9/16/2010 ENVIRONMENTAL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE Minutes

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Mashpee Environmental Oversight Committee Minutes of Meeting September 16, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. Mashpee Town Hall, Selectmen's Meeting Room Present: Chairman John Cahalane, Ed Baker, David Kooharian, Rick York Absent: Ted Theis CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chairman Cahalane at 7:11 p.m. APPROVAL OF MEETING MIINUTES August 1.2,.2010 Mr. Baker made a motion to accept the minutes of August 12, 2010 as they currently exist. Mr. York seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Mr. York-yes; Chairman Cahalane--yes; Mar. Baker-yes; Mr. Kooharian- abstained OLD BUSINESS Santuit Pond The Chairman stated that discussion would be inclusive of audience comments but that later in the meeting discussion would be limited to members of the Committee. Chairman Cahalane summarized that during the last meeting, the Committee discussed their support for using solar circulators to clean up the pond, leaving open other possibilities, such as reverse layering, to also be considered. Chuckie Green, Natural Resource Assistant Director of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, stated his department's interest in pursuing the reverse layering process and dredging to improve the conditions at Santuit Pond. Mr. Green reported that the two methods appear to be fundable by the federal government. The Natural Resource Department and the EPA do not support use of the solar circulators since it is not a permanent solution and has not been sufficiently proven to be successful in a pond averaging 5 feet. Additionally, Mr. Green discovered that there was little interest in federal funding for a project using the circulators since it is not sustainable and will not eliminate phosphorus sources into the pond. Mr. Green emphasized the need for phosphorus intervention, noting that the circulator may fix the pond for a while, but that the problem will continue unless the sources are addressed. Mr. Green reported that the EPA looked at the pond in the morning and stated their support for dredging or reverse layering. Mr. York questioned sources available to fund the $8-$16 million costs of dredging and Mr. Green responded that the Army Corps of Engineers has a dredging program and that he is researching other funding sources, such as an Indian Dredging Program. Mr. York questioned a timeline to apply for dredging money but Mr. Green is unsure of the timeline. Mr. York expressed concern about the current algae bloom and the possibility that it could turn toxic at any time and stated that a short term solution could reduce the blooms while investigating a long term solution. Mr. Green did not oppose the idea but stated that the Tribe