The New London Conservation Commission has enjoyed another very active year. Much of our work is naturally carried out in the great outdoors, though we meet each month in open session on the third Wednesday at 1:00 PM.

This year we were saddened by the loss of Dr. Edward Parkhurst, a member of the Commission since 1991. We shall miss his unrivalled knowledge and understanding of the town’s natural resources.

There have been a number of personnel changes this year. Vicki Koron and Emma Crane have joined us. Vicki has assumed responsibility for, among other things, the monitoring of water quality at the Philbrick-Cricenti Bog. Emma, with her husband Bob, has taken over the task of easement monitoring from Dick Cavallaro, who has left the Commission but continues to help in many ways. Bob, though not a Commission member, has also added the responsibility for administering trail maintenance activities. This was previously, for several years, the role played by Wayne Warriner, who recently resigned from the Commission to spend more time with family. He will be greatly missed, and we thank him for his many years of service. Another loss was that of Sue Ellen Andrews, a 15-year member and also our chair. Dale Conly has joined us and now fills Sue’s role of monitoring waterfront tree cutting for the Commission and maintaining our link on that matter with the Planning Board. Peter Stanley and Terry Dancy are still with us, both of them now being alternate members. In total, these changes will, we hope, permit us to maintain a more even cycle of appointments and re-appointments.

This year we perambulated the boundaries of three of our four neighboring towns: Sutton, Wilmot, and Springfield, in company with representatives of those towns. These perambulations are mandated by the State and must be completed on a seven year cycle.
Our trail work has been, if anything, even more extensive than in previous years. The Dura Crockett trail has been extended to meet up with the Great Brook trail. A new trail across the Cook, Deming, and Cantor properties has been developed on the high ground above Pleasant Lake, thanks to the efforts of David Cook and other volunteers. Various bridges have been replaced or constructed, including one on the Morgan Hill trail by Eagle Scout Ryan Parsons. Replacement boards have been installed on the Philbrick-Cricenti Bog boardwalk. New or replacement signs have been made and positioned on all trails, thanks to the continuing efforts of Terry Dancy. Work continues, by Terry and Laura Alexander, on the development of a revised town trail map. We hope to have the map available for sale this spring. Trail work requires constant attention, both for maintenance and improvements, and volunteer help is always welcomed.

Ruth White continues her much appreciated work on organizing the winter and spring walks and in posting nature notes at the Bog, Low Plain, and the Town Offices.

The access road at the Phillips Preserve has been cleared and graded. Plans for 2005 involve the selective harvesting of timber and the creation of a small clearing to improve wildlife habitat.

At Low Plain Esther Currier Wildlife Management Area, new duck boxes have been constructed, thanks to George Green, and will be placed shortly. A management plan for the area has been created, approved, and filed with the State Office of Energy and Planning. Beaver continue to be a problem at the Chandler Brook outflow, a problem to be addressed as soon as conditions permit. On the positive side, a beaver that had caused concern in the Kidder-Cleveland area behind the Middle School was eventually trapped and removed.

Respectfully submitted,
Les Norman
Chair