CONTACT:
Betsy McNaughten, (603) 271-6640
Jane Vachon, (603) 271-3211
September 28, 2006
Land Parcels in Farmington, East Concord
Conserved by Fish and Game
CONCORD, N.H. -- The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department recently helped conserve two parcels of land with river frontage, one on the Soucook River in East Concord and one on the Mad River in Farmington, protecting watersheds, preserving wildlife and fisheries habitat and maintaining open space for outdoor recreation for future generations.
Fish and Game accepted the generous donation of 3.43 acres along the Soucook River in East Concord, with 400 feet of river frontage, from Rodney and Shelley Huntoon of Concord. The donated parcel, orphaned from the original house lot by the construction of I-393, is adjacent to a 16.97-acre property owned by Fish and Game known as the Soucook River Access - Ladd parcel. The donated land increases Fish and Game's overall river frontage in the area to more than 2,000 feet, providing waterfowl habitat and opportunities for shorebank angling.
In another initiative, Fish
and Game, through its Wildlife Habitat Protection Program and Fisheries
Habitat Conservation programs, contributed to the purchase of a conservation
easement on 197 acres of wild forestland on the Mad River in the Town
of Farmington. Moose Mountains Regional Greenways, based in Union, N.H.,
(www.mmrg.info) orchestrated
the partnership between Fish and Game and the Town of Farmington. The
acquisition of the land by the Town of Farmington will protect forever
the area's upland wildlife habitat and river habitat known for propagating
wild trout. The land includes an extensive trail network in rolling, wooded
terrain, as well as 2,700 feet of frontage along the Mad River. The easement
preserves public access to the land for hunting, fishing, trapping, wildlife
observation, as well as hiking, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.
The previous owner of the Farmington property, Thomas Dubois, generously
sold the land at a price well below the appraised value of $320,000. The
Town of Farmington purchased the property for $170,000, with Fish and
Game contributing $70,000 and securing a Conservation Easement from the
town. (Fish and Game funds used for the project came equally from the
fisheries and wildlife habitat accounts, which receive revenue from the
purchasers of hunting and fishing licenses.)
If you're interested in seeing the Farmington land, the public is invited to come along for a guided tour of the 197-acre wooded parcel (now owned by the town) on October 21, 2006, from 9 a.m. - 12 noon, led by representatives from Moose Mountains Regional Greenways and Fish and Game Fish Habitat Biologist John Magee. Meet at the Farmington Municipal Parking Lot in front of the fire station on Route 153 (Main Street) in Farmington at 9 a.m. For information on the walk, call Cynthia Belowski, Moose Mountain Greenways Executive Director, at (603) 817-8260.
"These projects are positive examples of state, local and nonprofit groups - as well as concerned individuals -- working together to make sure that we continue to have land that stays in its natural state in this fast-changing part of New Hampshire," said Dave Mikolaities, Fish and Game Land Resources Bureau Supervisor. "These efforts are key to preserving wildlife and fisheries habitat, as well as opportunities for outdoor recreation."
Fish and Game's Land Resources Bureau handles land acquisition, land stewardship and habitat protection efforts conducted through the use of various land conservation strategies. The Land Resources Bureau is charged with acquiring land to conserve fish and wildlife habitat (with priorities identified by the Department's Fisheries and Wildlife divisions) and securing public access to land and public waters.
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department works in partnership with the public to conserve, manage and protect the state's fish, wildlife and marine resources and their habitats.
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