Conservation Commission

Laconia Conservation Comm. Meeting Minutes- September 6, 2023 Meeting call to order: 6:02pm Roll call: Dean Anson, Lisa Morin, Bob Harrington, Mike Foote, Deb Williams Salute to flag Acceptance of minutes from previous meetings: Minutes from 8/16/23 were reviewed. Lisa M. made a motion to accept the minutes. Mike F. seconded. Voted and accepted unanimously. Old Business: Lake Winnipesaukee Association gave a presentation on Paugus Bay that Dean attended and reviewed for us. LWA wants to do new assessments of the lake bodies, especially Paugus Bay. Current issues include; primary drinking source, cyanobacteria, new developments. They will do a study of lake front properties around the lake, from the water side. They will identify possible stormwater run-off areas. LWA would like Lac. Con. Comm. to continue to do water sampling of tributaries. We had a discussion about expanding our water testing sites. Currently we have no sites on the east side of Paugus Bay. LWA will develop an action plan, with education and outreach to waterfront owners. There were 15 people that attended the meeting. Rich Tilton and Dick Steinhoff also attended the LWA presentation. Dean A. and Deb W. had met with Rich and Dick earlier in the month. They would like to pursue dredging Langley Cove. In 2026 the Weirs Blvd. bridge over Langley Brook will be replaced. We should coordinate that replacement with dredging and brook restoration. Dean A. will contact Wes Anderson to discuss this plan. Lisa M. added that Prescott Farm is concerned that their pond may lose water, or be drained with any brook restoration. New Business: Lisa M. said she has forwarded info on workshops that are coming up. Bob H. started a discussion on buckthorn invasive plants. The city is replacing the bridge at Academy St., over Durkee Brook and Bob H. said there is a huge row of buckthorn on the bank. Lisa M. said that Belmont had a buckthorn problem and tried to clear it, but ended up just controlling the edge. There was discussion on the brook erosion by the cemetery. Lisa M. said she and Jan Hooper use to hang Stream Best Practice info on doorknobs in those neighborhoods. Mike F. said he toured Pickeral Cove recently and noticed milfoil and golf balls.  There was a discussion on tiny homes and parking spaces. There was no staff report. Meeting was adjourned at 7:07pm Minutes respectively submitted by Deb Williams