Leaving a Legacy in Deering End of the Line for Northern Pass SUMMER 2019 forestsociety.org #StewardshipMatters Get Wet. Lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, ponds, groundwater. Clean water is essential to healthy living and our sense of place. We care for our conserved lands because ) D R O C we care about clean water and recreation. N O C , A Our forest reservations are special places to enjoy a range E R A N of low-impact activities outdoors and on or in the water. O I T A V R E S N Our Stewardship Matters fund supports current land stewardship O C & projects on our forest reservations throughout the state that N O I T A enhance recreation, year after year. Every contribution counts. C U D E You can make a difference! R O O D T U O By donating today, you will help future generations get wet, too. R E V I R K C A M I R R E M ( Visit forestsociety.org/StewardshipMatters D R O L Y to learn more and donate today. L I M E TABLE OF CONTENTS: SUMMER 2019, No. 298 12 16 DEPARTMENTS 6 2 THE FORESTER’S PRISM Against All Odds FEATURE 3 THE WOODPILE Carey Cottage Revival; A Vision for The Rocks 6 The Capitalist Conservationist 5 IN THE FIELD Jon Dawson’s legacy by the numbers: 20 years and more than Annual Meeting Field Trips; Summer Events 40 projects to strategically protect more than 5,000 acres in Deering, Hillsborough and Henniker 10 THE FOREST CLASSROOM Studying Salamanders at McCabe Forest 12 ON OUR LAND ) Planting Chestnut Seeds at Tom Rush Forest; Creek Farm Partnerships 16 NATURE’S VIEW , N A Rehabilitating Black Bears in New Hampshire G E E D E I 18 CONSERVATION SUCCESS STORY R R A Manchester’s Tower Hill Pond C , D R 20 VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT O L Y L The Forest Society’s Land Stewards I M E , E 22 PUBLIC POLICY UPDATES G A V Pulling the Plug on Northern Pass; Calculated Conservation A S K C A J 24 PROJECT IN PROGRESS ) Leaving a Legacy On our cover: T in Deering F Protecting Tuckaway Farm E End of the Line L for Northern Pass Protected through the efforts of Jon Dawson M (see The Capitalist Conservationist, page 6), O R F High Five Reservation in Deering is a special place E S I to all, including Jennifer Wright and her family. W K SUMMER 2019 Wright fell in love with her fiancé at the reservation, C ( O and it’s also their son’s favorite spot. L C forestsociety.org ( Photo: the Wright family. THE FORESTER’S PRISM CHAIR Against All Odds Deanna Howard, Etna VICE CHAIR e won! There are no more many other interests, the Bill Tucker, Goffstown hearings, no more strategy Notch remains a natural SECRETARY Amy McLaughlin, Exeter Wsessions, no more next steps. attraction for citizens and TREASURER The New Hampshire Supreme Court has visitors alike. Andrew Smith, Twin Mountain definitively ruled that the Site Evaluation Similarly, the long PRESIDENT/FORESTER Jane A. Difley, Webster Committee (SEC) did its job thoroughly campaign to protect the BOARD OF TRUSTEES and according to law in denying Northern White Mountains (the Charlie Bridges, New Durham John Brighton, Hanover Pass a certificate of Site and Facility. Even reason the Forest Society Deb Buxton, Greenfield the Governor, a Northern Pass supporter, was founded in 1901) Bill Crangle, Plymouth Peter Fauver, North Conway agreed it was time to move on. took more than a decade. John Weeks, Stephen Froling, Hancock Drew Kellner, Brookline This is your victory, because it’s your a Lancaster native and Congressman from Andy Lietz, Rye New Hampshire. You stood up for the Massachusetts, worked creatively to pass Nancy Martland, Sugar Hill Karen Moran, Webster values that matter most in the Granite legislation that relied on commerce law Lorin Rydstrom, Hollis Janet Zeller, Concord State; you were an active participant in “to protect the headwaters of navigable STAFF defending our forests, conserved lands and streams” and the possibility of a White EXECUTIVE landscapes from an ill-conceived power Mountain National Forest became a reality. Jane A. Difley, president/forester Maria Stewart, executive assistant line that would have scarred 192 miles of In all three cases those who love FINANCE/ADMINISTRATION our beloved state. You and your neighbors New Hampshire and its rugged, scenic Michelle Morse, human resources manager stated clearly that Northern Pass was not mountains, forests and waters could not be Amy Nichols, finance specialist Tina Ripley, administrative assistant in the best interests of our communities or dissuaded. They stood up and stood their Denise Vaillancourt, vice president of finance Harriette Yazzie-Whitcomb, receptionist our environment. You worked tirelessly to ground, against all odds. MEMBERSHIP/DEVELOPMENT be heard, against all odds. We must remain vigilant. There will Linda Dammann, development associate Diane Forbes, senior director for development The moment is historic—on par with be other proposals for energy facilities. Susanne Kibler-Hacker, vice president for development other campaigns to keep New Hampshire, We remain