President Mike Moore opened the meeting at 7:05 with 22 members in attendance.

President Mike Moore introduced Karen Forget, Executive Director of Lynnhaven River Now.

The web site for Lynnhaven River Now is:  www.lrnow.org.  There is a wealth of information available on the website.
LRN is only 6 years old and was started by 3 business people who named the organization Lynnhaven 2007 with the goal of restoring and protecting the Lynnhaven River.  They picked 2007 because their goal was that by 2007 oysters from the Lynnhaven would be safe to eat.  Oysters are important to the health of the Lynnhaven and there is now a disease resistant strain of oysters.

The headwaters of the Lynnhaven is located in the central part of the city, where Town Center is now located.  The Town Center was wetlands at one time. Also, our population grew from 11,000 to almost half a million.  Our area was developed prior to wetland protection. There are extensive programs in schools for students and teachers.  
Eighty-three percent of our storm water goes back into surface water and thirty five percent of the land is unable to absorb water and 83% of our storm water goes back into surface water.

Lake Pembroke is a dammed finger of the Lynnhaven River (lakes have an underground water source.)  Lake Meadows was formed for freshwater, irrigation etc.

Geese are a major source of water pollution.  
Possible solutions to the geese problem are:
(1)   Plant thick grass, geese and ducks don’t like to walk through thick grass.
(2)  Placing stakes in the ground and connecting them by twine.
(3)  Feed can be brought in that will make the geese sterile.
(4)  Institute an addling program.  The eggs are shaken regularly and the chicks won’t survive.
(5)  Coat the eggs with vegetable oil.  
(6)  There is a program from Richmond that will remove the geese for a fee + $5 an animal
        A special permit is required for addling and coating the eggs with vegetable oil.

Soil testing is advocated with the recommendation that only half of the recommended amount of nitrogen be used.
The Chesapeake Club – Lawn care companies that have agreed to abide by the recommended guidelines developed by LRN.
 

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ADENDUM.
After a short break, the Business meeting started at 8:47.

A motion was made and seconded to accept the minutes of the April General Membership Meeting.  The motion passed.

TREASURER’S REPORT:

As of May 21, 2009 there is    $ 9,876.23 in our checking account, $ 6,159.20 in the CD and  
$ 3, 613.69 in our Business Money Market Account 

BLOCK SECURITY:     There was a neighborhood fire that was accidentally set by children.

NEWSLETTER:

The May Newsletter is the last one until the fall.  There may be a “special” Newsletter in September.

Due to job constraints, Bruce Blair has to resign as Newsletter Editor.
The Civic League will need a new Newsletter Editor.

Clif Furedy provided pictures of the new, projected gazebo for viewing.
The new gazebo will be similar to the one that was at the entranceway 25 years ago.
The Board made the decision to rebuild the gazebo not replace it.   

The Board decided to hire someone to maintain the median Strip.  They will try to coordinate it with the city so that the Median strip is continually maintained and, when necessary, cut weekly.

1st VICE PRESIDENT:

Brian Rabe announced that the Civic League is in need a Newsletter Ad Coordinator and a Social Chair.   Anyone willing to volunteer some time to the community should call Brian.

Bill Hawley made a motion to join LRN.  It was seconded by Mike Moore and passed.
Peggy Caverly made a motion to make an additional donation of $50 to the organization.   Jim Hall seconded the motion.  It was unanimously passed.

President Moore announced that there would be a, “Flag Retirement” Party at the pool
By Cub Scout pack 475.   There will be a bin at the Recreation Center for worn out or damaged flags. 

An old sofa was dumped at the park.   A special pick up will be requested.
 
The Ladies Lunch Group will be on May 28th at Bubba’s.        The Garden Club is on summer hiatus.                  

Respectfully Submitted,
Teri Mikulka

ADDENDUM

Our program speaker was Karen Forget, Executive Director of the Lynnhaven River NOW project (LRN.)  She presented a well-prepared, visual-audio overview of the LRN, including the history and objectives of the project, a description of the Lynnhaven River watershed and its history and the problems that have ensued from development and population growth.   She reported some successes, particularly in educational programs, public awareness. Bacteria reduction, clean boating and the oyster restoration project.   She acknowledged, however that considerable pollution still exists (nitrogen & phosphorous, low dissolved oxygen, sedimentation, algae, water clarity etc.)   She noted that much of the river and stream bottoms of the covered with lifeless sludge (like “black mayonnaise”) which create extensive dead zones.

Excessive pollution from the large influx of storm water from streets, parking lots, lawns, driveways was also discussed.

LRN is promoting the reduction of storm water, but curbing the excessive use of lawn and garden fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides by keeping leaves and clippings from our streets, by cleaning up after our pets, by not feeding the geese and ducks etc.

Proactive measures, such as creating waterfront vegetation, buffers, rain gardens, lawn mowing tips, rain barrels, etc. also were discussed.

Numerous comments and questions from the floor were discussed.   Robert Westmont cited the continuing sedimentation and pollution of Old Donation Creek, noting that the new filtering system is not doing the job.   

Some discussion of dredging g prospects ensued.   Jim Willenbrink cited a newspaper report (5/12/09) of long-term problems being developed by the Army Corps of Engineers to environmentally “rescue” the Lynnhaven.  Jim was particularly alarmed that said plans were considering “reconnecting 20 man-made lakes to the tidal rhythms of the river (“i.e. destroying the dams and reverting the lakes to shallow wetlands.”   Ms. Forget responded by stating that no dams would be destroyed if the lakefront residents opposed.  

Jim also noted, from maps published by the Virginia Department of Health, that the Western Branch of the Lynnhaven, south of Witchduck Point (our shorelines) was still a “Condemned Shellfish Area” due to pollution.

Jim Willenbrink