Conservation Commission

Members:

James Erbaugh, Chair

Kate Bass, Vice Chair

Micki Colbeck, Recording Sec

Mike Hebb, Trails Commissioner

J. T. Horn

Chuck Sherman

Steve Faccio

Gregory McHugo

The group can be contacted at

conservation@straffordvt.org

Meetings are held on the 4th Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM at the Morrill Homestead Education Center.

Mission:

To identify and conserve Strafford’s natural resources, to educate the community about our natural heritage, and to foster local environmental stewardship.

Current Projects: To alert the community to the ecological threats posed by invasive species in general and more immediately by the Emerald ash borer, an invasive insect recently discovered in Orange County which attacks and kills all species of ash tree. To continue efforts to map and classify all the wetlands in Strafford and create an inventory of plant species found in each. To develop a walking trail through the valley between the villages. To correlate the SCC’s Open Space Plan with the new Town Plan.

Strafford Conservation Commission Bylaws

VSA Title 24 Ch. 118 Conservation Commissions

River Corridor Management Plan 10 30 2006

Natural Areas:

Strafford Public Trails System Guidelines

Strafford Conservation Commission: Invasive Plant Control Initiative 2016

Vermont Recreational Trails Statute

Conservation Commission Meeting

The Conservation Commission's next meeting is March 28th, 2023 6:30-7:30 PM at the Morrill Education Center

AGENDA

Welcome, review of notes from last meeting and current meeting agenda
Approval of notes from 12/6/2022
Kiley Briggs on Wood Turtles along the Ompompanoosuc River
SCC Led Hikes Planning
SCC Outreach
1. Lucy Hemingway's growing mallard population
2. Controlling invasives at Jonathan Nedeau’s property
Officer Elections for 2023
Next meeting confirmation

Invasive Species

The following invasive plants are around and in Strafford. Each link has information on these plants and how to help get rid of them from our landscape. Select the block and then click on "go to link" for more information

Buckthron replaces native trees and shrubs in Vermont's forests and fields. It is easy to see in the fall when its dark blue berries cover the tree's branches.
Garlic Mustard invades Vermont's forests and wet meadows. This pant is easy to see in April and May when its white flowers are blooming.
Wild chervil invades Vermont's fields and forests. It is easy to see in May and June when its white flowers are in bloom.
Purple loosestrife invades Vermont's fields, marshes, and bogs. It is easy to see in the summer when its showy magenta blooms are at their peak.
Japanese knotweed invades the banks of Vermont's rivers, streams and lakes. It is easy to see in August when its white flowers bloom.
Goutweed invades Vermont's fields, river edges and floodplain forests. It is easy to see in July when its white flowers are in bloom.