Tuesday, September 12, 1:00 PM

Judge Morris Estate

Newark, Delaware

Attendees:

Kevin Anderson Chuck Barscz Jessie Benjamin

Sally Cheyne Martha Corrozi Marilyn Flannery

Ann Hutchinson John Kennel Al Levin

Robert Lonsdorf Rick Mickowski Dorothy P. Miller

Aileen Parrish Roy Simonson Linda Stapleford

Jack Stefferud Andy Urquhart Martin Wells

Leon H. Wilkinson Melissa Zechiel

Jessie Benjamin called the meeting to order, welcomed visitors, and asked attendees to introduce themselves.

MINUTES June 8, 2006

Ø The minutes of the June 8, 2006 meeting were read and approved by members.

NEXT MEETINGS

It was decided to hold the next Management Committee meeting Tuesday, Jan. 9, 1:30-3:30 p.m., at the township building for either Franklin Twp or London Britain. [London Britain is now confirmed as the meeting site.]

The next Executive Subcommittee meeting will be Thursday, Nov. 16 at 2:00 p.m. at the Water Resources Agency conference room located in the Delaware Geologic Survey Annex, University of Delaware, on Academy Street in Newark.

MUNICIAPAL ORDINANCE SURVEY: REPORT ON STORMATER MANAGEMENT IN THE 12 PENNSYLVANIA WCC WATERSHED MUNICIPALITIES

Kevin Anderson, Brandywine Conservancy, presented the second memorandum in a series intended to gauge municipal consistency with the Watershed Management Plan (WMP). This memorandum analyzes the extent to which the 12 municipalities in the Pennsylvania portion of the watershed are implementing the WMP’s guidelines pertaining to stormwater management. Local ordinances are also reviewed against the Chester County Water Resource Authority’s “10 Principles of Effective Stormwater Management”. He did note the review did not deal with retrofits or mushroom farming.

After reviewing a summary of the basic findings Kevin noted that municipal outreach should be focused on tightening water quality protection and infiltration standards. The Watershed Management Committee should also investigate the development of an Act 167 Stormwater Management Plan. As required by Commonwealth law, Chester County would be the lead agency in this planning effort. Funding for plan preparation is available from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). (Copies of ordinances and/or the notes compiled during this review are available upon request.)

After some discussion, the Committee’s consensus was to move forward with the findings of the first two memo’s rather than reviewing other resource protection guidelines pertaining to biodiversity protection, habitat linkage, and the dedication, purchase, and stewardship of open space. Exactly how we should move forward with municipal outreach will be the topic of the next Exec. Subcommittee meeting on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2:00 p.m. at the Water Resources Agency conference room, University of Delaware.

SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

Education Subcommittee

R. Mickowski and L. Stapleford reported that the Watershed Welcome Packets are almost finished and should be printed by mid October. Posting the first White Clay Creek State Park tackboard poster is delayed until the new Pomeroy trail section is completed and the kiosk is installed. M. Zechiel, UD Water Resources Agency graduate student, is working on development of the second tackboard poster. The Pennsylvania roadway signage sites have been selected and all but one approved; signs are being constructed by DelDOT and should be finished late fall.

Historical and Cultural Resources

M.Wells informed the Committee that after conversation with B. Wise, he is vaguely hopeful that the Nomination for the London Tract Historic District may yet be reviewed by the Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission (PHMC).

Fish & Wildlife

L. Stapleford reported that the Subcomm. was working with Friends of White Clay Creek State Park to subsidize Delaware School for the Deaf classes at White Clay Creek State Park. A Stream Study and Watershed stewardship activities will be part of the series of sessions. R. Lonsdorf noted that a township-wide approach is now being taken with botanical surveys at various sites in London Grove Township. Woodlands, wetlands, and meadows are the 3 categories being surveyed and a number of new rare plant sites have been located.

Recreational Trails

L. Stapleford reported that the text and map information are being transmitted to the contractor. The remaining contract period, however, is now too short for the project to be completed. The contractor has indicated he is still willing to work on the project and a new contract will need to be negotiated.

Open Space

J. Stefferud reported that the Franklin Twp. Howard property 20 a. parcel should be settled in the immediate future. New grant applications for preservation have been submitted for five parcels, and applications for three more are pending. Settlement of the Wilkins Tract conservation easement, for which the Management Committee has committed funding, will hopefully occur by the end of October.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE REPORT

Section 7 Review

C. Barscz informed the Committee the National Park Service (NPS) has sent a letter to the State of Delaware reminding them that NPS approval and possibly a Section 7 review is necessary before a cell phone tower could be placed within White Clay Creek State Park. Land and Water Conservation Fund money was used for the purchase of this property necessitating NPS approval. A.Urquhart noted that at this time State Park officials know of no plans to place a cell phone tower within the park.

