Washington Conservation Commission

Minutes – September 17, 2014

Assembly time: 7:00 PM.

 

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

Visitors: Dennis Kelly

 

1.0    Approval of Minutes: Minutes from July 2014 meeting and August 2014, Arin motioned to approve the minutes, Johanna seconded the motion and all voted in favor.

 

2.0    Permits Committee  - No new permits

 

3.0   Committee and Board reports:

3.1   Land Protection Committee  - no meeting, Jed has spoken to several people about an interest in protecting their land. He reported that the Forest Society is about $60K away from full funding for the MacNeil Family Forest project and they will close in early October, they are still looking for donations for the project.

3.2   Energy Committee – Johanna reported that Andrew Hatch is the new chair for the Energy Committee and he will attend our meetings from time to time. Dennis said that he is interested in the Fire/Rescue/Police building project look for grants for a geothermal heat system. Jed said we looked into it last year and was hoping to get buy-in from the town. Johanna said that the Energy Committee could look into it. Dennis said that Grappone in Concord has a system that works nicely. Arin said the Guard has a system that they have had trouble with; she thinks it is an open system and it is being monitored. Jed thinks that the Energy Committee should always be involved with any town building project and look energy efficiency. The town can be a good example to its citizens and should follow through with any new building. He said that Al Krygeris has come to some of the WESAC meetings and emphasized energy efficiency and Jed will reach out at the right time. Johanna said that the EC has put up some flyers about the “Warm Neighbors” project and have had 3 inquiries about helping and for help. They are having a meeting tomorrow. One person said they wanted to join the committee. Arin mentioned she might have some leftover foam that she could donate to a project. They haven’t yet applied for a grant because they wanted a real project planned before doing so.

3.3   Planning Board – Nan reported that the Master Plan Update Committee has sent us a sheet asking for input on the Natural Resources chapter. She will share the information by email. We decided we will work on goals; education and hikes have been a focus for us in the last few years.

3.4   Forestry Committee – Tom was not in attendance but Jed reported that the committee actively working on their Town Forest inventory project. Jed met with them about trails and will continue to press on this idea; he thinks Parks and Rec could get involved with a trail project.

3.5    Legislative update  - not in session.

 

4.0   Public Presentations and workshops:

4.1   “Soak Up the Rain” presentation – Jed spoke about the Soak Up the Rain project and said that he was going to ask the Selectmen to make a donation to the program but Lisa said that they really could take money back. They got funds to do the program and they are glad to hear that people are interested and learning about it. They hope that people will come to us to do a project. Jed and Nan have continued to water the plants and make sure the garden is doing well. Most of the plants are flowering and it looks great. Arin said that she thinks the lake associations should get involved. Jed said that maybe next summer we could hold an evening program to expose more people to the ideas. Arin said she wanted to get permeable pavement for her driveway but wondered if there is a local contractor who is a resource for that. We will look into it. Arin had an idea for someone to show a gutter installation and maybe Ed Thayer could do something on driveways. We will think about what we can pull together for a program for next year. You can still visit the “Soak Up the Rain” website for lots of helpful information: http://soaknh.org. We have a few copies to borrow of the New Hampshire Homeowner’s Guide to Stormwater Management available at the Town Hall, (or click on the name to look at it online). If you find a project you want to do, we might pull a gang together to help you get it done.

  4.2 Tracking Invasive Plants project – Arin said she has a new app for your smart phone from ESRI (it was a free download) that you can us to search their database of maps (including hers). The app uses USDA topo maps as a base and the invasive species map works with it also. Arin has an idea to put our hikes into a map and publish it. We all thought that would be a great idea. She said ArcGIS doesn’t work with .gpx files so we might have to find another way to input them. The reporting sheets and guides are always available here: InvasiveProject.html

4.3    Speaking for Wildlife – Arin will do a bat presentation in late October. She can get the PowerPoint slide show from the program. We settled on October 29^th, Wednesday evening. Johanna thought it might be good to get the Library involved, they have books and maybe we could do a craft. Arin will speak to JoEllen and see what she thinks; we may alternatively make it a school activity. We will look at the PowerPoint online to see if it is geared toward kids or adults or both. It is done through “Speaking for Wildlife” and the UNH Cooperative Extension.

 

5.0   New business –

5.1    CIP request form – We were sent a Capital Improvement Program form in case we want to make a request for funds over $5000. We discussed updating the NRI maps and talked about whether we want to ask for funds to do this. We decided that we should do what we did last time the maps were done and because they are part of the Master Plan we will speak to the Planning Board about putting money into their budget for next year to get them done, they also need a future development map done and they could all get done at the same time. We won’t make a CIP request this year.

