Conservation Commission

City of Laconia Conservation Commission Wednesday, August 21, 2019 - 6:00 PM City Hall in the Armand A. Bolduc City Council Chamber Accepted Sept 18, 2019 8/21/2019 - Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Dean Anson called the meeting to order at 6:17 PM. 2. ROLL CALL Members present: Dean Anson, Deb Williams, Mike Foote, Wes Bates (6:50 pm), and Richard Christopher Absent: Marnie Schulz and Lisa Morin Planning Staff: Dean Trefethen, Rob Mora, and Ashley Ruprecht The commission saluted the flag. 3. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS 3.I. Acceptance Of Minutes From August 7 A suggestion was made to change the minutes to reflect that the Lakeshore Redevelopment Commission members were in favor of the Conservation Commission proposal under the State School Property Update. A suggestion was also made to clarify that it was the eastern side of the lot as to where the Japanese knotweed has infested. R. Christopher makes a motion to accept the minutes from August 7 with the suggested changes. D. Williams seconds. All in favor. The motion passes. 4. NEW BUSINESS There is no new business at this time. 5. NEW HAMPSHIRE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES APPLICATIONS There are no applications for review. 6. OLD BUSINESS 6.I. Perley Pond Update Chair D. Anson states that the trimming of the Perley Pond oak tree is scheduled for September 23 in the morning. Chair D. Anson spoke with Amy Lovisek from Parks and Recreation and there will be an article in the paper notifying the public that the trimming will take place. Chair D. Anson said the trimming will be done by Donovan Tree services and asks if anyone has any additional information on the trimming. D. Trefethen confirms he has the same information. 6.II. Tributary & Paugus Bay Water Quality Sampling  article in the paper notifying the public that the trimming will take place. Chair D. Anson said the trimming will be done by Donovan Tree services and asks if anyone has any additional information on the trimming. D. Trefethen confirms he has the same information. 6.II. Tributary & Paugus Bay Water Quality Sampling Chair D. Anson asked if the equipment is back. R. Mora confirmed the equipment is back and said he needs a date for the testing. M. Foote said that the Water Department typically prefers doing the testing on Wednesdays. R. Mora suggested next Wednesday, August 28. M. Foote says he plans to attend. M. Foote states it would be good to have the GPS coordinates and unit that were used for the testing in previous years. Chair D. Anson adds that there were 3 sampling points. M. Foote mentions that dip samples were previously taken at Langley Cove, and Black Brook outflow. Chair D. Anson asks if M. Foote is familiar with the meters. M. Foote says he is familiar and is planning to attend next Wednesday for the deep water sampling. Chair D. Anson states there are 2 deep water spots. R. Mora states he's been in contact with Brian from the Water Department to coordinate and will notify the commission when, where and what time. There is brief discussion about whether the samples will need to be frozen or kept on ice during transportation and description of the equipment for the water quality sampling. Chair D. Anson states the equipment was calibrated by Winnisquam Watershed Network used it in the beginning of the summer. R. Mora said equipment was also calibrated by NHDES. Chair D. Anson asked A. Ruprecht to call NHDES and see if we need new sampling containers due to the current ones possibly being outdated. There was a brief discussion about written procedures for taking the samples. D. Trefethen said he would look for them. Chair D. Anson stated he can get ones from Winnisquam Watershed Network if they are not found. Chair D. Anson states tributary sampling will take approximately 1 day that he would like to plan for September 4. D. Trefethen asked if there was help from the high school in the past and Chair D. Anson said no. He noted that when Scott McPhie was the Conservation Tech, he would do it or get a commission member to help. All samples will need to be taken to NHDES. D. Trefethen said getting samples to NHDES is not an issue. Chair D. Anson mentions he thinks there are 8 tributary sampling locations and that they were done on a regular, monthly basis. There is a brief discussion about what constituents the samples will be tested for- salts (because affecting water and soils), oxygen levels, PH and temperatures. D. Williams asked if Pickerel Pond has been tested. Chair D. Anson states that we have 2 years of data from when Collins Brook is tested, which is the tributary from Pickerel Pond. Chair D. Anson describes NHDES's involvement and annual reports. 6.III. State School Poperty Update D. Trefethen stated that August 27 at 9 a.m. is the next meeting at RFS on Water Street. There was a public hearing at the middle school a few weeks ago with fair attendance. A preliminary master plan was presented with components of housing, commercial, hospitality and potentially a health facility. The sports facility has been narrowed down to an indoor, multi-function fitness center primarily for volleyball, basketball, pickleball, etc. The justification for the indoor facility versus a larger, outdoor area for football/soccer is due to the availability of hotel rooms. Memorial Day to Columbus Day it is difficult to get a hotel room, beyond Columbus there vacancy goes down, and there are also other football/soccer facilities in operation in the surrounding area. Chair D. Anson asked if there were any plans for a pool and Planning Director D. Trefethen said specifics would come down to the developer. R. Christopher asked if they have looked at agricultural aspects of the project. D. Trefethen described a proposal that Genuine Local out of Meredith gave several weeks ago to use the old dairy barn and  football/soccer facilities in operation in the surrounding area. Chair D. Anson asked if there were any plans for a pool and Planning Director D. Trefethen said specifics would come down to the developer. R. Christopher asked if they have looked at agricultural aspects of the project. D. Trefethen described a proposal that Genuine Local out of Meredith gave several weeks ago to use the old dairy barn and surrounding area out front of the property for processing local farm products, a restaurant and agricultural uses. The proposal was well received. 