Moose Mountains Regional G reenways

GREENWAY GAZETTE

Volume 15 Issue 1 Spring 2016

MMRG is under contract to purchase a 17-acre property that includes 5,000 feet of frontage along the Branch River between Routes 16 and 153 in the Town of Wake-field. Acquiring this parcel for conserva-tion purposes is a big step for MMRG, as it

is our first outright purchase of preserved land. We are now raising funds to finalize the acquisition of this special property, which we have named the Branch River Conservation Area (BRCA).

(Continued on page 3)

Mission

To identify and con-serve important natural

resource areas, including water

resources, farm and forest lands, wildlife habitat, recreational areas, cultural and

scenic areas.

To educate others about these efforts.

To join together protected lands

to form greenways.

Contact Us

By mail: Moose Mountains

Regional Greenways PO Box 191

Union, NH 03887

By phone: (603) 473-2020

By email: info@mmrg.info

Online: www.mmrg.info

Staff

Executive Director: Patti Connaughton-

Burns

Development & Communications

Coordinator: Virginia Long

Education Coordinator: Kari Lygren

(603) 978-7125

Administrative Coordinator: Kam Damtoft

MMRG will hold its 2016 Annual Meeting on Sunday April 17, from 12:30 to 4:30 pm at the Greenside Tavern of Kingswood Golf Club in Wolfeboro. This festive occa-sion will start with a cocktail/social hour and silent auction, followed by a buffet luncheon, award presentation, brief busi-ness meeting, update on MMRG conserva-tion news, and a talk by stonewall builder Kevin Gardner. (In case of weather emer-gency, the event will be postponed to Mon-day, April 18, 6 — 9 pm.) (Article Continued on page 2)

April 17 Annual Meeting with Stonewall Builder Kevin Gardner

Lily pads and scrub shrub habitat in the Branch River Wetlands Conservation Area that MMRG is working to purchase to save from development. Photo courtesy of Bruce Rich.

Stonewall builder and author Kevin Gardner will build a miniature stone wall at the Annual Meeting.

Help with MMRG’s First Land Purchase: Branch River Conservation Area

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Board of Directors

Brookfield Nicole Csiszer (Vice Chair)

Farmington

open

Middleton Jack Savage (Chair)

Milton

Cynthia Wyatt

New Durham Lorraine Drake

Ron Gehl

Wakefield Bruce Rich (Treasurer) Nancy Spencer Smith

Wolfeboro

Art Slocum (Secretary) Dan Coons

At Large

Wendy Scribner

Serving

Brookfield Farmington Middleton

Milton New Durham

Wakefield

Wolfeboro

Last summer, MMRG helped the So-ciety for the Protection of NH Forests (Forest Society) to conserve 150 acres of working forest on New Portsmouth Road in Middleton. The recently pur-chased property, dubbed the ‘Moose Mountains Addi-tion’, adds another piece to the 2,300-acre Moose Moun-tains Reservation, owned and managed by the Forest Socie-ty. The area has always been a high priority in MMRG’s con-servation efforts; we first partnered with the Forest Society in conserving the Moose Mountains Reservation nearly 10 years ago. The Reservation abuts the Ellis Hatch Jr. Wildlife Management Area as well as parcels of Middleton Town Forest land, creat-ing a large contiguous tract for roam-ing wildlife and outdoor enthusiasts. According to Cynthia Wyatt, “The addition of this property fills in a stra-

tegic puzzle piece of MMRG’s re-gional vision to build and connect contiguous greenways of conservation

land.” There are many tangible benefits to preserving this property. It adds to the miles of trails for snowmobiling, horseback riding, hunting, hiking, skiing, and other outdoor activities on the Reserva-tion. Wildlife such as black bear and moose can take advantage of additional habitat and enhanced connectivity. It contains vernal pools

that provide critical breeding habitats for amphibian species that are easily impacted by development. The land is part of the watershed headwaters of the Jones Brook and Branch River, which flow into the Salmon Falls Riv-er and recharge the aquifers that sup-ply public drinking water. There are important economic benefits gained from protecting a working forest that provides local wood products. Treas-ured scenic views are also preserved.

