CONSERVATION COMMISSIONS REPORT 2020
includes:
Lists of Conservation Commission Contacts in NH & VT Reports of Conservation Commissions 2019 Activities UVLT Conserved Properties Map UVLT Staff Directory Conservation Easements – Frequently Asked Questions
sponsored by:
19 Buck Road, Hanover, NH 03755 603-643-6626 / www.UVLT.org
CONSERVATION COMMISSION CONTACTS - NH
New Hampshire Association of Conservation Commissions Barbara Richter, 54 Portsmouth St, Concord, NH 03301 / 603-224-7867 / [email protected]
Bath Bruce Barnum, [email protected]
Canaan Bill Chabot / [email protected]
Charlestown Richard Holmes / [email protected]
Claremont Gary Dickerman / [email protected]
Cornish Corey Fitch / [email protected]
Dorchester Maria Weick / [email protected]
Enfield Alan Strickland / [email protected]
Grafton Frank Neufell, Prescott Hill Road, Grafton, NH 03240
Grantham Dave Wood / [email protected]
Hanover Vicki Smith / [email protected]
Haverhill Robert Stoddard / [email protected]
Lebanon Harrison Bourne / [email protected]
Lyme Blake Allison / [email protected] Newport Stanley Hannum / [email protected] Orange Dorothy Heinrichs / [email protected] Orford Edmund Cooley / [email protected] Piermont Helga Mueller / [email protected] Plainfield David Grobe / [email protected] Unity Stan Rastallis / [email protected]
CONSERVATION COMMISSION CONTACTS – VT
Association of Vermont Conservation Commissions c/o VLCT, 89 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602 / 802-828-5067 / [email protected]
Bradford Nancy Jones / [email protected]
Corinth Glynn Pellagrino / [email protected]
Hartford Matt Osborn / [email protected]
Hartland Rob Anderegg / [email protected]
Newbury Michael Thomas / [email protected]
Norwich Craig Layne / [email protected]
Randolph Mike Van Dyke / [email protected]
Royalton Brad Salzmann / [email protected]
Sharon Fritz Weiss / [email protected]
Strafford Steve Willbanks, [email protected]
Thetford Steve Lehman / [email protected]
Tunbridge Betsy Gaiser / [email protected]
Vershire Kathy Hooke / [email protected]
Weathersfield Heather Shand / [email protected]
West Fairlee Peggy Willey / [email protected]
West Windsor Ted Siegler / [email protected]
Windsor Tom Marsh / [email protected] Woodstock Michael Brands / [email protected] REPORT OF BRADFORD CONSERVATION COMMISSION
2019 marked the 25th anniversary of the original Wright’s Mountain parcel being conserved. At the outset of 2019, the BCC prioritized achieving some of the recommendations of the 2018 Town Forest Recreation Plan to enhance the experiences of visitors to our Town Forest. A grant application was submitted to the Vermont Recreational Trails Program, but competition for funds was overwhelming and the application was not funded. The decision was made to use money from our fund-raising efforts to finance the following projects: • Wright’s Mountain and Tillotson’s Trek Trailhead parking areas were enlarged and improved; • Trailhead signs were constructed by Shilo Gregory and installed at the above mentioned trailheads and the Devil’s Den Trailhead; • Materials were purchased and Randy Moore volunteered to construct 4 benches; • Materials were purchased and Shilo Gregory & Tom Gray replaced 3 foot bridges; • Lumber was donated by Long View Forests and 17 volunteers removed the damaged flooring in Ernie’s Cabin and laid a beautiful new floor; • A survey was done of missing or damaged trail markers and they are being replaced; • With the exception of one trail, all others were groomed by Oxbow High School students and other volunteers by the beginning of summer; • Repairs were made to the privy at the summit; • The view from the Chipman bench to the East was opened up by removing some trees. NO TAX DOLLARS WERE USED TO COMPLETE THESE PROJECTS. Funds were raised via individual donations, Annual Yard Sale, 10th Annual Race to the Top, “Raising Some Dough” benefit at Colatina Exit, calendar sales, Buck-A-Pie Week at Colatina Exit and food vendor sales at The Giving Fair, from the Conservation Fund and the Friends of Wright’s Mountain Fund. Education: • 1st Monday of the Month Movie Series continued and all DVDs were donated to the Bradford Public Library following the screenings at Colatina Exit Upstairs • In collaboration with Bradford Parks & Rec and Bradford Public Library, and with a small grant from the Association of VT Conservation Commissions, The Caterpillar Lab of Marlborough, NH provided a daylong event at Bradford Elementary School. It included a workshop for teachers in the morning, walk-in sessions for camp kids in the afternoon and was open to the public in the evening. • A Composting workshop was provided by CVSWMD staff in July. • The Jackson Wild Film Festival was held at Oxbow HS in September, featuring 13 award-winning films selected from the lineup at the Jackson Hole Film Festival in recent years. Beautification: • The dead weeping crab tree in Denny Park was replaced with a healthy one by Sandy Price. • The BCC funded the fall plantings in the downtown planter boxes. Management: • A selective harvest of ash trees was scheduled for the 2019- 2020 winter, coordinated by our County Forester, David Paganelli Changes: Sadly, Monique Priestley has left the BCC after 10 years of dedicated service. We are so grateful for her time, her wisdom and her techy skills. Nancy Jones, Chair
56 Canaan Conservation Commission 2019 Annual Report
In addition to the usual business of reviewing construction permits & site visits to approve said permits as required by NH DES, the Canaan Conservation Commission also accomplished the following in 2019: ● Sponsored the 13th annual Earth Day Roadside Cleanup. With help from the 4H, we succeeded in removing over 80 bags of trash, as well as a variety of scrap metal, and several tires from the sides of the streets of our town. ● We continue to maintain the trail system in the Town Forest. ● Provided an outdoor educational field day to students of the Indian River School. This year we hosted 30+ students. ● In partnership with the Mascoma Watershed Conservation Council (MWCC), our members led a series of semi-monthly hikes to various locations within the town of Canaan as well as other locations in the watershed. We also co-sponsored a Wood Turtle talk by the Orianne Society at the Canaan Meetinghouse. ● Represented the town of Canaan on the Mascoma River Local Advisory Committee. ● Monitored easements on properties within Canaan, as well as surrounding communities for the Upper Valley Land Trust, as well as the McKee parcel for NHDES. ● Attended various meetings of MWCC, as well as other organizations. ● Provided financial support and volunteered for the Connecticut River Conservancy’s “Source to Sea” river cleanup on a portion of the Mascoma River. ● Volunteered over 200 hours to projects in the community.
