NOTE: The Board meeting was preceded by a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. to welcome new members of the Board and the CAC. An overview of the RAP (Remedial Action Plan) and CAC history and goals were presented by Jack Ezell, Bill Majewski and Karen Plass. New Board members and CAC members present were: Dan Romans, Barb Peichel, Kathryn Fuller, Rosanne Scott, Rick Scott.

Meeting was called to order by Phil Monson, Minnesota Co-Chair.

Pat Collins, Ecological Services, Minnesota DNR, showed slides and gave a history of the restoration of Grassy Point, which was on the 1861 original harbor chart. It was the site of sawmills and shipping facilities, which burned in the 1918 fire and were never replaced. It is a "drowned river mouth" in the St. Louis River. Restoration began with the removal of 11,000 cubic yards of wood waste remaining from the sawmill activity. As vegetation regrows, it has become a bird habitat, and turtles are in abundance. The area continues to be assessed.

Bill Majewski, City of Duluth Planning Department, told about the development of walking trails and access on Grassy Point. More improvements are planned to make the area inviting for bird watching.

Howard McCormick, member of the Board of Directors for St. Louis River Watershed TMDL Partnership, spoke about the organization and its work in the St. Louis River watershed. EPA has assigned various water bodies to states, and those states are assuming control for use of those water bodies for drinking and recreation. Developing a TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) for mercury is the primary focus of the group. Yvonne Heimer is the project coordinator.

Members present introduced themselves. Minutes of the previous meeting were approved as distributed.

Karen Plass, Executive Director, made the following announcements:

This is her last meeting as Executive Director. She will be working for the MN DNR beginning April 12, 2000.

Applications for the position must be postmarked by March 31.

A selection committee of the Executive Committee will be meeting April 5, with interviews of candidates scheduled for April 7th.

She thanked CAC members and the Executive Committee for their energy and support, and plans to support the new director as long as necessary.

The Executive Director needs an assistant to deal with necessary business.

CAC doesn’t have an office lease at present, but the DeWitt-Seitz building has been sold, so there may be changes.

The RAP process may be accelerated; questions remain about how that will happen.

She found the job to be challenging and interesting; is looking forward to having more colleagues.

Habitat (Pat Collins): Group met with AES and Carduus contractors to focus on the Habitat Plan. Many questions raised about core information. Workgroup put together a memo to contractor concerning their vision of a plan. Contractor responded favorably. Workgroup will now respond to contractor. Summary of the Habitat Plan will be presented to City Councils of Duluth and Superior.

Contaminated Sediment (Phil Monson): Grant proposals for scoping studies; Minnesota Slip, Slip C, 21st Ave. W. project (proposal to put dredge spoils there). Will distribute a packet of information to public.

Stewardship (Jack Ezell): Planning activities for season; will do another clean-up effort on the river, as well as a "River Event." Water levels are lower now, so more debris will need to be picked up. May also do additional clean-up at Connors Point. Group meets in Sea Grant offices in Old Main.

Non-Point Pollution: Corps of Engineers modeling Nemadji river sediment. Issues to be discussed at a public meeting 9:00 a.m., April 11, 2000, Room #407, Federal Bldg. Kay McKenzie talked about the Red Clay Plain Project concerning a road construction symposium (Mike Kroenke).

U.S. Coast Guard is working on a mapping project with EPA using GIS, and is asking for comments. Pat Collins and Karen Plass were given as references. Information learned could be shared in case of oil spills, etc.

Announcement about the City of Duluth ban on sale of mercury fever thermometers.

Meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.

Next quarterly Board of Directors meeting will be held Wednesday, May 24, in Minnesota.

Nan Stokes, Secretary