6.IV. Pickerel Pond Property Update Chair D. Anson went to Pickerel Pond and took photos of the site. There is discussion about the photos- the presence of Japanese Knotweed along a stream on the eastern edge of the property, and 3 vacant buildings/structures that Chair D. Anson suggests are removed, along with the removal of a boat and other debris on the property. W. Bates arrives at 6:50 p.m. There is discussion about how to eradicate the japanese knotweed, acknowledging the sensitivity of the nearby stream. M. Foote suggested mowing the field. Chair D. Anson agreed. D. Anson asks D. Trefethen how to proceed with removing the buildings, debris, and mowing the field. D. Anson suggests using equipment the City uses to mow to sides of the roads to mow the field. D. Trefethen said he is not sure if it will be taken care of by Parks and Recreation, DPW, or another department but will find out. D. Williams asked about the condition of the site. Chair D. Anson stated it is similar to the condition when they saw it 3 years ago- rough but passable. Chair D. Anson asked if any permits are needed for the building demolitions or if they are exempt. D. Trefethen said he will find out. 6.V. Cyanobacteria D. Williams stated that cyanobacteria seemed to be a serious issue this year in many places due to the hottest June and July on record. M. Foote suit against the Powder Mill Fish Hatchery off of Merry Meeting. The state is looking at the water quality of the outflow from the facility. Chair D. Anson asked if there has been any cyanobacteria in Winnipesaukee. M. Foote stated that he hasn't yet gone to look where it usually blooms but there has been discussion about it in public online forums. There is brief discussion about other locations where cyanobacteria blooms have been spotted. Chair D. Anson has not seen any NHDES alerts for blooms on Winnipesaukee, Winnisquam, or Lake Opechee. 7. LIAISON AND SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS 7.I. Milfoil Management D. Williams states that the Lake Host at Lake Opechee will be going back to college. There is $700 left of the grant which can be used for others to volunteer time to monitor boats for milfoil. Chair D. Anson asks if the $700 will roll over into next year's budget, or if the money is not entirely spent, if the budget will be lowered next year. D. Williams states it does not roll over and that if the money is not used it shouldn't impact next year's grant since it is based on how many boats are inspected. D. Williams says the Lake Host inspected 150 boats this year, which is substantial since it isn't a busy ramp. D. Williams compared this to the ramp on Winnisquam where they've inspected 350 boats and are 3 weeks behind in logging data. Chair D. Anson said they were inspecting a boat every 7 minutes.  spent, if the budget will be lowered next year. D. Williams states it does not roll over and that if the money is not used it shouldn't impact next year's grant since it is based on how many boats are inspected. D. Williams says the Lake Host inspected 150 boats this year, which is substantial since it isn't a busy ramp. D. Williams compared this to the ramp on Winnisquam where they've inspected 350 boats and are 3 weeks behind in logging data. Chair D. Anson said they were inspecting a boat every 7 minutes. Out of the samples the commission has sent down for testing, none have been invasive. Chair D. Anson noted that Amy Spagula, from DES, will be visiting the Winnipesaukee River this fall. He also noted that the debris needs to be cleaned out of there. Divers were there after the water level dropped a few years ago and would like to do that again. D. Trefethen said the next drop will be next fall. There is an issue where the discharge is from the bridge and facilities to the river. It was suggested to have a cleanup day for the Day of Caring. Herbicide treatment is happening early September. The divers will start in Winnisquam in the next week. They used last year, 2,4-D in Moulton Cove to treat the milfoil and ProcellaCOR in Pickerel Cove and the latter was more effective. 8. STAFF REPORT The Commission members introduced themselves and gave brief backgrounds to the new Conservation Tech, Ashley Ruprecht. A. Ruprecht also gave a brief background. Chair D. Anson mentioned the Belknap County Conservation District will be hosting a training session for professionals working in soils, erosion control, water quality, public works, engineering, construction, roads, planning and consulting. Tuesday, Sept. 10 or Wednesday, Sept 11. Chair D. Anson noted that he would like to start doing the things that had not been getting done over the past few years, like walking the conservation easements. 9. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn made by R. Christopher, M. Foote seconded. All voted in favor. The meeting adjourned at 7:45 pm. Respectfully, Ashley Ruprecht