Exeter River Project to Begin in July Supply
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Volume XXXVI No. 7 Brentwood, New Hampshire July-August 2012 Exeter River Project to Begin in July supply. The problem looms and we all should be doing whatever we can at whatever level to protect the future This summer, Brentwood will begin work on a of our environment. project to improve storm-water management and restore the buffers along the Exeter River on Haigh Road and Brentwood is stepping up to the challenge as Rowell Road West. Currently, water flows from those best we can, to do our part to protect our little piece of roads into the river and the vegetation is not adequate to the world, in two ways. Firstly, we elected to fund a $2 absorb it, and so it carries sand, silt and nitrogen into the million bond in 2003 to protect open space, which has river. been leveraged to protect over $7 million worth of land, using federal grants, donations and independent trans- The river bank along Rowell Road West, where actions to make up the difference. We are now at the the storm-water drains, is still an attractive spot for point where 25% of our 16 square miles are under ease- recreation, being used for swimming, fishing and ment protection, including 2.5 miles along the Exeter boating, and even skating in favorable winters. This land River. is owned by Carole and Norman Wilson and there is no official landing, so that people using the river make Secondly, we have worked to keep pollutants out of multiple trails through the narrow woodland and shrubs the river by protecting and improving buffers along the to approach the river. A better landing spot would help waterways (Exeter and Little Rivers, and Dudley Brook). prevent erosion. Thus, a project improving both drain- Some of this is completed already, and the Rowell Road age and access to the river is an important contribution West project introduced above will be started this to the attractions of our town. summer. Specifically, this summer we will: The Exeter River Fluvial Geomorphic Study, ● Reshape a portion of the storm water ditches along completed in 2010, identified Rowell Road West as a Haigh Road and build a gravel wetland at the northeast problem spot. Accordingly, the Conservation Com- corner of Haigh Road and Rowell Road West. This mission began looking into possible remediation. Last gravel wetland is designed to remove nutrients and year, we obtained on behalf of the town approximately sediments before they go into the river. By allowing $130,000 in grants from several sources. Some of the water to filter slowly through soil and various types of grant money required matching, which we arranged to plants that take up nitrogen, we may also help naturally take the form of our own highway department supplying occurring microbes to remove nitrogen accumulated much of the equipment and labor for work they would from Haigh Road and elsewhere. have to do this summer anyway. With the permits ● Stabilize the bank on the south side where the large recently approved, work is set to begin in July. tree fell into the river so that there is no further erosion. Our work at the Conservation Commission is ● Stabilize the “beach/landing area” using large wood spurred by our knowledge that our watershed is deteri- timbers to create a seating area and place for canoes orating. Great Bay is the final recipient of all the water and kayaks to be launched. that drains from our watershed, which includes all of Brentwood. We know that it is really badly impaired ● Plant native shrubs and trees to create a buffer that now. It has been so, off and on, for years; but this is also will help filter out sediment and nitrogen. worse. Is it just the nitrogen from our lawns, agriculture ● Install a catch basin on the southern side of the hill and above all septic waste? Some of the towns, mainly coming down from Juniper Lane draining into a pipe to some of those with outdated waste water treatment be laid under the road, such that water will be directed plants, are arguing about the cause, probably mostly into the woods on the north side. because they want to avoid any expensive remediation, and also partially because there are plenty of other ● Repave the hilly portion of Rowell Road running west pollutants we're exporting downstream. It's true, though, from Juniper Lane. that whatever any of us puts into the watershed goes not Continued on page 2 just into the rivers and the bay but also into our water Page 2 The Brentwood Newsletter July-August 2012 TOWN OF BRENTWOOD On the Web: www.brentwoodnh.gov TOWN CLERK and TAX COLLECTOR: MARY E. BARTLETT LIBRARY Phone: 642-6400 X 14 Phone: 642-3355 E-mail: [email protected] Monday-Wed.-Thurs. 