Washington Conservation Commission
Minutes
– February 18, 2015
Assembly time: 7:00 PM.
Members present: Arin Mills, Jed
Schwartz, Johanna Young and Nan Schwartz.
Visitors:
1.0 Approval of Minutes: Approval of Minutes from December
meeting (no January meeting held), Arin motioned to approve the minutes, Nan seconded
the motion and all voted in favor.
2.0 Permits Committee - No new permits
3.0 Committee
and Board reports:
3.1 Land
Protection Committee - No recent meeting.
3.2 Energy Committee – Johanna reported
that the committee is meeting tomorrow night. There is a local Energy
Conference in March that several members are attending. They have been
discussing the solar panels at the transfer station, they make excess power in
the summertime but there is less available in the winter. Al Krygeris is
inputting all the townÕs power use data into a portfolio manager but it is slow
going. They are meeting with PSNH (Eversource) to
discuss the lighting in the town buildings. They are still planning to meet
with ReCover to do some training on winterizing.
Andrew Hatch may speak briefly at Town Meeting. They are hoping to get the
Selectmen to buy into discussing any new energy projects in town with the
committee.
3.3 Planning
Board – Nan reported that the outcome of the map update discussion with
the Planning Board resulted in a warrant article for $5000.
3.4 Forestry Committee
– Tom was not in attendance, but Jed reported that the Forestry Committee
also has a warrant article concerning the approval of any change to a Town
Forest will need a 2/3 vote to approve. Their forester Anita Blakman has
recommended a cut on the Farnsworth Hill Town Forest. They are speaking with
SPNHF to get approval for them to access the forest for a cut using the log
landing on the Forest SocietyÕs Farnsworth Hill Forest property.
3.5 Legislative update - No news. Johanna reports that there are a lot of energy related bills this year that EC is
keeping an eye on.
4.0 Public Presentations and workshops:
4.1 Snowshoe Hike – We discussed
dates for the snowshoe hike and penciled in February 28th or March 1st.
We will check our calendars and confirm a date by email.
4.2 Speaking for Wildlife – We rescheduled the Bat presentation into next year. Nan had information about a Fish & Game program ÒWonders of WildlifeÓ, that is similar and they send people out to do a program in the school. Arin will look into it and speak with the school principal to see if they might want to hold one on Animal Habits and Habitats.
4.3 Tracking Invasive Plants project
– Arin is working on input for the sheets we have. The reporting sheets
and guides are always available here: InvasiveProject.html
4.4 Nan had information about an Emerald
Ash Borer workshop, February 20th, 1-4PM at the Conservation Center in Concord,
RSVP Emily Lord 224-7867. Arin is thinking of going.
4.5 Nan had information about another
workshop put on by NHANRS – Workshop on Understanding Wildlife Corridors
in NH, Friday, March 27th, 9am to 3pm, Lebanon City Hall
4.6 Arin asked if we are interested in
bringing the Silvio Conte WOW trailer back this year. Everyone thought this
would be a great idea. Arin will coordinate with the school and try to set
something up for spring.
4.7 Arin mentioned the lecture series at Fox State Forest in March. Nan will find information about it and let everyone know.
5.0 New business – None
6.0 Other Business:
6.1 Jed called the owner of the land
who wishes to give us her property. She is hoping that we can use the donated land
or sell it to get money to put in the Conservation Fund. Nan researched the
property and shared all the information with the group. Jed will also speak
with the Selectmen about it this week to find out the logistics of accepting
the property.
6.2 Master Plan Update – Natural
Resources chapter – Everyone will review the document and let Nan know if
they have any suggestions.
6.3 Trail Map issue – Jed wrote
Don Damm another letter to answer his most recent
letter. The Selectmen wrote a cover letter to attach to JedÕs letter and sent
it off to Don Damm. Jed had a discussion with Carolyn
Russell at a SelectmenÕs meeting about walking on LAEÕs roads and they donÕt
want anyone walking on their private roads. Jim Russell said there is a big
liability to LAE if someone is walking on their roads.
Jed said we would warn everyone to stay out of there. Nan said she saw in the
SelectmenÕs minutes that they received a thank you from Don Damm
for taking care of the matter, so we guess the issue is resolved.
7.0 WhatÕs Happening in Nature?
Nan
said we have had many feet of snow in the past month.
Arin
said she saw a moose on Faxon Hill recently. Jed said he has seen a lot of
moose prints in the snow in East Washington and on Farnsworth Hill.
Arin
has Red Polls back at her bird feeder since January.
Johanna
has lots of Tufted Titmice at her feeder.
Jed
mentioned lots of Blue Jays and Morning Doves.
Johanna
saw a big flock of Turkeys next to the road. Nan has seen some flocks in East
Washington and Hillsboro.
Jed
has seen lots of Snowshoe Hare tracks near his trail. He saw a place where
Turkeys were flying in and landing to eat the barberries off the bushes.
Arin
saw a beaver out on the ice in the wetlands, south of town. Johanna said her
beavers have moved up stream closer to CraneÕs.
Jed
mentioned a Porcupine that is nesting in a tree hollow. He saw his trails from
the tree going out to search for food.
To
learn about slow, sleepy bees, click here: NewinNature.html
8.0 Correspondence:
DES notice Minimum impact Forestry notification,
Wolfe, TM 4-3, North Main Street
Copy
of letter from Don Damm
Copy
of response letter to Don Damm
DES
notice of receipt of Shoreland Permit application for
1993 Valley Road, TM 25-87
DES
notice of Forestry minimum impact notification for TM 3-3, Dickinson
DES
notice of Forestry minimum impact notification for TM 3-1, MacDonald
DES
notice of Shoreland permit for MacDonald, TM 25-87,
1993 Valley Road
9.0 Adjourned
at 8:00 PM, our next scheduled
meeting is March 18th at 7PM at the Town Hall.
Respectfully
submitted,
Nan
Schwartz, Secretary