Washington Conservation Commission

Minutes – February 21, 2018

 

Assembly time: 7:00 PM

 

Members present: Arin Mills, Jed Schwartz, Doug Cook and Nan Schwartz.

Visitors: Andrew Hatch

 

1.0    Approval of Minutes: January minutes - There were no comments, Jed made a motion to approve as written, Doug seconded the motion and all voted in favor.

 

2.0    Permits Committee  - Ayers Pond Road Bridge project, Ed sent us a draft copy of the Wetlands Permit application for the bridge replacement project on Ayers Pond Road. Jed and Nan went to look at the site and were concerned about some old sugar maple trees that may need to be cut down, there was also a stonewall on the plan that may need to be moved or relocated. Arin was concerned that no erosion control was indicated on the plan. Jed spoke with Ed who is sending an updated plan and application; that should answer some of these questions. We will revisit the site when we receive the application.

 

3.0   Committee and Board reports:

3.1   Land Protection Committee – No news from Whit about Barker’s appraisal. Jed spoke about problems with the Porter’s deed and they have been settled. He had the bill for the attorney’s fees for $1,348.19. Jed will contact the Porters about covering some of the cost and their calls to the attorney. Jed made a motion to pay the bill, Doug seconded the motion and all voted in favor. Nan will submit the bill to Lynda for payment.

        Jed received a call form someone who expressed an interest in donation some property (1.1 acres) he owns out off Bailey Road. Jed asked if we would be interested in getting the land by donation. The owner said that he has neighbors that might also be interested in a land donation. Arin said she isn’t opposed to getting the land by donation. She thinks Jed should call the man back and get more information about the land and the neighbors. Doug thinks it is a hassle. Nan will look up the deed and tax card for more information.

3.2   Energy Committee – Andrew reported that there wasn’t much interest shown for receiving an energy audit using the infrared camera by town’s residents, just a few people signed up. Andrew said he submitted receipts for $111.00 for window kits and hasn’t been paid yet. Nan will check on the invoice with Lynda and ask her how much of the Energy Committee grant funds are still in our account for Andrew. Arin asked if EC is planning anything for Town Meeting. Andrew said that apathy is bad right now and they probably won’t. They hoped to be involved with the building projects and the weatherization but were not asked to be involved. Jed thinks they have insulated just to meet code. Andrew thinks the people using the building should be involved.

3.3   Planning Board – Nan said the PB is putting three updates for the Land Use Ordinance on a special ballot for Town Meeting. One is on RVs, one on a parking setback and one on the building permit section. The Town Center Visioning project will be started in the spring after Town Meeting.

3.4   Forestry Committee –Tom was not here to report. They have not met in a while and the logging of Farnsworth Hill TF is on hold.

3.5   Legislative update  - NHACC sent information about HB1104-FN - This bill proposes reductions in regulatory permits, including Dredge and Fill application timelines.  The Board of Directors of the NH Association of Conservation Commissions opposes HB1104-FN because it effectively decreases the time frame for conservation commissions to offer comments on dredge and fill permits to DES and it repeals a commission’s opportunity to request an extension of the 40-day time period to offer comments.

 

4.0   Public Presentations and workshops:       

4.1   Winter Hike - Our snowshoe hike is at the Camp Morgan on Sunday, February 25^th at 10AM. We will begin the hike at the Faxon Hill entry point and Nan and Arin will make hot cocoa

Jed mentioned looking at what the Forest Society is doing for the Cottrell-Baldwin Lecture Series at Fox State Forest and sending out information on the lectures. Nan will look it up and sent information on the series

4.2   Arin said that she, Doug, Jed and Nan met with the teachers at WES to discuss ideas for workshops with the kids that are curriculum based. We talked about a lot of things and decided on a water based project for next year, kicking off in the fall. Doug mentioned making a water table and we will look at what would be involved and possibly look for grant money (possibly Sally Jenkins funds). We committed to do the Vernal Pool workshop this year, just before April vacation; Friday April 20^th in the school and Saturday April 21^st for the pool visit. We will visit the pool on Faxon Hill again. We will contact the owner for permission. We will look at our materials and PowerPoint and see what needs to be updated. Arin will confirm with the teachers.

