Lyme Conservation Commission
DRAFT Minutes of the 2 June 2003 meeting
Attending – Ben Hudson (acting Chair), Joan Goldburgh, Dick Jones, Laura McDaniel, Adair Mulligan.
Guest – Rachel Hudson.
Absent – Lee Larson, Aaron Rich.
The meeting was called to order at 7:26 PM by Ben Hudson.
1. Trail Maintenance Needs Presentation
Rachel Hudson, as part of her Hanover High School Environmental Science Advance Placement project, presented her findings regarding trail maintenance needs. The two areas she focused on were the Chaffee Refuge and the Lyme Town Forest trail.
a. Chaffee Refuge. Rachel noted the following areas which need attention:
§ Invasive honeysuckle at the field/trail junction
§ Boardwalk needs to be extended by approx. 60 feet through wetlands
§ General trail cutback
§ Frost damage to the puncheons by Little Post Pond
§ Reposting of “No Hunting” signs
§ Transplantation of existing small dogwoods from field to edge of brook to prevent erosion (suggested as an early fall project)
§ Possible additional mowing of trail (in the off years for field mowing)
b. Lyme Town Forest trail. Rachel noted the following areas for attention:
§ Removal of trash at the beginning of trail head
§ Logging landing area needs to be kept clear; small growth there now
§ Path to brook needs fill and cleaning out of culvert
§ One blow down needs removal (located approx. 100 yards from culvert) [Note: Dick volunteered to go handle the blow down before Trails Day.]
§ Possible improvement of trail markers along the ridge trail
The Commission thanked Rachel for her research and presentation.
2. Approval of minutes of the May 5, 2003 meeting.
The minutes of the May 5, 2003 were approved with no changes
3. Old Business
a. Upper Valley Trail Day, June 7th
Adair noted, that in addition to the items Rachel had pointed out, there is some work to be done on the Grant Brook trail, most notably a wet spot behind the parsonage property and a steep section shortly west of this which is in need of a water bar.
Based upon the information collected by Rachel Hudson, the Commission decided to work first on the Town Forest Trail and then, if either time permitted or there were enough people participating to form two work groups, the pruning/clipping at the Chaffee Refuge.
Workers are to meet at 9:00 AM on the backside of the Common. Clippers, shovels and an ax appear to be the required tools.
Other projects will be deferred until another time. Some are possible projects for the Boy Scouts.
b. Post Pond shoreline along Route 10
It was noted that, since our last meeting, the NH DOT had dumped a load of 4” rock fill in the eroding spot.
Ben circulated a letter from Police Chief Field to the Commission responding to the Commission’s inquiry about No Parking signage. Chief Field reported that “No Parking” signs mean no parking in the travel lane, but do not include parking off the road.
The possibility of a buffer planting was discussed. Adair agreed to talk about the possibility with Judy Barker / Loch Lyme Lodge (property owner) when Adair discusses the bike path issue with Judy. An early fall planting is hoped for if Judy agrees.
4. Wetlands
a. Roby pond
Permit has been approved; no special conditions
b. Stam Pond
Ongoing issue; nothing new to report since Lee’s conversations with Jim Kennedy and Adair’s with DES.
c. Hewitt project
A site visit took place on Monday, May 19. A letter has been written stating that the Commission approved of the design by Jim Kennedy and noted no significant wetlands issues.
d. Rosalie Cutter dredge/fill application, Reservoir Pond
The Commission members briefly reviewed the application and agreed that a site visit would be in order; to be scheduled by Lee.
5. New Business
a. West Central Services request for use of Hewes Brook Landing
The question was raised as to whether Lee had answered their request to use the landing for their upcoming event. [The Commission had decided to decline and recommended the North Thetford landing for better access, parking, etc.]
b. Purple Loostrife Coalition
Adair reported that beetles will be raised and then released at the Nichols Tree Farm. Agreed reluctantly that there are probably not yet 500 plants at the Chaffee Refuge site, the minimum required to qualify for beetle supply. Vickie Smith had agreed to raise the beetles until their release.
c. Wetlands Workshop hosted by Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission
The workshop will be held in Orford, Thursday, June 19, 2003, from 7:00 - 8:30 PM in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Rivendell Academy. [Note the time change from previous notices.]
6. Other Business
There was no other business brought before the meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Laura McDaniel
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