MINUTES
For the regular meeting of the
Walpole Conservation Commission
Monday, May 3, 2010
Present: Jan Galloway, Marcia Galloway, Myra Mansouri (alt.), Mary Lou Montgomery, Peter Palmiotto (alt.), Duncan Watson, Bill Webb (alt.)
Present as Guest: Whitney Aldrich, Peter Rhoades
Not Present: Tom Beaudry, Lew Shelley
Ms. M. Galloway, co-chair, called the meeting to order at 7:33 PM.
Ms. Galloway appointed alternates: Mr. Palmiotto to sit in for Mr. Beaudry, Mr. Webb for Mr. Shelley, and Ms. Mansouri for Mr. Watson.
Non-Public session
Ms. Montgomery moved to approve the minutes of April 5, 2010, as written. Ms. Mansouri seconded, and the motion passed with all in favor.
Public session
Timber Harvest in the Fanny Mason Forest: Peter Rhoades
Mr. Rhoades wrote a forest management plan ten years ago for the Fanny Mason Forest. Two years ago, the select board planned on access from the Route 12 rest area, and Peter started marking trees for harvest. Then he stopped because the market was not good, and we were working on getting access via the Annex. Now the demand for low-grade timber for is higher. It may be a good time to do some harvesting. He usually does not harvest from April to the beginning of August, due to unfavorable conditions. It takes great care to proceed in the summer, even in the rare occasions when the weather is ideal.
He would like to find out if the objectives of the Conservation Commission have changed at all, and if we have any questions. He showed on the map where he suggests doing two small harvests, but large enough to be financially worthwhile. One of the areas has a lot of low-grade wood, so we have an opportunity to begin with that work. He has marked some pine and black oak that may be possible to sell for saw logs at some point.
The harvest would start in August or later, depending on how the market and forest conditions develop.
Selectman Aldrich entered the meeting.
Peter Palmiotto explained that these harvesting recommendations are compatible with the plans his intern Aimee is working on for education and recreation in the forest Annex. He did point out that there is a small towering hemlock grove that they want to preserve and include on one of the trails. Mr. Rhoades suggested that Mr. Palmiotto and his students should take a walk together after more trees are marked to make sure the cuts are compatible with other plans. The timing of the harvest needs to be somewhat flexible.
Mr. Rhoades described the options for different types of harvest: log skidder, cut-to-length system (by hand or mechanically), or whole tree harvesting that also removes the tops. With whole tree removal, nutrients are lost from the ecosystem. Cut-to-length with a mechanical limber will concentrate the slash, but it makes the roads unusable for future recreation.
Skid trails would be hard to maintain for recreational trails anyhow, so it might be better to lay out other narrow walking trails that are easier to maintain, and plan them before the harvest. Mr. Palmiotto said the plan that will determine trail location won’t be ready by the end of summer. Cut-to-length harvest might be the best option for our situation.
Mr. Palmiotto recommended that we should go ahead with the proposed schedule for marking, and keep in communication with Mr. Rhoades.
Mr. Palmiotto moved to give Mr. Rhoades the go-ahead to mark timber in the Fanny Mason Forest, concentrating in Stand 7, and to assess the Annex for access and log landing. Mr. Webb seconded. The motion carried with all in favor.
Annex Parking
Ms. M. Galloway recently met with John Hodges to see about putting a small gravel parking area in off to the right near the gate. It would cost $1240.00, which could come out of the conservation fund.
Ms. M. Galloway moved to engage John Hodges to make an Annex parking area at a cost of $1240.00. Mr. Webb seconded, and the motion carried with all in favor.
Ms. Galloway asked Mr. Rhoades if he is willing to assess some other forest areas in the town that need consideration, and he answered yes.
Appointments to the Conservation Commission
The chair reports that Jan Galloway and Duncan Watson were both appointed for 3-year terms as regular members. Ms. M. Galloway will ask the Select Board to appoint Gary Speed for a 3-year term.
Annex Parking Revisited
Ms. Galloway will ask the select board to approve the work on the parking area.
Duncan Watson arrived at the meeting.
Treasury
The Conservation Fund now totals $69,972.85. The Forestry Fund is at $6,492.84.
Correspondence
Monadnock Conservancy sent monitoring sheets, with all properties now on one combined form. They request that we alert them whenever we are planning to do anything that will affect these areas.
Fish and Game sent a flyer on camp for NH Natural leaders age 14-17
Minutes were received from Planning Board and Select Board
Southwest Regional Planning Commission sent their highlights
Local Government Center sent notice of upcoming workshops
Information on the Asian Longhorn Beetle came from the Extension office
Municipal Conservation Fund Guidebook arrived
Mill Pond Work
Mr. Shelley, his wife, and Ms. M. Galloway walked at the Mill Pond. Ms. Galloway observed that the Eagle Scouts did excellent work there on the trails. Some small pieces of trash were found. We might want to install a kiosk with positive messages about carry in/carry out.
Merriam Farm
Ms. Montgomery and Ms. M. Galloway walked the road there, and the brook is very close to the work they are doing. There are no silt fences, and no retention pond. All-terrain vehicles are going through the brook, and Ms. Galloway suspects big equipment might also be going through there. Mr. Shelley is going to write to Department of Environmental Services about the situation.
Report from Peter Palmiotto on Fanny Mason Forest Annex
Aimee and another student would like to come June 7 and present the pilot NRI to the commission and the citizens who helped at the planning meeting. Ms. M. Galloway will ask about having our meeting upstairs to accommodate the extra attendees.
Cranberry Knapp Dam Project
Ms. M. Galloway reports that Tom Aldrich did a great job of trimming and brush cutting, cleaning out the dam, and he discovered beaver there. She called Gary Speed about the beaver and told Mr. Aldrich to hold off on more work until that is taken care of.
Academy Ravine Trail
Ms. M. Galloway reports that Mr. Shelley is looking for volunteers to do this trail work. The bridges will need expert work, which will be done with conservation funds in the future.
Policy for Minutes in The Walpolean
The secretary was directed to submit minutes to The Walpolean every month after the commissioners receive the e-mailed draft and comment on any necessary preliminary corrections.
Timber Cuts
Ms. M. Galloway gave highlights of the Timber Cut Reports that were received.
Walpole Walks
It was reported that Mr. Shelley wants to lead a walk of Trombley Forest and the high country of Derry Hill in July or August. Also, Tom Beaudry wants to lead a walk the other half of the Boggy Meadows wetland that they did not get to last summer. And it was agreed that another walk at the Mill Pond would be good.
Ms. Montgomery has learned that we need a color photo of each of the areas for publicity, so it will be helpful if anyone can forward photos to her.
Easement on Comstock Farm West
This has reportedly been presented to the Select Board in a draft form.
Citizen Concerns
Peter Palmiotto was the recipient of complaints from two residents, and is wondering about the policy to deal with them. There was reportedly a significant granular fertilizer spill along County Road and Galloway Lane going to Taggart Road. Another comment concerned approximately a dozen tires dumped over the bank just north of Halls Crossing. These kinds of issues can go to the Select Board.
Mr. Watson moved to adjourn, and Mr. Webb seconded. The motion passed with all in favor.
The meeting was adjourned at 8: 47 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Janis Hall-Fuller, Recording Secretary
NOTE: These are unapproved minutes. Corrections will be found in the minutes of the next meeting.