June 2020 - On June 30th the Piscataquog Land Conservancy closed on our purchase of 267 acres of forest, streams and wetlands in Mason. PLC’s acquisition helps complete a decades-long effort to protect the headwaters of the Nissitissit River, a main tributary of the Nashua River which was given National Wild and Scenic status in 2018. PLC will manage the land for water quality and wildlife habitat, public recreation and sustainable forestry. The property had long been a top priority for local conservationists, and when it came up for sale in early 2019 PLC was able to secure a purchase agreement that gave us a year to raise the necessary funds to buy the land, which ultimately totaled $639,000. If PLC’s fundraising effort to purchase the property had been unsuccessful the land would have gone back on the open market. The project was a huge leap of faith for PLC, the landowner, and for the many funders that came together to make it possible. Thanks to the hard work and generosity of many people, it all came together.
PLC’s Land Protection Specialist Tom Jones says the land is “an incredibly important and special place, no project has been more exciting or motivating for me to be a part of, nor one that has had more widespread support. Every single person and partnering organization involved worked very hard, and all coordinated so well, to make this very large project come together.”
The land purchased by PLC directly abuts the town of Mason’s Spaulding Brook Conservation Area and Doonan property, and builds on the larger protection effort in the area which has to date protected over 1,700 acres of land in Mason and Milford. The project also expands conservation to the north and west towards another 1,800 acres of nearby protected land centered on Russell-Abbott State Forest in Wilton.
Mason Conservation Commission chair Bob Larochelle says “everyone recognized how important it was to save this exceptional place for people and wildlife to enjoy forever. The PLC, Mason Conservation Commission, and many others worked tirelessly and overcame many hurdles to bring this project to fruition. It was truly a masterpiece of teamwork and dedication by all involved.”
Funding for the Nissitissit Headwaters purchase was anchored by two large state grants: $300,000 grant from the state’s Aquatic Resources Mitigation (ARM) fund, which is administered by the N.H. Department of Environmental Services, and a $200,000 grant from the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP). Mason contributed $80,000 from the town’s conservation fund towards the purchase.
The Aquatic Resource Mitigation Fund’s coordinator Lori Sommer says “ARM is thrilled to provide funding to protect this outstanding property, which contains extensive high-quality wetlands, headwaters streams, and exemplary wildlife habitat.”
LCHIP Executive Director Dijit Taylor says “LCHIP is pleased to be able to assist with the Nissitissit Headwaters project. Partnerships like this between a strong regional land trust and a local conservation commission build on the strengths of each group, and lead to careful project selection and effective long term conservation of important parcels. “
Additional grants were awarded to the project the state’s Conservation License Plate grants program ($24,000), the Merrimack Conservation Partnership ($15,000), and the Davis Conservation Foundation ($10,000). Almost $10,000 in private contributions from local residents rounded out the funding mix.
Nissitissit River Headwaters project is outlined in red.
