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Lyme conservation commission advances choice of conservancy partner for Town Forest
Summary
The commission discussed proceeding with a permanent conservancy for the Town Forest and agreed the Management Plan (7–10 years) should be developed interactively with the conservancy document; Northeast Wilderness Trust (NEWT) and Upper Valley Land Trust are being considered.
At its May 4 meeting, the Lyme Conservation Commission discussed next steps toward placing the town-owned Town Forest under a conservation easement and selecting a partner trust to hold that easement. Meg Sheehan, a commission member, said she has been in email contact with Jon Leibowitz, CEO and president of the Northeast Wilderness Trust and noted Upper Valley Land Trust already serves as trustee for several town properties.
The commission agreed that three planning documents will need to align: a permanent Conservancy document to establish enduring protections, a Management Plan that frames a seven- to ten-year vision for forest stewardship, and short-term operational plans for episodic projects (for example, debris removal after wind events or invasive-plant control). Members said the Management Plan should be developed first but in close consultation with whichever trust the town selects so the documents are consistent.
Commission members discussed allowable uses and protections during planning. Meg Sheehan said NEWT favors preserving natural processes while recognizing a range of human uses; the list of potential uses the commission discussed included hiking, overnight camping under permit, permitted hunting, and approved scientific research. John Biglow cautioned the commission to account for existing recreational traditions, noting a referenced Vermont court ruling had protected long-established snowmobile use in a different context, prompting the group to request maps of snowmobile trails and other long-established uses before attempting to set strict prohibitions.
No formal vote to select a conservancy trust was taken at the meeting; members expressed a desire to proceed promptly with planning so an application and supporting materials can be ready in the next fiscal year. Blake Allison, the commission chair, said members should review example conservancy documents and consult trust staff as the Management Plan is drafted.
