NEWMARKET CONSERVATION COMMISSION

The Conservation Commission hosted the extremely popular boat tours on the Lamprey River as part of the annual 2007 Newmarket Heritage Festival. The Commission also staffed an educational exhibit at the Schanda Park next to the boat launch as part of this event. In addition to educational programs, the Commission commented on several proposed development projects that affect wetlands and other natural resources. Some of the issues that the Commission considers when reviewing development proposals include protecting surface and ground water quality, managing storm water runoff, protecting wetlands and wildlife habitat, and reducing the amount of impervious surfaces.

A major part of the Commission’s annual responsibilities include stewardship of town-owned conservation lands, which include more than a dozen parcels that total 359 acres. Stewardship activities include creating and maintaining parking areas and trails, walking boundaries and putting up signs, building educational kiosks and benches, managing habitats, and monitoring public uses. The Public Works Department is a great partner with the Conservation Commission and helps with many aspects of stewardship including plowing parking areas and mowing trails. Public Works also mows the Wiggin Farm field in September. Mowing once a year keeps the field in grassland, while allowing birds, turtles, deer, and other wildlife to use the field during the breeding season for food, cover, and nesting.

Another great partner with the Conservation Commission are the Newmarket Eagle Scouts. In 2007, Eagle Scout Sean Riley completed his scout project by coordinating the building and installation of two beautiful wooden benches and installing xx interpretive signs along the hiking trails on the Wiggin Farm Conservation Area. Eagle Scouts have completed several other projects at Wiggin Farm during the past few years including laying out hiking trails and constructing a walking bridge over a wetland. The Conservation Commission appreciates this successful partnership with Newmarket’s Eagle Scouts and looks forward to more collaboration.

As part of the Town’s land stewardship responsibilities the Conservation Commission conducted annual monitoring walks on two town-owned conservation areas (Wiggin Farm and Piscassic River-Loiselle) and two town-held conservation easements (Silverman-Schneer and Nostrom). In addition, the Town continues to partner with the Southeast Land Trust of NH, which conducts an annual monitoring visit of the town-held Hilton conservation easement.

The Conservation Commission approved $75,000 from the Conservation Fund (these funds come from 50% of the Land Use Change Tax) toward the acquisition of a conservation easement on the 32-acre Dodd Farm at the corner of Neal Mill Road and Grant Road. The Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire will hold the easement and raised the additional funds for the easement including a major grant from the Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program. This property has 1,300 feet of frontage on the Piscassic River.

Submitted by Ellen Snyder, Member, Newmarket Conservation Commission