MEMBERS OF THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
All 3 commission positions are open for appointment.
MEETINGS and CONTACT
The Ashland Conservation Commission meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month (subject to change) at 6:30 pm at the Ashland Town Hall. The minutes of the meetings are posted below.
The Conservation Commission welcomes comments and questions. Email us at conservation@ashland.nh.gov.
INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT
Non-native invasive plants such as Japanese Knotweed (also known as “bamboo”) and Oriental Bittersweet are not only a problem for homeowners and the community, but also for the environment. They grow in less than optimal conditions crowding out native plants, obscuring road sightlines, twining around utility poles and may even cause structural damage to homes and outbuildings. The timeline for best management is in late May or early June before the plant’s flowering time and again in the Fall to remove any of the new Summer growth.
Please click the links provided to help identify these plants, methods to manage and control their growth and important tips of proper disposal of the removed plants. Please contact the Conservation Commission with any questions or concerns.
Japanese Knotweed, Best Management Practices (NEW – 2018, NH Department of Agriculture)
Japanese Knotweed, Herbaceous Weed Control (Natural Resources Conservation Service)
Japanese Knotweed Fact Sheet (NH Department of Agriculture)
Methods for Disposing Non-Native Invasive Plants (UNH Cooperative Extension)
NH Guide to Upland Invasive Species (NH Department of Agriculture)
Invasive Plants (UNH Cooperative Extension) — includes identification, reporting and disposal of invasives.
ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITS
Are you planning a construction project as a homeowner or a contractor? If so, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) may require you to file permit(s) for the work. To help you determine what permits are required, please see their “Got Permits?” chart:
http://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/lrm/documents/got-permits.pdf
Please note, even if your project does not require a permit, there may be DES guidelines you must follow during construction. It is your responsibility to understand these requirements. Contact DES with specific questions.
LAND CONSERVATION
Attention landowners! Did you know there is an additional tax incentive available for protecting your small parcels of land? If you are the owner of a parcel less than 10 acres in size, which would be ineligible to be placed in Current Use, you may be able to take advantage of New Hampshire’s Conservation Restriction Assessment Program (RSA 79-B). If your small parcel has a high conservation value (such as undeveloped frontage on a lake or pond), protecting your land from development may be worth your consideration.
Enrollment of your land in the Conservation Restriction Assessment Program is a two-step process. First, you must put a conservation easement in place and convey the easement to land trust or government entity. Second, once the conservation easement has been conveyed, apply for enrollment of the restricted land through the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration.
The New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration’s Form PA-60 contains the application and instructions. The form may be downloaded from the department’s website at www.revenue.nh.gov/forms/all-forms.htm. Alternatively, the form may be picked up from the department’s office at 109 Pleasant Street, Concord. Applications are due by April 15th. The Conservation Commission is available to answer your questions pertaining to this important program.
DOCUMENTS
- Ashland Soil Report
- Brochure: “Your Land, Your Options: Working to Maintain the Rural Nature of Ashland for Generations to Come
- “Natural Resources Inventory (Conservation of Natural Resources) (Draft): “This Natural Resource Inventory is the beginning of an evolving document to record our natural resources and plan for a future that includes sensible development and conservation of our rural identity.”
MAPS
- Watersheds, Wetlands & Conservation Lands
- Important Wildlife Habitats
- Farmland Soils & Aquifers
- Land Use
- Milfoil — Lower Squam River
- Milfoil — Upper Squam River
- Squam Watershed Conserved Lands
USEFUL SITES
Grafton County Conservation District www.graftonccd.org
Lakes Region Planning Commission www.lakesrpc.org
NH Association of Conservation Commissions www.nhacc.org
NH Audubon www.nhaudubon.org
NH Department of Environmental Services www.des.nh.gov
NH Division of Forests and Lands www.nhdfl.org
NH Fish and Game www.wildlife.state.nh.us
Pemigewasset River Local Advisory Committee www.lakesrpc.org/prlac/prlacindex.asp
Plymouth State University Center for the Environment www.plymouth.edu/center-for-the-environment/
Society for the Protection of NH Forests www.forestsociety.org
Squam Lakes Association www.squamlakes.org
Squam Lakes Conservation Society www.squamlakes.com
Squam Lakes Natural Science Center www.nhnature.org
UNH Cooperative Extension — Grafton County http://extension.unh.edu/Counties/Grafton/Grafton.htm
MINUTES of the Conservation Commission
2017 Minutes
November 29, 2017 October 25, 2017 September 27, 2017
August 23, 2017 June 28, 2017 May 24, 2017
April 26, 2017 March 22, 2017
February 27, 2017 (Joint Meeting)
February 22, 2017 January 25, 2017
2016 Minutes
December 28, 2016 November 30, 2016 October 26, 2016
September 28, 2016 August 24, 2016 July 27, 2016
June 22, 2016 May 25, 2016 April 9, 2016
March 17, 2016 February 17, 2016 January 20, 2016
2013-2015 Minutes
December 16, 2015 November 11, 2015 June 10, 2015
May 13, 2015 April 8, 2015 March 19, 2015
February 11, 2015 January 14, 2015 December 10, 2014
August 20, 2014 May 21, 2014 April 9, 2014
February 12, 2014 January 8, 2014 February 13, 2013
January 9, 2013