Meeting Minutes
20 March 2017, 7pm at Brown Memorial Library
Present:George Beaton, Seth Benowitz, Nathanial Bruss, J Ann Eldridge, Meg Fearnley, Patty Furness, Brooks McCandlish. Also present Ben Nugent from NH Fish and Game, George Embley from the Basil W. Woods, Jr. chapter of Trout Unlimited and Chris Connors who has been working with the Warner River Protective Designation.
Secretary’s Draft Report: The draft meeting minutes of 2/21/17 were reviewed and accepted as read.
Treasurer’s Report: Meg stated that $2.16 interest was earned on account.
Warner River Stream-Crossing Assessment: Ben Nugent from NH Fish and Game spoke to the group about the Wild Brook Trout project initiated in 2012. Wild brook trout in the Lower and Upper Warner River watershed, the Lane River and Andrew Brook are being inventoried and habitat assessments conducted, along with conducting water quality testing through the sampling of aquatic macro invertebrates, by NH Fish and Game, Trout Unlimited and trained volunteers. The project works to identify stream crossings that may be fish barriers throughout the watershed, and prioritize stream crossing replacements. The goal is to restore, enhance and protect wild brook trout habitat and sustain populations by implementing outreach programs to educate citizens and local landowners along streams.
Saving Special places 2017: This annual land conservation conference is taking place Saturday, 8 April in Alton at Prospect Mountain High School.
Cottrell-Baldwin Environmental Lecture Series: Tomorrow night’s program will be on NH Rattlesnakes.
Conservation Options Workshop for Landowners: Ausbon Sargent is sponsoring this program on Thursday, 13 April at the Knowlton House in Sunapee Harbor. Possible interested landowners will be contacted.
NH Granit Map Update: Information has been sent to Tim Fleury, county forester on town-owned land tracts in excess of 10 acres. Updating and annotating a list of town properties for town offices was discussed.
Mount Sunapee Ski Area: The next leaseholder for the ski area may be Och-Ziff, a New York based hedge fund company. Comments and concerns of the BCC will be sent to the Executive Council following the lead of the Friends of Mount Sunapee and the Forest Society.
Road Salt Concerns: Concerns expressed to members from a resident about the decline of roadside trees and water quality. To be addressed at length at future meeting.
Ausbon Sargent Chairperson Meeting: This roundtable discussion will take place Thursday, 30 March. Ann will be attending to discuss topics such as wetland ordinances.
Pollinator Workshop: Francie Von Mertens will present this seminar Thursday, 11 May, 7pm at the Bradford Community Center.
Ausbon Sargent Hike: The Blitzer Conservation Property will be explored on Thursday, August 25, from 2-4 pm.
NH Tree Champion Candidates: A white birch on Rowe Mountain Road is the latest tree of interest in George’s ongoing search.
The meeting adjourned at 9:10pm. The next meeting will be held Tuesday, 18 April 2017 at 7pm at Brown Memorial Library.
Respectfully submitted, Patty Furness, Secretary