Kensington Conservation Commission

Minutes of March 13, 2007

Members in attendance: Rob Garneau, Sydnee Goddard, Harry Bodwell

Visitor: Theresa Walker (Rockingham Planning Commission)

1. Minutes approved

2. Mail included notice from DES stating that NH Natural Heritage Bureau was given authority to begin charging $25 for reviews of its data base.  In addition, as of April 1, 2007, each DES wetlands dredge and fill application and notification must be accompanied by documentation, issued by NHB, pertaining to rare species or exemplary natural communities in the vicinity of the proposed project. 

3. Theresa shared her findings regarding possible new regulations.   We discussed both Aquifer protection and Conservation Subdivisions. 

Aquifer protection:

Theresa shared a report called "Groundwater Protection:  What Can Municipalities Do?"  from NHDES Watershed Conference, November 13, 2004 as a good source of information.  She explained that most ground water resource protection ordinances start with aquifers with transmissivity of greater than 1,000, because municipal well heads need to be high yield.  She has requested information on the aquifer that runs beneath and parallels route 150 to determine if it is contiguous with the Seabrook aquifer and well heads.  Knowing this will determine if DES Water Source Protection funds could be sought to protect land above this aquifer.   There are some sizable parcels above this aquifer that we should look into protecting.

To begin the process of considering an aquifer protection ordinance, Theresa will examine the town's master plan's water resource chapter to see if it needs updating.  It is likely to need updating, because more water resource mapping is now available than when this chapter was written    If this chapter needs rewriting it would need approval from the planning board.  Then, we could suggest ordinances to protect the aquifer.  Presently our commercial zone at the corner of 150 and 107 sits atop our most productive aquifer and these business could be putting the aquifer at risk of contamination.    

Conservation Subdivision:

Theresa shared a possible conservation subdivision ordinance she and Jill Robinson have been working on.  It includes a checklist to be used when reviewing all site plan and subdivision applications.  The applicant would have to take natural resource protection into account at the onset of site planning. 

4. Discussed latest on Kimball easement work.  Discussed funding sources.  LCHIP and FRPP grant application deadlines have not opened yet.  Sydnee will contact Dea Bricker-Wood (868-6112, bluesky24@comcast.net) to check on funding through Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership.   Mary Currier is going to get program coordinator of NH Fish and Game Land Owner Incentive program to Kimball Farm to see if it fits their guidelines for application.  Briefly discussed setting up an account for Kimball Farm donations.  At this point donations have been put in the Kensington Conservation Fund with both Sydnee and Joan keeping track of the totals. 

5. Discussed latest on Cole easement progress.  Sydnee shared that, according to Mary Currier, most of the work was done, but there was still some outstanding paperwork from Coles.

6. Adjourn 9:10pm.