Introductions/Attendance
Steering committee members introduced themselves and indicated their affiliations with the project: Dr. Joe Ohren, ICARD/EMU; Dr. Kevin Gustavson, WRC/EMU; Janna Sebald, DEQ; Thad Cleary, DEQ; Kathy Giszczak, Augusta Township Representative; Aretta Schils, London Township Resident; Cheryl Baltrip, Exeter Township Representative; Roger Bezek, Exeter Township Representative; Feliziana Myer, Pittsfield Township Representative; Jim Spas, Frenchtown Township Representative; Bob Osterhout, Ypsilanti Township Representative; Megan Lindsey, ICARD/EMU; Jennifer Hartlep, ICARD/EMU.

Dr. Ohren introduced Jennifer Hartlep, the new student assistant, and alerted the group that as Megan Lindsey moved on to law school Jennifer would be taking over as the Stony Creek Watershed Coordinator.

Pollutants/Impairments
Dr. Kevin Gustavson asked the group to review the updated version of the Known/Suspected Sources and Causes of Pollutants/Challenges worksheet. He pointed out that the causes were listed in priority order, based on the steering Committee discussions as well as citizen input and recommendations of Technical Committee members.  Dr. Gustavson pointed out that the only change to be made thus far was in the sedimentation/soil erosion section under the source developing and developed areas. He indicated that it was likely that Inadequate inspection/compliance with permits should be listed as the first cause and Committee members agreed with this change (a revised version is attached for your files).

Dr. Ohren asked that all township representatives present formally accept the chart as a working guide, with the expectation that any future changes would be made in similar fashion. The group reviewed the pollutants worksheet and all the represented townships approved it to guide future discussions on goals, objectives and action strategies.


Water Quality Analysis Presentation
New maps on several water quality issues had also been prepared for the group to review. The committee was presented first with a map on Sediment Problem Areas throughout the watershed. It was noted that sediment was likely the number one issue in the watershed. The map indicated that the problem was much more severe in the upper part of the watershed where major development has and continues to take place.

A second map displayed Temperature Critical Areas for a Warmwater Fishery. These maps indicated that the water was 0.6-1.5 degrees Celcius over the temperatures required by the state only 5-10% of the time in the upper watershed.  These data were of relatively little concern because these areas are so extensively altered that fish habitat would be hard to maintain even if the temperatures were cooler.  A similar map showed that temperatures were up to 5 – 9 degrees over the temperature to maintain a coldwater fishery in the designated coldwater stream in the upper watershed, and temperatures were higher than the required temperatures in up to 40% of the samples in this portion of the watershed.  These data were more of a concern, but the Steering Committee has decided that addressing sediment and hydrology as a higher priority than temperature, especially considering the expectation that improvements of sediment and hydrology could help decrease water temperatures as well.
 
A third map identified Nitrate Critical Areas. All of the levels were below the very high concern 10 mg/liter level for drinking water.   However, 60-70% of the samples taken in the agricultural areas had high nitrate values compared to less than 10% of the samples in the more urbanized areas. A fourth map showed that phosphorous was highest in the developed/developing areas. Dr. Gustavson pointed out that the urbanization should be the highest priority to address in the watershed.  Agricultural impacts could be addressed with limited studies in target areas to test the effectiveness of conservation practices before implementing them on a more extensive basis. The final map addressed Conductivity; Dr. Gustavson indicated that the most likely cause of this was poor stormwater management, particularly in the northern portion of the watershed.  

Watershed Tour
Several members of the Technical and Steering Committee met on June 30 to take an informational tour of the watershed. Attendants were shown the range of land uses in the watershed, field evidence of the impact of urbanization and development on the stream system, problems of flooding and high sediment load downstream of the newer developments, the improvement of the physical stream quality farther and farther away from the upper watershed development, problems associated with crops planted close to drains/streams, and the impact of clearing log jams from the stream with money won from a lawsuit against a local quarry.  During this tour it was noted that many of the water problems caused by new development were due to a lack of enforcement of sedimentation and erosion control regulations during construction. Dr. Gustavson discussed a program that the Washtenaw Drain Commissioner's Office is developing that recruits and trains members of the public to help report problems to inspection authorities. The committee members present at the meeting had mixed opinions about this issue because they feared it could lead to neighborhood disputes instead of resolving problems.

Goals Chart
A draft goals chart building on the sources and causes sheet was presented to the group and included supplemental objectives leading to potential action strategies.  Dr. Ohren indicated that this was the first time that this chart was presented to the group, but that it would become the basis for continuing attention over the coming months (a slightly revised version is attached reflecting the discussion at the meeting).  

Members noted that the first three Goals reflected the designated uses that were impaired in the watershed, while the remaining goals are related to those designated uses that are threatened (hence the use of the terms “restore” in goals one through three and “protect” in four through seven).  It was also noted that we have left off the designated uses of industrial water and navigation, sine early on the steering Committee deemed these to be irrelevant to the Stony Creek.  There was some discussion about goal seven related to public water supply since there are no municipal sources of water drawn from the Stony Creek.  But Jim Spas, Frenchtown Supervisor, pointed out that both the Frenchtown and Monroe municipal water systems draw water from Lake Erie near the mouth of the Stony Creek.  Committee members agreed to retain the goal at this time.

Other Items of Interest
Recent events involving the watershed included the June 19th Macroinvertebrate Study. This event went very well. Only the northern sites on the Watershed could be tested however due to heavy rainfall in the southern portion of the watershed immediately before the event. The public volunteers greatly enjoyed the event. The sites in the lower watershed were later tested by a smaller group of Volunteers on July 1st when water levels were more conducive to the study.  Analysis of the findings will be presented at the next steering committee in August.

The Stony Creek Watershed Project will be included as part of a tour taken by Congressman John Dingell on July 31, 2004. The Stony Creek portion of the tour will meet at 6250 Judd Road, Milan, MI 48160. They are expecting this portion of Mr. Dingell’s tour to be held from 3:15 to around 4:00 pm. All Steering Committee Members are welcome to attend, and Dr. Gustavson will speak on behalf of the Steering Committee.

Dr. Ohren shared an update from Marlene Rogers, Monroe Conservation District, concerning the log removal work done with funding from the London Aggregates lawsuit.  He asked for the group’s reaction to the work that had been done and said that he would be willing to write a letter of reaction to this cleanup if the Steering Committee members though it would be advisable. Janna Sebald of the DEQ said that she would follow up on the concerns with the relevant people from the DNR and DEQ.  After some discussion of the project the group decided that no action was necessary by the Steering Committee, but they would like to continue to be notified of any action taken with the lawsuit funds that would affect the Stony Creek Watershed project.



The next meeting of the Steering Committee will be held on Tuesday afternoon, 1:30 to 4:00, August 31, 2004, at the Exeter Township Hall.