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Dublin Conservation Commission
Minutes
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
The meeting commenced at 7:15 p.m.
In attendance: Gerry and Ramona Branch, Ed Germain, Karen Bunch, Rusty Bastedo, Jack Lewis, Sue Yarger, Suzy Macy
The minutes from the June meeting were passed.
Karen Bunch gave an update on Dublin Lake:
- Weed Watch: upcoming weed watches will be Friday, July 10 from boat landing plus an orientation session for some south shore lakefront property owners, Saturday June 11.
- Water Testing: Felecity Pool, Hannah Atmer and Karen Bunch did a sampling at the deep spot (in the rain) June 18. The results of all of this year’s tests have come back. They have concerns about: total Phosphorus levels at 3 inlets, Turbidity at 2 inlets, Ph at one inlet, and Conductivity at 3 inlets. On July 9 they will do another routine sampling session at the deep spot and the 2 beaches. They’ll also take samples at 2-3 inlets of concern. The results are collated and sent to town officials.
- Costs are covered 50% by DCC and 50% by GCD. Charges of $20 per sample are made for all E. coli and total phosphorus. All other analyses are free of charge through the Volunteer Lake Assessment Program of NHDES.
- Rusty asked for a copy of the test results and Karen said that she would provide them to him.
- Mailing to town’s lakefront property owners: They have received official permission from Robert Wood to send out his summary of CSPA. They also have a set of mailing labels for waterfront properties for the town, provided by Bill Raymond.
- Lake Host Program: Beech Hill Dublin Lake Watershed Assoc has generously agreed to cover funding shortfalls for this year’s lake host program. The grant we were awarded was for $1,000 and our costs last year were $1,375.
- Maggie Murphy was on duty last weekend. Bill Goodwin said that everything went well. There is an average of 6-10 boats daily. Kelsey will be covering next weekend.
- At the NHLA Congress, June 26, Karen learned that about a recent NH statute staying that towns may no longer make payments to non-profit organizations. This could impact the lake host program and warrants further investigation.
- Cemetery Expansion Project: June’s heavy rains have overloaded the ditches that handle the runoff from the north section of the property. On July 2, Hank Campbell indicated that the hay bales weren’t handling the flow. Karen concurred and let Ed and Jack know. Ed contacted Brian Barden and more hay bales were put in place. Hank also expressed concern that some of the fill that was used was from materials that the road crew had collected from ditches and catch basin cleanouts. This material probably contains components that could prove harmful to the lake. Karen did observe silt deposits on the bottom, just out of the culvert that takes water from the expansion site into Dublin Lake. This is a very vulnerable part of the lake; it’s where the
invasive variable milfoil was found in 2001. In fact, the mat used to control the milfoil is about 15’ out from this very culvert exit into the lake. Karen will take another sample on July 9th.
- Dam Lowering/Raising: In late summer of 2008, a deeded agreement with Louisa Spencer was made which enables the town to change the height as required, but there does not seem to be a plan or schedule in place. Ed indicated that an agreement is in place and agreed to provide a copy of the agreement the town has with Louisa.
- Rusty indicated that the dam, built around 1910, might be failing as it might have been built with Portland cement (which does not have a lifetime guaranty). Perhaps a new dam needs to be built?
- An “unofficial” finding puts the deep spot of Dublin Lake at 76’. Soundings in several spots about midway from Loon Point came up with this result.
- Rusty suggested that new plantings should be introduced to the area along Rte 101 where trees have died.
Sue and Karen gave an update of the NHLA Congress conference that they attended. Sue agreed to share her binder with the team.
Gerry Branch gave an update on the Howe Reservoir Project:
- A subset of DCC, and other interested guests, walked the property.
- DES have relieved us from requiring a wetlands mapping. A footbridge over the wetland area is already mapped out.
- Gerry did a topo map but shadows are needed to interpret the map better. We need accurate readings on the slope so that we can place the trails easier.
- The lot lines, between the bordering properties, might not match town records – the barn might actually be on town land.
- A question came up regarding if the culvert will pass code? It will need to be reviewed by DOT as the State is responsible for the 1st 40’ of the property. It may be that access is grandfathered.
- Jack indicated that other that mowing and general pruning, we shouldn’t do anything special; we should not plan on redoing the culvert or adding gravel, etc.
- It was suggested that Gerry contact Peter Spaulding and to ask his advice.
A motion was introduced by Suzy Macy that: DCC supports the Monadnock Rotary Club proposal to minimally enhance the accessibility and usability of the 40-acre parcel that Dublin owns on Howe Reservoir. Rusy Bastedo seconded the motion. The motion was passed unanimously. Gerry will inform the Rotary Club of DCC’s decision.
- Gerry will send out an email message regarding trail marking sessions to DCC and the Rotary Club.
Discussion was opened regarding the invasive plant Japanese Knotweed, which seems to be everywhere now. Several areas were talked about for our “test site” and it was decided that a small stretch of property, on Upper Jaffrey Road, would be a good place to start. A 10x30’ area would be cut, sprayed and covered. Suzy Macy agreed to take up the lead on this effort and would purchase the materials needed. Monday, July 20th at 9:00 a.m. was decided to be the date to address the weed.
Trail maintenance. Jack offered to talk with Harrisville DCC to see about joining trails. Was there interest in trail maintenance? There seemed to be.
Gerry agreed to write an article for the Dublin Advocate on the Howe Reservoir project and would send it to Jack to review.
Sue reminded everyone that Doug Cygan was confirmed to talk about invasive species plants on July 23rd at the Dublin Library. A few more suggestions of where to post the talk were offered and Sue welcomed them all.
Other topics:
- SRPC meeting – Jack attended; it was a great time, the meeting was o.k.
- The Forest Society Magazine, Forest Notes – the latest issue discusses the use of Mount Monadnock as a bellwether to view climate change.
- The Monadnock Conservancy Newsletter noted two recordings of sizeable conservation easements in Dublin for 2008: The 63 acre Beech Hill property and 183 acres of the Hugh and Gay Eaton property on Old Troy Road.
- The Dublin Open Space Committee would like to hire an intern but needs additional funding. DCC can fund if they see fit and it was determined that September might be a better timeframe to review a request for intern funds from the Open Space Committee.
Rusty moved that we adjourn at 9:30.
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