Respectfully submitted by, Bill Chabot, Chaiir Canaan Conservation Commission
155 Charlestown Conservation Commission
The Charlestown Conservation Commission meets on the third Monday of each month at 7:00PM in the Community Room below the library. The public is invited to attend.
The Commission was very active this year in maintaining and promoting the towns hiking trails. The Commission is a member of the Upper Valley Trails Alliance and our trails are listed on their program entitled Upper Valley Trails Finder. By going to their website www.localmotion.org/trails/ you can find all our trails mapped out with directions on how to access, length of trails and other pertinent information along with pictures. Trail maps are also available in the Selectboard office and the library. Our thanks go out to John Lambert who built a new kiosk for the Great Meadow Trail.
Annual projects the Commission were involved with included the semi-annual Adopt-a-highway clean-up along Rt. 12, and the yearly monitoring of the LCIP (Land Conservation Investment Program) easements held by the state and monitored by the Commission.
The Commission also sponsors Green-up day the first Saturday in May of each year. Many thanks to the people who volunteered their time picking up trash and to the Jiffy Mart, Ralph’s, Charlestown House of Pizza and the Ice Cream Machine for their donations of food and drinks to feed the volunteers.
An application was made to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) which will pay landowners for forest improvement practices. Our requests for grants for invasive control, creation of early successional habitat and timber stand improvement were approved and have been partially accomplished with the timber stand improvement awaiting frozen ground conditions. The ongoing timber sale in the Reservoir Lot ran for two weeks in February of 2019 until posting of the roads forced an early stoppage.
A timber sale was conducted in the East end of the Halls Pond town forest in the Fall of 2019. This consisted mainly of cutting for timber stand improvement. Lumber was purchased for a trail bridge over the inlet brook on the East end of the pond which will be constructed in 2020.
In December of 2019 the Commission finalized the purchase of land and a ROW at 1110 Acworth Road which will give the town access to the Sams Hill Town Forest which has previously been landlocked.
Respectfully submitted,
Richard Holmes
Corinth Conservation Commission Report
The Conservation Commission had another busy and productive year. Keeping up with our trails and the FX Shea Town Forest, as well as the town orchard, requires a lot of volunteers, and we are thankful for all the help we get from the community. Every spring since its planting, the trees in the orchard behind the town hall get a fresh cover of mulch and a good thorough weeding. Overall the trees are doing well and starting to produce a small crop of apples and a few pears. We look forward to a healthy harvest in the fall of 2020. We have hired Dean's Property Maintenance to mow the orchard this year to help take the burden off our volunteers. We continued to offer educational programs, including our popular tracking walk in the late winter with Roots School instructor, Brad Salon. Brad was joined by Sarah Corrigan this year to offer two sessions of tracking at the Waits River School as well, which was made possible with funding from the Conservation Commission. Last fall, we also sponsored a mushroom walk in the Town Forest with The Mushroom Forager, Ari Rockland-Miller. A dozen people attended this informative outing. We identified and collected edible mushrooms and discussed the safety and hazards of foraging for wild edibles. Ken Arkind continued to organize Green Up Day with support from the Conservation Commission and town volunteers. The tradition of rewarding the person or group who brings in the most bags continues this year, with a prize of local products, as well as the honor of getting your name on the kiosk in the Town Forest. Last spring, the Commission also hosted a public forum and informational session on green burials with three representatives from Green Burial Vermont. This year the town approved an updated version of the town plan, and the Conservation Commission is working to ensure that Act 171 language and intent are incorporated. This will be a focus for the next year as well. Act 171 is designed to identify and protect wildlife corridors, and to ensure that the forest blocks that connect them are protected and kept intact. We have been working with the town and a volunteer group to inventory ash trees that will eventually be affected by the Emerald Ash Borer, which has infested adjacent towns and will likely be in Corinth soon. With the help of the Town Highway Department, we purchased a used trailer which has been moved to the new transfer station and will likely be the site for the reopened “Cookeville Mall.” The Conservation Commission will also be doing some landscaping at the entrance of the new transfer station come spring. As always, our appreciation goes out to our volunteer bottle haulers, Dutton Vought and Asa Porter, and to everyone who brings their deposit bottles to us for redemption. They are the source of most of our funds that allow is to carry out our mission and various projects. The Commission meets the first Monday of each month, and all are welcome to attend. Respectively submitted, Glynn Pellagrino, chair Cornish Conservation Commission 2019
Dale Rook was honored posthumously with the Annual Conservation Award for his dedication to preserving the rural character and beauty of the Town through his years of service to many Town organizations, including his ten years on the Conservation Commission. The Commission welcomes recommendations for the Annual Cornish Conservation Award, please feel free to reach out to any of the Commission members with your suggestions.
The Education Committee held a number of mostly free events in 2019 including: a presentation by the Upper Valley Land Trust on land conservation in town, a Mushroom Workshop led by David Wichland where participants learned an extensive history of mushrooms and made an inoculated log to grow their own, a spring bird walk through CREA led by Jody Schubert where folks heard more than 30 different species, a talk by bear expert Ben Kilham with over 100 people in attendance, and a talk on Managing Forests with Climate Change in Mind by Dode Gladders of the UNH Extension.