150 Acres of Forest Conserved — A Collaboration with the Forest Society

Kevin Gardner, a writer, teacher, tradesman, and lifelong NH resident, has been building stone walls for more than 30 years. He is the author of The Granite Kiss: Traditions and Techniques of Building New England Stone Walls, published in 2001. He will talk about such topics as the history of stone walls in New Eng-land, dry stone wall design and build-ing techniques, and changes from historical to contemporary walls. We will also watch Kevin create a minia-ture stone wall as he speaks. The auction is one of our most im-portant yearly fundraisers, with items generously donated by area business-es and individuals. This year’s selec-tion includes a handmade quilt, Trag-er massage session, luxury vacation week on Lovell Lake, cord of fire-

wood, Lovell Lake fishing trip, and a guided lobster trip. If you have an auction item to offer, please call the MMRG office at (603) 473-2020. We invite you to join this annual community celebration of MMRG. The buffet luncheon will feature choices of salads, a soup, pinwheel wraps, a pasta entrée and 2 desserts. Most dietary restrictions can be ac-commodated: contact Kam Damtoft at info@mmrg.info or call (603) 473-2020. The cost is $30/person. The RSVP deadline is extended to noon on Monday, April 11; please mail your check to MMRG, PO Box 191, Union, NH 03887; Attn: Ann. Mtg. Thanks to our business sponsor Norman Vetter Foundations, Inc., a Rochester business doing poured concrete construction.

(MMRG’s Annual Meeting, continued from page 1)

Vernal pool on Moose Mtns. Addi-tion property. Photo by Kate Wilcox.

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Within the BRCA, the pristine waters of the Branch River flow along the banks of wooded uplands and high value wetlands that serve important water filtering and flood control functions. Undeveloped lands like these help control flooding because they don’t contribute to runoff typically generated by impervious surfaces, such as roofs and paved areas, and they can absorb or accom-modate excess water from melting snow and rain, easing flood impacts. The BRCA also overlies a high yield stratified drift aqui-fer, so conservation of the BRCA will enhance protection of the underlying aquifer and its exist-ing and potential drinking water re-sources. As a tribu-tary to the Salmon Falls River that ultimately feeds Great Bay, the Branch River is part of the Piscataqua/Salmon Falls Water-shed, designated by the U.S. Forest Ser-vice as one of the nation’s most threat-ened watersheds due to development pressure, making it all the more urgent that we conserve the riverbank lands. The parcel boasts notable biodiversity, providing a varie-ty of wildlife habitats with its meandering river, emer-gent and shrub wetlands, and an uplands pine-oak forest. MMRG staff and volunteers have seen signs of deer, beaver, chipmunk, turtle, pileated woodpecker, as well as redwing blackbird habitat. Given the pristine water habitats, it’s likely that visitors will identify even more

wildlife species. The parcel also provides important wildlife habitat connectivity between the downstream Union Meadows Wildlife Man-agement Area, owned by NH Fish & Game, and private conserved lands, Wakefield Town lands, and upstream habitats

along the Branch River and its tributaries. The best public recreational opportunities of this proper-ty make use of the river for fishing, boating and wildlife viewing. Anglers have frequented this spot on the river and will continue to have access to toss in their lines. Public access for canoes and kayaks is available from a pull-off along Route 153. Canoers and kayakers who venture upstream will find an ideal picnic and exploring destination within the uplands forested knoll. Conserving the BRCA will preserve scenic vistas of its

wetlands from White Mountain Highway (Route 16) and Wakefield Road (Route 153). The eastern prop-erty boundary partially fronts on Route 153 and the remainder fronts on private or town-owned properties along that route. The western boundary falls along the NHN railroad line. An historic gravesite tended by a local resident lies near the southern prop-erty boundary and provides historic and cultural inter-est. When the BRCA parcel came on the

market showing a buildable lot, MMRG quickly acted to protect it from development. We negotiated a purchase price of $20,000, which is half of the asking price and tax-assessed value. Now we are appealing to MMRG members, Wakefield residents, and others who are moti-vated to protect the Salmon Falls Watershed to help us to raise funds in order to conserve this land in perpetuity. With an estimated overall project budget of $45,000, we are seeking grant funding for transaction costs (including survey, legal, title and closing costs) and anticipate using some of our restricted funds for the long-term steward-ship of this land. Please send your donation to MMRG, PO Box 191, Union, NH 03887, with a designation for the BRCA or go to the donate link on our website, www.mmrg.info. Thank you for your help in accomplishing our first con-servation land purchase to preserve this special property!

