Minutes:  October 17, 2000

Attendance: Members:   Maurice Bourget, North Smithfield Land Trust and North 
Smithfield Heritage Commission,  Don Burns, Smithfield Conservation 
Commission, Bruce Hooke, Providence, Jean Lynch, Johnston, Jane Sherman, 
Chair, Eugenia Marks, Audubon Society of RI, Paul McElroy, North Providence, 
Christopher Hawkins, Smithfield, Guests: Johanna Hunter, River Navigator, 
Scott Millar, RI DEM, Fred Presley, Watershed Coordinator, Peter Holmes, US 
EPA, Frank Golet, URI, Nick Miller, URI, Carol Murphy, RIDEM, Melanie 
Rawlins, Brown University, Bruce DiGennaro, Kleinschmidt, Alan Haberstock, 
Kleinschmidt, Erin Heskett, EPA, Keith Farrelly, Rep. Weygand’s office.

Reports:  
    Project Coordinator Search:  Jean Lynch, Eugenia Marks, Paul McElroy, 
Jane Sherman and Don Driscoll reviewed the resumes of 36 applicants for the 
position of Project Coordinator. Four finalists were interviewed, and the 
unanimous first choice of all was offered the position. Jennifer Pereira has 
accepted the offer, and will begin in November.  Jennifer is a RI native, 
with a Masters of Arts Degree in Science from URI.  She is currently employed 
in Virginia, and looking forward to returning to RI.

    Superfund Fact Sheet and Grant Opportunity:  Information about the EPA’s 
clean-up proposal is available.  The public hearing is scheduled for 7:00 
p.m. on November 1 at North Providence Town Hall. A technical assistance 
grant (TAG) is available for the community to retain their own experts to 
evaluate EPA proposals. Unfortunately, the community will not be able to 
access this assistance prior to the close of public comments on the first 
stage proposal for clean-up.  We will follow up to gather more information on 
the process for acquiring this assistance from EPA in order to be prepared 
for the next round of remedial reports.

    Endangered Rivers Nomination:  Every year the American Rivers 
organization based in Washington DC selects the 10 most endangered rivers in 
the US.  We are in the process of submitting an application for the 
Woonasquatucket River.  The designation brings national attention to 
nominated rivers.  Much of the work of this organization is focused on 
restoring fish runs and eliminating dams along rivers, but the agenda for 
each river is set by the local constituency.

    American Heritage River Program:  Johanna reported that an engineering 
firm has offered limited pro bono work, and she will be working to identify 
potential projects in the watershed.  Smithfield has a WHIP grant from the 
NRCS.  North Providence is proceeding on its work relocating the Post Office 
and improving the public transportation access near Centredale Manor.  We 
still need to set up meetings with Glocester, Johnston and Providence, and 
all communities should be thinking of projects which include potential for 
involvement from the Departments of Energy, Education and Commerce, in 
addtion to the agencies we are working with already.
US Forest Service Grant:  Fred Presley introduced Bruce DiGennaro and Alan 
Haberstock, consultants with Kleinschmidt.  They had a brief tour of the 
wateshed with Fred, Johanna and Don Burns.  They are working to identify 
riparian reforestation projects aiming to improve existing conditions and 
contribute to improvements in water quality.  Communities are requested to 
identify local sites for consideration.  Please send them information on the 
site.  We will be identifying sites, listing the problems and the solutions.  
Examples include areas where there is a degraded habitat, erosion, or lack of 
vegetation.  They want to prepare as inclusive a list as possible.  During 
this initial stage, property ownership is not a consideration, although it 
will impact implementation decisions.  The areas to be targeted can be upland 
as well as wetland areas. 

	Wetland Restoration Plan:  Information about this study was mailed to all 
council members.  Carol Murphy, Nick Miller and Frank Golet provided updated 
information on the ongoing survey.  They have completed a study of a subset 
of 1/5 of the watershed. The second phase of the study will be to complete 
the profile of the entire watershed and nominate sites for restoration. There 
are two major impacts - destroyed wetlands and degraded wetlands.  Destroyed 
wetlands are those that have been filled or drained.  Degraded wetlands are 
those that have been subjected to channelization, removal of vegetation, or 
subjected to heavy sedimentation or trash dumping. Members are requested to 
review the proposed prioritization methods and screening process, and notify 
them of any suggested changes or additions.  Nick Miller (874-7058, 
nick@uri.edu), Carol Murphy (222-4700, ext. 7208, cmurphy@dem.state.ri.us) 
Frank Golet (fgswamps@uri.edu)

	Asset Map:  Bruce Hooke and Fred Presley have taken the lead on developing 
this marketing piece for the watershed.  Bruce distributed a draft 
description of the map for review by the council.  Every community has been 
asked to submit sites for inclusion in the map.  An Asset Map meeting has 
been set for November 2 at 5:30 at DEM. 
	
	Other Reports: Keith Farrelly from Representative Robert Weygand’s office 
reported that the Republican leadership has deferred discussion of the CARA 
bill until the next sessions. The bill was a 3 Billion program for open space 
and parks.  There is a $1.6 Billion appropriation in the Interior Bill which 
should bring about $8 million to the state of RI.  The money will be 
available for open space and urban parks. 
	
	Due to the length of the meeting, discussion on the Watershed Action Plan and 
specific community action sites was deferred until the November meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.