FAC Minutes 2021

Meeting: Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park and Federal Advisory Commission

15 July 2021 9:00am-12:37pm EST, Virtual

 

Federal Advisory Commision - Meeting Roster and Attendance

 

Name	Role	Organization	Attendance
Tina Cappetta	Superintendent, DFO	NPS/CHOH	Yes
John Noel	Deputy Superintendent	NPS/CHOH	Yes
Mackensie Henn	Assistant to the Superintendent	NPS/CHOH	Yes
John Adams	Safety Officer	NPS/CHOH	Yes
Jeri Deyoung	Chief of Resource Management	NPS/CHOH	Yes
Christiana Hanson	Chief of Interpretation, Education, and Volunteers	NPS/CHOH	Yes
Andrew Landsman	Program Manager, Natural Resources and Compliance	NPS/CHOH	Yes
Joe Reed	Civil Engineer	NPS/CHOH	Yes
Justin Ebersole	Cultural Resource Specialist	NPS/CHOH	Yes
Kevin Stanfield	Kevin Stanfield	NPS/CHOH	Yes
Joseph Adkins	Frederick County	Commissioner	Yes
Thomas Birch	District of Colombia	Commissioner	Yes
David Brickley	Virginia	Commissioner	Yes
Mark Cucuzzella	West Virginia	Commissioner	N/A
George Franks	Washington County	Commissioner	Yes
Angela Hummer	Maryland	Commissioner	Yes
Stella Koch	Virginia	Commissioner	Yes
George Lewis	Chair, At large	Commissioner	Yes
Rod Mackler	Maryland	Commissioner	Yes
Stephen Nelson	Allegany County	Commissioner	Yes
Walter Stull	Frederick County	Commissioner	Yes
Scott Walzak	District of Colombia	Commissioner	Yes
Evelyn Williams	At Large	Commissioner	Yes
Francis "Champ" Zumbrun	Allegany County	Commissioner	Yes
Raisa Barrera	Education Coordinator Intern	Other	Yes
Cassie Conklin	on behalf of Congressman David Trone	Other	Yes
Rich McClellan	Member of the public	Other	Yes
Birth Osinkosky	Member of the public	Other	N/A
Karen Lips	Member of the public	Other	Yes

 

1. Meeting opened at 9:00am

A. Quorum of Commissioners present

2. Welcome
Superintendent Cappetta, Cheseapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, National Park Service

A. Review of rules for online meeting

i. Remain muted while not speaking, raise hands when wishing to speak or ask a question.

3. Welcome
George Lewis, Chairman

A. Chair discussed that both the commission and many of the commissioners are facing end of term

i. Commissioners serve “till replaced”, National Park Service is aware of the vacancies and is evaluating next steps. Commissioners asked to let Superintendent and the Chairman know if they are interested in continuing to serve after the end of their term

B. Chair discussed the purpose of the commission

i. Chair’s purpose to assist the super, protect and support the park
ii. Commissioners are advocates for the park and their neighborhood

4. Introductions
Superintendent Cappetta

A. Commissioner Koch asked for a list of the park employees with their title and contact information to be sent to the commissioners

5. Professional Services
Joe Reed, Civil Engineer

A. Discussion of major projects
B. Completed projects

i. Rehab lift Locks 3 and 4 in Georgetown
ii. Rehab of Conococheague Aqueduct
iii. Repairs to various watered structures between Locks 5-22
iv Debris removal at culverts and canal
v. Interim stabilization of south canal wall at mile marker (mm) 7 plannning/design
vi. Locks 1, 2, 5

• inlet: Lock 1 and Georgetown Walls

vii, Rehab Levels
viii. Stabilization of stone wall near mm11
ix. Level 33 wall stabilization
x. Wasteweir 1 restoration
xi. Repairs for flood damage
xii. Repairs for 4 bridges
xiii. Stabilization of Potomac Dam 5 left abutment
xiv. Widescale assessment of Deferred maintenance and Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA)
xv. Replacement of Lock 2 and 20 gates
xvi. Replacement of bridge superstructure at Hancock, MD