— Patti Connaughton-Burns, Executive Director

(Branch River Conservation Area, Continued from page 1)

Winter reflections in the wetlands of the Branch River Conservation Area in Wakefield, which is under contract for purchase by MMRG. Photo by Patti Connaughton-Burns.

Historic BRCA gravesite. Photo by Patti Connaughton-Burns.

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Dear Members and Friends, On Leap-Day February 29, I stepped into my new role as the Executive Director for MMRG, an active and engaged organization. The first month has been packed with hikes on prospective conservation easements, participation in

MMRG winter outings, planning for upcoming events, and fundraising for MMRG’s first pur-chase of conservation land (see cover story). I look forward to building on the impressive work of the MMRG commu-nity that is committed to

conservation and to sup-porting the dedicated staff and Board in their work. If you don’t find me in the office, I am probably out exploring

the mountains, forests, heath bogs, rivers and lakes as I reconnect with this landscape that was so familiar to me while growing up in New England. Thank you for the warm welcome and I look forward to

working with you! —Patti Connaughton-Burns

Tell Us Your Favorite Place!

Where is your favorite place to walk? Do you have a be-loved view? What special places do you go to see wild-life? We want to know! MMRG is embarking on a conservation planning process and we are seeking input from all who have a stake in the quality of life and the conservation of natural resources in our region. Over the next year and a half, we will engage our members, officials of our seven service towns, and many community groups as we create a new conservation vision to guide our future efforts in land conservation. Using community input from activities such as town meetings, surveys and other means of engaging our stake-holders, we will prepare a conservation plan with maps of priority lands to conserve. In the process, we will invento-ry our region-wide important resources, such as existing and potential recreational resources, critical wildlife habi-tats, prime soils and farmland, wildlife and fisheries, for-est resources, and other resources important to our stake-holders. We will carefully examine water resources of the Cocheco River and other watersheds of our region. We are off to a running start thanks to grant awards from the State Conservation Committee Moose Plate Program, the Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation, and the Adelard A Roy & Valdea Lea Roy Foundation.

Conservation Commissions Mixer Conservation Commissioners from MMRG’s seven ser-vice towns met for a round table discussion and informa-tional presentations at our 3rd annual ‘CC Mixer’ last De-cember. The hall was abuzz with lively discussions among the close to 40 commissioners, presenters, mem-bers of the public, and MMRG Board and Staff, who at-tended this networking event. Pierce Laskey-Rigrod, of the Salmon Falls Watershed Collaborative (SFWC), distributed maps of the SF water-shed showing important drinking water resources and the adjacent land areas that are critical to maintaining clean water. He emphasized that the most effective means to protect water quality is through permanent land conserva-tion. See prepestuaries.org/initiatives/salmon-falls-watershed-collaborative/. Amanda Stone of UNH Cooper-ative Extension presented the newly updated state Wildlife Action Plan. The WAP seeks to restore rare and threatened wild-life species and their habitats so that no new species get added to the endangered species list. For example, the Eastern Meadowlark is declining because it needs 25 acres of open hay fields to breed and raise its young. In NH, this type of habitat quickly returns to shrub and forest unless maintained by mowing, so active man-agement is required if we want to continue to hear the high sweet call of the Eastern Meadowlark in our state. Amanda handed out maps showing grassland and 17 other types of wildlife habitats in NH. Another set of maps showed habitat areas by rank, with higher scores given to

rare plant and animal species, large areas, those close to other protected areas, or those impacted least by development or human pres-ence. There are areas of highest ranked habitat within each of MMRG’s seven towns. See these maps and the new Wild-life Action Plan at takingaction-forwildlife.org/.

