Stow Conservation Commission
Minutes
July 2, 2013
A meeting of the Stow Conservation Commission was held at the Stow Town Building, 380 Great Road, Stow, Massachusetts, on July 2, 2013 at 7:30 in the evening.
There were present: Ingeborg Hegemann Clark, Chair
David Coppes, Vice-Chair
Cortni Frecha
Serena Furman
Doug Morse
Jeff Saunders
Associate: Andy Snow
comprising a quorum of the Commission; also
Present: Maureen Trunfio, SCC Secretary
Absent: Pat Perry, SCC Coordinator
The Conservation Commission meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM.
Approve Minutes
Cortni Frecha made a motion to approve the minutes of June 4, 2013 as drafted and amended. David Coppes seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Cemetery Committee
G.H. Gledhill, Cemetery Superintendent, requested time for the Cemetery Committee to meet with the Commission. Gledhill and the Cemetery Committee, including Gerry Kunst, Chair, Roy Dudley, Kenny Banks and Steve Gray were present at this meeting.
The Committee wanted the Commission’s input regarding the possible purchase of land adjacent to the present cemetery on Gleasondale and Box Mill Roads. They produced a map that showed various natural resource lines and asked the Commission for their opinion as to whether the land would be usable for burial sites. The Commission studied the map but agreed a site visit would be necessary to determine if wetlands or other resources might hinder the usefulness of the property. A site inspection, in conjunction with members from the Cemetery Committee, was scheduled for Sunday, July 14, 2013 at 9 am.
The Committee noted that the land is owned by the Derby family. At a prior Town Meeting, the town had voted and approved $200K to purchase land for cemetery use. The funds were never spent stated Chairman Gerry Kunst.
Site Inspection Assignment
156 Barton Road
The owner of 156 Barton Road contacted the Commission stating the need to drill a well. The Commission suggested that he file a Request for Determination of Applicability. Cortni Frecha, Doug Morse and Jeff Saunders volunteered to conduct the site inspection.
Lake Boon Commission
Annual Drawdown Report (Second Year)
Theresa O’Riorden and Conray Wharff of the Lake Boon Commission (LBC) along with Jack Wallace, Health Agent for the Town of Stow, attended the present meeting to review and discuss the annual Lake Boon Drawdown. Weather data, water levels, water testing results and photos were included in the Annual Report prepared by O’Riorden.
Pat Perry provided the Commission with all lake level measurements since 2011. She reminded the Commission that the first year of the drawdown had not achieved more than several inches of drawdown because there was an abutter’s complaint of a dry well and the drawdown was halted. The cause of the dry well was never officially determined. Next year there will be an attempt to lower the lake by 18 inches. Perry noted that the drawdown would never get below 24” because the boards are cemented in below that point.
Perry reported that this year’s slow drawdown achieved 11 inches without complaint. The drawdown was halted due to the December 1 stop date in the Order of Conditions. She reiterated that the LBC was hoping to achieve 12 inches.
Commissioner Coppes asked about a document that was presented to the Commission at an earlier meeting that demonstrated the hypothetical results of a 40-inch drawdown on the lake. He asked if the gains the LBC would make now, with potential drop of only 24 inches, would be worthwhile. He wondered if the effects would only be noticeable around a small area at the edge of the lake. He explained to O’Riorden and Wharff that he did not require an immediate answer, but that LBC should look into this fact. Neither O’Riorden nor Wharff had the document with them. O’Riorden stated that her opinion was that even a small drawdown is beneficial. Wharff noted that the quality of the lake water has improved. O’Riorden agreed.
Wharff explained that the drawdown serves two purposes. The first task of emptying water drains many nutrients from the Lake and serves the purpose of freezing out a number of weeds. It also serves to allow residents to perform maintenance on their docks, etc. Perry explained that even without the drawdown, a board or boards would have been removed by the town to allow for seawall and dock maintenance. Wharff added that weed growth has reached the first basin and, because of that, more residents on the lake are supporting herbicide treatments and the drawdown. Wharff noted that the lake residents are changing and with each sale, in many cases, a new, deep well is drilled. Wallace confirmed that there were two new drilled wells along the Stow side of the lake this year.
