Moister Meadow protected

October 3, 2015

The Hanover Conservancy is pleased to announce a new addition to its portfolio of protected lands, the Moister Meadow. The conservation easement on the 21-acre property, set in the rolling hills of Hanover Center, is the gift of F. Corbin Moister, Jr., whose family has owned the land for over 40 years.

Views into Vermont from the Moister Meadow off Dogford Road

The open meadow, fringed by forest, represents an iconic historic farming landscape, ringed with stone walls dating from the early 19^th century. The property is located in the headwaters of the Slade Brook watershed and abuts over 700 acres of other protected land, including the Huntington Hill Wildlife Management Area and the historic Nutt Farm.

“Protecting this property accomplishes a number of the Conservancy’s strategic conservation goals,” observes Adair Mulligan, Executive Director. “The meadow provides an increasingly uncommon type of habitat for woodcock, bobolink, and other grassland birds and wildlife, and also has valuable agricultural soils. As the forest reclaims many old fields like this, such habitat is becoming scarcer. The open views and rolling landscape are moving reminders of Hanover’s past.”

Just as important, the wetlands and rivulets on the property protect the waters of Slade Brook and supports flood security for neighborhoods below. Such headwaters help control stream flow and are the first line of defense against microbursts and washouts. The Conservancy’s Jim and Evalyn Hornig Natural Area at Lower Slade Brook, just off River Road, guards another 35 acres around this stream. The Moister Meadow provides a link in the wildlife corridor that connects the Connecticut with Hanover’s uplands and Moose Mountain.

“My father and step mother chose to build their home in this meadow at least in part to allow their English Setter dogs a safe place to run,” Corb Moister says. “I am very pleased to be able to preserve a portion of this property exactly as they found it 50 years ago. I hope that future owners and neighbors will enjoy this beautiful place as my family has.”

Donor Corb Moister with Exec. Director Adair Mulligan (L) and President Nancy Collier

The land will continue in private ownership and is currently listed for sale. Public access will be a decision of the future landowner. One need not step onto the property to enjoy it – beautiful views across the meadow from stone wall-lined Upper Dogford Road make for an enjoyable walk or drive.

Celebrating a Half Century of Conservation!

September 25, 2011

2011 marked our 50th year! Since 1961, we have spoken up for community conservation, responsible land management, and the timeless pleasure of getting outdoors close to home.

On Sunday, September 25, 100 friends and supporters joined us at the summit of Balch Hill in Hanover, where it all began. We were treated to sunny skies, scudding clouds, and the presence of many of those who had helped us protect this well-loved place so many years ago. photo by Lisa Densmore

President Nancy Collier welcomed the group and recalled our past and present. She recognized our first president, Bob Norman, who was presented with a cherry Shaker-style tray. Bob offered recollections of our first years as the Hanover Conservation Council.

Executive Director Adair Mulligan celebrated the Conservancy’s valuable partnership with the Town of Hanover and the Upper Valley Land Trust, and presented an inscribed Aldo Leopold bench to Vicki Smith, Senior Planner for the Town, and Jeanie McIntyre, President of UVLT. The benches and Shaker tray were made by Conservancy member and craftsman Jim Duffus. (More about Aldo Leopold… plans for building an Aldo Leopold bench)

Vice President Kristine McDevitt, assisted by an able young visitor, distributed blueberry bushes from E.C. Brown’s Nursery and kites from College Supplies to five lucky winners of our “trail” prize raffle. Children engaged in a scavenger hunt, and Hanover High School student Jaden Gladstone entertained the group with his Appalachian music, on fiddle and banjo.

Refreshments were enjoyed by all, and included a taste of fall from Riverview Farm in Plainfield, NH – rosy Empire apples and fresh-pressed cider, along with home-baked goodies from members of the Balch Hill Stewardship Committee.

Protection of Natural Habitat in the Route 120 Corridor

February 14, 2009

Rt. 120 – Mount Support

PROTECTION OF NATURAL HABITAT in the Route 120 Corridor

The Route 120 Corridor in Lebanon and Hanover contains some astounding beauty and ruggedness, with habitats harboring an exceptional richness of wildlife.

Although commercial and residential developments are prevalent along the major roadways (Rt. 120, Greensboro Road and Great Hollow Road), the interior contains more than 500 acres of contiguous forest with diverse habitats and natural features. It is truly a unique landscape worthy of protection.

