FOBHL
Board meeting minutes
Powell C of C Meeting Room
Dec 9, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Powell
Call to order and Welcome – Bob C
Approval of Nov email minutes: Motion by Jerry Second by Joe Motion carried
John Keck items: John was unable to attend so he called and sent us an email report
Reports on:
1. FOBHL will be meeting with park staff to discuss early boat and fishing dock removal at Horseshoe Bend and other issues after the first of the year.
2. New well bid
Region has made some changes to the project specifications. Keith Biermann (BICA) is planning to review these new specifications next week and will then forward the final copies to Wyoming DEQ to request a permit. Keith estimates it will get sent to DEQ after the 1st of January.
The Big Horn Rural Coop is still waiting on the electrical transformers and other materials for the well and campground. If the weather is good enough, they might be able to install equipment in January. We plan to proceed with specs to WY DEQ, even though the electrical equipment isn't complete. We may put a statement in the specs, concerning timeframe for making well electrical connections, etc.
3. More Docks
I haven't had time to talk with Mark Fowden on the motor boat gas tax grant program. In talking with the concessionaires, a high priority for the coming year will be to try to expand the number of boat slips available at Horseshoe Bend. We probably need two separate docks and slips. One for the concessions and one for the public. I'll explore these and other options with Jerry and then with Mark. (FOBHL have presented some info as well about installing destination docks in the south lake made by EZ Dock. These docks are used on most lakes in Idaho and Flaming Gorge Nat Rec Area in Wyo has them too. The directors received several emails with EZ Dock info over the past few weeks. We are not sure how much grant money will be available.)
4. Jerry Case public meetings
The Powell and Lovell meetings went very well. We also met with Chuck Preston with the BuffaloBillHistoricalCenter in Cody and it was a very productive meeting. Jerry felt the Thermopolis Chamber of Commerce was the least interested as they asked no questions and it only lasted about 10-15 minutes. He was still glad to have made the effort to promote BICA and so are we! ! ! (Jerry we appreciate all your public meetings which will lead to a better relationship with the public regarding what BICA has to offer.)
Kate Hammond is the new superintendent at Little Bighorn National Battlefield Monument.
Ongoing items for comment or questions:
Ferrell did attend the open house and installation ceremony for Jerry Case at Ft Smith on Wednesday, November 12 representing FOBHL board of directors.
DU Powell Chapter Banquet Friday Nov 14. Bob C reported it was very successful at informing folks on the BighornLake issues as well as getting some new FOBHL members.
The conference call meeting Nov 17 on the Bighorn River side channel issues was attended by Bob C. The project was reviewed and time was given to discuss funding for the next phase of the project. We will be meeting again soon via conference call.
Conference calls continue each month with stakeholders of BighornLake on winter water management. The Dec plan is out and follows the initial fall/winter plan. Dan reported the precipitation for Nov was lower than expected however.
Jerry Case will be meeting with Greybull, Cody, and Worland Chambers of Commerce in Jan/Feb 2009. He and Bob C will also meet with the Park County Tourism group concerning BICA in local tourism plans.
Joe continues to work on the ice fishing tournament for mid winter.
Bob C reported on the Boysen Reservoir meeting in Worland on November 11. There was a nice crowd and we were updated on the past, present and future plans for Boysen. Two items of interest; 1 - A July 17 flushing flow to remove heavy moss from the Bighorn River to help the irrigation districts (this 4972 acre feet of water was paid for by said districts) (this flush is being evaluated by the Wyoming Game and Fish from a fishery management stand point) 2 - The 30 year average for inflows into Boysen is 100,000 acre feet less than it was in 1998 due to the drought. This decrease has had a marked affect on BighornLake levels.
Promo plans for 2009? June celebration, catfish tournament, etc need our ongoing consideration.
Bob C and Jerry Case met in mid November to discuss the upcoming C of C meetings, VIP projects – Driftwood, grind off more dead brush near causeway for access, replace worn out signs, landscaping at HSB Campground and possible Eagle Scout projects at BICA. This dialog is continuing on a regular basis.
USBR Bighorn River Issues Meeting will be in Lovell Jan 15 at the LovellCommunity Center from 9am to mid afternoon. We encourage all to attend. The agenda will be sent out as soon as we receive it. There will be two very vital issues being reported on by the COR out of Omaha; sediment control and the raising of the lake level from 3640 to 3645 feet of elevation.
FOBHL members meeting will be Jan 15, 2009 from 6 to 8 pm at the visitor center in Lovell. A munch and mingle of , BBQ pork on a nice bun, chips & dips, cole slaw, potato salad, cookies, water and pop. Jerry Case will speak and answer our questions. A Power Point review of 2008 FOBHL activities followed by member questions will round off the evening. Please put this on your calendar!
The next FOBHL board meeting will be January 13 at 6:30pm in Lovell.