6/12/2008 ENVIRONMENTAL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE Minutes

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Town of Mashpee Environmental Oversight Committee Minutes of Meeting June 12, 2008 Present: Don Myers, Ted Theis, Rick York, Ed Baker, Ralph Marcelli The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Don Myers,Chairman. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES: Motion made by Mr. Barer to accept, as they currently exist, the meeting minutes of April 10, 2008. Motion seconded by Mr. Theis. All voted unanimously. NEW BUSINESS: Report from Rick York, regarding_ the state of the bay and ponds The Mashpee River is currently choked out with algae mats_ Waquoit Bay, which received news coverage in past years, is also suffering from an algae mat that has floated to the surface. The algae create problems with navigation as well as impacting the ecology of the bays and shellfish. The algae mat in Waquoit Bay is measuring about !z mile long and 30-50 feet wide_ This is the beginning of the season so the problem could get worse. The Shellfish Department is moving towards its goal for the aquaculture/nitrogen mitigation project in the Mashpee River. One half million oysters were harvested last year which is half way to the goal of one million oysters. This number of oysters would remove half a ton of nitrogen which is 10% of the target cleanup of the river_ The oysters have prevented the river from deteriorating to the point when micro algae killed fish and crabs in 2005. Some areas in the state have been closed due to bacteria and red tide. However, Mashpee has not been closed as no red tide is present although seasonal bacterial closures exist as usual because the water is warm enough in the bay this year to prevent red tide. The shellfish are in very good shape. The Shellfish Department will continue to work toward meeting its goal to harvest 1 million oysters in two years by continuing to seed this year. The Department is utilizing three methods to achieve the goal. Oysters are set on pieces of shell at the hatchery, called spat, and bagged and then placed in the river. Once they grow, they are then placed on trays, the technique which has been most successful. Oysters have also been placed on the bottom to create natural beds, but this has not worked as successfully. Finally, the Department has begun to place single oysters on trays in the river last year. The Department was able to start 300,000 single oysters early in May. Tomorrow, the Shellfish Department will be receiving 470 spat bags which will be placed in the river with the help of the DPW and 14 Americorps volunteers. Another 400 bags will arrive at the end of the month, which is twice as many oysters as in the past, resulting in 800 bags total. Another 1 million single oysters will also arrive. If the production levels match the previous year, it is expected that 1 million oysters will hold the line on the Mashpee River to clean up the nitrogen. Mr. York was asked about the harvesting and whether or not shellfish permits have increased. Mr. York indicated that shellfish permit sales had increased. Many first timers are coming out to take