Fall Mountain Lands to be Donated to State of New Hampshire

N.H. Executive Council accepts 950 acres from The Nature Conservancy for a new state forest.

Concord, NH—March 9, 2005—A new state forest in Charlestown and Langdon moved a step closer to reality today when the N.H. Executive Council voted to accept a land donation by The Nature Conservancy.

The 950 acres on Fall Mountain harbor the best three of New Hampshire’s eight known populations of a federally endangered plant, northeastern bulrush. The land is between Route 12A and the Connecticut River. Its pristine ponds, streams and forests are also prime habitats for otter, deer, wild turkey, waterfowl and other wildlife.

About 950 acres of Fall Mountain in Charlestown and Langdon will be donated by
The Nature Conservancy to the state of New Hampshire as a new state forest. The land harbors the globally rare northeastern bulrush, a federally endangered plant.
© Eric Aldrich/TNC

The Nature Conservancy purchased the property in September from New England Power Company, which at one time had plans to develop a pumped storage hydroelectric facility.

Now that the Executive Council has voted to accept the parcel, the land transaction is expected to take place later this month. The Nature Conservancy will retain a conservation easement that will prevent development and ensure sound recreation and forest management practices to protect the globally rare northeastern bulrush and other sensitive and exemplary ecological features.

“We are very grateful to The Nature Conservancy for donating the land to the state and for all the work they did to put this great project together,” said Philip Bryce director of the N.H. Division of Forests and Lands.

"It's gratifying to have such a strong partner in the Division of Forests and Lands in the stewardship of one of New Hampshire's last refuges of this rare plant," said Daryl Burtnett, state director of The Nature Conservancy in New Hampshire. "This land is a wonderful natural source of recreation and solace for the people of New Hampshire."

The property’s conservation easement reflects the common goals and interests of The Nature Conservancy, N.H. Department of Resources and Economic Development and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which provided some of the funding for the project. The easement delineates areas where timber harvesting will be allowed and where it will be restricted, such as areas near wetlands, occurrences of northeastern bulrush and other sensitive ecological features.

As a state forest, the Fall Mountain lands will also provide continued public access for traditional low-impact uses, including hiking, hunting, fishing, nature observation and snowmobiling on designated trails. In addition, students from nearby Fall Mountain Regional High School will be able to continue using the land for athletic training, natural science projects and maple syrup production.

Funding from the N.H. Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) played a key role in protecting Fall Mountain. LCHIP contributed two grants totaling $350,000. “Fall Mountain is a great example of how LCHIP can help plug the holes in funding to make conservation projects become a reality,” said Rachel Rouillard, LCHIP’s executive director. “LCHIP also is a catalyst in building momentum for additional funding from the community and other sources.”

Other sources of funding for the project include $200,000 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Conservancy has received $260,450 in private donations, including a $50,000 grant from the Austin Memorial Foundation.

The Conservancy has $54,000 remaining to raise for the project. For information on contributing, contact Deborah Callahan at 603-224-5853.