Washington Conservation Commission

Minutes – May 25, 2021

Assembly time: 7:00 PM, Meeting conducted online using ZOOM.

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

Visitors: None

1.0 Approval of Minutes: the April minutes were approved as written.

2.0 Permits Committee -

New: None

Previous:

Barkie -– Standard Dredge and Fill, TM 14-39, Ashuelot Drive, DES asked for more information on 4/29

Barkie – Shoreland permit, TM14-39, Ashuelot Drive, approved

Johnson/Kimball – Notice of complaint, dredging in Highland Lake, TM 25-93

Bologna – Notice of complaint, dredging in Highland Lake, TM 24-91

Barkie/Colette - Complaint of violations, TM 12-69, over clearing of waterfront zone

Mensch – follow up letter on notice of violation from DES, 38 Lookout Point Road, TM 24-59, expanding a deck without a permit.

Cordeiro – Notice of complaint from DES concerning excavation violations (no permit or erosion control), no follow up notice.

Mill Pond dredging – No news.

Longval – no news.

Arin will contact Jeff B at DES to ask him the status of the many complaints.

3.0 Committee and Board reports:

3.1 Land Protection Committee - Arin and Jed are meeting with the Selectmen and Ed Thayer on Thursday to discuss the plans before Town Meeting. We discussed issues with gravel excavation and Arin will put something together for Town Meeting on the warrant article.

3.2 Energy Committee – No news, haven’t met. Johanna said she has completed the training for Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project.

3.3 Planning Board – Nothing new.

3.4 Forestry Committee – No news.

3.5 Legislative update - No news.

4.0 Public Presentations and workshops: We don’t have anything planned but want to get back to doing something with the school kids in the fall. Nan suggested maybe doing a Native American craft with the kids after a nature hike. Jed will speak with Reid about craft ideas.

5.0 New Business:

5.1 ARLAC – Barbara Skuly sent a report and request for funds to help with the cost of water testing/monitoring for 2021. Jed made a motion to send $125 to ARLAC for water testing, Arin seconded the motion and all voted in favor. Nan will touch base with Johanna and if she agrees we will ask Cindy to send a check.

5.2 Nan reported that we received $450. In Land Use Change Tax recently.

5.3 Trash Pickup – We planned our first Adopt-a-highway trash pick up for June 27th at 9AM. We will meet at the Library parking area and reschedule if the weather doesn’t cooperate.

6.0 Other Business:

6.1 Trails and Recreation Guide Booklet – We will continue working on it with a goal to publish the booklet this summer.

6.2 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/

6.3 Master Plan goals for 2020 – This is a placeholder.

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

6.5 The ATV/UTV road usage map (version 5) is finished and approved by the BoS. The BoS has budgeted for printing the map and it will go to the printer after Town Meeting. We discussed putting the map up on the Town website. We will ask the BoS if they want us to do that.

7.0 What’s Happening in Nature?

Johanna saw a Broad Tailed Hawk on one of her dead pines. She saw several Northern Flickers on her front lawn.  The Canada Geese in her wetland have six young goslings. She saw what looked like a Beaver near the renovated lodge this evening. She is trying to think of the best and safest way to attract moths (particularly Luna moths) so she can observe them.

Jed reported a bunch of Turkey Vultures flying overhead and hanging out in the woods and working on eating something in his pasture. He had some young deer pass through the lower pasture and eat some corn plants. Then the Canada Geese came and ate some more of it.

Nan said there are Bluebirds nesting in the houses near the garden. She saw a male Cardinal in the yard.

Arin had a pair of Purple Finches at her birdfeeder and some Woodpeckers. She reports 4 Loons in Ashuelot this year and a lot of fox sightings. She had a baby fox playing in her yard. She captured a bear walking through the yard on her trail camera.

Arin reports we have had a very dry spring and the dirt in the garden is dry very deep. The Black Flies are past peak (finally) and the mosquitos have arrived. Full leaf out of the trees came last week (seems late). There are lots of dog ticks around but not many Black-legged (deer) ticks reported. To learn more about Turkey Vultures, click here: NewinNature.html

8.0 Correspondence:

DES copy of letter to Barkie asking for more information re. Standard Dredge and Fill, TM 10-39

Ashuelot River Local Advisory Committee (ARLAC), report and asking for $125 donation for 2021

NH Audubon – copy of “State of NH Birds” a conservation guide

9.0 Adjourned at 8:10PM, the next meeting is Tuesday, June 22^nd at 7PM, at Town Hall.

Respectfully submitted,

Nan Schwartz, Secretary