Norfolk’s Natural Resources Inventory makes its appearance

By Veronica Burns

It’s back to school time, and a good book to go back there with is the new Natural Resources Inventory, which is now available and is a valuable research tool. This 126-page scientific, but readable, document boasts 11 chapters, 10 appendices, lots of GIS maps and many useful listings of Norfolk’s flora and fauna. There are colorful images of wildflowers (one example is Wild iris) and many cute frogs (particularly the Northern spring peeper) as well as images of trees, vines and birds. “The Inventory attempts to convey what our town’s resources are and to explain why they are important,” says Conservation Commission member, Sue Frisch. “It covers geography and geology, weather, soils, water and aquatic life, plants, wildlife, areas of ecological importance and open space, as well as scenic and historic resources.” The project began four years ago, when the town of Norfolk created a subcommittee to operate under the auspices of the Inland Wetlands Agency. From that, the town further appointed a Conservation Commission and this is the group who produced the Inventory. Frisch says it is the Commission’s hope that the information in the Inventory “will help town officials and agencies, and every individual, to appreciate and value the resources Norfolk is fortunate enough to have.” She also points out that there are missing parts and that the process will be an ongoing one and so the group will welcome any input. “We invite people to help us gather more information for publication.” A full copy of the Inventory is posted on the town Web site (www.norfolkct.org) and can be viewed there. A limited number of copies are available at the Norfolk Corner and at the town clerk’s office in Town Hall, for $25 each. When those are sold out, the Commission will take orders and have more copies printed.