Conservation Commissioners examine maps at the CC Mixer last fall. Photo by Kari Lygren.

Eastern Meadowlark. Photo by Margaret Viens.

Says Patti, “In the winter update let-ter, you were challenged to identify the trees behind me in this head shot. They are Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styriciflua), from a wetlands buffer in southern New Jersey - not a NH na-tive. It may be time for a new photo!”

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Leadership Donors: ($5,000 or more) The Siemon Company Moose Donors: ($1,000-$4,999) EOS Research Black Bear Donors: ($500-$999) D.F. Richard Energy David Hutchins Builders Devonshire Realty, LLC Donald F. Whittum Law Office Eastern Boats Inc. Great East Lake Improvement Association Index Packaging Land Bank of Wolfeboro and Tuftonboro Liberty Mutual Insurance MapleStone Farm Mi-Te-Jo Campground New England Furniture Norman Vetter Foundations Proulx Oil & Propane The Frank Massin Agency, Inc

Tumbledown Farms Wentworth Hunt Club Coyote Donors: ($250—$499) Bradley's Hardware Charlie Moreno Consulting Forester DiPrizio GMC Trucks Inc Evergreen Valley Snowmobile Club Forest Pump & Filter Garwoods Restaurant & Pub Holy Rosary Credit Union J&S Tech Electric Jay Fortune Custom Carpentry Lake Forest Resort Law Office of L. Bradley Helfer Long Meadow Construction M&M Boat Storage Mal Blodget, CPA McKenzie's Farm Patrick Stevens Contracting Profile Bank Ransmeier and Spellman PA

Rowley and Assoc. , PC Royle Timber Harvesting LLC S&S Plumbing & Heating, LLC State Farm Ins. Co, Agent Peggy Lynch The Music Mill Three Ponds Protective Association Wakefield Inn and Restaurant Wolfeboro Oil Company, Inc. Red Fox Donors: ($100-$249) Avellani Restaurant Enterprises B&B Fabricating Blue Seal Feeds Creteau, Hackett, Lachapelle & Assoc. Farmington Fish and Game Club, Inc Hourihane, Cormier & Associates Jim Smith Horseshoeing, Molnarp Farm Lilac Printing and Graphic Design Maxfield Real Estate Meredith Village Savings Bank Milton Hardware, LLC Parsons Furniture Company

Pioneer Mechanical Inc. Poor People's Pub Town of Brookfield Town of Farmington Town of Middleton Town of Milton Town of New Durham Town of Wakefield Town of Wolfeboro Varney Electric, LLC Redtailed Hawk Donors: ($50-$99) Hersom Logging Ilex Wetlands Consultants Chickadee Donors: ($25-$49) 4 J's Earthworks Mayrand Computer Services McEneaney Survey Associates

Thank You to all Individuals who Donated in 2015; MMRG Relies on Your Support!

Thank You to All Our Business, Organization, and Town Donors in 2015!

Leadership Donors: ($5,000 or more) Henry and Junko Siemon Nancy Spencer Smith Sylvia Thayer & Philip Zaeder Cynthia Wyatt

Moose Donors: ($1,000-$4,999) Gene Hays Jonathan & Anne Nute Bruce & Jennifer Rich William and Teresa Sammis Beverly Siemon Art & Lynne Slocum Barbara and Cyrus Sweet Brian & Laura Wyatt Black Bear Donors: ($500-$999) Anonymous (in honor of Nancy S. Smith) Dottie Bean Marty Conant & David Levin Frank & Pam Frazier Don & Gail Holm Ron and Paula Gehl Virginia Long & Steve Panish Linda McGivern & Ben Thayer Lauren Nelson Charles & Ann Robbins Charles Salmans & Robin Wakeman Christopher Sherrill

Coyote Donors: ($250-$499) Marjorie & Warren Berg Sharon and Dave Buttrick Cynthia Copeland Thomas and Andrea Costello Penelope Curtis Gary Getchell & Mariko Yamasaki Kay & Carl Fernald Keith Fletcher Cheryl Kimball & Jack Savage Kathy L Siemon Cyndi & Mark Paulin

