  UNION,
NH—Moose Mountains Regional Greenways recently completed
an intensive three-year study of significant wetlands in Brookfield,
Farmington, Middleton, Milton, New Durham and Wakefield. Funded
by New Hampshire Estuaries Project and New Hampshire Outreach
Coalition, the project yielded volumes of valuable data that
will assist local conservation commissars in their natural
resource planning efforts. Moose Mountains Regional Greenways
contracted Certified Wetlands Scientist Nancy Rendall to complete
the hands-on evaluation of 10 unique wetland areas within
each of the six towns. Coordinating closely with conservation
commission members, Rendall’s team worked with Moose Mountains’s
staff and volunteers to select and evaluate the wetlands with
the most important natural features.
Most of the wetlands studied were located within the coastal Cocheco or Salmon Falls watersheds along perennial streams. These riparian wetlands help keep surface waters clean by providing a buffer between the water and nearby developed areas.
All of the wetlands evaluated were at least five acres in size because larger wetlands provide a greater diversity of habit for wildlife. Wetlands that were located near underground aquifers and wellhead protection areas are also important, as these wetlands are positioned to help protect drinking water quality. Each wetland was also evaluated on the 14 functional values of the NH Method.
The study wetlands were mapped using aerial photography, NH soil types, and GRANIT resource data layers before they were explored on foot. Community conservation commissioners then selected one wetland from each town for a detailed boundary delineation using Global Positioning Satellite (GPS). Moose Mountains’ staff digitized the GPS points collected in the field and inserted the resulting electronic layer over the other mapped data. Similarities and contradictions of the soil and aerial layers were highlighted in the final mapping phase.
The NH Method values, field data, maps and photos were compiled in community-specific Wetlands Reports and catalogued in each town library with a user-friendly wetlands handbook. While the Wetlands Reports describe the individual wetlands studied, the handbook explores the spectrum of uses to which this valuable data can be applied. Community leaders may wish to reference the data in local Natural Resource Inventories, apply the information to their master planning efforts, or consider regulatory alternatives such as zoning buffers or Prime Wetland designations.
“All the areas evaluated would qualify as prime wetlands. Whether you chose to pursue that designation is up to you,” Rendall explained to a packed town hall in Wakefield.
A related project funded by the Natural Resources Outreach Coalition allowed Moose Mountains Regional Greenways to produce Digitized Tax Maps and a natural resource survey for each of its six member towns. Moose Mountains staff and volunteers presented these products to the Conservation Commissions in both paper and electronic formats at town workshops.
The estimated value of all these products and services is more than $150,000 as a result of the combination of grant funding and donated professional and volunteer time.
“These are wonderful materials,” exclaimed Brookfield Conservation Commission Chairman Dick Peckham during the Brookfield workshop. “This is just like Christmas!” Moose Mountains volunteer project coordinator Annie Robbins is equally pleased with the project outcome. “We wanted to provide a service to Moose Mountains member communities that we knew they could use, while raising awareness of the importance of wetlands to both wildlife and water quality,” she said.
Moose Mountain Regional Greenways is a non-profit organization that works to protect and connect the most special undeveloped lands of Brookfield, Farmington, Middleton, Milton, New Durham and Wakefield, New Hampshire. For more information, contact 603-817-8260 or visit www.moosemountaingreenway.org.
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