The Monitoring Committee, chaired by Rickey Poor, scheduled and completed monitoring walks on seven conserved properties of which the Town of Cornish is the primary easement holder. No violations of easement terms were found. The committee welcomes the landowners to join on the monitoring walks.
Three new members joined the Commission: Cindy Heath, Monica Matthews, and Jody Schubert. A representative attended the Annual Meetings of both the Upper Valley Land Trust and the New Hampshire Association for Conservation Commissions. The Commission is assisting the Granite State Rural Water Association and the City of Claremont on a Whitewater Watershed protection plan. The Commission once again showed its support for the Four Winds Nature Program by purchasing the volunteer program books.
If you are interested in joining the Commission or want to learn more about conserving your land, feel free to reach out to the Commission for more information. [email protected]
Regular Members: Alternate Members: Corey Fitch, Chairperson Jim Barker Bill Gallagher John Berry Cindy Heath, Treasurer Deanna Fitch Reyer Jaarsma Kimberly Patterson Monica Matthews Jody Schubert Rickey Poor Bob Taylor Stuart Wilkie, Secretary John Hammond, Selectboard Representative
2019 Town Report Enfield Conservation Commission
2019 was a productive year for the Commission. Updating the natural resources inventory of wildlife habitat and corridors within the Town’s borders continues and will continue into 2020.
In March at the annual Town meeting, the Common Milkweed was designated as the Town Wildflower. Milkweed won the Commission’s town-wide vote over four other wildflowers. The Commission contracted with Canaan artist, Joan Thompson, for an original painting of the milkweed flower. Copies of this painting can be seen at the Town Office, Library and DPW.
Also in March, the Commission welcomed new member Terry Terry. Terry is a retired Professional Engineer. He received his Bachelor’s (1974) and Master’s (1975) Degrees from Clarkson College of Technology. Mr. Terry was an officer in the United States Navy’s Civil Engineer Corps and retired in 1995. He held positions of increasing scope and responsibility in construction management, contracting, and public works administration at Navy and Army commands. He earned several awards for meritorious service during his Naval career. From 1997 to 2017 he was a member of Team Engineering and was awarded Engineer of the Year for Criterium Engineers in 2003. He was licensed as a Professional Engineer in VA, TX, NH, MA, and VT and as a Home Inspector in NH and MA. He is an adaptive certified ski instructor and works part time at the Dartmouth Skiway. He has been a resident of Enfield since 1993.
In July to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Colette Trail, the Commission sponsored a hike from Crystal Lake to the trailhead on Grafton Pond Road. Life-long Enfield residents were joined by a couple newly moved to Enfield from Denmark to the community.
In November, the Commission dedicated a bench in memory of Gary Gaudette, who served on the Commission for 18 years. The bench overlooks an island in Mascoma River at the edge of the Town office and Library parking lot.
The Commission would like to thank Jim Taylor and the Enfield DPW crew for helping the Commission by removing dangerous overhanging trees across the Colette Trail, and mowing the meadow at the entrance of the Colette Trail on Grafton Pond Road. The mowing helps promote wildlife diversity.
Respectfully submitted,
Alan Strickland, Chairman UPPER VALLEY LAND TRUST CONSERVATION COMMISSION GATHERING • Name of Town: Hanover • Conservation Commission Chair: Jim Kennedy 603-795-4633 50 Rennie Road [email protected] Hanover, NH 03755
• Preferred contact person: Vicki Smith 603-640-3214 PO Box 483 [email protected] Hanover, NH 03755
List your Commission’s activities during 2019 Meetings -Commissioners met twelve times for regular meetings - Three sub-committees, Trails, Stewardship and BioDiversity, met regularly -Commission members also participate on other town committees including the Trescott Company Lands Recreation Committee, Pine Park Association, Balch Hill Stewardship Committee, Hayes Farm Park Stewardship Committee, Hanover Deer Team, and Hanover Planning Board Regulatory -Ten site visits town properties or to locations requiring wetlands or Town Ordinance 4 permitting -Commented on eleven wetlands applications to Hanover ZBA and/or NH DES Land conservation -Monitored 24 conservation easements, and followed up as needed Land and trail management -With the assistance of an active Trails Committee, other volunteers and the Upper Valley Trails Alliance, maintained 108 miles of trail - Participated in the recreation management and improvement of trails in the Trescott Company Lands including 4 workdays to install signs and blazing, build three bridges and complete the Eastside Trail and the Outback Connector. A contractor was hired to machine build a flow trail section on the 1772 Trail -Upgraded the southern portion of the River Trail to the ADA- accessible standard with compliant widths, grades and surface -Coordinated with other trail maintainers: UV Land Trust, Hanover Conservancy, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, UV Trails Alliance, Dartmouth Outing Club, Cardigan Mountain Highlanders -Held a number of trail workdays including hosting UV High School Trail Corps for five workdays on Balch Hill and Trescott Company lands -Contracted with a surveyor to identify the trail right of way established in 1969 as part of the Trescott Ridge subdivision -Installed gate to protect Class VI Wolfeboro Road -Implemented successful systems for Trail Adopters and Trail Reports -Catalogued trail structures to address potential liability issues -Held one neighborhood meeting to collect public input on changing a portion of Class VI Wolfeboro Road to public trail -Reviewed a request for private construction on Class VI Etna Highlands Road-Revised Trail -Maintenance Policy to address Class VI roads -Held management planning meetings for Hayes Farm Park -Continued work on Town Forest management plan including site visit -Began work on update of Open Space Priorities Plan with public forums on scenic views, historic and cultural resources, recreation, natural resources and climate resilience -Hired professional to clear invasive Yellow iris from Mink Brook for the second year -Cut back seed heads on a large colony of mugwort on the shores of Girl Brook and dug about 30 single plants -Began work on neighborhood-focused knotweed management effort in the Girl Brook watershed -Applied for and was awarded 125 special deer management antlerless permits which were distributed by lottery for hunting in the 3800-acre special deer management area -Continued volunteer garlic mustard control in many neighborhoods -Managed yellow rattle at Hayes Farm Park to protect Canada lilies -Held an educational session and management workday on Japanese knotweed at Old Spencer and Old Lyme Road focused on biosecurity and continued commitment to stewardship -Attempted to transfer conservation easements held on land in Lebanon to the City of Lebanon -Worked with Hanover Parks and Recreation to transfer land management of in-town open space lands to park management Education/outreach -Continued Trillium monitoring stations to gauge levels of deer browse -Held a public presentation of initial findings from the rapid ecological assessment at the Town Forest -Sponsored Japanese