With further development slated for this growing area, many residents attended public meetings in 2007 and 2008 to expressed their desire to protect the “wild” areas in this corridor. Both Lebanon and Hanover residents voiced their support for this ecologically and geologically diverse area, and their commitment to maintaining its environmental quality.

We recognize the ecological value of the 120 Corridor, and strongly agree with the many residents committed to its protection. The Hanover Conservancy envisions the permanent conservation of this relatively wild core interior area with its diverse flora and fauna, fragile wetlands, critical wildlife corridors, and distinctive geological features. To that end, we have begun working to forge partnerships, facilitate discussions, and begin the necessary steps to make this happen for the future of our communities.

This is a unique opportunity for our two communities to work together to maintain the integrity of this special wilderness. Bears, birds and other wildlife have no concern for town boundaries as they move about the forest. Let us not limit our conservation actions by some line on a map.

THE LAND

It is remarkable that, so close to our town centers, there are lands with qualities we generally associate with much more extensive and remote wilderness. Fortunately, the ruggedness of these areas and long-term stable ownership have protected them from major disturbances in the past.

The core habitat areas of the 120 Corridor are bordered by three major roads: Rte 120, Greensboro Road and Great Hollow Road (see map). The northern part of the 120 Corridor drains to Mink Brook, the southern part to the Mascoma River, and both of these flow to the Connecticut River. This large interior forested area includes Mt. Support, Rix Ledges, many wetlands that support rare species and plant community types on a diverse terrain of large boulders and outcrops.

A network of adjacent conservation lands provides travel corridors for wildlife, and increase the conservation value of the Route 120 Corridor. These neighboring conservation lands include the Appalachian Trail, Mink Brook Nature Preserve, Greensboro Ridge Natural Area, Hypertherm Wetlands and Great Hollow Forest in Hanover, and Indian Ridge, the Landmark Tract, and Boston Lot Lake in Lebanon.

A. THE CASE FOR LAND PROTECTION:

Multiple reports (e.g., Lebanon’s Natural Resource Inventory, and work by The Nature Conservancy and NH Fish and Game) document the many wetland areas, small streams, rich deciduous forests, high quality wildlife habitat, rare plants and unusual rock formations in the Rt. 120 corridor. Noteworthy features include:

Quality habitat and populations of bear, moose, bobcat and other mammals, characteristic of wilderness areas in New England
Exemplary bog and acidic seepage swamp habitats
Barrens strawberry -included on the state’s list of threatened plants
Stream edges include hemlock talus forests and mixed hardwood deciduous forests
Extensive forested wetlands with streams flowing north to Mink Brook
Glacial erratics, boulder fields, ridges, rock faces and amphitheaters
Extensive bands of maidenhair fern, rattlesnake plantain and cathedral pines.
Examples of near-old-growth trees

Furthermore, the 2008 NH Fish and Game Department report emphasizes that land conservation efforts are critical for the significant wildlife movement that takes place in the corridor.

B. CONSERVATION PRIORITIES

The Conservancy believes that community plans must protect core natural areas, and separate these undisturbed natural areas from commercial and residential developments with adequate buffer zones. We encourage the use of “smart growth” principles which concentrate buildings near existing infrastructure and conserve open lands and access routes that minimize environmental damage. Project planning must consider these objectives.

Core natural habitat in the 120 Corridor must be protected from disturbance and increased development. Preserve existing wildlife corridors in the interior and create new ones across roads and developed areas.
Buffer streams to protect water quality.
Protect Mount Support and Rix Ledges. These are important examples of geologically uplifted lands with very dramatic topography. This accentuates their remote, wild character.
Any public access trails should be kept at a minimum and be near developments, avoiding the most sensitive lands.

C. CURRENT STATUS

The City of Lebanon has now granted approval for Phase I of development on 15 acres at the former Wilson Tire site. Conservation of lands on the Lebanon side is included in plans for a later phase that is currently contingent upon further approvals and an inter-municipal agreement to address sewerage treatment. On the Hanover side, discussions have not yet advanced.

CONCLUSION

It is essential to develop an overarching plan for future developments in the 120 Corridor. We need to think beyond our human town boundaries and avoid piecemeal development approvals to define the overall character of this unique area. The Hanover Conservancy supports the conservation of this large, core natural area while development moves forward under smart growth principles.

Mink Brook Nature Preserve Protected!

March 11, 1999

See also the article in the Valley News – Thursday, March 11, 1999

A special thanks to all our volunteers and supporters who made this effort possible.

