ဟံၣ်My WebLinkဘၣ်ဃးဒီး12-17-2018 WRC Final MinutesPage 1 of 4 TOMPKINS COUNTY WATER RESOURCES COUNCIL Monday, December 17, 2018 TCAT Main Conference Room Final Minutes Attendance Member Seat Member Seat Sharon Anderson P Cooperative Extension Kristin McCarthy P TC Staff John Andersson P At-Large Mara Alper P Associate Member Fay Benson P Agriculture Bill George P Associate Member Chris Bordlemay Padilla P Water Purveyor Marina Howarth P Associate Member Cynthia Brock P Municipal Roxy Johnston E Associate Member Liz Cameron E Co. Environmental Health Joan Jurkowich P Associate Member Amanda Champion P County Government Dooley Kiefer P Associate Member George Fowler E At-Large Jose Lozano P Associate Member Barry Goodrich E Watershed Organization John Mawdsley A Associate Member Ed Gottlieb E At-Large Todd Miller P Associate Member Michelle Henry P EMC Representative Niamh O’Leary P Associate Member Kristen Hychka P Municipal Government Steve Penningroth P Associate Member Emelia “Mia” Jumbo P At-Large Elaine Quaroni P Associate Member Darby Kiley P County Planning & Sustain. Joanne Trutko P Associate Member Lynn Leopold P Municipal Government Tom Vawter P Associate Member Jon Negley P Soil & Water Cons. District Frank Proto P At-Large Marjory Rinaldo-Lee P Environment Linda Wagenet P At-Large Guests: Brian Rahm, Karl Czymmek, Cliff Love, Paul Gier, Nathaniel Launer, Adrianna Hirtler Call to Order – Chair Cynthia Brock called the meeting to order at 4:15 p.m. Privilege of the Floor – While no member of the public spoke, Steve Penningroth expressed his interest in forming a HABs committee in the new year. Agenda Review/Changes – Nominating Committee formation was removed from agenda. Action: Approval of November 2018 Minutes – Frank Proto made a motion, which Linda Wagenet seconded, to approve the Nov. 19, 2018, minutes. Motion carried. Presentation: AFO/CAFO/Nutrient Management Planning – Karl Czymmek, Cornell University Karl Czymmek has worked at Cornell since 1999 on crops and nutrient management, with a focus on concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) regulatory programs. He was invited by the Water Resources Council to speak following an article he wrote on the need for a holistic approach to fighting HABs versus the tendency to place most of the blame on CAFOs. A copy of his presentation is posted on the WRC website. Dr. Czymmek gave an overview of the New York State Agricultural Environmental Management framework, which consists of a five-tier approach (inventory, assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation) to helping farms meet their business objectives while conserving natural resources. New York State treats medium and large CAFOs the same way (other states treat them differently), and NYS regulations exceed federal standards in some cases. There are six CAFOs in Tompkins County and roughly 500-600 CAFOs statewide. A few watersheds in New York have seen considerable improvement in water quality since implementing AEM. He cited New York City and Skaneateles Lake as good models to follow for successful watershed programs. Page 2 of 4 Most farms have certified nutrient management plans to some degree, but they are required for CAFOs. Watershed programs have nutrient management plans funded through the Filtration Avoidance program. Approximately 70-90% of nutrients are recycled on farms, and 60-70% of feed is homegrown. Farmers need to track nutrient levels in soil, how much manure produced, and manure nutrient content. A critical requirement for CAFOs is that manure and land base be in balance. Individual CAFO plans are not available to the public. Dr. Czymmek remarked that a landscape management program that doesn’t point finger exclusively at CAFOs (other kinds of farms and vineyards also release nutrients) could prove beneficial. Linda Wagenet asked if there are AEM data available that show whether the program has been productive. Dr. Czymmek commented that a lot of farms stop with the inventory part of AEM due to a lack of funding resources. The planning and implementation piece, in his opinion, could be encouraged through a watershed program. Steve P. offered to meet with Dr. Czymmek to compare CSI monitoring data with locations of CAFOs and unregulated farms in the area. Resolution: In Appreciation of John Andersson for His Years of Service to the WRC Cynthia read a resolution into the record for John Andersson thanking him for his years of service to Tompkins County. John thanked everyone. He and his wife will be moving to Rochester. Resolution in Appreciation of John Andersson for his Years of Service to the WRC WHEREAS, John Andersson (despite his best efforts to the contrary) was appointed to the Water Resources Technical Committee on February 18, 1998, which evolved in 2000 to become the Water Resources Council, and John has served on the Water Resources Council through 2018, and WHEREAS, based on best estimates and staff recollection, beginning in 1992 John served on the Tompkins County Water Quality Study Group, which became the Water Quality Coordinating Committee, which became the Water Quality Steering Committee, which became the Water Resources Technical Committee, making John one of the “Great Grandparents of the Water Resources Council,” and WHEREAS, rumor has it that John was around during the Ithaca flood of July 1935, although we disbelieve the claims that he remembers the massive June 1857 flood, in any case, his experience (real or imagined) has compelled