knotweed management event at the Montshire Museum -Mapped Japanese knotweed in the Girl Brook watershed -Learned more about trail improvements and municipal liability -Held a well-attended public forum to discuss the success/failures of the 2018 Special Deer Management Program -Mailed information regarding the deer management assistance program to most of the residences in the downtown Hanover -Held Japanese knotweed forum with a representative from NH Dept of Agriculture, an invasive removal contractor and two large landowners serving on the panel -Supported and contributed to AT Day Hike Map in the Upper Valley -Contributed to the Hanover AT Wild East webpage -Continued work on a trail map update. Briefly describe the projects/issues your Commission plans to tackle in 2020 -Publish a new edition of town trail map -Addition of trails to UVTA Trail Finder app -Develop Town GIS layers for trails, trail structures and trail signs -Augment the trillium monitoring program as an indicator of deer browse -Continue improvement of the Trescott Lands trails -Continue work on protecting the Moose Mountain Ridge Trail -Improve Tunis Road for logging and pedestrian access -Explore possibilities for land protection on the East side of Moose Mountain -Establish consistent trail signs and install them throughout the town trail network - Establish a Class VI road committee to address access, maintenance and signage issues -Complete management plans for Town Forest, Hayes Farm Park and South Esker Natural Area -Mobilize management committees for these properties -Complete update of Open Space Priorities Plan -Continue invasive plant control on a watershed basis -Develop strategy to complete protection of farmland in Etna Village Notes -The Conservation Commission has seven members. - The Commission could not do its work without the help of many, many volunteers who serve on committees and offer their labor and good spirit at trail and biodiversity work days. - The Commission is also lucky to have staff support from Vicki Smith, the Town’s Senior Planner and the support of the Planning Office, the Town Manager and the Selectboard for our work. Hartford Conservation Commission 2019 Annual Report The Hartford Conservation Commission (HCC) was established in 1990 to inventory natural resources, maintain and preserve natural areas, protect valuable wildlife habitat, monitor scenic areas and watershed areas, educate and increase awareness of conservation, and encourage recreation consistent with the preservation of the natural beauty of Hartford. The HCC manages the 423-acre Hartford Town Forest (HTF), the 21-acre Maanawaka Conservation Area and the 6.5-acre David Chang Conservation Area. We hope you get out and enjoy these wonderful parcels and treat them with respect. Please contact us if you see maintenance or abuse issues so we can organize restoration or clean-up. Members of the HCC include Tom Kahl (chair), Dana Hazen (vice-chair) Jon Bouton, Mary Hutchins, Angela Emerson, Lee Michaelides and Katie Mann. The HCC would like to thank former HCC chair Jon Bouton for serving as chair for the previous seven years. Projects in the Town Forest and Trails
• The Town of Hartford in late 2017 was selected by the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation as one of ten Vermont towns to participate in a pilot project on town forest recreation planning. During 2018, a Plan was developed following several community meetings and an on-line survey. Consultants SE Group and Arrowwood Environmental participated in the project. The HCC participated in a recreation planning summit in Richmond, Vermont and in 2019 began plan implementation. • With a grant from the Association of Vermont Conservation Commissions, in 2018 the HCC hired the Upper Valley Trails Alliance to conduct a trails assessment. The assessment was completed, and in 2019 began using it to ensure that trails are sustainable. • Sponsored trails work days on May 27th and September 14th in partnership with the Upper Valley Mountain Bike Association. On September 14th, we relocated two trail segments and built two small bridges. The HCC would like to thank resident Tim Schaal for his assistance in designing and building the bridges. • Completed an updated trails map that is available on the town website, the HTF Reservoir Road kiosk, and the Town Hall. • Periodic trail maintenance including installation and replacement of trail signs, trail markers/blazes, removing trees fallen across trails, and clearing/mowing brush. The HCC would also like to thank local volunteers, primarily local mountain bikers and snowmobilers, who also perform periodic trail maintenance. • Met with representatives of the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps to plan trails work scheduled for 2020. • HCC member Mary Hutchins created a wooden carving of “Prayer for the Woods” that was installed in the HTF kiosk. • Performed trail maintenance in the Maanawaka Conservation Area including removing trees fallen across the trails, reblazing, and no hunting posting. • Began planning an update of the 2009 Town Forest Resource Management Plan including potential future tree harvesting. Outreach and Education • Led a February 23rd snow shoe outing/educational walk in the Town Forest. • Led an April 20th vernal pool educational walk in the Town Forest. • Had information booths for the March 2nd Town Meeting and June 12th Hartford Block Party. The June 12th booth featured Vermont’s new recycling laws and how Hartford residents can comply. • Met with the Hartford Department of Public Works to discuss methods to reduce the spread of invasive plants. • Assisted in developing an update of the Natural Resources Chapter of the Town Plan. • Conducted a survey of Vermont Conservation Commissions about conservation fund appropriations. • Began work to establish an annual HCC stewardship award. • Began work investigating alternative methods of stream restoration. • Offered public tours on June 3rd and July 1st of the David Chang and Maanawaka Conservation Areas respectively. Other Ongoing Projects within the HCC • Sponsored the May 4th Green-Up Day activities that involved 313 volunteers and collected 3.14 tons of waste. • Working with landowners interested in conserving their land including sending outreach letters to owners of parcels evaluated to have higher significance. • Organized natural resource information and developing criteria for town-wide natural resource review. Participation with Town and Regional Groups • Ottauquechee River and White River water quality sampling. • Participated in the Regional Planning Commission Clean Water Advisory Committee. • Working on various projects with other town boards including the Planning Commission, Town Plan Steering Committee, Tree Board, Resilient Hartford and the Energy Commission. • Met with the Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission to discuss HCC needs and TRORC services The Conservation Commission meets on the first Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. The public is welcome to attend. If you have any questions about the Conservation Commission, please contact Hartford Planner Matt Osborn (295-3075) or [email protected] Hartland Conservation Commission 2019
The Hartland Conservation Commission (HCC) works to protect and preserve Hartland's natural and cultural resources. Our efforts are focused in three areas: Public and Protected Lands and Watersheds, Education and Outreach, and Public Policy, as described below.