As recently as mid-November 1998 residential development of the Barrett-Ransmeier land on the Mink Brook in Hanover seemed imminent. In a remarkable turnabout, less than three months later the Hanover Conservation Council assumed ownership and responsibility for stewardship of this remarkable property on behalf of the people of Hanover, their children, and for future generations.

As the Mink Brook Nature Preserve, this land, which is home to wildlife including deer, fisher, and fox – as well as mink – will be maintained as a place where people can repair to enjoy the solitude and beauty of wild nature. All within walking distance of downtown Hanover.

The Hanover Conservation Council expresses its thanks and admiration to all who have made this possible:

… to the Barrett and Ransmeier families, who knew and loved this land, and who shared our joy when conservation became a viable alternative to development,

… to the anonymous donor, whose initial magnificent challenge gift galvanized the community to accomplish what so recently seemed impossible,

… to The Upper Valley Land Trust, whose staff skillfully transformed that challenge into an achievable community project,

… to a special friend of the Hanover Conservation Council, whose support provided a giant step toward meeting that challenge and assured ultimate success of the project,

… to the volunteer fundraising committee, whose enthusiasm and persistence met the goal in the time that most committees take to get themselves organized,

… to the over 450 donors, large and small, members of the Council and others, who responded to the challenge and made the dream a reality.

Hanover Conservation Council Board of Directors
Robert Norman, Edwin Chamberlain, Shawn Donovan, Stephens Fowler, Patricia Higgins, James Hornig, Hugh Mellert, and Karen Watson.

For more information contact the HCC at 643-3433

Conservation Council New Owner Of Barrett-Ransmeier Property

February 14, 1999

Valley News – Sunday, February 14, 1999

By KRISTINA EDDY
Valley News Staff Writer

HANOVER — With a few pen strokes, the Barrett-Ransmeier property on Brook Road passed into the hands of the Hanover Conservation Council, which will develop a management plan to protect forever the natural amenities and wildlife of the 112 acres now called the Samson Occom Nature Preserve.

The Upper Valley Land Trust signed the papers Friday morning to buy the property from the Barrett and Ransmeier families, and about an hour later, conveyed ownership to the conservation council while “keeping back a conservation easement that limits the kinds of things that can happen on the property,” said Jeanie McIntyre, executive director of the land trust. The conservation easement held by the land trust essentially prohibits development and allows public access.

“The partnership (between the conservation council and the land trust) will continue forever,” said Tom Elliott, conservation organizer for the conservation council, a private, nonprofit group founded in 1963. The conservation council will seek public input when drafting the permanent management plan, Elliott said.

The Barrett and Ransmeier families had owned their Brook Road property for 50 years and during that time had allowed the public pretty much unrestricted access to its brooks, ledges, open areas and forests.

Various efforts to conserve the parcel had failed over the years, and plans to build houses on the land were coming to fruition when, last November, an anonymous donor offered an $850,000 challenge grant that made purchase by the land trust possible.

“While we regret the loss of the residential neighborhood contemplated under our abandoned project, we hope that the permanent conservation of the entire tract will indeed prove to be in the best interest of the entire Hanover community,” Joseph Ransmeier said in a written statement.

The conservation council and the land trust were able to raise a total of $1.3 million — including the $850,000 donation and a $100,000 donation from another anonymous donor, Elliott said. This covered the $1.2 million purchase price, $50,000 for legal and other fees and $50,000 to establish a stewardship endowment, the interest of which will be used to pay for items such as trail maintenance and consultants’ salaries.

Present at the signing were Ransmeier and his wife, Margaret, and William, George and Frank J. “Jay” Barrett Jr., the sons of Frank J. Barrett Sr., who bought the land with Ransmeier in 1949. The senior Barrett was unable to be there, but a painting he had done of the property was given to McIntyre.

“Basically we all feel very good about it,” said Frank J. “Jay” Barrett Jr., who lives in the Fairlee village of Ely and used to work as a planning official for Hanover. “For the rest of my life, I can walk out on the property at any time and visit the places where I camped and played as a kid.”

The area will be called the Samson Occom Nature Preserve at the request of the anonymous donor of $850,000. Occom, a Mohegan Indian, was a student and ward of Dartmouth College founder Eleazar Wheelock. Occom went on to become a preacher and teacher among the Montauk Indians on the eastern end of Long Island and helped Wheelock raise money to start Dartmouth.

Moister Meadow protected

Protection of Natural Habitat in the Route 120 Corridor

Rt. 120 – Mount Support

Mink Brook Nature Preserve Protected!

Conservation Council New Owner Of Barrett-Ransmeier Property

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