Federal Agencies Work Group Meeting Minutes, February 8, 2005

LAKE CHAMPLAIN BASIN PROGRAM
FEDERAL AGENCIES WORK GROUP

FEBRUARY 8, 2005, MEETING SUMMARY

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

ATTENDEES :

Steve Gourley, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Brian Mrazik, Chair, U.S. Geological Survey
Dave Tilton, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

By phone:

Erik Beck, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region I
Bill Howland, Lake Champlain Basin Program
Jenifer Thalhauser, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NY District

SUMMARY:

Membership Updates:

Dave Hoyt is the new member from NRCS Vermont. Jenifer Thalhauser will represent USACE NY with Jason Shea.

Lake Champlain Basin Program Update:

Bill Howland reported that the LCBP is level funded ($955K) in the President's budget for FY-06. The Steering Committee met on January 19 and 20 and approved the LCBP budget and workplan for FY-05, including funding for the BMP phosphorous tracking project and $20K for work on the Lake St. Catherine alewife problem. The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) will take another look at the issues and propose how the funds allocated for Alewife management should be used. An Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) subcommittee of the Technical Advisory Committee will be constituted in April. The next Steering Committee meeting will be on April 27. Erik Beck will make the 'Featured Agency' presentation at this meeting and focus on EPA-sponsored programs (other than the LCBP) that are important to the Basin. The State of the Lake Workshop is scheduled for March 11 in Plattsburg, NY. The workshop will consist of 4 panels and 19 panelists addressing 5 key topics. The workshop will focus on the exchange of ideas and expertise, with input from the citizens advisory committees. The workshop is expected to yield a 20-25 page State of the Lake report providing program guidance for the LCBP staff and partners on the toughest issues that need to be addressed by the program. The report publication is targeted for the end of June.

Federal Agencies Work Group Report:

The final report, Federal Actions and Opportunities - 2005, is available on the Work Groups Web site at http://vt.water.usgs.gov/champlain_feds/ . Printing of the report is awaiting a statement to be included from the Congressional delegation. Erik Beck reported that Tom Berry will provide a draft of the statement next week. EPA will print at least 200 copies of the report. Erik Beck will investigate whether additional copies are needed.

Federal Agency Updates:

Fish & Wildlife Service – Dave Tilton has been selected to chair the new LCBP Invasive Species Subcommittee. One objective of this subcommittee will be to establish a 'rapid response' plan for dealing with future invasives. Dave also reported that his office is undertaking a new initiative to develop a coordinated program for managing cormorants in the Lake. Based on an assessment of fish wounding rates, which have declined, the Sea Lamprey control program has been successful. No lampricide treatments are planned for 2005, however some barrier work will be undertaken in Quebec. A Memorandum of Understanding between the Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife Management Cooperative and the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission will be signed during a press event scheduled for May 5. Senator Leahy has been invited to attend. Operation of the programs at Pittsford National Fish Hatchery, which supports the Lake Champlain landlocked salmon stocking program, is again planned for discontinuation in FY-06 due to funding shortfalls. If this occurs, operations will have to be consolidated at the White River National Fish Hatchery. The staff position for the Partners for Fish and Wildlife program will be filled in FY-05.

EPA – Erik Beck reported that the Region I reorganization has now been implemented. The new organization is structured around functional areas (air, water, pesticides, etc.) rather than state boundaries. EPA is slated for a 5.5% budget reduction and a cut of 300 FTE in the President's FY-06 budget.

USGS – Brian Mrazik reported that most USGS water programs were cut between 2.5 and 6% in the FY-05 budget and that additional smaller cuts are in the President's budget for FY-06. USGS is also anticipating a major reorganization in FY-05 that will establish sub-regional offices in a further move to integrate the Bureau's science disciplines (water, geography, geology and biology). Under this organization, New England is likely to be combined with New York, New Jersey, and possibly other states, similar to the organization of the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Federal Agency Project Collaboration Opportunities:

The Work Group discussed the ongoing problems with the BMP study on Little Otter Creek. This site is one of two study areas where USGS is investigating the effectiveness of agricultural and urban (Englesby Brook) best management practices for reducing phosphorous and sediment loading to Lake Champlain tributaries. The future of the study on Little Otter Creek is uncertain because further BMP work on the Bergman farm has been halted. Steve Gourley agreed to pursue this issue with Keith Hartline, the County Conservationist.

A potential multi-agency project to eradicate alewives from Lake St. Catherine was discussed. The Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife has submitted a $0.5M proposal to NRCS for funding of the project under the WHIP program. USGS has prepared a proposal for the lake-hydrology component of the project, including the establishment of a lake and outflow gaging station in FY-05. USGS would cost-share the hydrology study with the LCBP, USFWS, or other partners. The LCBP is allocating $20,000 for as yet undefined alewife work in FY-05.

Brian Mrazik stated that USGS will be developing updated science plans for its Lake Champlain funding beginning in FY-06. These plans will set the future directions on USGS phosphorous and toxics work in the basin, and collaborative opportunities with other Federal partners are being sought. Bill Howland requested that USGS meet with LCBP staff in the near future to discuss collaborative efforts in the area of toxics.

Next Meeting: