65 attend MMRG’s Sixth Annual Branch River Paddle

The two–week pattern of glorious weather held for our sixth annual Branch River Paddle co–hosted by Branch Hill Farm and Moose Mountains Regional Greenways on Saturday, May 29th. Approximately 65 participants enjoyed the peaceful and scenic four–mile ride down the Branch River and up the Salmon Falls River to our favorite picnic spot on Branch Hill Farm’s “Sandy Beach”. Caterer Sue Everett put on a delicious cook-out lunch with homemade potato salad, veggie wraps, hot dogs, and hamburgers, courtesy of Branch Hill Farm. There were notable wildlife sightings such as a Baltimore oriole nesting on one of the Salmon Falls River islands.

The Branch River Paddle is one of several educational outreach events sponsored by Moose Mountains Regional Greenways. This year’s guest speaker was licensed Forester Daniel Stepanauskas, who spoke about forest ecology, specifically about New Hampshire forest soils and water becoming increasingly more acidic due to acid rain. The downward trend in pH levels for New Hampshire soils and water is caused by air pollution and can be traced to our continued dependence upon burning fossil fuels for energy. Dan suggested that people have the pH level in their wells checked. Although the EPA recommends a pH range of 6.5 to 8.5, most dug wells fed by groundwater are below 6. Since acidic soils affect the nutrient availability for all New Hampshire tree species, owners of forestland should be using management techniques to help preserve our forest soils.

This year’s Paddle was dedicated to the memory of Branch Hill Farm’s good friend and loyal employee, Scott Ferguson.