9:00-4:30 On the Web: http://www.brentwoodlibrary.org Tuesday 9:00-8:00 Monday 2-7 Thursday 9-5 Friday 8:30-4:00 Tuesday 9-5 Friday 9-1 Saturday Closed Wednesday 9-5 Saturday 9-1 ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT PLANNING BOARD SWASEY CENTRAL SCHOOL Phone: 642-6400 X 10 Fax: 642-6310 Phone: 642-6400 X 16 Phone: 642-3487 Monday–Thursday 8:00-4:00 Monday-Thursday 8:00-4:30 Swasey School on the Web: http://scs.sau16.org Friday 9:00-1:00 SAU 16 on the Web: http://www.sau16.org Continued from page 1 July & August Recycling Pick-Up Dates We would particularly like to point out that none July 3 & 5 of this project would be possible without the foresight July 17 & 18 and generosity of Carole and Norman Wilson of Haigh July 31 & August 1 Road. Almost all of the work is along their land and they August 14 & 15 have graciously given us access and have given gener- August 28 ously of their time. Additionally, they have agreed to put a conservation easement on their land, thereby perma- nently protecting approximately 6,000 feet of shoreline From the Town Clerk's Office along the Exeter River. We owe our gratitude to them for protecting this special place for future generations to When you register your car, bring two checks, one enjoy. for the State and one for the town of Brentwood. Also bring the letter we send you, or your old registration. We On behalf of the town, the Conservation Com- need the information printed there. The State does not mission would like to thank the Rockingham County send us pre-printed forms any more. Conservation District for grant writing and leadership. In addition, we are indebted to all the partners that have The Town Clerk's office is closed on Saturdays in provided funds for the project including the New Hamp- June, July and August. shire Department of Environmental Services, New Phyllis Thompson, Town Clerk Hampshire State Conservation Committee (aka Moose Plates), and Great Bay Trout Unlimited. Emily Schmalzer Loam and Wood Chips Available at the Brentwood Conservation Commission Town Highway Shed Unscreened loam and wood chips are available free of charge to residents at the Town Highway Shed Waste Tonnage Figures located at 207 Middle Road. Residents are responsible for loading and transporting the material. The shed is Apr May open 8:00--4:30 Monday thru Friday. Tons, mixed solid waste 92.19 110.53 Tons, recycled goods 28.31(23.5%) 46.39 (29.5%) Wayne Robinson, Road Agent THE BRENTWOOD NEWSLETTER Published 11 times a year by the Brentwood Newsletter Committee, Brentwood, New Hampshire. Circulation 1,217 Linda Rousseau, Editor 580-2358 Marion Arkell, Treasurer, 772-6314 Jim Clark, 580-1012 Brad Stevens Business Card Directory: $20 per insertion, available in April, September & December issues. Business Article: $100 half page, $200 full page, available in any issue. Deadline for September issue: Friday, Aug. 24 Mail your articles to Linda Rousseau, 156 Front St., #417, Exeter, NH 03833, or e-mail to [email protected] July-August 2012 The Brentwood Newsletter Page 3 Exeter High School Graduates Isabella Duarte – Osram Sylvania Vocational-Technical Scholarship. The Brentwood community congratulates all who Madison Dullea – Girl’s Basketball Academic Scholar- have graduated from Exeter High School and Seacoast ship. School of Technology. Best wishes go to them in their Charlotte Faria –Lt. Michael Bennett Memorial Scholar- future endeavors. ship. Unfortunately, there were eleven names the High Michael Field – Barbara Counsel French Scholarship. School Guidance Office could not give us permission to publish, because “the students/parents never gave Stephan Guerrette – John A. Anderson Memorial permission to release graduation information.” If any Scholarship. student or family wishes to have the Newsletter publish Osram Sylvania Engineering Scholar- the information later we’ll be glad to do so. Elyssa Hannan – ship. National Honor Society. Dezary Agosto Elyssa Hannan Seacoast Crime Stoppers Schola- Kelsey Babcock Marisa Hercules Marisa Hercules – ship; John Gaynor Memorial Trust Scholarship. Miranda Beggin Rebecca Imbimbo Cal Blomquist Mary Kelley Alexander Rioux –Lindon-Green Memorial Scholarship. John Brescia Michaela Kirby Hannah Burke Steven Lambert Graham Ritter – National Honor Society. Connor Byron Hailey Legro Zachary Stevens – Ken Rohr Scholarship. Pasqualino Cantarella Riley Maguire Alexander Carley Caitlyn Meditz Samuel Wallace -- National Honor Society. Andrew Chalmers Shannon Murphy Larissa Claar Joanna Nichols Other Graduations Eliott Cross John Oppici David D. Claar, Jr. graduated from Full Sail Tyler Cuvellier Alexander Rioux University, Winter Park, Florida, in an intensive full time Michael Dolan Graham Ritter two- year program with a Bachelor of Science in Film. Nicholas Downing Desiree Robare He consistently remained on the Dean's list and was Isabella Duarte Sean Ryan also acknowledged as a "High Achiever" in the Global Madison Dullea Zachary Stevens Professionalism Standard Program.