Meeting Highlights

Phippsburg Shellfish Committee Meeting

September 25 , 2008

Kennebeck River

Public Health Director Amy Fitzpatrick assisted by Water Quality Supervisor Anna Bourakovsky gave a presentation on the water quality of the Kennebec River. Recent water quality sampling runs have suggested that poor water quality is not related to local rainfall events but to river stage at the time of sampling. An analysis will be done to establish criteria for proper classification of the Kennebec based upon river stage.

Water Quality

Chairman Dick LeMont announced that on October 1st North Creek will be opened but south Wyman Bay will be closed, and the Kelp Shed will be opened on November 16th. All three areas are now classified as conditionally approved based upon season. .

Conservation Work

The Chairman reported that about half of the commercial diggers do not have their survey time and seven commercial diggers do not have their reseeding time; he recommended that both be scheduled. After some discussion, the Committee decided to conduct a clam survey of the area from Wyman’s Bay Gut to and including Parker Pond on October 18th and to conduct a reseeding of Hallet’s Cove with seed from the Kelp Shed an October 19th.

Committee Membership

The Chairman announced that Committee Member Ross Smith intends to resign from the Committee. He added that there is also an alternate member position currently open.

Shellfish Advisory Council

The Chairman reported that the Shellfish Advisory Council will meet on September 30th. A major agenda item will be funding of the Public Health Division.

Next Meeting

The next meeting is scheduled for October 23rd at 7 pm in the Town Office Meeting Room.