LYME CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Minutes – 9/11, 2006
The meeting convened at 7:30pm.
The following members of the commission were in attendance: James Graham, Dick Jones, Lee Larson (chair), and Vicki May. Tom Morrisey of Post Pond Lane was also present for part of the meeting.
1. Minutes from 8/7/06: approved unanimously.
2. Old Business:
a. Natural Resource Inventory: The Watershed to Wildlife consultants will be in town for field visits the following dates in September: 14, 18, 25, and 27. Another date will be scheduled later.
Eight hundred dollars has been raised so far towards the goal of $2500 to help close the gap in funding needed to complete the inventory and produce a document for public distribution.
Tom Morrisey spoke to the proposed wetland study for Post Pond by Normandeau Associates. He is trying to get them to perform their site visit soon and has contacted them to that effect. Tom promised to notify the Commission when he hears from them. Tom is generously underwriting that project which will be included as an appendix to the inventory report.
b. Post Pond Status: Lee reported that the beavers have been busy doing what they do best and that the level of the pond is over 3ft. We are expecting a request soon for permission to breach the dam and bring the water level down.
Lee also brought to our attention an article in “Northern Woodlands” magazine that discusses an improved baffle system for regulating the affect of beaver dams on ponds. The Commission unanimously agreed that it’s worth contacting the consultant who installs this new system to determine if it’s a viable solution to Post Pond’s problem. Tom Morrisey generously offered to assist in underwriting a site visit appraisal by the consultant if necessary. Lee will contact the consultant and report back.
c. Revetment Project, Grant Brook: Matt has contacted Ben Hudson and Ben has agreed to work on the project. Vicky Davis is checking to determine whether any special permitting is required for this project.
d. Prime Wetland Designation: Matt provided information on the State’s requirements for prime wetland designations as described in RSA 482-A: 15 and Chapter Env-WT 700 of the DES administrative rules. Matt also suggested purchasing the book: Method for the Evaluation of Nontidal Wetlands in New Hampshire if it is not already in the town’s possession. The Commission agreed.
3. Wetlands and Easements: No site visits are scheduled.
4. New Business
a. Additional support for Upper Valley Trails Alliance: Matt asked if the C.C. might provide monetary assistance to the UVTA in return for help in maintaining Lyme’s trail network. After some discussion, it was agreed that the C.C. should request an increase in its budget for the management and maintenance of the town’s conservation areas. This part of the C.C.’s budget has remained unchanged for several years while the number and size of the town’s conservation areas has increased considerably.
b. Trail maintenance, Big Rock, Grant Brook, Chaffee Preserve: A. Balch submitted a bill to the C.C. for $450 for mowing the Chaffee Preserve. The C.C. unanimously agreed to pay. The federal government’s ???? program should refund Eighty percent of this. Dick reported that he did 5 hours of maintenance work on the Chaffee Preserve and that it should be all set for the remainder of the year. Lee said that Matt plans to get help from the Appalachian Trail Club and their DR machine for mowing needed on the Grant Brook trail and southern end of the Big Rock trail.
5. Other Business: Lee reported that Carola Lea asked him whether it was possible for a townsperson to do some “thinning” of the fir trees at the Hewes Brook boat launch. That kind of work is not allowed under the rules of the property’s conservation easement.
6. Publicity: Lee reported that Matt suggested a series of walks to some of the interesting NRI sites. After some discussion it was agreed that several planned seasonal or theme-based walks throughout the year, especially in conjunction with local experts and groups such as the Lyme Historians are worth pursuing.
Meeting adjourned at 8:35pm.
Respectfully submitted by James Graham
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