Committee approves feasibility study funding for Friends of Bass River

The committee voted to fund a feasibility study from the Friends of Bass River to examine shoreline work on Indian lands. Committee member (S6) proposed splitting the award between Open Space/Recreation funds and undesignated reserves; the amended allocation was accepted and the motion carried.

Committee member (S3), who had been skeptical initially, described visiting the site and said the engineering and potential aquacultural benefits persuaded her the study could be valuable. Several members clarified that the funds were for a feasibility and design phase and that any later shoreline work would require conservation-permit approvals. The committee noted the study could enable later conservation permits and better project design.