Vassalboro conservation commission discusses two parks

by Mary Grow

At their Nov. 12 meeting, Vassalboro Conservation Commission members again discussed the two parks for which they are responsible, Monument Park, in East Vassalboro, and Eagle Park, a short distance north on Main Street and Outlet Stream.

For Monument Park, commission chairman Holly Weidner and member Steve Jones plan to ask the Vassalboro select board to approve a grant application for buffer plantings to help protect China Lake. The application is to include requests for money for signage and for the first two years’ maintenance.

For future years, Weidner proposed including maintenance money in the commission’s annual budget. She and Jones plan to have the buffer area marked off, probably with a row of rocks, so the public works employees who mow the park won’t accidentally mow it.

In Eagle Park, Jones has been working with town trails committee chairman John Melrose to put identifying labels on the different kinds of trees. Jones said Melrose has labeled many; he is lacking a few labels, and three additional trees need to be planted next spring to go with labels Melrose has.

In other business, Weidner summarized information from the recently-released Webber Pond watershed survey report. Property-owners whose property has non-point pollution sources (like run-off from driveways and other impervious surfaces) have been notified.

(The Town of Vassalboro is on the list of property-owners; see the Nov. 6 issue of The Town Line, p. 3.)

The report said that Webber Pond’s annual fall draw-down, aimed at flushing out algae, is finished. The dam boards have been replaced to allow the lake to return to its normal winter level.

The conservation commission is short two members. Anyone interested in becoming a member is invited to contact the town office.

Weidner recommends people curious about responsibilities attend commission meetings or watch the recordings on the town website, Vassalboro.net. To see the most recent meeting, go to the agenda (agendas are below the calendar on the main page) and click on the invitation to watch the meeting via YouTube.

The next Vassalboro Conservation Commission meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, in the town office meeting room.