C. Barscz announced that in July the Delaware River Basin Commission took the long awaited steps to remove both Churchman’s Marsh and Lamborn Run from the list of potential reservoir sites for New Castle County, Delaware. These were both originally excluded from the White Clay Creek Watershed’s National Wild and Scenic River designation but could now be included. In addition, a large section of the East Branch in New Garden Township was also excluded originally at New Garden’s request. The Township had indicated interest this year in being designated. However, at an August Twp meeting that C. Barscz, D. Hawk, and A.Urquhart attended, many questions were still raised. The consensus was the township residents in favor of designation should call the Board of Supervisors to state their support. The issue will be on New Garden’s B.O.S. agenda in 2007. Once they have made a decision, then the Management Comm. can seek designation for the Churchman’s Marsh, Lamborn Run, and possibly the missing E. Branch section in New Garden.

C. Barscz also reported that another possible threat to the watershed was arising from a proposed National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor () under the Energy Policy Act of 2005. One of the proposed NIETC appears to be passing through the White Clay Watershed. C. Barscz will distribute the website link via email listserve for the Comm. members to examine. The Exec. Subcomm will determine if a letter of concern is appropriate.

Finally C. Barscz noted a few other items. He is doing a Section 7 review in London Grove Twp for a development east of W. Grove and west of the Middle School. Those with interest should contact Chuck for details. He was able to apply $850 of additional funding towards our Stroud purchase order for $2500 for the Watershed Welcome packets. And lastly, Mary Bomar is the new Director of the NPS.

ADMINISTRATOR REPORT

L. Stapleford reported briefly on the following items:

· Fall lectures –The joint workshop with University of Delaware Dept. of Agriculture to focus on the university farm as a model of stormwater management, agriculture best management practices, and habitat restoration has been postponed until next fall to allow more time for the demonstration projects to be fully installed and operating. Instead a joint history lecture is planned with the Friends of White Clay Creek State Park and possibly something later with the White Clay Watershed Association.

· Homeowner Association Habitat Restoration Workshops – Three workshops (7:00-9:15 p.m Oct. 24 and Nov.1., 2006 .and 10:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m Feb.24. 2007) will be held to assist Homeowner Associations on habitat restoration in the open spaces they manage. The project is being done in coordination with Delaware Coastal Programs and is funded by one of their grants. All Homeowner Associations in the White Clay Creek watershed will be invited to learn the cost savings and environmental advantages that can be achieved through this type of open space management and the sources of funding to further reduce costs.

· PartnershipW&S River 07 Funding status – The 07 federal budget proposes a significant appropriation reduction for Partnership Wild and Scenic Rivers. The Partnership Rivers are working with American Rivers to have last year’s funding level reinstated but Congressional attention is currently focused on the fall elections.

· PA Roadway Signage- Good news on this front as approval has been granted by 3 of the 4 townships sought for Wild and Scenic roadway signs. The fourth, New London Twp, has not yet replied. DelDOT has agreed to manufacture the signs and the order will soon be placed for 10 bridge crossing signs and two entering the watershed signs. Several members of the Management Committee helped to select sign locations. They should be available for installation by late fall.

OLD BUSINESS

· C. Barscz noted that Duffield has applied for grants on behalf of the County to deal with erosion and flooding along the creek. The Committee can serve as a valuable force to keep this project moving forward. Creek Road is still closed and A.Urquhart told the Comm. that it was still on the WCCSP Master Plan as a possibly becoming a park road.

· L. Stapleford asked about the status of the WCC State of the Watershed Report. M. Corrozi will check with J. Kauffman.

NEW BUSINESS

· L. Stapleford and D. Miller reported on the defeat of the City of Newark floodplain ordinance. L. Stapleford also asked if anyone remembered asking earlier to have the Comm. consider a W&S listserve for municipal officials. It was decided to hold that idea until the Exec. Subcomm. had discussion on the municipal ordinance review.

· A. Urquhart announced that there are plans for a new foot bridge over the creek in the PA section of the Preserve. Friends of White Clay Creek are supplying the labor and the PA Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources is paying for the materials.

· J. Benjamin announced that landowner assistance with landscape plans and plants is again available as part of the renewal of the Stroud Riparian Buffer program. White Clay Creek is the focus area. Please see her for details.