Minutes of first Citizens’ Advisory Committee meeting for Wilmington Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP)

 December 3, 2005 , Wilmington Town Hall

 1.  Attendees (17) (Bold= Wilmington resident)

 Introduction
Jeanne Ashworth described how Wilmington got to the point of launching a local waterfront revitalization program; the Town applied for a grant 3 years ago to restore Lake Everest ; this program will address use of the river, its health and fisheries.  With the help of Garrett Dague, Wilmington sent out a request for proposals, and ASCI , a Wilmington-based nonprofit organization, was chosen. Garrett noted that due to the matching funds requirement on this grant, every hour committee members spend represents $15 per hour towards the match.

Jeanne added that we need to take this seriously; we all have skills to bring to the table.  One of the ultimate goals of many residents may be to dredge the lake, and this process is a first step towards reaching this lofty goal.  There will be many other water-related opportunities to propose, such as possibly improving the beach area, enhancing public access to the water, etc., as well. Wilmington would be following in the footsteps of the Town of Wells , which has started to dredge the Sacandaga / Lake Algonquin area.  Bob suggested we invite someone from Wells to talk. 

Kara made a point on procedure that all should be free to say what we want to say and to keep it informal.

She led an exercise where each participant talked with and then introduced another participant that they hadn’t previously known.  (E.g.:  Many attending have or deny J some link to New Jersey in their past…; Bob moved here 10 years ago from Clifton Park; Gary has lived here since he was 9 years old; Jeanne’s first grandchild was born last night; etc.)

Kara and Garrett provided a handout including an agenda, contact sheet, one-page overview, aerial photos of the Au Sable River watershed and sedimentation sites, and models/ideas on a public participation plan.  The handout is available to any interested parties. 

Overview of the LWRP Process
Lisa Nagle , who has worked with Lake George, Town of Bolton, Rouses Point, and has a long-standing relationship with the NYS Dept. of State (DOS) which is the funder of this grant, gave an overview of the process, based on a handout which is available to any interested. Lisa has had a very good relationship with DOS over the years and believes that DOS is a good long lasting partner in community development (as explained below).   

Background on the LWRP process: 

LWRP is a program and plan that the DOS administers.  The NY State Department of Coastal Resources started the program in Long Island and adapted it to an inland program that recognizes that water is key to communities.  The program can help communities use waterfronts for economic growth, rediscovery of historic areas, improving public access and recreation, and protecting natural resources.  There are advantages to the program – e.g. once you have a plan established with NYS, they will support many proposals for funding explained in your plan; there are also guidelines that they require be followed.  However the important thing is that the plan will be Wilmington ’s plan and will reflect Wilmington ’s wishes.  It will also give the Town a lot of power over future state and federal actions, which if taking place within the waterfront boundary area must be consistent with the Town’s LWRP.

Potential focus areas of LWRP:  Waterfront development, historic and scenic resources, public access, fish habitat, water quality, erosion control, etc.

Components of LWRP:  getting community involvement, developing a vision, creating partnerships, adopting policies, obtaining financing, construction, being patient and persistent, managing process.

LWRP Process:  public participation throughout is the key:

Step 1- Outline a boundary and inventory resources and conditions
Step 2 – Review and adapt policies
Step 3 – Identify projects
Step 4 – Identify ways to implement the program locally
Step 5 – Prepare draft plan, get comments
Step 6 – Finalize plan

Ginny asked if Wilmington has received a grant to do the planning, which we have, and clarified that additional grant funds are then needed to fulfill the plan, however having a plan when applying for a grant puts one at the “top of the pile.” 

Kara-there are only a handful of these LWRP projects in the North Country and the DOS would like to provide more.  Wilmington will therefore be a pioneer in the region. 

Benefits of having a completed plan - Clear vision for the community, technical assistance from various state departments, state and federal consistency, financial assistance with projects for in the LWRP

Bob suggested the Town have some consultation with DEC and APA.  Jeanne noted that these agencies couldn’t send someone (are shortstaffed), but are committed to helping.  Jeanne and Kara met with DEC, APA and ORDA and have reached out to DOT.  A committee member should come along on future visits.

Debbie McDonnell-Role of the committee, Saranac Lake

Her points: 

Bob-should we discuss with Agencies about ideas discussed etc.  Kara-all agencies will be sent notes and comments will be invited.  We should continue to invite them to citizens committee meetings to explain their views and give ideas on what they can contribute. 

