Why are wetlands protected? |
Wetlands are important for the protection of surface and groundwater supplies. They help to prevent storm damage, provide flood control, and provide habitat to fisheries, shellfish and wildlife. Wetlands act as nature's "water purification system" and are extremely vital to a healthy environment.
How do I know if I have wetlands on my property? |
Wetlands in NH are defined by the wetlands vegetation, wetland soils and hydrology. (The scientific study of the properties, distribution, and effects of water on the earth's surface, in the soil and underlying rocks).
Wetlands may only have water in them in the spring or during times of high water, so the identification of plants, soils and hydrology provide the evidence needed to identify wetlands. If you are uncertain whether you have wetlands on your property, contact the WCC and we can help you to make this determination.
What constitutes work “in or near wetlands”? |
Work is any activity which will change the grade of the land or move soil, create mud or silt, or alter the land by building a structure on a site within 100 feet of a wetland or 200 feet of a river.
How are wetlands violations handled? |
If a possible wetlands violation has been reported to the WCC, the WCC will investigate and work with the landowner to resolve the issue. If a solution can’t be worked out, the case will be turned over to the state wetlands regulating authority.
Does Winchester have a town wetlands ordinance? |
Yes, the details can be obtained in the town hall selectman’s office.
Department of Environmental Services Permit applications and intent-to-cut forms can be obtained in the Selectman’s office of the town hall or can be downloaded from the NH DES website. (www.des.state.nh.us/wetlands )
Where does money come from to fund Winchester Conservation Projects? |
In the past, town forests have been logged and the money from selling the timber was deposited to the WCC fund and was used for any expenses. There is still standing timber in town forests and some may be cut when it is mature, under the guidelines and advice of a licensed state forester but the WCC has decided to preserve the majority of our forest lands as open space and to focus on the establishment of trails and the protection of animal habitat in Winchester.
A portion of the change of use tax received by the town is deposited into the Conservation Fund.
The change of use tax is not part of the tax bill that you receive from the town; it is a tax that is levied for taking land out of current use, usually for the purpose of building a house or commercial project. The intent is to use those taxes to balance the drain that development puts on a community’s resources.
Open spaces are good for the municipal bottom line. Studies have shown that people in towns with more open space pay lower taxes than those in more developed communities. Open space costs towns less to provide services for than it generates in tax income, while year-round residential properties cost towns more for service than they generate in income.
Grants from federal, state and private organizations concerned with conservation issues.
Whenever possible and practical, grants are applied for to cover part of the costs of the WCC projects.
Town budget line item (Conservation Commission)
This is part of your tax bill, and makes up about 0.1% of the town budget or 0.025% of your tax bill. It can be used for internal transfers to cover services and supplies by other departments.
Part of this fund is used each year to provide a scholarship to a student to attend Barry Conservation Camp.
How are conservation funds used? |
Past projects
To conserve water and protect water quality
The WCC developed and proposed the Aquifer Protection District, which is a low density overlay district to protect the quality and quantity of drinking water available in Winchester’s aquifer.
To create recreational areas in Winchester
Gardiner Mountain area:
Progress has been made on the rejuvenation of a project begun in 1989 creating a nature trail on Route 10 in an area called Gardiner Mountain Conservation Area. We plan to create a trail guide and trail maps, and identify trees, plants, and habitats with signs. Two trail bridges have been completed and are in place on the trail, thanks to members of Boy Scout Troop #304. We developed a parking area with a paved ramp to Route 10, and had a survey done of the property line to resolve a dispute of over 15 years.
We hired an Antioch student to develop a Prime Wetlands Plan for the wetlands area around wells #1, #2 and #3.
Wulff lot: ( Back Ashuelot Road over the rail bridge)
The WCC hired an Antioch student to develop a site plan for the Wulff property to include involvement of Thayer Middle school students with educational components including habitats, forest trees and plants, wetlands and river .
Winchester River Recreation Area: (adjacent to Winchester Speed Park)
This is a two to three year project with a total project cost of $46,641.
Half of the cost ($22, 321) will come from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. This project involves the acquisition of land bordering the Ashuelot River, with a handicap accessible pavilion, picnic tables, walkways, grass ramp to the river to reach a launching site for canoe, kayak and hover craft ( for fire department emergency rescues on the river ). Some of the funds will come from the Conservation Fund. The amount will depend on donations and in-kind services.
Forest Lake:
The WCC used some of the conservation fund to eradicate Milfoil (an invasive plant) from the lake. The fund was also used to pay the transaction cost of receiving donated waterfront land including a dock on Forest Lake for public use. Canoes and kayaks and other small crafts can be launched there. Picnic tables and benches will be added for use by the public.
The WCC pledged money to the Town Beach Committee to make needed repairs and improvements to the town beach area.
To secure Conservation easements :
Conservation Easements are a practical way for the town and private landowners to protect their environmentally significant land while retaining ownership.
(A conservation easement ensures permanent protection from land use that could damage or destroy scenic, recreational, ecological, open space and natural resource values.) Easements ensure that future generations will benefit from the foresight of others. Population growth is rapidly consuming our natural landscapes and rural community character. There is an urgency to keep what’s left of Winchester’s rural charm that brought so many of us here. We must also protect drinking water, wildlife habitat, and other natural resources before it’s too late.
To buy property, in the name of the town of Winchester, after a Conservation Commission hearing and a Selectboard hearing and with a vote of approval by the Selectboard.
Conservation funds can also be used for matching funds for grants, for paying transaction costs of easements, which could include surveys, title searches, long term monitoring, for educational projects and materials, and to provide for potential future legal enforcement.
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