Efforts to add 643 acres to the Birch Ridge Community Forest (BRCF) in New Durham were jumpstarted by the announcement of a $485,000 grant to the Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire (SELT) from the US Forest Service’s Community Forest and Open Space Program.
If successful, Phase 2 will add two tracts of forestland, key wildlife habitat, and miles of recreational trails to the existing 2,027 acre Community Forest. SELT, Merrymeeting Lake Association (MMLA) and Moose Mountains Regional Greenways (MMRG) collaborated for two years to acquire and establish the original BRCF, protected in 2019.
“This jumpstarts our community-supported efforts to protect the forested watershed of Merrymeeting Lake. The best way to keep Merrymeeting clean is to keep its forests intact” explains Brian Hart, Executive Director of SELT, a regional land trust based in Exeter. Phase 2 of the Community Forest ranked #3 nationally, competing against 22 other projects for the $4 million available. “The grant is a clear demonstration of this land’s significance – and we thank U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, our delegation, and the community of New Durham for supporting this grant application”.
“It’s so important that we work together to protect and preserve treasured sites across our state,” said Senator Shaheen, who advocated on behalf of the project to receive the grant award. “I’m glad that the U.S. Forest Service recognized the special place that Birch Ridge holds in New Hampshire and awarded Southeast Land Trust funds to conserve this land for future generations to enjoy. I’ll continue to work across the aisle in the Senate to ensure federal programs that support conservation efforts in New Hampshire receive the resources they need.”
Phase 2 consists of the “Stell” and “Young” tracts which abut BRCF off of Birch Hill Road and Brienne Road. SELT has each property under agreement for their appraised, fair market value from their respective landowners with closings planned for April 2021, if fundraising efforts are successful. The USFS grant award is the first of many that SELT and its partners will need to raise the full cost of acquiring, conserving, and stewarding the land, which is estimated at $1.237 million. With the award, $752,000 remains to be raised from public and private sources.
The two tracts are composed primarily of oak-pine forest system with pockets of hemlocks and small areas of wetlands consisting of a red maple swamp and red maple-highbush blueberry swamp. For wildlife enthusiasts, the property has observed populations of moose, black bear, bobcat, snowshoe hare and grouse, along with more common species like deer, fox, and coyote; it’s no wonder that 97% of the property is a priority for conservation under the state’s Wildlife Action Plan. The properties include nearly 13 miles of woods roads and snowmobile trails, including a beautiful vista that looks out toward the Blue Hills mountain range. The trail system on the two tracts will greatly expand the 10 miles existing and planned on the Birch Ridge Community Forest.
Since the acquisition of the original BRCF, SELT has been working closely with the volunteer Community Forest Steering Committee on the development of a full management plan that will ensure public access for recreation with trails and parking, habitat protection for wildlife, preservation of water quality, a well-managed forest, and climate change resilience. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the timeline for a public meeting to share the draft plan for feedback, but the Committee is hopeful it can share it soon.
“We know the community is anxious to explore and enjoy Birch Ridge and SELT and the Committee are working diligently to finalize the management plan and implement access improvements,” comments Charlie Bridges, New Durham resident and chair of the Birch Ridge Community Forest Steering Committee. “The proposed acquisition of these two properties will only expand the opportunities at the Community Forest, and the Steering Committee is thrilled to learn of this grant award.”
The proposed acquisition of the 643 acres are part of a larger, strategic vision to ensure the long-term water quality of Merrymeeting Lake. A recent study, the Merrymeeting River and Lake Watershed Management Plan (September 2019), confirmed the value and benefit of land conservation. The study found the Lake and River are at serious risk for sustained water quality degradation as a result of new development in the watershed.
Amongst a series of recommendations, the Plan recommends that towns collaborate with local partners, like SELT and Moose Mountains Regional Greenways, on conservation initiatives within the watershed. The good news is that the expansion of the BRCF through Phase 2 will result in a total of 22% of the Merrymeeting Lake watershed being protected. Prior to the establishment of the Community Forest, only 4% of the watershed was conserved!