxman questioned whether or not the project could be considered for the Cape Cod Waterways $30 million grant. Mr. York stated that the grant has been restricted to herring runs, road 8