Dunes City

Water Quality Control Committee


Thursday May 1st at 7 pm  

Agenda

1. Call to Order / Roll Call

2. Review of minutes [discuss] / approval

3. New Business (open discussion)

a. Discussions with Dan Reitz re: his water business

b. Lake Monitoring Data

c. Oregon’s Drinking Water Protection Grants 2009

d. Water quality emergencies: suggestions

e. Business Licenses and water quality 

4. Old Business

a. WQCC resolution / ordinance and duties review.  

b. Biosolids Program DEQ - refer information to our watershed  

c. Progressing with septic maintenance ordinance

5. Anouncements

a. Invasive Species Prevention 101 May 8th

6. Member proposals

7. Adjourn

Water Quality Control Committee Minutes

May 1, 2008   DRAFT

Chairman Richard Koehler opened the meeting at 7:03 PM

Voting members present were Rick Cox, David Dumas, Ralph Farnsworth, Jamie Mills, and John Stead.  Mark Chandler was absent.  Others attending were Audrey Farnsworth, Steve Hager, Richard Koehler, and Susie Navetta.

The minutes/notes from the last meeting (that did not have a quorum) were accepted.

New Business

A.  Guest Dan Reitz (South Coast Water District) did not attend again.  A letter will be sent to Dan requesting him to attend.  Jamie Mills was concerned about the lead level in Siltcoos Lake she read about on his website.  It was suggested that his water sample was tainted.  

B.  Chairman Richard Koehler wanted a graph to put on the Web site, no one volunteered so we will have to wait until Mark Chandler returns.  Davis Dumas and Jamie Mills noted it needed to be released to the public.  Christine May recently made all of the updates.  And now data should be provided to the web site as to what kinds of tests the water testers use and the results.  Some of the tests are Secchi readings, temperature, phosphorus, oxygen, clarity and Chlorophyll.  Richard asked that committee members bring some information to the next meeting to use on the web site.

C.  Jamie Mills passed out a grant project for “Drinking Water Protection”.  She asked the committee to review it because it needs to be submitted before July.  

D.  Steve Hager and Mark have been working on a report for a long time now.  Steve Hager said that next month he and Mark will have emergency directions for the lakes in case of a spill or an algal bloom.

E.  The Chairman asked if Business Licenses for vacation rentals was a water quality concern.  It was agreed that we should take that in to consideration.  

Richard Koehler reported that he spoke at the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) meeting recently.  DEQ is revamping what is important to the State Law. How do we deal with DEQ and Department of Human Services (DHS) in the future?

Old Business

A.  WQCC Resolution to Ordinance and new duties statement.  The ordinance was reviewed by the committee and changes were made to the draft from John Stead.  A motion was made by David Dumas and seconded by Ralph Farnsworth to accept the Ordinance and make a recommdation to the City Council for approval.  

B.  Biosolids Program DEQ were not discussed because Rick Cox had to leave early.

Adjounment 9:25  

Respectfully submitted, Susie Navetta

Tasks:  Everyone review the Grant Proposal.  Everyone prepare to give suggestions for the web site.  Richard send a letter to Dan Reitz requesting he attend the next meeting.

April 3, 2008   DRAFT

Chairman Richard Koehler opened the meeting at 7:05 .  Voting members present were Rick Cox, David Dumas, and John Stead.  Also attending were April Dumas, Steve Hager (water tester), Richard Koehler (chair), and Susie Navetta.

The minutes of March 6th were reviewed and approved by consensus.

Dan Reitz (South Coast Water ) could not attend, but will be at the next meeting.

Taylor property – Along discussion with background information on the property and the entire area ensued.  The concerns about run-off from the Glenada Corridor were noted and need to be studied again.  Many businesses add to the potential accumulative effect are not in Dunes City , but in the 6 mile area of influence and play a huge part in the water quality of Woahink Lake .

Water Quality Control Committee review of the resolution and change into ordinance format halted the meeting.  When looking at the membership of the committee, we realized we did not have a quorum.

Topics to be discussed next month are:

Approval of the March Minutes.

CVALCO – water testing help.

Stinky water at Woahink Lake .

Progress with the Septic Evaluations and ordinance.

