Open Space Preservation, Management, and Maintenance
The Open Space Committee and the Open Space Coordinator work in concert toacquire and manage open spaces in Lyme. The Open Space Committee is an appointedTown advisory body that endeavors to proactively identify and evaluateopen space acquisition opportunities throughout the Town. The Town’s existingopen spaces are managed and maintained by the Open Space Coordinator, a parttime Town position that was established in 2005. The Open Space Coordinatorregularly attends Open Space Committee meetings, and both entities coordinatetheir activities through the Board of Selectmen.The work of the Open Space Committee is guided by the Lyme Plan of Conservationand Development, which outlines the ecological, aesthetic, cultural andrecreational values that the residents of Lyme have identified as being importantto the protection of the town’s conservation values. Certain characteristics suchas size, location, ecological or cultural significance, natural features (geology,etc.), suitability for multiple use (such as the ability to accommodate an affordablehousing lot), and recreational potential are taken into account when theOpen Space Committee evaluates the desirability of a particular parcel.The feasibility of an initiative is as important as its desirability, so the OpenSpace Committee also works to ensure that the appropriate parties are “at thetable” when a project is undertaken. In some instances the Town’s interests arebest served through partnerships with the State, other towns, and/or non-profitgroups like the Lyme Land Conservation Trust and the Nature Conservancy. Inother cases, it may be most advantageous for the Town to act alone. When theCommittee determines that an initiative to purchase or otherwise protect a desirableproperty is properly structured, feasible, and in the best interests of theTown, it works as an advocate to bring the initiative before the Town’s leadership,and ultimately to you to vote on at a Town Meeting.The Open Space Committee has provided input to the Eightmile River Wild andScenic Coordinating Committee concerning our willingness to establish a longterm, cooperative working relationship with the Eightmile effort.In 2008 – 2009 the Open Space Committee consisted of Paul Armond, TempBrown, John Feeney, Tony Irving, Ralph Lewis, Parker Lord, Lucius Stark and BobWinslow. It meets on the last Tuesday of the month, 7:00 PM at Town Hall. Wewelcome and encourage your input and participation.
From July 2008 through June 2009 the Town’s Open Space Coordinator continuedto focus on: managing and maintaining Hartman Park, the Jewett Preserve (withThe Nature Conservancy, TNC), and Mt. Archer Woods/Eno Preserve (with theLyme Land Conservation Trust, LLCT). In addition the Coordinator continued toadminister the hunting program.Hunting ProgramThe systematic and consistent process that was developed for granting permissionfor hunting deer on selected Town and LLCT properties continued in 2008 -2009. This process required that hunters using firearms request permission twoweeks ahead of the start of deer hunting season and attend a mandatory meetingto receive permission to hunt deer. The process limited the number of individualshunting deer at one time on particular properties and required signs to beposted on properties where permission to hunt had been granted. Permits forhunting deer (with bow), goose and turkey were granted as requested until themaximum number per property was achieved.A total of 179 hunting permits were issued in 2008 – 2009 to 82 different individuals
to hunt on seven different properties in Town. Of these, 117 permits were issuedto 39 individuals that requested hunting deer with rifle or shotgun in thethree properties managed as a unit on Mount Archer: Mt. Archer Woods, Eno Preserveand Jewett Preserve. To provide hunting opportunities to as many individualsas possible on these properties, individuals were combined in groups of 3 –5 individuals and each group was assigned specific dates to hunt. For comparison,in 2007, 159 permits were issued to 62 individuals with 69 permits being issuedto 23 individuals to hunt deer with rifle or shotgun in the Mount Archerarea. Permits were also issued for hunting deer with a muzzleloader, for huntinggoose in the fall of 2008 and for hunting turkey in the spring of 2009.Every hunter requesting a deer permit was given a postcard to voluntarily reportthe number of deer taken. Of the cards that were issued, 23 cards were returned,reporting 7 deer taken for 111 hunter-days of effort. For comparison, in 2007, 15
cards were returned, reporting 79 hunter-days and 7 deer taken.
Open Space Management / Maintenance
Hartman Park
Usage
This Park was more heavily used than any other of the Town’s open spaces. Atotal of 453 people reported using Hartman Park from July 2008 – June 2009 vs.476 during the same period last year. Because not everyone signs the log book, itis likely that 2 – 3 times that number actually used the Park’s facilities. The mostpopular activity was hiking, followed by visiting the fairy village, bird/wildlifewatching, letterboxing/geocaching and biking. Although many visitors were local(East Lyme/Niantic, 22%; Old Lyme, 15%; Montville/Oakdale, 5%; Salem, 5%;Norwich, 4%; Waterford, 4%, Lyme/Hadlyme 4%), 18% were from other towns inConnecticut and 6% were from out of state.
MaintenanceThe following maintenance was completed in Hartman Park. Humphrey Tylerrepainted the School Room bulletin Board and Tom Bischoff mowed the field.
Jewett Preserve
This Preserve is managed jointly by the Town and The Nature Conservancy(TNC) under a recently developed management plan, which still needs final signatures.This past winter Tom Bischoff, under contract with the Town and TNC,mowed the field in the Preserve and removed a substantial number of autumnolive and other invasive shrubs. The plants were placed in bush piles in andaround the field. The largest pile is at the low end of the field and can be seenfrom the path. Parker Lord mowed the hunter entrance in the fall and he and MacGodley cleared several trees from the trails in the spring.From July 2008 to June 2009 a total of 252 people reported using the Preserve as
compared to 367 in the same period last year. Because not everyone signs the logbook, it is likely that 2 – 3 times that number actually used the Preserve. Themost popular activity was hiking, followed by bird/wildlife watching, letterboxing/geocaching, running and dog walking. Most visitors were local (Lyme/Hadlyme,24%; Old Lyme,13%; East Lyme/Niantic, 6%; East Haddam, 6%;Montville/Oakdale, 2%; Colchester, 2%; Old Saybrook, 2%); 16% were from othertowns in Connecticut and 11% were from out of state.
Mt. Archer Woods/Eno Preserve
These two abutting properties are at the top of Mount Archer and across theroad from the Jewett Preserve. They are managed jointly by the Town and LLCT.In 2008-2009 Parker Lord cleared several trees from the trails.
From July 2008 – June 2009, 146 people signed the Mt. Archer Woods log book vs.284 during the same period last year. Because not everyone signs the log book, itis likely that 2 – 3 times that number actually used the Woods’ facilities. Themost popular activity was hiking, followed by dog walking, bird/wildlife watching,and biking. Most visitors were from Lyme/Hadlyme, (40%), Old Lyme (19%),East Lyme/Niantic (3%), Waterford (3%), New London (3%, and East Hampton(3%); 14% were from other towns in Connecticut and 5% were from out of state.
Trail map and Information Kiosks
A new map, “River to Ridgetop”, has joined the “Trails of Lyme” series. Using it,hikers can easily navigate from Macintosh Road on trails through the PleasantValley, Jewett, Mount Archer Woods, Eno and Pickwick’s Preserves to JoshuatownRoad. It was a joint effort of the Lyme Land Conservation Trust (Mary Guitar)and the Town of Lyme (Linda Bireley) and would not have been possiblewithout Lisa Reneson’s skills and knowledge. This map replaces the individualmaps covering these Preserves. Copies are available at Lyme Town Hall and maybe downloaded from Reneson was also instrumental in updating and refreshing the informationdisplayed on the kiosks and bulletin boards at the Jewett Preserve, MountArcher Woods, and Hartman Park.
Respectfully submitted,
Ralph Lewis, Chair, Open Space Committee
Linda E. Bireley, Open Space Coordinator