Now protected from development, old fields near Great Bog in Portsmouth
provide excellent habitat for New England cottontail, American woodcock
and many other wildlife species. Eric Aldrich photo.
Major Milestone Reached for Protecting
Great Bog in Portsmouth
Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership protects 269 acres.
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — June 20, 2006 — One of the last remaining large tracts around Great Bog in Portsmouth is now permanently protected from development.
The Nature Conservancy Monday purchased 263 acres on behalf of the Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership. The land adjoins 335 acres owned by the city of Portsmouth that were protected in 2001. The combined 600 acres form the largest block of permanently protected open space in the city.
Great Bog, including the newly protected tract, is southeast of the I-95-Route 33 junction.
“The Great Bay area is one of the most diverse and vibrant ecosystems not only in our state but in the entire Northeast region,” said U.S. Senator Judd Gregg. “However, it is also one of the most fragile and therefore it is critical we work to protect it. Fortunately, The Nature Conservancy and the Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership understand the need to act now. They are again leading the way in carrying out this critical work. The benefits to protecting Great Bog are far-reaching. It will preserve a rare wetlands ecosystem, protect Portsmouth’s public water supply and enhance the enjoyment of this special place for everyone who lives in the region. I also want to thank the Griffin family for their role in the success we are celebrating. Their support has been key to this effort and will help strengthen New Hampshire’s reputation as a great state to live and raise a family.”
“Portsmouth is very pleased with the most recent initiative of The Nature Conservancy and N.H. Fish and Game Department to preserve open space in Portsmouth’s Great Bog,” said Portsmouth Mayor Steve Marchand. “Not only will this nearly double protected land in the bog, but it speaks well of the city’s continuing partnership with these agencies. Acquisition of this land will create new public access opportunities, safeguard our water quality and protect the Great Bog’s unique natural resources.”
“This acquisition is a major milestone in protecting this important ecological jewel in Portsmouth’s back yard,” said Daryl Burtnett, state director of The Nature Conservancy in New Hampshire. “This project both protects a rare wetland ecosystem, and creates a significant block of permanently protected open space right in one of New Hampshire’s largest cities, a place for people to recreate and enjoy nature.”
The Nature Conservancy purchased the tract from the Griffin Family Corporation, which has owned the tract since 1981. “We’re very happy about this,” said Mary Griffin of Portsmouth. “I think it’s a wonderful turn of events that this is getting protected and that it will join existing conservation lands.”
Funds for the acquisition will come from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The Nature Conservancy will ultimately transfer the property to the N.H. Fish and Game Department, while retaining a conservation easement. A goal of the Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership is to manage land and water at a landscape scale. Accordingly, the Fish and Game Department intends to work closely with the city of Portsmouth and the Seacoast Land Trust (which holds an easement on 193 acres of city-owned land) in managing the property. The land will be open to hiking, hunting and other non-motorized recreation.
Because parts of the property have exceptional early successional forest habitat, the Fish and Game Department plans to manage the area for wildlife species that rely in that habitat type, including woodcock and New England cottontail rabbit. The Department may also work with Ducks Unlimited on a project to remove non-native invasive species and restore wetland habitat. The work will make several strides toward advancing the Department’s recently approved Wildlife Action Plan, a suite of strategies to help prevent species from becoming rare or endangered.
“This is some incredible habitat for wildlife,” said Ed Robinson, waterfowl biologist for the N.H. Fish and Game Department. “This is going to be a very large block of public wildlife habitat right near the city of Portsmouth. It doesn’t get any better than that.”
One-hundred and twelve bird species have been observed in and around Great Bog, of which 63 breed there, according to the Seacoast Chapter of New Hampshire Audubon. Among them are alder flycatchers, yellow warblers, black and white warblers and Virginia rail.
The protection of Great Bog has emerged as a priority by The Nature Conservancy, Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership, city of Portsmouth, Seacoast Land Trust and several other organizations and agencies.
The Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership is a comprehensive approach to identify Great Bay’s most critical habitats and to protect them. With The Nature Conservancy as lead acquisition agent, the partners also include the Audubon Society of New Hampshire, Ducks Unlimited, Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Natural Resources Conservation Service, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Since 1994 the Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership has protected 4,456 acres of critical habitat around Great Bay. Local communities and other organizations have protected an additional 3,020 acres that the partnership has been able to use as match to leverage federal funding. The leading sources of funds include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, North American Wetland Conservation Act and private donations. A key player in securing those funds is U.S. Senator Judd Gregg who knows the Great Bay area well.
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