East Canyon Water Quality Steering Committee
East Canyon Resort
September 1st, 2004
9:30 am
AGENDA
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Need for a permanent Hazardous Material disposal facility – Insa Riepen
3. Introduce Tina Quayle – Swaner Nature Preserve
- Stream Restoration Project
4. Report on possible Willow Draw restoration work at The Canyons Resort - Karen Nichols
5. East Canyon Logo – Karen Nichols
6. Summit County Stormwater Management Plan – Bio-West
- Stormwater Management Training Sessions
7. East Canyon Creek In-stream Feasibility Flow Study and USGS seepage study updates – Mike Luers
8. East Canyon Watershed Restoration Action Plan (WRAP) – John Whitehead
9. East Canyon Information & Education 319 Grant proposal – Lee Duncan
10. Algae in East Canyon Reservoir – Bureau of Reclamation
11. Report on Legislative Taskforce in Snyderville Basin – Ray Loveless
12. Next Meeting
13. A meeting of the Fishery/Riparian Subcommittee will take place immediately after the committee meeting. Anyone who is interested in being involved is encouraged to attend. - Bill Bradwisch
PDFMINUTES
East Canyon Technical Advisory Committee
Meeting Notes for 9/1/2004
Attendees:
Lee Duncan (UACD), Ray Loveless (UACD, Mountainland AOG), Barbara Carey (NRCS, RC+D), Mike Luers (Snyderville Basin Water Reclamation District), Larry London (Morgan County Commission), Mary Perry (Friends of E. Canyon Cr.), Alan Matheson (Trout Unlimited), Carol France (East Canyon Resort), John Whitehead (DEQ Division of Water Quality), Ross Anderson (MacFarlane Ranch), Theron Miller (Division of Water Quality), Steve Noyes (Bureau of Reclamation), Julie Howe (Stantec Consulting), Bill Bradwisch (Division of Wildlife Resources), Jeff Schoenbacher (Park City Municipal Corporation), Russ Lawrence (Division of Wildlife Resources), Richard Hilbert (Park City Municipal Corporation), Jerry Miller (Bureau of Reclamation), Kent Wilkerson (Morgan County), Shannon Herstein (Bio-West), Insa Riepen (Recycle Utah), Melissa Stamp (Bio-West), Derrick Radke (Summit County), George Condrat (Kleinfelder Inc.), Mark Peterson (Farm Bureau).
Agenda Item
Ray Loveless thanked everyone for coming and asked everyone to introduce themselves and state what organization they represent.
Agenda Item
Lee Duncan informed the committee about a restoration project he is currently putting together on East Canyon Creek with the Swaner Nature Preserve. The Swaner Nature Preserve owns about 1.5 miles of property along East Canyon Creek. The project is still in the planning phase but the project should include fencing portions of the stream, planting willows and bank stabilization. One of the goals of the project will be to show the other stakeholders and landowners along the creek what can be done to improve the conditions of the stream in hopes that they will also become involved with restoration efforts. Lee stated the preserve has about $30,000 that will be used as matching funds for acquiring 319 funds. Lee will be meeting with NRCS in order to make site specific recommendations and to develop a conservation plan for the project. Mary Perry from Friends of East Canyon said that her group and her homeowners association would be interested in volunteering to help with the project. Lee also stated that he has informed the Bitner family, which owns the property just above the preserve on East Canyon Cr., about the project and the family is interested in doing some work on their portion of the stream as well.
Agenda Item
Julie Howe stated The Canyons Resort is looking at implementing a restoration project on the lower portion of Willow Draw. The project would focus on restoring the floodplain and would involve raise the stream 15-20 feet in order to reconnect it to the floodplain. The work could begin in the Spring of 2005. Ray Loveless thought the committee should invite someone from The Canyons Resort to the committee meeting and asked Julie who that would be. Julie said she did not know but would find out.
Agenda Item
Julie Howe passed out possible designs for the East Canyon Watershed logo which will appear on shirts and hats. The committee narrowed it down to 2 designs, one with mountains, a sun and a stream and one with just a stream and a sun. Lee Duncan suggested the committee vote on which one they like better. There was a vote of 12 to 5 in favor of the logo with the mountains. Ray said he wants the words “East Canyon Watershed” large enough so they can be easily read. The committee agreed.