The Commission meets on the second Wednesday of each month (except July and August) at 7 pm in Damon Hall. We invite anyone who is interested to attend.
Contact: Rob Anderegg, Chair, (802) 436-3996, [email protected]
Public and Protected Lands and Watersheds • Began assessing the condition of Hartland's seven legal trails, with the goal of developing a legal trails policy for the Town. • Continued water testing for E. coli and phosphate along Lull’s Brook and the Connecticut River at seven sites during the summer. Notified residents via the Town web site and the list serve when E. coli levels exceeded the State determined safe level of contamination. Monitored water temperature in Lull's Brook continuously through the year. • Utilizing a grant to the Connecticut River Conservancy, we assisted in planting 400 trees and shrubs along Lull's Brook to protect the bank from erosion. • Worked with Hartland Elementary School students to design a logo for signage in the 17-Acre Wood. Timber and Stone is designing an accessible trail for the parcel with the aid of a grant from the Wellborn Ecology Fund. • Participated in the Connecticut River Source-to-Sea clean-up in September, removing more than 250 pounds of trash from around Sumner's Falls. Volunteers clean up trash at Sumner's Falls. Education and Outreach • Hosted a talk by Dean and Susan Greenberg on the wildlife of Madagascar. • Hosted a Conservation Commission booth at Old Home Day to increase knowledge of the potential damage associated with emerald ash borer and suggest preventative measures. • Co-sponsored Green-Up Day. Over 1400 returnable containers were collected, along with tons of other refuse (see Green-Up Day report). • Hosted a presentation by County Forester Hannah Dallas on emerald ash borer for private landowners and woodlot managers. • Presented the annual Hartland Conservation Award at Town Meeting to the Hartland Elementary School's "Wednesday in the Woods" program, and the two teachers who developed it, Lauren Skilling and Amanda Hull. • Received a donation from the Howe Family for the Conservation Trust Fund. Many thanks for their generosity!
Public Policy • Developed and approved an emerald ash borer response plan for the Town. • Continued inventorying ash trees along roads in Hartland to understand the potential impact of emerald ash borer.
Commission members (term ending): Chair Rob Anderegg (2022), Chris Collier (2022), Guy Crosby (2023), John Dumas (2020), Dean Greenberg (2020), Knox Johnson (2022), Cordie Merritt (2020), Zach Ralph (2023), and Jennifer Waite (2023).
TOWN OF LYME CONSERVATION COMMISSION 2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Blake Allison, Conservation Commission Chair
One High Street P.O. Box 126 Lyme, NH 03768-0126 603-795-4639 [email protected]
Contact: Blake Allison, Chair
Land Protection and Easements Lyme celebrated two significant events in land conservation in 2019. The first came in January with the Upper Valley Land Trust’s (UVLT) announcement that a conservation easement had been placed on Lyme’s beloved Pinnacle. Working with the site’s new property owners, the UVLT was able to create a stewardship trust fund that will manage the newly conserved land’s 240 acres and 4.5 miles of trails.
The other big observance came in early November. Then, representatives of the UVLT, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests and the Lyme Conservation Commission gathered with friends and neighbors on Lyme’s Breck Hill Road to dedicate a monument commemorating Breck Hill resident Freda Swan’s pioneering efforts that led to the conservation of land along much of the road’s length. In 1986, working with neighbors and conservation organizations, Freda and colleagues cobbled together a network of conservation easements that today protects two miles of the scenic road while encompassing twenty properties and 400 acres.
Trails and Land Management This season’s major trail project was a refurbishing of the Lower Grant Brook Trail from its start near the Lyme School moving downstream to the snowmobile bridge entrance to the Lyme Hill Conservation Area. The work was done by the Upper Valley Trails Alliance (UVTA) “High School Trails Corps,” with financial support from the Lyme Foundation and the Conservation Fund. In addition to brush clearing, steps were taken to address drainage problems including the addition of water bars and stone paths for water crossings.
An important addition to the Commission’s land management activities was the introduction of an ongoing Japanese knotweed eradication program. Principally managed by Commission member Meg Sheehan, the project’s work was focused on Grant Brook in the Big Rock Preserve. Systematic cutting management, rather than herbicide application, was used. More than 100 volunteer hours were recorded by groups like Hypertherm and Community College of Vermont. The project received funding from the Lyme Foundation and the Conservation Fund. Northern Woodlands loaned storage space and tools.
