Fall 2016 THE LEGACY For All Those Who Love the Lakes Region of

View of Fogg Hill Overlooking the Snake —Bernie Volz Photo

Fogg Hill Conservation Area— Bigger and Better

LRCT is proud to announce the expansion of LRCT’s Fogg Hill Conservation Area in West Center Harbor, through the purchase of a 43-acre parcel on Piper Hill Road. The newly acquired parcel encompasses woodland and wetland habitat and 1,250 feet of shoreline on Bear Pond and is the site of a new trailhead parking area providing access to all of the Fogg Hill trails. LRCT’s first Fogg Hill property was acquired in 2013, and the new property Headwaters of the —Peggy MerrittƩPhoto brings the size of the Conservation Area to 235 acres. The Fogg Hill Conservation Area forms a significant part Another Conservation Success of a nearly 1,000-acre unfragmented forest block north of in the Belknaps , the largest roadless area in Center Harbor. This area is vitally important for its rich wildlife habitat, for Thanks to the foresight and commitment of nearby landowners, protecting pristine waters used for recreation and drinking water LRCT has added 88 acres north of Guinea Ridge Road in supplies, and for providing opportunities for recreation, nature Gilmanton to the expansive conserved lands in and around the observation, and education for residents and visitors. Range. This parcel contains what was the last unprotected portion of a significant wetland and stream LRCT acquired this new parcel with tremendous support from system that is part of the headwaters of the Suncook River. families and organizations in the community and surrounding towns, including from the Town of Center Harbor Conservation Approximately one-third of the parcel is classified as highest Fund. The Town will hold a conservation easement on the ranked habitat in the state under the NH Wildlife Action Plan. property, as it does on the original Fogg Hill parcel. LRCT is very This property had long been a conservation priority for LRCT grateful to the former landowners, Jim and Angie Bascom, for and the Belknap Range Conservation Coalition (BRCC), and working with us to make this project possible and to all who have the project was made possible through LRCT’s partnership with worked on and supported the efforts to conserve this important Marilyn and Michael Fenollosa and Nancy Rendall. When the land for future generations. land was in danger of being sold for development, the Fenollosas For more information on the Fogg Hill Conservation Area, please generously stepped forward to acquire and hold it for more than visit LRCT’s website (lrct.org/explorelearn/places-to-visit). You a year until funding for LRCT’s acquisition could be secured. can see photos of LRCT’s recent celebration of this conservation Nancy Rendall donated professional services for project planning project on our Facebook page. and wetlands assessment needed to obtain grant funding for the project, and the effort came to a successful conclusion when LRCT received the necessary grant from the NH Department of Environmental Services Aquatic Resource Mitigation Fund. We are very grateful to the Fenollosas and Nancy Rendall for their generosity and dedication to the success of this project, as well as to the ARM Fund for its support. LRCT’s acquisition of this key parcel builds on recent conservation achievements involving LRCT, the Society for the Protection of NH Forests, BRCC, and others committed to conservation of the extraordinary scenic, natural, recreational, and historical resources of the Belknaps. View of Bear Pond Wetlands—Bernie Volz Photo Reflections The Lakes Region Conservation Trust was founded in 1979 to conserve the natural heritage of New ach year around this time, as we review all the work that has been Hampshire’s Lakes Region. Our conservation E accomplished on LRCT’s conserved lands over the spring, summer, and stewardship work preserves community and early fall, we are thankful once again for the dedicated service of the character, conserves critical wildlife habitat and diverse ecosystems, protects natural landmarks and volunteers who help us care for these properties. scenic landscapes, and provides outdoor recreation While acquiring new land is the opportunities for people of all ages. most visible and exciting work Lakes Region Conservation Trust Together with our dedicated community of supporters, that a land trust does, stewardship we have conserved more than 140 properties totaling Conserving the Natural Heritage of New Hampshire’s Lakes Region. of the conserved lands is equally over 24,000 acres. These conserved lands encompass important, so that they continue many of the special places that define our unique and to provide valuable habitat, water spectacular part of New England, affording everyone 2015 ANNUAL REPORT quality protection, scenic beauty, abundant opportunities to explore and connect and places for recreation, learning, with the natural world and establishing a legacy of and reflection—in perpetuity. conservation for future generations.

