Forest Society Conserves 233 Acres along the Pemigewasset River
The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests has purchased a conservation easement on 233 acres of land in Bridgewater along the west bank of the Pemigewasset River. With more than 2,500 feet of undeveloped river frontage as well as Woodman Brook and Great Brook, the land is a stocking point for salmon fry, and the segment of river fronting the property provides spawning habitat for trout and salmon.
Jon and Hillary Martin sold the conservation easement to the Forest Society at a discounted bargain sale price. A consulting forester for FORECO, Jon and his wife have been sustainably managing the property as a working woodlot, carefully maintaining and enhancing the wildlife habitat that makes the land so special. The conservation easement will allow for continued sustainable forestry activities in accordance with a plan written by a licensed forester.
“Large intact forests like this play a key role in maintaining water quality and wildlife habitat,” said Forest Society President/Forester Jane Difley. “We’re grateful to the Martins for their generosity, and also to our conservation partners at NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, which granted the majority of funding needed to complete the project.”
The National Marine Fisheries Service contributed $175,000 toward the bargain sale purchase. Administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Fisheries Service grants support conservation projects in the Merrimack River watershed aimed at conserving fish habitat.
“People don’t realize the important role that forests play in river restoration and protection for anadromous fish,” said John Catena, Northeast Supervisor for the NOAA Restoration Center. “Not only do trees provide shade, which helps control the temperature of the river, but their roots help clean the water and stabilize stream bank erosion. These are all very important factors for fish habitat.”
Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) has been instrumental in securing funding to conserve the land surrounding the Merrimack River and its tributaries. Since 2004, federal funding secured by Senator Gregg for this initiative has allowed for the protection of 2,260 acres with 6.8 miles of river frontage.
“New Hampshire’s incredible beauty and diverse ecosystems are two of the primary reasons we Granite Staters enjoy such a high quality of life,” said Senator Gregg. “With this announcement, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests once again has demonstrated their ability to successfully protect our state’s most precious natural resources, places like the Pemigewasset River Forest. I have been pleased to work with them on this project and would like to express my thanks to the Forest Society for meeting this challenge.”
Because the river’s corridor is mostly undeveloped, the natural resources of the area and river are of especially high quality. The land contains top rated wildlife habitat as identified in the NH Department of Fish and Game’s Wildlife Action Plan. Many bird species depend upon the river and its banks for nesting and feeding. The bald eagle, osprey, northern harrier, and common loon are just a few of the threatened wildlife species that are also dependent upon the river and its resources.
“This conservation easement will support the many living creatures that depend upon the river and surrounding landscape for survival, protect water quality, and guarantee public access to the land,” said Difley. “We’re fortunate to have partners like NOAA and Senator Gregg, who truly understand and appreciate the value of these resources.”