Conservation commission updates Turey Pond monitoring, beaver flow work and seeks trail inventory; board approves nearby river parcel purchase

Sandy Crystal, representing the Bow Conservation Commission, told the Board of Selectmen on Sept. 23 that her committee has expanded to five full members and is carrying multiple stewardship projects, including water-quality monitoring at Turey Pond, trail work and beaver management.

Crystal said the townthrough volunteers in the New Hampshire DES volunteer lake assessment programsampled Turey Pond three times over the summer (June, July and August). The committee recorded a first documented cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) bloom in a limited area of an inlet; she said the bloom did not cover the whole pond but raised "concerns" about water quality. The commission also monitored elevated chloride levels in one inlet near the school area and proposed investigating whether roadway or parking-lot runoff is a source.

The commission reported that an invasive variable milfoil treatment occurred this summer. Crystal said the town received a partial reimbursement from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services that covered 50% of the eradication cost.

On beaver management, Crystal described a beaver-flow device installed in December near South Bow/Dunbarton Road by Skip Lyle to reduce flood risk at a culvert. She said the commission recommends the town consider dedicating funds to pay professionals to install beaver flow devices where needed; Crystal quoted a rough professional installation cost of about $2,000 to $4,000 per device but noted that several grant programs can offset some or all of that cost. The commission suggested Public Works could continue interim work but that projects requiring specialized installation should be budgeted for professional contractors.

Crystal said the commission plans to apply to DES for a seasonal detour permit at Robertson Trail to avoid heavy infrastructure (culverts/stone) and that it is seeking consultant proposals for that work. She also asked the selectmen to support a townwide trail inventory; the commission said it could contribute but that trails cross multiple ownerships and departments and would need broader town funding and coordination.

Land protection: the conservation commission presented a proposed purchase of a 10.3-acre parcel on the Merrimack River (11 Prairie Road) to the board. The selectmen voted to approve acquisition of the parcel for $100,000; the commission said the parcel has roughly 1,500 feet of river frontage, a mix of forest and riparian habitat, and is identified in regional conservation plans as having high ecological value. The commission said the town's appraisal placed a higher value ($167,000) than the negotiated purchase price; the packet calls for a phase-1 environmental assessment as a condition of closing and allows time for any follow-up investigation.

Why it matters: the commission's water-quality monitoring and invasive-species work protect recreation and ecological health at a community pond, while the new river parcel increases conserved riparian habitat and may provide future wildlife benefits. Funding for beaver devices and a trail inventory would require allocation by the selectmen or inclusion in the capital plan.

Ending: The selectmen approved the purchase of the Merrimack-river parcel and thanked the conservation commission for its stewardship work. The commission will follow up on grant applications and seek consultant proposals for the Robertson Trail permit work.