WATERSHED COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
March 20, 2010   

 Meeting called to order @ 8:10 AM.

ATTENDING: Pam Nicklas, Tim Abel

The new trail is in!  This will be the VINE MAPLE TRAIL, which travels through greenbelt from Stirrup (between Arabian & Shetland) to Shetland (near Corral).  Lots to see back there including big honeysuckle stands and vine maple colors in fall.  There is also a spur trail which takes off from the middle point of the Vine Maple Trail and joins with the Balsamroot Trail at the bench.  In another month this spur trail should be alive with balsamroot flowers, and maybe we'll have the two downed logs cut out of the path.  Check it out on your next wandering!

We made the recommendations of where to place the three extra benches currently stored in the warehouse.  One will be placed behind the backstop at the ball field, another placed behind the office where it can be used by both horseshoe and volleyball players.  The third will be placed at the end of the new VIEWPOINT TRAIL which is not a trail just yet.  With completion of the VINE MAPLE trail, VIEWPOINT will now take precedence.  It will sit with a great view over the Wenatchee River as it curls away from the Ponderosa.  The trail will tie into Riata closer to Camp 12 road than the current terminus of the LUPINE trail.

A request for $250 of Watershed money for road circles was discussed for the second meeting and a decision to deny this funding was unanimous.  There were many valid concerns raised regarding these road islands and in the end it was determined that they were not part of Watershed Committee's scope.

Another concern was how to proceed with the FIRE SAFE zone this season.  Several members have requested such a clearing up near the power lines as a 'fall-back' zone in the case of conflagration, but there is an overwhelming amount of conflicting information to act upon a project of this magnitude without more discussion and some kind of concensus as to its feasibility on many levels.  Without direction we will drop this topic from future meetings this season until we have more direction.

Also, the employment of the BOY SCOUTS for clearing fire fuels from greenbelt areas will be left to the boy scouts.  After such a collapse in communication and intent from last season it was agreed upon that they will have to show interest by contacting us and arranging their visits, which will be at a reduced amount of money per visit.

Our next event is a WILDFLOWER WALK & INTRODUCTION TO THE TRAILS OF THE PONDEROSA which will take place on APRIL 17th, following the Watershed Committee Meeting that day.  This will involve a lot of walking and minor trail work along the way so bring sturdy shoes and maybe some gardening gloves.   We will talk wildflowers and explore the trail system.  This event will take place from 10 AM to Noon, immediately following the 9 AM WATERSHED COMMITTEE MEETING.  Join us for the meeting, let us know your ideas and then join us for the walk!  If you're only interested in the walk, meet at the office at 10 AM and we will take off from there.  Should encompass about 5 miles of walking and roughly 300-400' of elevation gain/loss and frequent stops.  Should be fun!

Meeting was adjourned at 9:45 AM.

NEXT WATERSHED COMMITTEE MEETING IS 4-17 @ 9 AM.  Be there!