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Conservation Commission to plant at Jackson Falls, flags increased erosion risk from shifting snow-on-rain events
Summary
Commissioners discussed spring plantings at Jackson Falls coordinated with bridge construction, noted guardrails may reduce slope foot traffic, and raised erosion concerns after a Mount Washington Observatory intern study suggested snow-on-rain events have shifted from mid-November into December, increasing potential damage to frozen ground and undersized culverts.
Commissioners said they will continue planning spring plantings at Jackson Falls and coordinate timing with the bridge contractor as construction finishes. Pam Smillie reported she sent photos of potential erosion problem areas to designer Burr Phillips and will continue monitoring for flow-modeling results, which have not yet been returned.
Commissioner Ben Halcyon flagged preliminary research from Mount Washington Observatory weather interns indicating that snow-on-rain events have shifted later in the season—from mid-November toward December—heightening the risk of destructive runoff when the ground is frozen and snowcover is insufficient to absorb rain. Commissioners noted that such timing shifts can increase erosion and stress undersized culverts; they discussed the new guardrails along Valley Cross Road as a partial deterrent to foot traffic that had been contributing to bank erosion.
Commission also noted related site concerns at Prospect Farm (orchard maintenance) and at Ballantine Landing access where icy conditions have led to cars sliding into recent ditching; the commission flagged winter maintenance and parking safety for follow-up.
