Washington Conservation Commission

Minutes – July 20, 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: June minutes approved as written.

2.0 Permits Committee –

New: Lundquist, TM 11-43, Shoreland permit, Foundation for barn, more information requested.

Calabro, TM 14-184, Wetland/Dredge and Fill,12x20 deck along frontage of Ashuelot Pond, approved

Previous: Habashian, TM 24-64, 18 Lookout Point, Expedited wetlands permit, accepted and approved.

Stubbs, TM 20-182, Beaver Brook Road, Expedited Wetlands Permit application, approved

Voisine, TM 24-108-1, 126 Cove Rd, PBN for dock anchoring pad, restoration amended plan approved.

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

existing structure in protected shoreline. Letter of Deficiency received.

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

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

Longval – no news

* 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 met with the Millen Lake Association at their annual meeting and discussed the proposed conservation easement for the CM Town Forest. They are very supportive of the proposal. At the end of June Jed and Arin met with the BOS, Brian Hotz and Stacie from SPNHF and several Millen Lake Association people. Brian Hotz was there to fill in the blanks on conservation easements for the BoS and talked about other towns where they hold easements. The BoS is not supportive of the proposed project and think the property can be protected in some other way or that the town can hold the easement themselves, though they can’t legally. We are discussing several other properties for possible conservation easements.

3.2 Energy Committee –Andrew is working with the School Board and is looking for some potential incentives for getting weatherization and energy projects done. Shakes to Shingles came in and did a blower test which the building failed.

3.3 Planning Board – No news.

3.4 Forestry Committee –Anita Blakeman took a walk on the property and made comments about it. Jed will send Arin a copy of her comments which he received from Deb.

3.5 Legislative update – No news. Arin said that the wetland rules are being reorganized and we should keep an eye on DES’s progress.

4.0 Public Presentations and workshops –

4.1 We will do a hike in late September/early October on the Camp Morgan property for the public. We will talk about this more next month. Jed says he has some pictures of the town forest from both the water and the trails he can share.

4.2 Arin will contact SCCD about a school activity.

5.0 New Business:

5.1 Adopt-a-Highway Trash Pickup –We will schedule our second trash pickup for August.

5.2 ARLAC – Nan made a motion to donate $125 to ARLAC for their summer water testing program, Jed seconded the motion and all voted in favor. Arin filled out the request form for Cindy to pay this and left it on her desk.

6.0 Other Business:

6.1 Trails and Recreation Guide Booklet – Nan and Arin will continue working on this.

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 2022 – This is a placeholder.

6.4 East Washington Town Forest – We aren’t sure if the borings have been done yet or what was found.

7.0 What’s Happening in Nature?

Arin commented that we are having a heatwave but we have had consistent rain so it is not overly dry. The state is in a drought though. We have noticed the water levels in the lakes and wetlands are a bit low. Jed said the Mill Pond is murky and down a few inches. The gardens are growing well without needing watering.

Arin said that the Spongy Moth damage hasn’t had too much impact on the trees because they are already regenerating their leaves.

Nan said she is seeing some tent caterpillars around but they aren’t too bad this year.

Jed said he is having a great raspberry crop this year and now the blueberries are starting to ripen.

He said he saw a big brown bat in his yard recently. Arin said she has some in her yard too.

Nan said we have heard coyotes howling at night lately.

Jed said that his Bluebirds are raising multiple batches of baby birds this year. The Barn Swallows are also.

Jed said he is seeing tons of honey bees and other pollinators this year. He and Arin both saw a monarch butterfly recently.

To learn more about heatwaves, click here: NewinNature.html

8.0 Correspondence: None

9.0 Adjourned at 7:58 PM, the next meeting is Wednesday, August 17^th at 7PM, at Town Hall.

Respectfully submitted,

Nan Schwartz, Secretary