On June 28th, 2006 MMRG successfully completed a project to conserve 116-acres of a 128-acre tract of land on Union Meadows in Wakefield. The property is an important piece of a puzzle linking large blocks of conserved land. It is located less than one mile from the 3,000-acre Siemon protected land in Milton Mills and the recently conserved 2,189 acre Moose Mountain Reserve in Middleton and Brookfield.
The 116-acre wooded acres feature more than 1,000 feet of frontage on Union Meadows, a 283-acre wetland that overlies a stratified drift aquifer associated with the Branch River. The Branch River is considered to be the most pristine segment of the upper Piscataqua and Great Bay watersheds. As the streams and rivers in this watershed make their way to the Piscataqua, they feed the drinking water supplies and wells of Union, Milton, and Somersworth.
The Barbour family sisters, who all reside in California, inherited the 128-acre parcel from their grandparents in the 1970’s. They spent many summers on the property in their youth and remember it fondly. In 2005 they decided it was time to sell. Wanting to find a way to conserve the property they loved visiting as young girls they sought the help of Moose Mountains Regional Greenways.
MMRG approached the Wakefield Conservation Commission, which
immediately expressed interest in supporting the project.
According to Conservation Commission Chairman Nancy Spencer-Smith,
the property could have easily accommodated up to 25 house
lots. “This land has been enjoyed by the community for
decades” she said. “We knew we had to find a way
to conserve it.”
MMRG’s Board members and staff, along with the help of Tom Howard of NH Conservation Real Estate, began searching for a “conservation buyer”—someone who would be willing to purchase the property and preserve the majority of it via conservation easement. Long-time organization supporters Paul and Helen Goransson answered the call.
"It's a beautiful piece of land right on the water, and the development potential was high," said Paul Goransson. "My wife and I wanted to see it conserved because with the development pressure moving steadily northward, it was just a matter of time before these pristine woods would have become yet another subdivision.”
The Goranssons reserved just one house lot off Harmony Drive, placing 116 acres, including all waterfront land, under conservation easement to ensure that the property will never be developed. Strafford Rivers Conservancy will hold the Conservation easement.
The total cost of the land was $350,000. A certified appraisal determined the breakdown for the total price. The buyer paid $184,000 for the land. The Town of Wakefield and MMRG shared in the cost of the conservation easement with the Town appropriating $141,000 and MMRG providing a $25,000 match
With this creative solution the residents of the town of Wakefield will be able to enjoy this beautiful piece of property for generations to come. The conservation of this property will ensure the long-term protection of water quality and wildlife habitat. The easement also ensures that no development is visible from the shores of Union Meadows, that future timber harvesting be conducted according to best management practices, and will provide continued recreational opportunities for the community. The Town plans to provide a small lot for parking and a trail that will lead from Harmony Drive to the waterfront. Residents will be able to continue to use the land for hiking, picnicking, cross country skiing, hunting and fishing. And there are plans to continue the agreement with the Evergreen Valley snowmobile club to allow continued use of the waterfront corridor trail.
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