Washington Conservation Commission

Minutes – May 16, 2022

Assembly time: 7:00 PM, Meeting at Town Hall.

Members present: Arin Mills, Jed Schwartz, Nan Schwartz

Visitors: None

1.0 Approval of Minutes: March and April minutes approved as written.

2.0 Permits Committee –

New: None

Previous:

Habashian, TM 24-64, 18 Lookout Point, Expedited wetlands permit, we reviewed a revised plan from Ferwerda that adds rain gardens and infiltration trenches, moved the perched beach away from the maple tree and will retain the bushes on the waterfront. We agreed to have Arin sign the application because of the addition of the requested revisions.

Stubbs, TM 20-182, Beaver Brook Road, Expedited Wetlands Permit application, DES requiring new pictures (without snow cover) and an erosion plan for construction.

DeMarco, TM 25-117, 1669 Valley Road, Documented violation, no permit for primary structure. DES letter of compliance, case closed.

Voisine, TM 24-108-1, 126 Cove Rd, PBN for dock anchoring pad, also required to do a restoration plan for cutting trees in the waterfront zone.

LaPlume, 23 Harrison Road, Wetland PBN, incomplete application

Barkie, TM 25-116, 1681 Valley Road, reported violation, construction of 2 garages and altered an

existing structure in protected shoreline.

Mensh, 38 Lookout Point Rd., TM 24-59, Shoreland PBN, Impact 1392 square feet of protected shoreland in order to raze existing 1016 square foot cottage and build a new 1016 square foot cottage on existing footprint, permit accepted.

Town of Washington, Camp Morgan Beach, Millen Pond Road, Standard Dredge and Fill permit application, beach sand replenishment project, permit approved.

*Cote, TM 24-58, 46 Lookout Point Road, installation of dock without a permit.

*Johnson/Kimball – Notice of complaint, dredging in Highland Lake, TM 25-93, letter of deficiency and steps to mitigate. Incomplete PBN for dock.

*Colette - Complaint of violations, TM 12-69, over clearing of waterfront zone, no follow up yet

Longval – Arin will speak with the BoS again about this lot.

* these are complaints with no follow up by DES, we are waiting for more information.

3.0 Committee and Board reports:

3.1 Land Protection Committee – Jed and Arin met with Brian Hotz (SPNHF) and his assistant and with Selectman Allan Dube and Town Forester Anita Blakeman last week. Instead of a hike they sat and discussed the potential wording for the conservation easement on the Camp Morgan property. Brian suggested that we go to Town Meeting with the agreement and then do the survey after getting an approval. Jed will speak with Millen Pond Assoc. president John Rigby to keep him informed of progress. Arin is going to get a date from Kelli (WES) to meet and discuss school needs. We will do an October hike on the Camp Morgan property. Arin wants an August working meeting to come up with materials to help sell the project. The Forest Society is working on a budget for the project. There were a couple of other items that Brian mentioned that we will get more information on.

3.2 Energy Committee – They have not been meeting but Andrew spoke at the recent School Board meeting about the School energy study and some potential incentives for getting weatherization and energy projects done.

3.3 Planning Board – No new news.

3.4 Forestry Committee – Jed will speak with Steve Hanssen about a proposed cut of ash trees on the Camp Morgan Town Forest property and getting the BoS to meet with them, the forester and the CC to discuss the issue.

3.5 Legislative update – No news.

4.0 Public Presentations and workshops: Nothing planned for the next couple of months.

5.0 New Business:

5.1 Adopt-a-Highway Trash Pickup – We received an executed renewal contract for our trash route back from NH DOT. We rescheduled our first trash pickup for June 5^th at 9:30am. We will meet at the parking area by the Library.

6.0 Other Business:

6.1 Trails and Recreation Guide Booklet – Jed is having the existing trail map printed at the same time they print the ATV/UTV map.

6.2 East Washington Town Forest – Arin asked that we keep this on the agenda. There was money raised at Town Meeting to do an up-to-date engineering study on the lot to find out how much gravel is on the lot. We reiterated at TM that a reclamation plan will need to be done.

6.3 Facebook Page – Arin said she is continuing to post items when she can. To check out the CC’s Facebook page go here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2173271309586226/

6.4 Master Plan goals for 2022 – This is a placeholder.

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

6.6 ATV/UTV road usage map – Is at the printer right now along with the Trail Map.

6.7 East Washington Town Forest – The gravel committee is meeting on May 17^th at 6:30pm at Town Hall.

7.0 What’s Happening in Nature?

Jed saw a beautiful Milk Snake up Bear Hill Road but it had been run over by a car. He said that Reid reported to him that he saw a Hog-nosed Snake but wasn’t able to get a picture of it.

Arin reported that there is a very active Black Bear in LAE and she had a video of it when it was in her yard.

Nan mentioned that there is a group of 3 tom Turkeys and a hen wandering around their neighborhood lately. The toms are showing off!

We noted that there has been a mini heatwave recently and has been very dry. The trees leafed out quickly over just a few days. There has been a big fire danger lately but the green leaves will help. There was a frost just a week ago on May 9/10^th. We did have some needed rain this evening.

To learn more about what snakes are found in New Hampshire, click here: NewinNature.html

8.0 Correspondence:

8.1 DES Notice of compliance for DeMarco, TM 25-117.

8.2 ARLAC – report for 2021 monitoring program

8.3 DES copy of Douglas, TM 15-70, PBN Forestry

8.4 NH LAKES – invitation to Lakes Congress, June 2 & 3

8.5 NH DOT – returned signed Sponsor-a-Highway agreement

9.0 Adjourned at 8:46PM, the next meeting is Wednesday, June 15^th at 7PM, at Town Hall.

Respectfully submitted,

Nan Schwartz, Secretary