ROARING CREEK VALLEY CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION

Minutes of March 18, 2010 Monthly Meeting

The meeting was called to order by Vice President Kristen Vitkauskas at the Southern High School in Room 102.

The February minutes were read and accepted.

The Treasurer’s report showed a balance of $5382.47.

Committee Reports:

Membership Committee Chair Mary Kirk reported the Association membership stands at 34 with13 Lifetime members.

Following discussion led by Hellbender Marathon Chair Dan Brassington, the group consensus was to send Association brochures with race applications to race pre-registrants.  Also under consideration is the creation of a Hellbender mascot costume, if the price is right. The Susquehanna Ridgerunners have agreed to provide their timing expertise for the race.  A race committee meeting will be held at 6:30 pm prior to the Association’s April meeting.

Mary and Jim Kirk and Cathy Haffner reported that the stream bank erosion project along Roaring Creek’s South Branch will likely be implemented during the second half of May 2010.  Dave Keller of the Fish and Boat Commission has developed the design. Volunteers to assist the contractor will be needed to execute the plan.

The proposed rain garden project at Southern High School campus is slated to be implemented in June 2011.  The RCVCA will take the lead on this project. The project will be beneficial on several fronts, including education and water conservation.   Kristen Vitkauskas, with input from Cathy Haffner, has nearly completed the Water Resource Education Network (WREN) grant application.

Old Business:

The Hiawatha boat tour was briefly discussed.  The group is leaning toward making this trip in October 2010.

Leon Shoup’s suggestion for an annual membership conversion to a Lifetime membership was discussed.

The presentation on bats slated for the April 2010 meeting was noted.

New Business:

A motion was made by Mark Deibler, seconded by Robert Martynowich to purchase 12 waterproof, spiral notebooks for use in the Roaring Creek Trail boxes at a cost not to exceed $100.00.  The motion passed.

The Association will sponsor ‘Great PA Cleanup’ activities on April 17 along Route 42 in the Weiser State Forest, Roaring Creek Tract.

Kristen Vitkauskas reported that the Bacterial Sampling 2010 Integrated Report to the EPA showed Roaring Creek’s South and Main branches are considered to be impaired waters. These waters are classified as Category 5, recreational use. The Association will have the opportunity to perform the monitoring again in 2010.

Questions were raised and general discussion followed on logging activities being conducted near the Susquehanna River at the mouth of Roaring Creek and also near Danville.  Group consensus was that contacting the Fish Commission is the best option when reporting logging activities that are causing or may generate extensive soil erosion near waterways.

Mark Deibler noted that March 14 – 20 is Wildfire Prevention Week. 98% of the wildfires are caused by people and 85% of the wildfires occur in March, April and May.

With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned.

Wayne Kashner

Secretary