| The Sunapee Area Watershed Coalition |
| Minutes of the 7/7/05 Meeting |
| Sunapee Area Watershed Coalition (SAWC) |
| Meeting Summary – July 7, 2005 |
| Agenda: |
| Introduction/Meeting Minutes Review |
| Presentation of GIS Watershed Maps |
| Steering Com report |
| Subcommittee Formation and Discussion |
| Adjorn |
| GIS Watershed Mapping |
| After a brief introduction, minutes review, Dr. Kak Weathers gave a presentation of the GIS Watershed Maps. Fundamentally, the maps can support visualizations of data. Many data layers are available; DEM-digital elevation model. |
| It all starts with the questions that are to be explored. Top issues could be sedimentation, nutrient loading, toxics, invasives, and land use in general. |
| Kak’s examples included the question, “Where are the impervious surfaces within a 250’ buffer around a water body, i.e. Lake Sunapee?” |
| A lively discussion followed regarding roads within specific distances of water bodies, the conductivity as measured in the neighboring water area, and winter road treatment in those areas. The data shows that conductivity numbers are high in areas where roads are close to the water. |
| A resulting question is: what tonnage of salt is applied to these roads in the winter? Should driveways be included in the data? It was noted that the town of Sunapee does not use salt near water. Winnesquam has signage warning drivers that they have low salt roads. Also discussed were options—what technology is available today to help solve winter road safety, such as new road surfaces? |
| Relative to GIS, data can be dissected in different ways to answer probing questions on an issue: |
| What distance of roads to water matters? 100’? 300”? |
| Roads near steep slopes? Near water? By probing the data maps, increased learnings might lead to additional monitoring sites, or changing road building regulations, etc. |
| Also evident on GIS mapping are areas of remaining forest, and land use. The percentage of impervious surface as mentioned earlier, can be determined. This might lead to other questions to probe such as, the relationship of water quality to: |
| 1. impervious surfaces |
| 2. road distance |
| 3. forest versus developed areas |
| Certainly GIS visualization of data helps everyone see the relationship of variables in a way that is understandable and compelling. |
| It was noted that relevant studies have also been done in Michigan; and may be an excellent reference. |
| Conceptual Model/Framework for DES |
| J. Fichter also presented the SAWC Conceptual model that is required by DES, as a step for the Watershed Planning grant. It outlines the framework for the activities. (See attached) |
| There was discussion and some concern regarding progress toward the goal of watershed plan and actions. All agreed that at least one priority issue should be focused on soon. |
| Subcommittees |
| The three subcommittees recommended by the Steering Committee are: |
| Water Quality, chaired by Bill Thomas/Aimee Ayers |
| (Deane Geddes, Stephen White) |
| Land Use, chaired by Steve Landrigan |
| (Cynthia Hayes, Linda Dennis, Terry Dancy, Kathryn Holmes) |
| Education, chaired by Aimee Ayers |
| (Ken Lawson, Edyth Anderson, Suzanne Levine) |
| Most SAWC members attending signed up to participate on a committee. |
| The request is for SAWC members not at the July meeting to also help on the committee of their choice. Kindly send an email to the SAWC website or contact the chairs, J. Fichter or Ken Lawson. |
| Next Meeting |
| Please note the change in date: |
| August 25th, 7PM, at the Ivey Center |
| SAWC: The link between land use and water quality |