Darling Restoration Home

Meeting Minutes - May 29,2008

Welcome and Introductions – Rachel Erb

Information packets about Lake Darling Restoration passed out.

Attendance:

Next meeting date: June 12, 6 p.m.

6:05 Recap of May 1st, 2008 meeting – Rachel and Fay

• Brief overview of what was presented and meeting minutes-Fay

6:10 What We Hope to Accomplish this Evening – Rachel, Steve, Fay

Questions from council member-Is this a whole new thing? Steve replied, “Yes, this is a whole new thing and we are all learning together.” Explained there would be a training thing in August. Is this (the restoration project and the funding for it) going to go through? Steve replied, “Yes, as long as we follow guidelines and procedure.” Do we have to have a Council? Where is the legislation that says we need it? Rachel replied, “I will try and find the necessary information or Legislation.”

6:20 What is the main goal? –Fay, Steve, Rachel

What is the role of the Council?

Fay voted chairperson

Harold Frakes voted secretary

Rachel and Steve reviewed Carter Lake process and the role of their council and the actions taken.

Vision statement

• How does the Council want the lake to look for the next 50 years?
• "Lake Darling is a sustainable, diversified, outdoor experience accessible to all citizens.”

6:30 Review of Lake Restoration Requirements and Goals and Vision for the resource – Steve

Explained what the project will cover, lake restoration goals and concern list Steve notes that, “These are aggressive goals but goals that we will try for and work for.” Reviewed original lists then condensed list that shows number of votes per concern. Council and TAT then reviewed list and broke down into the essence…certain things can be combined, certain things should be dealt with by others (Friends)

TAT (Steve and Vance) discussed one by one with council exactly what concerns are to be dealt with here and what concerns should be passed along. The following is the list that they went over and comments and decisions on who/what should take care of them (issues without comment will be dealt with in this group)

• Water quality
• Sediment removal/dredging
• Improve image of Lake through PR and marketing-will happen in this process-Rachel, outreach
• Better fishing/promote fishing
• Bacteria reduction
• Enhance/maintain fish habitat
• Safe for swimming/beach
• Second campground development-parks
• Hard surface trails-trail committee
• Trails that connect to other towns and resource areas (example Kewash trail) trail committee
• Enhance existing trails
• Stabilize shoreline and reduce soil erosion
• Add handicap fishing access and more jetties-parks
• Develop partnerships b/t Lake and local biz-Friends with Chambers and parks
• Replace dam and spillway
• Better aquatic ecosystem
• Utilize wind energy in park site-Rachel will talk to Mike McGhee
• More interpretation classes…school groups-Friends, county conservation, scouts
• Improve access to dam in case of emergencies-parks and fisheries
• Geese management
• Maintaining progress
• Deer number concerns-Parks and wildlife

“It will be the responsibility of the TAT to pass along these issues and get a response back to the Council.”-Rachel

Rachel-‘…use this knowledge and the DF study which will follow to come up with your own goals…’

6:45 The Diagnostic Feasibility Study Summary-Vance

Rachel-‘…Use this study and information to help you narrow in on the concerns list so that we can have 3-4 main goals…’

Vance went over what the findings were from the study-what he found, where, what the problems are, what are his suggestions.

Though the DF Study was taken negatively, Council should show them that Lake Darling is a prize. Fay noted, “We should not take [the study] sitting down.” The council was told to read through the DF study summary before next meeting and discuss any issues with it at the next meeting with the TAT.

Rachel noted Carter Lake examples ‘…we want something like this within the next few meetings with 3-4 main goals…’

7:15 Questions on the process as a whole

7:30 Where do we go from here? –Rachel

Next meeting date and what will happen

• We will go over the homework-the 3-4 goals everyone came up with and begin the management plan

Closing (Thanks for Coming, Updates)