Greenfield Conservation Commission
Minutes
April 26, 2006
Attended: Karen Day, Karla Allen, Neal Brown, Roger Lessard, Janet Romanelli
New Business
Minimum impact application from Crotched: Lee Dexter of SVE Associates came to present an application for a minimum impact wetlands permit. This has been approved by the planning board, but needs our approval. Neal would like to see the site; Karen and Janet will meet him at 6:00 there (they met the next evening and approved it).
Natural Resources Inventory: a lot has already been done besides the original UNH NRI: a) 2002 by DSM Environmental, b) 2004 by Jeff Littleton, c) one by SPNHF, d) one by Rick Van de Poll, and e) the work Emily Hague has already done. Based on the data collected and activities by the Forest Society in the “Quabbin to Cardigan” (“Q2C”) effort, Emily feels that our best area of focus would be the northwest section of town, as well as water protection generally - resources are the Granite State Rural Water Association and the DES. Also, we need a map for the planning board: with wildlife corridors and wetlands, and with the tax lots on it. Karen would like to see the UNH NRI augmented by the four others, along with an executive summary and
maps detailing it all. Emily agreed to collect the data. See addendum.
Old Business
Turtle Crossing – Janet located some signs online, everyone looked them over and agreed on one. They would be put up as follows: two (one in each direction) on Sawmill Road just before the dump, two (one in each direction) on Zephyr Lake Rd. near the beach, and two (one in each direction) on Forest Rd. near the intersection with Russell Station Rd. Neal has stakes, and Janet will contact him when he returns after May 14th to put them up. Karen will clear it with the selectmen. Janet will write a follow-up piece for the Spirit, as well as other pieces.
2006 Programs
Possible program by Fish & Game - Non-Game - John Kanter from Concord - Janet will investigate - program on beavers?
Photo Contest – winners were selected for the Winter portion.
Roadside Roundup - the kids from GES earned $24 - Neal will go to present the money and will take pictures for the Spirit. The Roadside Roundup went well. Issues: folks brought their trash directly to the dump and Angelo wasn’t prepared for the rush. Next year will put in a phone number for stragglers or ask folks just to bring it themselves, and have someone at the dump all day policing the incoming trash. Follow-up: Janet to send Thank You note to the papers including donors, Woman’s Club and townspeople.
Tom Tyning Amphibian Program was a roaring success.
Eyes on Owls - all set for May 21st (a Sunday afternoon).
Program for June - one of the below? - turtles?
Wild animal map.
Dollars and Sense (again) - later in the year?
Fish & Game Program – could be deer, bear, turkeys, moose
UNH Cooperative Extension Program could be on forestry, animals, trees, etc.
5. Open Space - next living room meeting - none were mentioned. Other ideas on how to engage people - connect with animals, hunters, etc.?
6. Any other business brought forward by members or attendees:
o Recycling Committee - Roger is officially passing the baton to Neal.
7. Mail of importance - invitation from Crotched to reception.
Submitted by Janet Romanelli
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Addendum - correspondence from Emily Hague:
Hello, Karen -
I have some further insight into what I would recommend that Greenfield accomplish this summer in terms of NRI work. I have read Rick van de Poll's thorough natural resource inventory of some private lands in Peterborough and Greenfield, which is a shining example. I have also looked harder at the town's natural resources and thought about how you could obtain the most valuable information with the least effort. Finally, I have considered what conservation projects are already underway in
Greenfield, and how you could use their findings to your advantage. With the above factors in mind, here is what I recommend:
1. Prioritize valuable wetland sites to classify and informally delineate, based on occurrence and existing knowledge of the area
2. Prioritize valuable upland habitats to investigate, using Fish and Game's coarse filter habitat analysis, and existing knowledge of habitats in the Headwaters area and the Temple to Crotched Corridor
3. Use a Geographic Information System (ArcMap 9.1) to prioritize other natural resources such as aquifers, prime agricultural soils, and geomorphological features that deserve protection
4. Compile the above data into a report and a town map indicating areas with the highest conservation priority.
Let me know what you think - I think we can do a lot with existing information from ecologists Rick van de Poll, Jeff Littleton, Barry Wicklow, and others. I suggest that we meet sometime in early April to finalize what you need and plan field work for the summer. I will be out of town until March 22nd, but I'd be happy to meet with you or speak on the phone any time after that.
Looking forward to working more on this -
Emily
Emily Hague
MS, Resource Management and Administration
Antioch New England Graduate School
19 Dunbar St. #3
Keene, NH 03431
(603) 358-3054
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