Town of Hampton - Lane Memorial Library

- CONSERVATION COMMISSION -
The members of the Conservation Commission bring a wealth of
knowledge, expertise and experience to the Town of Hampton in the
following ways: Bachelor of Arts from the University of New
Hampshire; several members own their own businesses; one member is
an engineer; one member is a doctor; some members have their
commercial fishing and hunting licenses; one member has a degree is
forestry from the University of New Hampshire; and one member is a
marine biologist. The number of hours each member puts in each varies,
but averages around 10 hours per week for each member. The members
also work on writing grants, and volunteering the number of hours
required to match the grants received.
This year has been extremely busy for the members of the Conservation Commission. The
Commission holds monthly meetings on the fourth Tuesday of every month and site visits the
Saturday prior to the meeting. Over the past year we have met with over 19 applicants for
Department of Environmental Services Dredge and Fill permits, and over 30 applicants for Town
Wetlands Impact Special Permits, conducted 65 site visits, advised both the State Wetlands Board and
the Town Planning Board on all of the applications, and done over 9 site visits for demolition permits,
recommendations and advice.
For the past ten years Commission member Bonnie Thimble has overseen the Town of Hampton’s
Victory Garden for the Conservation Commission. Through Bonnie’s tenure the garden has flourished
and prospered. We thank Bonnie for her devotion to the Garden and its tenants. This year Bonnie has
stepped down and Cindy Willis has graciously taken up the responsibility. The garden provides plots
for any resident of Hampton.
We have finalized the Prime Wetlands Study with the Town of Hampton Falls and will come to the
2008 Town Meeting with legislation to designate the Salt Marsh as state Prime Wetlands. Anyone
interested in looking at the study may contact the Town Planning office or the Conservation
Commission.
We also finalized our Marsh Restoration Prioritization study and have begun restoration projects with
over $80,000 in matching funds through the WHIP program with the Department of Agriculture. The
two marsh restoration projects are located at Landing Road and Drakeside Road and will entail
phragmites control and will increase flow to decrease mosquito breeding areas.
The conservation easement on Drakeside Road was finalized
this fall and should be open to the public in 2007 for wildlife
observation. Also available for public access is the small
town beach in Hampton Harbor off of Harbor Road. Beach
access is along a board walk from the road; a small
observation platform nearby is also open to the public.
Before the end of this coming year we hope to finalize
purchase of a lot owned by the late Ms. McRae off of
Barbour Road leading up to the Twelve Shares Area. We
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Hampton Salt Marsh