Washington Conservation Commission

Minutes – August 19, 2015

 

Assembly time: 7:00 PM.

 

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

Visitors: None

 

1.0    Approval of Minutes: Approval of minutes from our July meeting, Arin motioned to approve the minutes, Johanna seconded the motion and all voted in favor.

 

2.0    Permits Committee  - Bill Shannon, Millen Pond Road, PBN Wetlands Permit – We took a look at the permit application and after reviewing we decided we didnÕt need to go take a look at the site. We felt everything is in order and Nan said she looked the application up online and it is under DES technical review, at this point.

 

3.0   Committee and Board reports:

3.1   Land Protection Committee  - Jed reported that Karen Bartlett is working with the town attorney to transfer her property to the town in trust for the Conservation Commission. Her mother died so she is now acting as the executor for her estate. The Colby land project, on Old Marlow Road, is presently being worked on by the Forest Society. We discussed Lionel ChuteÕs property and Jed will contact him with our offer. Arin made a motion to make the offer, Johanna seconded the motion and all voted in favor.

3.2   Energy Committee – Johanna reported that the EC has finished their draft of the Energy Chapter and delivered it to the Master Plan Update Committee. They will now focus on their energies on the Washington Warm Neighbors project. They are advising someone right now on weatherizing improvements. Arin asked about the grant they were going to apply for. Johanna said that they are still working on it and will be pursuing getting an thermal imaging camera for around $1000. They are speaking with someone about coming in to town for a presentation on micro-hydro and solar power.

3.3   Planning Board – Nan said that the Master Plan Update Committee has finished up the Services and Facilities, Hazards and Emergency Planning, Utilities, Energy and Housing chapters and is holding a public hearing on September 8th at 6:30PM, in the Town Hall to finish the updating process.

3.4   Forestry Committee – Tom was not in attendance but Jed said that they have 3 possible landing sites for their intended cut and will make a decision soon. We donÕt have a copy yet of the forestry plan for Farnsworth Hill Town Forest or the other forests, but hope to get one soon.

3.5    Legislative update  - No news.

 

4.0   Public Presentations and workshops:

4.1   Speaking for Wildlife – Arin said we held the Bat Talk on July 17th at the Town Hall and we got a great crowd. We receive some feedback and a list of people who wanted to sign up for the UNH – Taking Action for Wildlife newsletter. Nan forwarded the names to Sharon Hughes at UNH.

        We decided to do a hike in the fall and are aiming for a nice clear day to go up Lovewell Mountain. We set a tentative date for October 10th (Saturday) or alternate date of October 11th (Sunday).

4.2   Tracking Invasive Plants project - Everyone should keep documenting any plants they find. The reporting sheets and guides are always available here: InvasiveProject.html

 

5.0   New Business:

5.1   Bat Survey - Arin said we will try to get the bat guy, Scott Reynolds of NE Ecological Services, next year. She had email from Fish and Game and they seem to be pretty lax about monitoring logging to protect bats. Jed, Nan, Arin and Phil went out to Twin Bridge after the meeting last month and they heard and saw bats. She returned the acoustic monitoring equipment back to Audubon and they are going to read the chip to see what kind of bats we recorded with it. We had many sightings and sounds of bats that evening and there was a large beaver splashing at us, trying to get us to leave his territory.

5.2   Trail map update – Nan updated the map and it is being printed. She will pick it up next week and get it to the Town Clerk to sell for us. Arin asked Nan to send her a pdf of the trail map.

 

5.3   Adopt-a-Highway trash pick up – We decided to go after Labor Day and set a date for September 19th at 9AM, meet at the Library parking lot. Arin asked about the presentation that Steve Marshall sent out an announcement about, concerning mobile meth labs and danger to those who pick up trash along roads or trails. Nan said she had signed up to go and Arin is also hoping to attend. It is on Thursday, August 27th at 3PM at Camp Morgan Lodge.

 

6.0   Other Business:

6.2   Natural Resource Inventory Map updates – Arin and Nan will continue to work on the list and will get together soon to discuss.

6.3   Emerald Ash Borer – No new news.

6.4  Barker easement – No new news.

6.5   Johanna's Swim – Johanna did her annual Rich Cook Memorial swim on August 15th, and swam the length of Millen Pond over to BrightonÕs beach at the far end and this year she swam all the way back to Camp Morgan Beach! Jed joined her for most of the return swim with Nan following in the canoe. We received 2 donations for her effort. Johanna is swimming next at Pleasant Lake in New London, as a fundraiser for swimming lessons for adults.

6.6   Jed spoke with Lionel about a hike to the caves and we will try to schedule a hike there this fall.

6.7 Arin is drafting a letter to the Cemetery Committee about the mowing schedule.

 

7.0   WhatÕs Happening in Nature?

Jed has been paying more attention to the bats and has seen many recently in East Washington. So far he hasnÕt been able to see them emerge but will try to monitor for that. Arin said she has seen some bats flying around in her yard.

Johanna asked about the guy who lost his pig to a wild animal (he thought it might be a mountain lion) and Jed said it was confirmed to be a bear. The bear was bothering some other homes in Windsor too.

Johanna saw a big snapping turtle crossing the road in Goshen on Rt. 31 and also saw one attempting to cross Rt. 89, she thought it was strange they would be crossing now. It could be that the water levels are so low from the lack of rainfall. Johanna has found hatched turtle shells in her driveway. She found a dead red-belly snake hanging on a stump. Jed though a bird must have dropped it there. Johanna has loons in her pond and has seen a coyote.

Jed said he heard a loon noisily flying over the pond in East Washington at dawn one day. Arin said they fly over her house, going from Ashuelot Pond to Millen Pond everyday. They are very noisy as they fly by.

Johanna has a merganser and a Heron that comes to fish in her pond, she also has deer grazing in her yard. She brought in a small apple for identification, Jed thought it was probably a crab apple but maybe it cross pollinated because it looks like a small mac.

Jed commented that it is very dry right now and we havenÕt had any rain for a while. Johanna said the Sugar River is just a trickle. Jed said his pumpkins, cukes and squash are doing really well despite the dry weather. He said he doesnÕt have many peppers on his plants so far and his onions didnÕt get very big this year. Arin said her onions did well this year.

Jed had a call from woman in LAE who had a young Peregrine Falcon hanging out in her yard. He will give her a call back and get the story.

To learn about the Peregrine Falcon, click here: NewinNature.html

 

8.0   Correspondence:

Copy of Lakeside, NHLA

            DES notice of application returned, information needed, Panarello, 855 Halfmoon Pond Road TM12-31

            DES notice of acceptance, Shoreland permit, Panarello, 855 Halfmoon Pond Road TM12-31

            Audience feedback from Donna OÕMalley, re: Bat Talk

           

9.0   Adjourned at 8:15 PM, our next scheduled meeting is September 16th, at 7PM at the Town Hall.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Nan Schwartz, Secretary