Bcc Report 2007

BRADFORD CONSERVATION COMMISSION This year we welcomed Barbara Kulzyck, Sandy Price and Gary Tillotson as new members and accepted the resignations of Jeannette Nordham and George Townsend, with thanks for all of their conservation work in behalf of Bradford. Land Conservation Working with the Upper Valley Land Trust, an application has been submitted to VHCB to conserve 55+ - acres of farm land along the Conn. River, and 90 + - acres of forest land near I91 via a Transportation grant. The BCC continued its support of the Brushwood Community Forest Initiative, which includes the Bradford Municipal Forest. The Conservation Fund sub-committee held several fund-raising events to help replenish Bradford’s Conservation Fund. Stewardship Led by Ginny Moore, and with assistance of local volunteers and the Upper Valley Trails Alliance, more than 250 hours resulted in 3 new trails constructed, marked and mapped – Joel’s Trail, Commemorative Way, Nancy’s Trace. Seven commemorative benches were built and installed by Randy Moore to recognize major contributors toward the acquisition of the Davis Parcel: Eris and Ezra Eastman in honor of their children; Leland Blodgett in memory of his parents; the Wendell Family in memory of their brother; Fred Kellerup and Barbara Barratt in memory of their parents; Patricia & David Crawford; the Chipman Family and Nancy Jones. The fourth annual Devil’s Den Celebration featured the introduction of the new trails and benches. A new map created by Christine Fournier of UVLT incorporates the new trails and includes abutting private conserved Chipman and Loschiavo lands. In collaboration with the Bradford Merchant’s Association, an updated map/brochure, which also promotes local businesses, will soon be installed at trailhead kiosks. 3’ x 4’ maps provided by Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission have been installed in the kiosks at each trailhead. Guest books at each trailhead revealed that hikers have come from around the state, from other states, and even from other countries. The “Wright’s MT Quest” was chosen by Vital Communities to be included in their new publication – “The Best of the Quests”. Management As part of his logging contract, Calvin Johnson re-shaped the main trails, constructed several new water bars and expanded the WM parking area while building a high berm around it. The Town road crew spread staypac on the parking area to stabilize and prevent erosion. Tom Gray installed a gate at trailhead to help prevent vehicular traffic on the trail, and reinstalled the Wright’s MT sign near the beginning of the trail, but inside the gate. Joel Moore constructed and installed a privy near the WM Trailhead. An amendment to the Wright’s MT Management Plan, filed with UVLT, now incorporates the additional 165 acres of Davis Land, including the new trails. Orange County Forester, David Paganelli will begin developing a Forest Management Plan for the 165-acre Davis parcel this month, and he & Joel Moore will coordinate the blazing of the new boundary lines. Education Through a Wellborn Ecology Fund grant, 14 volunteers were trained as a “Keeping Track” team and 4 OHS classes received in-the-woods training in identifying wildlife sign with “Keeping Track’s” Susan Morse and staff from Northern Stewards, Inc. A tree pruning workshop at Elizabeth’s Park was led by Kate Forrer of the Urban and Community Forestry Program, which resulted in trimming all of the crab apple trees there.

Three more field trips were held along the Waits River – “Tracking in the Headwaters with Alcott Smith”; “Get to Know the Waits River”, led by Redstart Forestry staff; and “Looking for Aquatic Invasive Species in the Backwaters of the Waits River”, led by Laurie Callahan of the Conn. River Aquatic Invasive Species Project. (no invasive species were found.) Public Information Co-chaired by Ed Wendell and Sandy Price, an Energy and Climate Action subcommittee was formed, with assistance from the Assoc. of VT Conservation Commissions and the Sustainable Energy Resource Group (SERG). A “Step-It-Up” event was held on April 14, and two National Wildlife Federation “Cool It” presentations were held at OHS in collaboration with the Oxbow Environmental Coalition student group. A tour of a solar-powered Bradford home was held in September. Compact florescent light bulbs were made available at low cost at all BCC events. Several types of reference materials about energy conservation have been donated by SERG to the Bradford Public Library, through this BCC sub-committee. In light of the high numbers of tires collected along roadsides and stream banks, the BCC supported Redeemable Tire Deposit legislation by sending letters & photos to State legislators and forwarding information to all area Conservation Commissions. The BCC administered a River Management Grant to fund a geomorphic assessment of the Waits River and its tributaries conducted by Redstart Consulting in conjunction with the Waits River Watershed Council. With climate change on everyone’s minds, and the potential for flooding, this study will reveal locations that are at risk, as well as areas in need of erosion prevention remedies. Rosemary Chipman and Barbara Kulzyck have worked with Andrew Dorsett to design the BCC link on the Town’s Website, which will include photos and pertinent information. At the request of the Planning Commission, the BCC has also been provided input into the updating of the Bradford Municipal Plan. On-going Green-UP day, coordinated by Barbara Kulzyck yielded 180 bags of trash, 20 bags of recyclables and 60 tires that were collected. A Trees for Local Communities Grant has been received and 6 trees will be planted in the downtown area in the Spring, under the direction of John Hanzas, Bradford’s recently appointed tree warden. A new site was secured for the Compost Project at the Bob Sandberg farm in Cookville. Through the efforts of Nancy Jones and Rosemary Chipman, support and grants were received from Highfield’s Institute, Ben & Jerry’s, NEGEF, Verizon, CVPSC, Byrne Foundation, Washington Electric, WRSB, Merchant’s and Woodsville Guaranty Banks, David Chipman, and CVSWMD and combined with monies from Bradford’s Conservation Fund to cover site work, technical support and start-up costs. The project is now up and running without any interruption of service to area food waste generators. Potential Long-Range • Investigate feasibility of pedestrian path near confluence of Waits/Conn. Rivers • Expand the activities of the Energy and Climate Action subcommittee • Partner with F & W’s Community Wildlife Program to identify significant habitat (“Keeping Track” team can provide valuable “on-the-ground” data) • Decide on best uses/practices on Davis Parcel • Continue to advocate for improving Bradford’s Recycling Depot Respectfully submitted, Nancy Jones, Chair