Washington Conservation Commission

Minutes – June 18, 2014

Assembly time: 7:00 PM.

Members present: Jed Schwartz, Nan Schwartz, Arin Mills, Johanna Young and Ken Eastman.

Visitors: Jim Crandall, Dennis O’Malley, Charlie Eastman, Susan Brighton

1.0 Approval of Minutes: Minutes from May 2014 meeting, Arin made a motion to approve, Ken seconded, all voted in favor.

2.0 Permits Committee - Arin Checked a Wetlands permit application for a seasonal dock and beach sand replenishment for Antonio and Patricia Jorge, 101 Point Road, TM 16-38. She said it looked like there was a previous dock when looking at an aerial image of the spot and she searched for previous permits but didn’t find any. She didn’t have any concerns when looking at the site. She said the brook inlet was gushing at the corner where it enters the lake.

3.0 Committee and Board reports:

3.1 Land Protection Committee - Jed acknowledged the crowd attending who had an interest in discussing the possible protection of the Camp Morgan (CM) property. Crandall had contacted Brian Hotz of the Forest Society (SPNHF) and arranged a phone meeting with him and the Selectmen. Jed had spoken to Brian previously about protecting CM, and other Town Forests, and Brian said that SPNHF would be willing to hold an easement. He said the existing survey was not adequate and would have to be updated and that the existing building sites as well as the septic lagoon would have to be held out of any easement. Jed said there are important issues to consider before taking on the project and that in terms of a conservation easement, town owned property is different than private property. With town owned property a vote at town meeting could change the easement or rescind it. Crandall mentioned imminent domain could be used to take back the land. Jed said we need to clarify this point. He said we also need to consider what other projects might be important to consider. Ken said he looked at a satellite map and could see a clear line to Bachand’s of land to keep out of the easement. Nan said we should look up the piece with the lagoon on the other side of the road. Jed said we have to have a Land Protection Committee meeting and talk to Brian Hotz and most importantly we have to talk to the Forestry Committee about protecting the land. Jed said the Forest Society (SPNHF) is supportive of the property being used for forestry with a forestry plan, we need to look to the future for the property. Ken thinks the Planning Board should be involved. Jed said we will contact the Forestry Committee and ask for a meeting with them. We will hold a LPC meeting either July 2^nd or 9^th before we meet with the Forestry Committee. Jed asked for comments from the public. Jim Crandall appreciates that it is on the agenda and hopes for a positive outcome. He feels CM is the most valuable piece in town and some people around Millen Pond see a tie to the MacNeil property and its impacts. Jed said we think it is worthwhile but it is not under imminent threat. The Forestry Committee is looking at all the Town Forests. Dennis O’Malley said that this would be a visible feather in the CC cap, he feels it is the most valuable piece of town property. Arin commented that with shoreland protection, wetlands, steep slopes, how developable is it? Jed said we have to look at all aspects of an easement project on the property and consider the potential for an adverse outcome if and when this goes to town meeting.

3.2 Energy Committee – Johanna reported the EC met last Thursday and that they are applying for a small grant (seed money) for a weatherization project. They would need an entity to hold the funds if they get it. They would use the grant to create a “Washington Warm Neighbors” group and they would weatherize a local property using the $500 for materials and assessment. Jed said we could hold the money in the Conservation Fund account for them. Johanna will speak to the Welfare about a deserving family in Washington. They would make a site visit and make sure the person is comfortable with a group doing the work. They would probably focus on weather stripping anf caulking. Arin made a motion that we hold the funds for them, Nan seconded, all voted in favor.

3.3 Planning Board – Nan reported that the Planning Board’s Master Plan Subcommittee holding the Community Workshop this Saturday, June 21^st, from 8:30AM to 2:30PM at the Elementary School. Arin suggested we have a copy of the NRI and Conservation Plan for the table. Nan said she is displaying some of the NRI maps, will put out CC brochures, information about the MacNeil project, our Invasive Species project folders and will display our trail map.

