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Residents ask DRB to protect beaver pond after developer's consultants say no wetlands permit required
Summary
A local resident urged expanded protections for a beaver pond she called a high conservation priority and warned of downstream flood risk if the dam failed; applicant representatives said the state wetland biologist told them no permit was required and the email was added to exhibits.
During the preliminary review hearing for the Norris 9-lot PUD, visitor Jennifer Lovett urged the Development Review Board to add protections for a northern beaver pond and requested an expanded buffer and wildlife protections, including a ban on trapping or hunting near the pond. Lovett told the board the pond was identified by Vermont Fish & Wildlife in 2018 as a "high conservation priority" and said it serves as a drought refuge for wildlife and can moderate downstream flows.
Project engineer Jason Barnard said State wetland biologist Zapata Courage had reviewed the application and "provided confirmation that a wetlands permit is not required for the project," and the board agreed to add that email to the exhibits as Exhibit AA. Board members and applicants discussed management options if the dam fails; Scott Baker suggested prioritizing public safety by lowering water levels in some circumstances, while Lovett recommended installing a "beaver deceiver" to preserve the pond's storm-mitigation benefits.
