Hhpc Final Minutes

HHPC FINAL MINUTES

September 13, 2017

Sea Cliff Village Hall

NOTE: ACTION ITEMS ARE IN BOLD HIGHLIGHTED UNDERLINED ITALICS. MOTIONS ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN BLUE

Attendees: Tom Powell (Chair); Eric Swenson (Executive Director); Kevin Braun (North Hempstead); Peedee Shaw (Roslyn); Dan Fucci (Nassau County); Abby Kurlender (Roslyn Harbor); Tom Ryan (Oyster Bay); Catherine Chester (Sands Point); Bruce Kennedy (Sea Cliff); Carol DiPaolo (Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor); and Aaron Jones (resident).

Call to Order

Eric Swenson called the meeting to order at 7:10 pm.

Review and Approval of Draft Minutes

A motion was made by Kevin to approve the minutes of the meeting of June 7, 2017. Dan seconded the motion and it was approved unanimously.

Administrative Matters & Announcements

Status of Efforts to Obtain Funding for Water Monitoring – Eric stated brought the Committee up to date on his efforts to obtain alternative funding sources for water-quality monitoring. These include:

·  A $125,000 earmark in the state’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) for the three north shore bays:

o  In the final negotiations for this year’s state budget, funding for the monitoring was dropped. Eric has since spoken to Assemblyman Englebright and Senator Marcellino who both agreed to support the measure next year.

·  Long Island Nitrogen Action Plan (LINAP):

o  Eric was advised that the Long Island Regional Planning Council (which, along with the NYS DEC, is overseeing the LINAP, has agreed to assist the protection committees with funding and perhaps other services such as lab work and serving as a clearinghouse for water monitoring data. Eric was recently advised that such funding and services is still being considered.

·  Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District (NCSWCD):

o  The NCSWCD has awarded the HHPC with $17,000 for its 2017 water monitoring program. This is enough to restore the program to its original scope of weekly monitoring. If necessary, Eric may seek such funds again next year.

·  Federal Funding:

o  See the next item – Washington D.C. Trip.

Washington D.C. Trip – Eric stated that the Long Island Sound CAC has organized another Washington DC trip for September 26th to help educate Congressional and Senate representatives on the need to maintain and/or increase funding for Long Island Sound and its embayments in the federal 2017 / 2018 fiscal year budget. The President has proposed eliminating all funding for this program. The group will also continue to push for the preservation of Plum Island (a current federal law requires the Department of Homeland Security to sell the island). The CAC has secured two private grants that will cover the cost of bus transportation. Those participating will be asked to cover up to $15 in tips for the drivers. Eric and Carol will be participating as will two people from the Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District.

2017 Dues Status – Eric stated that the Committee has received 2017 dues payments from all members except Nassau County and that he has been advised that the County’s payment should be received in the very near future.

Status of Joint Protection Committee Meeting – Eric mentioned that after much discussion with the other protection committees and discussion with Rep. Suozzi’s staff, an agreement could not be reached that worked for all parties. The group was back to square one. It was decided to instead focus on the proposed Long Island Sound Summit (see next section).

Proposed Long Island Sound Summit – Eric stated that when they met in Washington with Rep. Suozzi, that he suggested that this Fall might be an appropriate time to hold a Long Island Sound Summit like the one that he and Donnel Malloy (then Mayor of Stamford and now Connecticut Governor) organized. Since then Assemblyman Englebright has offered to assist in organizing it. The three protection committees, the Long Island Sound Study CAC, the Setauket Harbor Task Force and others have all signed on to assisting. Eric has learned that Rep. Suozzi’s staff has received commitments from Reps. Zeldin and DeLauro to attend and that they are looking at holding it at the Merchant Marine Academy, possibly on October 20th. Details will follow.

Governor Cuomo’s Shellfish Restoration Project – Eric noted that he was invited by the Governor’s office to attend a press event on September 6th in Halesite to announce the state’s new shellfish restoration project, reported to be the largest such effort in the nation. Under the $10.4 million plan, 179 million clams and oysters will be grown locally in 69 newly created floating nurseries and then planted in 5 shellfish sanctuaries to be created – four along the south shore and one in Huntington Harbor. They will be placed in densities sufficient to allow them to filter the water in those areas every 3 days. At the same time, a Shellfish Restortion Council is being established to monitor the progress.

Kayak Coastal Cleanup – Eric reported that he participated from Cedarmere and paddled down to the Atria complex in hopes of being able to clean up the litter along the shoreline that Peedee Shaw had reported. Due to low tide and very thick muck, he was unable to get to shore with his kayak. Upon returning to Cedarmere, he was met by a friend, Len Jacobs, who then drove to the location and were able to remove about 5 large garbage bags’ worth of debris from the shoreline and above the retaining wall. The area is popular with fishermen and with a lack of trash receptacles, trash is tossed into the weeds or into crevices in the retaining wall. After Eric reported the results to Carol, a member of the Coalition Board contacted the Village of Roslyn about the lack of trash cans. Apparently, the apartment complex is required to provide and maintain them. Mayor John Durkin has gotten involved and is working to resolve the matter.

Hempstead Harbor Senior Beach Hikes – Eric noted that he led beach hikes for seniors at North Hempstead Beach Park on July 27th and August 10th. He gave a history of the harbor and discussed environmental progress and concerns with the participants. This was part of the Town of North Hempstead’s Fun Day Monday program, although both were held on Thursdays due to rain on the Mondays.

Garbage Issues – Carol noted that debris continues to be an issue in Scudder’s Pond by the weir. After a major rainstorm, garbage pails and garbage bags blew down Glenwood Road and ended up by the Powerhouse Drain. The Glenwood / Glen Head garbage district and residents were able to retrieve and dispose of the debris. Carol suggested that there be a regular maintenance program at Scudder’s.

