Burley Farms Grows! This past December, SELT successfully acquired the 137-acre Mathes Property, expanding the block of conserved lands anchored by Burley Farms to 526 acres.
This beautiful land includes nearly one mile of shoreline on the Lamprey River, protects clean drinking water and critical wildlife habitat, and offers opportunities for outdoor recreation and nature-based education.
Drinking water protection
The Mathes property contains nearly one mile of shoreline on the Lamprey River, which is one of just two “Wild and Scenic” federally-designated rivers in New Hampshire. The Lamprey is a key drinking water supply for the region: the Mathes property is entirely within the UNH/Durham Source Water Protection Area and is recognized as a “High Priority Water Supply Land” by the NH Department of Environmental Services (DES). Conservation of undeveloped land is the most cost-effective way to keep clean water clean.
Critical wildlife habitat
Many species of common, rare, and even threatened wildlife call this land their home, including fish, turtles, and plants. And the hundreds of acres of unfragmented land ensures unobstructed corridors for wildlife to travel through – making this land a top priority under NH Fish and Game’s Wildlife Action Plan. Located in a larger area of undeveloped land totaling more than 1,000 acres, the Mathes property has a long history of being open to fishing and hunting, a tradition that will continue under SELT’s ownership.
So much more to explore!
By linking SELT’s Burley Farms with the existing Lamprey River Wildlife Preserve, the Mathes property creates a block of more than 500 acres of unfragmented and undeveloped forestland. Rich with streams and wetlands, this area’s incredible variety of natural resources opens the door to even more opportunities to connect people of all ages and all walks of life to the great outdoors. This larger, more diverse landscape provides additional possibilities for adventure and nature-based education.
We are so grateful to everyone who made this possible, including the Mathes Family Limited Partnership, Lamprey River Advisory Committee, New Hampshire Drinking Water and Groundwater Trust Fund and New Hampshire Aquatic Resource Mitigation Fund (both parts of New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services), Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership, the generous anonymous donor who contributed a $100,000 gift for the Mathes Matching Challenge, and the many, many private donors who gave to make this project happen.
And a special thank you to the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, who agreed to hold the conservation easement on the property.
