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Federal Agencies Work Group


Meeting Minutes, July 24, 2007

LAKE CHAMPLAIN BASIN PROGRAM
FEDERAL AGENCIES WORK GROUP

JULY 24, 2007, MEETING MINUTES

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

Attendees:


I. Minutes approved from March 27 2007 meeting with no changes.

II. Updates

Bill Howland, LCBP:

  1. A steering committee meeting will be held tomorrow in at the Grand Isle Office. At this meeting the budget for the first half of the year will be discussed and set up in preparation for the EPA funding appropriations. 2nd half of year's budget will be set up in January. LCBP is asking the Committees to present emerging issues. Based on that information, LCBP will issue guidance on budget focusing.
  2. Section 542 GMP was approved by the LCBP Steering Committee and signed by Bill Howland on behalf of the LCBP. The 2007 Request for Letters of Interest was released last week; a workshop to discuss the process will be held August 23rd in Grand Isle and will be hosted by USACE and LCBP.
  3. LCBP is working with the IJC to determine what type of projects they can handle. Likely it will be a planning type document as IJC does not do implementation type projects.
  4. LCBP is working with the National Park Service to put together and execute an Agreement.
  5. LCBP is paying attention and planning for Quadricentennial Events in 2009, coordinating with NY, VT and Quebec partners.

Keith Robinson, USGS:  

USGS is continuing to work on several Basin projects: Last 3-4 months working on storm-water detention facility in Burlington working with UVM to investigate the effectiveness of detention facility in nutrient reduction. Looking at effect of the facility on mercury levels. Jamie from Montpelier office is leading effort. USGS is continuing BMP effectiveness study. Emerging contaminants study in NY, results are being written up. Results will be presented at NEIWPCC conference next month in Portland, Maine. Pat will present the results. Finally, USGS is working on developing a new work plan with LCBP for next year's efforts.

Lin Neifert, USGS:

USGS is working on statewide LIDAR project for high resolution LIDAR that is up to FEMA specs. VT LIDAR problems occur due to the dense vegetation cover. An agreement is to be signed on national hydrodata set with VCGI for USGS data set. VCGI will create an online database that will accept data/updates etc. from general public. The grant was given to them by USGS.

Donna Parish, USGS :

A couple of research studies are happening right now such as Cornell Cooperative Extension and USFWS smelt population study and invasive alewife. Sampling is being done every 2 weeks. With VT FWS, stream temperature data and what is conducive to cool water spp. studies are being done.

Kip – picking up any alewife? Donna- not yet

Jason Shea, USACE:

Recap of GMP update. Update to 2004 GMP. Incorporates lessons learned and opens up projects for expansion on what and when projects can be accepted. GMP is with NAD right now for approval. Updated GMP Draft can be posted.

Existing projects: Executed a PCS with South Burlington, study-design in 2008. Construction scheduled for late 2008.

Kip- what was South Burlington project? Jason – Tributary 3 Potash Brook restoration work with in-kind services.

Dave – question on Great Chazy River project. Jen gave update: NYSDEC has done some of their own temporary fixes in preventing sea lamprey from breaching the Great Chazy River, Frog Farm Dam. The temporary fixes have apparently worked and no lamprey were found this season, yet, above the dam. The Corps will use this new information to re-do the scope of work with the State as they work to implement a permanent solution.

Bob Paquin, Senator Leahy's Office: Announced "Soft numbers" through Senate Appropriations:

EPA Basin Program - LCBP 2.75
EPA ECHO- 750 k
USGS ~500k
NOAA – 250k (research consortium)
NOAA 500k (emerging threats)
COE APC – 400k
COE Section 542- 2.5M
COE Bollards – 500k
USDA NRCS Alternative Manure Management 250k
USDA Environmental Services Cormorant Control 148k
Great Lakes Fisheries/Lamprey Control 700k
IJC Missisquoi Bay / Year 3- 500k.
Above Spec. Earmarks

Parks Service Heritage Corridor: Account is not earmarked. A formula for the funding allocation is being created with the Park service to get money to the Lake program.