C. Imminent Construction

i. Towpath stabilization McMahon’s Mill to Lock 42
ii. PawPaw slope stabilization
iii. Seneca Aqueduct pedestrian bridge replacement
iv. Georgetown Visitor Center
v. Great Falls Tavern Roof
vi. Towpath resurfacing

D. Planning/design

i. Locks 1, 2, 5

• inlet: Lock 1 and Georgetown Walls

ii. Rehab Levels
iii. Stabilization of stone wall near mm11
iv. Level 33 wall stabilization
v. Wasteweir 1 restoration
vi. Repairs for flood damage
vii. Repairs for 4 bridges
viii. Stabilization of Potomac Dam 5 left abutment
ix. Widescale assessment of Deferred maintenance and GAOA

Questions and Comments

A. Chairman Lewis commended Mr. Reed on his work and presentation.

• Many agreed.

B. Commissioner Koch asked for the presentation to be sent to the commissioners.

C. Commissioner Champ asked Joe about his challenging projects/favorite projects.

D. Commissioner Stull asked for an update on the Byron Bridge.

10. Natural Resource Management
Jeri DeYoung, Chief of Resources
Dr. Andrew Landsman, Natural Resources Program Manager

A. Priority Natural Resources

i. Aquatic habitats and resources
ii. Rare, threatened, and endangered species
iii. Forest habitats and resources
iv. Landscape connectivity

11. Cultural Resources: Geographic Information Systems, Mapping, and Documentation
Kevin Stanfield, GIS Specialist

A. Examples of the use of GIS in the park

i. African American Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) Camps in Carderrock
ii. Stonecutter’s Cemetery
iii. Historic Culverts

12. Cultural Resources: Research,
Justin Ebersole, Cultural Resources Specialist

A. Projects

i. Archeological Survey of two African American CCC Camps at Carderrock
ii. Ferry Hill Archeological Survey
iii. Bridgeport Historic Resource Study
iv. African American Communities along the canal in Georgetown and Palisades historic resource study
v. Tribal Affiliation Study

13. Interpretation, Education, and Volunteers
Christiana Hanson, Director/Chief Ranger of Interpretation, Education, and Volunteer-In-Parks Program

A. Volunteer programs reactivating in phases, with mitigation in place

i. Reactivated all front-line volunteers
ii. In the process of reactivating our visitor services volunteers

B. Education has gone digital in response to the pandemic

i. Virtual field trips
ii. Offering virtual junior ranger programs

C. Interpretative programs have moved outdoors

i. Visitor Centers remain closed due to difficulties in social distancing

• Cumberland, Williamsport, and Great Falls
• Working on Georgetown with partner

ii. Looking forward to bringing back the boat program at Great Falls in the summer

• Beta testing programs for the new boat in Georgetown
• Boats in Williamsport are a little small for social distancing, but looking to incorporate these boats digitally

iii. Ranger talks and roving have also moved outside, looking at ways to engage in person and digitally

• Working on bringing back "Meet the Mules"

D. Looking to the future

i. Wayside inventory

• Looking at ways to diversify the narrative and diversify who we engage

ii. Creating a flexible use space in Williamsport

Questions and Comments

A. Commissioner Birch asked about the incorporation of the mules in Georgetown

i. NPS hoping to bring the mules in, connecting in person and digitally
ii. Flexible schedule for 2021, more formal schedule for 2022

B. Commissioner Birch also asked where the mules have been

i. Chief Hanson gave an update on the mules and their training

C. Superintendent Cappetta also discussed issues in staffing

15. Superintendent Cappetta turned the meeting over to Chairman Lewis for moderation of a discussion among the commissioners

A. Commissioner Adkins
B. Commissioner Birch

i. Large amount of work at Georgetown
ii. What is happening with mm0 and the area, possibly covered by the Canal Plan (Georgetown Heritage)
iii. Navigation issues to mm 0 for the public, look at some way to assist people finding mm0

