March 2021 Meeting Minutes

The Sierra Club - Lehigh Valley Group Executive Committee
Monday March 8, 2021 7:00 PM
Virtual meeting using Zoom

MINUTES

Executive Committee Members: Matthew MacConnell, Brian Hillard, Marilyn Jordan,  Don Miles, Andrew Unger

Guests:  Patricia Tierman, Robyn Shumbris.

Patricia Tierman is a Gender Studies teacher. She wants to find out how she can bring [information?] about wilderness to East Stroudsburg.

Robyn Shumbris is a Special Ed teacher. She has recently become active in hiking and the outdoors thanks to Patricia. She is excited about LV Sierra Club activities.

Welcome visitors and introductions:

Guests introduced themselves, their background and their interests. The executive committee introduced themselves and identified their positions on the ExComm.

Approval of Minutes: Minutes for our February 8 meeting were approved.

Status change (Brian Hillard)

Brian informed us that he needs to step back as Co-Chair of the LV Group due to too many unmet personal and professional needs. He will think about how to refocus his efforts so he can best help our LV Group.

Report on structural changes at the National Sierra Club­  (Don Miles and Matt MacConnell) 

National staff thought Chapters were not diverse and effective enough, and more oversight was being considered. Jim Wylie will deal with National efforts as they affect chapters. Don said we have 2,200 members in the LV G of the Sierra Club.

Matt said aa new Sierra Club treasurer is reviewing our books. It is unclear how much we can spend on conservation.

Conservation Report (Matt MacConnell)

  • Observation Hive – The observation hive LV Group purchased has been installed at the Lehigh Gap Nature Center and we are collaborating with Lehigh Valley Beekeepers Assoc for introduction of bees this spring and care throughout the year.
  • Four Particulate Monitors – deployed continue to record data.  Matt briefly displayed the web page to show each sensor.  Thanks to Jonathan Schreiter for his assistance in compiling the data from 2020 in the report presented last month. 
  • Tree planting at Jordan Creek in Trexler Preserve – Matt explained how he will have socially distant volunteers plant trees and shrubs purchased from Edge of the Woods Nursery along Jordan Creek. Trexler Nature Preserve. We have coordinated with Lehigh Parks Manager Robert Schiller to get permission to plant along a Riparian area of Jordan Creek adjacent to the southern end of the Trexler Nature Preserve.  The list of approved tree species we need to select from are: river birch, swamp white oak, redbud, sycamore, serviceberry, smooth alder, silky dogwood, winterberry, and elderberry.  Next step is cost estimate, project funding request and planning planting per Covid requirements. 
  • Buck Mountain2 Acid Mine Drainage Remediation. Matt will check on whether the limestone system for remediating acid mine drainage is working. He needs to install new filters. Andy and Don agreed to help Matt. There are still issues with access to site, pool level test to check leak repair, water quality testing at site and in outflows across 5 miles to Lehigh confluence in Rockport. 
  • Solar farm. Trying to find a site for installation of a solar farm is proving to be frustratingly difficult. Suggestions included finding a reporter to cover a story, and seeking help from Rep. Susan Wild.
  •  Ricky Park Wetland site Park Bench. At our last meeting we agreed to seek sharing of funding between the Chapter, Group and Township to cover costs to create and install a Sierra Club placard, and signage with names of the native wetland plants species planted. Volunteers are needed.
  • Water quality monitors.  Probe #1 isn’t working. It will cost $270 for a modem, but The Lehigh Stocking Association is paying. A new site for Prob #2 farther south (near Allentown) needs to be found.
  • Fish ladder project. Matt reviewed the complications involved in either removing the Parryville dam, or installing a fish ladder.

Roadside cleanup (Brian Hillard). EAC’s (and others) want to support monthly  roadside cleanup. Matt suggested using Facebook and “Next Door” to find volunteers.

Our next meeting will be on April 12, 2021

Minutes by Marilyn Jordan