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Sanbornton conservation members demonstrate iNaturalist to map wildlife crossings
Summary
Commissioners saw a demonstration of the iNaturalist app to document wildlife observations and discussed how data might be aggregated and used to inform development recommendations, while noting the SCC is advisory only.
At the Feb. 12 meeting, member Dave Perry demonstrated the iNaturalist phone app to the Sanbornton Conservation Commission, showing how users can photograph wildlife, upload observations, identify species, and pin locations. Perry walked members through installation and basic data access.
Brandon Deacon asked how the commission could extract data points limited to Sanbornton or Belknap County; Chris Fontenot showed how inputs can be filtered geographically. Karen Bordeau cautioned that the project should remain focused initially to create clean, defensible datasets and suggested opening the project to broader community input once the data is reliable. Don Noyes asked what the end goal would be and who would have authority to halt development in identified wildlife crossings. Brad Crosby noted the SCC can make recommendations but lacks regulatory authority; with robust data, the SCC can make stronger cases to other boards to protect ecologically important areas.
The commission emphasized documentation and credibility as prerequisites before using citizen-science data to guide development recommendations. No formal motion was recorded on Feb. 12.