Red Fox Donors: ($100-$249) Phil & Carolyn Auger Jane Batchelder John Boucher Janice & Joseph Brejwo David Chase Starling Childs (in honor of Cynthia Siemon Wyatt) Mary Current Cassandra Curtis and James Chapman Charles & Dorothy Steimel Crespi Richard DesRoches Lorraine Drake & Brad Helfer Susan & Joel Ducharme Norman Dudziak & Damaris Rohsenow Mark Fagan & Patricia Wentworth Jane Cooper Fall Ron Goodgame Gary Gould Jack Healey William & Cynthia Hohenberger Nancy & James Insley Sheldon and Priscilla Jones David & Sheila Larson Martin Lee Robert Lee & Susan Cleary Morse Judy Nordberg & Edward Heck Gordon & Carolyn Page Gregg & Mary Poston Peter Roessiger Susan & Peter Rogers Richard & Lorraine Sager Linda & John Schier Buzz and Robyn Shiely CK & Jennifer Siemon Pam & John Siemon Bernard Sinkonis Jack Slosky (in loving memory of Ursula & Sebastian and Stress Breaker Acres Trust) Robin Wakeman & Charles Salmans Inger and Bob Woerheide

Randall Zielinski Dana Zulager (in honor of Wentworth Hunt and Branch Hill Farm)

Redtailed Hawk Donors: ($50-$99) John & Donna Lynn Ingrid & Thomas Barry Paul and Barbara Berry Shaun and Ellen Berry Ernest and Susan Brown Sherry Bryant Alfred Cann Matt Chagnon Michael Chaput Gail Chase Bob & Michelle Craycraft Nicole Csiszer and Jim Cowles Kam Damtoft Paul & Edith DesMarais Paige & Chris Holman John Hraba Marc Jacobs Emmanuel Krasner Thomas Magoon Jim and Carol Matthew Jeff Meade Anne Melvin Catherine & Don Mills Roger & Linda Murray Richard & Diana Peckham Chris and Michele Penta Jeff and Nancy Perkins Barbara Pomroy John and Judy Russell Michael and Deborah Schneider Sandra Simonsen Mallory Stephens Stephen & Nancy Weckbacher

Chickadee Donors: ($25-$49) Barbara Bald Richard Ballou

Mary & Robert Barnum Linda Bates Rick Boulanger William J. Callahan, Jr. Leslie and Constance Chase Lawrence and Nancy Craaybeek Richard & Pauline Davenport Resta Detwiler Adam & Erin Doiron Bud and Norma Dyer Richard Egan Joyce El Kouarti Ben Fagan Fred Fernald Alan and Joyce Frizzell Bob Garnett Tom and Cheryl Giguere Bob & Sally Gilbert Ruth Gutman Persis Hildebrandt Jennifer Hobler Peg Hurd Susan Lohse Bill & Jean Malay Jennifer McKown Thomas and Sandra Mynczywor Grigory Petrov Lee & Doris Prescott Marilyn Raymond Laurel & Stephen Reading Karen Santoro-Nason Jon Samuelson Wendy and Stephen Scribner Linda Southwick Mark & Susan Stengel Chip Tothill Paul and Juls Twombley Ann Marie Van Coesant Ruth Whipple Grace Wing

Thank You to the Foundations and Trusts that Supported our Mission in 2015! Adelard A Roy & Valdea Lea Roy Foundation An Anonymous Foundation (gift directed by Lawrence Labrie)

An Anonymous Family Charitable Foundation An Anonymous Wakefield Trust Carl Siemon Family Charitable Trust

New Hampshire Charitable Foundation (Annalee Davis Thorndike Fund) Norcross Wildlife Foundation

Please visit our website Thank you page to see our newest 2016 business sponsors!

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Our 2015 Woods Water & Wildlife Festival A porcupine, a ‘possum, an owl, a corn maze, kids danc-ing, kids hunting for natural treasures, kids swinging on ropes; all these and more could be found at our 13th annual Woods, Water & Wildlife Festival at Branch Hill Farm in Milton Mills last August.

