Minutes

New River Watershed Roundtable

Steering Committee Meeting

Location: New River Watershed Office in Dublin Virginia

Date: June 12, 2002

Attendees:

Brad Belo STEP Intern

David Bernard Contractor from Blacksburg

Gary Boring New River-Highlands Resource Conservation & Development Council

Mary Ann Davis Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation

Teresa Frazier Virginia Department of Environmental Quality

Richard Guthrie Farmer from Dublin

Cynthia Hancock Skyline Soil & Water Conservation District

Mike McLeod Virginia Department of Environmental Quality

Kelly Miller Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation

Jerry Moles New River Land Alliance

Ron Powers, Chair Friends of Claytor Lake

Cecil Sink Virginia Department of Health

Steve Talley Canaan Valley Institute

Donna Whitmarsh Brown Farm

Ron Powers called the meeting to order. The attendees gave brief introductions. The

Minutes from the May 7, 2002 meeting were accepted by the Steering Committee.

Cynthia Hancock gave an update on the Roundtable Resource Directory. She has contacted Charlotte Burnett about the possibility of joining the Roundtable’s website with the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s website. Charlotte agreed to research this. Brad Belo asked the Steering Committee to prioritize the categories for the resource directory. The Steering Committee agreed on the following order of prioritization:

1. Appropriate partnerships with other groups and their:

· Plans

· Projects

· Studies

2. Existing conditions/status of water quality in the watershed

3. Current recommended Best Management Practices (BMPs)

· Agricultural

· Urban

4. Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinances and any other development ordinance (i.e. subdivision etc.) for localities

5. Natural Resource Education in the watershed

· Resource

· Resource contact

· School System contact

Gary Boring gave an update on the Watershed Planning Facilitator position. He has received 35 inquiries. He wants to begin interviews during the second week of July.

The guest speaker was Mike McLeod, Environmental Specialist - Senior with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). He gave an informative presentation on DEQ’s Statewide and Regional Programs.

DEQ’s Statewide Programs include:

· Environmental Impact Statements (EIS)

· Chesapeake Bay Program

· Pollution Prevention – P2

· Environmental Education

· Small Business Assistance Program

· Virginia Revolving Load Fund (VRLF)

· Citizen Monitoring

DEQ’s Regional Programs include:

· Air (Permitting and Compliance)

· Water (Permitting and Compliance)

· Waste (Compliance)

· Remediation (Compliance)

The New River Basin currently has two TMDL Studies: Dodd Creek and Mill Creek.

Mike distributed an instruction sheet for viewing water quality data on the DEQ website.

The next public meeting for the 2002 303(d) Impaired Waters is tentatively scheduled for July 29, 2002, at the DEQ West Central Office.

At the May 7^th Steering Committee Meeting, the group agreed to review the action list generated from the Roundtable Kick in preparation for the June 12^th Steering Committee Meeting. Steve Talley continued his presentation on the Strategic Planning Process.

Where are we?

1. Mission and Vision = Purpose

2. Identify Beliefs, Values and Assumptions

3. Evaluate Organization

4. Identify, Organize and Prioritize Issues

Work Groups to Address Groupings/Categories (Themes)

5. Action Plans

Steve suggested that the Watershed Planning Facilitator’s purpose needs clarity. Gary Boring suggested that the Watershed Planning Facilitator attend meetings to gather input, and be responsible for education.

The Steering Committee listed the following Work Groups/Committees that have already formed:

· Education (Dana Raines – Lead Person)

· Land Use

· Water Quality

· Stormwater

Steve explained that these Work Groups/Committees need accountability, either by the lead person attending the Steering Committee meetings to give a brief summary of progress, or the lead person submitting a report to the Steering Committee. Ron agreed to be the contact for each Work Group/Committee’s lead person. Cynthia agreed to assist Ron with contacting the Work Group/Committee’s lead person to get a report.

The Steering Committee discussed the categories that the issues will fall under. They agreed that the central reason for the Roundtable is Water Quality/Quantity. Gary Boring suggested some of categories that were used in the Upper Tennessee Roundtable. David Bernard distributed a list a categories that he had drafted. The Steering Committee also brainstormed category names. The Steering Committee agreed on the following list of categories:

1. Agriculture

2. Forestry

3. Urban

4. Transportation

5. Recreation/Tourism

6. Development

7. Water Supply/Waste Water Treatment

8. Solid Waste Management (to include Reclamation)

Steve proposed that a subcommittee form to draft a new list of Issues, Interests, and Concerns, using the new list of Categories. Cynthia Hancock, Kelly Miller, Brad Belo and David Bernard agreed to meet before the July Steering Committee to draft the new list.

The Steering Committee documented the following Assumptions/Beliefs/Values:

· Water Quality/Quantity is Important

· Ground and Surface Water

· Education is Integral to the Process

The Steering Committee agreed to omit the educational piece from the next meeting in order to devote more time to the Strategic Planning Process. The meetings will include a brief business discussion, then the strategic planning.

The next Steering Committee Meeting will be held on Thursday, July 18, 2002, from 9:00am – 12:00pm at Claytor Lake State Park. Kelly Miller agreed to make the arrangements with Claytor Lake State Park for the meeting.