Shellfish Harvest Figures – Carol DiPaolo reported that she has updated annual shellfish harvesting (“landing”) figures for Hempstead Harbor from the DEC, including a slight revision for the 2014 figures that we had previously received. They are:

# BUSHELS HARD CLAMS ANNUAL VALUE

YEAR HARVESTED TO LOCAL ECONOMY*

* includes all shellfish (hard clams, soft clams and oysters). Soft clam and oyster landings were minimal.

Note that for some years, there were no reported harvests of soft clams and/or oysters.

Discussion then centered on why harvest numbers have been decreasing. While no one knows for sure, it could be due to one or more of the following: 1) Hempstead Harbor’s area is in open water so it is more susceptible to wind and waves so baymen may prefer other areas; 2) higher yield years may be due to closures in other areas, forcing the baymen to work in other areas; 3) if prices for clams fall, there may be less incentive to harvest them; 4) oysters are becoming very popular, possibly lessening demand for clams; 4) clam populations may be diminishing in Hempstead Harbor; or 5) fewer baymen may be working in the area (Carol records the number of those who work the area when she is out sampling and there has been a slight decrease).

Water Monitoring Program Update

2016 - 2017 Program – Carol stated that she is working on the Annual Report. She expects to have it completed the first week of October.

Unified Water Study (UWS) Monitoring Program – Carol stated that she has 3 more monitoring dates left this season. There is still some questions as to what is expected of her after the monitoring is completed.

2017 - 2018 Program - Carol noted that she had provided bacteria data which Eric forwarded. Tappen Beach was closed earlier in the summer due to high bacteria levels. The Town increased the GeesePeace patrols. She was told that the septic system for the beach was required to be replaced by the restaurant. She was told that the Town was working on it and it may be done in 2018. She also heard that the Town will be negotiating with a new vendor and will include that in the new agreement. Tom Ryan stated that he believes that the current vendor has a two-year agreement. The Town was also pumping out the tanks every week during the beach season. Carol saw a white flow again in the outfall in Glen Cove Creek adjacent to the sewage treatment plan this morning. The DEC called Dan Fucci who responded on behalf of the County a couple hours later and it was no longer visible at that time. It has been quite a while since it was last observed. Tom Ryan will find out details and report back at the next meeting.

Project Updates

C.E.S.S.P.O.O.L. Project – Eric had nothing new to report.

New York American Water Grant – Roslyn Native Garden – Eric noted that the project is on a temporary hold while the Village of Roslyn evaluates its design plans for the park. They held an outdoor movie on the site during the summer to see if that is a good use and if their plans need to be tweaked. The design of the native garden will be finalized once the Village decides on the configuration of the rest of the park.

Scudder’s Pond Phragmites and Parrot Feather Removal – Eric noted that Solitude Lake Management has received the necessary permits and treated the parrot feather on August 31st. While the Committee had decided against proceeding to treat the parrot feather this year, a communication mix-up between the Village of Sea Cliff and Solitude in which a new Solitude project manager neglected to copy the HHPC resulted in the Village signing an agreement to perform the treatment. When this was discovered, the Village decided to fund the treatment out of its own funds. Treatment of the Phragmites is expected to take place within the next month.

Powerhouse Drain Subwatershed – Eric stated that he is continuing to review the recommendations contained in the subwatershed plan and ways in which they can be carried out. This has included looking into small scale ultraviolet treatment systems.

Sewer Feasibility Study – Eric stated that he contacted Brian Schneider of Nassau County DPW about the missing portions of the study and was advised that the County had decided to finalize the study without those portions.

Long Island Sound Study Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC)

Eric noted that the Long Island Sound Study Citizen’s Advisory Committee will meet tomorrow, September 14th in Mamaroneck. He and Carol will be attending.

The previous meeting was held on June 8th (the day after the last HHPC meeting). As a result of the increase in federal funding that followed the CAC’s trip to Washington on April 26th, an additional $1 million was added to the Long Island Sound Futures Fund grant program. The management committee decided to spend $1.4 million to develop a major new water quality monitoring model (to replace the SWEM model). Included among the other items approved was funding for the University of Connecticut to map impervious areas in New York State (similar to what they have done in Connecticut).

Nassau County Soil & Water Conservation District

Eric noted that the District granted and paid the Committee $17,000 towards the 2017 water monitoring program. They have also will be holding a DEC 4 hour certification course on erosion and sediment control on October 24th at the Old Bethpage Village Restoration. This helps municipalities satisfy some of their MS4 stormwater permit requirements. Finally, the District has produced both a brochure and an attractive sign about raingardens. One will be installed at Cedarmere. Eric also noted that the District recently hired a third full time employee.

Friends of Cedarmere

Tom Powell noted that raingarden overflowed during a recent deluge but otherwise is performing well. The Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District provided trees, ferns, and about 12 volunteers to plant them and to provide needed weeding on August 22nd. The District is also working on providing volunteers for a Fall bulb planting day on either November 4th or 11th. Volunteers from the HHPC would be welcomed. Tom also noted that the District provided the Friends with a $2,500 grant toward the purchase of native plants for the site.

Municipal Updates

Nassau County – Dan Fucci had nothing to report.

Oyster Bay – Tom Ryan had nothing to report.

Sands Point – Catherine Chester stated that there is a beach cleanup coming up at the Sands Point Preserve. [UPDATE: Catherine checked when she got home and advised that the cleanup already took place on September 9th. There will be another one in April].

Roslyn – Peedee Shaw had nothing to report.