Jackson Conservation Commission
Meeting Minutes
July 7, 2014
Present: Larry Siebert, Mike Dufilho, Pam Smillie, Tom Seidel, and Margaret Graciano.
Visitors were: Bea Davis, Susan May and Hank Benesh filmed the meeting which will appear on channel 3 or jackksonflicks.com
1) Minutes
We reviewed the minutes from June 2, 2014 and unanimously approved them as amended.
2) Ice Pond Brook Monitoring Report
We reviewed Greg Howard's monitoring report for Ice Pond Brook. Everything looks good except for the presence of Japanese knotweed. The only other problem is the pile of gravel on the edge of the library parking lot that was put there temporarily. Greg Howard is worried it will wash into the stream. The pile will be removed.
Gerald has offered to mow the path through the field on the Mystery House Loop routinely. We are very grateful.
We scheduled a work session for Sunday, July 27th at 10:00am. We will pull knotweed on the Gray's Inn property and volunteers are enthusiastically welcomed!
3) Jackson Falls Monitoring Report
We reviewed Greg Howard's report. His concerns include:
1- The section of erosion stone on the corner of Carter Notch Rd. and Valley Cross Rd. has filled with sand. That's what it is supposed to do but now storm water is flowing over and around it. We need to get Jay Henry and the town road crew to shovel it out.
2- Continued access via a steep slope from Valley Cross road and many access paths from Carter Notch Road. He suggested closing parking on Valley Cross Rd. and better establish parking spaces on Carter Notch Rd. Mike suggested that we put up a line of boulders with signs mandating parallel parking only. We are going to ask the Jackson Chamber of Commerce if we can include guidelines for Falls use with parking instructions in their brochure. Future Falls information kiosk, as recommended in the Action Plan, will include information on overflow parking in village.
3- The north-running paths on the hillside are eroding and Greg Howard recommended constructing a central path and stone staircase. The JCC is considering contracting the Appalachian Mountain Club trail crew to build stone staircases at the falls. Tom and Larry are going to visit the site and make a plan.
JCC will continue to move wood chips to define paths and protect tree roots near picnic tables per the Action Plan.
A motion was made to pay Greg Howard at North Country Soil Services $187.50 for the Ice Pond Brook monitoring report. This was seconded and approved.
A motion was made to pay Greg Howard at North Country Soil Services $356.25 for the revised monitoring report and action plan at Jackson Falls. Motion made, seconded and approved.
4) Prospect Farm kiosk
George Howard is away but he and Don Johnson are still working on it. Mike and Tom both heard reports from Forest Service employees that the Forest Service is constructing a new parking lot at the end of Carter Notch Rd. for access to the Bog Brook trail.
5) Jackson Historical Society has decided not to proceed with the historical sign at the falls.
6) Foot path across island to Lower Jackson Falls
All members of the JCC are going to take a walk on the lower falls island and see what work needs to be done there.
7) Erosion on Private Property on Switchback Lane
The resident didn't have to get a building or cutting permit so he never had to look at town regulations. Neighbors have been complaining that the owner has cut trees and the property is now quickly losing soil during major rain events and silting into town ditches and onto neighboring property. Larry is going to take this issue back to the selectmen to talk to them about what should be done and see how we can remedy the situation before it escalates to a bigger problem.
8) We reviewed Mike's write-ups for the Mystery Loop interpretive signs and made revisions.
Respectfully submitted,
Margaret Graciano
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