Federal Agencies Work Group Meeting Minutes, April 20, 2004

LAKE CHAMPLAIN BASIN PROGRAM
FEDERAL AGENCIES WORK GROUP

APRIL 20, 2004, MEETING SUMMARY

LOCATION:
Natural Resources Conservation Service, 356 Mountain View Drive, Colchester, VT

ATTENDEES :

Erik Beck, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region I
Theresa Faber, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region II (by phone)
Bill Howland, Lake Champlain Basin Program
Mark Malchoff, Sea Grant Program, SUNY Plattsburg
Brian Mrazik, Chair, U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources
Dave Tilton, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

SUMMARY:

Federal Agencies Work Group Report: Dave Tilton passed out copies of the “Opportunities for Federal Action”. The report was distributed to offices of the Congressional delegation during Dave's March 9-11 visit to Washington. Bill Howland is working on a reprint that identifies the 7 members of the delegation and their districts. Eric Beck will check on the availability of EPA funding for the reprint.

Dave also distributed copies of his Powerpoint presentation on Federal activities that was presented to the Steering Committee in January.

Invitation Letters for Canadian Agencies: The Work Group discussed the letters to Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Parks Canada that were drafted by Dave Tilton. It was recommended that the letter for Parks Canada be sent to Francine Emond. Bill Howland will provide an address for Francine. It was agreed that Brian Mrazik would sign and send the letters. The Work Group agreed that the letters should include copies of the “Opportunities for Action” (Bill to send two copies to Brian for inclusion) and the Opportunities for Federal Action”. Brian should also send copies to Stuart Buchanan, Chair of the Executive Committee, and Lorraine Goyette of the Quebec Environment Ministry. Bill will provide an address for Lorraine. Bill will also give Stu a call to advise him that the letters are being sent. Brian will add a sentence to the end of the 2 nd paragraph referencing the “Opportunities for Federal Action”.

Lake Champlain Basin Program Update:

Upcoming meetings: May 7, Executive Committee

May 17-18 Steering Committee (Quebec)

The next Steering Committee meeting will include:

1. An update on the Corps of Engineers' General Management Plan for the $20M Authorized for pollution prevention in the Lake Champlain Basin. The Plan is currently at Corps' Headquarters for approval. Two pilot projects have already been identified under the plan: A stormwater project in the Lake George area, and a streambank stabilization project on Tyler Brook in the Missisquoi Basin. The Steering Committee will issue future RFP's for projects under the Plan.
2. A panel on phosphorous reduction options
3. An ecosystems indicators project update
4. Discussion of aquatic nuisance species.

‘Featured Agency' Presentations for Future Steering Committee Meetings: The Work Group agreed on the following order of presentations at future Steering Committee Meetings:

1. May 2004 NRCS (Pauline Pare will present on the 2004 Farm Bill and Congressional Earmarks)
2. September Sea Grant (Jurij Homziak will present on the Sea Grant Coherent Area Program)
3. EPA
4. USGS
5. FWS
6. NPS

Federal Agency Updates:

Fish & Wildlife Service – Dave advised that portable assessment traps are being placed in various streams (e.g. Lewis Creek) as part of the monitoring program to measure relative abundance of sea lampreys.

EPA - Region I is reorganizing the Office of Ecosystems Protection to move away from state teams to an organization that focuses on media groups. Erik also mentioned that EPA Region I is putting together a scuba diving team that will be employed in various investigations of dam removal, invasive species, hazardous waste sites, etc. The team will be functional in mid-summer and is potentially available for work in Lake Champlain investigations. Dave Tilton mentioned that FWS has a similar team that was used to work on native muscles activities in the Basin

Sea Grant – Mark discussed the Coherent Area Program (CAP) proposal that is intended to replace the current annual Sea Grant proposal process for the Lake Champlain. CAP is the ‘next step' in achieving full program status and, if approved, will result in longer term funding and potentially higher funding levels. Mark also mentioned the Sea Grant Fisheries Leadership Institute activities that took place on March 5-6. Part Two of the Institute program will be held on June 18 at the Valcour Conference Center. More information on the Institute and training agenda can be found on Mark's Web page at: http://research.plattsburgh.edu/LakeChamplainSeaGrantAquatics/FisheriesLeadershipInstitute.htm

USGS – Brian mentioned that USGS has been in discussions with representatives of South Burlington and the Vermont Agency of Transportation regarding the installation of gaging stations on Potash Brook and Allen Brook. The Potash Brook gage is likely to be installed this summer. USGS has agreed to pay instrumentation and installation costs if the cooperators sign 5-year unmatched agreements for operation and maintenance. USGS is also planning to upgrade its Lake Champlain gage site (located along the bike path in Burlington) to include an outreach display.

Federal Agency Project Collaboration Opportunities: The Work Group discussed approaches toward the development of ‘on-the-ground' collaborative projects as outlined in our Memorandum of Understanding. Members agreed to begin moving in this direction. One area that was identified for potential collaborative work included the urban drainages of Chittenden County. EPA and other Federal, state, university, and local partners are already conducting various activities in the Englesby, Potash, and Allen Brook watersheds that could conceivably have greater Federal participation under a collaborative plan. Federal activities could involve the funding, demonstration, and scientific evaluation of various BMPs and stream and watershed restoration activities. The Work Group agreed to dedicate the full day of our next meeting in August to further explore this and other potential collaborative opportunities.

Work Group Web Page: The Work Group discussed approaches to establishing a Federal Partners Web page for Lake Champlain. Bill Howland agreed to having the page reside on the LCBP server. Erik and Brian agreed to provide resources for the development of the page and will coordinate on who does what. The Work Group agreed that the Web page should, at a minimum, include our membership, Memorandum of Understanding, and the “Opportunities for Federal Action”. All Work Group members are requested to submit suggestions to Eric or Brian for what additional items should be included on the Web page.

Next Meeting: Our next meeting will be on Tuesday August 10 th at 9:00 AM. The meeting will focus on potential collaborative project opportunities and will include a field trip to observe work going on in the urban drainages of Chittenden County. Eric will arrange for a presentation on the Potash and Allen Brook activities. Brian will arrange for a presentation on the Englesby Brook activities. Brian will try to obtain the conference room in the Burlington Wastewater Treatment Plant for the meeting. All Work Group members should come to the meeting prepared to discuss other potential sites and opportunities for collaborative work.