As is the case with many land conservation projects, this one started with a simple conversation.
Several years ago, Charlie Moreno, licensed forester and long-time SELT partner, brought up an intriguing opportunity: one of his clients, William (Bill) Rix, had expressed interest in donating a conservation easement on his 80+ acre property in Deerfield.
With that introduction, SELT’s discussion with Bill began in earnest in 2020 with several exchanges and a site walk at what turned out to be a unique property with compelling natural resources.
“It is a very well managed forest with pine-oak forests and hemlock,” says Duane Hyde, Land Conservation Director. “It quickly and steeply drops down to a large wetland system associated with the Lamprey River that is a mix of red maple forested wetlands, scrub shrub wetlands, and open wetlands.”
COVID, unfortunately, disrupted the momentum spurred by Moreno’s 2020 discussion, so the project entered a holding pattern. Thankfully, this May, the process restarted with a significant change: instead of donating the easement, Bill opted to donate the land outright to SELT
“We’re so appreciative of Bill’s generosity,” Duane says. “And our hope is his gift is the seed that sprouts additional opportunities to protect more of the headwaters of the Lamprey.”
I like the wildness of it,” says Bill. “I didn’t want to see the land developed and donating it seemed like the best option.”
An Intriguing Property
"The Rix parcel has beautiful, pristine, lengthy frontage on the Lamprey River, with associated wetlands which are great for waterfowl and furbearing mammals,” says Charlie Moreno, the forester who knows the property well. “In addition, it contains a steep-sided bowl area with older growth forest, and, generally, carefully managed pineland.”
In fact, this segment of the Lamprey flows south from its headwaters in Northwood to the Rix property. Bill’s main goal is to see the land remain in its natural state, and he is happy to have SELT manage the property as per our stewardship practices, in addition to having it open to hunting.