3.4 Forestry Committee – Tom was not in attendance.

3.5 Legislative update - not in session.

4.0 Public Presentations and workshops:

4.1 “Soak Up the Rain” presentation – Jed reported that DES reps are coming out to look at possible project sites on 6/19 (tomorrow) for a possible event to be held in August. He is meeting them at Camp Morgan Lodge to look at a site and also an alternate site in East Washington. Arin said she will be gone from August 13-24. Ken asked if we need DPW to help, the Selectmen are in charge of the Lodge but Parks and Rec oversee the rest of the property. They will coordinate what ever is needed. Arin said there is erosion on the steep slope of the driveway (a gully washer) behind Town Hall, Ken said he will speak to Ed Thayer about it.

4.2 Tracking Invasive Plants project – Arin said she spotted some Autumn Olive behind the Town Hall that she will confirm. Jed and Nan GPSed some Knotweed on Lovewell Mt. Road. Ken commented that Cabella’s is encouraging their customers to drain and dry their boats when they leave a waterbody to protect the lakes and ponds. We will each try to get 5 spots pinpointed this summer. We should think of public places or gatherings where we can promote the program. We will aim for making a map this fall. The reporting sheets and guides are always available here: InvasiveProject.html

4.3 Land Protection Project – Jed spoke about the land protection project up on Farnsworth Hill, the MacNeil Family Forest. The Forest Society has planned a hike for August 10^th from 10AM to 1PM. More information about the hike to follow.

5.0 New business –

5.1 We received a letter from Lionel and Aileen Chute, who had planned to attend our meeting but at the last minute had a conflict. They said that they have explored protecting their unique property but cannot afford to donate an easement. They are planning to put the property on the market next spring and expressed a desire for the town to buy it and protect it. They are moving to a place where their worldview is shared and where they feel more support from the community. Arin said that her family also struggles with having kids in a community where the town doesn’t provide much help and there aren’t a lot of resources. She feels the need for more carpooling, childcare, networking among parents, etc. Ken said that over the years, individuals have always made a difference in the community and encouraged people to come forward with problems and suggested solutions. We are sorry to see them leave and had hoped they could make a go of their farm and stay a part of the local community.

5.2 Trail Map – We received a letter from Don Damm on behalf of LAE, Roads and Grounds Committee stating that they have an issue with the fact that we show a trail going through LAE connecting with Old Marlow Road on our Trail Map. Arin stated that all trails shown on the map are State or town trails, she will look at the source data and Jed will call Tom Marshall about the snowmobile trails. Nan will get a hold of the snowmobile trail map we used. Ken stated that this is a class 6 road. We created our map using available data 4 years ago. Jed will write a letter to LAE and ask what the problem is. If they don’t want people walking through their community to connect to other trails we will respect that. We can update the map for the next printing if we need to.

5.3 Adopt a Highway trash pickup - We needed to renew our contract with NH DOT for the next 2 years. Arin made a motion to renew, Nan seconded, all voted in favor, Jed signed the paperwork. Arin asked if we could put the word out and see if people want to join us for our trash pickups. We agreed to try this. Ken will put it in the “Did You Know?” of the Selectmen’s minutes and also the schedule of events. We scheduled our next pick up date for July 19^th, Saturday, meeting at the Library parking lot at 9AM.

5.4 Johanna wanted to schedule her 2014 swim and decided on an August date of the 16^th or the 23^rd for a rain date at 10AM, meeting on the Camp Morgan beach. Jed will make sure it is OK with the Brighton’s that we will end at their beach.

