Correction and Update

My last post identified the small whorled pogonia as the endangered species adjacent to the Farley White project. In fact, it turns out the species is the bulbous bittercress, pictured below.

I understand that at a recent planning board meeting, the PDA indicated it intends to disregard the prime wetlands designation, leaving the Conservation Commission with little choice but to seek to uphold its designation.

Under RSA 12-G, the PDA adopts its own zoning regulations and projects are reviewed by the Newington Planning Board but under PDA regs and not those of the town. The PDA has no wetlands regulations in place. When I last checked a year ago, the word wetlands is mentioned a total of two times in its site plan and subdivision regs. There are no buffers, setbacks, or other requirements related to wetlands on PDA property.

The Commission meets again the second thursday in October.

-Justin

Conservation Commission Meeting on September 6, 2007

The Commission will meet on September 6, 2007 at 7 PM at the Town Hall.

There are two relatively minor wetlands projects on the agenda, and an expansion of an existing commercial facility on Pease located on Arboretum Drive. The project is not without controversy: it is adjacent to a wetland on Pease that the NH Department of Environmental Services approved as a prime wetland. Unbeknownst to the Town, the PDA subsequently obtained a letter from its attorney at the NH Department of Justice stating that the prime wetlands designation was an invalid local land use control on the PDA property. The Commission is not convinced and, if an agreement cannot be reached, the dispute could end up in the legal system. A copy of the letter is contained in the package that can be downloaded here. [The package is 5 MB this month, my apologies].

The wetland in question contains an endangered plant species, the small whorled pogonia, [EDIT: This is incorrect, see subsequent post.] so the question is not merely academic. However, based on a preliminary look at the plans, it apears that the parking lots are located outside the 100 foot buffer for prime wetlands. According to the project engineer, the only portions of the project within the buffer are stormwater management facilities and they are located 25 feet from the wetland. This needs further review, but hopefully the project can move forward without any impact on the pogonias.

Further information is contained in the package. Feel free to come to the meeting. Unfortunately, I am in a trial for the entire month of September beginning on the 4th, so I am unlikely to be there.

-Justin

Newington Cons. Commission Agenda for August 2, 2006

It's late so I won't spend much time elaborating on the Newington Conservation Commission's agenda for August 2, 2007.

You can download the agenda and the information package here. The agenda looks fairly busy.

Of particular note, the Commission will consider taking steps to have the Town adopt regulation of discharge of stormwater pollution. This is the leading cause of non-attainment with the State's water quality standards and a major source of pollution in Great Bay and the Piscataqua River. Representatives from both the New Hampshire Estuaries Project and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, Coastal Program will be present for the discussion.

Please come to our meeting at the Town Hall at 7 PM on August 2, 2007 to learn more.

Back from Vacation

My apologies for the lack of updates this month. I managed to get away from the office and the computer for a good part of July.

First I'll share some vacation pictures and, later today or tomorrow, provide the agenda and package for the Newington Conservation Commission's August 2, 2007 meeting that are being finalized today.

The picture on the left was taken at the mouth of the Saco River near Biddeford Pool, Maine.

On the right are Elsa and Josephine enjoying their second and first boat trips. Their friends Julian and Vivian (green hat) came along for the ride as well. Elsa asked repeatedly "Can we go fast again Daddy?". I was forced to oblige :)

Elsa at the helm, Julian on the watch!.

My apologies to those of those of you with boating experience that otice a major safety violation. In my defense, we were at least at anchor (not that it matters) and I did not realize the life vest was off until I was looking back at the pictures.

Did I mention that blackberries were in season?

Enoy!

-Justin

July 5, 2007 Conservation Commission Agenda

July 5th, 2007 looks to be a short meeting for the Newington Conservation Commission due to vacations and some project postponements.

However, two new projects are on the agenda. The first to consider a landowner request that the Town acquire a 6 acre parcel of land on Great Bay in lieu of it being sold for development. The second project involves a preliminary proposal to add a deck on an existing home near Great Bay.

The more interesting discussions relate to proposal discussed at our June meeting. These include:

Development of storm water regulations to help control non-point source pollution. According to the NH Department of Environmental Services stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces is the leading cause of non-attainment with the State's water quality standards established under the Clean Water Act.

The Commission is considering working with the New Hampshire Estuaries Project, the NHDES and other resource agencies to adopt controls on stormwater pollution in Great Bay and the Piscataqua River. According to one study by the NHDES Coastal Program, the commercial and industrially developed areas around Paul Brook in Newington had both the highest levels of imperviousness in the watershed and turbidity (i.e. silt) levels of the 10 locations evaluated on the Seacoast.


Silt laden stormwater shown here discharging into Little Bay below Exit 4 in July 2006, is the leading cause of non-point pollution in New Hampshire.

The surface of silt particles in stormwater often traps metals, oils, and other pollutants and carries them to surface waters, resulting in their concentration in aquatic life, increased water temperature, nutrient levels and reduced oxygen.

Technologies are being evaluated at the UNH Stormwater Center that can reduce the impact of stormwater pollution significantly.

The Commission will also continue its discussion of using the state's Air Pollution Mitigation Fund for projects in Newington, expansion of recycling, and other items.

The Commission's Agenda and information package for the meeting containing some of the relevant documents can be downloaded here.

The meeting begins at 7 PM and is open to the public. Please feel free to come by and share your thoughts on these or other matters.