LYME CONSERVATION COMMISSION
May 5, 2003
MINUTES
PRESENT: Lee Larson, Dick Jones, Joan Goldburgh, Ben Hudson, Laura McDaniel, Adair Mulligan
1. Approved minutes of meeting April 7, 2003 on a motion by Joan seconded by Dick.
2. Welcomed new member Laura McDaniel.
3. Old Business
a. Green Up Day - Joan and Jean Smith organized, reported enthusiastic response and have updated the road assignment list for next year. Ben Hudson collected 18 bags on Route 10 south; Adair bagged a bagged skunk at Tannery Falls.
b. Trail maintenance event for Upper Valley Trails Day June 7 - agreed to invite people to meet at the Common at 9am that Saturday and disperse with team captains for projects to be done by noon. Ben and Rachel Hudson will scout in advance. Targets are Trout Pond blowdowns, Trout Pond platform demolition, Town Forest trails, and Grant Brook trail from soccer field to lower fields. Adair will lead Chaffee/Hewes Brook team; Laura will help with a team. Encouraged members to invite others to help, especially mountain bikers.
c. Paint town forest boundaries - Lee, Ben, Laura, and Aaron volunteered and will try for the coming Saturday at 8 am. May have to make a second pass in the fall.
4. Wetlands permits: None
5. New Business
a. Erosion sites - Joan reported that Trout Brook is eroding into Chaffee Sanctuary. Agreed to allow this natural process to continue in this location. A head cut has also worsened between Route 10 and pond near lodge. Will photograph this and contact DOT, and urge them to work with CC on a plan to end this persistent problem that includes a shoreline buffer.
b. Ben gave an overview of the many 2002 USDA Farm Bill programs, which could help CC costshare 75% of costs of stewardship and forest management plans. Agreed to look into this in future for Trout Pond and Town Forest, and see whether WHIP or EQIP programs could cover cost of maintenance at Chaffee.
c. Trout Pond Management - Ben suggested creating 3 acre wildlife openings with Farm Bill funds.
6. Other Business
a. Barbara McIlroy has pointed out glossy buckthorn at the former Dorcas Chaffee garden. Lee asked Adair to notify the landowner.
b. Helen North has asked not to have roadside wildflowers mowed. Town has a contract for roadside mowing and little control over when and where it is done. Adair reported that the state mows too close to Grant Brook on the Dorchester Road.
c. Ben reported that at the Stam property on Baker Hill Road the buffer has been mowed and the pond blown out just where the CC predicted. Agreed that CC concern about the project is justified and that Lee will call Jim Kennedy, also DES if necessary.
7. Publicity - will submit article on Trail Maintenance Day and piece on riparian buffers. Reminder: Wetlands workshop with CC from Orford and Piermont, in Orford Thursday June 19, 6 pm
Meeting adjourned 8:46 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Adair Mulligan, Secretary pro-tem
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