Meeting Minutes February 19, 2014

Grand Center, Moab

Stakeholders Present / Affiliation / Others
Mike Allred
Dave Erley
Mark Stilson
Mark Sovine
George Carter
Chris Baird
Pat Holyoak
Dee Taylor
Bob O’Brien
Sara Melincoff / UDWQ
Town of Castle Valley
Utah Division of Water Rights
GWSSA
Moab Irrigation
Canyonlands Watershed Council
Grand County
Cattlemen’s Association
Moab Solutions
Moab Solutions / Arne Hultquist, Watershed Coordinator
ACTIVITY / DISCUSSION / ACTION
Review Agenda and Introductions / Introductions were made and no changes were suggested for the agenda. There were no objections to the January minutes. / January minutes were approved.
MAWP Website / Arne suggested the MAWP website was underutilized and suggested we add articles and pictures of projects we support on the site. The group also agreed that copies of our support letters and responses or any press releases be posted also. There was some concern by the State Regulatory Agencies, Water Rights and Water Quality that they be listed as consulting partners and not voting partners. / Arne will update the Website. If any of the members disapproves of a posting to the web site they need to inform Arne and he will remove it. Arne will notify the group when updates are made.
USFS 2014 Spring Development Response Letter / Arne presented the USFS response to our letter and other comment letters they received. Mark Stilson explained that Water Rights and the USFS are working towards diligence claims by the USFS for the springs. The USFS will include our suggestions in the next phase of their Environmental Assessment, the Comments/Issues Analysis. Arne asked the group if the GIP program had received a grant request for the 2014 Spring Development Project. None of the partners present where aware of the project’s funding status. / Arne will find out the funding status for the 2014 spring development projects
Press Release for project solicitation / Arne conferred with several members about soliciting for volunteer monitors. The members agreed that volunteer monitors should be “handpicked” and we would not include a solicitation for monitors in the press release. The group also agreed we should notify the public that there is grant money available for projects that improve water quality. The attending members wordsmithed the letter. Some members of the group suggested the letter was to long for the paper. / The current version of the letter will be posted on our website. Arne will work with Moab’s two papers to get it released.
Mini-Grant opportunities in 2014. / About a week ago DWQ notified the Watershed Coordinator, Arne, that they were accepting applications for Mini-Grants. Arne reviewed the grant details as posted in the agenda email. We are requesting mini-grant of $400 for the signage of the Kiosk that was previously approved by the MAWP. There were several suggestions for other outreach and education projects. The group supportedrequesting a mini-grant for dog waste baggie stationsand baggies and perhaps some signage for them. The County requested two stations for their cemeteries and Moab Solutions is considering another station near the parking lot. The due date for the applications is February 27. There were also some suggestions for promotional items like gloves with a MAWP logo on them. / Arne will put together the applications for mini-grants and send an email to the members for their approval prior to the February 27 deadline. Arne will present the applications at the March 4 Utah Watershed Coordinators Council meeting in Escalante.
Environmental Assessment for lower Mill Creek habitat restoration / The BLM has started an EA for habitat restoration in lower Mill Creek. Details of the project can be found on the link sent with the agenda email. There will be a meeting at the Mill Creek parking lot on Friday February 21 at 12:00 pm. Arne and Sara will be there. George discussed some of the problems irrigation canals have with the clippings from the project and Beaver waste. David Early proposed some devices that could keep his diversions clear of debris without manual clearing. / Arne will keep the group assessed of EA’s status.
Project Review / Moab City has proposed a Non-Point Source project along Pack Creek. There is a large pile of concrete and trash in the flood plain that has been covered with top soil. Moab City owns a right of way across the property and would like to clean it up and restore the flood plain. The property owner would also like it cleaned up. Neither party can afford the project. The entire project should cost has been estimated at $40,000.
Town of Castle Valley is considering a project along Castle Creek in town. They would like to restore and incised area of the creek to decrease sedimentation and channelization. They do not have a cost estimate on that at this time.
The Mill Creek stream segment from Mill Creek Road to the below the Powerhouse Dam was discussed again. The area is in Moab City, but the sewer service authority is GWSSA. Mark has determined that the four houses on Powerdam road have been hooked up to the sewer. The new subdivision is also on the sewer. Arne is still wondering what can be done in the area. / Moab City and the Town of Castle Valley will complete a NPS application.
The Watershed Management Plan / In an email a few weeks ago members were asked to consider a slightly different format for the Watershed Management Plan. An example of that format was included in the email. Instead of trying to determine what our water quality priorities are and then developing projects to address them, we could use the projects we have to drive our water quality priorities. The group thought this was a good approach. / Arne will try to draft a Watershed Management Plan based upon the proposed projects.
Adjourn / The next meeting will be March 19 at the Grand Center / Adjournment

February 2014 MAWP Minutes

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