Agenda Item
Insa Riepen addressed the committee about the need for a permanent hazardous material disposal facility in the Park City/ Snyderville Basin area. Currently there is not a proper disposal facility for residents and businesses to dispose of their waste such as oil, paint and poisons. Insa stated Recycle Utah’s present facility is the most likely location for a Haz-Mat facility. The facility would be a trailer in which hazardous materials would be deposited. The materials could stay in the trailer for up to 28 days at which time it would be picked up and taken to a facility that could treat and permanently dispose of the material. Bill Bradwisch asked if the purposed facility could accept material such as contaminated soils. Insa said it would only accept materials from residents and businesses but it will serve Summit and Wasatch Counties. If people have a free facility to take their hazardous material they will be less likely to pour them down the sink and in storm drains or illegally dump them were they can enter a waterbody. Jeff Schoenbacher stated the local Fire Marshal has some concerns with the facility and that the State would like to be involved. Insa told the committee she will be giving a presentation at her next board of directors meeting and suggested that if different groups voice their opinions about the need for the facility and how it can help water quality the better the possibility of obtaining funds for it. Ray Loveless stated from a water quality component the committee would support the facility but other issues with other groups need to be addressed. Insa thanked the committee for the support and asked Ray for an official letter of support. Ray agreed to write the letter.
Agenda Item
Melissa Stamp informed the committee that Bio-West is working with Summit County to implement their Storm Water Management Plan. A draft copy of the plan will be posted on the Summit County website. She passed out a flyer and poster which will help educate businesses about water quality. The 381 ordinance, which addresses erosion controls, will be updated to include more retention basins and improving wetlands in order to minimize impacts to water quality. She informed everyone about an upcoming Storm Water Management training session that will take place on September 23rd at the Sheldon Richins Memorial Building at Kimball Junction. She handed out materials about the training session and asked people to help promote it. Ray asked how the sessions are being promoted. Melissa stated they are doing direct mailings and using the local paper and radio. Ray also asked how the committee could help and she said just bring awareness to water quality issues and know there are materials available to educate people. Ray said he is impressed with what Summit County and Park City have done to regulate and enforce storm water management.
Agenda Item
Mike Luers introduced George Condrat from Kleinfelder Inc. and asked him to give an update on the Instream Flow Feasibility Study for East Canyon Creek. The objectives of the study are to complete a detailed analysis of the feasibility of flow augmentation and identify alternatives to maintain minimum in-stream flows and achieve the beneficial uses designated for the creek. Kleinfelder is looking at historical in-stream flows, precipitation data, and water right uses affecting instream flows. An analysis of the feasibility, mechanisms and costs of summer season flow augmentation for East Canyon Creek is being conducted. A draft report will be available by October 1st. Ray stated the state engineer, Jerry Olds, informed him the state has shut down some illegal diversions in the Snyderville Basin/Park City area. Illegal diversions contributed to the creek drying up last summer.
Mike Luers gave an update on the seepage study the USGS is conducting on East Canyon Creek between Jeremy Ranch and the USGS gage near the I-80 rest stop. The study will determine the relationship between ground and surface water and how much the stream is gaining or losing in the section being studied. The report will be completed by the Spring of 2005.
Agenda Item
John Whitehead passed out copies of the recently completed East Canyon Watershed Restoration Plan (WRAP). He thanked people for the comments he received about the draft copy. He said the WRAP should be periodically reviewed and updated, in particular the goals and objectives. He stated he would like the committee to approve the plan. Bill Bradwisch made a motion to accept the plan with periodic updates. The committee approved the plan. Ray Loveless said any further comments to update the plan could be given the John and Lee Duncan. EPA requires the plan in order to receive 319 funds and Ray stated we would inform the 319 grant review committee about the completion of the plan. A copy of the East Canyon WRAP will be posted on the website, www.eastcanyoncreek.org.
