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Greenfield Conservation Commission Minutes
Date: July 22, 2015
Attendees: Carol Irvin, Karen Day, Neal Brown, Conrad Dumas, Janet Renaud, Earl Sanford, and Janet Lutkus
The meeting was called to order at 7:34 pm.
The following items were addressed:
- Replacement of culverts on Russell Station Road – Report by Earl Sanford of Sanford Engineering, of Bedford, NH.
- The Highway department has plans to resurface Russell Station Rd. As a result, the existing culverts on Russell Station Rd must be replaced to meet state standards. A professional engineer is required to produce certified plans due to the size of the culverts and the Tier 2 streams.
- The Conservation Commission’s input could theoretically help the process go faster. The state is looking for the Commission’s opinion before proceeding.
- The Conservation Commission’s concern: Do changes in the culverts change the amount of water that can flow through the culvert? If the amount of water flow changes, the ecology of the wetlands could change.
- There are two culverts planned, labeled North and South culverts in the applications.
- The current South culvert is a 48 inch culvert that is currently squashed, with patchwork. It is due for a replacement. This 48 inch culvert will be replaced by a 60 inch culvert that is partly filled in to create a flat bottom, which is more “friendly for wildlife”. The 60 inch culvert is a compromise instead of a 4 by 8 box culvert which would drive up the cost.
- The new culverts will have a round structure. The bottom part of structure will contain fill to create a flat bottom. Silt fences will exist on both sides of the road.
- The North culvert is the one located closer to Route 31. For the North culvert, two badly deteriorated 36 inch culverts are being replaced with one 60 inch culvert. The only difference between the North and South culverts is 18 inches of fill will be put in the North culvert.
- The Conservation Commission has 30 days to make comments. If the State hasn’t heard from us in 30 days, they will proceed.
- The Conservation Commission can send a short memo to DES stating they’ve had the opportunity to review the plans. A signature by the commission is only required to expedite.
- Carol agreed to send a one page memo which references the number once it is posted.
- Commission members agreed that due diligence is reflected in the planning.
Action Items
- Karen to pass applications and materials to Aaron for review at Thursday (tomorrow) night meeting.
- Janet R. to follow up and be on the lookout for assigned number for the permit.
- Carol to send a one page memo which references assigned permit number.
- Removal of Glossy Buckthorn from Ray Cilley’s property – Report by Neal on what he has learned to date.
- There is a 4-acre piece with Buckthorn throughout. Buckthorn backs up to water front and gets sustenance from the water. Bittersweet and Rose invasives are not that bad, but Ray is taking care of those.
- According to John Nute of the UNH-sponsored Hillsborough County Co-Op Extension: Plan on two successive years of treatment at $500-$1000 per acre per year to treat the Buckthorn.
- Fall is the time to treat. The primary approach is to cut to the stub and then treat the stub with herbicides so it will be carried to roots. Neal has not looked at the different herbicides. It exacerbates the problem if you cut but don’t follow up with herbicide treatment.
- The problem will be getting 3 bids for NRCS and town. There are not many businesses that specialize in this service.
- Bay State is assessing the situation and coming up with a plan and a cost. They are approved for this removal.
- There may be more funding available to deal with Buckthorn, and staff from the NRCS is looking into this.
Action Items
- Because the Dept. of Agriculture deals with terrestrial invasives, Janet R. will locate and send to Neal the Dept. of Ag person who oversees the department’s work in this area.
- Neal to contact Dept. of Agriculture.
- Neal to report back to Conservation Commission as he gets more information.
- The Mason Conservation Commission sent a 4.5 page letter they composed to Governor Maggie Hassan outlining the reasons why Governor Hassan should oppose the proposed Kinder Morgan pipeline in southern New Hampshire.
- The Mason Conservation Commission is asking all the conservation commissions for signatures to the letter.
- Conrad Dumas made a motion that the Greenfield Conservation Commission go on record in opposition to the Kinder Morgan pipeline by signing the letter the Mason Conservation Commission has written to the governor. Janet Renaud seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Action Items
- Carol to scan and email letter to members to review in detail.
- Members of commission to review and send any comments to Carol.
The meeting officially adjourned at 8:57 PM. The next meeting is August 26th.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Janet Lutkus to Carol Irvin for approval, corrections, and distribution.
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