Norms – How the Committee wants to work together

Debbie and Kevin led discussion on what committee members decided to use as their own guidance.  Many are based on what Saranac Lake village residents found worked for them.  The committee listed these on easel paper and agreed to adopt them:

Inventory
Steven Flint

Invasives-if there are invasives in the path of development, there will have to be mitigations plans, need to think about invasives that are coming.

Steve will be putting together information to help this process in dealing with invasives.

Dredging-This is a dynamic riverine ecosystem, more sensitive than some others, so probably more hoops to dredge. Wild/scenic river?

Brad Sherman with the Corps of Eng. may be involved in permitting in future.  There will be minimum sampling requirements that come with dredging.  Need to think about a home for the dredging waste, where the spoils will be put.  Dredge materials will have to be assessed for contaminants, if no issues, can be used in a variety of purposes, check with natural heritage for communities and species, front face of any dam has debris this is usually a habitat for nifty critters, dredging can re-suspend materials.

Garrett and Kathy-Inventory of the categories listed in the RFP will be completed see D. Section II.  A narrative will be written, Andy will develop maps of the resources using existing data.
Anne – ASRA will do gap analysis of stormwater management plans and DEC regs – can start with Wilmington . 

Kara-Cultural resources including photos and maps should be included in the project.  We are seeking contributions from the community – photos of the lake (before and after sedimentation problem), stories, etc.  We are also consulting with Wilmington Historical Society. 

Andy- is helping to put together maps including aerial photos

Field visit

The group visited Camletano’s beachfront area to survey the potential and beauty of the area (Holly), the “new” wetlands at the mouth of White Brook (Jim), hear about the fishery and the dangers to its health from the warmed waters of the increasingly shallow lake area (Rachel, Kathy, Anne, John), view a “new” island in the middle of the river (developed in last 15 years), hear anecdotes about increased flooding and decreased fish catch from the resort owner.  The dam itself might be the wrong type to encourage a healthy fishery as it keeps cold water, which trout need, from moving downstream.  Other changes have occurred – fill in property near natural island redirected / slowed flow in 70s?  Runoff from Quaker Mtn. also goes straight in to culverts.  Learn best practices for controlling runoff.  There may be other things we can do.

Other comments made during the beachfront visit, the Ausable has the 2^nd steepest decent in the park, it is known as a world class fishery, the river is used for fly fishing and other types of fishing such spin casting, anchor ice is a significant problem to trout (where the ice forms from the bottom of the stream and grows upward leaving less room for the fish and often killing fish), bugs that trout eat also need a certain kind of ecology interrupted when the temperature increase. The spillway at the end of Lake Everest changes the temperature of the river sometimes 4-6 degrees warmer. If the dam could be released from the pipe at the bottom of the lake that would release water with lower more compatible temperatures. Cattails in Lake Everest are very new, many people along the lake have lost either waterfront or waterfront quality from sedimentation and cattail growth.      

The group also visited Whiteface Mtn. (where it was cold and windy), which due to its slope and other factors, contributes to sedimentation in the river.  Staff there work on this problem continually and want to do more. Holly mentioned that after heavy rains in the summer the water runs chocolaty and brown as waters from the ski hill enter the Ausable at the bridge leading to the Whiteface Lodge.  

Next Steps

Kara-The committee is the driving force, need to make sure include other members who could not be here today; and others?  We really need to know what all people in the Town think about the future of the community, the lake/river and related resources. All of Wilmington needs to be involved, year round long-term residents, business owners, seasonal residents, in other words if they live in Wilmington they need to be involved.

Committee tasks: 

1. Public participation plan:  Kara-At the UVM extension service workshop, 4 interest groups were identified, use those four groups and bring them together to help overcome the hurdles.  Proposing workshops for each.  Lisa-public participation process, good for one meeting because all about hearing what the community thinks bring maps so people can talk about important areas. During the meeting collect
   1. List what you value most about the river
   2. How do you see it in the future

This helps with building consensus.  Group prefers mixing all citizens up together.  Additional ideas:  town newsletters, announce the open meetings with date and time and upcoming agenda.  Subgroup – Holly, Kevin, Jeanne and Kara selected to work on draft before next meeting. 

2. Next meeting:  December 20 meeting-Inventory findings and review communications plan

For more information on the Wilmington LWRP, please contact:

Jeanne Ashworth , Town Supervisor (946 7179) or Kara Page , ASCI (946 7557)