Members Present: Lina Vlavianos, Chair
Sally Hornor, Vice Chair
Carrie Capuco
Dave Hanson
Jeff Schomig
Scott Hymes
Michael Shultz Guests and Staff: Albert Johnston, Greater Severna Park Council
Harry Sinclair, Jr., Severn Community
Elvia Thompson, Spa Creek Conservancy
Ginger Ellis, AACo. DPW
Mary Searing, AACo. DPW Absent: Charlotte Lubbert
Joe Rubino
Virginia P. Clagett, MD House Delegates (Ex-officio)
Ron Dillon, County Council (Ex-officio) CALL TO ORDER Chair Vlavianos called the regular monthly meeting of the Severn River Commission to order at 4:08 p.m. A quorum was present. GUEST SPEAKER Ms. Mary Searing, AACo. DPW Program Manager in charge of developing the Watershed Management Tool (WMT) briefed the Commission on: the Severn River watershed study findings, how the watershed management tool can be utilized and where modeling scenarios can be exercised. All findings are imbedded in the Management Tool--some of which are: the Severn River watershed is 25% sewered, 21% is planned for future sewers, and 50% will remain on septics. Approximately 152 miles of streams were walked to assess them. Habitat assessment results show that one-third of streams are in poor or very poor condition, and bioassessment results show that two-thirds of streams are in poor or very poor condition. The Watershed is 20% impervious, 38% wooded, 41% residential, and 6% open space. Listing priority areas for restoration and preservation and meeting TMDL obligations are focused. The same standards used for assessment statewide are used by MDE. Using the WMT, Mary has been working with the Long Range Planning staff as they perform various tasks. During the presentation, a small subwatershed at the headwaters of Severn Run was used to demonstrate WMT capabilities. The Commission thanked Ms. Searing for an excellent presentation and all the work in creating the WMT. Although the presentation is not on the county website, Ms. Searing will try to have it included. MINUTES The Minutes for the May 3, 2007, regular monthly SRC meeting was presented for approval. No changes were made so the Minutes were approved as written. MOTION: A MOTION, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE MAY 3, 2007, REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING OF THE SEVERN RIVER COMMISSION AS WRITTEN, WAS MADE AND SECONDED. THE MOTION WAS PASSED BY A UNANAMOUS VOTE AND THE MINUTES WERE APPROVED. ANNOUNCEMENTS / CORRESPONDENCE - A letter was received from MDE regarding Arundel Forest Stream Crossing in response to SRC’s letter of February 7, 2007, objecting to wetland and stream disturbance. In subsequent conversation with MDE, Vlavianos informed members that the Regional Chief said the disturbance is minor and the developer met all requirements. A letter of Authorization will be issued.
- Lubbert notified the Chair that she would not be able to attend this meeting.
- Capuco informed the Commission that she is unable to continue as a member of the SRC because of job commitments but will continue serving until a replacement is appointed.
- The State Highway Administration (SHA) has provided SRC with a large-scale map showing the Jabez Branch area that would be impacted by the expansion of Route 3 and Route 175.
- The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a comprehensive web-based resources site designed to assist effective watershed education and outreach activities. The site can be found on-line at http:www.epa.gov/nps/toolbox.
- Mr. Larry Tom has been appointed by the County Executive as the new County Planning & Zoning Officer. Everyone agreed that he should be invited to meet SRC members and to introduce himself at a future meeting.