C. Commissioner Brickley

i. Who is the head of intergovernmental affairs, interested in the continuation of the Federal Advisory Commission
ii. Addressed Dr. Landsman and Mr. Ebersole, Commissioner Brickley has been doing research on a possible creation of a city at Great Falls, asked for a meeting to discuss. Commissioner Brickley was directed to George Washingtion Memorial Parkway (GWMP), Mr. Ebersole offered to pass along the proper contact information

D. Commissioner Franks

i. Expressed concerns over access to the canal at the end of Falling Waters Road.
ii. Overlap of the canal and the Potomac Fish and Game Club

• Assistant to Superintendent to pass along contact information for Commissioner Franks to Ranger DeYoung, include Chairman and Superintendent on communication

E. Commissioner Hummer

i. No major concerns

F. Commissioner Koch

i. No major concerns

G. Commissioner Mackler

i. What can the commission do for the park?
ii. Question on mm0 and navigation issues, adding signage
iii. Ranger Hanson looking at ways to address this issue, including adding digital videos and temporary waysides
iv. Washington Canoe Club (WCC) at m1.2 not included in the Canal Plan, what is the status and restoration
v. Ranger DeYoung confirmed that the park is working with the WCC and their proposed restoration, the historic inventory conducted during the Canal Plan will now confirm WCC
vi. Locks 5-22 project and the debris clean up, did not hear reference to culvert 2, what is the status on restoration
vii. John Noel, Deputy Superintendent, let commissioners know that it is a project the park is aware of and is working on
viii. Status on the Seneca Stone Cutting Mill
ix. Ranger DeYoung confirmed that the transfer is going forward, park is working with the solicitor

I. Commissioner Nelson

i. Allegany Co. Commission and Mayor of Cumberland concerned with rumors of closing the Cumberland Visitor Center
ii. Addressed by Superintendent Cappetta
iii. How long is the detour in place for PawPaw
iv. Reed, park engineer: project update page will be kept up to date, no solid date for complete reopening
v. Curious when resurfacing projects are coming to Cumberland

J. Commissioner Stull

i. Asked about the restoration of Ferry Hill
ii. Ranger DeYoung confirmed that a condition assessment of the building has been conducted, and there is a project in planning for the repair of the structure
iii. World Canal Conference update

• Monday 30th of August to the 1st of September

K. Commissioner Walzak

L. Commissioner Williams

i. Excited for the Teacher Corps to come back

M. Commissioner Zumbrun

i. Micheal Cresap home may be coming up for sale in Allegany Co, Directed to Justin

ii. Terrapin Run development and possible impacts at Fifteenmile Creek, directed to Andrew

N. Park Safety
John Adams, Safety Officer and lead on the HQ2 project

i. Relocation of the headquarters

• Moving to comply with requirement to move to economically low areas
• Moving closer to the park

ii. Cooperative Management Agreement (CMA) entered with Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO)

iii. Benefits of moving

• Partnership with MEDCO, paid quarterly
• Cost savings
• Permanent Headquarters

iv. Historical Stabilization of the Cline House, Old Stone Building, and Miller Lumber

• Looking to stabilize and find tenants

v. What is left?

• Finish stabilization
• Install signage and bronze mule
• Install handrails on wood deck
• Crosswalk improvement between Cushwa
• Finalize land transfer agreement
• Install barrier for eastbound Rt 11 traffic
• Tentative Ribbon Cutting

vi. Question

• Commissioner Mackler: What is the plan for a Visitor Center between Miller Lumber and Cline House
• Commissioner Zumbrun: art in Headquarters, use of Mark Stutzman’s Centennial Art
• Questions answered in the chat

15. Questions opened to the public

A. No response

16. Superintendent Cappetta closing reminder

A. Next meeting, looking towards the late fall
B. Commissioners will be invited to the Ribbon Cutting for the new headquarters

17. Chairman Lewis closing reminder

A. Reminded commissioners to be aware of ethics concerns, regional ethics officer

18. Superintendent Cappetta closing statements

A. Thank you to the staff for work year around and the presentations for the commission
B. Thank you to the commission for their dedication to the park

i. Thanks to Chairman Lewis for his dedication and help

C. Looking forward to working with the commission more

19. Chair closing

A. Thanked the commission

20. Meeting Gaveled closed at 12:37