On Saturday, we’ll return to the Trescott Water Company lands for a winter tour of the working woods. Space is limited, so this is a members-only tour. Members of Trescott Co. board and Hanover Select Board and Conservation Commission are also invited. Two spaces left- contact us before noon Friday. MORE
Tour the Trescott Water Company Lands!
Coming up next: our tour of the hundreds of acres behind the fence protecting Hanover’s drinking water supply on Saturday, October 20. This special trip, led by the foresters charged with managing these sensitive lands, is for Hanover Conservancy members. Registration is now closed. We hope you’ll join us next weekend for our Hanover Town Forest Bike & Hike. MORE
Position Letter on Water Works Municipalization
(also available in PDF format)
October 22, 2009
Dear Council Members and Supporters:
There is an important community discussion taking place that may impact one of the largest, undeveloped and ecologically significant tracts remaining in Hanover – the watershed land surrounding the Hanover Water Works Company. At recent public meetings, the community has expressed keen interest in this land, its protection, and in potential public use. The Council has long advocated for the protection of this land, with consideration of passive public use.
We support the vision in the Hanover Master Plan and Open Space Priorities Plan for greater protection of the Water Company lands. The 1400 acres of watershed land feed the surrounding drinking water reservoirs. Based on size and location, the land supports well-managed forests, prime wildlife habitat, and excellent agricultural soils. It offers crucial connectivity between Lords Hill, Oak Hill and the Appalachian Trail.
The Hanover Conservation Council is concerned that there is not adequate long-term protection of the essential watershed lands against future development.
- There are no federal level regulations that protect the land
- There are limited state-level statutes which, at most, provide protection up to 250 from the reservoir shorelines.
- The local zoning is not permanent and is not the most restrictive. The “forestry and recreation” zoning allows seasonal dwellings and only needs a town vote to be reversed into a zoning category which could lead to the development of the land.
Therefore, while we consider the proposed 50/50 ownership structure of the new land holding company an improvement over the current structure, we believe more needs to be done to achieve long-term conservation of this land and water resource for our town.
We wanted to let you know that following the town vote to consider municipalization of the Water Company, the Council will continue to actively work to bring together community representatives in hopes of beginning to facilitate a long range plan for the future conservation of this land. Our goals will be to increase our collective knowledge and understanding, and to encourage community dialogue about future conservation options and public uses. The findings will be open for public discussion and will help guide sound decision-making for the future of the watershed lands.
We urge you to join us in advocating for the long-term permanent protection of this critically important land.
Sincerely
Betsy McGean
President
Gail McPeek
Lands Committee Chair
Good Plan for Hanover Water
Valley News – Sunday, May 10, 2009 – page E2
Forum – Letters to the Editor
To the Editor:
The Hanover Conservation Council, a private non-profit organization incorporated in 1963, supports the current proposal before voters on May 12 to consider municipalization of the Hanover Water Works Company (HWWC). The proposal includes a new Town of Hanover and Dartmouth College equal ownership structure (50:50) of a reconstituted land management company. Currently the Town holds a 47.2% owner interest in the HWWC and its land (the College has 52.8%).
We believe that the proposal to municipalize the water company is a significant step forward in terms of equal ownership of the land resource. Focus on this proposal also offers an excellent opportunity to explore the permanent long-term protection of the watershed land. We are concerned that local ordinances and current zoning do not provide adequate long-term protection of the essential watersheds against future development. The Council strongly agrees with the Town of Hanover’s Master Plan (2003) and Open Space Priorities Plan that this land should be permanently protected.
The 1440 acres of watershed land in question, which feed the surrounding drinking water reservoirs, comprise the largest undeveloped and ecologically-significant tract remaining in Hanover. Based on both size and location, the land supports well-managed forests, prime wildlife habitat, and excellent agricultural soils. It offers crucial connectivity between Lord’s Hill, Oak Hill and the Appalachian Trail.
The community has also expressed keen interest in this land, its protection, and in potential public use. Now is the time to engage in an open dialogue to explore available conservation options. We propose that the Council, Town of Hanover, Dartmouth College and interested citizens work in partnership to plan for protection of this critical watershed land for everyone’s benefit far into the future. In the meantime, the proposal to municipalize the water company and equalize the ownership of the land resource is an advance toward longer-term conservation goals. Visit the Council website to learn more about this important resource in our community (www.hanoverconservation.org)
Betsy McGean
President, Hanover Conservation Council
Molly Donovan
Executive Director, Hanover Conservation Council
Hanover Preps for Water Works Vote
Some in Hanover Fret Over Open Space on Eve of Water Works Vote
By Susan J. Boutwell
Valley News Staff Writer
HANOVER – Residents say they don’t know enough about a plan that would have the town take over the private, $20 million Hanover Water Works Co., a proposal that goes before Town Meeting voters on Tuesday.
Some say the lack of information available on the proposed municipalization of the drinking water system has persuaded them to vote against the plan.
However, supporters say there’s plenty of time to develop the details, which would have to be drawn up before a second town vote – tentatively set for fall – could seal the deal.
“There is simply not enough here to say yes to,” said resident Robin Carpenter.
But resident Jim Hornig disagreed. He said he’s confident details will be forthcoming.
“I guess I have some faith in the process,” Hornig said.
And it’s not just residents taking sides.
The town’s Conservation Commission is withholding support for the proposal while the private, nonprofit Hanover Conservation Council supports it.
Water Company Land Position Statement
Position Statement on the Municipalization of the Hanover Water Works Company:
The Board of Directors of the Hanover Conservation Council, at a meeting on April 27, 2009, unanimously adopted the following summary and position statement regarding the municipalization of the Hanover Water Works Company.
POSITION STATEMENT:
The Hanover Conservation Council supports the proposal to consider municipalization of the Hanover Water Works Company and the new 50:50 ownership and governance structure of a reconstituted land management company.
The Council believes the open discussion of the proposal is an important step forward and provides the opportunity to explore future possibilities for stronger land protection, consistent with the Council’s mission and the stated aims of the Town Master Plan and Open Space Priorities Plan.
