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Residents urge nonlethal deer management, warn of erosion at boat ramp
Summary
Public commenters urged habitat-management solutions to control deer and suggested engineering fixes for severe shoreline erosion tied to a boat ramp; speakers recommended canopy thinning, trail creation, planting and seawall options.
Two residents used the public-comment period to press the council on conservation and erosion issues. Russ Hornen cited Muscatatuck Wildlife Refuge guidelines and proposed nonlethal strategies such as canopy thinning to encourage ground growth, creating trail edges to promote new browse, and planting fenced-off areas until established. "The Muscatatuck Wildlife Refuge uses an estimate of 15 to 25 deer per square mile," Hornen said to illustrate target-range population densities.
Another resident who identified himself as David noted frequent flooding that undermines planting proposals and questioned the efficacy of planting in flood-prone riverfront areas. Hornen also addressed shoreline erosion tied to an earlier-installed boat ramp and suggested establishing a hard boundary or a parallel seawall to prevent eddies from accelerating erosion. The council did not adopt a new policy at the meeting but noted the concerns for future consideration by public works.