Dave Tilton: POC at Park Service to bring them into LCBP? Bob: The Director was appointed as the POC, name may be Roth Billings?

LC is one of 10 new Parks Service Heritage Corridor areas for funding. There are 12 existing that already get money. The Committee has asked for recommendations from Park Service on who should get money to help determine where the money goes hence the need for the formulas that are currently being developed.

Dave Tilton, USFWS

USFWS – An ANS subcommittee meeting will be held tomorrow. Focus on pulling some water chestnuts as well. A business meeting on rapid response plan will be held and the plan will be presented to LCBP TAC in Sept.
USFWS has been working with LCBP and the Canal Corporation to develop some control programs.
USFWS has allocated funds to support the LCBP ANS program. 56k for the work is coming in this year.
USFWS is currently involved in several habitat restoration programs in which VTFWD provides expertise.

USFWS is participating in National Fish Passage Initiative Projects:
One of the 10 rivers to watch ( Browns River in the Lamoille River watershed) recently brought to attention because of the National Fish Habitat Initiative.
Sea Lamprey control: USFWS is planning for lampricide treatment next year on the Missisquoi River. VTFWD and USFWS met with Quebec officials on the process and will continue to work with them throughout the treatment process.

Erik Beck, EPA:

Erik is working on Lake Champlain FY07 awards and getting them out the door, hopefully by end of year. USEPA is working to characterize the economics of an additional invasive spp. and what the impact would be on the lake. Modeling work may be done this fall with a general publication with methodology for monitoring written up. Ideas for the monitoring write up are needed. Dave Tilton – mentioned the possible connection with the Canal Corporation.

Jen Thalhauser: mentioned that draft WRDA07 Dispersal Barrier language existed. If passed, this language would authorize the Corps to work with partners to do a study on potential dispersal barriers along the canal at full federal funding.

 

III. Erik Beck – Federal Partners Publication Plan: “Federal Actions and Opportunities”

Erik distributed the plans at the meeting. The plans will also be distributed at LCBP Steering Committee meeting. 400 printed in full cover.
Thanks to Erik for printing, Group for contributions and USGS for assistance (especially Keith's office and staff). Following discussion held:

  1. Erik- Does the distribution plan sound reasonable? 25 for Kip, 25 for Dave, 25 for COE, 25 for Marilyn, 25 for USGS, the rest for LCBP?? Yes everyone agreed on the distribution plan. .
  2. Erik – Should we have a press release? Press event? Just post it on a website? Comments? Dave Tilton- Date of the plan is 2006 so maybe we should just post on website since it has a 2006 date. Erik- Agreed. Probably posting website with press release might do the job. Dave- maybe the LCBP (Colleen) can get these to the media list through LCBP to start? Erik – Small pdfs are available for emailing. Dave- Colleen media connections would be useful. Erik- Jim (Brangan), would Nicole or Colleen be able to do this? Jim said he will talk to them. Kip – What website will we use to post it? Erik - Probably put it on the Federal Partners website with another link on the LCBP.org website. Jim will mention it to Nicole and Colleen. Erik will work with Nicole and Colleen on press release and putting the links on the website.

 

IV. Jim Brangan, LCBP Cultural Heritage & Recreation Coordinator – Jim gave a presentation on the upcoming Lake Champlain Quadricentennial Celebration. Jim ended the presentation by asking how can the Federal Partners work together?

Jim- mentioned that the way the celebration is emerging is a tier system of events around the Lake . Annual events such as the jazz festival will be included in addition to signature events. Four events have been proposed to be held in: Burlington , Plattsburgh , St. John/Quebec, and Crown Point Bridge – these will be the bigger events. Federal partner activities might include creation of a map/brochure identifying key national parks, activities, events in the area in addition to information that carries the mission of each federal agency. Lewis and Clark festival could be an example. Might not be able to have traveling events for each of the four locations, but maybe something similar could be developed.

