WASHINGTON CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Minutes- May 18, 2005

1.0 Assembly: Time 7:00 p.m.

Present: Carol Andrews, Nan Schwartz, Mark Cummings.

2.0 Approval of Minutes: approved as printed.

3.0 Old Business:

3.1 Dredge and Fill Committee- no activity.

3.2 If you agree that Governor Lynch has been handling the Sunapee issue well, please call or write Governor Lynch’s office and tell him that you support his position on Sunapee.

Email: governorlynch@nh.gov , or call 800-852-3456.

3.3 The ‘American Liberty’ elm is available through the Elm Research Institute in Keene, NH www.libertyelm.com/index.html, not through commercial nurseries. According to the Institute, more than 250,000 ‘American Liberty’ trees have been planted in the US since 1983, and only 150 have become infected with Dutch Elm Disease. The Elm Research Institute offers a warranty with the purchase of each tree. Princeton and Accolade are also examples of disease resistant Elms.

3.4 Conservation easement informational gathering: this summer we will sponsor a gathering of interested people. It will be an informal gathering at someone’s house. Carol to coerce someone into volunteering their home for this event.

3.5 We have tentatively scheduled outings for the following dates: July 12^th (Tuesday), August 17^th (Wednesday), September 17^th (Saturday), and October 8^th (Saturday of Columbus Day weekend- hike Lovewell Mt.). We would like to have a volunteer sponsor each outing date. Mark will ask his brother-in-law to lead one of these as an educational hike.

3.6 What’s happening in nature?

Black bears are visiting at Halfmoon Pond. Bears are pretty hungry this spring. The last couple of years have been very poor for mast production. Turkeys are having a good year. Vernal pools are filled with eggs.

4.0 Natural Resource Inventory:

4.1 Carol suggests that we get estimates from 2 private consultants as well as from the Regional Planning Commission and SPNHF.

5.0 New Business- none

6.0 Correspondence: Cottrell-Baldwin Environmental Lecture Series announcement

Southern NH Resource Conservation & Development Council

Statewide Program of Action to Conserve Our Environment- Current Use board raises forestland assessment ranges. Top of the assessment range: white pine- regular forestland $21/ stewardship forestland $15, hardwood- regular forestland $10/ stewardship forestland $8, all other- regular forestland $13/ stewardship forestland $7. This newsletter should be posted soon at: www.nhspace.org, click on “news.”

Comprehensive Environmental Inc. “Low Impact Development”

Fitzwilliam Conservation Commission asking us to keep informed about ATV legislation. Go to www.ATVwatch.com for more details.

7.0 Adjournment: 8:00 p.m.

7.1 Next Meeting Date: June 15^th at 7:00 at the Town Hall.

Respectfully submitted,

Carol K. Andrews, Secretary