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News/Events - Meeting Minutes

WWC MEMBERS PRESENT: Howie Kreutzberg, Chairman; Mark Patterson, Acting Harbormaster; Keith Dobie;Geoff Gaughan; John Shea; Bob McHugh; Steve Smith; John Murphy. ALSO PRESENT: Rick Murray, Board of Selectmen Liaison; Don Hourihan, Associate; Bill and Janet Fairbanks, Scituate residents; Bob Tice, Scituate resident; Francis MacMillen, Scituate resident; Samantha Woods, NSRWA; Jason Burtner, CZM; Sara Grady, Mass Bays Program; Marshfield Waterways Commission: Amy Kwesell, John Taylor, L. Dextell, Paul Armstrong, P. Dawayne, Steve Robbins.

1. WWC chairman Howie Kreutzberg called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuaries office annex on Edward Foster Road. He welcomed members of the Marshfield Waterways Commission to this joint meeting with the Scituate Waterways Commission.

2. Review of Minutes. This agenda item was tabled until the next meeting.

3. Review of Correspondence. There was no new correspondence to review.

4. Harbormaster’s Report. Mr. Patterson reported that the new pumpout station is up and running. He said that he met with Tony Stella, project manager of the Jericho Ramp project, and design/permitting for the project is under way. He attended a recent Capital Planning Board meeting at which they endorsed $220,000 to replace the entire electrical system at Town Pier. Regarding the Scituate Marine Park (SMP) Marina, CLE Engineering has completed design and engineering work. The proposed sediment sampling plan has been accepted by the ACE; samples have been sent off and await results. Mr. Patterson also met with J. Montanari and M. Clark of ConsCom re stormwater runoff on Edward Foster Road, and the bulkhead; Mr. Montanari said that some stormwater runoff problems can be addressed during upcoming sewer placement on Edward Foster Road. He reported that buoys have been set for Chapter 91 license. Mr. Dobie asked about sewering of SMP; Mr. Kreutzberg said that the issue had been resolved. Mr. Smith asked about the duration of the Jericho Road ramp project; Mr. Patterson said that it will probably happen during the 2007 boating season, and it was agreed that some alternate plans will have to be made. Also new signs will be made.

5. North River Dredging project. Mr. Murray said that 8,000 cubic yards needs to be dredged from the mouth of the river. Dredge material will be disposed of in the nearshore environment on the north side of Humarock. Mr. Murray said that permitting has begun. Mr. Kreutzberg said that permitting is completed and bids will open on Thursday. Mr. Murray said that activities such as docks being built in the river affect both Scituate and Marshfield as well as Norwell. Mr. Murray said that it is important that a reputable company be hired to do the dredging project. Mr. Hourihan said that there is wave action and whirlpooling in the area that causes it to silt up quickly. He proposed that Marshfield pay for half of the dredging there because it affects activities in the river. Mr. Kreutzberg said that a number of issues would be dealt with at this meeting. Mr. Smith said that Fourth Cliff is contributing a lot of sediment and could state senators etc be alerted to the need for erosion control there. Mr. Dobie said that we know who in the Air Force to contact regarding this as it is difficult to make progress in this area on the state level. Mr. Murray asked Marshfield how they handle maintenance dredging at Brant Rock and Green Harbor. Mr. Dextell said that inner harbor dredging permitting is complete but that some citizens do not want to use the site near the sewer plant for disposal. Offshore disposal will increase the price by c. $1.5 million. On a question from Mr. Murray, Mr. Dextell said that there is one annual maintenance dredging project, which does not require annual permitting. Mr. Burtner said that disposal does need to be permitted. Ms. Kwesell said that the annual dredging does work but that it is not completely effective.

