Washington Conservation Commission

Minutes – September 16, 2020

 

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

 

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

Visitors: None

 

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

 

2.0   Permits Committee  -

New: Barkie - Complaint of violations, TM 12-69, over clearing of waterfront zone, we sent a letter on this, several neighbors also complained.

Mensch - Notice of violation from DES, 38 Lookout Point Road, TM 24-59, expanding a deck without a permit.

Previous: Cordeiro – Notice of complaint from DES concerning excavation violations (no permit or erosion control), Arin will reach out and check with DES as there has not been any follow up notice.

Chidester – Arin touched base with DES and they will be coming out soon.

Calabro - Arin will drive by and look at the site.

Camp Morgan Beach and field project – The fieldwork is done and will be hydro-seeded in a few days.

Mill Pond dredging – Jed will check in with Aaron Weschler. We will also check the ARM website for more information on grants.

Longval wetland issue – No news.

Jed said that he heard from John Rigby about the Millen Pond spillway repair. They are just now applying for their permits. There is an engineering firm they are working with. The permit application will be turned in to TH on Thursday so we will meet to look it over and Arin will sign it if all is OK. We will check the dam rules.

           

3.0   Committee and Board reports:

3.1   Land Protection Committee – Jed has heard from Anne McBride (Monadnock Conservancy) and she is looking at the Barker lots.

3.2   Energy Committee – Jed said the Selectmen have recommendations from the Old Schoolhouse energy audit and will implement some energy conservation for the building.

3.3   Planning Board – Nothing new.

3.4   Forestry Committee – Jed will speak with Town forester Anita Blakman about the cut. Arin said we could help with the cost if that is an issue.

3.5   Legislative update  - They are meeting for a veto over-ride session. Look into alteration of terrain rules that may be changing.

 

4.0   Public Presentations and workshops:

4.1   School has recently started and they are doing in-school 4 days and remote 1 day. Arin will check with Dawn at Sullivan County to see if she has any ideas for working with the school. We will also check the website for ideas/activities.

4.2   Fall Hike – We would like to do a hike up Jackson Hill, a moderate 5-mile hike (approximately 3 hours). We decided to set a date of October 17th, meeting at 10am at the Adventist Church parking lot. Arin will do a flyer.

 

5.0   New Business: None

 

6.0   Other Business:

6.1   Trails and Recreation Guide Booklet – Arin and Nan are still working on the booklet. Arin is working on maps and Nan is working on writing and formatting.

        Jed and Arin are working on the ATV/UTV map.

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 – We are in the growth stage so look for plants to report. The reporting sheets and guides are always available here: InvasiveProject.html

6.5   Trash Pickup – We decided it isn’t necessary after looking at the route.

 

7.0   What’s Happening in Nature?

Johanna saw a Broad-tailed Hawk, her resident beavers have gone from the pond and moved somewhere else. She saw one in her backyard before they disappeared. Her upper pond is extremely low but the big rock in her other pond hasn’t started to show yet. All the water levels are very low.

Nan said we are in a drought. Arin said the last two days were red flag days and the danger of forest fire is very high.

Arin said that Phil saw 2 young moose crossing on Rte. 31 near the Transfer Station. He saw a large moose near the same spot. They have seen lots of turkeys. They saw an owl swoop down on Faxon Hill. They have a new trail camera and have caught a fox and raccoons with it.

Jed said we haven’t had a frost yet.

Arin noted that the swamp maples are turning red already.

Johanna had a picture of a large chicken of the woods mushroom that she found growing on a log near her pond. She put some in the freezer.

Jed had a flock of 24 turkeys in the driveway the other day. He has seen lots of hawks around and had about 10 landing in a large tree all together. It is the hawk migration time.

Johanna has had Monarchs in her yard. Arin said they will be listing them as endangered in December.

The Autumnal or Fall equinox arrives this coming Tuesday, September 22^nd. To find out about the equinox, click here: NewinNature.html

 

8.0   Correspondence:  

ARLAC – Thank you for donation

DES- notice of violation, Mensch, 38 Lookout Point Rd., TM 24-59  

Copy of Supply lines with the Source

 

9.0   Adjourned at 8:20PM, the next meeting is Wednesday, October 21^st at 7PM, location to be announced.

 

Respectfully submitted,           

Nan Schwartz, Secretary