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Council adopts minor revisions to management plan for town-owned bridal land and Saucon Pond
Summary
The council accepted proposed updates to the town’s management plan for bridal land and Saucon Pond, including a change to a two‑year mowing rotation instead of three to control woody regrowth; the council noted the adoption matches language previously adopted in 2018 and said broader changes to refuge boundaries would require ordinance action.
The New Shoreham Town Council voted to accept recommended revisions to the management plan for town‑owned bridal land and Saucon Pond, including a change to a more frequent mowing rotation.
Staff and volunteers said Bill Kennelly, who performs mowing, reported woody regrowth under the previous three‑year rotation had become too established by the third year; Kim Gaffett, cited as a local expert, agreed with shifting to a two‑year rotation to maintain the area as meadow. One speaker summarized the proposed change: “What we want to do is every other year on this,” to reduce woody material returning between cuts.
Council discussion clarified that the council was adopting the same language that the council initially adopted in 2018 and that adding all bridal land to the Saucon Pond Wildlife Refuge would be a separate, larger action requiring an ordinance change. A councilor noted the refuge overlay and any formal boundary change would need the town ordinance mechanism, not merely the management plan update.
A motion to accept the management plan changes was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote; the chair announced, “The ayes have it.” Councilors also discussed mowing timing and trade-offs between cutting to control black swallow-wort before it seeds and preserving meadow flowers such as goldenrod and milkweed.
Staff and volunteers said they would monitor fields over the next few years and confer on whether timing should be adjusted, and one councilor suggested formally naming local volunteers as part of a management group could be considered later.