More than 600 attendees enjoyed this celebration of the great NH outdoors through fun educational activities: guided nature walks, a nature’s playground in the woods, fishing in the pond, birdhouse building, hayrides to the Salmon Falls River, kids’ crafts, and many informational booths and demonstrations. The Woods, Water & Wildlife Festival is also our biggest yearly fundraiser. We are deeply grateful to more than 60 local businesses, individuals, and organizations that sponsored the day’s events (see our 2015 thank you list, p. 5) , and to our underwriters, the Siemon Company and Branch Hill Farm/Carl Siemon Family Charitable Trust. Thanks to all who came, presented, helped or donated!

Stone Walls and Views on Whiteface Mountain

On a crisp sunny autumn day, MMRG Board Secretary Art Slocum led hikers to the summit of Whiteface Moun-tain for MMRG’s annual Fall Foliage Hike. Near the outset, he pointed out several cellar holes and numerous stone walls. The abundance of stones used in New Eng-land walls and cellars originated after the region’s forests were cleared, allowing the cold winters and fluctuating temperatures to push up a multitude of stones lying

beneath the newly exposed landscape. Art also enumerat-ed the types of stone walls, their different purposes and how they were constructed. Thrown walls were made where stones and rocks were cleared and deposited at the edge of a field or pasture. Stack and fill walls and laid walls were constructed more carefully with the lowest stones set below the frost line. The Whiteface Trail has examples of stone livestock alleys and bar ways built to herd animals from one pasture to another. Whiteface is the highest peak in Wolfeboro with scenic views spanning 180 degrees and vistas of the White Mountains. Approximately 85 acres of land below and including the Whiteface summit were recently purchased by the Wolfeboro-Tuftonboro Land Bank. The property will be transferred to the Town of Wolfeboro after being protected by a conservation easement to be held by the Lakes Region Conservation Trust. The Wolfeboro Con-servation Commission contributed to the purchase and is constructing a new trail to the summit. MMRG played a facilitating role in this conservation effort. Thanks to Parsons Furniture Company in Wolfeboro, the business sponsor of our Fall Foliage Hike!

Audrey Eisenhauer of Squam Lakes Science Center shows a res-cued owl to a rapt Festival audience. Photo by David O’Connor.

Hikers enjoyed views from the summit of Whiteface mountain.

The Festival’s ‘Nature’s Playground’ has rope swings and hay bales for kids to play on. Photo by Kate Wilcox.

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Jones Brook Winter Wildlife Walk In late February, MMRG co-sponsored a Winter Wildlife Walk with Branch Hill Farm (BHF) on BHF forest lands in Milton. Although the mild winter had already dimin-ished the snow cover and obliterated many of the wildlife tracks that usually criss cross it, there was still evidence of animal activity to be found and much to learn from the presenters, Charlie Bridges and Rich Cook of NH Fish & Game. They pointed out some scat of wild turkeys, which were starting to be actively mating, and showed how male and female scat can be distinguished. They also discussed how to improve timber pine stands through pruning of the lower branches. Participants enjoyed the beautiful woods and trail down to the Jones Brook as well as the oppor-tunity to meet like-minded folks interested in conserva-tion, wildlife, and forestry.

Branch Hill Farm Forestry Walks—Managing for a Healthy Forest

Branch Hill Farm consulting forester Charlie Moreno led two recent forestry walks for MMRG on the BHF forest lands along the Branch River in Milton. On the first walk last fall, Charlie was accom-panied by Larry Hersom of Hersom Logging, who had carried out the timber stand im-provement planned by Charlie for that tract of land. The message they presented together was that a forester and a logger can make a great team, and the more they work hand-in-hand, the healthier the forest they are managing will be. They showed examples of careful logging practices that respect the forester’s management plan, protect tree seedlings, remove individual trees without damaging nearby value trees, and limit damage to the forest floor, all of which increase the quality of the growing forest. On the second recent winter walk, Charlie shared how the forester first walks through the stand and identifies by flagging the trees that are cut for timber, pulp, or fire-wood; he then showed piles of the three types of lumber products. Charlie explained that he prefers to use a fairly light weight John Deere 440 skidder that is less likely to compact soils than newer equipment. He also led the group to several carefully planned timber cuts in order to show the seed trees, cover trees, wildlife trees, and multi age trees of various species that were left intact, while removing the invasive plants. A new trail along the Branch River demonstrated how a carefully managed forest preserves wildlife habitat. The group observed several vernal ponds that will soon be teaming with life, a porcupine nest high in a tree with a pile of fresh droppings below, pileated woodpecker holes in a hardwood tree, and some beaver activity. Branch Hill Farm/the Carl Siemon Charitable Trust co-sponsored both events with MMRG. Thanks to Jones Brook LLP, the business sponsor of our Branch Hill Farm New Trails Forestry Walk!

