LYME CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Minutes – April 9, 2007
1. The regular April meeting of the Conservation Commission convened at 7:30 pm in the Lyme Center Academy Building’s meeting room. The following attended all or parts of the meeting:
a. commission members: James Graham, Dick Jones, Lee Larson, Vicki May, Adair Mulligan, Matt Stevens and Mimi Weinstein; and
b. public: Marcia Armstrong, Judy Barker, Charlie Brenner, Lou-Anne Conroy, Dina Cutting, George & Anne Hartmann, Carola Lea, Don Metz, Tom Morrissey, Jim Poage, Jonathan Sachs and Wayne Tullar.
2. The minutes of the March 5th meeting were approved as submitted.
3. Lee discussed the progress on the Natural Resources Inventory. He said that five people had reviewed the draft submitted by Watershed to Wildlife and extensive comments were prepared and submitted. The contractor will prepare a second draft of the report and submit it for further review.
4. Carola and Wayne came in to describe the possible expansion of the existing agricultural easement on the Tullars’ Berway Farm and to request Conservation Fund support for this project. Lee explained the evaluation process that the Commission follows for the potential acquisition of conservation land or easements; that the Conservation Fund is limited in its resources; the Commission’s preference for a partnership with others in acquiring conservation easements, and the need for an appraisal of the value of the development rights. Dick added the need for the Commission to hold a public hearing and gave Wayne a copy of the evaluation form
that the Commission uses. A site visit was tentatively scheduled for 8:00 AM on April 21st.
5. Lee led an extensive discussion of the Post Pond water level/beaver issues:
a. It was again explained that the determination of the “normal mean high water elevation” was a State function following a set procedure, which considers many environmental factors. (According to the Post Pond determination: “For natural fresh water bodies, the natural mean high water elevation is the elevation delineating the highest water level that has been maintained for a sufficient period of time to leave evidence on the landscape, such as a clear, natural line impressed on the immediate bank, erosion, shelving, changes in the
character of soil, changes in natural vegetation from predominantly aquatic to predominantly terrestrial, the presence of litter and debris, or other appropriate means that consider the characteristics of the surrounding areas.”) The State has been requested to reexamine its determination and has said that it was correctly determined and will not be revised.
b. The Commission has contacted Skip Lisle, who installed the existing beaver pipe this last November, to evaluate its performance and give a public presentation on beaver control and possibly installing a second pipe. It is anticipated that this will occur in mid-May.
c. In response to George Hartmann’s question, Lee again explained the meaning of the “normal mean high water elevation” – line between State and private/Town land – and the State law protecting beavers (RSA 210:9).
d. In response to Judy Barker’s question, Lee explained that the gage was reset each spring after the ice was out. The reference was a “red spot” on the top of the east end of the culvert on the road to Chase Beach from the boat launch at 429.88 feet. (The gage is reset with 3.0 feet equaling the normal mean high water elevation of 428.8 feet.)
e. A discussion of possible changes to the “Post Pond Water Release Policy” followed. Lee mentioned that Skip Lisle had recommended first compacting a dam and then making several small breaches rather than a single larger breach as presently stated in the policy. Dick agreed to develop wording to change the policy to reflect Skip’s recommendation for future consideration by the Commission.
6. Matt said that he was working on a revised wetland permit application for the revetment on the Lower Grant Brook trail and that private landowners were working on an application for a grant to improve and fence the riparian wetland buffer areas along the trail. Dick brought up the possibility of also considering a new revetment project for the area along Trout Brook/Route 10/ball field parking where there is also extensive erosion. Adair suggested that the town place sawhorses or some other temporary barrier to prevent people from continuing to park too close to the eroding stream bank.
7. Lee will schedule a site visit for the Barnum/Alverson wetlands permit application for stabilization of the CT riverbank along their properties.
8. Lee led a discussion of the Maddocks’ gift of an easement to the Upper Valley Land Trust, which provides for a public trail. Their gift will complete a large part of the section from Lyme Center to Market Street and the Big Rock Preserve. (This trail ultimately goes to the CT River.) Most of the proposed trail across their property may be maintained by a tractor with a brush hog, but a short section will need improvements to ease future maintenance. He proposed consideration of using the Conservation Fund to pay for these improvements. No decision was made at this time.
9. James said that the Selectmen had signed the 2006 “Tree City USA” application and briefly discussed the Step It Up “National Day of Climate Action” activities scheduled for April 14th in Lyme and Hanover.
10. Commission elected the following officers for 2007:
chair: Matt
vice chair Lee.
It then discussed various “jobs” and who would lead which function.
11. Expenditures of $175.00 for annual dues to the NH Association of Conservation Commissions and $25.00 for the Upper Valley Trails Alliance were approved.
12. A general discussion of how to deal with rumors and myths followed. Mimi suggested using the Town website to provide a link for frequently asked questions relative to Conservation Commission topics. “Beaver” related issues persist in being a controversial topic. Informing the public and providing access to the correct information is part of the role of the Conservation Commission. Ways to provide that information in an illustrative, consistent method could be achieved using the Town website should be considered. It was also concluded that responding to various “list-serve” comments should not be attempted as past
experience has only led to more questions/e-mail responses without resolution of misconceptions.
13. The meeting adjourned at 9:30 PM.
R. G. Jones
recorder
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