Trescott Water Company Lands

Water Company Property Map

Water Company Property Map

The Conservancy supports the vision in the Town of Hanover Master Plan and Open Space Priorities Plan for greater protection of the Trescott Water Company lands, which comprise one of the largest undeveloped, ecologically-significant tracts remaining in Hanover.

The Conservancy believes that the 2010 municipalization of the water company is a significant step forward in terms of equal ownership of the land resource. The Town and College have created the Trescott Water Company, a land management company with equal ownership by the Town of Hanover and Dartmouth College; previously, the Town held 47.2% of the Hanover Water Works and its land, and the College 52.8%. The Hanover Conservancy has been invited by the Trescott Water Company to advise on the new forest management plan for the watershed lands.

What is significant about the land surrounding the reservoirs? The 1400 acres of watershed land feed the surrounding drinking water reservoirs, and comprise one of the largest undeveloped and ecologically-significant tracts remaining in Hanover. The land supports well-managed forests, prime wildlife habitat that has potential to be some of the best in New Hampshire, and excellent agricultural soils. It offers crucial connectivity between Lord’s Hill, Oak Hill and the Appalachian Trail (see map). The Council strongly agrees with the Town of Hanover’s Master Plan (2003) and Open Space Priorities Plan that this land should be permanently protected.

A considerable proportion of the land is also suffering from an infestation of invasive species, particularly glossy buckthorn, which is forming pure stands and suppressing natural forest regeneration. In addition, the deer population on the restricted lands is well beyond the carrying capacity of the land, and deer are selectively browsing native seedlings and saplings in a manner that further favors growth of non-native invasives.

Does the Water Company land have adequate protection from future development? We are concerned that state and local ordinances and current zoning do NOT provide adequate long-term protection against future development. There are currently NO federal level regulations that protect the watershed lands or drinking water reservoirs in Hanover. There are two state-level statutes:

  1. Env-Ws 386 “Rules for Protecting the Purity of Regulated Watersheds” which is for the protection of the Hanover reservoirs against point source pollution, such as sewage, garbage, and sawdust. It provides buffer protection of 75 feet from the reservoirs and any stream tributaries to Camp Brook and the reservoirs.
  2. NH Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act (CSPA), RSA 483-B  (1994, amended 2008). Provides shoreland protection of 250 feet around the high water mark of the reservoirs. Vegetative protection with natural woodland buffer zone (150 feet) and new waterfront buffer zone (50 feet).

Local Ordinance #17: (1973) “Regulations Relating to the Public Health,” was adopted by Hanover Board of Selectman and is designed to protect the public drinking water and watershed area. The ordinance prohibits: bathing, boating, fishing, traversing ice or cutting ice in the reservoirs, and entering without right upon any land of the watershed area.

The local zoning designation is Forestry & Recreation which potentially allows certain uses such as agriculture and seasonal dwellings.  This zoning can be changed by town vote.

General Information:

List of State Resources

 List of Town Resources

Maps of Hanover Water Works Watershed Land Holdings

The following maps are single-page PDF files with clickable layers allowing you to turn on and off various features.