Change is in the air in the Newfound Watershed. If you look closely, you notice the first few trees scattered around the forest-covered hills beginning to transition from bright green to deep golden. If you close your eyes, you can feel the slight chill in the breeze and hear the subtle silence that accompanies the end of summer vacation. While time ticks by, spirits are as high as ever and the drive to carry out the mission to protect the Newfound Watershed continues on without falter. I am thankful to reminisce on past activities and look forward to the future.
Last month I led a small group of women up the West Ridge Trail at Cardigan Mountain State Park during the Women in the Wilderness Guided Exploration. Battling the high winds and thick fog at the summit definitely made for an exhilarating experience I will not soon forget. Bringing together such a passionate group of women to learn from each other’s experiences, build confidence, and share knowledge on the importance of sustainable practices within the Newfound Watershed was more empowering than I hoped it could be.
Watershed Steward, Anthony Jaster and I led an NLRA Volunteer Day at Grey Rocks Conservation Area, which predominantly focused on the removal of Oriental bittersweet from the Flood Plain Loop Trail. While this species of bittersweet was introduced as an ornamental yard plant, as the bright green vine can beautifully creep up garden trellises, it eventually joined the list of invasive vegetative species and also earned the title of “prohibited species” in New Hampshire. Oriental bittersweet is extremely resilient as it spreads readily by birds and other berry eaters and has a seed germination of 90%. While removing bittersweet, a fraction of a root left behind can germinate into a new vine and continue to spread. It has the ability to tightly coil around tree limbs as it grows and strangle the host tree until it ultimately dies. With the impacted area flagged off and the bittersweet removed to the best of our abilities, all we can do is wait to pull the new sprouts that will inevitably pop up. Grey Rocks has numerous flower gardens featuring native plants that are great options for decorating lawns without threatening the ecology of the Newfound Watershed. For more information on flora and fauna at Grey Rocks, download the free identification app iNaturalist and check out the guide “Species at Grey Rocks Conservation Area”.
As an AmeriCorps service member, I was given the opportunity to participate in the 9/11 Day of Service with other Lakes Region Conservation Corps (LRCC) members. LRCC members teamed with the staff at the North Conway Community Center (NCCC) to assist with clearing the event grounds following the annual Mud Bowl football tournament. During the Day of Service, I had a list of activities to complete ranging from removing leftover trash from the event grounds to clearing weeds from an on-site drainage system. Although we all left with mud covered shoes, being able to work alongside fellow LRCC members to directly serve a community and see the positive impact we made at the NCCC was the perfect way to spend this day of remembrance.
I am looking forward to my next guided program, Colors of Newfound, taking place on September 15th at Grey Rocks Conservation Area. During this public educational program, participants will begin by taking a guided walk around the Sandy Point Trail and Floodplain Loop Trail while discussing tree identification, silent signs of wildlife, and the importance of sustainable conservation practices around the Newfound Watershed. Following the walk, participants will have the opportunity to create a painting of their choosing that is inspired by the many wonderful sights at Grey Rocks Conservation Area. To sign up for Colors of Newfound or other NLRA programming, visit NewfoundLake.org/events.
While it’s sinking in that my time as a Watershed Steward is slowly creeping towards the end, I’m looking forward to these next several weeks as they will be packed with new experiences and timeless memories. See yall out there!