NASHUA – The drinking water supply for residents of Nashua and its surrounding communities has been protected through a conservation easement on 218 acres of land owned by the Pennichuck Corporation on the north side of Pennichuck Brook, the boundary between the City of Nashua and the Town of Merrimack.
The Society for the Protection of N.H. Forests (Forest Society) purchased the easement, which protects the property from future commercial and residential development, in partnership with the Department of Environmental Services (DES) and the city of Nashua.
Pennichuck Corporation supplies drinking water to Nashua and 10 surrounding municipalities from an intake just downstream from the protected land.
The project garnered the largest Aquatic Resources Mitigation Fund grant in the history of the DES program because of its significant benefits for water quality and the local ecosystem.
The property is rich in natural resources, including a 14-nest heron rookery and more than 63 acres of wetlands, ranging from forested to vernal pools to open water. It’s also home to a state-endangered wetlands plant called Bidens laevis. The N.H. Wildlife Action Plan of the N.H. Fish and Game Dept. classifies 95 percent of the property as Tier 1 (best in state) habitat.
“Pennichuck Corporation staff were indispensable in assisting with numerous project details, supporting the completion of due diligence tasks, and working to meet DES requirements,” said Mike Speltz, Forest Society land agent. “The Nashua Conservation Commission supported the initiation of the project and the drafting of the grant request. The city staff, from Mayor Donnalee Lozeau to the financial and planning staffs, cooperated with DES to comply with numerous administrative requirements. John Patenaude, CEO of Pennichuck, provided personal leadership throughout the project to make things happen, both big and small. Wetland scientist Mark West documented the breadth and scope of natural resources on the property, and he will manage the restoration efforts that are an integral part of the project.”
The project garnered the largest Aquatic Resources Mitigation Fund grant in the history of the DES program.
Founded in 1901, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests is the state’s oldest and largest non-profit land conservation organization. Supported by 10,000 families and businesses, the Forest Society’s mission is to perpetuate the state’s forests by promoting land conservation and sustainable forestry. The organization owns 50,000 conserved acres of land in New Hampshire and holds conservation easements on another 115,000 acres.