The Whippers and Loppers Monitoring the land and conservation easements, building Trustees and maintaining trails and viewpoints and bridges and docks, and dozens Margaret V. Merritt, Chair (Sandwich) of other tasks have to be done faithfully year after year. LRCT’s volunteers Russell J. Wilder, Vice Chair (Alton) contribute thousands of hours annually to help us get this work done. Philip Preston, Secretary (Ashland) Earlier this summer, we recognized and celebrated the service and Thomas R. Crane, Jr., Treasurer (Meredith) accomplishments of LRCT Trustee Larry DeGeorge, who stepped down after Donald S. Berry, President (Tuftonboro) 11 years in one of LRCT’s most important stewardship volunteer roles— Richard H. Beyer (Hebron) Property Adopter for LRCT’s largest and most visited property, the Castle in Rhys V. Bowen (Moultonborough) the Clouds Conservation Area. Larry has worked tirelessly, with tremendous Woolsey S. Conover (Holderness) skill and energy, carefully watching over the Castle property and its miles of Lawrence J. DeGeorge (Tuftonboro) carriage roads and trails on a nearly daily basis, organizing and overseeing Jonathan D. Halsey (Center Harbor) volunteer work days, coordinating the trail signage system, assisting with John G. Merselis, Jr. (Meredith) mapping and outreach, inspiring a whole group of dedicated trail adopters Muriel S. Robinette (Sanbornton, Tuftonboro) and other volunteers known as the “Whippers and Loppers”, and much more. Cynthia K. Stanton (Moultonborough) The contributions and commitment of LRCT’s volunteers are an inspiration Kathleen A. Starke (Sandwich) to us all. As we head toward the close of the year, we look back with gratitude David F. White (Sandwich) on all that has been accomplished thanks to this dedicated support system on Staff which we depend. To LRCT volunteers past, present, and future, we say thank you, thank you, thank you! We couldn’t do it without you. Donald S. Berry, President (Tuftonboro) Christine G. Luke, Development Director (Laconia) David R. Mallard, Land and Stewardship Sincerely, Director (Sandwich) Erin C. Mastine, Communications and Administrative Coordinator (Gilford) Lisetta J. Silvestri, Operations Director (Holderness) Don Berry President

Welcome Back!

We are pleased and proud to welcome Woolsey Conover of Holderness and Tony Halsey of Center Harbor back to the LRCT Board of Trustees. Both were subject to term limits when their previous Board terms ended in July 2014, and they were re-elected to the Board as soon as they became eligible again in July 2016. Woolsey and Tony have provided many years of enthusiastic and dedicated service to the Lakes Region Conservation Trust, and we couldn’t be happier to have them back.

“I am very pleased to be rejoining the Board of Trustees of LRCT, an organization that continues to lead the way in conserving and protecting our region’s most precious and important natural resources. This work is personally important to me, as it has been to my family for several generations.” ~ Woolsey Conover

“I’m proud and excited to be able to again participate in the important work of this organization. The conservation of iconic Lakes Region properties for the enjoyment of all is essential to the cultural fabric of our community.” ~ Tony Halsey Lakes Region Conservation Trust Conserving the Natural Heritage of New Hampshire’s Lakes Region. 2015 ANNUAL REPORT

THANK YOU!

During LRCT’s most recent fiscal year, YOU, our members and volunteers, made tremendously generous contributions of your financial resources, time, talents, and enthusiasm to the Lakes Region Conservation Trust. We are proud and grateful to present in this report the results of your investment in LRCT.

Your support has made it possible for LRCT—through our land conservation projects, land stewardship work, and outreach and community activities—to conserve more wildlife and plant habitat, protect precious water quality, preserve scenic landscapes and community character, and provide recreational and learning opportunities for the benefit and enjoyment of people of all ages now and in the future. Congratulations on the great work you have helped LRCT to accomplish!

3 Lakes Region Conservation Trust 2015 Highlights

Outreach and Community

• Guided snowshoe hike at the Red Hill Conservation Area, Moultonborough • Guided snowshoe hike at the Castle in the Clouds Conservation Area, Moultonborough • Guided snowshoe hike at the Sewall Woods Conservation Area, Wolfeboro • Guided paddle to the Ragged Island Conservation Area, , Tuftonboro • Guided paddle to the Stonedam Island Conservation Area, Lake Winnipesaukee, Meredith • Guided paddle to the Butterworth Natural Area and Jimmy Point Preserve, , Sandwich and hike up West Rattlesnake Mountain, Holderness • Guided hike to Bald Knob at the Castle in the Clouds Conservation Area, Moultonborough • Guided hike at the Red Hill Conservation Area, Moultonborough • Guided hike at the Sugarloaf Ridge–Goose Pond Conservation Area, Alexandria • Guided hike at the Piper Mountain Conservation Area, Gilford • Mushroom Walk with Rick Van de Poll at the Fogg Hill Conservation Area, Center Harbor • Geocaching Event at the Castle in the Clouds Conservation Area, Moultonborough • Presentations to the Laconia Rotary Club and the Meredith Rotary Club • Sponsorship of “Passing It On: Generational Property Transfer” Program in Holderness and “Passing It On: Strategies for Saving Historic Lakeside Property for the Next Generation” Program in Wolfeboro • Exhibit at the Tamworth Farmers’ Market • Exhibit at Eastern Mountain Sports Club Days in North Conway • Exhibit at The Sandwich Fair