Agenda Item
Lee Duncan informed the committee that he submitted an EPA 319 Information and Education grant proposal. He asked for $25,200 in EPA funds with about $16,000 of matching funds. The objectives of the grant are to bring a group of interested participates together and determine what materials and programs concerning water quality are already in place and build on those efforts and determine the gaps in education that could be filled. The goal is to develop a more comprehensive water quality education program in the Snyderville Basin/Park City area. Lee stated so far Recycle Utah, Snyderville Basin Water Reclamation District, Swaner Nature Preserve and Summit County have agreed to participate and if there are any other groups or individuals that would be interested to contact him.
Lee also stated he is presently putting a newsletter together for the East Canyon Watershed and if anyone had information they would like to contribute let him know. He said he would like to get the newsletter out by the end of September. Jeff Schoenbacher asked how would the newsletter be distributed and stated Park City Municipal Corporation has about 6,000 addresses available. Lee deferred to Ray Loveless and John Whitehead to answer the question. Ray stated that money is an issue and asked Jeff if Park City Municipal Corporation would pay for the postage. Mike Luers said the Reclamation District could include it in their quarterly bill. Insa Riepen suggested linking the newsletter to the Recycle Utah website. Mary Perry suggested working with Summit County in distributing the newsletter.
Agenda Item
Ray Loveless stated that what is happening in the East Canyon Reservoir is a good indicator for determining progress being made in improving water quality within the watershed. He introduced Jerry Miller and asked him to give an update on the algae in the reservoir. Jerry passed around 2 bottles with different types of algae that are present in the reservoir. He stated that on August 31st algae was bad at the reservoir dam. Wind will push the algae towards the dam were it accumulates. The algae can cause liver problems in cattle downstream from the reservoir. Three years ago the reservoir had algae levels a magnitude greater than it presently has. There has been improvement in the reservoir but it could go back if there are not further improvements in water quality entering the reservoir. He stated the reservoir will respond to reduced phosphorus loads. It would be helpful to map the geologic phosphorus deposits in the watershed in order to minimize disturbance in those areas. There are lenses of water in the reservoir that are good for trout production but more improvements are needed for the fishery. Melissa Stamp asked about the study to import water into the basin. Steve Noyes said the Bureau of Reclamation was asked to look at bringing more water into the Snyderville Basin. An Environmental Impact Statement would be required and it would have to address phosphorus in the reservoir and what is being done to reduce it. Mike Luers stated the issue of phosphorus in imported water is being addressed. Steve stated there are two pipeline projects that will bring additional water into the basin, one from the Weber River that is currently online and another proposed pipeline from East Canyon Reservoir back to the basin. He suggested both projects will eventually be needed. Jerry informed the committee that sampling of the reservoir will begin September 1st and that he is currently doing modeling to determine the response of the reservoir to different levels of phosphorus.
Agenda Item
Ray Loveless informed the committee about the Legislative Task Force studying water issues tour of the Snyderville Basin. The tour took place on August 19th, 2004. The task force is looking at misuse and over appropriated water rights. Ray said there was a good turn out and issues such as illegal divisions and how water quality is related to water quantity were discussed. Mike Luers commented that it was good the task force toured the East Canyon Watershed in order to bring awareness to issues in the watershed. Alan Matheson informed everyone he is part of a subcommittee of the task force. The subcommittee recommends taking water rights enforcement more seriously. The current system does not allow for proper enforcement and more power should be given to the Division of Water Rights for enforcement. One suggestion is to make it a felony to steal water.
Ray asked Mark Peterson to address why Farm Bureau is opposed to instream flows. Mark stated the Bureau is not opposed to instream flows but is opposed to how they are acquired. The Bureau does not want federal money to be used to purchase water rights. Mike Luers asked Mark if the Bureau would object to using state money and Mark said as long as downstream users were protected.
Ray asked Theron Miller to update the committee on the wetland issue in the Silver Creek Junction area. Theron informed everyone that Anderson Development is still trying to drain and poison the wetland in order to develop it. The wetland did not act as a filtering stripe for East Canyon Creek this summer because of these actions. Anderson Development has said the wetlands were created when UDOT constructed the highway. The issue is going to court.
Agenda Item
The next meeting will take place at the Snyderville Water Reclamation District on December 1st, 2004.
A meeting of the Fishery/Riparian Subcommittee took place after the committee meeting. The subcommittee discussed the importance of addressing stream temperatures when implementing restoration projects.
