LAPEER COMMITTEE – Flint River Watershed Coalition

The monthly meeting of the Lapeer Committee of the Flint River Watershed Coalition took place on September 18, 2007 in the meeting room of the Historic Courthouse in Lapeer. Vice-Chairperson, Brad Hill, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Attendance: Marian Listwak, Peter McCreedy, Carl Haas, Debra Lyman, Ester Fuchs, Ron Shoemaker, Maureen Shoemaker, Dave Woolfenden, Mary Brown

Minutes: The minutes from the May 2007 and August 2007 meetings were reviewed. Peter McCreedy moved to approve the minutes as written. Carl Haas supported and the motion passed.

Reports

1)Executive Director’s Report:

a)The coalition is busy with the activities for the 10th anniversary.

b)Work continues on the strategic plan

a)FRWC will implement MiCorps standards for benthic monitoring. This will help insure more uniform standards statewide.

2)Benthic Monitoring:

a)Project leader still needed

b)Lab dates in Lapeer will be Saturday,September 29th andThursday, October 4th at the USDAServiceCenterat 1739 N. Saginaw Street.Time of the lab will be from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. both days.

c)Lab dates in Flint will be Saturday, September 29th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Wednesday, October 3rd, from 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

d)Equipment may be picked up and dropped off at the USDAServiceCenter on Saginaw Street in Lapeer.

e)Mike Supernault is not available to assist with the invertebrate ID, so Al Hoppe, Lois Rheume, and Tracy Wacker will be contacted.

f)Question: will the kits contain forms with the new MiCorps standards?

3)River Cleanup: Peter McCreedy reported that specific plans are not in place at this time.

4)River Obstruction/Habitat Improvement:

a)Debra Lyman reported that a large tree is down and blocking everything in her area of the river. Peter McCreedy and Dave Woolfenden agreed to check it out on 9/25 at 4:00 p.m.

b)Joe Leonardi agreed to remain chairperson of the Stream Obstruction/River Habitat Committee. He divided the river into sections which could be adopted by various interested groups.

c)U of M Flint GIS students may be available to digitize stream/river mapping.

5)River/Park Kiosks: The kiosk at Millville Landing is progressing slowly.

Other Business

1)Coffee Tree Café Project (Farmers Creek): Plans are in motion to contact the café owner, Mike

Pardington.

2)LapeerCounty Comprehensive Development Plan: Sara McDonnell and Diane Peplinski watershed

protection suggestions.

3)Township officials of Dryden and Metamora have been very helpful with the South Branch project

Send thank you notes?

4)River impoundments: These form lakes which lead to development and lake associations.

Are these groups aware of Best Management Practices?

5)FRWC via Brad Hill has monitoring equipment for chemicals such as nitrates and phosphorous.

Check with Brad if interested in using them in areas in the watershed.

4)Canoe Race: Peter McCreedy reported that the race will take place in mid-May, 2008.

5)2008 Budget: Considerations need to go before the board. Insurance is an issue.

6)FRWC Resolution: To present an award to the business that goes above and beyond the call of duty to protect water quality.

Next Meeting: The next meeting of the Lapeer Chapter of the FRWC will take place on October 16, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. in the meeting room of the Historic Courthouse in downtown Lapeer.

Adjournment: With all business concluded, the meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.