Minutes_Catfish Creek Watershed Management Authority 4 22 14Watershed Management Authority Board - Meeting Minutes — December 3rd, 2013
Catfish Creek Watershed Management Authority
Minutes of April 22, 2014
CCWMA Co -Chair, Curt Kiessling called the meet at 10:15am.
1. ROLL CALL: Directors Present: Pat Simon, Dave Ruden, Curt Kiessling, and Calvin
Gatch Jr., Raki Giannakouros, Will Hoyer, Wayne Demmer. Laura Carstens was absent.
CCWMA Administrators: Eric Schmechel and Dean Mattoon
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes were approved from 2_18_14 meeting.
AGENGA ITEMS
A. Cecily, from Applied Ecological Services (AES) went through the goal setting
processes for the watershed management plan. Both Goals and Objectives were
discussed among Board members. Cecily will be emailing the goals and objectives
to the CCWMA Board members — giving each member time to review and
comment on suggested changes. The CCWMA will then be reviewing the goals
and objectives again at the June Meeting.
B. Laura Cartens was not present to comment on a Centrailia update, but at this point,
we do not believe they have anyone representing them on the Board.
C. Eric went over Watershed Improvement Review Board (WIRB) changes with the
Board. Eric and Dean reviewed the proposed streambanklfloodplain project on the
South Fork of Catfish Creek (just east of the Dubuque County landfill). Eric
commented on how WIRB is now requiring a panel of 4 streambank "experts" from
across the state the review on proposed streambank projects in Iowa. Eric and
Dean plan to be in contact with these folks once more project details are
determined.
D. Eric and Dean updated the Board on a fish study a Loras college student will be
engaging in this spring (2014). Eric, Dean, Amanda Fitzpatrick (undergraduate
student) Dan Kirby and Mark Winn (IDNR Fisheries) met to discuss locations
throughout the Catfish Creek Watershed to monitor fish species and relative
habitat. The results will be included in the watershed management plan.
E. Eric and Dean updated the Board on educational Catfish Creek watershed
interactive kiosks that are being proposed on behalf of the CCWMA to help with
educational services in the watershed. Eric, Dean, and Laura met with Wayne
Bucholtz and Brian Preston to discuss housing the kiosks at both the EB Lyons
Nature Center and the Swiss Valley Nature Center. Both park directors were
supportive and excited about the opportunity. Currently, the design we are looking
at for the interactive kiosks is similar to what Utah State Extension put together.
The website for their design is https://swaner.web.usu.edu Eric and Dean will
continue to pursue the next step in developing the kiosks.
F. Eric and Dean updated the Board on the possibility of purchasing a real-time
monitor to have in the stream at all times. Eric and Dean reviewed a proposed
monitoring device from AquaVitae. The board was in favor and agreed it would be
a valuable piece of equipment to have if the current CCWMA budget allowed.
Budget discussions then followed on the remaining phase II grant dollars that was
awarded to the City of Dubuque. Eric and Dean said they would bring an overall
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Watershed Management Authority Board - Meeting Minutes —December 3rd, 2013
budget to the June meeting to allow for discussion and action items on the proposed
budget and items purchased.
G. 1st Annual Catfish Creek Festival was discussed, which is slated for April 28th.
Both Eric and Dean are hoping for a good turnout and will discuss the event (recap)
at the June Meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 12:05pm.
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