Gary Dickerman, Chair
Claremont Conservation Commission
To the N.H. Fish & Game Department,
Another Memorial Day Weekend has come and gone and as usual, our access to the Connecticut River is, well- not accessible. This of course is not unusual, in fact it’s the norm.
Have I contacted the boating-access director at Fish & Game? No. I already know that the state has other priorities, a limited budget and lack of manpower, all the same excuses we’ve heard before (does not apply to the Lakes Region).
After years of continued neglect by the state, boaters in the area know that they need to launch somewhere else (Springfield, Vermont, a short drive away in a state that actually cares and funds access).
I know that city officials met with the Fish & Game Department last year and there may be “something in the works” regarding future improvements to the launch- at least that was last years’ line of b.s. My feeling is that the state prefers to let the launch continue to “silt-in”, overgrow with knotweed, and fade from memory. It’s working!
Gary Dickerman, Chair
Claremont Conservation Commission
Mr. Dickerman,
Thank you for your time to contact the Department with your concerns.
As you recognized, the Department has many priorities to balance, especially in the spring when all the access points need to open at the same time. On behalf of the Department I apologize that the Ashley Ferry ramp was not dredged prior to Memorial day. We do our best with the limited resources we have and the uncontrollable limitations the weather presents to us each year.
I wish a representative of the Conservation Commission could have attended the meeting last year with many of the other city officials about the status of Ashley Ferry. At that meeting it was stated that Ashley Ferry would be the next boat access area to be refurbished after two longstanding projects are completed. They include the refurbishment of the only public access to Lake Winnipesaukee at Downing’s Landing and the installation of a dock at the north country access to Lake Umbagog. The fidelity to this commitment is evidenced by the Department’s completion of a site survey last fall of the Ashley Ferry facility in order to create a site plan (base map) to support the design effort. We are in the process of requesting additional engineering funds through the Governor and Executive Council review procedure to pay for the design work this fall.
Although not a permanent solution the knotweed at Ashley Ferry was cut back last year. We will address its presence at the ramp as part of the refurbishment plan. Unfortunately, this invasive plant is “replanted” with every flood from materials carried by the river.
The Umbagog dock project will be completed by mid-June and Ashley Ferry is the next project on the schedule.
Please contact me if you require additional details.
Thank you again for your comments.
Sincerely,
Garret Graaskamp, P.G.
Coordinator, NHFG-SPBAP
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