Rick Cox will follow up with George Burke on septage disposal

Canary Road Slump

The session adjourned at 8:30 PM

 

Respectfully submitted, Susie Navetta

March 6, 2008

 

The meeting was called to order at 5:05 PM by Chairman Richard Koehler.

Those voting members present were Mark Chandler, Rick Cox, David Dumas, Ralph Farnsworth, Jamie Mills, and John Stead. Voting member Janet Carroll was not present.  Non-voting members present were Audrey Farnsworth, Steve Hager, Richard Koehler, Bob Mohler, and Susie Navetta.

The minutes of February 7, 2008 were approved as corrected.  John Stead suggested that ALL water meter placement be added to the software and shown on monthly reading postcards.

Dan Reitz of South Coast Water Supply could not attend the meeting as planned because of the early meeting time of 5:00 PM .  He will attend the next meeting on April 3, 2008 .  There was a long discussion on the water meter reading program and the placement of the meters.  The committee would like to know the cost of the yearly reading by Dan Reitz.

The Septic System Maintenance Ordinance program has not progressed for the past several months.  The committee knows how important this program is to the protection of the lakes.  The first evaluations were to those installed before 1974 (no mapping), the next tier was to be those installed before 1983 (no electronic recordings), then homes built after 1983 and closest to the lakes, and finishing with the rest of the citywide evaluations.  It was agreed that the WQCC could help the staff by printing and putting the packets together.  Richard Koehler and Jamie Mills will review the packets and Jamie and David Dumas will print the first set to be sent in March and the second set to be sent in April.

The Water Quality Control Committee Resolution to Ordinance will be sent to the committee, to study and make recommendations, by e-mail from Richard Koehler so that by the Council April meeting it can have a public hearing.

Bio-solids program out Canary Road is of concern to the committee.   Rick Cox will be calling on George Burke, who investigated this issue last year, and Mark Correa of Wally’s Septic.

Brian Gray fromthe Boy Scout camp has volunteered to be a water tester on Siltcoos Lake .  The committee is hoping Robbin Mills will submit and application.

Ralph Farnsworth reported that the Woahink Lake Association will be re-planting the riparian area in Honeyman State Park every Saturday in March from 10:00 to 2:00 PM .  This partnership will help the longevity of the lake.

A Goal statement needs to be made by the WQCC and Dunes City to make the Department of Human Services aware of the cost of water testing for ALL of the Lakes of Dunes City.

Adjournment 6:47 PM

Respectfully submitted, Susie Navetta

 

TASKS:

Richard and Jamie review the septic packets

Jamie and David copy packets for two months

Richard send WQCC Ordinance to committee by e-mail

Everyone study Ordinance for recommendation to council

Rick contact George and/ or Mark Correa.

 

February 7, 2008

 Chairman Richard Koehler opened the meeting at 7:02 PM .

 Voting Members attending were Rick Cox, David Dumas, Ralph Farnsworth, Richard Koehler,

Jamie Mills, and John Stead.  Non-voting members attending were Jerry Curran, Audrey

Farnsworth, Bob Mohler, and Susie Navetta.  Voting members absent were Janet Carroll and

Mark Chandler and non-voting member Steve Hager.

The minutes were approved as corrected.

Bio-solids - Ralph Farnsworth gave a presentation on the effect Bio-solids have on the environment by stating the pros and cons of such programs.

South Coast Water Systems (SCWS) - Rick Cox wanted to talk about the local water system

that serves over 50 households and is currently using Siltcoos Lake water.  SCWS would like

to use Woahink Lake water by obtaining easements from private property owners.  Ralph

Farnsworth made a motion to invite the owner Dan Reitz to the next WQCC meeting to

report on his plans, ideas and the situation.  Rick Cox gave the second.  Richard will invite

Dan to the next meeting. 

Water Meters – John Stead suggested that water meter installer Dan Reitz decide the placement

of all future water meters for Dunes City land owners.

Canary Road - runoff is being closely watched by George Goldstein of Lane County Road

Advisory  Board.  This has been a problem area, near the first bridge, has allowed water to run

on to Canary Road and then into Woahink Lake .  George will keep Lane County involved and

help to find a solution to the runoff.

Septic Replacement – It is believed there have been 9 to 12 septic replacements since the start

of our septic program.

