HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB 2023-01-31CONSERVATION BOARD
January 31, 2023
Hybrid
Members Present:Gian Dodici (Chair), Bob Beck, Anne Clark, Nancy Munkenbeck, Andrew Miller (until 7:50 PM), Jeanne Grace, Tim Woods, Steve Bissen
Absent: Craig Schutt
Liaisons: Loren Sparling (Town Board)
Guest(s):
The meeting was called to order at 7:05 PM
Review and approval of minutes dated November 29, 2022
On motion made by A. Clark, seconded by T. Woods, minutes were unanimously approved as amended.
Board Updates:
EMC (email update)- The January 12th meeting was an organization meeting. Cait Darfler, the new chair, introduced herself and we spent our time talking about the various subcommittees
that we are expected to join: Unique Natural Areas (UNA), Climate Adaptation, and Education and Outreach. I will be on the UNA Subcommittee. The EMC would also like more interaction
with municipalities.
The December 8th meeting: Don Rakow, Professor at Cornell's School of Integrative Plant Science, gave a presentation called "Nature Benefits Us in So Many Ways".
He talked about how spending time in nature, 2-3 times per week, 30-45 minutes provide benefits to our bodies and mental well-being. Breathing in phytoncides (wood essential oils) from
trees help the body with immune response, they are anti-inflammatory, they enhance mood and relax the nervous system, and help with lowering blood pressure levels. Forest soil compounds
help with serotonin, a neurotransmitter which helps with a feeling of well-being. Professor Rakow also talked about the NatureRxprogram at Cornell where students learn to make time
for nature visits to help with attention and stress.
Town Board- The sad news was relayed that Jim Skaley, Dryden Town Board member, passed away in December. Christina Dravis was sworn in to finish the remainder of J Skaley’sterm. J Skaley’s
memorial will take place in March.
Ag Committee- Cancelled meeting.
Rail Trail- B Beck reported that the Rail Trail was approved by the County to open the Game Farm Road Crossing section of the trail. The road crossing signs are currently on back order.
They are expecting these around March. A celebration/grand opening event will take place sometime in the spring. They are still waiting on the approved design for the bridge over route
13. Construction should start this year.
The board discussed different trees and the cause for the trees to die. Drought, heat, insects, wildlife such as deer, are a big problem for trees. They spoke about plantingblight resistant
American Chestnut trees along the Rail Trail. B Beck is going to bring this up to the Rail Trail Task Force. These trees would be 12-18 inches tall and protecting them from deer will
be important. J Grace will talk with DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) to see if they have trees available. The board talked aboutcoming up with money for tree tubes to protect
the trees from deer and other wildlife.
2023 Planning:It was mentioned that it looks like there is more salt on the road this year. The board is interested to know how the salt levels has changed over time in our water bodies.
Calciumchloridecould be used instead, but it is very expensive. Roxy Johnson from the City of Ithaca is coming next month to talk about the drinking water source protection plan.Invasive
species came up as a potential area of investigation. Invasive species are a concern, but what do you do about them? You can spend a lot of time and effort identifying them, but the
only real affective control of invasive species has been biocontrol. Swallow wortand knotweed get in and takes over spreading rapidly. Effective long term management is very labor intensive
and very costly. It’s a concern and the board talked about if it is tangibly addressable. The town does not have money put aside for invasive species. Repeated mowing does a pretty good
job at controlling the spread and using a knotweed injector. The stems are hollow so if herbicide is injected into the stems, that does a pretty good job. The board will continue to
discuss ditching. Where does DPW put the ditch scrapings? Are they just transporting invasive species?
The board still wants to talk to Dave or Ray about stormwater.
There were over 400 trees planted in 2022 at the solar field on 2150 Dryden Road and the Ellis Tract and the ones that did not survive will be replaced in 2023.
N Munkenbeck said the Conservation Board shouldn’t plant anything that will grow more than 20-30 feet tall. The town should consider view sheds while planting trees.
J Grace is going to come up with a list of short stature, bushy tree/shrubs that will are native and provide decent wildlife habitat. Hawthorns are the first thing that comes to J Graces
mind. She suggested a mix of white pine along with other trees and shrubs be plantedfor different layers.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:20PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Emily Banwell