6. North/South River Management Plan. Ms. Woods, representing the NSRWA, said that she has examples of how other towns have managed shared waterways and she handed out copies of the table of contents of a report about Pleasant Bay in the Cape, where several towns are involved with a Resource Management Plan for the bay. She said that the NSRWA would be happy to participate in a joint venture with the Marshfield and Scituate Waterways Commissions; she said that improving water quality is important. She also said that there will be a South River celebration on October 7 that will be open to the public. Mr. Taylor asked about the regulatory result from the Pleasant Bay plan. Ms. Woods said that it is designated as an the Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC), and that there was no new dock building. She said that some areas of the bay were zoned. She said funds might be available to hire a consultant to put a plan together for Scituate and Marshfield. Mr. Taylor asked what Ms. Woods would like to see accomplished by a plan. She said that how much dockbuilding occurs and where is a concern; she said that the two towns should be consistent regarding this; and that the channel should remain open etc. She also said that a major goal is the improvement of water quality, especially in the South River; as a result year round recreational shellfishing could be possible. She also said that water quality has shown an improvement in the North River and even in the South River. Mr. Smith said that he is worried about where people will be able to launch their boats. Ms. Kwesell said that there needs to be regulation about how docks are built and where docks are put, and that the middle of the river is congested. Input from both towns’ Conservation Commissions would be needed. She said that CPA funds in both towns could fund a river management plan. Mr. Burtner said that a number of goals could be worked toward; and that establishing the vision and then setting up the ways to implement it is important. Mr. Dextell talked about the Green Harbor River, and that it died in his lifetime due to a nineteenth century dike that eventually shut off the water flow; he said that if the water is deep and keeps moving it will remain clean, despite stormwater runoff issues. Mr. Murray said that a well-constructed plan should offer protection rather than just another layer of regulations. He asked for a ballpark figure of how much it might cost to put together this plan; Ms. Woods said it would probably be around $50,000. Mr. Murray said that this cost would then be split between the two towns. Mr. Dobie asked if Marshfield has a waterways enterprise fund; Mr. Armstrong said that they do not. Mr. Murray returned to the idea of the potential use of CPA funds. Ms. Kwesell said that Marshfield has been very proactive with its CPA funds, particularly environmentally. Mr. Dobie said that dredging would be an example of an ongoing cost. Ms. Fairbanks suggested a dialogue about mutual goals. Mr. Patterson said that he thinks that there is enough common ground that it would make the plan a good idea. Ms. Fairbanks asked about policing the rivers; Mr. Patterson said that the harbormasters have legal authority to continue into the next town. Defining responsibilities would be another outcome of the plan. Mr. Dobie asked about the process for creating a plan. Ms. Woods said that a number of public hearings could be held. Ms. Woods said that Mr. Fultz helped to develop a Duxbury water management plan. Mr. Kreutzberg suggested inviting the architects of the Pleasant Bay plan to a meeting to discuss how they created and implemented the plan. Mr. Murphy suggested taking the priorities first, such as dredging; educating people about water quality issues; and dock management, in order to get started. Mr. Fairbanks asked about replacement of the Union Street bridge. Mr. Smith asked about the meaning of the ACEC designation and what it would mean for the South River. Ms. Woods said that the NSRWA decided not to purse this designation for the South River, as it would take a long time. She said that such a designation would create a moratorium on all dock construction and new moorings until a management plan was in place. She said that congestion on the river would be one of the issues that could be dealt with. Mr. Kreutzberg suggested tabling this item for further discussion.

7. No Discharge Zone. Mr. Burtner said he has worked on Plymouth Bay, which is the second largest no discharge zone in the Commonwealth (Buzzards Bay is the largest). He said there are compelling reasons to consider creating a no discharge zone. He said there is a straightforward process for a municipality to become a no discharge area, and that it takes about 12-14 months. As far as enforcement, education and outreach to boaters is important. Pumpout facilities must be available. Mr. Dobie asked if all marinas in the area would have to have pumpout facilities. Mr. Burtner said that as part of the application it would have to be demonstrated that there are sufficient pumpout facilities, one pumpout facility per 350 boats. Mr. Dobie said that enforcement will be important as well as being able to get a pumpout when you need one, and that he thinks that this system needs improvement here. Mr. Patterson said that the question is whether there are enough pumpout facilities; he suggested meeting with Mr. MacMillen and the Fairbankses to discuss the needs and to go together for state funding. He said that he thinks the no discharge zone is a great idea and that we should pursue it. Mr. Burtner said that the waters in Scituate and Marshfield are on the 303B list of waters for bacterial contamination and that no discharge would be the most efficient way of dealing with this. Mr. Dobie said that some boaters will object to this and that it will be important to have public hearings. Mr. Murray said that it is key to assure people that the resources will be there. He said that this could be discussed at the next WWC meeting of both towns and then the two could get together again in November perhaps to hammer it out, then it could be implemented in 2008. Mr. Murphy said that awareness at the Town marina is important and that people give up if they have trouble getting a pumpout. Mr. Kreutzberg said that in the spring a fullblown campaign should be mounted to get the word out. Mr. Burtner said that they drafted a flier that could be sent out with the spring mooring permits. Mr. Hourihan asked how much pollution is from cormorants and geese.

8. 10A Permits. Mr. Kreutzberg said that Mr. Patterson has drafted a process, and Mr. Patterson said that it has been shared with the Marshfield Harbormaster’s Office. He said the two towns will be working on identifying illegal moorings. He said that Scituate is consistently enforcing the 10A process now. Ms. Kwesell said that they have not implemented the process in Marshfield yet. She said that deciding where the center of the river is would be good; she said that several docks will need 10A permits from both towns. There was a discussion about how the channel has shifted through the years. Ms. Fairbanks said that the Selectmen are supposed to walk the town boundaries. Mr. Armstrong said that there should be reflectors on derelict docks.

9. Other Business/Discussion. Mr. Murray asked how the Marshfield Waterways Commission was realized; it was in the town bylaws but it has been ten years since one has been convened. Mr. Smith suggested dredging of the Herring River be put on the next WWC agenda. Mr. Kreutzberg said there will be a joint WWC/SMPC meeting on Thursday September 21.

10. Adjournment. Mr. McHugh made a MOTION to adjourn the meeting, Mr. Murphy SECONDED the motion, and the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Jean Martin