OLD BUSINESS Severn River TMDLs Because of questions raised by SRC after MDE’s presentation in May on TMDLs about the reliability of using antibiotic resistance patterns as the source tracking method for bacteria loading in waterways, Hornor will draft a letter to MDE voicing the Commission’s concern. MOTION: A MOTION, THAT HORNOR DRAFT A COMMENT LETTER TO MDE REGARDING THE TRACKING OF BACTERIA LOADING IN THE SEVERN RIVER WATERSHED FOR TMDL PURPOSES, WAS MADE AND SECONDED. THE MOTION WAS PASSED BY UNANAMOUS VOTE. Jabez – Environmental Overlay Zone (EOZ) The next Overlay Zone Committee meeting is scheduled for June 28. Vlavianos and Hornor will attend. Fieldwork in locating underground seeps feeding the Left and Right Forks were done but not completed. A report will be forthcoming. SRC Special Committee No Committee meeting has been held for further discussion. Naval Academy Dairy Farm The Navy chose Anne Arundel County Government as the long-term lessee of the farm. The Commission is to write a letter to the County Executive with copies to Mr. Frank Marzucco, AACo. Recreation and Parks, requesting (1) that in order for the SRC to fulfill its role as an advisory body that the Commission be involved in future planning for the site as plans for the land are developed; and (2) that the status quo of existing conditions of the farm impacting the Jabez Branch not continue to remain but be improved. MOTION: A MOTION, THAT VLAVIANOS WILL DRAFT A LETTER AS DESCRIBED ABOVE REGARDING THE NAVAL DAIRY FARM, WAS MADE AND SECONDED. THE MOTION WAS PASSED BY UNANAMOUS VOTE. Lower Severn Annapolis – Capuco’s replacement on the SRC may come on board at the next meeting depending on City Council’s confirmation timeline. The City’s ex-officio member for the Commission has been selected by the Mayor and may be present at the next SRC meeting. Lower Severn – Hanson is interested in doing an exposure segment on his radio station on the Cowhide Branch restoration project. He will contact AACo. DPW for input. Hanson distributed a listing of eight environmental organizations with a suggestion that the list should be expanded. He wishes that the SRC would be more interactive with these organizations on common issues. Vlavianos may have an additional listing that she will provide. Hanson will contact Mary Searing (WMT) regarding information being gathered for the Severn River by Chesapeake Bay Observation & Modeling at the U. S. Naval Academy. Maritime Heritage Festival – Hornor and Lubbert assisted at the festival. SRC’s "Living With The River" brochure was distributed. Website In her absence, Lubbert notified the Chair that the SRC website had 1,817 hits during the month of May. Ethics Commission Schomig explained his discussion with the County Ethics Commission regarding SRC members being county employees. No further action is needed. Monticello II Hymes reported that he was unable to get information on this project from P&Z. Vlavianos will write a letter after Brenda Reiber checks into the matter. (Ms. Reiber obtained the necessary information without difficulty and gave it to Hymes. Upon further questioning, Hymes admitted that he had not tried personally to obtain the information but delegated the task to a person outside the Commission.) No letter will be written by Vlavianos. County Office of Law – Regulatory Takings Presentation Under Schomig’s signature, a letter will be sent by the Commission to the County Law Office requesting a representative come to the September or October meeting to explain the "takings" issue as interpreted by the Law Office. NEW BUSINESS Crownsville Conservancy Hymes requested that SRC support the establishment of easements in Herald Harbor through the Crownsville Conservancy for 192 lots measuring 25’ by 100’ all totaling 10.4 acres. Most are wetlands, steep slopes, forested and not taxable. The County Executive is supporting this and Hymes requested that SRC support this by appearing in front of the County Council on June 18. Following discussion and based on what Hymes said, members voted to support the request. MOTION: A MOTION, TO SUPPORT ESTABLISHMENT OF EASEMENTS IN HERALD HARBOR THROUGH THE CROWNSVILLE CONSERVANCY AS DESCRIBED ABOVE, WAS MADE AND SECONDED. THE MOTION WAS PASSED BY UNANAMOUS VOTE. PUBLIC INPUT The Spa Creek Conservancy would like to make a brief presentation to the Commission on their work. This will be scheduled for a future meeting. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:35 p.m. The next regular monthly SRC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 2, 2007, 4:00 p.m., in the Chesapeake Room, 2664 Riva Road. The July meeting has been cancelled in anticipation of lack of a quorum present because the July 4 holiday falls on Wednesday, the day before the regular SRC meeting. | 
