Conservation Commission moving to rein in dogs on public Amherst lands

AMHERST — Rules and regulations for use of conservation land in Amherst are in the midst of being updated by the Conservation Commission, with the possibility that some of the revisions will affect those who bring their dogs onto the town properties and trails.

With the commission’s Land Management Committee reviewing various aspects of conservation land use, including hunting and farming, commissioners are expecting one of the most the emotionally charged discussions to be on dogs, with a required public hearing and then a vote on changes anticipated before the end of the year.

Commission Chairwoman Michelle Labbe told the commission at last Wednesday’s meeting, the first discussion on the topic by the full board, that revisions would rein in impacts on conservation lands while making them safer for all users. With respect to dogs, Labbe said they have big conservation impacts, with dogs off leash having even more impacts.

“We’re trying to make conservation lands accessible for all residents and trying to to balance the use of dogs with the conservation values that they were set aside for,” Labbe said.

Commission member Alex Hoar said enforcement is a huge issue that challenges town officials.

“We have conflicts with dogs, on leash and off leash, making unwelcome contact with people, particularly children,” Hoar said. “We have conflicts between dogs where fights occur.”

It’s a balancing act between writing rules and having them enforced, he said.

Wetlands Administrator Erin Jacque said the land management plan review began about two years ago, explaining that the hope is to have rules and regulations consolidated, with many variations of rules and regulations posted on the town website.

“Part of the whole point of this is to get to a final, complete and succinct version, and eliminate all those old, outdated versions, so we have a solid, enforceable policy and regulation to use in the field to follow,” Jacque said.

Revisiting existing rules and bringing them up to current understanding makes sense as Labbe said conservation land has become increasingly heavily used by people with dogs, a nationwide trend that began during the pandemic and has continued.

Labbe said in revising the rules, the commission is not talking about prohibiting dogs, but honing in on what the exact regulations should be. The draft rules continue to allow dog walking on conservation land, with prohibitions on commercial dog walking.

In addition, no changes are being considered for allowing people to have their dogs off leash at the lower Mill River Recreation Area and Amethyst Brook Conservation Area from sunup to 10 a.m. “That’s what it’s been a for a long time,” Labbe said.

Comments on open space and recreation survey have revealed that dogs, though, remain a flashpoint for many people. But Labbe said no one is tracking how many complaints or incidents are responded to by the animal welfare officer, calling them both “underreported and underrecorded.”

“There are more than anyone would know there to be,” Labbe said. “They sort of get handled under the rug.”

Commission members asked whether the Amherst Dog Park, since its opening two years ago, has reduced the number of people bringing their dogs into conservation areas and using the various trails.

Jacque said there is no evidence pressure has been taken off conservation lands, in part because the site serves a different purpose for people’s pets. “We haven’t really seen a reduction in conservation areas as was originally thought,” Jacque said.

The Land Management Committee will continue to meet to discuss regulations before bringing them to a Conservation Commission public hearing and vote.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.