04/25/2013 CONSERVATION COMMISSION Minutes

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Motion made, seconded and unanimously carried to continue to May 9, 2013 at 6:09pm 6:06 Madeline Wong (4 Keel Way) Install a new septic system and associated piping. Existing system will be pumped, filled with clean sand and abandoned - RDA Resource Area: LSCSF Material submitted: Proposed Septic System Upgrade 4/12/13 Engineering Works \[10:33\] Pete McEntee is representing the homeowner and explains that she has a failed septic system. The separation to ground water is insufficient so a new leaching area is required; and the tank is over 30 years old so a new tank will need to be installed. Mr. McEntee is proposing a combination septic tank pump chamber to a new soil absorption system that will satisfy all requirements of Title V. The new system will require removal of some trees where the soil absorption system will be placed along with the removal of a large rhododendron. Motion made, seconded and unanimously carried for a Negative Determination 6:09 Diane & Joe Appleman (91 Edgewater Road) Prune approximately four trees near dwelling and place gas fire pit on existing platform - RDA Resource Area: Inland Bank Associated with Santuit Pond Material submitted: Town GIS Aerial 4/23/13 Owner \[13:27\] Diane Appleman states that her lot is very dense with branches hanging over the roof causing fungus to grow. There are several trees that are dead that she would like to remove. Ms. Appleman is also proposing to place a fire pit on an existing platform deck. Agent McManus states that on a site visit to this property he had noticed several trees that were heavily damaged by (turpentine) beetles and recommended that they be removed. Motion made, seconded and unanimously carried to amend the permit request to allow the removal of the damaged trees and issue a Negative Determination 3) WBNERR Telemetry Tower (Admin approval): Jim Rassman from WBNERR explains that they were approached by a group called ESS that are being paid by US Fish & Wildlife and the Division of Fish & Game to look at the possibility of using active tags to track piping plovers and roseate terns. The group is looking to install temporary antenna placements along the coast to track the birds as they come across the water. They are currently using surrogate species that are not endangered. ESS has contacted Monomoy National Wildlife to install one antenna at one of the towers associated with Cape Wind and also South Cape Beach / Waquoit Bay. Mr. Rassman states that ESS would place a tower on the back of the changing station at the State beach. The tower is 11” x 9” and 30’ tall with a 24” spike that is driven into the sand with a radio pack attached. The radio does not broadcast any signals; it picks up the tag signal from the bird as it comes across the wavelength. Mr. Rassman states the tower will be placed in June and removed in October. The research will hopefully show ESS how many if any birds it was able to pick up and if the technology has promise. Motion made, seconded and unanimously carried to approve the research project as proposed 4) MA Division of Marine Fisheries: Santuit River vegetation clearance Agent McManus explains that Brad Chase is a Marine Biologist with the Division of Marine Fisheries who had come down for a site visit to the three herring runs in town. Mr. Chase’s overall assessment is that they are in good shape. Mr. Chase had noticed that at Santuit, approximately 150’ downstream from the fish ladder; there is a growing encroachment of aquatic vegetation which has narrowed the channel of the river significantly and creates a slight impediment to slowing the herring passage. The agent states that Mr. Chase asked that this issue be brought to the Commission to get authorization for them to do some clearing to widen the river. The agent says that Mr. Chase’s group will wait until after the season to do the clearing. 2