John to be a contributing member of the Technical Committee of the Tompkins County Stream Corridor Restoration & Flood Hazard Mitigation Program for over a decade, and WHEREAS, appointed as a representative of the Department of Health, John brought a high level of expertise and knowledge of the importance of monitoring and protecting groundwater, surface water, and aquifers to best manage drinking water quality, with a specific focus on addressing leaking septic systems, and improving sewage, storm water, and land management practices, and WHEREAS, in 2001 John was integral in advocating for the funding of a Tompkins County aquifer study to provide geohydrologic data to county and town planners as they develop a strategy to manage and protect their water resources, establishing limits on development within groundwater recharge efforts, and providing baseline data to protect against possible negative impacts caused by horizontal hydrofracking, and WHEREAS, although John retired from the Department of Health in 2007 he continued to serve on the Water Resources Council, clearly showing a lack of understanding of the concept of retirement, and Page 3 of 4 WHEREAS, an avid outdoor enthusiast, John has walked the entire length of the Finger Lakes Trail and contributed to local trail development through involvement with the Cayuga Trails Club, and WHEREAS, his personal passion for preserving public recreational access to water resources combined with his knowledge of government processes, regulations, permitting, and oversight, John has been integral in guiding the Water Resources Council in its advocacy to the city, towns, villages, and hamlets of Tompkins County, in the vital importance of water management to the health, welfare, quality of life, and economic well-being of our residents, farms, businesses, and visitors, now therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Tompkins County Water Resources Council hereby thanks John Andersson for his dedication, expertise, leadership, and many selfless hours dedicated to preserving and improving water quality, management, and oversight during his 25+ years serving on the Water Resources Council and all its previous iterations. Action: Cynthia Brock moved, and Frank Proto seconded, to adopt this resolution in appreciation of John Andersson for his years of service to the Tompkins County Water Resources Council. Motion carried. Committee Reports as Needed Membership & Nominating Committee – Marjory Rinaldo-Lee Voting members interested in serving as chair or vice chair of the WRC should contact Marjory in advance of the January meeting. Municipal Training – Kristen Hychka The committee will probably focus next on riparian management in non-agricultural settings. They plan to work with the Upper Susquehanna Coalition, specifically buffer coordinator Lydia Brinkley. Kristen thanked John A. for his contributions to the committee. Emerging Contaminants – Jose Lozano Currently, Jose and Steve P. are the only active members of the committee. Their work has focused on emerging contaminants (including hormones, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and other wastewater associated compounds) in water samples collected at drinking water sites, Cayuga Lake, and the Ithaca Wastewater Treatment Plant, as well as microplastics and microfibers detected in Ithaca wastewater effluent. [A copy of the committee’s report was emailed to WRC members after the meeting and is available upon request.] Outreach & Education – Lynn Leopold Members continue working on the clean boating map and educational brochure. It will include listings of all boating amenities around the lake and information on invasive species (non-terrestrial). Once text is finalized, committee will most likely use County-approved funding to hire a graphic designer for layout. Water Withdrawals – Mara Alper Members are reviewing and comparing existing water withdrawal policies and regulations, including Great Lakes Compact Council, Susquehanna River Basin Commission, and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) permitting processes. Mara was referred to Rachel Treichler, an environmental lawyer based in the Finger Lakes with expertise in water withdrawal issues. Town of Caroline councilwoman Irene Weiser, who is active on the town’s Aquifer Protection Committee, will speak to committee about local water withdrawal policies at the January meeting. Committee is having difficulty with FOIL requests for water withdrawal Page 4 of 4 information for CAFOs in New York State. Todd Miller stated there is an up-to-date map on the DEC website with that data. Chair & Staff Reports The City of Ithaca Public Works Department gave an update on its local flood hazard analysis report to the Planning and Economic Development Committee of the Common Council. Cynthia is collaborating with Mike Thorne to bring the city’s engineering consultants, Barton & Loguidice, to the WRC in February for a presentation on the report. Announcements Frank referenced a recent news article on the federal government’s proposal to narrow the definition of “Waters of the United States” (aka WOTUS), which would scale back the jurisdictional reach of the Clean Water Act. Jose added that definition would include only water bodies connected to navigable waterways. Frank remarked that WRC may need to update the Water Quality Strategy accordingly once new language is determined. Adjournment Chair Cynthia Brock adjourned the meeting at 5:40 pm.