Conservation Commission Minutes for June 13, 2011
Chair Sam Demeritt opened the meeting at 7:10. Other members in attendance were Celia Abrams, Cheryl Smith, Peter Landry, Deb Kimball and Susan Mooney.
Minimum Expedited Wetland Impact (< 20,000 ft2) Permit Application:
Received from Patrick and Faye Castonguay, 122 Kelsey Road, Tax Map 24, Lots 104-1 & 104-2, on a four acre parcel a pond/swimming hole approximately 40 X 20” X 7.5 feet deep, to disturb 2330 ft2 in a small wetlands with poorly drained soils in the Little River Watershed, West of Pea Porridge Brook. Landry Surveying LLC did the survey and Landry showed the CC members the survey plan. Members inquired about the area around the proposed pond, tree cover to remain, revegetation and access for wildlife on the side opposite the house. Landry stated that as a wetlands scientist he felt
the project would increase the benefit to wildlife. The Natural Heritage database did not indicate any species of special interest on the site. A motion to approve the application was made by Mooney, seconded by Abrams. There were five votes in favor and one abstention (Landry)
Conservation Easements:
Demeritt reported that the restoration plan for the Bear-Paw WRP property across Route 152 from the Municipal Town Office Building is being developed. The informal parking area will be leveled and sloped toward the road away from the river, the erosion gully will be corrected and large stones to prevent vehicular access will be placed along the road frontage. The plan will be submitted to NRCS for approval.
A Merriam/Daggett lot line adjustment was approved by the Planning Board the previous Wednesday (6/8). There is 9.33 acres with the house (Lot 1-2), and the remaining 46.1 acres will be protected with a WRP easement. Most of the easement property is on the Freeman Hall side of the river with only a little bit extending onto Priest Road at the very beginning of that road.
Minutes:
The minutes for May 9, 2011 were accepted as read. The motion to approve was made by Landry, seconded by Smith and all votes were in favor.
Landry left the meeting at 8:00.
Correspondence:
Dated 6/10, received 6/13 from Thomas Burack, Commissioner DES an announcement that the State Protected Rivers Bill, HB 149, nomination for the rest of the Lamprey River not already protected and it’s tributaries of fourth
order status and above for the NH Rivers Management and Protection Program (RMPP) was signed by the governor on 6/7/11. A letter to the BOS from Jim Hadley, Chairman of the Lamprey River Nomination Committee, indicated that each town in the expanded protected watershed area is encouraged to nominate representatives for the establishment of a local advisory committee.
Intent to Cut: Dated 5/23/11, from Deb Stevens, James and Frederick Fernald for timber located in Mulligan Forest, Map 29, Lot 8, to cut 50 acres harvesting 25 MBF of white pine, 35 of hemlock, 10 of oak, 15 of pallet logs; pulpwood: 75 tons white pine, 100 tons hemlock and 130 cords of firewood.
Dated 5/11, received 5/12, from John Fernald, Road Agent, to Geno Infrascelli, DES Wetlands Bureau, an application to replace a failed culvert on Merry Hill Road, replacing a 12” diameter with another 12”.
Dated 6/3 to the Nottingham Town Clerk from DES Land Resources Management re: an Alteration of Terrain Permit Application, (RSA 485:A), from Harbor Street Ltd. Partnership, DES File # 110603-070, to disturb 178,830 ft2 at property located at 58 Ledge Farm Road, Tax Map 58, Lots 4 & 6-2A. The application was returned to the applicant because the fee was not enclosed and the test pit information did not show a designer’s stamp.
(Date not noted) from Lee Carbonneau, Senior Wetlands Scientist for Normandeau Associates Environmental Consultants to Dori Wiggins, DES Wetlands Bureau, a Standard Dredge and Fill Application for new wetland impacts for pole replacements along the PSNH power line corridor through Nottingham near the crossing at Route 152 was cc-ed to the Commission. The application indicated that an additional wetland impact of 26,924 ft2 is expected and that the project date is scheduled for September of this year.
From J C Builders, Jeff Cole, owner of lot #14 on Patriots lane, Tax Map 4, Lot 16-25 a Minimum Expedited Wetland Impact Application (DES Wetlands File # 2011-01051) to disturb 347 ft2 of wetland to install 15” X 14’ of ADS culvert for a driveway to serve a single family lot. Demeritt signed the permit application on 5/25/11.