Outreach and Education In December, the Commission appropriated money for a matching gift to facilitate the purchase of an aquarium chiller to be used in teacher Skip Pendleton’s Lyme School science class’s “Trout in the Classroom” project. Other events sponsored and hosted by the Commission during the year included its annual snowshoe walk in February, “Green Up Day” in May and “Trails Day” in June.
The Year Ahead Trail work this year will focus on improving water crossings in The Town Forest and constructing a new trailhead at the Big Rock Nature Preserve’s NH Route 10 entrance. Both projects will be done in cooperation with the Upper Valley Trails Alliance’s “High School Trails Corps.” Invasive species control will continue to be a priority with particular focus again on Japanese knotweed in the Big Rock Nature Preserve.
More information about the Commission, its properties and activities can be found at: http://www.lymenh.gov/conservation-commission
Newbury 2019 Annual Report 16 17 Newbury 2019 Annual Report Newbury 2019 Annual Report 18 Norwich, VT Craig Layne, Chair [email protected] In 2019 we supported environmental education at the elementary school; published articles in the Norwich Times about stream restoration, insect decline, Norwich bats, and animal winter adaptations; maintained post office displays about Norwich birds, invasive species, and pollinators; initiated development of a website for sharing information and materials with town residents; initiated an inventory of roadside ash trees, managed invasive plant species in the village nature area and elsewhere in town; assisted the Upper Valley Land Trust in conserving a floodplain meadow along Blood Brook; consulted with the Trails Committee about access to forests while protecting sensitive areas; consulted with the Recreation Department about riparian plantings and community gardens around Huntley meadow; consulted with the Enhanced Energy Committee about resilience to climate change, energy production, and carbon sequestration in the forested landscape; consulted with the Planning Commission about the Land Use chapter of the revised Town Plan, especially concerning protection of forest blocks and habitat connectors and a vision for landscape stewardship. In 2020 we plan to continue with many of the 2019 projects and work to expand the Town Forest. It would be helpful to network about effective ways to fundraise private donations from town residents for land conservation projects.
ORFORD CONSERVATION COMMISSION 2019 Annual Report
The Orford Conservation Commission (OCC) continues to work actively on a variety of conservation- related projects throughout Orford. Our objectives remain to promote and continue dedicated stewardship of the many remarkable natural resources in Orford.
The projects undertaken by the OCC in 2019 included: - Mountain View Farm Conservation Area: The OCC cosponsored and endorsed activities including stargazing and moonlight snowshoeing at this unique and now protected land in Quinttown. - Orford Conservation Land: Continued maintenance of hiking trail to the Connecticut River from Rt. 10 and monitored tree planting of riparian buffer. - Easement Reviews: Conducted annual reviews of conserved land in Orford. - Conservation Easements: Worked on conservation easement projects, including Brackett Brook Farm in East Orford, with the Upper Valley Land Trust (UVLT). Held a public hearing on donating $10,000 from the Conservation Fund to help the UVLT purchase the easement (in progress). - Jacobs Brook flooding/erosion mitigation and restoration of life: Worked with NH DES, Ron Rhodes with the Connecticut River Conservancy, Northwoods Stewardship Center, and wetlands engineer Jim Kennedy to obtain a permit for work along NH Route 25A in Orfordville. Work including cutting a riparian bench, placing rock, and planting trees and willow stakes, was completed in October. - Culverts Study: Meghan Butts of the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission conducted a town-wide, comprehensive culvert study, which was cosponsored by the OCC and the Selectboard. Study results will help to identify deficiencies and to establish priorities. - Other activities: Presented a conservation slide show at Town Meeting; reviewed wetland permit applications; reviewed NH Department of Environmental Services (DES) letters to landowners regarding wetlands violations or failing septic systems; and reviewed possible sites for Connecticut River Conservancy cleanup efforts. Planned invasive plant species identification and containment project for 2020. Worked with NH DES and Selectboard on Orfordville Road bog culvert and spillover project. - Water Testing: Water testing conducted May through September at ten sites along Jacobs Brook at Indian Pond beach/boat launch, and the Baker Ponds. Testing sites were added, and more frequent testing will continue for 2020. New water testers have been trained.
The projects undertaken for 2020: - Orfordville Road Bog Restoration: Design culvert and spillway to maintain bog behind beaver dam. - Water testing, conservation land maintenance, public events, outreach, and other opportunities.
Edmond Cooley (Chair), [email protected], Jeff MacQueen (Vice-Chair), Tom Bubolz, John Miller, Harry Pease, Craig Putnam, and Carl Schmidt; Alternates: Emily Bryant, Carl Cassel, Diane Gildersleeve, and Fran Plaisted (Secretary).
Edmond Cooley, Chair 236 Dame Hill RD Orford, NH 03777 [email protected] (603) 398-4349
CONSERVATION COMMISSION PROJECT 2019
Beaver Deceiver Hedgehog Rd Photo S. Halleran
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
The Plainfield Conservation Commission spent 2019 adrift after our Chairperson of ten years, Myra Ferguson, moved out of town. Myra was always an enthusiastic advocate for, and energetic practitioner of, land conservation and stewardship. She spent enough time on her tractor and on foot in the fields and forest so that we knew she preferred practicing to preaching, and was a natural fit to lead the Conservation Commission. Like when a large tree is removed from the forest, we trust that Myra’s replacement will eventually grow to fill the opening. In reading through the annual reports that Myra submitted, she clearly recognized the necessity and value of collaborating with other town departments. She would be pleased to know that we assisted the Highway Department in contracting for the construction of a Beaver Deceiver on Hedgehog Road. This device is a non-lethal, non-destructive means of permitting beavers to coexist with our road system by foiling the beavers’ instinctive need to block road culverts.
