GMCG Celebrates New Office at Huntress House
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Volume XII, Issue IV Fall 2008 A Quarterly Publication for the Ossipee Watershed Published by the Green Mountain Conservation Group GMCG Celebrates new office at Huntress House July 9th, 2008 marked an historic retrofitting the home into the new day in GMCG history—we moved office. The numerous volunteers were into 196 Huntress Bridge Road. also recognized for their hard work in: Despite a downpour and significant creating flower gardens and stone thunder, nearly 70 GMCG friends walls, painting walls and trim, and neighbors came out to celebrate outfitting the kitchen and bathroom with a summer potluck dinner and with new cabinets, donating furniture barbecue and music by Jim Pittman. and dishes, upgrading computer Executive Director, Blair Folts gave systems and even installing new opening remarks and thanked the electrical outlets. Without this huge Little Family Foundation for their community effort we would not have financial support as well as their long been able to move in. Lyeden, Cambell and Ashley cut the term commitment to GMCG’s Following the short presentation, ribbon mission of conserving shared natural Seven year old Lyeden, her four year resources in the Ossipee Watershed old sister Cambell Crane and their Huntress House yet, please feel through research, education, cousin Ashley Little cut the ribbon free to give us a call and stop by. advocacy and land conservation. and guests were invited to tour the Huntress Bridge Road is located Other guests honored included Bill house. just off Route 25 and before you and Alex Klotz who spent months If you have not had a chance to visit enter Maine. 539-1859. Aquifer Steering Committee launches BMP surveys “This summer was incredibly ing site visits. The surveys and self- educational and confirmed my belief audits encourage area businesses and that environmental change can and facilities to participate in drinking should happen at the local level,” water protection by assessing their says Mia Akaogi, the University of use of best management practices Vermont graduate student who has (BMPs), as required by the state. been working with GMCG and the Although participation is Ossipee Aquifer Steering Committee voluntary, many businesses have this year on the Ossipee Watershed become involved, demonstrating UVM student Mia Akaogi presents Jory Source Water Protection Project. Augenti of Effingham with a certificate upon concern for safe drinking water and a Mia has been a critical part of grass- completion of a BMP site visit at his auto willingness to cooperate to improve roots efforts to help communities in repair shop. its protection. Participation can also the Watershed better protect shared lower environmental liability for a drinking water resources from tion sources (PCSs) within the Ossipee business, reduce insurance costs, and potential contamination. Watershed, mailing surveys to these better protect drinking water at and This work has included updating businesses and facilities, receiving around the site. FMI or to fill out a and identifying potential contamina- training from NH DES, and perform- survey, visit: www.gmcg.org. The Watershed News The Watershed News Special Places The Watershed News is a quarterly publication of the Green Mountain Baseline data—why its important Conservation Group, a non-profit, 501(c ) 3, charitable organization established in 1997 and dedicated to any issues with its use or condition in the preservation of the natural Editor’s Note: Special Places is a regular resources in the Ossipee Watershed. relationship to baseline documentation feature of the Watershed News, highlighting The towns of Effingham, Freedom, established when the land was placed Madison, Ossipee, Sandwich and an historical or cultural resource within the under easement. To facilitate the annual Tamworth make up the boundaries of Ossipee Watershed. GMCG continues to monitoring, it is crucial that property the Ossipee Watershed. This endorse the Land and Community Heritage boundaries be clearly marked. It is each watershed includes one of the largest Investment Program (LCHIP) a public- landowner’s responsibility to ensure that and deepest stratified drift aquifers in private partnership committed to blazing and painting of trees along New Hampshire. It covers 47 square conservation of New Hampshire’s natural, property lines are kept visibly up-to-date. miles and receives drainage from a cultural and historical resources. For more Painted blazes usually last about 15-20 330 square mile area. It is a critically information, on LCHIP call 224-4113, or important resource for existing and years. Each GMCG easement will have email www.lchip.org. future community water supplies. its boundary blazes updated this fall to BY THERESA SWANICK help future monitoring. GMCG’s purpose is twofold: Tornado Strikes Easement Land 1. To provide an organizational Interest in conservation easements has structure for a coalition of grown significantly over the past two years Easement donor, Penny