Forestry walk participants hike up a Branch Hill Farm trail littered with colorful autumn leaves. Photo by Kate Wilcox.

Winter Wildlife Walk participants gather at the old fish hatchery site near the Jones Brook. Photo by Bob Nielsen.

Pileated woodpecker holes found during the recent forestry walk led by Charlie Moreno. Photo by Patti Connaughton-

Burns.

PO Box 191 Union, NH 03887

Upcoming MMRG Events: SAVE THESE DATES!

Sunday, April 17; 12:30—4:30 pm MMRG’S Annual Meeting/Luncheon/Silent Auction Kingswood Tavern Greenside, Wolfeboro, NH Kevin Gardner presenting. (See page 1) RSVP by noon, April 11. Saturday, April 23; 3—5 :30 pm Province Lake Association Forestry Workshop: “Your Land, Clean Water, Your Legacy” Province Lake Golf Club, Parsonsfield, ME Presentations on conservation easements, the impact of forestry management on water quality, and financial assistance programs. Light refreshments. FREE. RSVP to info@AWwatersheds.org or call (603) 473-2500 by April 9. Co-sponsored with Acton Wakefield Watersheds Alliance (AWWA) and other partners. Saturday, May 28, 10 am—2 pm Annual Branch River Paddle, Milton Mills, NH Bring your kayak or canoe for this scenic paddle. Program with naturalists includes stops en route. Lunch and boat transport provided. $15 donation suggested. Spaces limited; pre-register with Kari Lygren. Co-sponsored with Branch Hill Farm/CSFCT. Saturday, June 5; 8 am—2 pm Lake Associations Gathering Meet and Greet Wakefield Opera House, Sanbornville, NH Brainstorming, interactive learning and networking, plus presentations by Linda Schier of AWWA, Jay Aube of NHDES and MMRG representative. FREE. RSVP to Kari Lygren (contact info below). Co-sponsored with AWWA and other partners.

Wednesday, July 20; 9 am—12 pm (Rain date: July 21) Kayaking with Kids, Great East Lake 2nd basin, Acton, ME Ages 10 and older, families welcome, many educational components & FUN! Co-sponsored with AWWA and 3 Rivers Land Trust. Space limited; pre-register with Kari Lygren (below). Saturday, August 13; 10 am—3 pm Annual Woods, Water & Wildlife Festival! Branch Hill Farm, 307 Applebee Rd, Milton Mills, NH This family-friendly celebration of the natural world features fun and educational outdoor activities. $5/adult or $10/family. FREE for kids 12 and under and MMRG members. Volunteers needed! Sunday, August 28; 2 pm—4 pm Volunteer Appreciation Gathering! Wolfeboro’s New Town Hall, Wolfeboro, NH Light refreshments, live band. Volunteers always needed and

appreciated; join the team! Contact Kari Lygren (info below). Late Summer or early Autumn, Date TBA Branch River Conservation Area Community Celebration MMRG and our partners introduce our first land purchase!

A weekend in September, Date TBA Hawk Migration, Little Blue Job Mountain, Farmington, NH Join birdwatcher Virginia Long atop this scenic mountain. A weekend in October, Date TBA Fall Foliage ‘Hike with Art’

All Events: For more information, see www.mmrg.info. To pre-register and for directions, call Education Coordinator Kari Lygren at 603-978-7125 or email info@mmrg.info. Please do not bring pets to these events.

Working to conserve the special places of the Moose Mountains region.