New Septic System Report - David Dumas reported that some of the committee met with a

new septic company that uses peat to process the waste.  They are a few years away from

meeting Dunes City needs.  Their system is very good at removing nitrogen, but not phosphorus.

Presentation to DEQ – Richard Koehler went to Springfield to explain Dunes City’s Septic

System Maintenance Ordinance.  The group was made up of state officials as well as septic contractors. Dunes City was the first city in Oregon to write a Septic Ordinance.

Water Testers – we are still looking for water testers for Siltcoos Lake perhaps Robin Mills

would be interested.

Adjournment 9: 10 PM

Respectfully submitted, Susie Navetta

The next meeting will be March 6, 2008 at 5:00PM .

January 3, 2008    

Chairman Richard Koehler opened the meeting at 7:05.

In attendance were Mark Chandler, Rick Cox, Jerry Curran, Audrey and Ralph Farnsworth, Steve Hager, Richard Koehler, Jamie Mills, Susie Navetta, and John Stead.

The minutes of December 6, 2007 were approved as corrected.

Mark Chandler reported that an application for a $143,000 grant had been submitted by the Center for Lakes and Reservoirs – Portland State University in cooperation with Mark, Steve Hager and Bob Mohler for preliminary monitoring in preparation for  the Total Maximum Daily Load TMDL) of Siltcoos Lake.  The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) grant has a 60% DEQ funds and a 40% matching funds.

The WQCC is looking for water testers on Siltcoos Lake .  Currently Bob Mohler and Ian Chun would be willing to test, but they do not have a boat on Siltcoos Lake .  Rick Cox said he was willing to loan his boat for testing and it is on Siltcoos Lake , but it’s too small for our needs.  Susie Navetta will call the owner of the old Morris property to see if he is interested in volunteering.

The committee decided to table the WQCC Resolution/Ordinance until it is reviewed by the WQCC committee.  Susie Navetta will ask Secretary Jeannie La Rocca for Resolution 1-15-04 and Richard Koehler will send it to the committee for their perusal.  At the February Council meeting the committee will likely make a recommendation to the City Council.

Mark Chandler contacted Mark Chernaik for information on the Sole Source Aquifer designation.  The Woahink Lake Association covered the associated costs.  It is apparent the there has to be a delineation of the aquifer for the EPA and 50% of the residents in the area must use it for drinking water.  Mark Chandler will look for more information from Troutdale and other state projects to continue this process.

Richard Koehler checked with DEQ, on the 1200 C permits, and found that there had only been 3 south of the Siuslaw River .  This permit states that a plan must be made and approved with the disturbance of over one acre of land.  Another requirement is Wetlands must have silt fences in place before heavy machinery comes on the property.  According to Steve Hager, Ordinances such as the ones for Erosion, Stormwater and the Phosphorus help protect the lakes from phosphorus building up in the drinking water.

During the last water testing it was noted that NO muddy water was present in the month of December near the first arm of Woahink Lake .  A Secchi reading at 15’ at the first bridge was noted by Ralph Farnsworth and Steve Hager.  Richard Koehler was concerned about the water runoff west of the first bridge and wondered if the committee should sand bag it.  The committee felt that George Goldberg from Lane County Road Advisory should be contacted.  Richard will make that contact with him.

A reminder:  Lane County Commissioner Bill Fleenor will be a Dunes City on January 10th at 7:00.

Richard Koehler and John Stead will be giving a power point program on February 6, 2008 in Springfield .   DEQ suggests that Dunes City can share their experience of writing and implementing a Septic System Maintenance Ordinance.

The Committee decided to build a list of contacts (other cities) for our phosphorus reduction program and Richard Koehler will assemble them to share mailings to state officials.

The meeting adjourned at 9:47 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Susie Navetta

TASKS:

1.  Susie Navetta will contact the new owners of the Morris house about volunteering for water testing.  Ask Jeannie for Resolution 1-15-04.

2.  Richard Koehler will send the proposed WQCC Ordinance and the old Resolution 1-15-04 to the committee members.  Contact George Goldstein about the water running on to the road, west of the 1st bridge, and into the lake.

3.  Everyone think of people or communities that need notice of our phosphorus reduction program.

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Water Quality Control Committee Minutes 2007

continued