About Us
The Brentwood Conservation Commission was established
at the March 1967 Town Meeting in accordance with RSA 36:A to assist in protecting the natural resources of the town. The
Commission advises and makes recommendations for the protection, development
and utilization of the local natural resources and open space.
Conservation Commissions have two broad
responsibilities. The first is to consult with and advise the NH DES on permit
applications to do work in or near wetlands in town. The second is to advise
the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment on matters pertaining to
wetlands or water-related zoning overlay districts and site plan reviews.
The
Conservation Commission advises the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment, as well as the NH Department of Environmental Services Wetlands Bureau
(NH DES).
Meetings
Meetings are typically held the second Wednesday of the month at 6:30pm at the Town Office.
Membership
The Conservation Commission has a total of up to 12 members:
- 6 voting members are appointed by the Conservation Commission and approved by the Selectboard to serve three-year terms, on a staggered basis
- 1 voting member is a representative from the Selectboard
- up to 5 alternates are appointed by the Conservation Commission and approved by the Selectboard to serve three-year terms
Important Documents & Resources
Visit the Conservation page for resources on how to participate in conservation efforts.
The following reports can be found on the Town Document Center as well as additional documents, maps, and brochures of interest to residents.
Reports:
Brentwood Recreation Center Stewardship Plan
Pickpocket Road Conservation Area Stewardship Plan
South Road Property Stewardship Plan
Town Owned Lands Improvement Project
Affiliations
The Conservation Commission is a member of the The New Hampshire Association of Conservation Commissions (NHACC).
Project Highlights
The Commission sponsors the annual Town Clean-Up Day in recognition of Earth Day (2011-present), recruits volunteers to assist in various projects including maintaining town trails in collaboration with the Trails Committee, and completes over 20 annual easement surveys.
2015
- $19,000 NHDES Water Supply Protection grant to hire Truslow Resource Consulting to assist in a review of the town’s regulations that protect aquifers, shorelands and wetlands.
- Hired Moosewood Ecological LLC to create land management plans for three large town owned properties including land at the Recreation Center, on South Road and on Pickpocket Road.
- $80,000 NHDES 319a Grant with UNH Stormwater Center to install new green stormwater management projects at Town Office, Town Highway Shed, and Swasey Central School
2014
- $40,000 Green infrastructure grant through the Southeast Watershed Association to install rain garden at the Mary E. Bartlett Library
2013
- Donation of conservation easement from Jody Kaufman and Roger Goun
- $1 million dollar grant through the Federal Wetlands Restoration Program coordinated by the Southeast Land Trust of NH to protect the properties owned by the Pilgrim Church, an adjacent property owned by Ahlgren, the Dodge property adjacent on Middle Road, and property on Rowell Road owned by Nisbet.
- Established relationship with Southeast Land Trust of NH for annual monitoring of 21 town easements
2012
- $125,000 grant from NHDES for Exeter River Buffer and Stormwater Management Project along Rowell Road West and Haigh Road including bank restoration, new stairs for easy river access, over 100 plants and trees, and a conservation easement on the Wilson property.
- Volunteers helped with restoration efforts along the Exeter River including installation of the access stairs, planting trees and shrubs and planting grass along the entire roadway to enhance the buffer.
2011
- Open Space bond authority extended at Town Meeting for two years until 2013.
- Conserve Lawrence Lyford’s Creamery Brook Farm on Middle Road. Owners Kate and Jeff Donald to operate organic Stout Oak Farm on property.
- Volunteers clean up along the Exeter River at road crossings and by canoe and kayak
2009
- Fourteen highest functioning wetlands in town designated as Prime Wetlands at town meeting and accepted by NH Department of Environmental Services
- $9,000 Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership grant to create Stormwater Management Ordinance. Adopted at 2010 Town Meeting.
2008
- Land Use Regulations that Protect Critical Water Resources created and distributed with grant funds from the New Hampshire Estuaries Project
- Open Space bond authority extended at town meeting for two years until 2011. $4 million in land already protected with $1.2 million left on Open Space Bond
2003
- $2 million open space bond approved at Town Meeting. Leveraged into protecting over $6 million in land