Pepperell Conservation Commission Approves Heald Street Wetland Delineation, Weighs Sucker Brook Dam Removal

PEPPERELL — November 14, 2017 — Pepperell Conservation Commission unanimously approved a wetland boundary delineation for a 12-acre Heald Street parcel and opened discussion on a possible dam removal on Sucker Brook. The commission voted to issue an order of resource area delineation for Terry Reese's property, where engineer Jack of Cornerstone Land Consultants presented a plan showing roughly 160 wetland flags placed by Norse Environmental Services; the panel noted that a farm road crossing the wetland would require further engineering in a future Notice of Intent. A lengthy discussion of a proposal by a group called Chapter Unlimited to remove a four-foot dam on Sucker Brook produced no formal vote, with members citing unresolved questions about water temperature data, sediment contamination, brook trout isolation above the dam, and access for removal equipment; cost estimates ranged from an earlier figure of $160,000 to a current estimate of $30,000 to $40,000. The commission agreed to a group site visit the following Saturday before scheduling a public informational meeting, tentatively in February. Members also issued a negative determination allowing Kenneth and Deborah Noah to build a farmer's porch at 71 Mount Auburn Street, issued a certificate of compliance for 48 Elm Street, and approved a $499 security camera bill to monitor conservation land for illegal dumping.