Conservation Commission

City of Laconia Conservation Commission Wednesday, September 7, 20122 - 6:00 PM City Hall in the Armand A. Bolduc City Council Chamber Approved 9/21/22 9/7/2022 - Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Dean Anson called the meeting to order at 5:57pm 2. ROLL CALL Rob Harrington, Dean Anson, Ruth O’Hara, Lisa Morin, Deb Williams, Mike Foote, Stacy Soucy 3. SALUTE TO THE FLAG The commission saluted the flag 4. RECORDING SECRETARY Taylor Daigle, Conservation Planner Technician 5. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE Dean Trefethen, Planning Director 6. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS 6.I. Draft Minutes 8/3/22 L. Morin motioned to accept the minutes of the 8/3 meeting with one change. D. Williams seconded. All voted in favor. 7. OLD BUSINESS 8. NEW BUSINESS 8.I. LWA Langley Cove Presentation Pat Tarpey and Bree Rossiter, of the Lake Winnipesaukee Association, presented the RFQ for a hydrologic analysis of the Langley Brook watershed. The LWA received grant funding from NHDES to investigate the increasing sedimentation issue in Langley Cove. The contractors will identify sources of the sediment and make recommendations for improving conditions in the watershed. D. Trefethen discussed the permits required for the large development slated to begin work in the watershed and suggested using some of that information for data. D. Anson asked about existing data in the watershed. There are some existing sampling stations, which T. Daigle and D. Anson will take meter readings at the Langley station to get some pre-development readings. 8.II. Moose Plate Grant T. Daigle discussed the application to the Moose Plate Grant for 2023. The application is to conduct two watershed surveys for the Opechee watershed. We are working closely with the Lake Opechee Preservation Association on coordinating outreach efforts regarding the grant. We will find out if we’ve received the grant in December. D. Anson discussed that we will have a watershed-focused presentation at the Belknap Mill related to this on 10/26.  T. Daigle discussed the application to the Moose Plate Grant for 2023. The application is to conduct two watershed surveys for the Opechee watershed. We are working closely with the Lake Opechee Preservation Association on coordinating outreach efforts regarding the grant. We will find out if we’ve received the grant in December. D. Anson discussed that we will have a watershed-focused presentation at the Belknap Mill related to this on 10/26. 8.III. Taking Action For Wildlife Conservation Cohort D. Anson discussed the Taking Action for Wildlife Cohort and project ideas. The commission members working on the cohort discussed project ideas. Some of these included studying wildlife corridors and invasive species hotspots, invasive species control education content, educational enhancements to the WOW Trail, a conservation calendar of events, a re-education campaign for environmental concerns, trash issues within the city related to wildlife, public engagement, habitats at home, and stream restoration. The cohort will work with the TAFW staff on determining what route to take. 9. NEW HAMPSHIRE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES APPLICATIONS 10. OTHER BUSINESS D. Williams discussed the success of the lake host at the Opechee Boat Ramp. He is scheduled for one more weekend. R. Harrington discussed the Taylor Community’s work mapping invasive species on their campus. So far they’ve found bittersweet, autumn olive, Japanese knotweed, and purple loosestrife. Removal will be a large project to tackle, and R. Harrington is not sure how the community will move forward with it. T. Daigle is going to email him a map of the road system in the Taylor community. D. Anson discussed the drawdown schedule for Opechee on 10/10-10/24. Water levels will go down five feet. DPW is trying to find someone to do permitting for the power-loading hole maintenance. Con Com would like to have a clean-up day and coordinate disposal with DPW. L. Morin asked about the state school property. There are 4 proposals being considered but D. Trefethen is unsure when/how one will be chosen. D. Anson asked D. Trefethen about the ConCom budget and milfoil. Con Com could put the milfoil money on their budget but the management of it would not change. The commission should consider other budget items and increases to the milfoil account for the upcoming fiscal year. M. Foote discussed the ZBA equitable waiver granted to the 13 Opechee project. M. Foote discussed the city property sale off of Harlen Lane/Indian Trail. It is a 1.6-acre, city-owned property that the council is looking to sell to an association. There are 50+ property owners with deeded rights to the land but there is no legal public access to the property unless by boat. L. Morin asked about any deed restrictions being considered for the sale. D. Trefethen answers yes, there are some including no motorized vehicles, no structures other than a small shed or bathhouse, and the possibility of a day dock. D. Anson asked if ConCom could buy it. Yes, but there is no legal access to the property. The council will be discussing more of the situation at the 9/12 meeting. 11. LIAISON AND SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS S. Soucy reported on the recent planning board meeting. She mentioned that the board has been looking at asking extensions to reevaluate the conditions of their wetlands after a certain timeframe. She mentions that ConCom’s concerns are being heard at the planning board level. 12. STAFF REPORT 13. ADJOURNMENT M. Foote motions to adjourn at 8:05 pm. D. Williams seconded. All vote in favor. 13. ADJOURNMENT M. Foote motions to adjourn at 8:05 pm. D. Williams seconded. All vote in favor.