44 We will continue with many of the other items that have been on our plan of work over the past years, and one in particular cannot be overlooked. There are well over two dozen properties in town that are protected from development by some form of easement. Some of these are owned privately while others are owned publically or by a conservation organization. The Conservation Commission has responsibility for monitoring at least five of these properties to assure the owners' compliance with the terms of their particular easement. We may not have gotten to them all in 2019, but will strive to do better in 2020. The Conservation Commission continues to have respectable fund balances available for undertaking special projects. The Forest Maintenance Fund was first funded with income from a timber harvest at the Benson Town Forest and has a balance of almost $20,000. In the past we have received town meeting approval to use this fund for projects like tree planting and boundary marking at our town forests. Forest Maintenance Fund December 31, 2018 $19,422.52 2019 Interest $421.67 December 31, 2019 $19,844.19
Conservation Fund December 31, 2018 $88,611.01 Current Use Change Tax (50%) $8,750.00 2019 Interest $2,044.07 2019 Expense (Beaver Deceiver) ($2,500.00) December 31, 2019 $96,905.08
The Conservation Fund is financed primarily with one-half of the current use change tax proceeds paid when a landowner decides to forego the current use assessment, typically as a prelude to converting the open space to residential or commercial use. This fund has facilitated a number of conservation easement transactions and planning efforts. The balance fluctuates but is now approaching six figures, so we’ll be looking for opportunities to advance conservation of open space critical for wildlife habitat, wetland protection, recreational opportunities, scenic value, or other qualities the town determines to be beneficial. Broad public input on planning and implementing these conservation projects will greatly enhance the success of this program, and we hope that we can engage our residents in this process.
Respectfully Submitted,
David Grobe [email protected]
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Town of Thetford 47
THETFORD CONSERVATION COMMISSION
The Thetford Conservation Commission manages town properties, plans with town committees and state agencies for future conservation, and hosts educational and service events. We’re grateful for the enthusiastic participation by many town residents at those events, and we welcome your continued support!
Activities of the past year included:
Ali Thomas, Education Manager for the VT Fish and Wildlife Department, gave a presentation and led a tracking walk in February.
More than two hundred people attended Thetford’s third annual Wildlife Film Festival featuring highlights from the Jackson Hole Film Festival in March.
More than 300 people attended a “live animal” event, including owls, presented by the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum in April.
More than 100 residents participated in Green Up Day and deposited a total of nearly 100 bags of trash.
Dedicated townspeople continued the arduous task of trying to contain invasive garlic mustard in select areas of the Town.
Dr. George Clark led the eighth annual birding walk on the Taylor Floodplain Preserve and Crossroad Farm in May. We’re grateful to Connie Snyder for continuing to organize it and to Janet and Tim Taylor for hosting.
Our consulting surveyor reestablished a property line at the Taylor Preserve that was disturbed by the ongoing meandering of the Ompompanoosuc River.
Consulting ecologist Jesse Mohr presented his results of Phase One of the Town’s Natural Resources Inventory in November to a large, intensely interested crowd. It’s clear that Thetford loves its natural environment and is committed to caring for it!
Respectfully submitted,
Steve Lehman, Chair Weathersfield Conservation Commission Activity Report February 2020
During the spring of 2019, a couple of members spearheaded a town ash tree inventory. This required numerous hours on the part of these volunteers. The inventory was presented to town officials to help them prepare and plan for Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) management. EAB is an invasive species entering Vermont and is likely to kill all ash trees. Through the preparation and implementation of a management plan, the town can limit the cost and destruction caused by EAB.
In June of 2019, a Commission member led a community hike to the “Big Basin” kettle off of Upper Fall Road. This is a unique, geological site in town.
Throughout the summer of 2019, one Commission member continued to work with the Black River Action Team (BRAT) testing and reporting on E. coli levels of the North Branch stream. The reports are posted on the town website.
The Commission hosted a number of community talks, including: • Emerald Ash Borer - What do I do with my Ash trees?, presented by Jim Esden, Protection Forester for the State of Vermont • Coyotes in Vermont, presented by Kim Royar, Vermont Furbearer Project Leader and Dr. David Person, Wildlife Ecologist
Respectfully submitted,
Heather Shand
Chair, Weathersfield Conservation Commission [email protected] 802.558.8764
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
The Conservation Commission held ten regularly scheduled meetings and a number of site visits in 2019. The Commission conducted four wetland site visits and eleven riparian reviews in conjunction with ongoing permit applications. There were no Scenic Ridgeline applications this year.
The Conservation Commission reviewed a number of changes to the Village Zoning Regulations and the Municipal Plan. The Village Zoning is currently being rewritten. The riparian buffer required for the Kedron Brook and the Ottauquechee River is 100'. This has proved problematic in the Village where due to smaller lot sizes, homes have been built well within the 100' buffer. The Planning Commission has agreed to ask for a return to the 50' riparian buffer for Village properties.
The Energy Chapter of the Town Plan was adopted in July and approved by TRORC in October. This will allow Woodstock a voice at the Public Service Board’s table during alternative energy applications (for the most part solar farms). The Conservation Commission will be a major player in the PSB reviews.
The Conservation Commission continues to work with the concept of carbon sequestration in local forests. Lynn Peterson has been the lead person on this project. Together with Zach Ralph and Michael Caduto of Sustainable Woodstock, numerous monthly workshops were held throughout the year. The State Forest Commissioner participated in the last workshop of the year, showing the State may soon be showing more interest in this subject. Trees naturally absorb carbon as they grow and serve as a storage vessel in old age. Making quality long term furniture out of hard wood is a great way to extend the carbon storage cycle. The State’s current use program should be amended to recognize the importance of carbon sequestration.
During the course of the year many members attended numerous conferences and workshops held around the state. This is a valuable contribution by the members, as not all members are able to attend these important events. The members are then able to share the information gathered with the rest of the membership at the following meeting.
