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Conservation commission reviews MNAP preliminary report for Poland Range Road parcel
Summary
The Pownal Conservation Commission reviewed a Maine Natural Areas Program preliminary report finding key low-elevation silt/clay and loam soils on the Poland Range Road parcel and noting above-average climate resilience; members asked for color copies to share with the town.
The Pownal Conservation Commission reviewed a preliminary natural-areas report for a town-owned parcel on Poland Range Road at its Jan. 28 meeting, and members agreed the findings merit wider community review.
The report, prepared by the Maine Natural Areas Program (MNAP), states the parcel "contains 51 acres of the Very Low Elevation Silt/Clay and 13 acres of the Very Low Elevation Loam geophysical settings, together occupying ~57% of the parcel," and rates the area "slightly above average or higher for climate resilience" across several modeled scenarios. The minutes note the report includes colored maps and graphs showing attributes such as terrestrial resilience, connectedness, diversity and carbon sequestration capacity.
Matt Welch, a member of the Conservation Commission, said he has been working with Lisa St. Hilaire of MNAP and described her as "very easy to work with and amenable," adding that he believes MNAP studies are provided to towns at no cost. Commission members said it would be useful for the public and other town officials to see color copies of the preliminary report; Dick Hogue offered to arrange copies for Town Hall and Bob Van Milligan suggested commissioners have copies to share with interested parties.
The commission did not adopt any formal policy at the meeting; members asked staff and volunteers to arrange broader access to the MNAP materials so residents and local boards can review the ecological data and maps.
