Sutton Conservation Commission (SCC)

Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

 

Present: Dan Sundquist, Chair, Don Davis, Henry Howell, Jane Williamson, Wally Baker, Debbie Lang, Chuck Bolduc.

Absent: Barbara Hoffman, Bonnie Hill, Chris Ashton. Debbie sat in for Chris.

Call to order: Dan Sundquist called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m.

Previous Meeting’s Minutes: A motion was made by Don and seconded by Jane to approve the minutes of May 10, 2017. They were approved unanimously.

Financial Report:

There is $2698.08 in the town account, 83% of the budget.  As of May 31, the Conservation Account contained $105,666.05 and the King Hill Reservation account contained $5686.26, for a total of $111,352.31 in the Conservation Fund. Henry will submit expenses from his Kearsarge Regional High School (KRHS) projects that the school or donors aren’t covering.

Correspondence:

~  Dept of Environmental Services (DES) letter of May 25, 2017, to Sutton Select Board, copy to SCC, received outlining complaint concerning Mandel property on Camp Kemah Rd., South Sutton. Excavation performed within shore land zone of Blaisdell Lake without permit from DES and without environmental precautions such as silt fence or hay bales. Property owner has 20 days to respond to DES.

~  Email with information and charts on change to list of impaired surface waters received from Ken Edwardson, DES. List now includes Kezar Lake and a long stretch of Lyon Brook. This issue now falls under the EPA which will study total maximum daily loads and work toward reductions in pollutants so these areas will meet water quality standards. Dan will forward email to Jane and Don.

Review of Wetland Applications and Issues:  None.

Review of Intents to Cut and Logging Issues:

~ Anthony Acevedo, 04-302-422, Rte 114, 3/5 acres.

~ Kristin and Benjamin Prime, 07-797-303, Whiskey Pine Rd, 4 /11 acres.

~ Ryan and Racy Mingarelli, 04-658-404, Brown Rd, 7/7 acres.

~ Joe Jablonski, 04-072-018, 04-095-036, 04-104-045, Roby Rd, 11/11.3 acres.

Old Business

Kezar Lake Natural Area management plan: Dan consulted with Vic Del Vecchio, president of the Kezar Lake Protective Association, about the upcoming public hearing. This will now be scheduled for July 27 at 7 pm at the Town Hall. Bonnie and Don will handle advertising. Issues we discussed in anticipation of them being brought up at the hearing include parking, bathrooms, dog problems.

New Business

Updating Town Conservation Plan Map  Dan showed us the Delphi map he created roughly 10 years ago showing the conservation values of town habitats. He explained the anonymous voting process by the SCC members gave a score for different habitat characteristics such as soil, wetlands, farmland, steep slopes, etc.; each is on a different map layer. This information is used in deciding what lands are most valuable and should be conserved either by the town alone or in conjunction with partners such as Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust or the Society for the Protection of NH Forests. When we’ve updated our priorities we can put the plan before town meeting. Other organizations who are working in a similar way are Quabbin to Cardigan, NH Fish and Game (Wildlife Action Plan). We hope to be strategic and proactive in saving land and also figuring out some sometimes contradictory land uses such as recreation and wildlife areas. There is also data out there at UNH from Granit which includes information on climate-change resilience measures. Current lands of interest mentioned are near Hedgehog Hill Rd. and Newbury Reservoir.

Thomas McLoughlin Memorial Rain Garden at KRHS  Henry and the Kearsarge Regional High School (KRHS) students, staff, McLoughlin family, and SCC members, held a ceremony for the completion of the rain garden near the parking lot and trout stream at the high school. There is an educational plaque at the site and the plants are all in place and being tended.

Henry mentioned the interest from garden clubs and others in this project and went over the benefits and purposes of the gardens in general, from mitigating damage from house-roof, road and parking lot run-off to filtering pollutants from water headed for brooks and water bodies.

Henry and KRHS have also placed their new bridge at the vernal pool on Gene’s walk near the Lyon Brook trail on King Hill Reservation. This is a web truss bridge which Henry researched and chose for the design. His goal is to have an educational plaque and explanations on maps and handouts that discuss vernal pools, their characteristics and value for spring breeding creatures. We discussed having a plaque at the pool for Gene Aubert, past SCC chair, for whom the walk is named.

Adjournment: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:45 PM.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 12, 2017, at 6:30 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Jane Williamson, Acting Secretary