5.2   Master Plan Update Committee request for input on the Natural Resources chapter. (see 3.3)

 

6.0   Other Business:

6.1   NRI update  - Jed called Chris Kane, who did our maps last time about updating them for us. We need to make a list of updates for him in order to get an estimate for the work. Nan and Arin will work on this list. If his price is high we can do an RFP. Jed said he thinks he is using ArcGIS 10.3 at this point. We will discuss pages 72 – 80 (chapters 12 and 13) next month

6.2   Barker  - Conservation easement possibility, Jed spoke with Pete Martin of Monadnock/Sunapee Greenway trail group and will also speak with the Snowriders Club about trail protection.

6.3     Land Protection project on Farnsworth Hill – See 3.1, If you want to donate click here: http://www.forestsociety.org/howyoucanhelp/special-projects.asp?id=macneil-family-forest

6.4   Adopt a Highway trash pickup  - We will pick up trash on Saturday, September 27^th, at 9AM, meeting at the Library Parking lot.

6.5   Bat Survey – We had a hike out to the Twin Bridge area on September 7^th, Sunday. We had several people join us for a nice hike out to the bridge over the Ashuelot River. Dennis asked about Twin Bridge Road and said that a sign at the Town Forest would be a good idea. Jed will mention a sign to the Forestry Committee again.

6.6   Trail Map – Nan showed the updated map that was updated to remove the trail shown in LAE, for the next printing. We will go to the printer when the old maps run out. Nan will check with Sandy Poole to see how many more she has to sell.

6.5   Johanna’s 2014 swim – took place on August 23^rd at 10AM. It was a beautiful morning on the water and Jed and Nan followed Johanna in their canoe. The loon followed along for a while as Johanna swam. She made the swim in record time. We received some donations on behalf of Johanna’s swim again this year. Dennis mentioned that some people swim Island Pond each summer. We could try to do her swim in Island Pond next summer and get some people to join her. Johanna wants to think about doing a triathlon at Camp Morgan and thought she could get 200 people to do it. There is usually a $35 entry fee. You would have to get a large group of volunteers to help with it. We will think about doing it in the future as a fundraiser. Maybe Lynn Cook and Heather would want to be involved. Johanna thinks you could promote some local products and businesses using them for prizes.

 

7.0   What’s Happening in Nature?

Jed had a Bald Eagle fly over his property in East Washington; it was a first for him. He has had a lot of coyote activity lately.

Dennis said a big Black Bear has been making the rounds around town and he saw it in his yard, he also saw a fox in his yard around the same time. He has heard reports of several bears around.

Arin said she saw a moose in the wetlands on the Washington/Windsor line on Rte. 31. Several hours later Phil spotted it too.

Johanna said she has a big Snapping Turtle in her pond, she saw it surface.

Arin commented on the great numbers of Wild Turkeys in flocks this year. Nan said that she had a flock of 6 (all Toms) in her yard last week. She didn’t think the males hung around together in groups and thought it was unusual.

Dennis commented that it is a good acorn year; Jed added that it is a good pinecone year too. Arin said there is a lot of mast for the animals to eat this fall.

Jed mentioned there is a lot of early color on the trees this year; the swamp maples have turned already. Dennis added that there is a lot of rust or mold on the maples this year and it may affect the colors.

Johanna mentioned that Lindley hear a mysterious noise in the middle of the night that sounded like a money. Jed suggested it might have been a Fisher. He said a friend saw one recently in East Washington, in the early morning hours near a woodpile.

Dennis said that there have been Bobcats spotted around town recently, Jim and Marianne Garvin had one in their yard.

Arin mentioned the early frost last night and there is a freeze possible for tomorrow night.

To see what’s new in nature, click here: NewinNature.html

 

8.0   Correspondence:

Save the date card for NHACC Annual Meeting, November 1^st, Saturday, Laconia Middle School

            NH DES – notice of acceptance of septic application, Lincoln Dr., TM 14-292

            CIP request form from Planning Board

            NH DES – copy of approved permit for Jorge, 101 Point Rd., TM 16-38

            NH DES – notice of acceptance of septic application, Washington Heights Rd., TM 7-38

            NHANRS – email invitation to Quarterly Meeting, Sept. 25^th, Common Man, Concord

 

9.0   Adjourned at 8:32 PM, our next scheduled meeting is October 15^th at 7PM at the Town Hall.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Nan Schwartz, Secretary