In Attendance
State Agencies Carmella Mantello, Director, NYS Canal Corporation Richard Harris, NYS Canal Corporation Dave Raylinsky, NYS Canal Corporation Steve Eidt, NYS Canal Corporation Rob Remmers, Chief, Operations and Technical Support, Army Corps Ken Lynch, Director, of Region 7, DEC Kevin Delaney DEC Project Manager John Merriman, Region 7, DEC Tim Joseph, Director, Finger Lakes Region, NYS Parks Sue Poelvoorde, Finger Lakes Region, NYS Parks Craig Schutt, District Manager, Tompkins Co. Soil and Water Conservation District Carl F Ford, Regional Director, NYSDOT
Consultant, City Staff & Officials Liz Moran, Ecologic L.L.C. Ed Hinchey, ERM JoAnn Cornish, Acting Director, Planning & Development Lisa Nicholas, Planner, Planning & Development Bill Gray, Director, Department of Public Works Erik Whitney, Deputy Director, Water & Sewer Division Rick Ferrel, Deputy Director, Streets & Facilities Division Roxy Johnston, Environmental Analyst, Water & Sewer Division Carolyn Peterson, Mayor Jennifer Dodson, Alderperson Michael Culotta, City of Ithaca Conservation Advisory Council Tim Cullenen, Planning & Development Board
Tompkins County/Town of Ithaca Herb Engman, Town Supervisor Cliff Babson, Environmental Management Council Dan Karig, Water Resources Council Steve Maybee, Tompkins County Health Department
Community Organizations/ Representatives John C. Gutenberger, VP Government & Community Relations, Cornell University Doug Levine, Tompkins Co. Chamber of Commerce John Mawdsley, Cayuga Lake Watershed Network
B.J. Bliss, Owner, Cayuga Lake Cruises Susan Pratt, Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton’s Office Louise Raimondo, Friends of Newman Golf Course Agencies stated that choosing a dredge spoils site must come first – we cannot wait until all the analysis is complete.
How/ when do we use Roger Yonkin’s work (wrote an opinion piece on alternatives to dredging)? Should he be a stakeholder? The issues that Yonkin brings up will be evaluated during the course of the project.
Need to establish an electronic library of information
Discussion potential UDS’s- Lisa reviewed map & criteria. Assumed hydraulic dredging
– no uphill locations. Extending Stewart Park is still a possibility to explore.
Discussion on in-lake disposal:
Should/can it be considered? Lynch said could only be seriously considered if all other disposal options are not feasible- would be a last resort. Similar issues with wetlands creation – it is very difficult and could only be considered if 1) other sites are not feasible, and 2) viability of created wetlands can be reasonably assured. Must get DEC biologists involved early if the City is serious about this option. Risk of impairing existing habitat. Cayuga Lake water quality issues make this more difficult.
Wetlands are also a one-time solution and the City needs a permanent UDS. May not be practical since water levels are human controlled and do not match natural seasonal variations.
May need more than one UDS.
Reducing sediment load in watershed should be part of the project. Need to reduce sediment loading over time to minimize amount going into the lake.
Natural dispersion of sediment is different than in-lake disposal – it is a very large quantity all at once.
Schedule for dredging- there will be windows of best time for the dredging. These will be formalized in the permit process. Both cold & warm water habitats- so best time may be in the fall.
Could in-lake disposal be feasible if it was over a larger area? Eidt- could be time consuming if barge has to travel far. Canal Corp. does not have the equipment to off load sediment. Only Class A sediments are allowed for in water disposal. It would be difficult to meet turbidity standard. It could have a negative affect on intakes (e.g. Bolton Point).
Sediment sampling results are needed to determine sediment class. – this should be done soon.
We have prelim sediment results DEC will assist with monitoring plan
Environmental Review Discussion: Public outreach/ education component. Should not to dredge be considered in the SEQR? Since it can be environmentally damaging? What does dredging have to do with flooding?
SEQR process will evaluate the relationship between stakeholder concerns, ecosystems impacts and economic viability.
Once we have soundings Remmers will try to get USACE to run a hydraulic model to identify areas that would be impacted for flood control purposes.
All information will be part of SEQR process. UDS sites, alternatives (including no action) reasons, & costs. All information should be developed so that it fits into an EIS format.
Immediate needs: Sediment Sampling (ERM to work on work program) Soundings Hydraulic model Continue to identify potential disposal sites
What can the agencies commit?
Canal Corporation (Mantello): Will be responsible for the majority of dredging Technical assistance (Raylinsky) Will do soundings Want to be involved in public process Feels that ideally, the City needs a large UDS– 20+acres (can run more than one operation at a time or shift per day if the site is big enough- dredging will go faster)
Department of Environmental Conservation (Lynch): Will help with SEQR Will push for funding when specific project has been identified Will provide technical assistance; biologists, engineers, permitting agents
Army Corps (Remmers) Will try to get approval for hydraulic modeling Will assist in permitting
SWCD Long term sediment load reduction Assist with storm water management design and controls
WRC Long term maintenance should be addressed in EIS Water intakes being affected by depositions Identify sources of upland erosion& stream loading Incorporate watershed issues into project
Public Outreach Subcommittee: Herb Engman John Gutenberger Tim Joseph, Sue Poelvoorde Rick Harris Carolyn Peterson Doug Levine Susan Pratt Roxy Johnston John Mawdsley
Technical Advisory Subcommittee Craig Schutt BJ Bliss Dave Raylinsky, Pete Weisbecker, Steve Eidt Dan Karig John Merriman Bob Remmers Cliff Babson Louis Raimondo Tim Cullenen