The Conservation Commission membership has remained constant for the past few years. There were no new members in 2019. Should one desire to become a member please contact Town Planner, Michael Brands at 802-457-7515, [email protected] or attend a Conservation Commission meeting which are regularly scheduled for the third Wednesday evening (7:00 pm) of each month.
One does not need to be a member to attend and/or participate in Conservation Commission activities. All members of the public are invited. Conservation Commission agendas and activities are posted on three bulletin boards (the Town Hall, the Norman Williams Public Library and the Emergency Services Building) and on the Town’s website: townofwoodstock.org.
Respectfully submitted, Michael E. Brands, AICP Town Planner & Administrative Officer [email protected]
83
Conservation Easements Frequently Asked Questions
The Upper Valley Land Trust permanently the property is mortgaged, the owner must protects specific parcels of land using obtain an agreement from the lender to voluntary, legally binding agreements known partially subordinate its interest so that the as conservation easements. A conservation easement cannot be extinguished in the event easement is a deed that specifies the types and of foreclosure. locations of activities permitted on a particular parcel of land. A conservation How Restrictive is a Conservation easement "runs with the land" so all future Easement? owners of the parcel are bound to the terms of Each conservation easement is designed to the conservation easement. limit or prohibit development and other activities in order to protect the significant UVLT works directly with landowners to natural values of that particular property. draft restrictions appropriate to the unique characteristics of each property and the Agricultural and forestry activities are usually landowner's goals. For instance, a landowner permitted and encouraged on conserved may choose to conserve some, but not all, of lands, and structures such as culverts, their land; or a landowner may wish to bridges, barns, sheds, fences, and dams specify timber or habitat management necessary for farming and forestry are standards to continue their investment in allowed. Habitat management and good stewardship. improvement, such as creating ponds and wetlands or establishing plant species to Land subject to a conservation easement benefit wildlife, is also usually permitted. remains in private ownership and can be sold, given, or inherited at any time. A Depending on the characteristics of the conservation easement assures landowners property and the landowner's wishes, future that the natural resource values of their land residential or commercial construction may be will be protected forever, no matter who the prohibited entirely — or limited to a site future owners are. where it will have the least impact on the natural values of the property. Additional Conservation easements are usually donated restrictions usually include prohibition of to UVLT, and easement donors may realize mining, excavation, advertising billboards, income tax, estate tax, and gift tax benefits. and dumps. When funds are available, UVLT may purchase conservation easements. This is How Much Land Must Be sometimes called "selling development Included in a Conservation Easement? rights." The appropriate amount of acreage depends on the purposes of the easement and the Who Can Grant an Easement? natural values of the land, the landowner's Any owner of property with conservation objectives, and UVLT land protection goals values may grant a conservation easement if and priorities. The restrictions must convey UVLT accepts. If the property belongs to more meaningful conservation benefits consistent than one person, all owners must consent. If
HELPING PEOPLE CONSERVE LAND with UVLT's mission as a charitable Are There Financial Incentives to organization. Donating a Conservation Easement? Income Taxes: The donation of a conservation How are Conservation Easements easement constitutes a charitable gift which Enforced? may be deductible for federal income tax When UVLT accepts a conservation easement, purposes if the property meets conservation it takes on a duty of stewardship — the right standards established by the federal and responsibility to defend the terms of the government. The value of the gift, determined easement against any future violation. UVLT by an appraisal, is equal to the difference representatives visit conserved properties between the fair market value of the property periodically to verify compliance, using before and after the easement is donated. written records and photographs to document the condition of the property. Estate Taxes: A conservation easement can be a useful estate planning tool, enabling heirs to Does a Conservation Easement keep land they would otherwise have to sell. Require Public Access to the Property? State and federal inheritance taxes on real A conservation easement does not allow estate are often so high that the heirs are access to the public unless the landowner forced to sell some or all of the land just to specifically provides for it in the document. pay the taxes. Because an easement reduces Public access is more often granted when the the value of the property, the inheritance property has a history of public use and is taxes are also reduced. perceived to be a recreational resource. Some landowners provide public access rights to a Gift Taxes: When a landowner gives land to a limited area, such as hiking along a defined family member, the gift is subject to gift taxes corridor. Landowners may limit access to if its value exceeds the maximum tax-free specific purposes (education or hunting, for amount. Lowering the value of the land instance) or permit only certain types of through a conservation easement may allow activities such as hiking or skiing. Vermont the landowner to give more land free of tax, and New Hampshire state laws protect or may help reduce the amount of tax owed. landowners who offer public access from Property Taxes: Most property subject to a liability. conservation easement is eligible for Conservation easements do permit regular preferential tax treatment under current use access by UVLT for the purpose of monitoring taxation. Landowners whose property is the use and activities on the property to already enrolled in a current use program will ensure that the terms and conditions of the generally not see a further reduction in their conservation easement are upheld. property taxes.
19 BUCK ROAD, HANOVER, NH 03755 603-643-6626 www.UVLT.org
STAFF DIRECTORY
PHONE: 603.643.6626 FAX: 603.643.6636 www.UVLT.org
Jason Berard Robin Kilfeather-Mackey Stewardship Director Vice President, Operations Ext. 104 Ext. 105 [email protected] [email protected]
Paul Blazevich Alison Marchione Outreach & Donor Programs Coordinator Programs Director Ext. 201 Ext. 109 [email protected] [email protected]
Andy Boyce Jeanie McIntyre Conservation Mapping & Field Specialist President Ext. 111 Ext. 106 [email protected] [email protected]
Megan Chapman Peg Merrens Conservation Project Manager Vice President, Conservation Ext. 114 Ext. 112 [email protected] [email protected]
Katelyn Currie-Huggard Mallory Okuly Land Steward Land Steward Ext. 110 Ext. 122 [email protected] [email protected]
Lorie Hood Craig Privett Office Manager Conservation Project Assistant Ext. 101 Ext. 108 [email protected] [email protected]