Holderness Conservation

Commission Annual Report 2000

The major focus of the commission in 2000 continued to be the three town conservation properties. Members of the commission visit all three properties on a regular basis, both for trail repairs and LCIP related duties. As part of PSC Pride Day, a group of PSC students assisted members of the commission in cleanup at Livermore Falls (the Holderness side) and trail maintenance at the Pilote Forest. The commission still plans to place picnic tables on all three properties.

The commission continues to deal on a regular basis with items related to docks, wetlands permits, etc. One of the major considerations this past year was the proposal submitted for a wetlands permit by the Windward Realty Group for the Valpey property in east Holderness. After a great deal of interchange with the Windward Realty Group, we supported their proposal to the Wetlands Bureau. The commission expects to gain a conservation easement to a portion of that property. This easement will further protect one of the town's prime wetlands that is adjacent to the property. We also took a strong position with regards to the variance request by C. N. Brown for the old Mobil station property. The request would have not been in compliance with the Flood Hazard District regulations. The variance was not granted. We have also work closely with the NHDOT and NH Fish and Game with respect to the new bridge construction across the Pemi River and the new Boat Ramp on the Squam River. One of our members, Lynn Johnson, has been an active member of the "dump closing committee" and has kept us informed of the progress of that group. One potential site for a new transfer station would be part of the Town Forest adjacent to the Town Garage. We have met several times with the directors of the Squam Lakes Association and the Science Center of NH; with the former on matters pertaining to the water quality of Squam Lake and with the latter with respect to changes made on the Science Center grounds.

The only change in membership this year is that Commissioner Frost has resigned and Commissioner Packard has taken a leave of absence to teach biological subjects at Austin College in Texas as a sabbatical leave replacement. The commission thanks Becky for her work over the past few years and looks forward to the return of Anne Packard this summer.

The commission has been meeting this past fall at 4:30 pm, the second Wednesday of the month. This allows one of our members with children to minimize babysitting problems. Special meetings and field inspections are sometimes held in between regular meetings. If you have an interest in becoming a member of the commission, please contact the Chair. All proceedings of the commission are open to the public and we welcome all comments and any offers of assistance.

Submitted by:

Shelagh Connelly

Lynn Johnson

Anne Packard

Harry Vogel

Larry Spencer, Chairman