Meeting was called to order by Phil Monson, Minnesota Co-chair. Members present introduced themselves. Students from Cloquet and Scanlon High Schools were in attendance and were welcomed.

Carrie Lohse-Hanson and Patti King of Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) spoke about the Toxics Loading Study: Local Levels of Toxic Substances in Surface Water, and which chemicals were exceeding water quality standards. Lake Superior needs a TMDL for mercury. Carri is the liaison to the CAC from MPCA.

Molly MacGregor, Rivers Council of Minnesota, reported on results of a survey of river organizations in Minnesota. Response to the survey was gratifying. The Rivers Council is a non-profit organization formed in October 1996 to bring together people and organizations with an interest in rivers and river protection. State of the Rivers meeting will be held February 24-26, 2000.

Minutes of the previous Board of Directors meeting in May were approved as distributed by mail and e-mail.

Karen Plass, Executive Director, gave updates on existing projects and programs:

Historic Land Use Study (MPCA) to identify properties on the river that had pollution problems; grant closing out; chart of original St. Louis River channel is available.

Watershed Guardian (Cargill) to monitor water quality in Twin Ports using fathead minnows in bottles; UWS and Sue O'Halloran; grant closing out, but has a life of its own and the work will probably continue in some form.

Web Site: will be refined; asking for comments; grant closing out; www.stlouisriver.org is web address.

Opportunities to comment:

International Joint Commission (IJC) held hearings in Duluth on water diversion from the Great Lakes. Comments through 11/19. CAC will send a letter during comment period. Moved, Seconded, Passed that the Executive Committee write to IJC against diversion of water from the Great Lakes Basin.

Stryker Bay (Interlake Superfund Site). Decision by MPCA tabled until 12/14. Comments through 12/8. Contaminated Sediment Workgroup recommends dredging, not capping of sediment. Karen Plass read a letter from the CAC to MPCA in support of a long-term solution, i.e. dredging; if capping is chosen, permanently isolate sediment and monitor in perpetuity. Capping the sediment will create a wetland; methyl mercury occurs in wetlands because of anaerobic conditions for bacteria. Much concern about mercury. Discussion followed. Letter should oppose in-water wetland solution because of mercury. Long-term solution is to remove polluted material and place it in an area where it can be covered. Moved, Seconded, Passed that the Executive Committee draft a letter expressing these concerns and cite research from Wisconsin DNR supporting this view.

EAW (Environmental Assessment Worksheet) for golf course at Spirit Mountain is out for comment 11/1; comments due to City of Duluth within 30 days.

Habitat Plan for lower St. Louis River: Habitat Workgroup meeting November 15-16, open to all; Applied Ecological Services chosen with Bob Bruce as local contact person; EPA grant.

TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load): new collaboration with WLSSD, Minnesota Power and National Wildlife Federation; grant from River Network to coordinate the project which will study mercury throughout the St. Louis River watershed; a part-time coordinator will be hired.

Stewardship: sponsored canoe trip on SLR, a clean-up of SLR shoreline; meeting 11/l7 at 8:30 am at Sea Grant offices to discuss awards; nominations due 12/7.

Contaminated Sediment: meeting in November or December; Judy Crane is Chair and would like a Co-chair in this area since she is in the Twin Cities. Karen can provide support with meeting notices, etc.

Quarterly financial report was distributed. Karen reported $35K from EPA for office support. Finance Committee Chair is Harvey Hoven; Carl Richards is Treasurer.

Biosolids meeting 11/17 at WLSSD for public information about use of biosolids.

Basin Planning/Coastal Program: State Water Plan will be under Basin Planning (MPCA) with Brian Fredrickson as Chair. Everyone is invited to participate. Programmatic workgroup will be made operative to review and distribute comments. First meeting 11/4.

MPCA office is now on 4th floor of the Palucci Bldg. in Canal Park.

LaMP (Lakewide Management Plan) meeting 12/8; program drastically accelerated to be done by Earth Day 2000.

Meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.

Nan Stokes, Secretary