Back to the Town of Woolwich Home PageYOUR WOOLWICH CONSERVATION COMMISSION (WCC)
The Woolwich Conservation Commission (WCC) was established by the Town of Woolwich. WCC's first by-laws were published in 1991.
Purpose
According to the by-laws, as amended in 1996, "...the purpose of the WCC is to promote and protect the Natural Resources of the Town of Woolwich...The WCC may conduct research into local land areas and develop plans to accomplish the purpose set forth above. The WCC's emphasis should be on a broad educational program. The WCC shall cooperate with the elected and appointed boards and committees of the town. The WCC will review all regional, state, and federal natural resources agencies with regard to natural resources regulations imposed by law, and may perform those and other duties as imposed by laws...
Meetings
The WCC meets first and third Wednesday from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the Woolwich Town Hall. Our meetings are public. Residents are welcome to join us.
WCC Members (2006-2009)
Kyle
Beeton
Marla Davis
John Grill (Treasurer)
Doug Hardy
Pat Hennin
Betty King (Secretary)
Doris Nuesse
Steve Taylor (Chair)
Pam Tetley
Contact Us
Leave
a phone message at the Town Hall (207) 442-7094
Write to us at WCC, Woolwich Town Hall, 13 Nequasset Road, Woolwich,
Maine 04579
Email us at woolwichccnewsletter@yahoo.com.
Maine Law Concerning Municipal Conservation Commissions
Maine Law (MRSA Title 30-A Section 3261) allows for municipal conservation commissions to address the following:
Planning (natural resource inventories, open space inventories, conservation and outdoor recreation planning)
Land Acquisition (recommend town land to be acquired under conservation and outdoor recreation plans)
Information and Education
(conduct public information and education programs, cooperate with schools, land trusts, and other groups regarding local and state laws and regulations and related issues)
Land Management and Use (may prepare regulations governing use of lands under WCC control e.g. availability and control of trails, map guides, and respond to reported violations of such)
Pollution Control (identify, monitor, record forms of pollution, coordinate with other groups regarding information and education about problems and solutions)
Our Current Focus in Woolwich for 2006-2007
Our main goal for this year is to complete a draft of an Open Space Plan for the Town of Woolwich, as requested in the town Comprehensive Plan of 1990 ("1990 Growth Management Plan for Woolwich, Maine"). In 2005 we conducted three Open Space Visioning sessions open to all residents of Woolwich. The first and second sessions were held in May, and the third in November. (Watch for link to Open Space Visioning Summary.) We are analyzing that input, putting it together with other data from the 1990 Growth Management Plan, and developing a draft of the Open Space Plan that will eventually go to the Selectmen and be submitted to the appropriate decision-making process.
At the Town Hall, our Secretary maintains a notebook of data and information on the visioning work, including maps generated for and from the sessions.
Concurrently there is
a project afoot to work on trails in the Montsweag area in
conjunction with the Chewonki Foundation and the State. This would be
the beginning of an effort to link the conservation areas on
Merrymeeting Bay and other areas in the future.
Activities and Connections
We welcome volunteer participation in any of our projects. Do you have an additional idea? Come to one of our meetings and talk to us about it.
Development
of an Open Space Plan
Trail work at the Montsweag Preserve and others
Woolwich Days (annually in August)
Working with the Route 1 Bypass Committee
Working with Woolwich Planning Board (WCC helps with site walks)
Working with Sagadahoc Region Rural Resources Initiative (SRRRI) and
the Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association (SVCA)
Mapping
Brochure update (Open Spaces of Woolwich)
Newsletter (CONSERVATION: Learning, Living and Leaving a Legacy)
Nequasset Watershed Survey
Working with the Woolwich Recreation Committee (to be
established)
Working with the Lower Kennebec Regional Land Trust (LKRLT)
Educating ourselves and others about respectful use and conservation
of our natural resources
Encourage construction of protected bike paths and walking
trails
Publications
Open Spaces of Woolwich (brochure published in 2004)
Describes open spaces that have public access. Robert E. Dewick Recreation Area, Nequasset Park, Montsweag Preserve, Robert P. Tristram Coffin Wildflower Reservation, Merrymeeting Bay Wildlife Management Area, Burke Preserve, Lines Island, Hockomock Bay Farm, Lipfert Property, Chapman Property, and Swango Farm.
We expect that you will be respectful of the landowner's privacy and wishes as you enter privately owned land that is partially open for public access. Keep dogs leashed. Watch for signs and designated parking areas.
CONSERVATION: Learning, Living and Leaving a Legacy
Our brand new newsletter. Click on each volume to open.
Summer 2006, Number 1, Volume 1.