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Commission presses for school buffer follow‑up, funds invasive‑species work and readies easement plans
Summary
Hollis Conservation Commission members pressed for follow‑up on monitoring reports that flagged encroachment near the Hollisbrookline High School wetland buffer, discussed invasive‑species treatments (buckthorn, phragmites) including permitting and potential grants, and confirmed the Birch Hill easement recording while planning next easement priorities.
Commission members used the May 20 meeting to highlight two recurring conservation priorities: enforcing wetland easement conditions (including at the Hollisbrookline High School) and expanding invasive‑species treatment across several town parcels.
On monitoring reports, the commission said Craig Burch's annual walks documented renewed encroachment of cleared areas toward the wetland buffer near the high‑school baseball batting cage. Chair (speaker 3) said the easement requires monitoring of the water quality adjacent to athletic fields; members discussed requesting updated water tests and agreed to raise the issue with the school leadership. "We should take Craig's thing right to the superintendent," one member said, while others advocated a positive, stakeholder approach and suggested bringing the athletic director, principal or superintendent into a meeting to reestablish expectations.
On invasive species, members reported site walks and an assessment from contractor Eric Radloff (referenced). The plan calls for treatment on six parcels in 2026, targeted herbicide applications where permitted by NH DES, and work on shoreline buckthorn and potentially extensive phragmites removal at the Law parcel. Radloff's aquatic phragmites recommendation could exceed $10,000; members discussed applying for Moose Plate and other grants to fund larger treatments and agreed to develop a cohesive grant‑ready plan.
The commission also reported that the Birch Hill Conservation Easement is recorded and final, and discussed easement template language for town‑owned vs. privately owned parcels, stressing the need to state each easement's primary purpose (agriculture, forestry, wildlife preservation) so future clause selection is defensible.
Why it matters: Monitoring and invasive‑species work directly affect the ecological integrity of conservation parcels and the commission's ability to enforce easement terms. The commission plans targeted outreach to the high school and to seek grant funds for larger invasive‑control projects.
Next steps: staff or volunteers will request updated water tests from the school, invite school facilities staff to discuss buffer encroachment, pursue cost estimates and permitting for phragmites removal, and develop grant applications for 2027 funding cycles.
