TRI-COUNTY CONEWAGO CREEK ASSOCIATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING – August 14th, 2002, 7:00 – 9:00 PM
MEETING MINUTES

I.	Welcome and Introduction

Board members present: Lindsey Morris, Matt Royer, Tom Murray, Jay Book, Hal Royer, Erin 
McKinne. General members were also present.

II.	Stoffel Project

Bill Stoffel has "volunteered" his property for plantings.  He has a bare streambank that he 
would like planted with native flora.  The tentative date for a property "prep" day is Saturday, 
September 28th.  There is a concern on funding for seeds.  The Chesapeake Bay Foundation's 
program calls for no mowing.  This is a unique situation and CBF may allow for various types of 
plantings along the streams.  Discussion continued on topics such as: long-term maintenance, 
when is the best time for planting (early-October), planting equipment and volunteers.  There is a 
possibility that the prep-day project could be a United Way Day-of-Caring project.  Nicole 
Caruso and Erin McKinne have agreed to help organize the prep-day.

III.	Landowner Database

Tom Murray has mapped 50% of the 170 landowners along the main stem of the Conewago.  
There are approximately 6,000 total landowners in the watershed.  Lebanon County is proving to 
be difficult to gather and map.  Lancaster County is finished and Dauphin County does have web 
access.  Volunteers do need to go to the Dauphin County courthouse to copy parcel maps.  Tom 
hopes to elicit help from student interns once the school year gets underway.

IV.	Financial Report

Volunteers are needed for the Art Show Fundraiser to be held on September 21st and 22nd (from 
10am - 4pm).  The art show is to be held at Lynn Szymborski's farm on Geyers Church Road in 
Dauphin County.  Artists have been asked to donate at least 10% of the price of the piece to the 
TCCCA.

V.	Lebanon Valley Rails-to-Trails Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

The group has been invited to participate at the Lebanon Valley Rails-to-Trail grand opening to 
be held on October 26th.  The Board has decided to take advantage of this event by displaying an 
informational poster on the group.  Volunteers will be solicited at the next general meeting.

VI.	Watershed Assessments

The Board met with County Conservation District Watershed Specialists, Stephanie Harmon, 
Matt Kofroth, Andy McAllister, Jeremy Trexler, and DEP Watershed Manager Jineen Boyer, to 
discuss the concept of "watershed assessments".  The discussion centered on leading the TCCCA 
toward a watershed assessment and restoration plan for the entire Conewago Creek Watershed.  
Such a project will allow the group to pinpoint the problem areas of the creek and its tributaries, 
and help to prioritize areas for future stream improvement projects.  

SRBC already has some data on the Conewago Creek that the group hopes to obtain.  Discussion 
focused on the ability of the group to administer their own watershed assessment.  Decision was 
reached to wait and see what the SRBC data reveals and what points along the stream need to be 
tested.  If there are only 15 points to be tested, the group can handle the chemistry with the help 
of the Milton Hershey School and Elizabethtown College.  If more points are needed, there 
might be more of a challenge.  

We can always approach the three conservation districts in the watershed for advice.  Also, 
discussion was held on the use of a consultant.  There is a concern that the consultant could leave 
the group "out in the cold".  

This issue is complex and will require much deliberation and research.  The focus in the present 
should be on helping current cooperative landowners.

VII.	Open Discussion


VIII.	Next Meeting

The next Board meeting will be held Wednesday, September 18th at 7:00 at the Milton Hershey 
Environmental Center.