Wolfeboro Conservation Commission 2017 Annual Report
Wolfeboro Conservation Commission
2017 Annual Report
The Wolfeboro Conservation Commission once again responded to the environmental concerns of Wolfeboro’s citizens and worked to protect the natural resources within the Town.
We continue to support and work with the efforts of the Food Pantry Garden Committee, Lakes Region Technology Center, Wolfeboro Food Bank and GALA to promote the productive use of the Town Garden property. The Commission again worked with the above to provide the facilities to enable the garden committee to provide fresh vegetables in season to the Food Pantry.
We worked with a private contractor to attempt to manage invasive vegetation at Front Bay Park and the Community Garden properties.
The new trail from Browns Ridge Road to the summit of Whiteface Mountain that was constructed in 2015 receives a fair bit of foot traffic, and we continue to work with the Land Bank of Wolfeboro-Tuftonboro Inc., Lakes Region Conservation Trust and an abutting landowner to construct an improved parking area during the spring of 2018.
Construction is ongoing for a new multi-use trail network on the Willey Brook property that is managed by the Conservation Commission. The new trails are scheduled for completion in the spring of 2018, and will initially encompass 3 miles of trail on the 55-acre parcel adjacent to Fernald Station that was purchased by the Commission in 2002.
We continue to work with UNH Cooperative Extension towards implementation of the Wildlife Action Plan and intend to hold a public information session during 2018.
We have begun working with the Wolfeboro Public Library with regard to potential trails linking the library with the Town Garden property.
Regular recurring activities included the review and advice to New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) for Wetlands Bureau applications. These applications include the construction and/or repair of docks, breakwaters, beaches, retaining walls, culverts, and for the dredging and filling of wetlands among other issues. We reviewed 38 of these applications compared to 44 in 2016. We also provided review and recommendations to the Planning Board on 12 Special Use Permits, and to the Board of Selectmen on the following issues; one tax deeded property, one application for a building permit on a Class IV road and the puppy mill off Warren Sands Road.
I would like to thank the members of the Conservation Commission for their support and commitment to protecting Wolfeboro's unique character and resources. In addition, we would like to thank Matthew Sullivan, Director of Planning and Development, Dave Ford, Director of Public Works, Lee Ann Hendrickson, Administrative Assistant, for their support, guidance and commitment, and the Board of Selectmen and other Town staff, departments and volunteers for their continued support and assistance.
Respectfully submitted,
Daniel Coons, Chairman et al