Ashuelot River Watershed Land Conservation Plan

More than 88 percent of the Ashuelot River watershed is in natural land
cover, with only 4 percent in some form of developed state.

See draft maps and plan below

The 268,800-acre Ashuelot River watershed is a remarkably diverse and ecologically significant river system in southwestern New Hampshire. The river and its tributaries flow through 25 New Hampshire and two Massachusetts towns, and provide clean water, extensive wildlife habitat, abundant wetlands, productive forests and outstanding recreational resources. Not only is the Ashuelot the largest watershed in southwestern New Hampshire, it also comprises a major tributary to the Connecticut River basin.

A land conservation plan for the watershed is being developed by The Nature Conservancy, the Monadnock Conservancy, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, and the Southwest Region Planning Commission. It is being created with public input from a broad range of stakeholders including citizens, scientists, conservation organizations, and natural resource agencies. Our hope is that the plan will serve as a valuable guide, tool, and information resource for landowners, communities, land trusts, and public agencies that are interested in land conservation.

Vision Statement:
Our vision is…

The special habitats and river resources representing the unique natural heritage of the Ashuelot River watershed are protected within a landscape of well-managed forests, agricultural lands, and natural areas. People use these interdependent resources in ways that maintain the native plants, animals and natural communities of the region and the natural processes that sustain them.

Please check out the plan and accompanying maps to learn more about this exciting conservation opportunity.

NOTE: If you have any difficulty downloading or printing these maps or documents, please contact us and we'll send you what you want - ashuelotplan@tnc.org or 603-224-5853, ext. 26.

Ashuelot River Watershed Conservation Plan - PDF Document 2.1K
Executive Summary - PDF 514K Ashuelot Watershed Plan

Ashuelot River Watershed Conservation Focus Areas - Map (jpg)

Ashuelot Important Habitat Areas - PDF Document 365 K
Public Comment Sheet - PDF Document 91K
DRAFT maps of the 13 conservation focus areas identified in the plan.
Focus area boundaries on these maps are intended to serve as a tool for landowners, communities and conservation organizations for voluntary land conservation activities. The boundaries do not, nor are they intended to, have any regulatory meaning or implications.