Dave - At one or all of the events, if the groups presented together it may not match. Maybe a traveling event could work? Or maybe federal work group should just support the LCBP efforts?

Bob Paquin– Maybe the information the group presents should focus also on the history of the natural resource itself, soils, habitat etc. and work into this the current focus of the agencies on protecting this resource in a type of media that can be used in the future as well.

Keith – maybe as agencies they could put together an atlas of the last 400 years and how the natural features have evolved – historical curriculum/atlas. This could be approved by Educational Committee as a tool.

Kip to Jim– If we work with LCBP to put together this information, can we fit into the existing committees on LCBP? Should we create a new committee?

Dave- Do you foresee LCBP leading an effort to develop their own representation?

Jim – No but maybe LCBP would be a good vehicle for bring together the fed. Partners and creating a traveling exhibit or something like that to tell the story about the history of the area, etc. that represents all federal partners. Possibly could be spearheaded by the LCBP.

Lynn – USGS worked for United Nations to create a flip book to show animations of lake drainage and water level changes throughout time. Maybe be a flip book showing land use changes could be developed.

Kip – Ray Godfrey did similar work on Potash Brook already.

Question on what VTANR is doing:

Michaela Stickney– Secretary Crombie does want to put together something for the event. VTANR will continue to work with Jim at LCBP to make sure nothing is done twice, etc.

Jim – Will put together a summary of what was discussed.

Kip- Someone should report back on what the LCBP Steering Committee had to say at July 25th meeting.

It was decided that Erik Beck could bring this up at the LCBP Steering Committee meeting tomorrow. Erik will provide an update at the next meeting.

Fed group will continue the effort based on feedback from LCBP Steering Committee meeting.

V. Jim Wood, NRCS Update

Regarding the NRCS Budget; NRCS has finished 2007 contracting and is anxiously awaiting the next Farm Bill which will decide 2008 activities. National Team Leaders meeting was held in Washington last month. Speakers were there to discuss the Farm Bill. Messages seemed encouraging on the passing of a Farm Bill.

Within the agency, USDA is going through some auditing activities. 800k designated to external audit. Next year a more in depth audit may occur to identify ways to increase agency efficiency and prioritize activities based on mission, etc.

VT activities with farms, dairy industries are still a priority but schedules have been hit due to budget constraints and inability to complete contracts.

Locally –Secretary Crombie is aggressively looking at environmental efforts in the watershed. Jim is part of the Clean and Clear committee.

 

VI. Kip Potter: Federal MOU

The Lake Champlain Federal Agency Working Group MOU was done more than 5 years ago (2001). Has technically expired (after 5 years) so there is renewed interest in updating it and re-signing it. Any general feedback from the partners?

Dave- getting signatures was a big hurdle. It took about a year to get people to sign it.

Donna – Cooperative units aren't under the eastern regions. If it's going to be redone, the Cooperative units should be represented. USGS needs to identify who the signing official would be.

Kip –Any other agencies not represented at this point? Erik- FEMA, FERC, Federal highways? Should we include New England District Corps of Engineers?

Jason – Probably not as NY District works on the entire Lake Champlain watershed. Regulatory activities within the watershed are the only activities handled by the New England District.

Dave – USDA representatives was from VT only. We should maybe include NYUSDA representative.

Is the General text ok? How is the Layout? Erik – we should reference the 2003 updates and any other updates that have occurred.

A version of the MOU will be sent around by Kip to the Federal partners for comments.

Jason – Brought up TNC MOU event. Maybe we could do something similar?

Dave and Bob Paquin mentioned this might be a good idea.

Kip – will take comments, work up a draft and send it out. Folks should then email Kip additional comments and he will resend an updated version.

 

VII. Next meeting – Next meeting is scheduled to be held the day before the next LCBP Steering Committee meeting. Tentatively, partners should count on October 23rd as the next meeting date (Steering Committee meeting is currently scheduled for October 24th).

 

VIII. Erik will present a summary of the meeting to the LCBP Steering Committee tomorrow.

 

IX. Meeting adjourned.

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