6.0 Other Business:

6.1 NRI update - We discussed the Soils chapter and Arin said there is no new data to update the map. GRANIT uses NRCS and WSS as a snapshot for their map layers. Arin said we should add core data on NRCS on page 49. On page 51, we should add percentages to the chart along with the acreages. The aerial map used 1998 pictures, we should update to use the latest 2011 aerial maps. We should make a map of agricultural land to inventory what is in active use today. The tax map data is presently being updated, we will get the maps as soon as they are available from the Assessors. On page 55 the table showing protected land – private, town, state should all be color coded and put them on the tax parcel map. Arin said we should spell out HUC and SPARROW and explain what they are on the first page that mentions them. On page 60 we should update the census data to 2010. Ken said we should make clear on the watershed map, the larger watersheds of the Connecticut and Merrimack. On page 60 we should make the statement more positive – get rid of negative effects and suggest could go to not effect the watershed. We need to update the prediction map. We should add the current lot count and see how that has changed over time – Nan said it is easy to get this data, there have been a lot of merged lots and some new subdivision. Ken commented that the price of gas makes people leave town. We decided to track the changes. Arin asked if we have to bid out redoing the maps for the NRI. Ken said not necessarily. We will reach out to Chris Kane who did our maps before to see what it will cost to do an update. We decided to do pages 62-72 for next month.

6.2 Barker – We discussed the situation on Barker’s property and the trails crossing it. We need to contact Monadnock/Sunapee Greenway trail group and also speak with the Snow riders club about trail protection. We will keep this on our to do list.

6.3 Bat Survey – Arin hasn’t heard back from Fish and Game about a new Bat Survey yet. Ken said he will ask Mr. Colby about possible caves on Mac Neil’s property. Jed, Arin and Nan are planning a walk to check out Twin Bridge to see where the bat survey was done sometime soon.

7.0 What’s Happening in Nature?

Arin heard a Whip-poor-will near Ashuelot, she emailed Fish and Game and Audubon about it. Fish and Game said they have had a record number of reports this year. Arin said Whips try to fledge when the moon is full so there are a lot of bugs for the young ones to eat. She will listen again for the Whip-poor-will when the conditions are right. She thinks the logging that was done near LAE maybe opened up some habitat for them.

Jed had a robin nest in his tractor shed and she raise 3 little ones.

Johanna has had a lot of Muskrat activity, they are eating the tall grass around her pond. She thinks it is because they have less beavers this year.

Jed said that north of Eccardt Farm he saw a young healthy Back Bear.

Arin said she was sad that the Bard Owl she has seen for years on the Washington/Windsor line was killed recently.

Johanna had a Snapping Turtle jump over into her pond.

Jed said he hasn’t seen many ticks this year, Arin said they are bad in Concord, she thinks the snow insulated them and they survived.

Arin saw a Ruffed Grouse crossing the road with babies on Faxon Hill by the dam.
Ken said a fisherman said he caught and released a salmon on Millen Pond, it was about a foot long, Ken was skeptical that it was actually a salmon.

Johanna had a solitary sandpiper on her pond. It showed its head bobbing behavior. She said it left after a while. She has had Goldfinches around her place.

Nan said she is happy to report that they have a bat living in their attic, she has also moved several turtles across the road recently.

Jed said he counted 7 bluebirds over his garden last night, eating bugs and flying around. To learn more about Bluebirds, click here: NewinNature.html

8.0 Correspondence:

Letter from Lionel and Aileen Chute

Letter from Frank Linnenbringer, time to renew our Adopt-a-Highway commitment

Thank you from Barbara Skuly, ARLAC for our $100. Donation for water testing

Letter from LAE Association, Don Damm, re. our Trail Map showing a trail running through LAE

DES copy of Wetlands Permit, Town of Washington, Valley Rd, TM 24-ROW, Bridge work

DES copy of Septic application acceptance, 1124 Faxon Hill Rd. TM 15-57

DES copy of Septic application acceptance, 116 Taylor Cir. TM 14-54

9.0 Action Items –

Jed -

Speak to Steve Hanssen about an Oak Hill trailhead sign.

Speak with Monadnock/Sunapee Trail and Snowriders about possible trail easements for Barker.

Continue talking to DES about a “Soak up the Rain” presentation.

Contact Brightons about Johanna’s swim

Write a letter to LAE/Don Damm about the Trail Map

Nan –

Start making agreed changes to the NRI text

Arin –

Check Natural Heritage Bureau for a better rare and uncommon species list for NRI, page 30.

Send list of rare and uncommon species found in Washington to Nan

10.0 Adjourned at 9:05 PM, our next scheduled meeting is July 16^th at 7PM at the Town Hall.

Respectfully submitted,

Nan Schwartz, Secretary