 

5.0   New Business:

5.1   Nan mentioned the 2018 Draft NHDES Wetlands Rules Public Input Sessions - A significant, multi-year effort to improve the technical standards, operation, and decision-making processes used by the NHDES Wetlands Bureau. Concord, NHDES Auditorium, 29 Hazen Dr., Monday, Feb 26^th from 6-8PM, draft of rules changes here: https://www.des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/wetlands/documents/changes-summary.pdf

 

6.0   Other Business:

6.1   Natural Resource Inventory Map updates – Arin said we have the new drafts of the NRI maps from Chris. Nan printed them out to review. Andrew asked if we designate the “cold-water” ponds differently on the map. He said that Rand McNally maps show them with a “fish” shape on them. Nan said that Millen Pond and Smith Pond are the cold-water ponds in town. We can ask Chris if we could show them differently on the maps. We still hope to have the new maps for display at Town Meeting. Arin, Nan and Jed will meet to review this week and let Chris know our feedback.

6.2   Trails and Recreation Guide Booklet –Arin said we are working on the guide and explained it to Andrew. We are developing the guide in house and will print and sell for a nominal price. Nan found a guide that Henniker and Hillsboro put out. Andrew said he is a walker and he follows the signs that are posted. He asked about landowner’s permission and using snowmobile trails. Arin is looking into whether snowmobile trails can be used off-season for hiking and we will address this in the guide. Arin asked Doug if he would be willing to visit Town Forests that we haven’t been to and he said he could possibly do this. Arin wants accurate information in the guide. We will aim to publish it next spring

6.3   Master Plan goals for 2018 – We are working on the NRI update and map update as our goal. We will look at it again when we are done with this project.

6.4   Barker easement – see 3.1

6.5       Tracking Invasive Plants project – The reporting sheets and guides are always available here: InvasiveProject.html

 

7.0   What’s Happening in Nature?

        Jed said he had a Red-bellied Woodpecker at the feeder for a few days. Nan reported it to Audubon because the Peterson guide said they don’t go north of Connecticut. Audubon said that they are rare up here but with the climate changing, they now can be found here on occasion.

Andrew had a moose staying in his yard; he sits in the bushes and walks around the yard after they leave. Arin thinks she has seen the same moose walking around on Faxon Hill Road. Andrew has walked around at the Seventh Day Adventist trail and has seen lots of moose evidence out there.

Arin saw an owl near the Windsor line sitting in the road, she has seen it several times early in the morning (still dark out). She said it had something in its talons and she had to stop suddenly in order to miss hitting it.

Jed said that he has seen lots of skunks out wandering around. Doug said a skunk got one of his chickens when a few were wandering outside their pen.

Jed said he saw bobcat tracks and his trail camera captured a fox and a coyote and a flock of wild turkeys.

Doug said his Ravens are building their nest now. He said Peter puts scraps of food out for the Ravens. Doug thinks he saw a Sharp Shinned Hawk but it could possibly have been a Cooper’s Hawk, he wasn’t sure. Arin said Audubon has a good bird and butterfly guide to use for identification. Nan said it was 65 degrees here today. There was lots of snow/ice melt and the sap is flowing. Ed has boiled quite a few gallons of syrup already.

Arin said Shayne saw lots of crows near the school.

Speaking of skunks, find out why we are seeing them out and about right now, click here: NewinNature.html

 

8.0   Correspondence:

            Copy of wetlands permit application for Ayers Pond Road Bridge replacement project

            UNH – Natural Resources, Engineering Spring Workshops flyer

 

9.0   Adjourned at 9:00PM, our next scheduled meeting will be March 21^st, at 7PM at 54 Bear Hill Road.

 

Respectfully submitted,                       

Nan Schwartz, Secretary