Merrymeeting Clean Forever

From crystal-clear water to breathtaking vistas of undeveloped slopes,
let’s keep Merrymeeting Clean Forever.

Protect and steward the watershed of Merrymeeting Lake! All gifts MATCHED!

GIVE TODAY AND DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT!

Momentum for Merrymeeting

Merrymeeting Lake is special. The pristine waters that anchor New Durham and feed Lake Winnipesaukee have long been cherished by residents and visitors alike. So much so that back in 2017, when a logging company purchased and began clear cutting over 2,000 acres of forestland buttressing the lake, alarm bells went off throughout the community.

Understanding the threat that now existed to the lake’s legendary water quality, a group of residents and conservation groups came together in 2018 to launch a campaign to purchase and protect the land that would eventually become Birch Ridge Community Forest, owned and managed by SELT on behalf of the community.

Since that first project, the community has rallied, conserving Mount Molly as the Collins Family Forest, expanding Birch Ridge twice, and most recently protecting Mount Bet in 2024. These collective efforts have resulted in astounding progress: in 2017, just 5% of the Merrymeeting watershed was protected; today, that number stands at a whopping 40%.

Now, in 2025, the momentum continues through the Merrymeeting Clean Forever campaign with two main priorities:

Thanks to generous Merrymeeting families, all gifts to protect and steward the watershed of Merrymeeting Lake will be MATCHED!

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Community Perspective

In May of 2024, SELT and MMLA conducted a community survey to collect public opinion on land conservation, recreation and stewardship priorities. The survey’s goal was to inform conservation priorities and identify watershed stewardship concerns. The summary report can be viewed at seltnh.org/mmlsurvey. The survey confirmed that in all regards – from conservation to recreation to stewardship – water quality and wildlife habitat should be top of mind for SELT and partner efforts.

Conservation Concerns
The three highest priorities identified by respondents as ‘very important’ or ‘important’ were Clean Water (99%), Healthy Wildlife Populations / Habitats (96%), and Sustainable Forestry (82%). Geographically, at least 80% of respondents identified the remaining unconserved areas – including Mt. Jesse and Mt. Bet - as important or very important for future conservation.

82% or more of respondents reported being “very concerned” or “concerned” about each of the following risks directly related to clean water:

  • Degradation of water quality (94%)
  • Invasive aquatic species (96%)
  • Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) (94%)

Recreation Goals
Water quality and wildlife habitat are again the top considerations that SELT should consider for trail design, building, and maintenance. Trail visibility, signage, and parking were all identified as improvements that would make existing trails more user friendly. Opinions both for and against certain recreational uses, like horseback riding, ATVs, and snowmobiles, were expressed, as well as the use of trails for commercial purposes. On the water, respondents had the most feedback on boat traffic and wakeboarding, uses regulated by state law and beyond what SELT can address.

Stewardship Goals
Water quality and wildlife again topped the priorities for SELT’s stewardship of watershed lands, including the pending purchase of Mount Jesse. The survey revealed a consensus to focus on stewardship of the existing trail network before adding or expanding trails, improving signage, markers, and maps to improve the visitor experience, and support for a parking area and trailhead on King’s Highway for the Mount Jesse addition.