alert and engaged. But for now Allan Krygeris, senior technology specialist Sara Krzyzaniak, data processor New Hampshire. In the 70s, the effort to we celebrate our success, the friendships Margaret Liszka, director of membership save Franconia Notch from a four-lane we’ve forged along the way and the beauty Ann McCoy, development manager Meredith Reed O’Donnell, foundation relations manager Interstate was precedent setting. As with of New Hampshire’s unspoiled forests. COMMUNICATIONS/OUTREACH PROGRAMS Northern Pass, there were many twists and David Anderson, senior director of education Andy Crowley, land steward program coordinator turns to the process that ended—after Carrie Deegan, community engagement and volunteer manager many years—with the road we now know Emily Lord, digital outreach manager Jack Savage, vice president of communications/outreach through the Notch. Thanks to the tenacity Ryan Smith, communications manager of the Forest Society, the Appalachian Jane Difley is the president/forester of the Society POLICY/RESERVATION STEWARDSHIP Will Abbott, vice president of policy/reservation stewardship Mountain Club, concerned citizens and for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. Frank Allen, building and grounds assistant Nik Berube, maintenance assistant Rita Carroll, tree farm administrator Rebecca Darman, reservation stewardship and policy coordinator Mike Farrington, property management assistant Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests Steven Junkin, field forester A nonprofit membership organization founded in 1901 to protect the state’s Matt Leahy, public policy manager most important landscapes and promote wise use of its renewable natural resources. Nigel Manley, director of North Country property Basic annual membership fee is $40 and includes a subscription to Forest Notes. Nathan Maser, property management assistant Carl Murphy, facilities manager Executive Editor: Jack Savage Gabe Roxby, field forester Editor: Ryan Smith Matt Scaccia, recreation manager Design & Production: The Secret Agency Amanda St. Jean, program assistant Printing: R.C. Brayshaw & Company, Inc. Wendy Weisiger, managing forester LAND PROTECTION Forest Notes is printed on elemental chlorine-free Sappi Flo paper with Abraham Ames, senior easement steward 10 percent post-consumer recycled content. Sappi Flo is made from pulp purchased from Jess Charpentier, land protection specialist suppliers who document sound environmental practices and sustainable forest management. Connie Colton, land protection and stewardship coordinator Permission is required for reproduction of any part of this magazine. Naomi Houle, easement stewardship manager Copyright 2019 SPNHF. US ISSN: 0015 7457. Brian Hotz, vice president of land conservation Tom Howe, senior director of land conservation 54 Portsmouth Street, Concord, N.H. 03301 | Phone: 603-224-9945 | Fax: 603-228-0423 Emily Landry, easement steward [email protected] | forestsociety.org Zach Pearo, easement steward The Forest Society proudly supports the following organizations: Stacie Powers, easement steward Cosponsor Underwriter Member THE WOODPILE—NEWS NOT SO NEATLY STACKED Carey Cottage Revival In mid-June, the Forest Society announced that it has reached an agreement in prin- ciple with a local family foundation on a long-term lease of the Carey Cottage at Creek Farm in Portsmouth, N.H., subject to due diligence over the summer. Under the agreement, the foundation will provide funding for the renovation of the Carey Cottage and Chinburg Prop- erties will renovate the building, including the Music Room. “The key to saving the Carey Cottage has always been finding a partner with the The Carey Cottage as seen from Sagamore Creek. means to restore it, a proposed use that complements Creek Farm’s status as a con- The center will provide the space, tools, incorporating them into the project. These served space open to the public, and a and connections that nonprofits need to projects have successfully incorporated track record that suggests they can main- build strong organizations, thriving local residential and mixed-use components tain the building over time,” says Forest economies, and vibrant communities in and have been successfully managed over Society President/Forester Jane Difley. the region. Through incubator and acceler- the long term. “We’re delighted to consider the foundation ator services, workshops, events, and other “I want to thank the multiple other and Eric Chinburg [president of Chinburg programs, the center will help nonprofits individuals and entities who reached out Properties] as the team that can accom- become successful organizations. constructively and worked with us in good plish those goals.” “I’m looking forward to renovating the faith on ideas and other proposals for an The Carey Cottage will become the Carey Cottage and making it work for the appropriate re-use of the Carey Cottage,” headquarters of a newly created center community,” said Eric Chinburg.