Photo credits from previous page - Clockwise from upper left corner: Brenda Griffin, Ashley Clark, Allan DiBiase, Ashley Clark, Allan DiBiase

4 Stewardship

• Throughout the Lakes Region, monitoring of 42 conservation easements and 86 owned properties • Castle in the Clouds Conservation Area, Moultonborough, Tuftonboro— Conservation easement monitor training program; numerous volunteer workdays to maintain trails and signs • Center Harbor Woods, Center Harbor—New kiosk trail map; new trail map/brochure • Copple Crown Conservation Area, Brookfield—Timber stand improvement harvest; new trail map/brochure • Fogg Hill Conservation Area, Center Harbor—Property restoration; work on new trail system • LRCT Headquarters, Center Harbor—Internship program with PSU, GIS parcel data and maps updated for all LRCT properties, driveway and parking area improvement projects • Page Hill and Glory Hill Conservation Area, Hill—Additional mountain biking trails established by the New England Mountain Biking Association; new kiosk; new trail map/brochure • Ragged Island Conservation Area, Tuftonboro—Two volunteer work days to maintain docks and lodge • Red Hill Conservation Area, Moultonborough—Trail and kiosk relocation; new trail map/brochure • Sewall Woods Conservation Area, Wolfeboro—Invasive plant training program and removal work day; new trail map/brochure • Stonedam Island Conservation Area, Meredith—Historic cabin restoration by the Meredith Rotary Club; new 40 foot dock; new trail map/brochure • Sugarloaf Ridge—Goose Pond Conservation Area, Alexandria—Trail inventory and maintenance assessment project; two new kiosks • Trask Swamp Preserve, Alton—Wetland delineation workshop with the NH Association of Conservation Commissions; new kiosk map and trail brochure

Land Conservation

• Shoreline-Emmons/Cohen, Meredith (donation)—2.23 acres • Wonalancet-Ainsworth, Albany (purchase)—57 acres • Conservation Area Expansion‑Leach, Sandwich (purchase)—44 acres • Eastern Field-Floyd, Tamworth (purchase)—19 acres • Wonalancet-Stearns Conservation Easement, Sandwich and Albany (donation)—57 acres • /Suncook River Headwaters-Fenollosa, Gilmanton (purchase)—87.57 acres • Belknap Mountains, ongoing participation in the Belknap Range Conservation Coalition • Newfound Watershed, ongoing participation in the Newfound Land Conservation Partnership • Fogg Hill Conservation Area Expansion-Bascom, Center Harbor (purchase)—42.7 acres • Wonalancet-Moscovitch/Thompson Conservation Easement, Albany (donation)—32.42 acres, completed in 2016 • Belknap Range Conservation Easement-SPNHF, Alton (donation)—647.3 acres, completed in 2016 5 2015 FINANCIAL SUMMARY

EXPENSES Administration 11% Program Services 77%

Fundraising 12%

Income Assets (FY 2015) (as of 12/31/2015)

Annual Fund (Unrestricted) Unrestricted Funds $172,846 Contributions $364,287 Land Protection Project Funds $318,342 Stewardship Project Contributions $74,555 Stewardship Project Funds $91,835

Land Protection Project Grants Receivable/Pledges $186,500 Contributions $464,776 Investments–General $1,680,026

Land Protection Grants $186,432 Investments–Stewardship $390,217 Investments–Land Protection Land and Conservation $172,660 Easement Donations $94,001 Investments–Special Projects $103,599 Conservation Land and Investment Earnings $99,373 Conservation Easements $24,930,991 Other Income $16,037 Other Property and Equipment $870,605 Other Assets $9,093 STAY CONNECTED TOTAL $1,299,461 TOTAL $28,926,714 Would you like stay in touch with LRCT to learn about upcoming events, such as volunteer workdays, guided excursions, and other programs, and to keep informed of progress on land conservation and stewardship projects? If so, please sign up for LRCT e-blasts on our website and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. 6 Welcoming Visitors to Ragged Island

Ragged Island is one of the most scenic spots on Lake Winnipesaukee—11.75 acres in the 2015 FINANCIAL SUMMARY geographic center of the Lake, with a mile of undeveloped shoreline, pine and oak forests, wetlands, beaches, trails, and a loon nesting site. As many visitors know, the island has become an increasingly popular destination since it was acquired by LRCT in 2007. EXPENSES If you had a chance to visit Ragged this summer, you may have met our island host Pete Saunders. Pete came to LRCT fresh from a work-study program in Costa Rica after his junior year in college, at a time when we had decided we needed a regular presence on the island to welcome visitors and monitor boat docking and use of the property. LRCT has received an overwhelmingly warm response to Pete’s efforts, and we are tremendously grateful for his work and for the donor support that made it possible. Here’s what Pete had to say about his experience: “Working on Ragged Island this summer has been an incredible opportunity to meet some wonderful people and spend time at one of the most beautiful places on the lake. It was so nice to hear about people’s experiences, whether they were visiting for the first time or had been coming to Ragged for years. The island has quickly become my favorite spot on the lake, and I already miss it as I head off for my senior year. Thanks so much to LRCT for giving me the opportunity. It was a dream.”

