Jackson Conservation Commission Meeting Minutes
Unofficial until Approved
September 7, 2015
Present were members: Margaret Graciano, Tom Seidel, Pam Smillie, and Larry Siebert. Brian Byrne, Mike Dufilho and Dave Matesky were absent. Hank Benesh filmed the meeting.
August's minutes were unanimously approved as amended.
The conservation commission received a copy of DES' letter to John Fichera and Don Bilger. The use of sandbags in the river for their winter snowmaking is no longer considered an acceptable option and will not be allowed this year. Black Mountain Ski Area needs to come up with an alternate water diversion plan.
So far this year we have spent $235.87 out of our $2,000.00 budget. From our fund we spent:
- $75.50 on seedlings
- $242.00 to NHACC for our annual dues
- $366.01 to Coleman (materials for Jackson Falls parking spots)
- 548.00 to A.J. Foss (materials for Jackson Falls check dams and parking spots)
Larry reported on the August all boards meeting and said he has nothing conclusive to report. They discussed parking in town and affordable housing, issues that have more to do with the planning board than conservation. Pam asked Larry what was said about parking. That there is too little or too much? Larry said that there is not enough at certain locations (such as Doublehead.)
Jackson Falls
The signs we ordered are in. Everyone thought they looked pretty good. Pam said that she saw a wedding photographer and some kids who were fishing hop under the twine by the Valley Cross bridge. She informed them that it was a re-vegetation zone and they should stay out.
Larry said that Greg Howard stopped by his shop just to check-in and see what progress we've made at the site. Greg said the check dams need some more aggregate after the erosion from the one heavy rain storm in the middle of the dry spell. But otherwise he was very impressed with the work done so far and the improvements made.
Larry stated that it would be helpful to take the selectmen to the falls and show them all these plans and ideas we keep talking about. Margaret asked if we could invite them to our next meeting. Larry said we could invite one at a time so they don't have a quorum. Larry agreed with Margaret that eventually no parking allowed on Carter Notch Rd. would be better. Tom suggested a drop-off zone. Larry read from our plan from Greg Howard and it specifically states that we should “Reduce access and eliminate parking on Valley Cross Rd.” For this reason we still want to persue “NO PARKING” signs.
We will have a work session at the falls on Saturday September 12, 2015 at 9:30am. We will put up signs, continue to block off trails and walk around with (HOPEFULLY) one of the Selectmen!
Tom is wondering if we can store wood chips at the falls for the winter to spread in the spring post-run-off. Pam suggested at the bottom of the emergency access path.
Tom also suggested that we instate a trail adopter program so that people can maintain certain town trails. We decided to discuss this further at another meeting. Pam is already transplating existing plants to specific areas in an effort to funnel people down the paths using vegetation not twine.
Tom suggested that we build fences to keep people out until the vegetation grows up. Larry doesn't like the idea because it would be unnatural and part of the appeal of the falls is its “wild” feel. Tom thinks that the falls were a swimming pool one hundred years ago....so has it ever really been wild? Pam thinks the fence is okay, as long as it is tasteful, but has concerns that it would be in the way of the plow. Margaret thinks that a fence might be the only way to actually keep people out and give the vegetation a chance to grow back.
Larry suggested that we hire Greg Howard again to renovate our management plan and update our plan of attack.
Prospect Farm
Tom reiterated the need for clarifying trail signs at Prospect Farm. Do we want to contact the USFS about making us a sign or do we want to make our own? In addition, we need to work on a printable hiking map for the town website so that it is accessible to the public. This winter we will develop interpretive signs for the cellar holes and other sites of interest at Prospect Farm. At our last meeting George Howard expressed some interest in helping the commission with this project.
Larry said that someone asked about rules pertaining to artifacts collection.
Tom wondered if we want to post a sign about leaving artifacts where you find them
Margaret suggested a sign similar to the one at Gray's Dump declaring it a federal offense to remove artifacts.
At our October meeting we will determine who the Prospect Farm interpretive sign committee is.
Our winter projects will include: Jackson Falls kiosk, Prospect Farm interpretive signs, and getting a Prospect Farm map online.
Mowing- Last year at the budget meeting Larry asked Jay if the Parks and Recreation budget would cover the cost of mowing at Prospect Farm. Jay thought he could do part of it himself but didn't realize that the town doesn't have the proper equipment to do it. Rick Davis has always done it in the past and is not interested in a partial contract. We decided that Rick will continue to mow but, provided no other needs arise, the money for it will come out of the Parks and Recreation budget. Rick mows the orchard, the cellar holes, and the view off the Hall's Ledge Trail.
Gray's Inn
What are we going to do about knotweed? Burn it. To the ground. Just kidding. Margaret suggested that we hire someone to take care of it because we clearly aren't getting it done. Also we are maybe too late in the season to be effective.
Tom suggested that we look around for some landscape crews that would undertake this project.
A motion was made to adjourn the meeting at 6:41pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Margaret Graciano
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