Meeting Minutes

FINAL

Newbury Conservation Commission

November 14, 2023

Members present: Katheryn Holmes (Chair) Bob Stewart (Vice Chair), Joanne Lord (Select Board Ex Officio), David Rhodes, Alden Beauchemin and John Magee (members)

Invited Guests: Seth Prescott and Albi Fioravante (NH Department of Natural and Cultural Resources)

Called to order at 7:01 pm.

NCC’s general notes about wetlands, alteration of terrain and groundwater permit applications: The water quality, aquatic life and recreation in Beck Brook and Lake Sunapee are major concerns of the NCC. The NCC learned that spray fields are very close to proposed parking lot (#4). Fields are designed to work as groundwater, and removing the groundwater treatment (as wetlands downslope) is problematic to the treatment. Seepage from base of lagoon dams going directly into the brook. No end-of-life plan for lagoons, etc treatment. NCC would like an end-of-life plan and plan for new treatment. Would like a stormwater management plan for the leased area. Who owns the wastewater treatment? Lease states that lessee has to do maintenance. Functions and values of wetlands. Proposed stormwater for parking lot – may help reduce sediment input to Beck Brook but appears to not reduce nutrient inputs to Beck Brook. Also concerned about the piping at base of slope of lagoon dams, which NCC discovered this fall. 1970 is when system was put in. There have been no modifications or upgrades to the system as far as we know. The NCC would like to know the original design parameters for the system and if it is still valid with the increase of use including year round use. NCC has not seen the plans that were submitted to DES for groundwater permit.

Mr. Prescott said he spoke with Phil Trowbridge (administrator with NHDES) about this. Mr. Trowbridge said NCC should speak to the operator. Mr. Prescott said this same concern came up about 15-20 years ago and was checked out at the time. There is some type of testing going on but we don’t know exactly what is being done. Something about downstream of the spray fields. It’s possible that NHDES is going the testing but we are not sure.
Testing: should do a full year. Wondered if things are worse during summer even though ponds are lower then (like how conductivity from road salt is higher in summer). November 27 is deadline for Vail to respond to NHDES re: wetlands application request for more information.

Action Items: Messrs. Prescott and Fioravante will speak with Commissioner Stewart to figure out timeline to do the two bullets below (from the October NCC/Commissioner Stewart meeting). Plan is to get back to NCC in three days.

 Commissioner Stewart will request DNCR lawyers review the lease to determine who is the responsible party for maintenance, upgrades, end-of-life, etc. of the current Wastewater Treatment. (Lagoons and spray fields).
 
 Commissioner Stewart will request with DES Commissioner Robert Scott a joint meeting of DES (wetlands, AOT and groundwater), DNCR, Vail, Horizon, NCC and interested parties to learn of our discoveries and seek mutually agreeable solutions.

The NCC expressed their gratitude for Messrs. Prescott and Fioravante attending the meeting. Mr. Magee moved to adjourn, Mr. Rhodes seconded. Adjourned at 9:30 pm.