9/3/1987 CONSERVATION COMMISSION Minutes

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h P e e o rt E3 e r v zi-L i o n o ma im 1 JL -n -L .j a o F�' epte Mb 3r 3 , 1 987 COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: V. Louise Behrman, Gertrude Ferriday, Mary arters, Elliot Rosenberg, Joseph Burns , Carol Jacobson , Heather Urquhart. Also Present was John var~ onda, Conservation Officer. 7: 05 P.M. - Gordon r'low of the Army Corps of Engineers came before the Board concerning the flowage easement . Maps of the area were distributed. The area concerned is on the east side of the ammunition dump on the base and consists of a road that used to be called Hollow Road which runs from the base clown a back road . He stated it is an ancient right of way which means anyone has use of it and they are re- questing that they have a right to use it as well . The flow from the base is purely rain water. No operation occurs on the base to put any pollutants in the run-off in thisarea. They are testing the ground water to see that nothing happened in the past to cause any pollution on the way down . It was noted this has nothing to do with the safety easement re- quested by the Air National Guard. Ms Lehrman questioned whether the water samplina to be done 'Would block Hollow Road. Mr. Orlow stated no , only samples would be removed � and taken to a lab. Mrs . Marsters questioned what would be done with the easement. Mr . Orlow stated the normal flow off the base follows the path of the ancient right o way and Hollow Road would be flooded only during heavy rainstorms. The flowage has existed for 30 years, nothing will be than ed at all . An official document is asked to state they have ri ht to do this which has been going on for 30 years. Otis is higher than most of the land to the south of it. The terrain tends to slope down to the ponds so that any runoff from any land above runs to the ponds. Ms Lehrman asked if they were requesting a guarantee from the Commission that the topography along Hollow load would not be cleaned. Mr. Orlow stated they want to be sure the normal course that the water follows will not be changed. There is no maintenance being done on the road now or ever has been and it will not be touched in any way. The road follows the contour of the base, it goes along the periphery of Mr. Lawrence' s land , that of the Commission, then under Back Road through Dr. MacDonald' s land into the bog. This is a course water has been following from the base for at least 30 years. Concern was expressed that the nature of the runoff miSht change. Mr. r 1 ow advised another section to the west is where they have a separator fo.r a drain-off similar to this so that water flow goes through the separator before entering runoff.