Dawn Genes, Executive Director of the LRWA arrived at 8:20 to discuss the recent expansion of the Lamprey River and its fourth order and up tributaries to the RMPP by the legislature and governor. She spoke of the recent letter sent to the BOS that indicates each town in the watershed may nominate up to four representatives to a new local advisory committee. It is expected that such committee will work with the existing lamprey River Advisory Committee as well as the LRWA. Other items discussed the proposed removal of the West Epping Dam and the construction of a fish ladder at Wiswall dam. The purpose is to restore historical habitats along the river prior to the construction of dams
including the one at Pawtuckaway Lake that was built to power mills downstream. The tasks of the new advisory committee will be to review state permits for impacts within ¼ mile of the river; update the Watershed
Management Plan of 2007; develop BMP’s for the watershed; outreach and education. It is expected the committee will meet once a month and there will be subcommittees to address particular tasks. Ms. Genes asked Abrams if she would be willing to train four volunteers from Lee to use the water testing equipment for the LWRA/VRAP river water-testing program. (This is in response to the recent budget cuts at VRAP in Concord resulting in the loss of the state coordinator’s position.) Abrams said she would do so.
Genes told the CC to keep sending the completed data forms to VRAP.
Genes left the meeting at 9:00, as did Kimball.
Correspondence, continued:
Dated 6/3 /2011 from Craig Day, DES Wetlands Bureau to Sherman Intervivos Family Trust, 220 Raymond Road, Tax Map 69, Lot 8, re: permit 2011-01152, an approval of the Shoreland Impact Permit application to remove a pool, deck, shed and a portion of the driveway to construct an attached garage and replace the septic system. The project would impact 1732 ft2 of Shoreland.
A “Thank You” from Bear-Paw Regional Greenways (BPRG) land trust for the Town’s renewed membership of $100 received on May 17.
From Denis Hamel of W. C. Cammett Engineering, Field Reports for the USA Springs property for 4/14, 4/18, 4/25, 5/5.Recommendations including correction of silt fences, remediation of some erosion events and soil slumping.
BPRG Report by Demeritt:
Bear-Paw has invited Dave Jacke, author of The Edible Forest” to be the speaker at the 2012 Annual Meeting.
The recently held Biothon at the Cassier property in Raymond identified 250-300 separate species of wildlife and each team raised at least $500 for land protection.
There will be a Roundtable and a Landowner Workshop in October and November (one for each month, to be scheduled).
There will be a Trail making Workshop and a Winter Walk on the Cassier property, also to be scheduled.
Roadside Cleanup: Will be discussed at the next CC meeting.
Turtle Crossing Signs: In response to requests from Nottingham residents Abrams and Mooney purchased signage materials and constructed and installed crossing signs at sensitive habitats in Nottingham. Signs were places on Routes 152and 156 and on Garland Road, Case Road, Berry Road and Smoke Street. There is enough materials to replace damaged ones and for additional areas to be posted. It was moved by Smith, seconded by Abrams to reimburse Mooney for the cost of the supplies, $120.98. All four votes were in favor.
Workshops/ Conferences:
Abrams and Mooney attended the multi-town Conservation Commission meeting held in Raymond on May 18, 2011. Prior to the meeting the towns had submitted their responses to a questionnaire sent out by the Raymond Commission. Many towns were represented and there was extensive discussion on easements, grant applications for projects and regional planning.
Landry, Abrams and Therese Thompson attended the workshop “Invasive Species ID and Control” presented by Doug Cygan, Invasive Species Coordinator for the NH Dept. of Agriculture on May 31. The workshop covered identification of species, their impacts on ecosystems and best practices for their control and management. Landry printed out a copy of the most recent map of Nottingham so the Commission can use it to locate invasives in Nottingham as a first step in control and eradication.
Other:
The members had a discussion that there should be an additional time during the month for workshop meetings to plan for future projects. One meeting a month will continue to be dedicated for the application notices, reports, correspondence and the like. Members agreed to schedule a workshop meeting for June 30 or July 7, which ever is convenient for the most members.
Mooney moved that the meeting be adjourned. It was seconded by Abrams and all votes were in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 9:41.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan P. Mooney, Acting Secretary
These minutes were approved as corrected at a meeting held on July 11, 2001.
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