Commission votes 3-2 to require leashes at Bower Springs
Conservation Board · Meeting of August 18, 2026
Bolton Conservation Commission narrowly approves Bower Springs leash mandate. The board voted 3-2 Tuesday to require leashed dogs at the popular Bower Springs Conservation Area, capping a three-month, commission-ordered data-collection period that failed to resolve the underlying dispute. Chair Brian Barabee joined members Sue Mitra and Jim Garrity in the majority; members Scott Gere and Laurie Stevenson dissented.
Conservation Agent Rebecca told the board 13 violations, including a dog-bite incident that drew a fine, were logged during the trial period, but acknowledged the commission lacks direct data tying dog activity to environmental harm, saying "the answer is no, I don't have that data or evidence." More than a dozen residents spoke during nearly three hours of public comment. The commission also unanimously approved road-paving, trail-reroute, invasive-species-treatment and tree-removal requests at four other Bolton conservation properties, plus a certificate of compliance and new monitoring procedures.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 3,298 words
Source: the Conservation Board meeting of August 18, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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