Vestner, citizens and local officials and has prompted GMCG to formalize the suffered severe tree loss as she safely sat interested in identifying sensitive Land Trust Committee and create a stronger out the tornado that struck Freedom in areas within the Watershed in process to review the many new projects late July. She lost over 2,000 trees in the need of protection; coming forward. The LTC has been enormous fell swoop. This image, taken 2. To offer public educational continuing its work with conservation after removal of fallen trees, as well as events about conservation issues consultant, Theresa Swanick, with an eye photos of the downed trees, will update and possible solutions regarding toward accreditation by the national Land her easement’s baseline documentation to the preservation of unique Trust Alliance (LTA) by the year 2010. record the changed condition of land for natural resources. Land and easement files have been future monitoring. Without these records Through research, education, reviewed for completeness according to on file, someone could one day advocacy and land conservation we LTA Standards and Practices. The LTC is mistakenly assume this land was clearcut. strive to promote an awareness and also creating a manual of Policies and appreciation of our watershed’s Procedures that will incorporate current natural resources and encourage a policies with practices spelled out commitment to protect them. procedurally to meet LTA guidelines and facilitate education of new volunteer Board of Directors members committed to stewardship and Duane Dale, President monitoring of the existing lands. Don Johnson, Vice President Importance of Baseline Documentation John Shipman, Treasurer Noreen Downs, Secretary GMCG’s responsibility with regard to the Joan Sullivan, Education Coordinator easements it holds is to monitor the land Town Representatives annually to ensure that the terms of the Effingham, Al Levesque easements are not violated even if the land Freedom, Greg Bossart changes ownership. Thus, each easement The tornado that touched down in areas of Madison, Carol Felice must be documented for its initial status. Effingham, Ossipee and Freedom in July Ossipee, Elizabeth Gillette Details and photos of the state of the land, also significantly altered the once forested landscape of conservation lands. Sandwich, Peter Pohl known as baseline documentation, are used Tamworth, C. Scott Aspinall Maine, Dennis Finn as a benchmark against which all future monitoring is measured. Staff The LTC monitors each easement Theresa Swanick, is GMCG’s land trust Executive Director, Blair Folts annually by walking the land and noting consultant, dedicated volunteer and an Program Director, Tara Schroeder attorney. 2 The Watershed News Getting the lead out of loons needs inter-state cooperation This summer, area residents were treated it is clear that we must "get the lead out." to a presentation at Camp Calumet on While lead poisoning is the most loons by field biologist Chris Free from the prominent cause of loon mortality, it is also Loon Preservation Committee. Chris the most preventable. The sale and use of provided slides, loon calls and stories of lead sinkers less that 1-ounce in weight and his field research across the state, lead jigs less than 1-inch long is already including working with loons in the prohibited in New Hampshire. Though Ossipee Watershed. He reports that none similar legislation has been passed in both of the six loons on the Ossipee Lake system Vermont and Maine, lead sinkers and jigs had successful nests this year. The Leavitt Photo by Dan Houde, Purity Lake, Eaton remain readily available across the border in Bay nest failed due to abandonment caused Massachusetts. It is therefore essential that by human disturbance, and the Ossipee productivity have been highly impacted by visiting fishermen respect NH laws and Lake nest failed due to abandonment for human activities. wildlife and that we also make an effort to unknown reasons. Here are some ways you The LPC reports that anthropogenic lead remove any leftover sinkers from our tackle can help to spread the word and take poisoning is the leading cause of adult loon boxes. Steel sinkers are a suitable action to protect one of our favorite mortality in New Hampshire. In all cases, replacement and are complimentary at the summer residents. this poisoning is induced by the accidental Loon Center and also available at local consumption of lead fishing sinkers, which supply stores. BY CHRIS FREE loons mistake for suitable gizzard stones. Loons are vulnerable to human encroach- Though images of the common loon Within two weeks of consumption these ment in many other ways as well. Shoreline decorate the kitchens, mailboxes, and loons are so weakened that feeding development has resulted in the destruction porches of many New Hampshire homes, themselves, and certainly any young, of suitable nesting habitat and safe brooding this iconic bird appears with far less becomes an impossible task. During this areas. It is important that we continue to frequency across the state's lakes.