City of Laconia Conservation Commission

Projects For

2012

EASY BACYARD COMPOSTING

January 18, 2011

LACONIA CITY HALL

COUNCIL AUDITORIUM

6:30 PM

A RECYCLING TECHNIQUE THAT CREATES A USEFULL ORGANIC PRODUCT

ASSIST LACONIA PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WITH THE JEWETT BROOK GEOMORPHOLOGICAL STUDY TO IMPROVE STORMWATER COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND MAINTAINECE

APRIL- JUNE

Native Habitat and Invasive Species Earth Day Event at the Transfer Station April 28

REGIONAL OPEN SPACE LINKAGE AND COOPERATION GROUP

JUNE-SEPTEMBER

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR WATER TESTING. MAKE A DIFFERENCE TRAINING IS PROVIDED !

mcphies@laconia.nh.us

AUGUST

INVASIVE SPECIES EDUCATION DAY

SEPTEMBER

VOLUNTEERS FROM THE UNITED WAY DAY OF CARING PROGRAM WILL WORK WITH CONSERVATION MEMBERS TO CLEAN UP THE WINNIPESAUKEE RIVER IN THE AREA OF WATER STREET

Invasive Species Education Day- Held in the height of the tourist season during the first day of Downtown sidewalk days in August. A time to pick up information and ask questions about how to properly protect our area from invasive species that destroy our native vegetation and habitat.
Stream Cleanup Program -The City's Conservation Commission has partnered with the Laconia School District's Project EXTRA! to accomplish a much needed "City Stream Cleanup" effort which was started during the summer of 2008. Project EXTRA, is an after school program in Laconia designed to encourage children and young adults to engage in healthy choices during out-of-school time in order to be successful in their academic endeavors, and to learn fun and interesting activities which will transmit both social and personal benefits. Since beginning this program, the Project EXTRA students have helped to improve the condition of Black Brook which runs from Gilford into Laconia near the Union Avenue McDonalds, as well as the entire stretch of Durkee Brook which runs from Belmont into Laconia and outlets at Lake Winnisquam. This collaborative project is intended to be pursued annually as the watershed in our small City is precious and a hand's on approach to education is a great means of protecting these natural resources as well as fostering future environmental stewards. United Way Volunteers have adopted this project and cleaned up the entire length of Jewett Brook in 2010 and are targeting Durkee Brook this year.
Natural Resource Inventory - During the summer of 2008 the City Conservation Commission contracted Watershed to Wildlife Inc., natural resource consultants based out of Bethlehem New Hampshire, to complete the City's 2009 Municipal Natural Resource Inventory (NRI). Together with members of the Conservation Commission and City Planning staff, the most sensitive wildlife habitat areas and land with particular environmental importance within the City were carefully studied and recorded for use in the final NRI report. The report is now available:

Laconia NRI Report 2009

Earth Day Native Garden Planting - During the spring of 2008, the City Conservation Commission began working to start an annual program to create native gardens at the local City parks and playgrounds. The Commission has installed one native garden at Robbie Mills Park in front of the concession stand and will be installing a second native garden at Robbie Mills Park for Earth Day 2009. THe 2010 Season allowed the Commission to establish plantings along the Riverwalk next to City Hall.
Conservation Easement Acquisition - The Commission is actively pursuing the acquisition of sensitive lands within the City in order to preserve them as conservation easements. A number of areas within the City are prime wildlife habitat which are critical for the survival of numerous species that add a great deal to the character of the Lakes Region. By acquiring these lands through the pursuit of conservation easements, we can help to preserve the diverse local flora and fauna as well as the unique landscape that our region of the State has provided us with.

Open Space Protection Region

Conservation Easement Monitoring - The Commission has had success in the past in pursuing the acquisition of conservation easements. The City currently has 10 conservation easements with some new potential projects on the horizon. Each of these easements is monitored by the Commission throughout the year to assure compliance with all conditions set forth within the Easement deed.
Water Quality Monitoring and testing - Conservation Commission members in 2011 took on actual tributary and deep water testing in affiliation with the Lay Lakes Water Quality Monitoring program as well as a separate grant funded water testing program in coordination with the Lake Winnepesaukee Watershed Association
Transfer Station Native species enhancement project- In 2011 The Laconia Conservation Commission supported the Transfer Station Native species introduction project cooperating with Waste Managment Inc.and Doug Cygan New Hampshire Terrestrial Species Coordinator building up Laconia's solution to invasive species

INVASIVE SPECIES QUESTIONS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO:

Small quantity on site disposal call the Planning Department at 527-1264 or e-mail mcphies@city.laconia.nh.us
Larger quantity disposal after separation from regular brush call the Public Works Department at 528-6379
Complex questions on managment Doug Cygan at 603-271-2248 douglas.cygan@agr.nh.gov
DO NOT BRING INVASIVE SPECIES TO THE TRANSFER STATION!!