Land Conservation Around Newfound
As one of our three core strategies, land conservation is an exciting and important way to protect clean water, expansive views, and wildlife habitat. Well positioned to help conserve land, the NLRA has been in vibrant and successful partnership with the Forest Society and Lakes Region Conservation Trust (LRCT) since 2009. During that time, the partnership and local landowners have protected roughly 2,500 acres, preserving forever the traditional forest uses that are part of the region’s rich history.
Grey Rocks: The donation of Grey Rocks to NLRA in 2011 presented a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate land stewardship for public education and enjoyment, as we added trails, observation platforms and informational signs. Looking ahead, with the support of our members, we will restore the formerly developed portion of Grey Rocks to a more natural state using a permaculture approach. Our goals are to improve habitat and public enjoyment, while welcoming volunteers to learn about permaculture through hands-on experience.
Goose Pond/Sugarloaf Ridges: With the donation of the 400-acre Goose Pond/Sugarloaf Ridges parcel to the LRCT in 2014, the size of Wellington State Park was effectively tripled. The NLRA and LRCT have crafted an agreement for trail maintenance and improvements, informational signage, and long-term stewardship of this popular and beautiful property. We are seeking dedicated stewards to help care for this special place. Call or email the NLRA if interested!
Identifying Conservation Focus Areas
During 2016, as part of our Three-year Plan initiative to accelerate the pace of watershed protection, NLRA and Dan Sundquist of GreenfireGIS led a committed and informed group of local stakeholders in an exercise to map and identify Conservation Focus Areas (CFAs) (see map below). Using GIS technology to map and co-locate 18 natural resources such as wetlands, aquifers, riparian buffers, special habitat and views, the group prioritized resources and the areas where they co-occur with a three-tiered system. This system helps focus conservation planning as well as areas to carefully control development.
In their Master Plans, Alexandria, Bridgewater, Bristol, Hebron and Groton have a vision of clean water and healthy forests. Our 2017 land conservation efforts include reaching out to each town to provide a CFA map and simple, practical planning guidance to help them achieve their vision.
You can advance your town’s quality of life through thoughtful land use, including conservation. Help protect the Newfound watershed by becoming an NLRA member and learning more about your role in land conservation.
Thank You NLRA Members!
Thanks to your generosity and the work of our Trustees and Staff, the NLRA is wrapping up a successful year-end appeal. The 2016 Annual Fund met our ambitious goals, thereby ensuring we can continue our new initiatives under the Three-year Plan, as well as our traditional programs. For 2017, we will continue to:
- Test lake and stream quality
- Educate boaters and prevent invasive species from entering the Lake
- Run Newfound EcoTours on the NLRA Madelaine
- Sponsor the 3rd Annual Lake Week festivities
- Pursue land conservation opportunities.
Exciting elements of the Three-year Plan include Grey Rocks site restoration, employing our Newfound Youth Conservation Corps stormwater pollution prevention team, and the second year of our Citizen Planner partnership with watershed towns and residents. Also launching in 2017 is the fourth round of State-funded watershed management projects, with assistance for towns to address high-priority stormwater threats to roads and our clean water.
Thanks to our members and partners, the NLRA is well positioned to help Newfound residents and visitors create a future that preserves our shared vision – clean water, healthy forests, and small-town feel – forever.
Please join the NLRA in our mission to protect Newfound Lake and its watershed by becoming a member, asking your friends and family to become members, and volunteering for one of our hands-on, family-friendly projects that care for our land and water.