In partnership with the Forest Society, Moose Mountains Regional Greenways hosted a community forum in May to discuss the Society’s proposed management plan for the recently conserved Moose Mountain reservation. Located in Middleton and Brookfield, the 2,189-acre project was purchased earlier this year by the Forest Society with funding from the national Forest Legacy program, the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELP), and individual donations.
“Many people donated to the project,” said Forest
Society Vice President of Forest and Land Management Will
Abbott. “Each of these different investors has a stake
in the outcome.”
The Forest Legacy Program, which contributed $1 million to
the project, sought to insure that the land remained available
for timber production. The CELP priority was protecting water
resources. Many of the MMRG and Forest Society members who
made contributions of all amounts expressed their desire to
see the habitats of the many rare and exemplary species that
live on the mountain conserved. The Moose Mountains are the
home of wood frogs and mole salamanders, as well as moose,
deer, black bear, beaver, fox, bobcat and coyote. There’s
even a well-established heron rookery on the land.
Other contributors sought to ensure that the Moose Mountains remained available for low impact recreational use, such as hiking, bird watching, hunting and fishing. The Evergreen Valley Snowmobile Club, which has maintained the twelve miles of trails and internal roads for years, sought to ensure that snowmobiling would continue on the Reservation.
The Forest Society crafted a conservation easement designed to meet all these objectives. In addition, the Society conducted an extensive bio inventory of the land’s timber resources, forest types, and wildlife habitats and is currently working on a management plan to ensure that the areas that feature exemplary natural communities are protected.
The Society has pledged that, “This land is open to the public and always will be,” according to Director of Land Management Jeff Jones. The Evergreen Valley Snowmobile Club will continue to maintain and use the trails. However, all terrain vehicles (ATVs) will not be allowed on the land because of the extensive damage that these vehicles can cause to trails.
The property’s many hiking trails can be accessed via New Portsmouth Road in Middleton, where the Forest Society, in partnership with the Town of Middleton, has installed a small parking area and an informational kiosk. The Society plans to install signs, bridges and gates in the future. For more information about the property, contact the Forest Society at 224-9945.
Moose Mountains Regional Greenways thanks the many members and other contributors whose support has made possible the conservation of this outstanding local landmark.
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