O’Riorden reported that it appears that the herbicides are working and reminded the Commission that the LBC’s goal is total lake management and that the drawdown is the final piece of the puzzle.
Wallace reminded the LBC of the dangers of even one well failing. The chance of failure is most likely during November near Thanksgiving when household water consumption is sometimes at an all-year high due to house guests. He said an occasion where two or three wells would go dry simultaneously would be disastrous. He added that the $10K reserved to help in the event of a dry well, would most likely not support more than one well at a time.
The Commission reviewed the Order of Conditions and said that next year (3rd year of the drawdown) the LBC may attempt to achieve an 18-inch drawdown. Jack Wallace was dubious whether 18 inches would be a realistic goal. He said that he did not object to attempting to remove two, 3-inch boards and go down by 6 inches initially. Assuming there are no problems, they could attempt to remove another board and proceed slowly to 12 inches. At that point, Wallace suggested that the conditions of the lake and the calendar be checked to make sure that it is not too close to Thanksgiving. He suggested working closely with the Conservation Commission and the Highway Department to try to get down 15 inches and then again wait and see if there are any problems. Coppes mentioned that per the OOC LBC cannot go below 18 inches.
Conray Wharff often called the office of the Conservation Commission to report an approaching storm. Theresa O’Riorden took lake level readings daily and forwarded them to Pat Perry who logged the information. Michael Clayton, Stow Highway Superintendent, checked the dam daily. Jack Wallace communicated with Pat Perry often. All agreed that communication and collaboration are critical and were critical to this past year’s success. The drawdown can move forward only with this exemplary communication and collaboration.
Appointment of New Chairperson
Cortni Frecha made a motion to nominate Ingeborg Hegemann Clark to serve a one-year term as Chairperson of the Stow Conservation Commission, effective July 1, 2013. Serena Furman seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Appointment of New Vice-Chairperson
Cortni Frecha made a motion to nominate David Coppes to serve a one-year term as Vice-Chairperson of the Stow Conservation Commission, effective July 1, 2013. Serena Furman seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Deer Browsing
Hegemann Clark announced that the deer article had been published in the Stow Independent. Pat Perry announced that she had received a DVD recording of the Commission’s May 21, 2013 meeting, at which Stow’s deer population was discussed.
Michelle Grzenda, Conservation Administrator for the Town of Weston, has created a Web page to upload citizens’ comments. Hegemann Clark will research how to access the comments and the Commission will decide how to respond.
One of the initial comments posted was from Andrew Martin of Honey Pot Hill Farm. The Commission felt that an orchard might be a unique case and that a member of the Commission should call and speak with him.
Serena Furman wondered whether Stow residents realize that the town has a deer population problem. She wondered whether it would be worth paying for a study to show that there is a problem. She questioned whether there was an existing study that proves that overpopulation of deer is a problem and also defines what percentage, or number of deer, would need to be culled or stopped from reproducing in order to bring back balance to the system. Commissioner Coppes stated that he remembered speaking with Sonya Christensen of the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game several years prior and being given specific numbers regarding suggested deer population per square mile and suggested cull numbers for deer management. Coppes said he would attempt to contact her again.
Hegemann Clark responded that Tom Rawinski of the USDA Forest Service has been making an attempt to find numbers of deer in Stow. Rawinski has offered to conduct field trips on all town properties and give the Commission feedback from those trips. Hegemann Clark suggested that the Commission conduct these walks in conjunction with the Stow Conservation Trust (SCT) if they are interested. Hegemann Clark will work to coordinate a date with the Commission, SCT and Rawinski.
Rawinski informed Hegemann Clark that he would like to conduct a Maple Leaf Viburnum study in Stow. This study has a way of quantifying deer and damage to the woodlands. The Commission mentioned involving a school group in a project that would track the number of deer in a given area.
Hegemann Clark asked if anyone would be interested in serving on a subcommittee relating to deer population. Cortni Frecha, Dave Coppes, Doug Morse, and Andy Snow said that they were interested. Pat Perry suggested Hegemann Clark ask Bruce Trefry, Land Steward, if he would like to be involved.
Adjournment
Dave Coppes made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:50 PM. Serena Furman seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
The Commission adjourned at 8:50 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Maureen Trunfio
Stow Conservation Commission Secretary
| 
