Minutes 9/7/99

In attendance: Freeland Abbott, Gene Benson, Susan Caruso, Ralph Elwell, Cathy Garnett, Jane Howard, Elizabeth Karpati, Lois Wainstock, David White.

The meeting was facilitated by Gene Benson. The minutes are by Elizabeth Karpati.

NEXT MEETING: Wednesday, October 27, 1999, 8 P.M. location tba

Breach study consultant (from Weston & Sampson) left a skimpy preliminary report before going on vacation, which goes little beyond giving cost estimates. (Permit cost for breaching the dam would be $90,000.)
R. Bento, C. Abbott, C. Garnett plan to meet with consultant, after he returns Sept. 13, about what else we want the report to cover.
We need to know whether there is a real problem (any sign of actual seepage or wicking), or is the dam just violating "conventional engineering wisdom" that trees on an earthen dam can be dangerous?
We also need to know how much 1" of rain raises the level of the Res.
Last year's engineering report to DEM assumed "loading" of Res with water to within 1 ft. of top of dam, but water can't go that high because shore at other end of Res is lower!
The town fills the Res in spring by raising the gate before filling the swimming area, lowers water level in fall, after swimming season ends, by lowering the gate again.
[P.S. This year the gate was lowered in early Sept., but then raised again before Hurricane Floyd. On Sept. 17, the day after Floyd, the Res level was almost as high as in summer, and water in Mill Brook was not excessively high.]

Susan Caruso will do display with blowup of Res map and pictures of problems (water chestnuts, dam) and good things about the Res -- she and Cathy Garnett have pictures, and Alan McClennen has aerial photo.
Space is somewhat limited -- Vision 2020 has two tables with rolling boards behind them, to be shared by Diversity Task Force and Spy Pond and Reservoir Committees.
Conservation Commission will have separate table -- C. Abbott will check what they will display about the Res.
Lois has survey nearly ready, Leslie & Laura will work with her on it -- send it out promptly by e-mail for comments so that it can be printed by 9/16 and used at Town Day. A version of survey could also be sent out with census mailing (must be ready by December).
Ralph Elwell will do tours of Res, will have sign-up sheet on table at Town Day: Sunday, 9/19 at 9 a.m. and 1 or 2 p.m. and again Saturday, 9/25 at 9 a.m., starting from Hurd Field.
[P.S. Survey was ready and quite a few copies filled out on Town Day; tours on 9/19 took place and found one tree uprooted above swimming area but none on dam.]

Res Committee can have a web page if someone will be webmaster -- David White will do.
Can use fact sheet available from Cathy Garnett, and pictures; add meeting dates and contact information. When web page exists, put its URL on any posters and handouts!
Paul English is Vision 2020 webmaster, can help with how-to information.

Tufts civil engineering students could be asked to do a hydrological study as their senior project, but would have to be asked in the fall -- can we ask them before we have the consultant's report?
Should meet with John Durant about this after Town Day. Possible participants: Gene Benson, Chick Abbott, Cathy Garnett; also Alan McClennen, Richard Bento if possible.

Should be formed around issues after they emerge -- so far we have not much information on which to take action.
Gene Benson to ask Laura Moore for lists of who signed up for committees at June meeting.
One thing we could already use help with is internal communications.

Conservation Commission has money for removal but for next season. Susan Brent was worried about postponing removal until after a study is done (for fear of losing the money?). We should check with Alan McClennen to make sure the money will be still available.
Seeds left on shore after water level is lowered could be picked up easily by volunteers -- could this committee organize a cleanup? Scout project? Prisoners work detail? Anything we want to do about this should be done in cooperation with Conservation Commission.

Gene Benson is looking for co-chairs for both the Res and Spy Pond committees.

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