Community Support Enhances View from Red Hill Fire Tower Thanks to a grant from the Miller Environmental Education Fund (MEEF), LRCT will soon be installing four panoramic signs at the Red Hill Fire Tower, to identify the mountains, lakes, and other features that can be seen from the Fire Tower. Brian Hoag of Moultonborough Academy worked with LRCT to design and create these signs, which will help visitors of all ages appreciate and learn about the natural landscape within the Tower’s spectacular 360 degree view. The Miller Environmental Education Fund was established by the Moultonborough School District in 2007, in recognition of the service Update on Sugarloaf Ridge–Goose and dedication of Michele Miller, former principal of Moultonborough Pond Conservation Area Central School and the 2006 NH Environmental Educator of the Year award recipient (and long-time LRCT volunteer). MEEF Thanks to generous grants from the Quabbin-to-Cardigan (Q2C) supports environmental projects and learning experiences benefiting Partnership and the NH Fish and Game Department, LRCT has installed Moultonborough children. LRCT is very three new trailhead kiosks to welcome visitors to the Sugarloaf Ridge– grateful to MEEF and to Brian for making Goose Pond Conservation Area in Alexandria and has obtained a trails assessment, prepared by Lew Shelley of Snowhawk LLC, that will guide this project possible. the management and maintenance of the property’s trails. LRCT’s Red Hill Conservation Area This remarkable property overlooking was permanently encompasses 2,565 acres of the summit conserved in 2014 through the extraordinary donation of the land to and slopes of Red Hill, long noted for LRCT by Newfound area conservationists Chris Keppelman and Andy its panoramic views and today one of McLane. The Sugarloaf Ridge–Goose Pond Conservation Area includes the conservation landmarks of the Lakes unspoiled rugged and diverse habitat, outstanding viewpoints, shoreline of Region. For more information about Red pristine Goose Pond, and popular hiking and snowmobile trails, including Hill, including the hike to the summit and a part of the historic Elwell Trail. trail map, please visit LRCT’s website (lrct. LRCT works in partnership with the Newfound Lake Region org/explorelearn/places-to-visit). To keep Association and with local volunteers in stewarding this conservation up on our efforts to improve the Fire Tower landmark. The generous grant support from Q2C and Fish and Game and on future volunteer workdays, sign up and Lew Shelley’s dedication to the project have contributed significantly for LRCT e-blasts (lrct.org). to our stewardship efforts.

STAY CONNECTED Would you like stay in touch with LRCT to learn about upcoming events, such as volunteer workdays, guided excursions, and other programs, and to keep informed of progress on land conservation and stewardship projects? If so, please sign up for LRCT e-blasts on our website and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. 7 Lakes Region Conservation Trust Address Service Requested Non-Profit Org 156 Dane Road (Route 25B) U.S. Postage PO Box 766 Paid Manchester NH Center Harbor, NH 03226-0766 Permit No 724

603-253-3301 www.lrct.org [email protected]

C BA D E @ # $ % ^ & C B A D Blodgett Conservation Easement— Ashley Clark Photo

Fall 2016

CONSERVE Special Thanks to …

• Moulton Farm, E.M. Heath Supermarket, and The Wine’ing Butcher for donating delicious food and supplies for LRCT’s annual Volunteer Appreciation Celebration. ENJOY • Kathy Starke, LRCT Trustee and Committee Member, for putting in extra time before and after meetings to keep the LRCT Headquarters garden weeded and looking great. EXPLORE • Penn and Russ Wilder, Jan and Glenn Mueller, Cleo and John Robbins, and Debbie and Paul Walker for hosting wonderful receptions for LRCT supporters. • Jacob Baker for completing his Eagle Scout project by clearing trees and adding a CONNECT bench along a trail on Red Hill in Moultonborough. • Students and teachers from the Moultonborough Central School for removing invasive species along the Red Hill River at the Red Hill River Conservation Area in Sandwich. JOIN

• Matt Ertsos for assisting LRCT with stewardship projects through his employer’s (Green Mountain Coffee) volunteer service program. Red Hill and Squam Lake— • Peggy Merritt, LRCT Board Chair, for all that she does for LRCT. Woolsey Conover Photo 8